Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (11/27/23)
Look in my eyes~! What do you see~?
CM Punk is back in the WWE?!
Just as the smoke settled at Survivor Series: WarGames, we witnessed the shocking return of CM Punk! On top of that, he’s going to be on Raw tonight!! What will the controversial “Best in the World” say about his return?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Tag Team Turmoil: The Creed Brothers win and will challenge The Judgment Day for the titles.
- Bronson Reed VS Ivar w/ Sarah Logan; Double Count-Out Draw.
- Nia Jax VS Zoey Stark; Nia wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Chelsea Green & Piper Niven VS Natalya & Tegan Nox; Chelsea & Piper win and retain the titles.
- Randy Orton VS Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh; Orton wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
The first hour of Raw is COMMERCIAL FREE!
Randy Orton is here!
Nashville fires up as The Viper is back! Orton came through for Cody Rhodes and the team in WarGames and they all defeated The Judgment Day plus Drew McIntyre, and he is feeling good being back on Raw. Orton signs a young fan’s action figure box, then goes to the ring. Orton thinks about how long it has been, and he steps up to finally and once again hit his pose! The fans cheer, and they chant for “RANDY! RANDY!” as Orton gets a mic. “Well, it seems, or I should say it sounds like a few of you missed me.” Fans cheer again, and Randy says, “I’m back! I’m back for as long as I can stay here. Now without any further ado, let me cut right to it. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Monday Night Raw!”
Fans cheer again and Orton says he was gone awhile, wasn’t he? Nashville chants “Welcome Back!” and Orton nods. He thanks them and says the whole time he was gone, it gave him plenty of time to think about all his accomplishments and accolades. They already know all that and he won’t bore us to day, but he had never done one particular thing. And it was WarGames. So when his dear friend, Cody Rhodes–fans cheer a lot–called, of course Orton was in! But there was another reason he wanted in. It is because WarGames was invented by the late, great American Dream, Dusty Rhodes! To be part of that match is to be part of pro-wrestling history!
And guys, that is what it is all about. Making moments. Two nights ago at Survivor Series, he got to make a moment. But he also came back because he has unfinished business to attend to. And that business has to do… with The Bloodline. Now, if anyone gets where those guys are coming from, it’s him. Orton’s the Legend Killer, he made a living out of putting people on the shelves. He can forgive, but he can’t forget. So point of the matter is, he has a bag full of receipts for every single member of The Bloodline, and he means every single member! Now, he is sure they know what form the receipts come in, right?
These receipts are in the form of the three most dangerous letters in the WWE. NO, the most dangerous letters in ALL of Sports Entertainment: R K O! Fans fire up for that! But then Rhea Ripley makes her way out here? Mami waves hi to Randy as she struts down to the ring. Rhea is still Women’s World Champion after dealing with Zoey Stark, but she welcomes Orton back. What a performance he had at Survivor Series. She didn’t think he was the kind to do favors for others, or to team with someone who tried to end his career. Or have his big return a year in the making upstaged.
But hey, don’t get Rhea wrong. Randy looks more dangerous than ever, so it’d be a shame to have all of that wasted. Because Randy doesn’t realize that the landscape here has changed. The Bloodline has fallen, and the Judgment Day has risen as the most dominant force here in the WWE. Fans boo but Rhea says when it comes to WarGames, that was just a bump in the road. The reality is, Randy, they’re all dripping in gold! Rhea wiped the floor with Zoey, Her Dirty Dom is THE NXT North American Champion, and when it comes to Finn & Damian, they hold those Undisputed Tag Team Championships that Randy lost everything trying to get.
And if not for Randy, Damian would be the NEW World Heavyweight Champion! So he’s come in here, made all these enemies that could make his life a living nightmare. He needs to stop focusing on The Bloodline because unlike them, The Judgment Day gets the job done, and they will put Randy out permanently! Fans chant “R K O! R K O!” and Randy looks around. He stated how he kept in touch and watched for a year and a half. It’s Mami this, Mami that, blah blah blah. Guess what, Mami? Daddy’s back! Fans fire up for that! They chant “Who’s Your Daddy?” Randy says yeah, things have changed. A lot of things.
But the one thing that hasn’t changed, the one thing that will never, ever, EVER change as long as Orton is here, is that no one tells Randy Orton what to do. Rhea laughs and says he’s made his bed. She tried to warn him, tried to give him an out, but Orton has made them his enemy. And the Judgment Day attacks from behind! Dom, and McDonagh in a neck brace, stomp away on Orton in a corner! Orton fights back, POSTS McDonagh and puts Dom in ropes! Fans fire up as Randy drags Dom along, but McDonagh CLUBS Orton! RKO FOR JD!! Fans fire up as The Viper keeps the Irish Ace down and gets the mic back.
“Don’t you go too far, Dom. Don’t you leave this damn arena. Cuz as soon as I leave this ring, I’m gonna find Adam Pearce, and I’m gonna make damn sure I get you in this ring, one on one, TONIGHT!” Fans love the sound of that! Rhea freaks out, is her Latino Heat about to end up snakebit?
The Raw Tag Division gathers backstage.
Chad Gable says tonight is the night! For the first time ever, Otis & Tozawa team up! You guys ready? OOOH YEAH~! Woods & Kofi can’t believe this, the New Day’s been at this a decade and a team that literally just got put together is facing them? Maxxine & Ivy walk in, and no pressure but they have a very special guest. He is a CMA award winning, Grammy nominated and multi-platinum artist, it’s JELLY ROLL! Everyone’s excited to say hey, and Otis brings it for a belly bump! Jelly is excited to see them all in his hometown, but then R-TRUTH is here! Wassup, guys? Where’s them jelly rolls? His sweet tooth’s got a sweet tooth.
Uh, no, Truth, this guy is Jelly Roll. He’s got ’em all? He can’t have ’em all. Truth say she gotta go check catering. Tozawa, hit ’em with the roll. Ooooooh, that’s naaaaaaasty~! Truth’s confusion aside, will this Tag Team Turmoil be sweet and spicy?
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Tag Team Turmoil!
Judgment Day held onto the titles on SmackDown last Friday, all thanks to Mami. The Profits are down, so who steps up to go after Finn Balor & Damian Priest next?
First out, Gable’s guys, Otis & Tozawa! And their opponents? Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano! Will the Psycho Killer and Johnny Wrestling finally get on track towards former glory?
Otis & Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy VS #DIY!
Ciampa and Tozawa start, tie up, and Ciampa headlocks. Tozawa throws body shots and powers out, but Ciampa runs him over! Things keep moving, Tozawa jumps but Ciampa catches him! Tozawa slips free, SOBATS, but Ciampa ducks the spin kick. Tozawa slides under, “A THANK YEW~!” Ciampa swings, Tozawa dodges and CHOPS! Then he does his Tozawa Shuffle! But Ciampa knees low in return. Ciampa whips, Tozawa reverses but Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges, tag to Gargano! Ciampa slides under, CHPOS, Gargano LARIATS and Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Whip and LARIAT! Gargano does his shuffle, then puts Tozawa in a corner.
Gargano CHOP LARITS, whips corner to corner, but Tozawa reverses. Gargano BOOTS him away, goes up and leaps, but into a GUT BUSTER! Fans fire up, Tozawa and Gargano crawl, hot tags to Otis and Ciampa! Otis blasts past DIY, does it again, then rolls under to CLOBBER them both! Fans fire up as Otis whips Gargano, WRECKER ELBOW! Clinch on Ciampa, whip and WRECKER ELBOW! Otis ELBOWS Gargano in a corner, then SPLASHES Ciampa in another! DIY falls over, and Otis rips off the shirt! Tozawa joins in, but his shirt is a bit tougher… Otis rips it off for him! The fans fire up as they DOUBLE CATERPILLAR ELBOW!
Nashville fires up as Otis tags Tozawa back in. And then Tozawa gets on Otis’ shoulders! But Gargano SPERKICKS, and Tozawa falls into a JUMP KNEE! Ciampa DUMPS Otis out, tags Gargano, and DIY sets up! MEET IN THE MIDDLE!! Cover, DIY ELIMINATES Alpha Academy! But that only brings out Indus Sher! Will the Modern Day Maharaja’s menacing proteges pulverize DIY?
#DIY VS Indus Sher w/ Jinder Mahal!
DIY attacks first, DROPKICK and BOOT sends Veer & Sanga down! But then the brawl continues on the outside, and Indus Sher pick DIY up, to SANDWICH and POST! Jinder approves as Veer stomps away on Gargano in the ring. Fans boo but Veer whips Gargano to ropes. And then THESZ PRESS! Tag to Sanga, and Indus Sher double whips to CLOBBER Gargano! Sanga BOOTS Ciampa for good measure, then tags Veer back in. They drag Gargano up from the apron, have him along the ropes, and Sanga runs to BOOT Gargano down! Fans boo but Indus Sher shouts “NAMASTE!” Veer then runs in, but Gargano dodges!
Gargano manages a sunset flip, and high stack! DIY ELIMINATES Indus Sher!! But while Indus Sher is furious for getting caught off guard, here come The Creed Brothers!
#DIY VS The Creed Brothers w/ Ivy Nile!
Ciampa hurries to reset, and he starts against Julius. They feel thigs out, Julius hits a fireman’s carry takeover and then an armlock. Tag to Brutus, and they hit a fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus sends Ciampa into Julius’ fireman’s carry takeover! Then they DOUBLE fireman’s carry takeover! Brutus has a cording hold to keep Ciampa back from Gargano, tag to Julius. Julius wrenches but Ciampa fires shots! Julius scoops, Ciampa slips free and hits a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Fans fire up as both men crawl, hot tags to Brutus and Gargano! Gargano rallies on the Creeds! ENZIGURI for Julius! CHOP in a corner for Brutus! BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO!
Fans fire up and Gargano runs in at Brutus. Brutus puts him on the apron but Gargano PENALTY KICKS Julius, the SLINGSHOT SPEARS Brutus! Cover, TWO!! Brutus survives, Ivy is relieved, and fans rally up for “Johnny Wrestling!” Gargano feeds off that, tags in Ciampa, but Brutus sends DIY into each other! Ciampa sends Gargano back to ELBOW Brutus, then assisted SLICED BREAD! SLIDING KNEE! Cover, Julius breaks it! Gargano runs in, Julius TOSSES him out! Ciampa SLAPS Julius down, then goes back for Brutus. Brutus ROCKS Ciampa, SPLASHES him in the corner, and tags in Julius.
Julius feeds Ciampa to Brutus’ underhooks, then Julius runs, LEAP FROG FACEBUSTER! Cover, Gargano breaks it! Gargano TOSSES Brutus, then PLANCHAS! Fans fire up, Julius storms up on Ciampa and throws hands. Ciampa hits back, they go back and forth. Nashville is on Ciampa’s side, and he BOOTS! Then roll up! TWO!! Ciampa goes to a corner, Gargano tags in, GAMANGRI for Julius! Another BOOT, and DIY sets up again! MEET IN THE- BRUTUS POUNCES! Julius picks Gargano up, POWERBOMB! And deadlift, to then fireman’s carry! Tag to Brutus, and another pop-up, for the BRUTUS BALL DOOMSDAY!! Cover, Creeds ELIMINATE DIY!
Fans are stunned, but “it’s a New Day, yes it is!” The Creeds take on ELEVEN-TIME Tag Team Champions, who will make it through to face Imperium?
The Creed Brothers w/ Ivy Nile VS The New Day!
Woods starts against Julius, they tie up and Woods arm-drags! And SHOTGUNS! And then forearms! Tag to Kofi, Woods CHOPS and CHOPS and then feeds Julius into Kofi’s DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kofi drags Julius up, brings him over, wrench and tag to Woods. Woods CLUBS the arm, wrenches it, and tag back to Kofi. Kofi goes up to DOUBLE STOMP the arm! Kofi pushes Julius down, covers, ONE!! Julius hangs tough but Kofi snapmares. Tag to Woods, PENALTY KICK! SLIDING LARIAT! IMPLODER SPLASH! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Julius survives the speed blitz but fans rally behind the “NEW~ DAY~!”
Woods climbs up on Julius, rains down fists, but Julius stops him at five! Julius fights out of the corner but Woods trips Julius! And then Kofi SPLASHES in outta nowhere! Cover, TWO! Kofi clamps on with a chinlock and he grinds Julius down. Julius endures, fights up, and reaches out. Julius has Kofi as a backpack as he storms over, but Kofi slips around to knee low! Kofi cradles Julius, TWO! Julius has the cradle, then deadlifts Kofi from the mat! And the SLAM! Fans rally up as Julius crawls, as does Kofi. Hot tags to Woods and Brutus! Woods ducks ‘n’ dodges and slides to ROLLING ELBOW! Brutus rebounds, blocks the superkick and clinches! EXPLODER!
Fans rally as Woods goes to the apron. Brutus storms over, drags Woods up, and uses the ropes to deadlift Woods for a suplex! Cover, TWO! Woods toughs it out but Brutus tags Julius. The creeds whip to scoop and POWERSLAM! Brutus STANDING MOONSAULTS, and Julius STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! Woods is still in this and the fans fire up. Julius drags Woods over, tags Brutus, and Brutus fireman’s carries. Julius runs, but Woods slips free and kicks Julius, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Brutus hangs in there, but Kofi tags in. Woods lifts Brutus, Kofi goes up, BACKBREAKER and the DIVING STOMPS! Cover, Julius breaks it!
Woods runs up on Julius to CLUB away on him! But Julius TOSSES Woods out! Kofi TOSSES Julius out! Kofi claps and the fans join in, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Brutus stands, but ducks Trouble in Paradise! Tag to Julius, he runs but Kofi trips him! Kofi hurries up top, CROSSBODY! But Julius rolls through and lifts Kofi! Woods is back but Julius BOOTS him! FALL AWAY SLAM for Kofi! Brutus MOONSAULTS out onto Woods! Tag to Brutus, Julius has Kofi up, BRUTUS BALL DOOMSDAY!! Cover, CREEDS ELIMINATE NEW DAY!! But now, here comes European Elegance! Will Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci make Gunther proud by taking the golden tickets?
The Creed Brothers w/ Ivy Nile VS Imperium!
The brawl is on and fans fire up! Ludwig TOSSES Brutus, then he and Vinci mug Julius. The ref reprimands and counts, but Ludwig soaks up the heat. Vinci CLUBS Julius, Ludwig stomps Julius down, and Vinci stays legal. Ludwig sends Brutus into the desk! Julius whips, Vinci springboards to CROSSBODY! Vinci kicks Julius around, drags him up, and short arm LARIATS! Tag to Ludwig, he and Vinci taunt Julius, but Julius fights back! Fans fire up but it’s 2v1! Shove and SPINEBUSTER, then a PENALTY KICK! Ludwig shouts “NEIN!” but fans boo. Tag to Vinci and Ludwig goes up! Vinci hauls Julius up, IMPERIUM BOMB!! Cover, BRUTUS BREAKS IT!
Fans fire up but Ludwig tosses Brutus out. Ludwig tells Vinci to focus on Julius, but then Julius dumps Vinci out! Julius crawls, but he has no one to tag. Ludwig goes for legs, Julius boots him away! Julius hurries, Brutus is back, but Vinci intercepts! Julius dodges, hot tag to Brutus! Tag to Ludwig, but Brutus SMASH! He rallies on Imperium, clotheslines Ludwig up and out, and then SPINEBUSTER for Vinci! Brutus SMASH SMASH SMASH! Brutus snarls, gorilla crawls, then gets under Vinci to fireman’s carry! Ludwig CHOP BLOCKS a leg! Ludwig rains down fists but he isn’t the legal man! The ref counts, Ludwig fires off more furious shots, but lets off at 4.
Ludwig stands Brutus up to whip him into the corner. Ludwig runs in, blocks the boot, “NEIN!” And UPPERCUT! Vinci gets Brutus up, BACKBREAKER and a cover, TWO! Vinci clamps onto Brutus with shoulder claws but Brutus endures. Fans rally, Brutus fights up, and he arm-drags Vinci away! But DOUBLE BOOTS bring both men down! Vinci and Brutus crawl, hot tags to Ludwig and Julius! Julius clinches to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY for Vinci! Another OVERHEAD for Ludwig! And another for Vinci! Ludwig fights the next one, Vinci adds on, but Julius DOUBLE NORTHERN LIGHTS!
Fans fire up for Julius, and he scoops to POWRSLAM Ludwig! Cover, Vinci breaks it! Vinci gets Julius up but Julius TOSSES Vinci! Ludwig rolls Julius up, TWO! Julius facelocks, Ludwig wrenches out and UPPERCUTS, then fireman’s carries. But Julius slips free to gut wrench and lift, POWERBOMB! Tag to Brutus, and they drag Ludwig up. Another Electric Chair, but Ludwig claws eyes! Vinci SHOVES Brutus down! Ludwig POSTS Julius! DISCUS LARIAT for Brutus! Tag to Vinci and Ludwig goes up. Vinci lifts Brutus, but Julius uses Vinci as a step up to get to Ludwig! Brutus runs with Vinci, SHELL SHOCK! Julius has Ludwig for a SUPERPLEX!!
Fans fire up again, “This is Awesome!” Brutus tags Julius back in, and they get Vinci up. Brutus climbs, Vinci fights desperately but can’t get free! BRUTUS BALL!! Cover, THE CREEDS WIN!
Winners: The Creed Brothers, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the Undisputed Tag Team Championships)
Diamond Mine doesn’t break, they thrive under pressure! But will Julius & Brutus be able to take down The Prince & Punisher to take those titles?
Judgment Day regroups backstage.
Rhea says Randy is dangerous, so Dom has to be absolutely focused. Finn walks in, he just finished watching Tag Team Turmoil. Those Creed Brothers are the real deal. Priest, we can’t take them lightly. Priest, you hearing them? Priest snaps out of his funk. He hears them. And he sees the look on their faces. Go ahead, say what you wanna say. They made him WarGames captain and he let them down. He lost the match, embarrassed them, let them all down. Go ahead, say it. Finn wasn’t gonna say any of that. Priest says no, he can tell. But Rhea says no, they’re a family. They all rise together and they all fall together.
Finn says yeah, don’t sweat it, it was one loss. They’re still champions, right? Dom says yeah, it’s all good. This is real? Yeah, 100%. Rhea says that just because Priest made himself team leader for WarGames and it didn’t go their way, that doesn’t mean they are gonna hold a grudge. Just relax. Priest says okay, that’s what families do, he appreciates it. And on that subject, how is McDonagh? Still getting checked out. Finn & Priest should go check on him. Good idea. The tag champs head out, but will their tensions be eased by the time they have to defend the titles?
Cody Rhodes is here!
Nashville fires up and sings along as the American Nightmare makes his way to the ring, “WHOA~ OH!” Cody goes to the ring and gets his pyro, “WHOA~ OH!” before he gets the mic. Fans cheer Cody on, and he gets fired up! Then he smiles and asks Nashville, “Whaddya wanna talk about?” Cody says so many stories stemming from this weekend. Here is one of gratitude. His team in WarGames was able to secure the victory, and Cody wants to thank each and every one of his teammates. Sami Zayn, #YeetMaster Jey Uso, the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” And let’s not forget the man who came through, the Legend Killer, Randy Orton!
Fans cheer again, and Cody says Randy was a mentor, is still a mentor, and is a dear friend. They had a handful of memories before but they got a new one. Orton fed Priest to Cody for the Cross Rhodes and let him have the 1-2-3. But not just in any match, it was in his dad’s match. Fans cheer for “DUSTY! DUSTY!” and Cody gets a little teary eyed. The other story from Survivor Series: The WWE return of C M Punk. Fans are a bit torn, but plenty chant for Punk. Cody says no one knew that was gonna happen, and no one knows what will happen. That is why tonight, we’re all tuned in to see what Punk has to say. Here’s what Cody has to say: Welcome back.
But what’s the saying? Fishermen always spot other fishermen from afar. That is why Cody feels this news being made, all these stories, well Cody wants to make some news and make it right here. At this point, everyone here truly knows him. So there is only one destination for Cody now. And that is why, granted by Adam Pearce, Cody is the very first to declare for the 2024 Royal Rumble match!! Fans fire up for that! But then wait, the lights start going down? And then SHINSUKE NAKAMURA is on screen! “Cody… You are a brave hero who has won his battle. Now you say you need to continue your story. But, I need you to set me free. To awaken me. To evolve!”
Nakamura was patient to wait week after week, btu no more waiting! He will bring CHAOS to Cody! And then the REAL Nakamura is already behind Cody!! RED MIST!!! Cody writhes and fans boo but Nakamura grins a sinister smile. The King of Strong Style takes a bow, will he destroy the American Nightmare’s dreams?
Bronson Reed VS Ivar w/ Sarah Logan!
As if tonight wasn’t already a big night, things are about to get massive! Will Auszilla wipe out the War Beard with a Tsunami? Or will the chosen warrior slay this real life kaiju?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Ivar shoves Bronson, he and Ivar RAM! They throw clotheslines back and forth, and fans rally up with “Let’s Go, Meat! Let’s Go, Meat!” Ivar runs, Bronson swings but Ivar dodges to RAM him! But Bronson comes back, BODY CHECK! Fans rally up again and Bronson ELBOW DROPS! Ivar goes to a corner, Bronson runs in, but into a SEATED SENTON! Ivar drags Bronson up, reels him in, but Bronson blocks the suplex, to suplex! Fans fire up, Ivar bails out, and Bronson goes to the apron. But Sarah stands in the way! Then Ivar YANKS Bronson down, and HEEL KICKS him down!
Bronson sits back, Ivar SPLASHES him against the LED apron! Fans boo but Sarah revels in it as Raw goes picture in picture.
Ivar drags Bronson up and into the ring, then kicks him to a corner. Ivar throws elbows, then body shots! Ivar snarls as he sets Bronson up for more elbows. Ivar ROCKS Bronson, DECKS him, then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Ivar clamps on to CLUB Bronson in the chest. Ivar clamps on a chinbar to twist the neck, but Bronson endures. Bronson fights to his feet, but Ivar Viking Chops! And he fires off hands! Ivar whips, Bronson reverses and Ivar hits buckles hard! Ivar tumbles up and down the corner even! Bronson storms up on Ivar, brings him up to HEADBUTT, and has him in a corner. Bronson RAMS into Ivar, but Ivar CLUBS in return!
The ref counts, Bronson lets off to HEADBUTT Ivar, and then he CHOKES Ivar on the ropes! The ref counts, Bronson lets off, and he brings Ivar up to HEADBUTT! Bronson clamps on a chinlock now and he squeezes tight. Ivar endures, fights up, and throws body shots. Bronson ROCKS Ivar, whips him to ropes, but Ivar ducks ‘n’ dodges, and DOUBLE LARIATS take both behemoths down! The fans rally while both men stir, and Bronson sits up. Ivar follows, and Ivar throws hands! Bronson hits back, they throw shots back and forth. Raw returns, fans chant “BEEF!” with the shots! Bronson HEADBUTTS Ivar to a corner, then SPLASHES!
Bronson CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Fans fire up, but Bronson swings again. Ivar dodges to ELBOW! And ELBOW, ELBOW, ELBOW! Fans fire up and Ivar spins, but the kick is blocked! Bronson SUPERKICKS! Ivar goes to a corner, Bronson runs in but into a BOOT! Ivar runs, into a SAMOAN DROP! Fans fire up as Bronson then SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Bronson stalks Ivar. Ivar rises, Bronson ripcords but Ivar dodges! Ivar scoops to SPINNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Bronson survives and Ivar grows frustrated. Ivar drags Bronson to a drop zone, then he climbs up the corner!
Fans fire up as Ivar reaches the top, for the DOOM-SAULT! But he FLOPS as Bronson moves! Bronson now goes up and fans fire up again! Sarah distracts and fans boo! The ref reprimands, Bronson hurries down, and Ivar goes to the far side. The ref EJECTS Sarah! The fans fire up for that, Bronson runs at Ivar, but Ivar dodges! Ivar clotheslines Bronson out of the ring! Then Ivar goes to the apron, to CROSSBODY, but Bronson catches hiM! And SLAMS him! And then TOSSES him over barriers! Fans rally, a ring count starts, and Ivar BOOTS Bronson in return! Ivar drags Bronson over railing, we’re at 5 of 10!
Ivar DECKS Bronson, goes up the barrier, but Bronson hits him low! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER through the barriers!! And the count is TEN!!
Double Count-Out Draw
Fans fire up for more, and Ivar SMACKS Bronson with a chair! Ivar ROCKS Bronson, and this goes into the crowd now! Bronson HEADBUTTS, but Ivar sends him into the technical staff! The forearms fly, Bronson throws more HEADBUTTS! Ivar throws more forearms, security rushes in, but they get CLOBBERED! Adam Pearce reprimands, but Bronson scoops a guy to TOSS him at Ivar!! Fans cheer and Bronson revels in it, but Ivar goes up onto a road case! CANNONBALL onto Bronson and security!! Producers rush out here, they get Ivar away from Bronson while Nashville loses their minds! Bronson and Ivar shout that this isn’t done, but then when and where will this end?
Zoey Stark stalks with Shayna Baszler backstage.
Stark feels how close she was to beating Rhea. Shayna says yeah, she gave Rhea a good fight. She’ll get another shot, just relax. Right, Shayna’s right. But Nia walks in and sarcastically applauds. “Congrats, champ. Oh, that’s right, Zoey, you had a great match against Rhea at Survivor Series, and you took her to her limit, but you fell a little short, didn’t ya? And ya lost.” It should’ve been Nia against Rhea because then she’d be champ. But Nia will still tear through the division, so every woman should be on notice. That includes Zoey and Shayna. Shayna tells Nia to do us all a favor and “shut your hole,” before someone breaks your arm and puts you on the shelf, again.
Zoey says she’s got this, she doesn’t need someone standing up for her. So Nia, if you want a fight, then they can go 1v1 tonight. Nia says that’s exactly what she wanted. Nia heads out, Zoey and Shayna can’t deal, but will the Irresistible Force turn the Hunter into the Hunted?
Judgment Day regroups again.
But Priest, Finn & McDonagh can’t believe it. R-TRUTH is on their couch, eating jelly rolls, and has gotten powdered sugar EVERYWHERE! And all he can say is, “Wassup, dawg?” Finn asks what the hell! Truth found a comfy place to eat this award winning jelly rolls. Truth… This is THEIR clubhouse! And now it’s a mess! Yeah, and they don’t have a TV. But he heard they wanted a fifth member for WarGames, and so sign him up. Truth… That was Saturday! No! Yep. Did they win? How’d he do? Priest says Truth wasn’t in there, and they lost anyway, thanks for the reminder. Oh, sorry. Cheer up, though. Randy Orton’s back! Ain’t that cool?
The Judgment Day tell Truth to get out! Are they sure they don’t want any jelly rolls? NO!! NOW GO! Truth leaves, the couch is ruined, and McDonagh says he’ll take care of Truth. Is the Irish Ace going to make Truth wish he had stayed gone?
Nia Jax VS Zoey Stark!
Raw returns and Stark makes her entrance. The bell rings and Nia runs in! Zoey slide sunder, KICKS and KICKS and KICKS, then runs to ROCK Nia! But Nia grabs Zoey to lift her up and TOSS her to a corner. Nia runs in, into a BOOT! Zoey boots again, Nia blocks to put her on the apron, but Zoey ROUNDHOUSES! And slingshots, but Nia ROCKS her! Fans boo but Nia tells them to shut up. Nia storms up on Zoey, drags her up, and TOSSES her, but Zoey handsprings through! Zoey runs back in, but Nia catches her, for a POWERSLAM! Nia mocks the fans cheering on Zoey, tells them to shut up, then TOSSES Zoey again!
Zoey ends up in another corner, Nia runs in to SPLASH! Nia throws Zoey away, then runs at her, but Zoey sends her out! Nia is furious and shouts at Maggle. Zoey goes up and up and FLYING LARIATS! The fans fire up and Zoey stomps Nia as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Nia has Zoey in a torture rack! Zoey endures, throws elbows, and gets free! Then she JAWBREAKERS! Nia wobbles, but she still ELBOWS Zoey down! Nia storms up on Zoey, stalks her and stands on her, then drags her up. The fans rally but Nia hoists Zoey up. Zoey fights with fists! Zoey tries but Nia stops the Rana, to SWING Zoey into buckles! Fans boo but Nia soaks it up. Nia drags Zoey out, dribbles her off the mat, then drags her up to scoop. Zoey slips free to SUPERKICK! And SUPERKICK! Zoey kicks the legs out, runs, but into a BODY CHECK! Nia snarls, runs in at the corner, but Zoey dodges to POST Nia!
Fans fire up as Zoey pushes Nia down, and ARABIAN CORKSCREW SENTONS! And then SLIDING BOOT! Cover, TWO! Nia is still in this but Zoey grits her teeth. Zoey drags Nia up but Nia HEADBUTTS her away. Nia runs in to SPLASH at the corner, and Zoey sits down. Nia runs in to HIP ATTACK! And then Nia drags Zoey into a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Zoey moves! SUPERKICK to the legs! Nia gets stuck, Zoey STOMPS her down! Deep stack, TWO!! Nia gets free, but Zoey goes to the apron. Zoey springboards and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Nia is tough but the fans are behind Zoey!
Zoey CLUBS away on Nia, then roars! Zoey goes up a corner, fans rally as she climbs, but Nia hits ropes to trip Zoey up! Fireman’s carry to a SAMOAN DROP! Nia isn’t done, she runs to drop a SENTON! And that’s still not enough! Nia drags Zoey into a corner and climbs up! A-NIA-LATOR!! Cover, Nia wins!
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall
The Irresistible Force could not be stopped, she puts another name on the list! Will it only be a matter of time before she steamrolls even Rhea Ripley?
Imperium regroups backstage.
Ludwig and Vinci argue over their loss, and Gunther walks over. Der Ring General expects them both to go to Adam Pearce and sort out this DIY issue. Vinci promises- Oh, Vinci promises?! Ludwig says HE promises to get it done. They head out together, Gunther grumbles, but then he turns around to see The Miz. Miz asks if there’s trouble. What does Miz want? Miz says he heard Gunther’s comments during the Survivor Series press conference. Gunther said his next challenger should be someone who challenges him to his face. Well here Miz is! Gunther chuckles. Is Miz sure about this? Oh, he’s real sure.
Miz is sure he CAN beat Gunther and take that title. Miz know sit, and now Gunther knows. Gunther knows that Miz is no threat to his legendary reign. But Miz did stand up for himself so Gunther gives him that. Miz came prepared for a fight. Miz can claim he belongs in that ring, just not with Gunther. So is that a no on a rematch from their great Survivor Series showdown? Or will the Hollywood A-Lister find a way to get that sequel made?
Seth Rollins is here!
Nashville fires up and sings along “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~” as the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way to the ring. The Visionary is feeling good after the WarGames win, but might be feeling some kinda way after seeing CM Punk return. We hear what is on Rollins’ mind, after the break.
Raw returns and the fans are still singing, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Rollins has the mic to say, “NASVILLE~! Welcome… to Mondaaay! Niiight! Rolliiins!” And he is a Visionary, he is a Revolutionary, he IS Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins! The singing returns, but there are also some “C M PUNK!” chants. Rollins takes off his sunglasses and says go on then. Come on with it. Is that all they got, Punk fans? Yeah, get it out of your system, because tell you what. Rollins won’t spend one more second, one more ounce of energy, on that hypocrite! Fans get riled up and Rollins says instead of talking about someone who don’t matter at all, let’s talk about what matters most!
Let’s talk about the title that for the last six months, Rollins has built into the most IMPORTANT title in this entire industry! Fans cheer that, and the singing returns. Now, Nashville, Rollins has to be real. Two days out from WarGames, he is not feeling too good. But he’s starting to get that itch again. He’s starting to get the itch to be a fighting champion again. And he went and saw Adam Pearce earlier today. They sat in the office, talked about- DREW MCINTYRE!? The Scottish Warrior walks down to the ring and Nashville is a bit torn. McIntyre gets a mic to say it has been a crazy 48 hours around here, hasn’t it?
Goodness, people are talking about a lot of things, about what happened outside the ring with McIntyre and Rollins, but they both know what is more important: what happens in the ring. So McIntyre wants to shake Rollins’ hands to congratulate him on the win in WarGames. Rollins accepts, and McIntyre then says Judgment Day had some master plan. They promised Jey Uso on a silver platter, but McIntyre didn’t get Jey, and the real plan was losing, so that’s one hell of a plan. Jey’s been driving McIntyre mental, and McIntyre realized these last 48 hours that he needs to refocus. Jey is on the backburner, McIntyre will focus on what is most important: the World Heavyweight Championship.
Now does Rollins remember what he said before their match at Crown Jewel? Rollins chuckles and says yes, he does. He told McIntyre that when Rollins beats McIntyre, McIntyre would have no one to blame but himself. And that it’d be the best thing to ever happen to him. Was Rollins right? Yes, 100% right. McIntyre has no one but to blame but himself for losing at Crown Jewel. And Rollins surely remembers that one point in the match. If anyone wants to watch it back, there was a point where McIntyre had Rollins on the steps, dropped him on the apron, and Rollins rolled into the ring. McIntyre could see it in Rollins’ eyes that he was finished.
That is where McIntyre should’ve struck. But something came over him as he saw Rollins writhing in pain. It was sympathy and compassion. Something about thinking of Rollins with his daughter backstage, it felt the urge to tell Rollins it was okay and it was over. McIntyre took Rollins by the face to say that, and Rollins SLAPS him! McIntyre deserved that slap, that was on him. Acting like that with Rollins, Rollins was always gonna win. To swim with shark, you gotta become the biggest shark of all. So no more sympathy, no more compassion, forget Jey Uso, McIntyre wants a damn rematch!
Rollins says if there’s one thing he has always respected from McIntyre, it is his honesty. And to be honest with McIntyre, Rollins does believe McIntyre deserves a rematch. The problem is, Rollins also believes there are some others who deserve an opportunity more. And that, Nashville, is why Rollins came out here tonight. He talked with Pearce, and he wanted to tell everyone right here, next week, Rollins defends the World Heavyweight Championship LIVE on Monday Night Raw! Fans cheer, McIntyre sighs, and he says Rollins is the champ, he calls the shot. But can McIntyre ask who the match is with?
Rollins is hesitant. Rollins says okay, he’ll just say it. It’s Jey Uso. Fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and McIntyre looks dumbfounded. Rollins says this wasn’t personal, it- GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT!! Fans are stunned as McIntyre busts his own forehead open with that shot! And as he said, no more compassion! He RAMS Rollins into a corner, then OVERHEAD SUPLEXES! McIntyre gets in Rollins’ face again and asks if this really isn’t personal. JEY USO of all people?! McIntyre BEAT Jey two weeks ago!! He should be head of him! McIntyre throws down another HEADBUTT! But here comes Jey!
Fans fire up as Jey storms up to the ring, slides in, and he dodges McIntyre to fire off haymakers! The fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” with every shot! Jey pops ‘n’ locks and ROCKS McIntyre! Then SUPERKICKS! Rollins is up, he and Jey DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Fans fire up while McIntyre is in retreat. Jey then picks up the world title, looks at it, but smiles and hands it over to Rollins. Fans cheer but will Main Event Jey finally reach the mountaintop next week?
Sami Zayn confronts McIntyre backstage.
McIntyre tells him not now but Sami says no, he needs to hear this. Sami doesn’t know what’s going on with McIntyre, but c’mon. He can’t beat Rollins so he has to headbutt him when he’s not ready? McIntyre says Rollins has something against him, and Sami doesn’t know what he’s going through. Oh, Sami doesn’t know? Guess what? You’re not the only one who’s had disappointments around here! McIntyre lost out on the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in front of his family? So did Sami! McIntyre came up seconds short of beating Rollins? So did Sami! Every disappointment McIntyre’s had in his career, Sami’s had that times TEN!
The difference is, when Sami falls down, he dusts himself off, picks himself up and keeps moving forward because he knows the endgame for him is becoming World Heavyweight Champion! McIntyre has already been a world champion twice, and he’s 6’6″, 300 pounds of pure muscle! He has everything going for him, but he’s acting like a spoiled little brat. Sami says McIntyre is better than that. McIntyre says maybe Sami’s got a point. Maybe McIntyre should be taking everyone’s advice, including his own, and fighting his way up the ladder. He can go talk with Pearce to get a match next week. With Sami.
McIntyre heads out, and while Sami stood up to do the right thing, did he also just step on a landmine? Or better yet, in front of a Claymore?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Chelsea Green & Piper Niven VS Natalya & Tegan Nox!
The Hot Mess & Scottish Viper have been avoiding a fight with the Queen of Harts & Welsh Firecracker but there’s no running from it now! Will Chelsea & Piper be able to survive the Raw after Survivor Series? Or will Natty & Nox finally shut them up?
Raw returns and the champs make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really runs the Women’s Tag Division!
The teams sort out and Chelsea starts against Natty. They tie up before the bell, then go around. Natty trips Chelsea, floats to a facelock but Chelsea wrenches out. Chelsea grinds forearms into Natty’s face, puts her on ropes, then whips. Natty reveres but Chelsea reverses back, but Natty rolls over the dropdown. Chelsea whips again but Natty ELBOWS her, then DISCUS LARIATS! Natty goes for the legs but Chelsea kicks her away! Tag to Piper while fans boo. Piper storms up on Natty, she and Natty tie up but Natty waistlocks. Piper pries free, HEADBUTTS Natty to a corner, and runs in, but Natty POSTS her!
Tag to Nox, she runs up to wheelbarrow and STUNNER! Nox keeps going, PENALTY KICK! Tag back to Natty and Nox brings Piper up, for the CROSSBODY! Natty cheers herself and the fans join in as Raw goes picture in picture.
Natty tells Chelsea to kiss this, then she gets the fans cheering again. Natty stomps Piper, drags her from ropes, and steps through. Chelsea distracts the ref, Nox tells her to stop it, but now the ref is busy with Nox. Piper kicks Natty away and Chelsea is there to cheap shot her! Piper then runs up to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Piper tags Chelsea, Chelsea climbs and Piper sets Natty up, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Chelsea taunts Nox, drags Natty up and taunts her, but Natty throws body shots! But Chelsea throws Natty down by her hair! Chelsea mocks the fans cheering Natty on, then stalks her to ropes.
Chelsea drags Natty over, tags Piper, and Piper scoops Natty to SLAM her! Then Piper scoops Chelsea to SLAM her onto Natty! Chelsea wants to go again, so Piper scoops and SLAMS her onto Natty again! Nox protests, the ref keeps her from getting involved, and then Chelsea tries to scoop Piper? Yeah, not that easy… Piper scoops Chelsea to SLAM her onto Natty a third time! Cover but the ref is busy telling Chelsea to go. The ref finally sees the cover, TWO! Piper keeps cool and she HIP DROPS Natty down! Piper taunts Nox, keeps Natty from Nox, but Natty and Nox reach out! Piper reels Natty in, short arm LARIAT!
Piper tells the rf to deal with Nox but the ref knocks to watch Chelsea. Chelsea plays innocent but Piper bumps Natty off buckles. Piper tags Chelsea, and Chelsea RAMS into Natty! And again! Tag back to Piper and Raw returns to single picture. Piper cobra clutches and ripcords so Chelsea can SLAP Natty, then Piper CLOBBERS her! Fans rally but Chelsea drags Natty back to the corner. Chelsea puts Natty up top, climbs up after her, but Natty hits back! Natty hits Piper, too! Natty sends Chelsea down, adjusts, but Chelsea is back up! Natty slips under to carry Chelsea out, SIT OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!!
Chelsea survives but Natty hurries for her corner! Hot tag to Nox! Fans fire up and Nox rallies on the champs! Nox fires off hands, then LARIATS Chelsea! And again! And UPPERCUTS! Fans fire up with Nox and she runs up, but Chelsea SLAPS her! Nox just laughs! Nox HEADBUTTS, then reels Chelsea in. GOURD BUSTER, and then a KNEE for Piper! Piper tumbles down, Chelsea runs in at the corner, but Nox slips out to the apron! ROUNDHOUSE! Chelsea wobbles, Nox goes up, MOLLY-GO-ROUND! Cover, Piper breaks it! Piper drags Chelsea to their corner and tags herself in. Chelsea staggers after Nox but Nox rolls her up!
Chelsea rolls through to CODE BREAKER! Piper SENTONS onto it all! Cover, Natty breaks it! Fans cheer, Natty drags Piper up but Piper ROCKS her and TOSSES her! Piper tags Chelsea back in, and Chelsea storms up on Nox. Chelsea has the arms, but Nox shoves her away! Piper tags back in, Chelsea TOSSES Nox! Nox drags Chelsea out with her! Chelsea kicks Nox away, then CROSSBODIES, but Nox & Natty catch her! They DOUBLE SUPLEX her into barriers! Fans fire up, but here comes Piper! CANNONBALL!! Fans fire up and Piper puts Nox back in the ring. Piper runs, for the BASEMENT SPLASH!! Cover, Piper & Chelsea win!
Winners: Chelsea Green & Piper Niven, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Once again, Piper does all the hard work to keep these belts on her and Chelsea. Chelsea smiles and celebrates, but will there come a time when even Piper isn’t enough to save this team?
Jey Uso talks with Randy Orton backstage.
Jey doesn’t want any trouble. Just wanted to find Orton before Orton found him. Is that so? Yeah. Jey wants to thank Orton for having their back at WarGames. And if it means anything, Jey heard about those receipts. He is sorry how everything went down back in the day. Cody gave Jey a second chance here on Raw, Jey is trying to do right by everyone. He wants to leave the past in the past. Orton understands that. Listen, Uce, Orton has been watching. He’s seen how these past few months, hell maybe longer than that, but Jey has had Cody’s back. Jey has had a lot of people’s backs. Cody trusts Jey, those other guys trust Jey, that goes a long way.
So as far as Orton is concerned, bygones are bygones. But Orton is handling unfinished business with The Bloodline. So long as Jey is out, they’re good. They shake hands on it and Jey wishes Orton luck. Orton thanks Jey, and now he has one less name on the list. But will Jey’s name just be replaced by Dirty Dom’s? That main event happens next!
Backstage interview with Becky Lynch.
Jackie Redmond is with The Man, and notes that just 48 hours ago, she was in her own WarGames match in Chicago, and came out the winner. How is she feeling now after such an epic battle? Well, she feels like she went to war in an epic battle, and she hopes she looks it. But Saturday was a night about making amends. There is a thin line between love and hate, and she never knows when one switches from one side to the other. But enough about that, she wants to talk tonight! The Man has come around to Nashville. And there’s a couple fights on the horizon, one more pressing than the other. Becky heads out, what fight could she mean?
Randy Orton VS Dominik Mysterio w/ JD McDonagh!
Raw returns and Orton makes his entrance. The bell rings and fans cheer on Orton. Orton and Dom circle, they tie up, and Orton powers Dom to a corner. The ref counts, Orton pushes Dom around and lets off. Dom sucker punches Orton! Fans chant “Who’s Your Daddy?” Dom runs, but gets run over! Dom bails out and regroups with McDonagh. McDonagh coaches Dom up, Dom rushes back in, but Orton fires haymakers! Orton has Dom on ropes, UPPERCUTS him, then whips Dom to back drop! Dom writhes from the crash landing and fans fire up as Raw goes picture in picture.
Dom bails out, wants mercy, but Orton storms up to the ropes. Dom gets away, so Orton strikes his pose. Dom wants a mic? No, there’s no time for that. Dom storms around, complains about something, maybe he’s missing his Mami. Orton smirks as Dom keeps pacing around but the ring count starts. Orton goes out after Dom to CLOBBER him! Orton chases McDonagh away while mocking his bad neck. Dom staggers up but Orton UPPERCUTS him down! Orton brings Dom around, Dom throws hands, but Orton SMACKS him off the desk! Orton puts Dom in and then stalks him, to trip him and have the leg.
Orton brings Dom around to stomp him in the stomach! Orton digs his heel in, then stomps a leg! Dom writhes and flounders to a corner but Orton is on him again. Orton whips corner to corner hard and Dom bounces off buckles. Orton drags Dom to a cover, TWO, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Orton drags Dom up while fans again chant “Who’s Your Daddy?” Orton TOSSES Dom out, storms out after him, and McDonagh hobbles away. Orton stands Dom up, to back- NO, Dom slips out of the back suplex, CLUBS Orton and RAMS him into steel steps! Fans boo while Orton writhes, Dom is after that repaired back and shoulder! Dom puts Orton in the ring, covers, TWO! Dom is annoyed by the count but the ref says his count is fair. Dom clamps on a chinlock, he squeezes Orton’s neck, but Orton fights up. Fans rally and Orton throws body shots. Dom CLUBS Orton, whips him to a corner, but Orton comes back to CLBOBER him!
Orton rallies on Dom, ducks him and SPIN POWERSLAMS! Fans fire up with Orton and he is feeling it! Orton puts Dom in the ropes, brings him out, and he grins at McDonagh as he hits the DRAPING DDT! Fans fire up again and Orton soaks it up. Because Orton’s hearing those voices! McDonagh drags Dom to safety! Fans boo, McDonagh asks what they’re all looking at. Wait, Jelly Roll is up front! Fans cheer as Jelly stands up. Jelly and JD argue, and Jelly shoves JD! Fans fire up as now Dom gets mad! So Jelly shoves Dom! Orton high-fives Jelly, goes back for Dom, and hits that BACK SUPLEX TO THE DESK!
Dom writhes and flops off the desk but fans want that one more time! Orton drags Dom up, brings him back around, and indeed, another BACK SUPLEX TO THE DESK! Orton puts Dom in, but McDonagh gets on the apron. Orton gets him for a DRAPING DDT! McDonagh writhes, Dom DROPKICKS Orton onto ropes! Dom dials it up, 619! Dom hurries up top, FROG SPLASH FLOPS! Orton aims, R K O!! Fans are thunderous, Orton covers, Orton wins!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall
The Viper had a successful return to the ring at WarGames, and he has another successful return here tonight! Dom & McDonagh retreat, will Mami not be happy about this?
CM Punk is here!
Nashville fires up one more time and sings along with Cult of Personality. Punk goes to the ring, and gets a mic as the fans chant his name. Punk then says, “Looks like Hell just froze over.” Fans cheer that! And Punk means that as in, this is him, standing in a WWE ring, on Monday Night Raw, with a mic in his hand. He doesn’t mean that apparently, a Blackhawks fan is actually getting love inside the Predators’ territory. Sorry, had to say it. He’s gotta be himself. And lately, he’s been feeling a little more like himself ever since Saturday. That is a career highlight for him, and he’s been trying to come up with the words to explain exactly how he feels.
He has two words that he’s afraid to say. Not because they’re not true. It’s because he’s scared of how true they actually are. It is a bit corner, it won’t sound like CM Punk, but he’s a changed man. Once upon a time, an American Dream taught him that as long as you speak from the heart, you cannot go wrong, because it is the truth. So this is the truth: “I’m home.” Fans cheer that! Punk says he has come back to this familiar place, and he didn’t know how he was gonna react, he didn’t know how it was gonna go, but it has made him feel like himself again. Because this is where Punk belongs! This is home! And he’s been gone for TEN YEARS!
And yet for those ten years, no one ever forgot him, even when he maybe wanted to forget himself. And that is powerful stuff. The fans are all powerful. A bunch of continents, countries, arenas all over the world, people watching at home, they never stopped chanting his name. The fans chant it now! Punk says the Voiceless found their voice, and he couldn’t be more proud. He heard them, that is why he is back. Because he loves them! He loves them! He loves them, missed them, missed all of this, and wishes he could say he didn’t have to leave. But once upon a time, a Wise Man told him that for him to get everything he wants out of this place, he’d have to leave it and come back.
Hate to say it, but the Wise Man was right. But that is why Punk is back. He wants to get everything he needs out of this place. He is back for the fans because the fans are home. Fans cheer that! Saturday was an amazing moment, Monday is an amazing moment. He wants the words to explain how it feels, but in front of and behind the camera, it’s nothing but love, nothing but hugs. It feels like a family reunion. Everybody back there is happy to see Punk, a few kissed him, it is all “Welcome back, welcome home, we’ve missed you, we’re happy to see you. How’s AJ?” And AJ lee is fabulous and sends her regards. Fans cheer that most of all!
Punk says everyone has welcomed him back with open arms. Except… Some are afraid. They’re afraid of the truth, of what they don’t understand, but Punk understands. Everything he has ever wanted has always been right here. The competition, week in and week out, competes to be the Best in the World, but the Best in the World hasn’t been here in almost ten years. Punk understands being afraid. They’re afraid he’s set the bar to an unobtainable level, that he has the brass ring in his back pocket. That the most dangerous and controversial, feared man in this business, walked in and there’s nothing they can do about it.
Some are afraid that tomorrow, they’ll have to come to terms with how their best efforts at being the Best in the World in this ring, on this mic, even at commentary, isn’t just false, but a lie! Because the Best in the World is back, standing in this ring, live and in living color, in Nashville, Tennessee on a Monday night, and his name is… C M PUNK!! He’s baaack~! “I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to make money.” Will Punk prove he is still the Best in the World? Or will that be hard to do even for him?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw to follow Survivor Series, especially with everything they had to build upon. A touch disappointed Tag Team Turmoil wasn’t pretty much the entire commercial free first hour to give everyone a lot of time, and rather surprised that the Creeds won out. But at the same time, not that surprised, given that DIY and Imperium still have to settle things. But I’m a little surprised they didn’t give New Day a shot at Judgment Day, that feud is probably simmering for WrestleMania season. Creeds can still have a good feud with Judgment Day, Ivy can even step to Rhea, but I don’t see them winning the titles.
Great promos throughout the night with the winners and losers of WarGames. Orton and Rhea interacting was really fun, and of course Dom gets in trouble because of it. Great main event match from them with McDonagh of course there to also get whooped. And also good interaction of Jey and Orton to bypass Jey VS Orton happening. Orton is going strong, but I don’t expect him to just shoot up to the world title. Maybe he has a good showing in the Royal Rumble, but I bet he alters course to go after like the Intercontinental Championship and Gunther. Gunther had a good promo with Imperium and also with Miz, that’ll be a fun rematch before Gunther gets on his Road to WrestleMania.
Speaking of Rumble, great promo from Cody to not just declare for Rumble, but to also put WarGames into a heartfelt perspective. And then Nakamura going after Cody, great move there to help them both build momentum to Rumble. Awesome promo stuff with Rollins and McIntyre to give McIntyre’s Heel turn more heat, I busted up laughing that it was Jey getting his shot against Rollins next. McIntyre and Sami also have a great promo, and that rematch of the two of them is going to be great, too. And I just about died laughing during R-Truth’s promo with the Judgment Day. What a great way to bring Truth back, he is a national treasure.
Also really good promo from Becky, and maybe, just maybe, she’s saying she’s gonna go after Rhea now? Thought it was gonna be Nia, but she and Zoey had a good promo and match, maybe Nia has to get through the others first, meaning Shayna is next. Really good women’s tag title match but that could’ve been a touch better. Something seemed a touch off, who knows what. But Chelsea & Piper retaining is fine, because this is all leading to Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn taking those belts back. I kinda wished something had happened while we lingered on Chelsea smiling and waving after the win. Maybe they start on that build this Friday.
Awesome stuff from Bronson VS Ivar, though the crowd didn’t get into it right away. Great move to have it be a count out draw and then a brawl, they’re definitely gonna up the ante next time. And then CM Punk of course had the closing moment tonight. I had another laugh when Punk said he was “back home” in the WWE, perhaps out of surprise and how that buries his time in AEW. But whatever any of us think about Punk, from egotistical to hypocritical to emotional to passionate, he’s back, but also, this is it. He messes up here, he is done. He can’t go back to AEW, likewise can’t go to AEW’s friends like NJPW, and he clearly doesn’t want to go anywhere “small time” like Impact or NWA. He needs to keep it under control this time or lose whatever’s left of his legacy.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Will the reign of terror finally come to an end?
AEW’s most dangerous men, Jon Moxley and Swerve Strickland, battle for THE World Championship, and the right to lead this Dynasty!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Zero Hour – Six Man Tag: AR Fox & Top Flight VS Nick Wayne & The Cru; Nick & Cru win.
- Zero Hour – Best Wrestler Alive Open Challenge: Max Caster VS Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn; Bowens wins.
- 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Will Ospreay VS Kevin Knight; Ospreay wins and advances.
- AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith; Lashley & Benjamin win and retain the titles.
- 2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Mercedes Mone VS Julia Hart; Mone wins and advances.
- AEW World Trios Championships: The Death Riders VS Rated FTR; The Death Riders win and retain the titles.
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm VS Megan Bayne; Toni wins and retains the title.
- 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Kyle Fletcher VS Mark Briscoe; Fletcher wins and advances.
- ROH World Championship Title VS Mask: Chris Jericho VS Bandido; Bandido wins and becomes the new ROH World Champion.
- AEW TNT Championship, No Time Limit, Full Ringside Ban: Daniel Garcia VS Adam Cole; Cole wins and becomes the new AEW TNT Champion.
- AEW International Championship Triple Threat: Kenny Omega VS Ricochet VS “Speedball” Mike Bailey; Omega wins and retains the title.
- AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS Swerve Strickland; wins and
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the AEW Dynasty Zero Hour!
Join Renee Paquette, RJ City & Jeff Jarrett in discussing, analyzing and predicting all of the action here in the City of Brotherly Love!
Backstage interview with Ricochet.
Lexy Nair is with The One & Only and brings up his challenge for the AEW International Championship being in a rather unusual circumstance. Ricochet wanted Kenny Omega, but now he’s got Omega and Mike Bailey. Where is his head at? Ricochet says it is no secret that since his AEW debut, he has been on the quest for championship gold. And despite his Herculean efforts, he has been screwed all along the way. Whether that was AEW stacking the odds in Triple Threats, some prancing, dancing manager, or a bunch of jackasses in the crowd, Ricochet has been screwed.
But now, they are in Philadelphia, the city of champions! Nothing will stop him from being the NEW AEW International Champion, and showing everybody why Ricochet is Outta This World! AHA~! Ricochet heads out, but will he fly like an eagle and become a champion?
Zero Hour – Six Man Tag: AR Fox & Top Flight w/ Leila Grey VS Nick Wayne & The Cru w/ The Patriarchy!
There is a lot of history here, as we’ve seen The Whole Fox’n Show win $300,000 alongside Darius & Dante Martin, but we’ve also seen Fox assault The Patriarchy’s Prodigy within an inch of his life. Darius & Dante used to be on the same team with Lio Rush & Action Andretti, but ambition and ego got in the way. Nick claims he is only fighting Fox for himself, but will he and The Cru still stand tall together? Or will Fox & Flight soar like the eagle here in Philly?
The teams sort out and Philly is fired up for “A R FOX! A R FOX!” as he starts against Action. The bell rings, but then Action bails out. The fans boo, The Cru laughs, but Fox FLIES! Down goes The Cru! Top Flight goes after Nick and then helps with The Cru! The fans fire up as Dante throws down hands, Darius stomps, and Fox puts Nick in the ring. Nick bails out, The Cru rushes in, but Fox fires kicks and hands on them first! The fans fire up, Fox runs, but The Cru split the difference! Lio grabs a leg, Action hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, Darius BOOTS Lio onto it! Darius whips, Lio reverses, and Nick trips Darius!
Nick drags Darius out but Darius DECKS Nick! Dante half nelsons Lio but Lio fights and arm-drags free! Dante runs up, Lio slips under, and Action CLOBBERS Dante! Action tags Lio in, the Cru storms up on Fox again, and they fire hands! The fans boo, Action CHOPS, and The Cru double whip. Fox KICKS Lio, TOSSES Action, then goes Matrix to dodge Lio! Hot tag to Darius! The fans fire up as things speed up! Darius CLOBBERS Lio, BLASTS Nick, then BOOTS Lio! Darius keeps moving, and he BULLDOG HOTSHOTS Lio! SUPERKICK for Action! GAMANGIRI for Lio! But Nick RAMS Darius into steel steps! Darius tumbles and the fans boo, but Nick eggs Philly on!
Kip Sabian makes a cameraman focus on Nick, the “star” of the show, and Nick drags Fox Darius into the ring. Lio stomps Darius, rains down fists, but the ref reprimands. Lio lets off to taunt Dante, “SUCK IT!” Lio bumps Darius off buckles, tags Action, and Action fires hands. Action tags Nick, Nick stomps Darius and snapmares him. Nick drops a leg, then covers, TWO! Nick stays on Darius with kicks, then he bumps Darius off buckles. Tag to Lio and he stomps Darius. The fans rally but Lio snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Lio keeps Darius down with a facelock but the fans rally again. Darius fights as Dante & Fox coach him up.
Darius reaches out, Lio grinds the hold, then Lio gator rolls Darius away. Tag to Action and he stomps Darius. Action kicks Darius and talks trash but the fans rally again. Darius CHOPS Action, then UPPERCUTS! Action CLUBS Darius, then he snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Darius is tougher than that, but Action clamps on with a chinlock. The fans rally as Darius endures, but Action thrashes him around. Action drags Darius up, RAMS him into the corner again and again, then tags Lio. Lio snapmares Darius, then KICKS him in the back. Lio swaggers, then he sucker punches Dante! The ref keeps Dante back, and Lio CLAWS Darius’ face!
The fans boo, Lio grins, and Lio brings Darius around to wrench. Darius fires body shots, but Lio CLUBS him down. Lio gator rolls Darius again and tags Nick. Nick stomps Darius now, but the fans boo more. Nick drags Darius up, snapmares and KICKS! Cover, ONE!! Darius is toughing it out but Nick keeps him down with a facelock. Nick drags Darius over, tags Lio, and they mug Darius. Darius fires body shots in return, then he ROCKS Lio! And ROCKS him again! The fans fire up but Lio BOOTS Darius! Then he sucker punches Fox! But Darius DROPKICKS Lio! Both men are down, and the fans fire up again!
Darius crawls, Lio shakes out the stars, and Darius hot tags Dante! The fans fire up as Dante rallies on Lio, then whips. Lio reverses, runs up, but Dante slips out, goes up and around, and GAMANGIRIS! Dante SUPERKICKS Nick, then springboards in, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Lio stays in this but the fans fire up with Dante. Dante hurries to a corner and climbs. Kip is creeping up but Dante stares him down. Action sneaks a chain necklace to Lio! Lio runs up, but Dante SUPERKICKS him down! And he sees the chain! They both scramble for it! They tug-o-war while Kip keeps the ref distracted!
Dante THROWS Lio out, but Action rolls Dante up! TWO, and Lio is back to roll Dante, for Action to BOOT! Lio fires a fast strike fest, then Cru DOUBLE BRAINBUSTERS! Cover, Darius breaks it! Darius TOSSES Lio, then goes out to throw hands! The fans fire up while Action stands Dante up. Action torture racks, but Dante fights free! Dante flips up and over Action, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then springboards to LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Action and Dante crawl, hot tags to Nick and Fox! A fated encounter as Fox RAMS into Nick! Fox goes up, up, but Nick avoids the 450 attack! Only for Fox to flip through and CANNONBALL Action!
Nick reels Fox in, but Fox hits the ANARCHY! Lio is back, he kicks Fox, and then whips. Fox reverses, then runs up to A-LIST LARIAT! Fox ELBOWS Action, skins the cat, and DROPKICKS Lio to then roll and STUNNER Action! Fox dodges Lio, then DOUBLE CUTTERS Lio & Nick!! The fans are thunderous and Fox has targets all around the ring! Fox builds speed to FLY! Down goes Cru! Then he FLIES and Fox takes out Nick! The fans fire up more as Fox puts Nick back in! Fox runs, and he FLIES to take out Cru again! Fox is right up top, Philly roars for the SWANTON but onto knees! Nick runs up, but Fox goes Matrix!
Nick SUPERKICKS Fox! Darius is back in, he slips around Nick and hits a SPANISH FLY! But Action mule kicks, knee lifts, and ROLLING ELBOWS! Darius CHOSP! Action ROUNDHOUSES! Action whips, Darius reverses, but Action handsprings to BACK ELBOW! Dante slides in but Action shoves him. Dante springboard SHOTGUNS! Lio slides in, he bobs ‘n’ weaves to whip, but Dante reverses. Lio reverses that, Dante reverses back, but gets RUSH HOUR! Fox BOOTS Lio! Nick BOOTS Fox! Nick goes up, but Fox is right up after him! LOW MEIN PAIN!! The fans are thunderous but Kip distracts the ref again!
Leila YANKS Kip down! And then dares Superbad to do something! But Shayna SHOVES Fox off the corner!! WAYNE’S WORLD!! Cover, Nick & Cru win!!
Winners: Nick Wayne & The Cru, by pinfall
It may not have been The Patriarchy, but the numbers game is the same! Has the Prodigy found teammates that actually respect him? Will Nick use this momentum as he goes into NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors?
Zero Hour – Best Wrestler Alive Open Challenge: Max Caster VS ???
Platinum Max promised just last night on Collision to do this, so here he is. He shows off his “official” document, and he has them cut his music like a certain other Max. “Philadelphia, you are lookin’ live at the Best Wrestler Alive!” The fans boo, but Caster says, “There’s been a lot of names talked about with this match. But we all know that the Maximaniacs here in Philly only wanna say one name and one name only. Guys, it’s time to chant my name! ‘Let’s Go, Max! You’re the Best Wrestler Alive! Let’s Go, Max! You’re the Best Wrestler Alive!'” Wait, the fans are actually trying it? But Caster says you gotta match his inflection!
The fans try but Caster stops them. Even when he gets what he wants, it isn’t enough. Caster tells Philly they are allegedly the greatest sports city in the United States. Allegedly! So what he needs right now is for them to show up for him like they did all the great Philly athletes in history. They need to show up for the Best Wrestler Alive, Platinum Max, and here’s something that’ll make them feel at home. Caster unzips the jacket, to reveal a BEN SIMMONS Philadelphia 76ers jersey! The fans boo, but Caster says let’s try this again! Just like you would for Simmons… “Let’s Go, Max! You’re the Best Wrestler Alive!”
The fans change it to “Worst Wrestler Alive,” so Caster says they’re not as great as New York like where he’s from. The fans boo but Caster says time for business. Who can survive the Best Wrestler Alive? We all look to the stage, and then the lights go out! A new song plays, and it’s ANTHONY BOWENS! Philly erupts as The 5 Tool Player has returned and he looks better than ever! And he even has Daddy Ass with him! Will the Scissor King, The Pride of Pro-Wrestling, finally shut Caster up?
The fans cheer, “F HIM UP, BOWENS, F HIM UP!” Caster points to his document, but Bowens snatches it and TOSSES it! They shove each other, the ref has them back up, and Bowens puts his entrance attire aside. The bell rings, Caster runs up, but Bowens DECKS him! Bowens eggs on the Best Wrester Alive to then mule kick, front KICK, and FAMOUSER! The fans fire up and Bowens says “Throw ’em up!” Everyone puts up their scissors, and Bowens winds up to show ROCK!! Cover, Bowens wins!
Winner: Anthony Bowens, by pinfall
Caster is 0-8 at his own challenge, but the biggest thing about this is that Bowens is ready to make history! Will nothing and no one stop The 5 Tool Player from being THE Face of AEW?
When the chance is in front of you to build a legacy…
… how will you seize it? What lengths do you go to in your mind? Where do you allow yourself to go physically? Because any true Dynasty only exists when you win. On a night like this, in a city built by a championship grit, the moment is yours, so take it!
2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Will Ospreay VS Kevin Knight!
The Aerial Assassin and The Jet teamed together and were victorious, but now they must test each other as opponents. Ospreay already called his shot for All In: Texas, will he hit this one out of the park? Or will Knight be #2Fly2Stop now that he’s All Elite?
The bell rings and the fans sing for “OSPREAY~, OSPREAY OSPREAY OSPREAY~!” Knight smiles and brushes that off. Ospreay and Knight shake hands, the fans cheer the sportsmanship, and the two tie up. Knight wrenches to wristlock, but Ospreay uses the ropes to flip through. Ospreay wrenches and wristlocks, but Knight fights up. Knight rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to WRING Ospreay! The fans are torn as Knight smiles and eggs Ospreay on. Ospreay runs up, Knight hurdles then REVERSE MONKEY FLIPS Ospreay! Ospreay goes to a corner, Knight runs up to LARIAT, then he cravats for a snapmare.
Knight runs, SLIDING SHOULDER TACKLES, then covers, ONE!! Ospreay is tougher than that but Knight keeps cool. Knight stomps Ospreay, UPPERCUTS him, then wrenches and whips. Ospreay grabs ropes, then he FLAPJACKS Knight! Ospreay BOOTS Knight right out of the ring! The fans are thunderous already and Ospreay PLANCHAS! Down goes Knight at the ramp! The fans fire up, Ospreay bows to the Owen Hart Cup itself, and he puts Knight back in the ring. Ospreay springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Ospreay keeps his focus on Knight. Ospreay brings Knight up, and CHOPS!
The fans “WOO~” and Ospreay stalks Knight to a corner. Ospreay CHOPS Knight again! Knight goes to a corner, but he puts Ospreay in the corner to CHOP back! But Ospreay clamps on with a COBRA TWIST! Knight endures, but Ospreay digs his knuckles into Knight’s ribs! The fans rally, Knight pries at the hold, and Knight hip tosses free! Knight then drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay CHOPS! Ospreay whips Knight to a corner, but Knight comes back and CLOBBERS Ospreay! And CLOBBERS him again! Knight whips, Ospreay reverses, but Knight goes up and over to come back and LARIAT! The fans fire up with Knight now!
Knight scoops Ospreay, SLAMS him, then UFO SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is still in this and the fans rally up. Knight drags Ospreay up to fireman’s carry, but Ospreay slips free to spin Knight around! Knight fights the suplex, then Knight suplexes, but Ospreay STUN DOG MILLIONAIRES! Ospreay whips, Knight reverses, but Ospreay NEURALIZER KICKS! The fans fire up, Ospreay crawls to a cover, TWO! Knight stays in this and Ospreay nods. The fans rally up as Ospreay prepares the elbow pad. Ospreay aims from a corner, Knight rises, HIDDEN- NO, Knight hurdles over! And BOOTS in return!
Knight runs, BOOTS again, then reels Ospreay in! GERMAN SUPLEX, but Ospreay lands out! Ospreay CHOPS, runs, but Knight runs up! Ospreay gets around to SNAP GERMAN! Ospreay holds on, but Knight fires elbows! Ospreay CHOPS again, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! Knight gets air again and fires up! The fans cheer, Knight runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Ospreay rises first, and he drags Knight up. Ospreay CHOPS Knight back down! Ospreay stands Knight up again, and CHOPS! The fans rally and duel, and Knight stays on his feet! Ospreay CHOPS Knight again!
Knight glares up at Ospreay, shakes his head, so Ospreay eggs him on. The fans fire up as Knight fires a forearm! Ospreay CHOPS! Knight forearms, Ospreay CHOPS, repeat! Ospreay fires up, the fans are with him, and he CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Knight shakes his head, roars, and he fires forearm after forearm! The fans fire up as Knight fires shot after shot, then DECKS Ospreay!! Knight brings Ospreay up, whips, but Ospreay reverses! Knight ducks the chop to CHOP, then runs, into the TIGER WALL KCIK! Knight DROPKICKS first! Knight goes corner to corner but Ospreay BOOTS him! Ospreay goes up, Knight sends him to the UPPER ROOM!
Ospreay tumbles out, Knight builds speed, but Ospreay dodges! Knight slides out, goes up and over the corner to PLANCHA! Down goes Ospreay and the fans are thunderous! Knight says L F G, then puts Ospreay in the ring. Knight runs up, SATELLITE- NO, Ospreay puts Knight on the apron! Knight ROCKS Ospreay, but Ospreay KNEES him in return! Ospreay runs, FLYING SUNSET FLIPS, but Knight holds onto the ropes! Ospreay pries Knight free, tucks him in, but Knight sits back up! SATELLITE DDT to the ramp!! The fans are thunderous again, and even losing their minds, while both men are down.
Referee Aubrey Edwards checks both men, and somehow they’re both okay to continue. Knight rolls into the ring, but Ospreay is still down at 5 of 10! Ospreay stirs at 6, rises at 8, but Knight SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODIES! Direct hit at the ramp! The fans are electric as Knight puts Ospreay in, then somersaults for the SATELLITE DDT!! Cover, TWO!?! Ospreay survives all those high impacts and Knight is shocked! The fans rally and Knight goes a corner. “This is Awesome!” as Knight aims, springboards, but Ospreay dodges! Ospreay runs up, slips through the lariat, then hauls Knight up! Knight RANA, but Ospreay blocks it!
Ospreay raises Knight up, but Knight RANAS after all! Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay narrowly escapes and Philly is giving this a standing ovation! Ospreay ROCKS Knight, Knight wobbles but roars! Ospreay SWATS the lariat, HOOK KICKS, then calls his shot! OSC- DROPKICK! Antiair from Knight connects, then he hurries to the corner! Knight is up top, U F O LANDING!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay survives and Knight can’t believe it! Knight goes to a corner while the fans duel as hard as they can, and Knight springboards in! FLYING- CUTTER!! Ospreay hurries to springboard, but Knight catches him to a backslide! TWO!!!
Ospreay hauls Knight up to POWRBOMG, then STYLES CLASH!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay doesn’t hesitate, he just springboards, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO!!!! Knight survives again, but Ospreay aims again! HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, Ospreay wins!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
Knight wants to be #The1YouLookUp2, but Ospreay is still #OnAnotherLevel. They shake hands to show respect, and while Ospreay moves on in The Owen, Knight prepares for the Best of the Super Juniors. Will both these men be hoisting up trophies before the end of the summer?
AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith!
The Hurt Syndicate crashed the Private Party, they outdrew The Gunns, and they ran through the Outrunners. Needless to say, they’ve been dominant. But The Redwood & Bad Apple were given an ultimatum from Chris Jericho: They need to win something that matters, or be cut off from The Learning Tree. Will Bill & Keith finally win when it matters? Or will Lashley & Shelton show them how they hurt people?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who’s really the biggest and the baddest!
The teams sort out and MVP joins commentary. Lashley starts against Keith and the fans rally up. Keith backs off to a corner and the ref has Lashley step back. Keith then steps out from the corner, circles with Lashley, but then he tags Bill. The fans cheer for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” as Lashley and Bill stare down. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Lashley pulls hair, puts Bill in the corner, and he tags Shelton. Bill CLUBS Lashley then ROCKS Shelton! BOOT for Lashley, BOOT for Shelton, then Bill LARIATS Lashley up and out! Bill runs to LARIAT Shelton up and out! The fans fire up for Bill as he gets himself fired up!
Bill waits on the Hurt Syndicate, and MVP leaves commentary to he can huddle up with them. Philly cheers Bill on more while Lashley storms back into the ring. But then Shelton tags in, so Bill goes out after him! Bill ROCKS Shelton, puts him in the ring, but Shelton STEP-UP KNEES Bill! The fans fire up while Bill flops in! Shelton tags Lashley and they get Bill up. They mug Bill, Lashley bumps Bill off buckles, then RAMS into him again and again! The fans are torn, the ref counts, but Lashley lets off to flex. Lashley bumps Bill off buckles, tags Shelton, and Shelton fires hands. Shelton then winds up, but Bill UPPERCUTS!
Shelton dodges a lariat, waistlocks, but Bill powers him to the corner. Tag to Keith and Bill scoops Shelton to SLAM! Keith drops a KNEE on Shelton’s face! Cover, ONE!! Keith rains down fists, then lets off to stand Shelton up. Keith ROCKS Shelton, but Shelton snarls. Keith ROCKS Shelton, but Shelton LARIATS Keith! Shelton whips Keith, then BACKDROPS him! The fans fire up while Keith writhes. Shelton puts Keith in the corner, fires hands, then he tags Lashley. Shelton digs boots into Keith, and Lashley runs up, but he blocks Keith’s boot! Lashley LARIATS Keith down, and the fans fire up for Lashley!
Lashley drags Keith up, TOSSES him out, then tags Shelton. Shelton goes after Keith, and he RAMS him into the barriers! Then the apron! Then the barriers! Then the apron again! Shelton brings Keith around, to THROW into the barriers! The fans cheer and sing, “We Hurt~ People!” Shelton drags Keith back up and into the ring, then stalks him. Shelton keeps Keith from Bill, then tags Lashley. The Syndicate mugs Keith, then Lashley stares Bill down while he suplexes Keith! Lashley holds Keith up, and with one hand, before the SLAM! Cover, TWO! Keith snarls as he toughs it out, but Lashley stays on him for a gut wrench!
Lashley has the Canadian Rack, but Keith lands out of the Dominator! Lashley ducks a kick, rolls Keith up, TWO! Both men stand, Lashley runs up, but Keith sends him into buckles! The fans rally as Keith and Lashley crawl, hot tag to Shelton! Shelton pushes Keith back, blocks a boot, then kicks, only for Keith to block! Keith ducks the Dragon Whip! Hot tag to Bill! Bill LARIATS Shelton, DECKS Lashley, then LARIATS Shelton again! Bill sends Lashley into a corner, runs up and SPLASHES! SPLASH for Shelton! Another SPLASH for Lashley! Another SPLASH for Shelton! BOOT for Lashley and the fans fire up again!
But Shelton GERMAN SUPLEXES Bill?! Cover, TWO!! Bill snarls as he stays in this, but Shelton fires hands! Bill glares at Shelton while the fans sing, “We Hurt~ People!” Shelton runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Bill scoops for the SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, TWO! MVP is a bit worried but claims he’s on his feet to get a better look. Bill grabs Shelton for the SKYSCRAP- ARM-DRAG! And SUPERKICK! Shelton has Bill in a corner, runs up, but Bill BOOTS Shelton down! Tag to Keith, and Bill runs in for a SPLASH! But Lashley CLOBBERS Keith! Lashley then catches Bill to FLATLINER! The fans fire up while Lashley stalks Bill!
Lashley reels Bill in, but Bill scoops Lashley! SNAKE EYES, and a LARIAT! Lashley is outside the ring, Bill goes out after him! MVP argues with the ref as Bill runs up, but Lashley sends him into barriers! Lashley runs up, but into BOOTS! MJF is there?!? SUCKER PUNCH from MJF, then Lashley SPEARS Bill!! MJF applauds and the fans cheer! Lashley is pissed, he can’t believe MJF just helped him take out Big Bill! Lashley storms back to the corner, MJF shrugs, and The Syndicate sees Keith is all alone. Keith knows it, too, and Shelton GERMAN SUPLEXES him! Lashley adds a SPEAR!! Cover, Hurt Syndicate wins!
Winners: The Hurt Syndicate, by pinfall (still AEW World Tag Team Champions)
Maxwell Jacob Friedman said he’d prove himself to the Hurt Syndicate, and he gave them the unsolicited assist. Will Montel Vontavious Porter have to talk with him about it later? As for Bill & Keith, will this be the last straw with The Learning Tree?
2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Mercedes Mone VS Julia Hart!
The (self-proclaimed) greatest TBS Champion is facing a former TBS Champion, both of them wanting to win the Women’s Owen Hart Cup. Will #FourBeltsMone soon upgrade to five? Or will the Princess of the Black Throne soon become the Queen of Harts?
The bell rings and the fans duel. The two circle, tie up, and Mone waistlocks. Hart switches, then headlocks, but Mone powers up and out. Hart handsprings over and the fans cheer. Hart smiles, but Mone kicks low! Mone whips, but Hart blocks the hip toss! Mone blocks a hip toss, but Hart knees low and flips up and over! Mone takes a swing, Hart ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! Mone flounders to a corner, the fans fire up, and Hart runs up, only to be sent into buckles! Mone stomps a mudhole in, then digs her boots into Hart. The ref counts, Mone steps off and throws her armbands at Hary.
Harley Cameron is watching backstage with “Mini Mone,” and Mercedes Mone scoops Hart. Mone puts Hart in the Tree of Woe, then Mone stomps another mudhole in. The ref reprimands, Mone sneaks some heel kicks, then she gut wrenches Hart off the corner for CIPHER- NO, Hart victory rolls it! TWO and Mone victory rolls it! TWO, and Mone goes for the Gory Especial! Hart fights that to a backslide, TWO! Mone CHOPS! Hart sputters, Mone knuckle locks, and Mone goes up, up, but she slips! Mone arm-drags anyway, but the fans boo. Mone just does her dance to show it doesn’t matter. Mone then runs in at the corner, but Hart dodges!
Hart runs side to side, and Hart ELBOWS Mone! Hart wrenches the arm, and now she goes up the corner! Hart tightrope walks to go Old School! The fans cheer and Hart runs to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Hart dribbles Mone off the mat and the fans fire up! Cover, TWO! Mone bails out but Hart storms out after her. Mone grabs Hart’s legs, Hart kicks her away, then cartwheels to dodge! But Mone still RAMS her into the barriers! Mone then goes to the apron, and she METEORAS to the floor! Mone grins and points to the Owen Hart Cup. The fans duel, Mone drags Hart up and makes her look at the trophy. Mone puts Hart in the ring, covers, TWO!
Mone is annoyed but she clamps onto Hart to KNEE her in the back again and again! Mone runs and METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Hart stays in this and Mone is annoyed. Mone paces, the fans rally up, but Mone drags Hart to her feet. Mone scoops and SLAMS Hart, then pretends she can’t hear the fans. Mone clamps onto a chinlock while the fans duel, and Hart endures as Mone squeezes tight. Hart fights up and JAWBREAKERS free! Then she cradles Mone, TWO! Mone DROPKICKS Hart down! Cover, TWO! Mone grows frustrated but she looms over Hart. Mone drags Hart up, reels her in, and snap suplexes!
Mone rises up, that’s just Una Amiga. Then she hits Dos Amigas! The fans boo, but Hart wrenches and WRINGS Mone’s arm! Then STANDING MOONSAULT, but onto knees! Mone covers, TWO! Hart stays in this and Mone is furious! Mone drags Hart up and scoops her into the Tree of Woe! Mone stomps away again, then sits down to mock Hart. Mone SLAPS Hart, then goes out to the apron. Mone soaks up the cheers and jeers, then climbs up the corner, only for Hart to sit up! SPIDER SUPLEX! The fans fire up while Hart shakes her head. Mone runs back in, but Hart sits up! Mone POSTS herself, falls to the floor, and Hart is up top! SUPER CROSSBODY!
The fans fire up while both women are down! Hart drags Mone up and puts her in the ring, but Mone scoops her! Hart tilt-o-whirls through to DDT! Cover, TWO! Mone survives and Hart grows frustrated. Hart drags Mone up, runs, and tilt-o-whirls again, but Mone stops that to CIPHER UTAKI! Both women are down and the fans fire up! Mone and Hart crawl to center, and Mone brings Hart up. Mone goes for the Gory Especial, but Harty sunset flips! Mone stops that, drags Hart up, but Hart trips Mone to a jackknife bridge! TWO, Mone high stacks! TWO, and Mone Gory Especials! Hart fights it, so Mone THROWS her to the corner!
Mone SLAPS Hart, then runs, but Hart goes up to catch Mone into a TARANTULA!! Mone endures, the fans fire up, and Hart lets go at 4. Hart then steps in, tilt-o-whirl and IRON OCTOPUS! Mone endures, reaches out, and fights her way over to RAM Hart into buckles! Roll-up and TWO! Hart kicks, Mone blocks, and Mone KNEES her! Mone staggers up, into BOOTS! Hart stomps Mone for good measure before she climbs the corner. The fans fire up, and HART SAULT into BOOTS! BACKSTABBER! Mone drags Hart back up, another BACKSTABBER! The fans boo while Mone looms over Hart. Mone clamps on, but Hart fights the drop!
Hart pries free, ELBOWS Mone, then ROCKS her! Hart runs, slips around, CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Both women are down and the fans fire up again! Hart grabs at Mone, but Mone reels her into the CROSSFACE!! Hart endures, reaches out, but Mone is between her and ropes! Hart pries at the hold, and opens it up to put on the HARTLESS LOCK!! Mone flails, the fans are thunderous, but Mone pushes to a cover, TWO!! Mone has the CROSSFACE again!! Hart’s arms are free but the facelock is on tight! The fans rally for Hart as she crawls, rolls, and has the cover! TWO, but the CROSSFACE is on deep!
Hart endures, the fans rally harder, and Hart keeps fighting! Mone shifts sides to pull way back! Hart keeps clawing at the mat, rolls again, then slips out to OKLAHOMA ROLL! TWO!! Mone has the SEATBELT! Mone wins!!
Winner: Mercedes Mone, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
The CEO had one of her toughest matches yet, but she’s the one that cashes in! We now see Athena is watching backstage, and Athena will face Harley Cameron in their own opening round match. Who will Mone meet in the semifinals?
AEW World Trios Championships: The Death Riders VS Rated FTR!
These teams have battled before, but that was when Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta & Pac were trying to keep Adam Copeland from the AEW World Championship. That mission had Dax Harwood feeling like he and Cash Wheeler were taking a backseat on a detour that went nowhere, but that disagreement has since ironed out. Will Cope, Dax & Cash soon reign together? Or will the Swiss Cyborg, Decoder & Bastard continue to hold these titles hostage?
Philly sings Metalingus to the end, just for Cope, “CHANCE TO FEEL ALIIIIIIIVE~!” Then The Death Riders make their entrance, and the fans boo. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see which side falls apart first!
The trios sort out and Dax starts against Pac. They circle, the fans rally behind Rated FTR, but also chant, “F U, YUTA!” Dax and Pac tie up, go to a corner, and they turn things around back and forth. Pac is in the ropes as a defense and the ref has Dax back up. Dax and Pac reset, tie up, and Pac headlocks. Dax powers up and out, but Pac runs him over! Pac runs, Dax drops down, but Pac slides under a boot to roll Dax up! TWO, and Pac waistlocks to O’Conner BRIDGE! TWO, but Pac wrenches Dax to a BACKDROP! Pac drags Dax over, BRUTALIZER, but Dax has the ROPEBREAK! Pac lets go and Dax is frustrated already.
Cope & Cash coach Dax to keep cool, then Cope tags in. The fans cheer as The Rated R Superstar tells off Claudio & Yuta. Cope and Pac tie up, they end up in a corner, and the ref counts the break. Pac lets go, but then wrenches the arm! Tag to Yuta and Philly boos their hometown villain! Yuta wrenches Cope to YANK the arm, then he wristlocks. Cope pulls Yuta’s shaggy beard and TOSSES him to a corner! Cope ROCKS Yuta, ROCKS him again, then tags Cash. Cope whips Yuta for Cash to slingshot SHOULDER TACKLE! Cover, ONE!! Yuta stands but Cash CHOPS him! Yuta goes to a corner, Cash UPPERCUTS! And CHOPS!
Cash bumps Yuta off buckles, wrenches him, then tags Cope. They whip Yuta for a DOUBLE FLAPJACK! Yuta flounders, but Pac runs in! So he gets a DOUBLE FLAPJACK! Claudio tags in then runs up, but Cope & Cash dodge for Dax to fire haymakers! Claudio staggers, Cash & Cope join in! Rated FTR pinballs Claudio, then Cash goes up! Cope & Dax hoist Claudio up to Cash for a SUPER POWERSLAM! Cover, but Yuta is in! Dax LARIATS Yuta, Cope LARIATS Pac! Cash covers, TWO! Claudio bails out, Cash DIVES out onto him! The fans fire up with Cash and he puts Claudio back in the ring.
Cash climbs, but Pac runs up! Cash kicks at Pac, the ref backs Pac off, but Yuta SHOVES Cash into the UPPERCUT! Claudio drags Cash over, tags Pac, and the Death Riders stomp away! The ref counts, Pac tells the fans off, and then Pac glares at Dax. Cash sputters to ropes, but he’s far from his team. Pac stomps Cash, then runs to BOOT him down! Pac soaks up the heat, then he drags Cash over. Tag to Claudio, the Death Riders mug Cash and Claudio stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, and Claudio tags Yuta in. The fans boo even louder now, but Yuta & Claudio still mug Cash. Yuta snapmares Cash, drops a knee, then covers, ONE!
Yuta clamps onto Cash with a chinlock and he grinds Cash down. Cash fights up, fires body shots, then he headlocks. Yuta powers up and out, drops down, but Cash catches him into a POWERSLAM! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Pac runs in and BLASTS Dax, but Cope DECKS Pac! Pac crawls, he brings Yuta with him, hot tag to Claudio and- Dax?! Dax takes that from Cope so he can fire hands on all of the Death Riders! Dax rains down fists int he corner on Claudio, then CROSSBODIES Pac! Atomic drop for Yuta, then a whip, but Yuta reverses, only for Dax to reverse back and LARIAT! Dax whips Claudio, Claudio reverses, but Dax reverses to LARIATR!
Claudio stays up and roars! Dax LARIATS again, and again, but then Claudio dodges to POP-UP- NO! Backslide! TWO!! Claudio stands, but Dax trips him! Yuta scrambles in to DECK Dax! Cope grabs Yuta for the GRINDHOUSE CROSSFACE! Claudio is up, he trips Cash! Dax trips Pac! DUELING SHARPSHOOTERS!! The fans are thunderous as Claudio and Dax trade SLAP after SLAP! They let the others go so they can slap and fire furious fists! Dax runs, into a POP-UP UPPERCUT! Cope runs up, Claudio POP-UP UPPERCUTS! Claudio LARIATS Cash, then roars! The fans fire up, but then Yuta tags in so now they boo!
Claudio has Dax by the legs and SWINGS him around! We go to TEN and Yuta DROPKICKS Dax! Cover, TWO!! Dax survives and Yuta is furious! The fans tell Yuta off but he rains down fists on Dax! Yuta tags Claudio, they get Dax up, then tag to Pac. They send Dax to a corner, Yuta ELBOWS, Claudio UPPERCUTS, Pac ELBOWS, and repeat! The cycle of violence continues, then feed to the gut wrench! Pac gives Dax a TOMBSTONE while Claudio BLASTS Cope! Yuta is up top, FASTBALL SPECIAL! Pac goes up, ANOTHER FASTBALL!! Cover, Cash breaks it!! The fans are thunderous as Cash saves this one for the team!
Claudio drags Dax up, puts him in the corner, then Yuta sends him in. Dax dodges, Claudio POSTS himself! Dax dodges Yuta to hot tag Cope! Cope CLOBBERS Yuta & Pac, then whips Yuta for a BACKDROP! Cope DECKS Pac, FLAPJACKS Yuta, then IMPALER for Pac! Cover, TWO!! Pac survives and the fans fire up again! Cope hauls Pac up, hoists him to the top rope, and he tags Cash. Cash tags Dax, and they go to the adjacent corners! Cope brings Pac up for the SUPERPLEX! There’s Power, Cash hits GLORY! Dax hits DIVING HEADBUTT! Cover, Claudio breaks it! The fans boo, but Claudio BOOTS Cash! Cope LARIATS Claudio!
Yuta MISSILE DROPKICKS Cope, then kips up! Dax POP-UP SLINGSHOT POWERBOMBS Yuta! But Pac ghost pins Dax, TWO!! Pac clamps on with the BRUTALIZER!! Dax endures, Claudio intercepts Cope, and Yuta hurries to grab Cash in a SLEEPER! The fans boo but Cash drags Yuta from the ropes! Cash runs to FALL onto Pac! The fans are thunderous as Cash saves Dax again! Claudio and Cope are on the outside, and Cope whips Claudio into railing! The fans rally for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” while Pac crawls away. Pac tags Yuta, the fans boo, but Yuta aims at Dax. Dax stands, but SHATTER MACHINE hits! Cope SPEARS Yuta!! Dax covers, CLAUDIO BREAKS IT!!
The fans can’t believe it as this one keeps going! Cash drags Pac up, and suplexes Pac and himself up and out of the ring! Cope has Claudio on the outside, but now Claudio whips Cope into railing! Cope comes back to SPEAR Claudio down!! Dax and Yuta are in the ring and “This is Awesome!” Cope slides in, and he’s in a corner. Yuta rises up, Cope runs in, but Yuta hurdles! Cope avoids spearing Dax, but Yuta shoves Cope into Dax! Then BUSAIKU KNEE on Dax! Cover, DEATH RIDERS WIN!
Winners: The Death Riders, by pinfall (still AEW World Trios Champions)
The Decoder gets a win in his hometown, and they hate him for it! But it was really the fact Rated FTR was not 100% on the same page that allows the Death Riders to survive! Will their reign of terror define AEW in 2025?
As for Rated FTR, they are frustrated with how this went, but Cope still offers Dax his hand. Their miscommunication did cost them, but they hug it out. The fans cheer as the three stand together, but then Dax reels Cope in!? PILEDRIVER?!? The fans boo and Cash is stunned! How could Dax do that to a man with a bad neck like Cope?! But then Dax grabs chairs!! Dax storms into the ring, and he puts one down to put Cope’s head on it! And he has the other chair, to offer to Cash?! Dax wants Cash to have the honors?! Cash says hell no, and he SHOVES Dax down! The fans cheer Cash having the level head, and he helps Cope up.
Cash then feeds Cope to Dax?! SHATTER MACHINE?!?! FTR is united after all, and now they hit a FULL METAL MIND BREAKER!!!! Cope is helpless as Dax puts the chair back under Cope’s head, but then Cash takes the other chair after all! CON-CHAIR-TO!!! And then ANOTHER CON-CHAIR-TO!!!! FTR don’t even let the medics get in, and Cash steals the neck brace to wear it mockingly! Cash hops onto the stretcher and Dax pretends to give him CPR. Cash “revives” and he says Cope needs the brace more than he does. Dax & Cash leave Cope, and now the medical team can put on the neck brace and even place Cope on the backboard.
From there, Cope is taken out of the ring and put on the stretcher to be wheeled to the back. The fans cheer in hopes Cope will be alright, but it might be too soon to tell. Needless to say, the question isn’t “What’s next for FTR?” but #WhyFTRWhy?
AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm w/ Luther VS Megan Bayne w/ Penelope Ford!
After the epic conclusion to the incredible trilogy against Mariah May, Timeless Toni has perhaps shifted genres to star in a mix between Greek mythology and gritty sports drama. The underdog champion even gives us her take on a Rocky Balboa training montage for her entrance! But will she unlock the Eye of the Tiger? Or will this be more Wrath of the Titans?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who eats thunder and craps lightning!
The bell rings, the fans rally behind Toni, and the two storm up. They tie up, and Megan powers Toni to a corner. The ref counts, Megan lets off with a smirk, but the fans rally for “TONI! TONI STORM~!” The two tie up, but Megan throws Toni away! Toni storms back up, headlocks, but Megan powers up! Megan powers out, then she runs Toni over! Megan soaks up the heat while Toni rises up. Megan scoops, Toni slips free to waistlock, but Megan RAMS her into a corner! Megan runs, but into a BOOT! Toni then goes up and over, keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Megan catches the crossbody! Megan pops Toni around, but Toni slips free!
Toni RAMS Megan into a corner, whips, but Megan reverses. Toni goes up and up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up but Ford panics! Toni KICKS Megan, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Megan blocks! EXPLODER! The fans boo but Megan looms over Toni. Megan drags Toni up, scoops her, and holds her up before she SLAMS him down! Megan “kicks dirt” at Toni, then drags her back up. Megan whips Toni to the corner, Toni bounces off buckles, and Megan scoops! The fans rally for Toni but Megan gives her a FALL AWAY SLAM! Megan runs and BOOTS Toni off the apron! Luther is there to help coach Toni, but Megan builds speed!
Megan DIVES, and down goes Luther at the ramp! Toni kicks Megan and uses Luther as a boost for a TORNADO DDT to the floor! The fans fire up and Toni drags Megan up into the ring. The fans rally as Toni climbs, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Megan is still in this and she goes to the ropes. Toni is on Megan with a whip, but Megan reverses. Ford trips Toni up while Megan distracts the ref! Then Megan BOOTS Toni down! The fans boo but Ford applauds while Megan paces. Megan drags Toni up, then RAMS her into a corner! Megan RAMS Toni in again and again and again, but she stops as the ref counts 4.
Megan snarls and winds up to CHOP! Megan talks trash on the fans, then whips Toni corner to corner. Megan runs in and SPLASHES, then she BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! Toni writhes and Megan is having fun now. Megan soaks up the heat while Toni crawls to ropes. Ford taunts Toni then cheers on Megan as Megan scuffs Toni again and again. The ref backs Megan off, but Ford CHOKES Toni! Ford gets away with that, and Megan drags Toni up. Toni fires body shots, but there isn’t much to them. Megan short arm LARIATS! And short arm LARIATS! And then short arm LARIATS again! Megan is toying with Toni at this point but the fans still rally.
Megan drags Toni up, puts her on the ropes and CHOKES her! Ford poses with Megan but the ref counts. Megan stops at 4, then Ford CHOKES Toni again! The fans boo but Ford licks Toni! And no biting this time! Toni still gets up to CHOP Megan, and CHOP, and forearm, and repeat! Toni runs, and THESZ- NO, Megan catches Toni to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Then another OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Ford loves it, and Megan hauls Toni up again! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Megan drags Toni to a cover, TWO!! Toni stays in this and Ford argues the count. Megan just rains down forearms! Cover, TWO!
Megan SLAPS Toni! Megan stalks Toni to the ropes, CHOKES her again, then lets off. Ford storms up to CHOKE Toni some more! The fans boo, but Luther drags Ford away with an Electric Chair! Ford freaks out, Megan is furious, but now things are even! Toni fires forearms on Megan and the fans fire up! Megan swings, misses, and Toni ROCKS Megan! Megan roars, Toni dodges, and Toni hits the THESZ PRESS! And rains down fast hands! The fans fire up but Megan pushes free. Toni roars and she runs in for a SPLASH! The fans fire up as Toni hits a TORNADO DDT! Toni isn’t done, she ties up Megan’s legs for a QUEEN ANGELITO STRETCH!
Megan endures, reaches out, and the fans rally as Toni pulls on the facelock! But Megan powers up with her arms alone, and she drags Toni along to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Toni lets go in frustration, but Toni brings Megan in. Megan BACKDROPS Toni to the apron! Toni ROCKS Megan, Megan ROCKS Toni! Megan goes up the ropes and brings Toni in with a deadlift BACK SUPLEX! Megan then drags Toni to the drop zone, goes up the corner, but Toni waistlocks! Megan ELBOWS Toni away, climbs more, but Toni is right after her! SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX!! A rough landing for them both and the fans are stunned!
The fans rally for “Women’s Wrestling!” while both women are down, and the standing count climbs. We pass 5 of 10, but both women sit up at 7. Toni grabs Megan to CLUB her! Megan ROCKS Toni! Toni ROCKS Megan, but Megan ROCKS Toni! The forearms keep going, then Toni fires a flurry! Toni has Megan in the corner and fires more shots! The fans are thunderous for Storm, but Megan BOOTS her! Megan runs, but Toni dodges! SNAP GERMAN! Megan flounders, Toni has her closeup, but Megan stops the hip attack! Megan carries Toni for a GERMAN SUPLEX of her own! Megan huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Toni back up!
Megan suplexes, for the FALCON DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Toni survives and the fans fire up! Megan is furious, but she drags Toni up to the fireman’s carry! Toni hits a crucifix takedown, TWO! Toni dodges the boot, waistlocks, but Megan switches! Toni fights the German Suplex to switch and GERMAN SUPELX! Megan flounders to a corner and the fans fire up! SWEET HIP MUSIC! But Megan rises?! So Toni HEADBUTTS her back down! Toni goes to the corner, she gets another closeup, and she runs in, SWEET HIP MUSIC!! And then a THIRD SWEET HIP MUSIC!! Toni isn’t done, here’s THE FOURTH!!
Toni drags Megan up for STORM ZERO!! Cover, ONE?!?!? Megan is truly superhuman and Toni has no idea what to do! Toni kicks Megan low, reels her in, but Megan BACKDROPS free! And LARIATS! And LEAPING LARIATS!! Megan isn’t done, she hauls Toni up for a SIT-OUT POWERBOMB!! The fans boo but Megan drags Toni up again. Fireman’s carry, and “BOW! DOWN!!” FATE’S- CRADLE!! TONI WINS!!
Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall (still AEW Women’s World Champion)
In a very Rocky way, the champ took hit after hit but still pulled out the victory! Megan is still a monster, will she simply go on a rampage until she’s back again?
2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis VS Mark Briscoe!
For the fourth time already, we see The Aussie Arrow and the Sussex County Chicken cross paths in a 1v1 showdown. Kyle trails in the series and that really sticks in his craw. Will Mark #ManUp and make things 3-1? Or will The Protostar be the one taking a step closer to the Owen Hart Cup?
Mark makes his entrance and Kyle DIVES onto him at the ramp! The fans boo but Kyle puts Mark in the ring and the ref rings the bell! OFF COME THE PANTS, and Kyle GAMANGIRIS Mark in the corner! Kyle then brings Mark in, grins, and suplexes, but Mark cradle counters! TWO! Mark clinches to EXPLODER! Kyle tumbles out, Mark builds speed, but Mark blocks a boot to UPPERCUT! Don Callis is on commentary to complain about Redneck Kung-Fu, just like he did on Collision. Mark goes to the apron to join Kyle, but Kyle SUPERKICKS him first! Kyle then runs up, but Mark BACKDROPS Kyle to the apron!
The fans fire up while Kyle hobbles around, and Kyle BLOCKBUSTERS to the floor! Mark grabs a chair, tosses it into the ring, but the ref tells him not to use it. The fans boo because they know how Mark gets down. Mark says, “Boo this man!” The fans boo the ref, but the chair is still put aside. Mark WRECKS Kyle with a dropkick, then he fires hands. Mark stomps Kyle down, then high-fives the front row. Mark goes up onto the barriers, the fans cheer more, and BANG BANG! FOLEY ELBOW DROP! Philly appreciates that, and Mark goes looking. Mark brings out another chair! The fans cheer as Mark puts that in the ring.
The ref reprimands Mark, so Mark just puts more chairs in! The ref does his best to clear those out but Mark keeps adding more chairs! The fans cheer as Mark finally sits one up! Mark builds speed but Kyle gets in! SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF onto the chair! Cover, TWO!! Mark survives being hoisted on his own petard, and we see Konosuke Takeshita watching. Konosuke likes how his felly Don Callis Family member is doing, but the fans rally for #DemBoys! Kyle KICKS Mark to a corner, then fires forearms and body shots! The ref counts, Kyle sits Mark down, and then he soaks up the heat! The fans boo Kyle while he flexes on the corner.
Kyle hops down and drags Mark up. Kyle wrenches and scoops to SLAM, then he paces. The fans tell off Callis even though he’s just on commentary. Kyle tells the fans to hush, then he drags Mark up. Mark CHOPS, ROCKS, and repeat! The fans fire up but Kyle scoops and SLAMS Mark again! Kyle then basement SUPERKICKS! Kyle grins, brushes himself off, then taunts Mark. Mark goes to ropes, Kyle eggs him on, but Mark REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUTS! Mark CHOPS and ROCKS Kyle, then UPPERCUTS again! Mark whips, Kyle reverses, but Mark goes up, out, only for Kyle to BOOT him down!
The fans boo but Kyle brushes off his boot. Kyle then goes out and fetches Mark. Kyle reels Mark in, then hoists Mark up for an APRON POWERBOMB! Mark falls in a heap but Kyle grins. Kyle drags Mark up, to APRON POWERBOMB again! Kyle drags Mark up again, but the ref wants him to stop. Kyle says fine, fine. But then he BARRIER BOMBS Mark instead!! Kyle leaves Mark behind, and he soaks up the heat while he flexes again. Mark flounders while the ring count climbs, and Kyle paces while he waits. Mark drags himself up at 6, flops at 7, but springs in at 9! The fans cheer and Kyle is annoyed. Mark drags himself up while the fans rally again.
Kyle runs corner to corner, GAMANGIRI!! And then he hoists Mark up top, climbs up to join him, and Kyle hushes the fans. But Mark fires body shots! The fans fire up as Mark BITES Kyle’s forehead! Mark SHOVES Kyle down, Kyle tumbles, and Mark aims! MISSILE DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! A standing count starts, and now we see Brody King watching. Kyle stalks Mark, but Mark CHOPS! And ROCKS! And CHOPS! Kyle bumps Mark off buckles to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Mark CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! And again! Kyle knees low, KNEES again, then KNEES again!
Kyle soaks up heat, then runs the ropes, but Mark dodges and comes back! Kyle dodges, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! The fans rally, Mark and Kyle rise up, and they both nod. They fire forearms back and forth! Mark ROCKS Kyle, Kyle ROCKS Mark, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots keep going, then Mark gets the edge! Mark winds up, but Kyle BOOTS first! Kyle whips, Mark ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Kyle! Kyle goes to a corner, Mark runs up, and Mark LARIATS! Mark reels Kyle in, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives but Mark is not deterred!
Mark drags Kyle up, CHOPS, then fireman’s carries. Kyle grabs ropes, Mark pries him free, but Kyle gets around! Mark fights the Half ‘n’ Half, elbows free, but Kyle SUPERKICKS! Kyle reels Mark in, but Mark slips out of the bomb to fireman’s carry! Kyle fights free of that to reverse suplex and gut wrench, to LAWN DART! The fans fire up while both men are down! Kyle and Mark stir, and Mark is on the apron. Kyle reels Mark in through the ropes but Mark fires body shots. Kyle KICKS Mark, then goes to the apron! Kyle brings Mark in, but Mark fireman’s carries! Kyle fights free again to ENZIGIRI! And SUPERKICK!
Kyle reels Mark in, grins, and suplexes to APRON BRAINBUSTER!! Kyle drags Mark into the ring, suplexes again, another BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Mark survives and shocks Kyle! Callis storms off commentary to argue with the ref, but that was a fair count! Kyle drags Mark up, puts him in the corner, and he puts Mark back up top. Kyle SLAPS Mark, then climbs. Kyle suplexes Mark, but Mark slips free! Mark SLAPS Kyle on the back! And then straitjacket and torture racks! But Kyle grabs the ropes! Mark SLAPS Kyle’s back again, then goes up to HEADBUTT the back of Kyle’s head again and again!
Mark lifts Kyle with the crucifix, for a B T BOMB!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Kyle survives, but Mark SLIDING LARIATS! Mark hurries up and the fans are thunderous! FROGGY-BOW!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Kyle survives again and Callis can breathe again! Mark reaches for the sky and calls his shot! Underhooks, but Kyle spins and victory rolls, TWO! Mark rolls Kyle up, TWO!! Mark kicks low, underhooks, but Kyle wrenches out and suplexes! But Mark slips free again! Straitjacket, torture rack, CUTTHROAT DRIVER!!! Callis is freaking out, but both men are down! Philly is thunderous, but then Kyle flops out of the ring!
Mark says whatever, and he goes up top! Mark aims to SUPER FROGGY-BOW!!! Mark hurries to get Kyle back in, and he goes right back up! FROGGY-BOW!!! But into BOOTS!! Kyle runs and GAMANGIRIS again! Then GAMANGIRIS again!! Kyle hoists Mark right up top, climbs right up after him, and shouts as he hits the TOP ROPE BRAINBUSTER!!!! Cover, KYLE WINS!
Winner: Kyle Fletcher, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
The series is 2-2, but Kyle gets his win in the spotlight! Will The Protostar soon stand atop all of AEW?
ROH World Championship Title VS Mask: Chris Jericho VS Bandido!
The Learning Tree can never leave anything at just a victory. He already beat The Most Wanted in a standard title match, but he still felt Bandido needed to learn his place. Jericho humiliated and perhaps even traumatized Bandido’s family by beating Gravity down in front of their mother and sister, and then he stole Gravity’s mask! Bandido took his brother’s mask back, but now he must put his own mask on the line tonight. Will Bandido win it all or lose it all here in the City of Brotherly Love?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly El Campeon de Honor!
The Code of Honor is skipped, the bell rings, and CODE BREAKER outta nowhere!! Cover, TWO!! Bandido survives that sudden shot, but Jericho rains down fists! The fans boo Jericho but he mocks them. Jericho CHOPS Bandido, whips him, then CLOBBERS him! LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Bandido stays in this but Jericho soaks up the heat. Jericho wants Bandido’s mom & sister to see as he rains down fists! Jericho CHOPS Bandido, then CHOPS again! Jericho whips, Bandido handsprings, but Jericho dodges! Jericho BOOTS Bandido down, then BOOT- NO, Bandido goes Matrix and even headstands!
Jericho runs up, Bandido dodges, then TOSSES Jericho out! Bandido runs to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp but Bandido reloads! The fans fire up as Bandido FLIES! Down goes Jericho at the ramp! The fans fire up, Bandido drags Jericho up, and Bandido whips Jericho hard into railing! And then into more railing! Bandido hugs his mom and tells her, “Tranquilo.” Bandido puts Jericho in the ring, climbs up the corner, and TORNILLO! Cover, TWO! Jericho stays in this but Bandido argues it. The count is the count, so Bandido drags Jericho up. Bandido reels Jericho in, suplexes, and he holds Jericho up with one arm!
The fans count with Bandido, and he goes past TEN to then go to TWENTY! Then THIRTY!! The count keeps going and Philly loves it! FORTY!! Jericho is red in the face as we hit FIFTY!! Then SIXTY!! A full minute of suplex and the fans fire up! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives but the fans rally behind Bandido! Bandido drags Jericho up, whips him to a corner, but Jericho reverses. Bandido goes up, out, and Jericho is sputtering from that stalling suplex! Jericho flops out of the ring, so Bandido DROPKICKS him into the post! Bandido fires forearms, then runs up again, but Jericho pops him up! POWERBOMB from apron to floor!!
The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref checks and somehow Bandido is still in this. Jericho stands and soaks up the heat. But then he stares down Bandido’s mom! “You gonna cry again?!” Mom and daughter, and all of Philly, cheers for Bandido! Jericho flips them all off for it! Jericho goes back to the ring as the count climbs. Bandido is still down at 7 of 20, then 10! Jericho soaks up the heat, then lounges in the corner. Bandido rises at 12, but he still needs to drag himself up. Bandido rolls in at 15! The fans chant at Jericho, “Please Retire!” Jericho drags Bandido up to hit a BIG back suplex! Cocky cover, TWO!
Jericho paces while the fans boo. Jericho SLAPS Bandido while he’s down! Bandido sits up but Jericho slaps him more. Bandido SLAPS! Jericho SLAPS! It is a SLAP fight! Bandido fires a flurry of forearms, then runs, but into a BOOT! Cover, TWO! Jericho is annoyed but he mocks the fans booing him. Jericho drags Bandido up, but Bandido blocks the punches to fire body shots! They brawl, and Jericho gets the edge again! Jericho whips, Bandido KICKS him, then runs! Tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Jericho tumbles away and the fans fire up! Bandido feeds off that energy and he shakes the ropes! Bandido SOBATS, KNEES, and JUMP SOBATS!
Jericho falls, the fans fire up, and Bandido runs, but into a DROPKICK! Bandido goes to the apron, and Jericho shouts at Bandido’s mom again! The fans boo Jericho, but Bandido gets up to jump and SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives but mom and sister still cheer Bandido. Bandido goes up, up, but Jericho trips him! Jericho CHOPS Bandido, and CHOPS, and then climbs up the corner. Jericho soaks up heat, then he rains down fists! Jericho goes to NUEVE! “Hi, guys!” TEN! SUPER- NO!! Bandido stops the Super Steiner and hoists Jericho back up! But Jericho SUPER RANAS after all!!
Jericho rises, the fans boo, but Bandido gorilla presses Jericho! One arm! And the SLAM! Then Bandido goes up, up, and Latino Heat before the FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Bandido shouts out Eddie but Jericho knew Eddie well! The fans rally for Bandido as he rises back up. Jericho goes to a corner, Bandido runs in, but Jericho puts him on the apron! Bandido GAMANGIRIS, goes up top, and he TORNILLOS into a CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! Bandido survives and the fans fire up! Bandido and Jericho sit up, and they’re back to back. They look over their shoulders at each other, and they nod. Time for five paces to the corners!
The fans rally as both men march, but then Jericho SUCKER PUNCHES Bandido! Roll up, feet on the ropes! TWO!! Jericho goes up, “Hi, Guys~!” But Bandido stops the headscissors! Jericho shifts to roll Bandido into a cradle, TWO!! Bandido BOOTS Jericho, reels him in, gut wrench and torture rack! X KNEE!! Jericho staggers, he’s on the ropes! Bandido deals the hand, BLACKJACK- NO, Jericho stalls, then victory rolls, TWO!! Both men stand, Jericho trips Bandido! WALLS OF JERICHO!! Bandido endures as Jericho sits deep on that back! Bandido claws at the mat, the fans rally, and Bandido powers up to fight his way forward!
Jericho still sits deep on the hold, but Bandido still makes the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Jericho holds on but the ref counts! Jericho lets go at 4, but he shoves the ref! The ref warns him, the fans fire up, and Bandido SUPERKICKS Jericho! Both men are down again and the fans rally! Wait! Bryan Keith hobbles out here! The ref stops The Bad Apple, but GRAVITY is here! Gravity fires off hands on Keith to help protect his brother! More refs come out here, but Jericho grabs Floyd the Baseball Bat!! The fans boo, but Jericho CLOBBERS Bandido!! Jericho hides the evidence, then he crawls over to cover! JERICHO WINS?!?!
Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall (still ROH World Champion)
Wait, Aubrey hears from Bandido’s mom and sister. They protest how this happened, but Jericho wants this to wrap up already. The family exposes the BAT! The fans cheer but Jericho is furious! The refs all talk this out, and Justin Roberts makes the announcement: This match must CONTINUE! The fans cheer as justice is served, but can Bandido recover after taking that shot? Wait, Jericho grabs Bandido’s sister!! But she SLAPS Jericho!! Bandido BOOTS Jericho, then scoops him! Torture rack and X KNEE!! Jericho staggers to the ropes, BLACKJACK 21 PLEX!! Bridging cover, Bandido wins!!
Winner: Bandido, by pinfall (NEW ROH World Champion)
Now THIS is justice! Bandido regains the title he never truly lost, and he also keeps his mask and defends his family’s honor! If Jericho is no longer champion, what is The Learning Tree to do now?
AEW TNT Championship, No Time Limit, Full Ringside Ban: Daniel Garcia VS Adam Cole!
It has been quite the back and forth between these two. While the Undisputed Kingdom has had 2Point0’s number in trios matches, interference ruined the first TNT Championship match, and then time ran out on the second. But now there’s nothing to it but to do it! Will Red Death prove himself under the spotlight? Or will this title finally be Undisputed?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly worthy of this title!
The bell rings and the fans fire up. Cole and Garcia step up, talk a bit of smack, and then they tie up. They’re in a deadlock, then break, and tie up again. They break, and Garcia pie faces Cole! Cole pie faces back! The forearms fly and the fans fire up! The fans duel as Garcia kicks low then CHOPS Cole in the corner. Cole turns things around to ROCK and CHOP Garcia! Cole whips, Garcia dodges the boot and SHOTGUNS Cole down! Philly is torn while Cole goes to a corner. Garcia runs up to LARIAT Cole in the corner, then he wraps Cole’s arms around the ropes! The ref counts while Garcia pulls, and Garcia lets go to put a leg on the ropes!
Garcia CHOPS Cole, climbs up, and he rains down fists! The fans count along, Garcia stops at nine to wind up, and TEN! The fans cheer but Garcia wags his finger, because he goes for another round! But Cole DUMPS Garcia out at 15 total! Cole hits a SUPERKICK and Garcia hits the floor! The fans rally and duel as Cole goes to the apron. Cole takes aim, but Garcia avoids the Panama Sunrise! Cole hobbles from the bad foot jamming! Garcia SHOTGUNS Cole into railing! The fans rally while Garcia gets space. Cole flounders, but Garcia storms up to stomp away on the bad leg! The ref has Garcia back off so he can check Cole.
Cole is in the ring, and he insists he can continue. Garcia and Cole circle, but Garcia still dropkicks the bad leg! Cole clutches the foot but Garcia grabs it! Garcia GROUND DRAGON SCREWS the leg! Cole crawls to ropes, Garcia puts him in a corner to fire body shots. The fans rally, Garcia puts Cole’s leg in the ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Garcia lets go, to then DROPKICK the leg! Cole falls over in a heap while fans are torn. Garcia puts the leg on the ropes to stand on it! The ref counts, Garcia steps off, and Garcia drags Cole around to hook up the legs. Cole resists while the fans duel, but Garcia rises up to do his dance! Then he STOMPS the legs!
Basement dropkick and Garcia covers, TWO! Cole stays tough but Garcia drags him up. Cole fires body shots, Garcia backs off, but then he grabs that bad leg! DRAGON SCREW, and FOOT DDT! Then Garcia pushes on the knee to JAM it! The fans rally while Cole writhes in pain, but Garcia is ice cold focused. Garcia storms up on Cole, but Cole fires body shots! Cole stands, swings, but Garcia slips around and reels Cole in! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia drags Cole up again, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! That’s double and Garcia drags Cole up again! But Cole suplexes! Garcia fights that, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia grins and he drags Cole up again.
Garcia reels Cole in, but Cole fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! That was double-edged given the bad leg, but Cole refuses to let that stop him! Both men rise up, Garcia runs in at the corner, but Cole ELBOWS him away! And BOOTS him! Cole goes up the corner, PANAMA SUN- NO, Garcia backdrops through and steps into the legs! But Cole makes it a cradle! TWO, and Garcia LARIATS Cole down! The fans fire up and Garcia snarls. Garcia drags Cole up, reels him in, but he hesitates. Cole fights the lift, but Garcia CLUBS away! Garcia now Gotch holds, for the lift and SPINNING PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives and Garcia is frustrated.
The fans rally and duel, “F HIM UP, DANNY, F HIM UP!” Garcia looms over Cole while Cole flounders. Garcia brings down the kneepad! Cole ROCKS Garcia first! And then ROCKS him again! And again! Garcia ROCKS Cole, Cole ROCKS Garcia, and they go back and forth! Cole BOOTS Garcia, but Garcia snarls and BOOTS in return! Cole and Garcia fire up, and they DOUBLE FOREARM! And DOUBLE BOOT! Cole swings, Garcia dodges and SAIDOS! But Cole rises up! Garcia runs, into a BOOT! Garcia clamps onto Cole’s neck! Cole breaks free but Garcia CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS!
Garcia winds up, but Cole SUPERKICKS! Cole falls over with the bad leg, and Garcia falls onto him! It’s a cover, TWO and Cole has the ghost pin! TWO!! Garcia survives and the fans fire up again! Cole and Garcia rise up slowly, and Cole uses his bad leg to SUPER- NO! Garcia blocks the kick, and twists it into an ANKLE LOCK!! Cole endures, reaches out, but Garcia drags him away from ropes! GRAPEVINE!! Cole still endures, still fights forward, and the fans rally as he claws his way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts but Garcia holds until 4. Cole rolls out of the ring and flops to the floor, but Garcia rolls out to pursue.
The fans rally, Garcia drags Cole up, and Garcia sends Cole into the steel steps! The knees hit hard and Cole falls over! Garcia stands on Cole’s foot, then goes up the steps. Garcia winds up to mock the Adam Cole Baybay! Cole rises up but Garcia reels him in! Garcia says a quick prayer for forgiveness, but Cole CLUBS at Garcia’s legs! Cole fires a body shot, and now he’s up there with Garcia! Cole ROCKS Garcia, then suplexes, GHOSTBUSTER!! Garcia falls to the steps then the floor! Cole rests on the steps, the fans rally up, and Cole takes aim for the PANAMA SUNRISE to the floor! Philly loses its mind as Cole puts Garcia in!
Cole fires up and he brings down his kneepad! Cole runs, but Garcia falls! Another Boom denied and Cole is beside himself. Cole hobbles over to drag Garcia up, but Garcia cradles! TWO!!! Cole narrowly escapes, and he runs up, only for the bad knee to give out! So Garcia goes up!? PANAMA SUNRISE?!? Garcia uses Cole’s move against him, and now THE BOOM!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Cole survives both his own moves, and Garcia is seething! Garcia SLAMS the leg against the mat again and again! Garcia drags Cole up, reels him in, but Cole still fights the lift! Garcia lets Cole go, and he thinks about the corner…
Garcia drags Cole to the corner, puts him up top, but he hesitates a moment. The fans rally up as Garcia climbs! The ref says not to do this, but Garcia lifts Cole up! Cole fights the driver and fires body shots! Cole HEADBUTTS again and again, then HEADBUTTS one more time! Garcia falls down, Cole adjusts his position, and PANAMA SUNRISE!!! The fans fire up, Cole goes back up the corner, for another PANAMA SUNRISE!!! The fans fire up even more as Cole rises again! The kneepads are down, Cole gets moving, THE BOOM!!!! Cover, COLE WINS!!!
Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall (NEW AEW TNT Champion)
Adam Cole’s 17 year anniversary is commemorated in the best way possible! After setback after setback, he finally has singles gold in AEW! But he also shows Garcia great respect by offering a hand. The fans cheer, and Garcia stands back up. Garcia shakes Cole’s hand, and the fans cheer more! But if Garcia still isn’t ready for the brightest lights and the biggest stages, when will he be ready?
AEW International Championship Triple Threat: Kenny Omega VS Ricochet VS “Speedball” Mike Bailey!
After thwarting diverticulitis, The Cleaner doubted if he’d ever even be able to return. But not only did he return, he proved that even his “new normal” was championship caliber when he dethroned The Alpha, Konosuke Takeshita. The Dynasty International Eliminator Tournament gave us quite the diet of amazing talent, but there was controversy in that Fatal 4 Way, thus bringing about this epic three way! But will Omega prove he is still better than even two great opponents? Will the One & Only make this title #OuttaThisWorld? Or will they both get bounced in Speedball Bailey’s AEW PPV debut?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is THE Best Bout Machine!
The bell rings and the fans rally up already. Ricochet tries to convince Bailey to work with him against Omega, but Bailey just storms up on Ricochet. Ricochet bails out, the fans boo, so Bailey and Omega square off after all. The fans rally while the two circle, and the fans duel “SPEEDBALL!” “KENNY!” “SPEEDBALL!” “KENNY!” The two tie up, go around, and end up on ropes. They go around and into a corner, then back to ropes, then to another corner. Ricochet watches from a distance, then he slithers in as the two are stuck on ropes. Ricochet storms up and spins Bailey around, but then narrowly avoids a roundhouse!
Ricochet bails out again, Bailey storms up to the ropes, but Omega O’Conner Rolls him! TWO and Omega tumbles to the outside! Ricochet RAMS Omega into the desk! Then Ricochet RAMS into Bailey, slingshots up and over, then whips. Bailey reverses, bypasses, and hurdles to then drop down! Ricochet grabs ropes to stop himself, and says he’s too smart. But Omega CLAWS at Ricochet’s head, and throws Ricochet down! Ricochet tumbles away, Bailey runs up but Omega ROCKS him! Omega bumps Bailey off buckles, then goes up the corner! CROSSBODY! The fans fire up for Omega and he brings Bailey back up.
Omega CHOPS Bailey, CLUBS him, then whips corner to corner. Bailey reverses, runs up, but Omega BOOTS him away! Bailey comes back, Omega goes up and over, then comes back to RANA! Bailey tumbles out, Ricochet slides in, and he RAN- NO, Omega shoves that down to Oklahoma Roll into an ARMBAR! Ricochet scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Omega lets go and Bailey kicks Omega. Bailey whips, Omega reverses, and Omega dodges the handspring. Bailey fires the Lightning Kicks! But Ricochet waistlocks Bailey! Omega runs, but Bailey ducks, the BOOT hits Ricochet! The Lightning Kicks continue!
Bailey ENZIGIRIS Omega out and the fans fire up! Bailey builds speed but Ricochet is waiting! Bailey avoids the springboard, then dodges again to SLINGSHOT RANA Omega on the outside! The fans fire up again, and Bailey brings Omega up, only for Ricochet to PLANCHA! Omega and Bailey split up, and Ricochet finds himself surrounded! Bailey says, “Bald!” and SLAPS Ricochet on the head! Omega says, “Bald!” and SLAPS Ricochet on the head! The fans cheer as they then DOUBLE SLAP Ricochet! Bailey then kicks Omega, whips, but Omega reverses to fireman’s carry! Omega goes around the way, “YOU! CAN’T!”
Wait, Bailey does escape as he flails and slips down! Bailey is in the front row and he SLAPS Omega! And he SMACKS Omega off the barriers! Bailey has Omega dangling, and he KICKS, KICKS, KICKS! Bailey hops up, the fans fire up, and Bailey sets up, only for Ricochet to grab him! Bailey grabs Ricochet’s ears, but Ricochet CLAWS Bailey’s eyes! Ricochet fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER onto Omega’s back! Ricochet says he looks too damn good while he stands over Omega and Bailey. Ricochet drags Omega up, RAMS him into the corner, but fans taunt Ricochet with, “You’re Still Bald! You’re Still Bald!”
Ricochet puts Bailey in, stomps him around, and soaks up the heat from the fans. Ricochet stomps Bailey more, puts him under the ropes, and then jump stomps! Ricochet CHOKES Bailey on the ropes, and he tells the fans, “I can do what I want!” Ricochet drags Bailey to a cover, ONE! The fans chant, “Bald Forever!” Ricochet DROPKICKS Omega off the apron, then storms up on Bailey. Bailey CHOPS, but Ricochet CHOPS him down! Ricochet drags Bailey up to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Then he scoops and hits another BACKBREAKER, then a SIDEWALK SLAM! Ricochet sees Omega coming so he handspring kicks him back down!
Bailey waistlocks, Ricochet switches, but Bailey fires elbows! Ricochet gets under to NORTHERN LIGHTS, rolls through, and deadlift– NO, Omega saves Bailey from that to kick Ricochet low. The fans rally and Omega CHOPS Ricochet in the corner! And CHOPS! And SLAPS! CHOP! SLAP! Omega whips corner to corner, runs in, but Ricochet goes over! Bailey catches Ricochet, Omega runs up, but Ricochet BOOTS him away! Ricochet sends Bailey into Omega, then NECKBREAKER DDT COMBO! Bailey tumbles out and the fans fire up! Omega bails out, Ricochet builds speed, and Ricochet DIVES to take out Bailey!
Ricochet hurries back in, DIVES and takes out Omega! Ricochet commandeers Schiavone’s headset to tell everyone that he is that damn good! He can take out Speedball, he can take out Omega, and at the same damn time! There’s nobody out here that can- Bailey DROPKICKS Ricochet down! The fans fire up, Bailey takes the headset and apologizes to Schiavone for Ricochet. Bailey puts Ricochet in the ring, then goes up the corner. The fans fire up for Bailey as he MISSILE DROPKICKS! Ricochet flounders and the fans fire up more! Bailey winds up, SOBATS, then AX KICKS! And ROUNDHOUSES!
The fans fire up more as Bailey aims, RUNNING SHOOTING STAR FLOPS as Ricochet moves! Omega fireman’s carries Bailey, “YOU! CAN’T! ESCAPE!” ROLLING SENTON, and then the MOONSAULT FLOPS as Bailey moves! Ricochet springboards, FLYING LARIAT! LIONSAULT FLOPS as Omega moves! Bailey has Omega for a turn and backslide, TWO as Ricochet pushes it over! Ricochet then double stacks them, TWO! The fans fire up, Ricochet swings but Bailey sends him into Omega! Bayley then hooks them both up, and manages a DOUBLE CRUCIFIX TAKEDOWN! TWO!! Ricochet CHOPS Omega, and swings on Bailey!
Bailey slips around, Ricochet fights the backslide, but Omega gets them for a DOUBLE BACKSLIDE! TWO!! DOUBLE BUZZSAWS hit Omega! DOUBLE ROUNDHOUSES take Ricochet and Bailey out! The fans are thunderous and even giving a standing ovation! “This is Awesome!” while all three men stir. They all sit up, and Ricochet fires a shot on Omega. Bailey hits Ricochet, Omega hits Bailey, then Ricochet hits Bailey. Bailey hits Omega, Omega hits Ricochet, Bailey hits Omega again! All three men stand, Bailey fires fast hands on Omega, but Ricochet CLAWS Bailey’s eyes! Omega TOSSES Ricochet, then stands Bailey up.
Omega CHOPS Bailey, but Ricochet is back to CLAW Omega’s eyes! Bailey CLUBS Ricochet, TOSSES him out, but Omega ROCKS Bailey! And ROCKS him again! The fans fire up as Omega JABS, JABS, JABS, then winds up, to CHOP! Bailey falls over, but he gets up as he gets mad! The fans rally as Bailey KICKS! And KICKS! Omega shakes his head, so Bailey KICKS again! Omega falls and the fans fire up with Bailey! But Ricochet grabs Bailey by the hair! Bailey breaks free to SUPERKICK! Then Bailey goes up and TRIANGLE MOONSAULTS! The fans fire up again as Bailey rises. Omega WRECKS Bailey with a dropkick!
The fans start the Terminator Drums already! Omega feels that, and he rises up to build speed! Omega FLIES, and down go Ricochet & Bailey! The fans are thunderous as Omega still hits the classic! Omega drags Ricochet up and into the ring, and fans hope they “Fight Forever!” Omega grabs at Bailey, Bailey fights him off, so Omega goes to the ring, But Ricochet DROPKICKS Omega down! Ricochet builds speed to FLY! Down go Omega and Bailey! The fans boo but Ricochet goes back into the ring. Ricochet builds speed again, but Bailey is up! Bailey jumps over Ricochet, and he ASAI MOONSAULTS Ricochet and Omega down!
The fans fire up again and cheer Speedball on as he puts Omega in the ring. Bailey RANAS Omega into a cover, TWO! Omega sunset flips, Bailey rolls through, but Omega avoids the Penalty Kick! Omega avoids the standing moonsault, but Bailey fights the powerbomb lift! Bailey backdrops, Omega sunset flips, and Ricochet is back! Bailey BACKDROPS Ricochet onto Omega! Bailey then MOONSAULT KNEE DROPS on the double stack!! The fans are thunderous and Bailey aims at Omega! Spin and HEEL KICK!! Cover, Ricochet YANKS the ref! The fans boo but Ricochet grins! Bailey is furious but Ricochet tells him to chill.
Bailey rains down palm strikes on Ricochet! The fans fire up, Ricochet pushes free and flops out of the ring! Bailey storms out after Ricochet, rains down more shots, but Ricochet again pushes free. Ricochet hurries back into the ring, but Bailey grabs his feet! Bailey drags Ricochet out to fire hands on the apron! Bailey goes up, and he stomps Ricochet in the gut! Then he APRON MOONSAULT KNEE DROPS but only gets apron!! Ricochet avoids disaster but Bailey is clutching his knee! The ref checks Bailey, Ricochet CHOP BLOCKS Bailey but also hits the ref! The fans boo as Ricochet doesn’t care, and he goes back to Omega.
Ricochet mocks Omega’s pain, then CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Omega pie faces Ricochet! Ricochet comes back, but into a BOOT! Omega goes up, Ricochet somersaults to SHORYUKEN! Ricochet CHOPS Omega, climbs up after him, and fires hands! The fans don’t count, they just chant “BALD!” Ricochet says fine, and he BITES Omega’s forehead! But Bailey is back to KICK Ricochet! Bailey climbs up, and he SUPER DUPER POISON-RANAS!!! Ricochet tumbles away and the fans are thunderous! Bailey goes back for Omega, even with the bad leg, but Omega ALLEY-OOPS Bailey off buckles! SNAP DRAGON!!
Bailey is down in a heap but Omega has a wild look in the eyes! Omega sees Ricochet rising up, and he brings him into the full nelson! SNAP DRAGON!! Bailey staggers up, hobbles around, and Omega has him again! SNAP DRAGON!! The fans rally up, Omega brings Bailey back up, and fans want it “ONE MORE TIME!” Omega obliges, but Bailey fights it! Bailey grabs Ricochet! Ricochet fights, but Omega CLUBS away on them both! DOUBLE DRAGON!!! The fans are thunderous as both Ricochet and Bailey flounder around! It’s another standing ovation as Omega has his pick of targets.
Omega brings out two finger guns, “BANG!” V-TRIGGER for Ricochet! V-TRIGGER for Bailey! Bailey tumbles right out, Ricochet staggers to his feet, but Omega pops Ricochet up! Electric Chair, but Ricochet flails free! Ricochet pulls hair to get the dragon sleeper! VERTI- NO, Omega slips free! Ricochet ELBOWS Omega, goes up, but Omega catches him! Electric Chair for the COYT’S WRATH!! Bridging cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous again as Bailey returns. Omega has Bailey for the Electric Chair! Bailey slips free, shoves Omega into Ricochet, HEEL KICK! Omega fights the backslide, but Ricochet adds a high stack, feet on the ropes! TWO?!?!
Ricochet is shocked but the fans fire up again! Ricochet grabs Bailey’s foot, and DRAGON SCREWS him! Ricochet shouts, “I’M WINNIIING~!” The fans boo but Ricochet scuffs Omega. Ricochet eggs on Omega, “You supposed to be the Best Bout Machine, huh?” Ricochet drags Omega up, reels him in, and puts one out! But Omega DUMPS Ricochet out of the ring! Omega runs at Bailey, but Bailey THRUST KICKS! Omega staggers, Bailey powers up, and SPINNING ROUNDHOUSE!! Bailey goes up the corner, takes aim again, ULTIMATE WEAPON misses! The knees take damage again! Omega sees his opening, SNAP- NO, Bailey switches!
Omega drop toeholds to a KNEEBAR!! Bailey endures, reaches out, but Ricochet aims from the apron! Springboard and 450 onto Omega!! Cover, TWO!!! Ricochet hurries to a corner, but then he goes for Bailey. Bailey victory rolls! TWO, but Ricochet SWEEPS the legs! Ricochet dragon sleepers, VERTIGO!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Bailey survives and Ricochet is shocked! Ricochet goes to a corner, the fans rally for Omega and Bailey, but Ricochet locks ‘n’ loads. SPIRIT- NO, Omega trips Ricochet and drags him out! Omega runs in, Bailey dodges! Roll up, high stack, TWO!!! Omega escapes in time, but Bailey hits a TIME ADVENTURE!!
Bailey hits another heel kick on Omega, and now he goes up! But Ricochet SHOVES Bailey down onto Omega! Bailey clutches that bad leg, Omega sputters in the drop zone, and Ricochet goes up top! SHOOTING STAR PRESS!! Cover, TWO!! Omega survives again and Ricochet is pissed at the ref! The ref defends the count, the fans boo Ricochet, but Ricochet DROPKICKS Bailey! Bailey is in the drop zone now, and Ricochet climbs up again. SHOOTING STAR onto the knees! Bailey cradles Ricochet, TWO!! Bailey hobbles, Ricochet sits up, and Ricochet wants mercy? Bailey SLAPS Ricochet, fires palm strikes, then a BUZZSAW! BUZZ- NO, Ricochet blocks the second!
Ricochet CLUBS the bad leg, then drags Bailey up to CLUB it again! The fans boo but Ricochet says he’s too smart. Ricochet goes to a corner, then comes back, but the Crane Stance stops him! Ricochet laughs, as if this is Daniel-san IRL. This isn’t gonna work! But the CRANE KICK hits after all!! The fans are thunderous while Bailey goes up! ULTIMATE WEAPON!!! But Bailey can’t make the cover! Bailey hobbles his way back, finally covers, V-TRIGGER!! Omega roars and the fans fire up with him! Omega drags Bailey up, turns him around, Electric Chair Lift! Ricochet shoves them both into the corner!
Bailey is stuck up top, Ricochet POISON-RANAS Omega! Ricochet goes up, dragon sleepers Bailey, but Bailey fights with body shots! Ricochet pulls hair, goes up and dragon sleepers again! But Omega CLUBS Ricochet’s legs! Omega gets up and under Ricochet! And has an Electric Chair Lift?!? SUPER ONE WINGED ANGEL!!!! Cover, OMEGA WINS!!!
Winner: Kenny Omega, by pinfall (still AEW International Champion)
Bailey is stuck in the Tree of Woe, he was literally so close and yet so far away from stopping that! But in the end, that shows why Omega is still THE Best Bout Machine! But wait! Kazuchika Okada is here! Philly fires up as the Rainmaker, the Continental Champion, makes his way out here to stare down his old rival. The fans love this stare down, but Omega steps out as he’s already done his job tonight. Will Omega and Okada soon battle again to reignite their rivalry?
AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS Swerve Strickland!
The Maniac’s reign of terror has all but defined AEW in 2025, from destroying Bryan Danielson to screwing over multiple contenders, some at the same time. But now, he may have run into a man even more dangerous than him. Moxley asked the question and tonight, we may get the answer: How far is Swerve willing to go to make AEW whose house? SWERVE’S HOUSE!
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Who truly leads the NJPW revolution?
Hirooki Goto finally has THE top title in NJPW, but David Finlay looks to take it for his own! Will the Fierce Warrior fail to stop The Rebel?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima VS Daiki Nagai; Murashima wins.
- Yuya Uemura VS SANADA; Uemura wins.
- NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins and becomes the new NJPW World TV Champion.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shota Umino; Shota wins.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: The House of Torture VS Bullet Club War Dogs; The House of Torture wins and retains the titles.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Ryohei Oiwa; Takeshita wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Cobb & Callum win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS David Finlay; Goto wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Yuya Uemura w/ Just4Guys VS SANADA!
It used to be Just5Guys, but the Heat Storm went down with injury, and the Cold Skull showed how Cold-Blooded he really was. Will Yuya make this War Dog pay for his crimes? Or will Sakura Genesis start with a Skull End?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind Yuya as he stares down with Sanada. They circle, feel things out, then tie up. Yuya wrenches, wristlocks, then hammerlocks, but Sanada reaches back to headlock. Yuya pries the hold open and puts the headlock on Sanada. Yuya hits the takeover, but Sanada rolls him to a cover, ONE! Yuya holds on, the two stand up, and Yuya wrenches again. Sanada rolls, kips up, and cartwheels to then handspring and wrench Yuya! Sanada hammerlocks, headlocks, spins to hammerlock again, but Yuya switches that onto Sanada. Yuya then spins through to hammerlock, headlock, cravat and snapmare, but Sanada handsprings through!
The fans cheer this great opening exchange, and the two reset. Sanada and Yuya circle, the fans rally up, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, then Yuya kicks an arm to wrench the other. Sanada kicks free to wrench back, but Yuya wrenches again. Sanada wrenches through, wrenches again, but Yuya wrenches right back! Sanada reaches for ropes but Yuya keeps him back. Sanada rolls but Yuya rolls with him! The fans cheer, and Sanada tries again. Sanada rolls, but Yuya rolls with him! The fans cheer again, but Sanada fights up to snapmare. But Yuya holds on and he wrenches again. Sanada tries another snapmare, but Yuya still holds on.
Yuya wrangles Sanada, traps the arm, and SNAP LOCKS it! The fans cheer while Sanada clutches his arm. Yuya runs and basement DROPKICKS! Sanada bails out, shakes out the arm, and the fans rally up. Yuya waits on Sanada while he paces around the outside. Sanada slides in but Yuya knees him first. Yuya whips, Sanada reverses, but Yuya goes up and over! Yuya arm-drags Sanada, then DROPKICKS him down! The fans cheer and Yuya fires up! Sanada goes to a corner, Yuya runs corner to corner, and he CHOP LARIATS! Yuya then reels Sanada in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada stays in this but the fans rally behind Yuya.
Yuya looms over Sanada, brings him up, and clinches, but Sanada fights back with elbows. Yuya CHOPS! The fans cheer while Sanada sputters, and Yuya whips. Sanada reverses again to hurdle, hurdle, and DROPKICK! Yuya falls and goes to the outside, but Sanada PLANCHAS! Down goes Yuya and the fans still fire up! Sanada brings Yuya up, headlocks and brings him around the way, to then whip Yuya hard into railing! Yuya sputters while he leans against the railing. The fans boo but Sanada soak up all that heat. Sanada opens the gate and brings Yuya out into the crowd! The fans are told to back up, but Sanada SMACKS Yuya off Milano Collection AT-san!
The fans boo this unorthodox way of weaponizing the surroundings, but Sanada isn’t done! Sanada drags Milano out of his seat, the fans cheer Milano on, and Sanada stands Yuya up. Yuya CHOPS Sanada, and Sanada falls onto Milano! Milano suffers further damage and embarrassment, but Sanada CLAWS Yuya’s face! Sanada then THROWS Yuya down onto Milano! The fans boo more, but Sanada drags Yuya up. They go past English commentary, and Sanada brings Yuya back to ringside. Sanada puts Yuya in the ring, but then has him on the apron! MAGIC SCREW to the floor! The ref reprimands but Sanada doesn’t care.
Taichi checks on Yuya, and he glares at Sanada. Sanada storms over to drag Yuya back up, and he puts Yuya in the ring. The fans cheer while Sanada drags Yuya back up. Sanada puts Yuya on the ropes, for another MAGIC SCREW! Sanada mocks the fans cheering for Yuya, then he drags Yuya into the dragon sleeper! Yuya endures, and he arm-drags free! Sanada comes back, into Yuya’s SWINGING ARM-DRAG! And the URENAGE! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yuya crawls his way over, and he fires back up! The fans are with him as he goes to a corner! Yuya climbs, then watches Sanada stand.
Yuya leaps, but Sanada gets under! Yuya rolls through, but Sanada comes back! Yuya ducks the Shining Wizard, and he ENZIGIRIS! Sanada staggers, but he ENZIGIRIS! Sanada waistlocks, Yuya switches, GERMAN SUPLEX! Sanada lands on his feet! Tilt-o-whirl and dragon sleeper! Sanada holds on tight for the SKULL- NO, Yuya rolls back and pops free! Yuya catches one arm, then swings Sanada around, but Sanada catches Yuya! DEAD- NO, Yuya slips out of Deadfall, only for Sanada to shove him into the ref! The fans boo, but Sanada pops Yuya up to LOW BLOW! The fans boo more while Yuya drops to his knees!
Sanada goes to a corner, then runs up, SHINING WIZARD! Sanada isn’t done as he drags Yuya to the drop zone! Sanada goes up, ROUNDING- NO, Yuya dodges, and he RANAS! Then ARMBAR!! Sanada TAPS, Yuya wins!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, by submission
Sanada tried to steal this one like he did with Taichi, but Yuya powered through! Justice has been served, will Sanada see where he went wrong? Will the Heat Storm rise to the top and prove he’s the future of NJPW?
NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS Great-O-Khan w/ The United Empire!
The Headbanga knew the United Empire was coming for his gold, but his match with “Captain” TJP was just to soften him up for The Dominator! Will Khan bring this gold back to the Empire? Or will this still be the ELP Show?
It seems the United Empire is bringing a special guest! It’s the man who designed the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt, Masami Obari! Obari-san puts up the crown with the Empire, and joins Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young in Khan’s corner. Is this a sign Obari could also be designing something special for Khan? That aside, the match introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really the Face of NJPW World!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. ELP BOOTS Khan and Khan bails out! ELP builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit into railing and the fans fire up! ELP hauls Kahn up while fans duel, and ELP TOSSES Khan over railing! Fans move back as ELP ROCKS Khan with a right! ELP then goes into the ring, up the ropes, and fans join in as he says, “E! L! P!” SUPER CROSSBODY into the crowd! Direct hit and ELP ends up taking a seat! ELP smiles and high-fives the fans, then hurries to his feet. The fans rally behind ELP as he drags Khan up and CHOPS him! Khan flops over the railing and ELP gets fans to join in on “One more time!”
ELP hops over railing, drags Khan up, but Khan fights the suplex! Khan scoops, and SLAMS ELP on the railing! ELP flops to the floor while fans fire up again! Khan drags chair after chair out from under the ring, and he sets them up nearby. The ref reprimands but Khan shoves him aside. Khan has created a makeshift table using the chairs, and he drags ELP up! ELP slips free, kicks low, and he reels Khan in! But the bad arm won’t let him lift! Khan hauls ELP up, and he APRON SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up while ELP sputters on the floor. Khan drags ELP into the ring, covers, TWO! ELP stays in this but Khan scoops him back up for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Khan pushes ELP around, gut wrenches him, and then GUT BUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Khan doesn’t let up, he gut wrenches for a GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! ELP is still in this and Khan is a bit surprised. The fans rally and duel, but the “O-KHAN! O-KHAN!” side seems stronger. Khan storms up but ELP fires a body shot! There wasn’t much behind it, and Khan taunts ELP. ELP rises to fire a forearm, but that’s the bad arm! Khan smirks but the fans rally again. ELP fires a forearm, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! The “O-KHAN!” side again outdoes the “E L P!” ELP still rises to throw a chop, but there is still little behind it.
Khan brushes himself off, takes a swing, but ELP catches him, wrenches, straitjacket and- NO, the bad arm won’t let him lift Khan into the torture rack! ELP goes to a corner, but Khan Mongolian Chops him! The fans are torn but Khan hops up to sit on his throne! But then ELP slips right out and GAMANGIRIS! ELP climbs up to get Khan, but Khan GROIN CLAWS?! The fans boo and somehow the ref missed that! Khan scoops ELP from that position, but ELP slips down! ELP slingshots back up, then SUPER STEINERS! The fans fire up while both men are down! ELP rises back up, goes right up top, and THUNDERKISS 86 onto knees!!
Khan drags ELP into a roll up, TWO!! ELP survives, but Khan clamps on with the HITSUJIGOROSHI and then clinches for the FLATINER! Then the IRON CLAW! Khan drags ELP up for the ELIMIN- NO, ELP flips through! ELP then ducks, goes up the corner, and FLYING TORNADO DDTS! The fans fire up while both men are down again! ELP kips up and the fans cheer! ELP tunes up in the corner, Khan rises, SUDDEN- NO, Khan shoots around to IRON CLAW BACKBREAKER, then a spin, and Khan ROCKS ELP with an elbow! ELP BOOTS in return! Khan roars, blocks a kick, but not the ENZIGIRI!
Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Time is running out and that favors ELP. Khan crawls over to ELP, the two sit up, and Khan fires a forearm! ELP snarls and fires a forearm in return! But the bad shoulder doesn’t help. Khan fires a forearm, so ELP winds up and fires back! Khan fires another forearm, but ELP shakes his head. Both men stand, and ELP storms up to Khan. ELP rips the shoulder tape away! Khan eggs ELP on, so ELP SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires palm strikes! Then a HEADBUTT! ELP runs, but Khan dodges! Khan returns, ELP dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, and ELP stays up!?
The fans fire up and ELP calls to Jado. Jado takes ELP’s hand and helps POP that shoulder! ELP storms up on Khan, fires forearm after forearm after forearm, then he ROCKS Khan on the ropes! The fans rally, ELP whips, and ELP DROPKICKS! Then ELP handsprings and the fans fire up more! ELP drags Khan up, straitjacket and torture rack! ELP spins for the BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives but ELP vows to end this! The fans fire up as ELP tucks the arms. Khan wrenches out to IRON RIGHT! But SUDDEN DEATH returns! ELP hurries to tuck Khan in, and C R 2!! Cover, TWO?!? Khan survives and the fans are thunderous!
ELP isn’t sure what to make of this, but we’re past 10 minutes. ELP drags Khan to the drop zone, goes up the corner, but Khan bails out. The fans boo but ELP hops down. The ring count starts, but ELP goes out the side! ELP storms up on Khan as we pass 5 of 20! Jado stops Khan from using a chair! So Khan sends Jado at ELP! ELP stops Jado from running into him, and now ELP has the chair! Khan wants mercy, Jado tells ELP not to use the chair. ELP drops the chair, but the IRON RIGHT hits! We’re at 12 of 20 as Khan scoops ELP! T T D on the chair structure!! Khan rolls in at 17, ELP is down at 18! 19! 20!! KHAN WINS!!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by count out (NEW NJPW World Television Champion)
Khan grins as his master plan worked out! TJP weakened ELP, then the chairs came into play like Chekov’s Gun. Khan has conquered another title, but what will he have in store for his “season” as NJPW World TV Champion?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shota Umino!
The Ace continues down the Final Road, but the Roughneck is just starting his Second Chapter. However, after losing to David Finlay, could Shota be embracing a darker path? Or can President Tanahashi still show him the light?
Tanahashi is partially cosplaying Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and joining him is top cosplayer, Momo Momoto. Get your copy of Fatal Fury on April 24th! That aside, Shota makes his entrance, and despite his new edge, he still wears his shining white pants and jacket. The jackets are put aside, and Tanahashi shows off the abs. The fans cheer, and the bell rings. The fans rally for Tanahashi but Shota tunes it all out. They tie up, Tanahashi waistlocks but Shota wrenches. Tanahashi wrenches back, but Shota rolls, slips through, and hammerlocks. Tanahashi reaches around, and he elbows Shota into a headlock.
Shota powers up, but Tanahashi holds tight! The fans cheer and Tanahashi grinds the hold, but Shota fights back up. Shota fires body shots, powers up and out, but Tanahashi RAMS him! Shota rebounds and runs Tanahashi over! The fans fire up again while Shota shakes out the stars. Shota drags Tanahashi up, whips him to a corner, then runs in, only for Tanahashi to BOOT him away. Tanahashi goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Tanahashi bounces off and plays air guitar. The fans cheer while Shota goes to a corner. Tanahashi runs in but Shota dodges! Tanahashi hits buckles, Shota runs back in, but Shota blocks Tanahashi’s boots!
Shota brings Tanahashi out of the corner to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally while Shota paces around Tanahashi. Shota stomps Tanahashi’s legs, then stomps them again. Shota drops knee after knee on Tanahashi’s knee, then shifts into a toehold. Tanahashi endures as Shota shifts around to get a different angle. Tanahashi keeps his shoulders up, then works on his escape. Shota pulls on the leg, but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Shota lets go, and he stands Tanahashi up to grab the leg again. Tanahashi fights the lift with elbows, then he runs, only for Shota to dropkick the legs out!
Shota hurries to stand Tanahashi back up, and he has the leg for a SHIN BREAKER! Tanahashi falls, Shota steps over, S T F! Tanahashi endures, reaches out, crawls forward, and the fans rally as he drags Shota along. Shota shifts to have the leg and he drags Tanahashi back! KNEE SMASH into the mat! Back to the STF! Tanahashi endures again but the fans continue to rally! Tanahashi fights to the side, reaches out, but Shota pulls on the crossface! Tanahashi still manages the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go while the fans cheer, and Tanahashi crawls to a corner. Shota storms over, stomps Tanahashi’s leg, then stomps it again, and again!
Shota digs his boot in but the ref counts, so Shota steps off. Shota stands Tanahashi up to fire a forearm! And another! And another! Tanahashi turns things around to fire forearm after forearm! Shota turns things around to fire forearm after forearm! Tanahashi turns things back around for more forearms, but then so does Shota! Tanahashi turns things around again for another round of forearms! Shota shoves Tanahashi and eggs him on! The forearms fly back and forth, then Shota gets the edge! Shota bumps Tanahashi off buckles, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again! Shota eggs Tanahashi on while the fans fire up!
Tanahashi rises up, and Shota fires another forearm! Tanahashi leans into it! And he leans into another! And another! Shota throws a flurry, but Tanahashi swings! Shota ducks to SHOTEI in return! Tanahashi wobbles, Shota kicks, but Tanahashi blocks it, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while Tanahashi rises. Tanahashi drags Shota up, fires a strike fest, then whips. Shota reverses, Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up with Tanahashi and he drags Shota up. Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Shota down into the drop zone! Tanahashi goes up, SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Shota survives that solid impact and the fans rally up again!
Tanahashi waits on Shota, then he runs to SLING- NO, Shota slips around to half nelson! Tanahashi runs to ropes, bucks the nelson, but Shota ELBOWS and ENZIGIRIS! Tanahashi staggers, roars, but swings into the HALF ‘N’ HALF! Tanahashi’s back up, but runs into another HALF ‘N’ HALF But Tanahashi’s up again!? Shota gets him for a third HALF ‘N’ HALF! Bridging cover, TWO!! Tanahashi escapes and the fans are thunderous! Shota rises and now he waits on Tanahashi. Tanahashi slowly stands up, Shota runs the ropes, but Tanahasih slips under and spins Shota for TWIST ‘n’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!
Tanahashi roars as he brings Shota back up, but Shota fights the hattrick! Tanahashi fires body shots, Shota fires them back! Shota hooks the leg, SECOND- NO, Tanahashi fights the driver! But Shota fights the twist! Shota wrenches, swings, but into a full nelson! Shota breaks that, but ends up in a STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shota escapes and the fans are thunderous again! Tanahashi gets moving, and he SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi hurries right up top! The fans fire up while Shota stands, HIGH FLY ATTACK! Shota is down, so Tanahashi goes back up!
The fans fire up as Tanahashi aims again! HIGH FLY FLOW FLOPS as Shota moves! Shota aims from the corner, fire in his eyes as Tanahashi rises. BLINDSIDE BUSAIKU KNEE!! Shota rises again while the fans rally as hard as they can for Tanahashi! Shota roars as he goes back to the corner! Tanahashi rises, into a BUSAIKU KNEE!! Shota isn’t done, as he drags Tanahashi up, hooks the leg, and SECOND- CRADLE from Tanahashi! TWO!!! Shota escapes in time! Both men stand, both men roar and run in! Shota dodges to then LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Tanahashi survives and Shota is furious, but the fans are electric!
Shota drags Tanahashi back up, reels him back in, and he hooks that leg! SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall
Whether light or dark, good or evil, that might just be a matter of perspective. What is clear is that Shota’s Second Chapter just punctuated a major part of Tanahashi’s last chapter! But wait, Shota wishes to speak. The mic is handed over, and the fans cheer Shota as he kneels by Tanahashi. “Tanahashi-san… I have just one decision, one option. I will lead Hontai here in NJPW!” Shota takes a bow of respect to President Tanahashi, but will he really lead the main unit when he is not yet atop the mountain? As for Tanahashi, he now has a week to prepare for his next match, that being with Konosuke Takeshita! Will The Ace be ready for The Alpha?
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: The House of Torture VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
The Bullet Club Civil War continues to rage on, and now Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho must put up their gold against Gabe Kidd, “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Taiji Ishimori! Will the House use all the tricks in the book to keep these titles? Or will the War Dogs be bringing gold and bodies back to the pound?
The introductions are made, the NEVER belts are raised, and we see who is truly Bullet Club Prime!
The War Dogs TRIPLE SHOTGUN! Yujiro & Ren fall out of the ring, Sho takes a TRIPLE SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Taiji and Gabe go up the corners, to DOUBLE ASAI MOONSAULT! Down go Yujiro & Ren and the fans fire up! The bell rings and Drilla drags Sho up. Gabe & Taiji set up Yujiro & Ren, Drilla SPLASH MOUNTAINS Sho out onto them!! The fans are thunderous and Drilla is all fired up! Gabe drags Ren out into the crowd to UPPERCUT! Taiji fires hands on Yujiro, Drilla has Sho, and it is chaos all around the arena! Drilla BOWLS Sho into chairs! Gabe does the same to Ren in some other segment!
Taiji SMACKS Yujiro off the timekeeper’s table! The fans rally, the ref reprimands, but Drilla drags Sho back to ringside. Drilla DECKS Sho, but Ren JAMS Gabe up with a chair! Ren has Gabe behind commentary and SMACKS him off a desk! Gabe falls back, Sho CHOKES Drilla, and then Sho puts Drilla in the ring. The fans boo but Ren POSTS Gabe! Sho stomps Drilla around, then tags in Yujiro. Sho stomps Drilla more, and the House all joins in. They drag Drilla up, whip him to a corner, then Sho runs up to forearm SMASH! Yujiro runs up to BOOT! Ren runs up to ELBOW! Ren snapmares Drilla down, then distracts the ref from seeing Yujiro’s FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!
The fans boo but Tokyo Pimp covers, only for Gabe to break it! Ren kicks Gabe back out, then Yujiro tags Ren in. The Souled Out Son of Strong Style storms up, but Drilla RAMS him into the corner! Gabe tags in, Taiji BLASTS the House, and now Taiji handsprings so he and Drilla can NEURALIZER HART ATTACK! Then CATAPULT into a HAYMAKER! Drilla lifts Ren into the Electric Chair, and Gabe goes up, up, and DOOMSDAY DEVICE!! Cover, Sho & Yujiro break it! The House brawls with the War Dogs, they go back and forth with forearms, but then the House just CLAW eyes! But the Dogs bark and CLAW eyes in return!
Taiji & Drilla whip, but Sho & Yujiro grab ropes! They TOSS Taiji, but Drilla sends Yujiro into Sho! GORE for Yujiro! Sho dodges Drilla to SPEAR! But Taiji springboards back in, SEATED SENTON! Ren BOOTS Taiji! Gable gets around Ren to ripcord, HAYMAKER, and Ren wobbles! The fans are thunderous, Gabe roars, and Gabe runs, only for Ren to dodge! Gabe rebounds, but into the NECKBREAKER DROP! Everyone is down, and this is just the first five minutes! Ren crawls to the corner, he tags Sho in, and Sho laughs as he stomps Gabe down. Ren and Sho stomp Gabe, digs their heels in, and soak up the heat.
Sho & Ren CHOKE Gabe, have him on the ropes, and then they double whip. Gabe DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up as the anti-hero stands tall! Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe runs to COMEBACKER LARIAT on Sho! Taiji returns, Gabe tags Drilla. Taiji gut wrenches Sho for CIPHER UTAKI, and Drilla deadlifts Sho! But Yujiro & Ren drag Gabe & Taiji outta the ring! Sho slips free to shove Drilla into the ref! The fans boo, but t hen Sho LOW BLOWS Drilla, and shoves him back into the ref!! The fans boo even more, but now Ren has his pushup bar! Ren CLOBBERS Gabe! The House regroups and they haul Drilla up.
Ren & Yujiro hold Drilla up while Sho has his “Torture Tool!” But then Sho spots something! CLARK CONNORS & SANADA are here! 100 Proof CLOBBERS Yujiro & Ren! Then he dodges Sho to UPPERCUT! Sanada… is in Astro Boy boots? What? But he has his guitar, and he aims at Sho! BUT HE SMASHES DRILLA?!?! Sanada gets the ref in the ring, Sho covers Drilla, House of Torture wins!!
Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
The Cold Blooded snake does it again!! He ditched LIJ for Just5Guys, then he betrayed J5G to be Bullet Club 4 Life! Only to now betray the War Dogs and join the House of Torture!! Sanada unzips his jacket to confirm it, he’s wearing a “House of Torture is Real Bullet Club” shirt!! But then he and the House run away as Gabe gets back up! Is this Sanada’s final form? Is this going to be the deciding battle in the Bullet Club Civil War?
NJPW announces the field for the Best of the Super Juniors 32!
The fastest moving round robin tournament is on its way back! And in this year’s field, it will be: last year’s winner, El Desperado; “Funky Weapon” Ryusuke Taguchi; Mr. Direct Drive, YOH; “The Way to the Grandmaster,” Master Wato; “The Time Splitter,” KUSHIDA; “The Jet,” Kevin Knight; “The American Shinobi,” Ninja Mack; “Japanese Young Punk,” Kosei Fujita; “The Sniper of the Skies,” Robbie Eagles; “The Ticking Timebomb” and perhaps the most decorated winner of all, Hiromu Takahashi; “The Black Mask,” BUSHI; “The Crown of Fire,” Francesco Akira; “The Bone Soldier Reborn,” Taiji Ishimori; “100 Proof,” Clark Connors; “The Murder Machine,” SHO; “Heel Master,” Yoshinobu Kanemaru; a wild card from CMLL; Dragongate’s Dragon Dia; DDT Pro’s MAO; and AEW’s Nick Wayne!
So that’s TWENTY in all, two blocks of 10, and it all begins May 10th! Desperado is on commentary and is very excited about those crossover names. But will he go back to back? Or will another prove they are the Best of the Super Juniors?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Ryohei Oiwa w/ TMDK!
The Alpha became a double champion to start the year off strong, but he has since hit a speedbump. Kenny Omega is now AEW International Champion, but Konosuke still has gold to defend. Will Konosuke keep this title as he also prepares for the Windy City Riot? Or will The Mighty Mullet get a grip on some gold?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives in!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The crowd seems split down the middle as Konosuke and Oiwa circle. They feel things out, back up, then tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Oiwa waistlocks, but Konosuke switches. Oiwa switches back, but Konosuke grabs a leg and trips him. Oiwa goes for an arm, Konosuke rolls back, and Konosuke floats to a facelock. The two stand, they’re on the ropes, and the ref counts. Konosuke lets off slowly, pats Oiwa on the shoulders, and the fans applaud. Oiwa and Konosuke go again, and Konosuke grabs an arm. Konosuke wrenches to wristlock, but Oiwa rolls, wrenches and wristlocks in return.
Konosuke rolls, Oiwa wrangles him, and Oiwa STOMPS the arm! The fans applaud, and Oiwa top wristlocks Konosuke. Konosuke arm-drags free, headlocks for the takeover, but Oiwa headscissors. Konosuke kips free, Oiwa headlocks for the takeover, but Konosuke headscissors. Konosuke hooks a leg to stop the kip up and he has the cradle! TWO and both men hurry to their feet. Oiwa headlocks, Konosuke powers up and out, then he drops down to jump over. But Oiwa drops on the monkey flip for a cover! TWO, and Konosuke bails out! Oiwa hurries out after him, headlocks again, but Konosuke powers up and out.
Oiwa whips Konosuke to send him hard into railing! The fans cheer, Oiwa drags Konosuke up, and Oiwa whips Konosuke, only for Konosuke to reverse! Oiwa hits railing, then Konosuke runs up to BOOT Oiwa! But Konosuke goes so hard, he falls over the railing! Konosuke gets back up while Oiwa is still down, and he drags Oiwa up. Konosuke puts Oiwa in the ring, the fans applaud, and Konosuke springboards! Oiwa dodges, runs up and ELBOWS Konosuke in the corner! Oiwa whips Konosuke to a corner, then runs up to ELBOW him again! Oiwa fires up, the fans are with him, and he whips corner to corner just to YANK the arm!
The fans applaud the savvy, and Oiwa clamps onto Konosuke’s arm. Konosuke endures as Oiwa grinds the shoulder. Konosuke fights up, Oiwa wrenches and wristlocks, but Konosuke powers up, only for Oiwa to wrangle him to the mat! Oiwa hammerlocks that arm, cording holds the other, and he rolls Konosuke up, TWO! Oiwa keeps Konosuke down with a double wristlock! Konosuke fights up, but Oiwa RAMS him into the corner! Konosuke drops to his knees but Oiwa drags him back up. Oiwa clamps onto the arm again, but Konosuke fights against it. Konosuke eggs Oiwa on so Oiwa puts on the pressure! Only for Konosuke to scoop and SLAM!
But Oiwa holds on and drags Konosuke down! Oiwa pulls on the arm with that keylock, but Konosuke fights up to his feet. Oiwa whips Konosuke to a corner, Konosuke stops himself and ELBOWS Oiwa back. And ELBOWS him again! Konosuke goes up, but Oiwa DROPKICKS him first! Konosuke falls against the buckles, and Oiwa goes out to grab the bad arm! The ref reprimands but Oiwa climbs up to throw down elbows. Oiwa then has a facelock, and the bad arm, but Konosuke fires body shots! Konosuke HEADBUTTS Oiwa! The fans rally as both men adjust their position, and Konosuke has Oiwa on the very top!
Konosuke fires up for the SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Konosuke clutches the bad arm, but he still rises back up! Konosuke drags Oiwa up, reels him in, but Oiwa fights with elbows! Oiwa wants the arm, Konosuke rolls through! Oiwa dodges the lariat to SNAP GERMAN! And then he waistlocks for another GERMAN SUPLEX! Konosuke stands, Oiwa runs up, but into an EXPLODER! Oiwa rises up, swings again, but into the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke huffs ‘n’ puffs and stands back up, daring Oiwa to do the same.
Oiwa stands, and Konosuke fires a forearm! Oiwa snarls and fires one in return! Konosuke fires another forearm, Oiwa staggers, but he stays up. Oiwa comes back to fire a forearm! The forearms go back and forth, the fans rally up as they go harder, but then Oiwa wrenches and YANKS the arm! Oiwa wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER, then another ELBOW- NO, Konosuke has a SLEEPER! Oiwa slips free to put the SLEEPER on Konosuke! Konosuke shifts, powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Both men rebound, and Konosuke JUMP KNEES Oiwa down! Konosuke fires up, hauls Oiwa up, but Oiwa SAIDOS!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Oiwa rises, the fans rally, and Oiwa goes to a corner. Oiwa climbs up, takes aim, and DIVING SPLASHES onto knees! Cradle, TWO!! Oiwa is free, and he runs up to HEADSCISSOR TAKEDOWN! Cover, TWO! Oiwa and Konosuke DOUBLE LARIAT! They stay up, Konosuke BOOTS Oiwa’s next lariat, then dodges the other! But he runs into a LARIAT all the same! The fans fire up and Oiwa waistlocks! Oiwa then spins Konosuke, but Konosuke dodges The Grip! Konosuke waistlocks, Oiwa switches, Konosuke switches back, and O’Conner CHAOS THEORY! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke grits his teeth and rises back up. Konosuke aims from a corner, Oiwa rises, POWER- NO, Oiwa catches Konosuke to a DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa hurries to clamp on the keylock! Oiwa drags Konosuke into SHANKLY GATES!! Konosuke endures being bent and twisted while the fans rally up! Konosuke shifts around, reaches out, but Oiwa puts all he can onto the hold! Konosuke still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Oiwa lets go in frustration. Konosuke rises, but Oiwa waistlocks! Konosuke holds onto the ropes with one hand, but Oiwa pulls him free! GERMAN SUPLEX! Konosuke lands out!?
Konosuke runs up, dodges a lariat, and then DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men rebound, and Konosuke LARIATS through! Konosuke hurries to suplex, RAGIN- NO, Oiwa fights the fire, but Konosuke suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, ONE?!!? Oiwa shows some true grit, and Konosuke is impressed! Konosuke storms up to ROCK Oiwa, then ROCK him again! Oiwa wobbles but Konosuke ROCKS him again! Konosuke spins, but so does Oiwa! Oiwa ROLLING ELBOWS first! SLEEPER! And then THE GRIP misses! ROLLING ELBOW from Konosuke! Elbow pad off, ALPHA ELBOW hits!! And then RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
While The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Oiwa could not withstand The Alpha’s arsenal! Konosuke keeps this title around his waist, and now he must prepare for April 11th. Will Konosuke be ready for the Once in a Century Talent?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!
The leader and, uh, other leader(?) of Los Ingobernables de Japon won the World Tag League, and eventually won these titles off the Young Bucks. But the United Empire wants to take back what they never truly lost! Will the Imperial Unit & Prince of Pace avenge Aaron Henare? Or will things in the Heavyweight Tag Division stay tranquilo?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Empire gains more gold!
Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire, as is his wont. The pants are put aside, the teams sort out, and after the LIJ fist bump, Hiromu starts against Callum. The bell rings, the fans rally, and Hiromu stares down Callum. Hiromu vibes with the chants for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” The two tie up, are in a deadlock, and they go around. Callum uses his height to put Hiromu on the ropes, but then Hiromu turns things around. The ref counts the break, Hiromu lets off, but Callum avoids the chop! Callum whips, Hiromu reverses, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges, but then so does Hiromu! Hiromu RANAS, Callum handsprings through!
Callum runs up, Hiromu dodges and RANAS again, but Callum still handsprings through! But Hiromu spins Callum, only for Callum to fight the suplex! Hiromu CHOPS, Naito jumps in, and they double whip! But Callum BOOTS through Tendedero! LIJ tries again, Callum ducks this time, and he runs again, only for LIJ to avoid the boot! TENDEDERO! Naito & Hiromu hit Cobb with TENDEDERO! Cobb is furious but Hiromu goes after Callum. Hiromu drags Callum over to bump off buckles, then he tags Naito. The fans rally for Naito while he cravats Callum. Callum endures the neck wrench, Hiromu puts his boots in, and Naito sends Callum into them!
The fans applaud while Naito brings Callum up. Hiromu joins in and picks Callum’s legs up, DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Naito tags Hiromu, then drags Callum up for a CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS Callum in the corner, whips corner to corner, then runs up to LARIAT! Snapmare and Hiromu gets moving, but Callum dodges to basement DROPKICK! The fans rally up, Callum rolls and hot tags Cobb! The fans cheer as Cobb brings Hiromu up, reels him in, and then SLAMS him down by his waistband! Cobb steps on Hiromu but dares Naito to come in. GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT on Hiromu’s back!
Cobb mocks the LIJ fist with a hang loose, then he ROCKS Hiromu. Cobb whips Hiromu corner to corner, but Hiromu runs back to CROSSBODY! Cobb catches Hiromu, and swings, but Hiromu slips free! Hiromu ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAN- NO! Cobb stops that and he lifts Hiromu up! But Hiromu pops free to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tag to Naito! Naito fires hands on Cobb, kicks and CLUBS him, but Cobb just frowns. Cobb swings, Naito dodges to waistlock, but Cobb switches. Cobb shoves Naito, but Naito grabs the ropes. Cobb runs up, Naito BOOTS him, but Cobb eggs him on.
Naito fires forearms, but Cobb runs up, but into an atomic drop! Naito runs, ELBOWS Cobb down, then basement DROPKICKS! The fans rally, Naito BLASTS Callum off the apron, then whips Cobb. Cobb reverses, but Naoto BOOTS him! Naito goes up, and hits ESPERANZA! Cobb flounders, stands up, and Naito CORRIENDO SHIKI- ATHLETIC PLEX! The fans fire up as Cobb turns things around on Naito, and now he crawls to hot tag Callum! Callum runs corner to corner to JUMP KICK Naito! And then he brings Naito around to suplex, but Hiromu runs in! Hiromu dropkicks Callum’s legs out! Cobb “JOHN CENA!” SHOULDER TACKLES!
Naito wrenches Cobb, reels him in, and TORNADO DDTS! Cobb flounders away, Naito catches Callum and feeds him to a SUPERKICK! CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up! The fans rally, Naito drags Callum up, and Hiromu waits on Naito. Hiromu gives Naito the boost, but Callum stops the DDT! Callum and Naito switch, Naito feeds Callum to Hiromu for a dosido and roll-up! Callum rolls through, but runs into TENDEDERO! Naito wrenches, throws elbows, then wrenches again! DESTI- NO! Callum stops it, so Hiromu SHOTGUNS Callum into the DESTINO!! Cover, Cobb SHOVES Hiromu down to break it!
Cobb waistlocks and deadlifts Naito, but Naito fights with elbows! Cobb lets go to SUPERKICK Naito, then reels him in for a TOUR OF THE- CROSSBODY from Hiromu! The fans fire up with Hiromu, and he drags Cobb up. Hiromu fireman’s carries Cobb!? But Cobb slips free, and he TOSSES Hiromu out! Cobb calls to Callum, then he scoops Naito. But Hiromu SUPERKICKS Cobb to save Naito! And he SUPERKICKS Callum! But Callum stays up, dodges a lariat, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES Hiromu! Callum runs, but into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX into buckles! Hiromu fires up, the fans are with him, and he brings Callum back up.
Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Callum slips free! Feed to a POP-UP POEWRBOMB! Cobb hurries to TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Hiromu flounders away, but Naito runs up! But into a TOUR OF- DESTINO!! Callum runs up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, springboard, OSCUTTER 2.0!! And then the fisherman, for FIREBOLT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Naito survives and Callum is shocked! But Callum hurries to stand Naito up, reel him back in, but Naito wrenches out! Naito fires elbow after elbow, but Callum ducks! Callum ELBOWS Naito, but Naito SPITS at Callum! Callum CHOPS, Naito ELBOWS, and Naito ROLLING KICKS!
Naito hurries to get Callum back up, wrench, and DESTIN- NO!! Callum blocks to flip Naito into a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!!! Cobb roars, and he tells Callum to get this done! Cobb scoops, Callum aims, LAWN DART KNEE SHOT!! The fans are thunderous as Callum adds the BLOODY SUNDAY!!! Cover, COBB & CALLUM WIN!!!
Winners: Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Empire once again conquers the Heavyweight Tag Division, and Callum finally has gold here in NJPW! Khan waves the banner as he also wears the NJPW World TV Champion, is this Sakura Genesis just the beginning of The United Empire completely conquering NJPW?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Gene Blast took this title off of David Finlay, then kept it from Gabe Kidd, but now, amidst the Bullet Club Civil War, it is the House of Torture’s King of Darkness that wants this title. Will Evil rub it in The Rebel’s face that he has Finlay’s creation? Or will Yota be the one to keep things tranquilo tonight?
Evil & Dick don’t wait for the introductions, they attack Tsuji on the outside! They beat him down, drag him up, and put him in the ring! Evil stomps away on Tsuji and pulls the jacket off him, but that’s not YOTA Tsuji! That’s Yota’s older brother! The Tsuji brothers used this trick before, and it worked out again! Yota runs in and CLOBBERS Dick! Evil takes a swing but Yota BODY BLOWS first! The fans fire up as Yota BOOTS Evil down! Yota grins, then helps his brother up. The fans cheer as they both smile, and then Yota holds up the title. Yota hands that to the ref, the bell rings, and Evil suddenly wants mercy?
The fans rally for Yota and he eggs Evil on. Evil offers a handshake, but then goes for the eye poke! But Yota blocks with the classic one hand prayer! And then he pokes Evil in the eyes! The fans cheer, Yota runs, but Evil distracts the ref and Dick trips Yota up! The fans boo but Dick pretends his hands are clean. Evil kicks Yota around, but then Dick goes after Yota’s brother! Dick drags Elder Tsuji away from ringside and Evil mockingly says goodbye. Then he RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san suffers again and the fans boo. Evil grabs the mic while he digs his boots into Yota, and he tells Yota that he wasn’t gonna get away with that cheap trick!
Evil talks trash on Yota, “Are you ready to fall like cherry blossoms off the tree?” Evil then laughs and stomps Yota down. Evil slips into the ring, the ref checks Yota, and Yota says he’s fine. Yota hobbles into the ring, but Evil pushes him down. Evil stomps away on the bad leg, then drops an elbow on the knee! Yota endures as Evil pulls on the leg, but Evil digs his elbow in. Yota drags Evil along to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and Evil distracts the ref again so Dick can SLAM Yota’s leg on the apron! Dick then hits a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Yota staggers away, the ref reprimands Dick, and Dick backs away.
Evil again argues with the ref, and Dick puts Yota in for him. Evil ties up the legs, and he salutes as he has Yota in a BLUE JUSTICE FIGURE FOUR! Evil mocks Yuji Nagata, and says HE is justice now! Yota endures, reaches out, and drags Evil along again. The fans rally as Yota keeps fighting his way over, and he has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Evil holds on so the ref reprimands. Evil lets go of Yota, then tells Yota to just quit now. Evil stands on the bad leg, but the ref has him back off. Yota grits his teeth and clutches the bad leg, but the fans rally behind him. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota fires a forearm!
Yota fires another forearm, and another, but Evil kicks the bad leg! Evil whips, but Yota can’t even make it to the ropes! Evil grins, and he grabs the bad leg to SMASH the knee on the mat! The ref checks on Yota but Yota refuses to let it end here. Evil stands on the bad leg, then he drags Yota up. Evil whips Yota into a corner, then runs up, but Yota BOOTS him! Evil tries again, and he blocks a boot, only for Yota to reel him in! DOUBLE STOMP! But that was double-edged given the bad knee! Yota falls over, shakes out the leg, and he tells the ref he can continue. Yota fires up and walks off the pain, and the fans rally as he goes after Evil.
Yota fires forearm after forearm, then whips. Evil reverses, but Yota RANAS! The fans fire up while Evil tumbles out of the ring! Yota fires up again, and he builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Evil hits railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! Dick is lurking nearby, but Yota stands up and fires up again! The fans cheer Yota on, and he drags Evil up. Yota puts Evil in the ring, the fans cheer again, but Dick is creeping! Dick grabs a leg, but Yota BOOTS him away! Yota ROCKS Evil, then slingshots and somersaults! Yota keeps moving, and he runs Evil over! Then SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Evil stays in this but Yota stays focused.
Yota drags Evil up, brings him around, and stomps him down. Yota goes to the corner, jumps up, up, but Evil dodges! No Marlowe Crush, and the leg jams again! Evil CHOP BLOCKS the leg! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Evil grins while Yota grits his teeth, and Evil stands first. Evil drags Yota around, stomps the bad leg again and again, then turns Yota over to SMASH the knee! Yota writhes and crawls to a corner, but Evil winds up the arm. Evil runs in, LARIATS, then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Yota stays in this and the fans fire up. Evil tells the fans to shut up, and then he talks more trash on those cheering for Yota.
Evil drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the fireman’s carry! Yota throws elbows, but Evil LARIATS! Yota stays up, and he glares defiantly at Evil. Evil LARIATS again, and Yota drops to a knee! Evil winds up, runs, but Yota blocks the lariat to ROCK! And SUPERKICK! But Evil CLUBS the knee, ROCKS Yota, ROLLING ELBOWS, then winds up to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up! But Evil has the legs, for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Yota endures as Evil sits deep on the iconic hold! The fans rally as hard as they can, and Yota powers up! Yota fights forward, claws at the mat, but Evil sits back down!
The fans rally more as Yota still endures! Yota shouts in pain, but he also powers up again! Yota fights forward, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and paces in frustration. Evil then smirks as he drags Yota by his arm. Evil wants the ref to ask Yota, but Yota refuses to give in. Evil stands on Yota’s head, then drags him back up. Evil slaps Yota around, but Yota fires short headbutts into Evil’s chest. Evil laughs, fireman’s carries, but Yota flails free! But the leg jams! Evil kicks the bad leg, then whips Yota! Evil goes to the corner and comes back, but into the BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! CURB STOMP!!
The fans fire up as the Gene Combination hits! Yota sits back and clutches the bad knee, and tries to get it working again. Yota rises, fires back up, and he roars! The fans rally behind him and Yota drags Evil up to CLUB him back down. Yota goes to the corner, then goes up, up, and wait! Kanemaru has Elder Tsuji hostage! The distraction lets Evil CHOP BLOCK Yota off the corner! The fans boo but Dick CLOBBERS the ref!? Dick stomps away on Yota while Kanemaru puts Yota’s brother in the ring! Evil grins as now he, Kanemaru & Dick stomp away on the Tsuji brothers! Dick ROCKS Yota and has him in the corner.
Dick & Kanemaru double whip Yota, then Dick runs in for an ELBOW! Kanemaru adds an ELBOW, and Evil adds a LARIAT! They snapmare Yota, hold him up, and Dick goes up top! DICK CHOP!! The fans boo, but the Tsuji brothers are put together for a DOUBLE SPOILER CHOKER! The fans boo more, but here comes Shingo Takagi! He CLOBBERS Kanemaru, CLUBS Dick, then DECKS Dick! Takagi gets Yota’s brother out of there, but Kanemaru CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Kanemaru runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! And YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up for the Rampaging Dragon, “TOKI GA KITA!”
But Evil LOW BLOWS Takagi! Evil laughs at Takagi, but Yota LOW BLOWS Evil!! The fans cheer as now things are even! The fans rally up behind Yota and he hobbles over to Evil. Yota drags Evil up, reels him in, but Evil fights the suplex! They fight for control, and Evil suplexes Yota, but gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! And then Yota suplexes for the ORANGE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives and Yota roars! The fans fire up with Yota as he takes aim from the corner. Evil rises, but he sends the ref at Yota! Then Evil kicks low, and uses the ref to help with MAGIC KILLER! But that sends the ref tumbling!
The fans rally while Evil grins. Evil rises, he brings Yota up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is furious but he drags Yota to his feet. Fireman’s carry and DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up again! Evil is even angrier now, but he slashes his throat and vows to end this! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, EVERY- NO, Yota slips free and clinches! Evil fights free, but GENE BLASTER OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Evil survives but Yota just goes to the corner! Yota rises up, takes aim again, and the fans fire up as Yota roars!
Evil rises, Yota runs up, GENE- NO, Evil sends him into a corner! Dick drags the ref out! Evil has Yota up, Dick takes aim, but Yota ducks! POCKET SAND hits Evil!! The fans fire up as Yota DECKS Dick! Kanemaru is back, and he dropkicks Yota’s legs out! Kanemaru calls to Evil, then he gets the whiskey! Evil stands Yota up, but Yota ducks again, WHISKEY MIST hits Evil in the face!! Takagi is back to PUMPING BOMBER Kanemaru!! Yota reloads, runs up, and GENE TRIGGERS! Yota goes up, up, and MARLOWE CRUSH!! Yota roars and the fans are thunderous! Evil rises, into the GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
The King of Darkness could not claim his throne, and that is TRUE justice! Will the House of Torture simply focus on battling with the War Dogs?
As for Yota, Takagi helps him stand, and Yota grabs the mic. The fans cheer, and Yota says, “I am the ray of hope to the new era of NJPW. But, how about you?” Wait! Yuya Uemura is here! Yota continues by saying, “Can you be the sun to light up this NJPW ring? OI, UEMURA!” Yota turns around to see Yuya there. Yota invites him in, and Yuya steps inside. Yota tells Yuya, “My next challenger is you.” The fans cheer, and Yuya takes the mic to say, “It’s not the belt that motivates me right now. To erase the memory of that day, I want to fight the Tsuji of today!” The fans cheer that! Yuya then says, “I, the Heat Storm, will be the one to light up pro-wrestling and everyone here!”
The fans cheer and Yuya gives the mic back to Yota. Yota smiles and says, “Oi, Uemura. Are you ready?” The fans cheer as Yota drops the mic. Gene Blast or Heat Storm, who will be forged in gold when these two collide?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto w/ YOSHI-HASHI VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
The Fierce Warrior finally leads the charge as THE champion here in NJPW, and he was even given the reins of Hontai by Hiroshi Tanahashi himself. But The Rebel does things his own way, from taking over Bullet Club to finally winning the New Japan Cup. There is only room for ONE world champion here, so will the G in IWGP still be for Goto? Or will the Savage King finally reign supreme?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly leads the revolution!
The bell rings and the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Red Shoes doesn’t even bother taking the measure, it is very clear Goto holds the crowd. Goto and Finlay circle, feel things out, and tie up. Finlay has the arm, hammerlocks, but Goto switches that onto Finlay. Goto headlocks, hits the takeover, but Finlay headscissors. Goto kips free, the two stand off, and the fans cheer. Finlay and Goto reset, circle again, and Finlay smirks as the crowd continues to cheer on Goto. They tie up again, are in a deadlock right at center, but Goto’s slight height advantage helps push Finlay back a couple steps. Goto puts Finlay on the ropes, and Red Shoes calls the break.
Goto and Finlay slowly let off, and Goto pats Finlay on the shoulders. But then Finlay ROCKS Goto with a cheap shot and headlocks! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Finlay grinds the hold. Goto powers up and out to then headlock Finlay in return. Finlay powers up but can’t power out as Goto holds tight! The fans cheer, Finlay fights up, and Finlay fires body shots. Finlay powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans cheer and Goto looms over Finlay. Things get moving, and Finlay drops down, hurdles over, but runs into a HIP TOSS! Finlay hurries to his feet, but Goto TOSSES him out! Finlay tumbles into the railing!
The fans cheer and Goto eggs Finlay on. Finlay storms in but Goto kicks and CLUBS him! Goto CLUBS Finlay more, whips him, but Finlay reverses. Goto ducks ‘n’ dodges but then Finlay ducks to kick low! Finlay runs, but into a BACKDROP! The fans cheer while Finlay writhes. Goto stomps Finlay, then CLUBS him again. Goto CLUBS Finlay more and Finlay falls against ropes. Goto brings Finlay up, but Finlay fireman’s carries to HOTSHOT, then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Goto is tougher than that but Finlay stays focused. Finlay rains down fists, but Red Shoes reprimands about the closed fists.
Finlay lets off, and he throws up the Too Sweet while the fans boo. Finlay stands on Goto but Red Shoes doesn’t like the cocky cover. Finlay argues with Red Shoes, but Red Shoes won’t budge. Finlay clamps onto Goto for a neck wrench, but he also fishhooks Goto’s nose! Red Shoes reprimands, and Goto kicks forward to get the ROPEBREAK! Finlay lets go with just one hand but Red Shoes counts. Finlay CLUBS Goto down at 4! The fans rally for Goto while Red Shoes reprimands Finlay. Finlay drags Goto up and whips Goto hard into the corner! Gedo tells Goto to give up, but Finlay whips Goto hard into the other corner!
The fans boo but Finlay shrugs, then flexes. Finlay grins and covers Goto, TWO! Goto is tougher than that, but Finlay drags Goto up. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Finlay throat chops! Finlay whips, but Goto reverses, and then Goto runs up, but into BOOTS! Finlay runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Gedo coaches Finlay but Goto brings him up for forearms. Goto whips corner to corner, then runs in, only for Finlay to FLAPJACK him off the buckles! Finlay then runs and LARIATS Goto and himself out of the ring! That was a rougher landing for Finlay and Red Shoes checks on him.
Finlay shakes out the bad hand, and he drags Goto up. Finlay RAMS Goto hard into railing! The fans boo but Finlay soaks up that heat. His hand seems to be alright as he waves to the fans. Finlay then dumps the belt off the timekeeper’s table! Finlay throws the tablecloth at the fans, then sets that table up near ringside. Finlay brings out a second table, and he places it right next to the first. Gedo tells Goto to give up now, and Finlay refreshes the ring count. Finlay brings Goto over to the tables, reels him in, and POWER- NO, Goto fights free! Goto RAMS Finlay into railing! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
Gedo coaches Finlay but Goto stomps him down. Goto stomps Finlay more, then whips him hard into the railing! Finlay falls to the floor but Goto stomps him. Goto drags Finlay up to CLUB him, but Finlay fireman’s carries! And POSTS him! Gedo loves it but the fans are torn at best. Finlay storms through the gate, but Red Shoes says to keep this near the ring. Finlay pretends not to hear that, and he hoists Goto up! But Goto RANAS out of the bomb and POSTS Finlay at the same time! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ring count starts again and Goto crawls his way over to Finlay by 7 of 20.
Goto stands at 9, and he drags Finlay up at 12. Goto puts Finlay in the ring and the fans cheer. We’re only ten minutes into this but Goto fires up. Goto fires forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs up, MURAMASA! And then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Finlay is tougher than that, but the fans continue to rally for Goto. Goto drags Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free to roll Goto up! High stack, TWO! Finlay basement UPPERCUTS! Goto sputters and rolls away to a corner. Finlay goes to the other and barks. There are fans who join in, and Finlay runs corner to corner, but into a BOOT! Finlay still LARIATS!
Finlay LARIATS Goto in the corner again and again! Finlay then clinches, but Goto fights with elbows! Finlay fires a forearm, Goto fires back! Finlay fires another forearm, but Goto fires back! The fans rally as Finlay wobbles already! Finlay fires another shot, Goto fires another shot, and they go back and forth! The fans rally but Finlay gets the edge! ROLLING- NO, Goto catches Finlay to an URA GTR! Goto runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Finlay runs, Goto follows, but Finlay dodges to LARIAT through! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up again! Finlay is annoyed but he watches Goto crawl to a corner.
Finlay runs in, and he UPPERCUTS! Then Finlay suplexes to TOSS Goto away! The fans boo but Finlay flexes and swaggers around. Cover, TWO! Goto is still tougher than that, but Finlay seems more amused than anything. Finlay sits Goto up and makes him look to the camera. Finlay fires crossface forearm after crossface forearm! Gedo tells Goto to just give up! Finlay fires more forearms, then stands over Goto. Finlay again taunts Goto’s kids like he did months ago, and the fans boo Finlay more. The fans continue to rally behind Goto, and Finlay clinches for the BACKBREAKER! Then he reels Goto in for a CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Goto survives! Gedo tells Finlay to keep on Goto, and Finlay pushes Goto to the apron. They’re near the tables! Finlay goes to the apron and tells the kids to say goodbye to daddy. Finlay reels Goto in, lifts him up, but Goto fights free! Finlay BOOTS Goto, stomps him on the apron, but Red Shoes reprimands. Finlay hauls Goto up and reels him in again, then mocks the tears. The fans boo, but Goto fireman’s carries Finlay! The fans fire up for the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER through the tables! Only one table breaks properly but Finlay suffers all the same! The fans are thunderous while both men are down!
Red Shoes checks and Finlay is somehow okay to continue. A ring count begins, the fans continue to cheer for “GO-TO-O!” and he rise sup. Goto heads for Finlay at 7 of 20, but reaches him at 13. Goto drags Finlay up at 14 and puts him in at 15! The fans cheer as Goto wants to win this the honorable way. Goto rolls in, drags Finlay up, and fireman’s carries for the G T W!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives and the fans rally up again. Gedo pounds the apron to rally for Finlay but the crowd is still with Goto. Goto rises, hobbles around, and he roars! The fans cheer as Goto aims, BUZZSAW! Finlay flops back but Goto drags him up!
Goto dragon sleepers, but Finlay spins through! Goto fights the suplex, but so does Finlay! Got suplexes, Finlay slips free and then SNAP OVERKILL!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives as Finlay couldn’t get the full impact! The fans rally as hard as they can while both men are down! Finlay grits his teeth, clutches his back, and crawls back to Goto. Finlay drags Goto up, reels him in, and hoists him up for a BUCKLE BOMB! But Goto comes back! Finlay dodges the lariat to POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives again and Finlay grows frustrated! We hit 20 minutes and yet this feels like far less time! Finlay snarls as he drags Goto back up.
Finlay puts Goto on the top rope, then fires forearms. Finlay climbs while the fans rally more, and Finlay hoists Goto up. Goto fires body shots! Then he ROCKS Finlay with a forearm! Finlay drops back, but runs up and ROCKS Goto again! Finlay climbs to fire off more forearms, but Goto fires back! Goto HEADBUTTS Finlay again and again! Goto tucks Finlay in and the fans are already going nuts! Goto rises up to SUPER SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay survives and the fans are thunderous! Goto roars and he brings Finlay back up, only for Finlay to suplex, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Finlay staggers around, completely shocked! But he vows to end this now! Finlay drags Goto up, suplexes and OVER- NO, Goto cradle counters! TWO! Finlay holds on, suplexes again, OVER- NO!! Goto blocks the knee! Finlay fires furious fists and forearms, but Goto just HEADBUTTS him! Goto snarls and the fans are thunderous again! Finlay sputters, Goto stands him up to fireman’s carry! But Finlay sunset flips! Goto rolls through, into PRIMA NOCTA!! Finlay hauls Goto up, but Goto suplexes!! SHOTEN KAI!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Finlay survives and the fans are electric! Gedo himself is going nuts!
Goto hauls Finlay up, dragon sleepers, G T- NO, Finlay hooks the arm! The two fight for the backslide, but Goto spins Finlay through! G T R!!! But he’s not done! ANOTHER G T R!!!! Wait, Goto still isn’t done?!? Talk about overkill as Goto hammerlocks an arm, and gives Finlay the G T R KAI!!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The fans erupt for “GO-TO-O!” as he crushes the dream of the would-be king! If Finlay fought this hard just to fall short, how much harder must he fight to truly stand atop the mountain?
As for Goto, Red Shoes & Yoshi-Hashi help put the belt back on the champion while the fans cheer. Goto then gets the mic to say, “This is no Cinderella fairytale. This is reality!” The fans cheer that! Goto tells his son and daughter, “Thank you for fighting alongside me.” The fans applaud, and Goto continues to say, “No matter how many times you get beaten, if you don’t give up, then you don’t really lose. Children, you’ll face many adversities in life. But never back down!” The fans applaud that, too, and Goto tells everyone thanks for coming today. “Next up is Chicago in America. I know who I want to face.”
The fans are intrigued, and Goto tells Shota Umino to come out! Now the fans aren’t so sure about this. Goto says he knows Shota is watching, so please, come on out. The Roughneck returns, and Goto invites him into the ring. Shota takes off his jacket and hat, then steps into the ring to be face to face with Goto. The fans boo, so Shota hops back down. Goto says no, hold on, he’s not done talking. Goto wants Shota to step into the ring, so Shota does it for Goto. Goto knows Shota has “freed himself from doubt.” Then, they’ll fight with this belt on the line. The fans are again torn, but Goto tells Shota that they can show America a REAL NJPW match! What’s he say to that?
Goto holds out the mic, and Shota takes it. The fans are torn, with plenty of boos but also plenty of cheers. Shota tells Goto, “First of all, congratulations on your defense. Daddy’s pretty cool, isn’t he? Let’s show the world the power of NJPW’s Hontai.” The fans do applaud that, and Shota says, “I’ll give you everything I’ve got to take that belt.” Shota drops the mic to shake Goto’s hand, then he heads out. As for Goto, he continues to say that “The Goto Revolution isn’t just limited to Japan. The Goto Revolution continues, make sure you follow me! The G in IWGP, you’ve caught on, haven’t you? Let’s do this! The G in IWGP stands for GOTO!”
And with that, The Fierce Warrior is moving forward! Will he continue to lead NJPW and its new era? Or will the Paradigm Shift Shota speaks of just be a week away?
My Thoughts:
A great event for NJPW, Sakura Genesis is certainly one of the biggest nights on their calendar now. We got some great matches and some great story developments all over the place, really bringing some intrigue into the rest of the year and maybe even beyond. Great win for Yuya over Sanada, and then perhaps Sanada had about enough of being a War Dog, because he finally did what I knew he would and turned to the House of Torture. Great stuff in that on its own, and per Finlay’s backstage comments at the very end of the night, we’re getting another “Dog Pound Steel Cage match” for the blowoff.
The original was with United Empire, and that one got a little too wild, aka it ended Alex Coughlin’s in-ring career, so let’s just hope they don’t go as wild as they did that time. Either way, that blowoff will be great stuff, and it makes sense that no high level title is in either faction because this feud doesn’t really need it. Speaking of which, great stuff in the Global Heavyweight Championship match, with the Tsuji brothers pulling that old bait ‘n’ switch trick again. And of course the House had to get involved there, only for Shingo Takagi to counter that. Great win for Yota, and Uemura beating Sanada, Yota VS Yuya is going to be some great stuff, too.
I’m rather surprised we got new champions in Great-O-Khan and the Cobb Callum combination. Clearly, rumors of Cobb’s departure were greatly exaggerated. Surely Cobb & Callum will have a very good reign, as will Khan as NJPW World TV Champion. The most curious thing is that Obari the belt designer is with them. The most Bullet Club War Dogs did to the titles they held was put white straps on them. Perhaps Obari will give the Empire their own custom green? Or some new face plates to mark this new era of NJPW? His design for THE IWGP World title was a bit out of the norm at the time it was introduced, but it isn’t the worst so he could probably give the tag titles a fresh start.
Great match from Konosuke VS Oiwa, but I figured Konosuke would win so that he has momentum going into Windy City Riot next week. Great match from Tanahashi VS Shota, and it’s only a little surprising Shota won. After all, Shota is still one of the Reiwa Era Musketeers, NJPW still has high hopes for him despite the audience’s feelings. Likewise, a great main event from Goto VS Finlay, and a great win for Goto. Goto sure has his own high expectations for Shota, and their match at Windy City Riot could also be a measure of where Shota’s going both in story and in character. Chicago’s a tough town, they might not care for Shota even if he does start getting edgier.
Shota told Tanahashi he wants to lead Hontai and essentially be the face of NJPW, and becoming world champion would help do that. I just don’t think a show down in America is going to be where any of that happens. Shota may have to prove himself through the G1 Climax instead.
My Score: 9/10
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