Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW New Beginning Osaka Results & Report! (2/11/24)
NJPW bids farewell to Ospreay!
Will Will Ospreay survive his final NJPW match?
After a long and storied career in NJPW, Will Ospreay is moving on. But will he be able to after a brutal 10 Man Steel Cage match?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- YOH & Toru Yano VS Ryusuke Taguchi & Boltin Oleg; Yoh & Yano win.
- Bishamon VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Bishamon wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Desperado, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Just5Guys; Just5Guys win.
- Kazuchika Okada VS Hiroshi Tanahashi; Okada wins.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS Chase Owens & KENTA; Chase & Kenta win and become the new IWGP Heayvweight Tag Team Champions.
- Zack Sabre Jr. VS Bryan Danielson; ZSJ wins.
- 10 Man Steel Cage Match: The United Empire VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Bullet Club War Dogs win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Kazuchika Okada VS Hiroshi Tanahashi!
The Rainmaker is on his way out of NJPW, so how fitting that one of his last matches is against one of his most storied rivals and greatest friends. Will Okada get one more on the Ace of the Universe? Or will this be a sad goodbye to Osaka?
The fans are already thunderous for “O-KA-DA! O-KA-DA!” as he makes his way into the ring. The bell rings, the fans rally for “O-KA-DA” even harder as he circles with Tanahashi. Then Osaka comes out for “TA-NAHA-SHI!” as he and Okada tie up. They are in a deadlock, but Okada’s height gives him leverage. They end up on the ropes, the ref calls for the break, and Okada gives the patented fake-out to pat Tanahashi on the shoulders. Tanahashi runs up but into a kick. Okada headlocks, Tanahashi throws body shots and powers out, but Okada runs him over! The fans cheer, and Okada brings Tanahashi up.
Okada fires a forearm, whips Tanahashi corner to corner, then runs up, only for Tanahashi to elbow him away. Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! Then he DROPKICKS Okada down, and gives us the air guitar! Tanahashi runs up, Okada dodges and then puts Tanahashi up top. Okada DROPKICKS Tanahashi to the floor! The fans rally up and Okada goes to the apron. Okada takes a moment to fetch Tanahashi, and then puts him between the railing to pull him against the top bar! Okada BOOTS the railing to jam Tanahashi up and fans boo that. Okada rolls into the ring but Tanahashi follows and fans applaud.
Okada drags Tanahashi up, snapmares him near ropes, and runs side to side for the basement dropkick! Okada has a cocky cover but fans boo, and Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK quickly. Okada paces then sighs. The fans rally and duel as Okada brings Tanahashi up. Tanahashi fires forearms on Okada and ROCKS him! Tanahashi kicks but Okada blocks to DRAGON SCREW! Fans cheer that, but then boo Okada’s smug attitude. Okada kips up just to show off, and he makes his way over to pick Tanahashi up. Okada bumps Tanahashi off buckles, then ELBOWS him! Okada ELBOWS Tanahashi again, then whips him corner to corner.
Okada runs in to ELBOW Tanahashi, then kicks low and hits a DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Okada encourages them to rally for Tanahashi. The fans do cheer, and Okada dares Tanahashi to hit him. Tanahashi obliges by firing forearms! Okada eggs Tanahashi on so Tanahashi ROCKS him! Okada blocks another kick but Tanahashi forearms free! Okada ROCKS Tanahashi, whips him, but Tanahashi hits a FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up and Tanahashi brings Okada up. Tanahashi fires fast strikes high and low, then scoops to SLAM Okada into a drop zone! Fans cheer as Tanahashi goes up, for the SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer and Tanahashi feeds off the energy. Okada rises, Tanahashi runs, but blocks a boot first! DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi returns the favor from earlier and Okada goes to the apron. Tanahashi drags Okada up, gets his leg in the ropes, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Okada falls to the floor, the fans rally as Tanahashi goes out to the apron, and they fire up as Tanahashi climbs! Tanahashi aims, ACES HIGH FLY ATTACK! Direct hit to the floor and the fans fire up again! The ref checks both men and somehow Okada and Tanahashi are okay to continue. Tanahashi rises up first, and he brings Okada up.
Tanahashi puts Okada in the ring and the fans cheer. Tanahashi powers up again as the fans rally, and Tanahashi runs the ropes. Okada turns slingblade into FLAPJACK! Both men are down but the fans rally up again. Okada crawls to a corner as the fans duel. Tanahashi rises up from center, runs in, but Okada pops him up! Alabama Lift to REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Okada keeps on Tanahashi with a fireman’s carry! HEAVY RAIN!? Cover, TWO! Okada busted out an oldie but Tanahashi stays in this. Okada drags Tanahashi back up to scoop and SLAM, then he goes to the corner! Fans cheer as the standard formula continues!
Okada aims to MACHO ELBOW! And that of course means… The Rainmaker Pose! Osaka fires up with Okada and he brings Tanahashi back up. Okada ripcords but Tanahashi SLINGBLADES first! The fans rally and duel again while both men are down! Tanahashi and Okada crawl towards each other, go forehead to forehead, and then go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as each man keeps throwing shots, and then they stand to fire even more! The forearms pick up speed, Okada wobbles, and the fans fire up! Tanahashi fires more forearms, but Okada UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS!
Tanahashi drops to a knee, Okada gut wrenches, but Tanahashi fights free! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Okada clutches his neck, Tanahashi fires up again and runs the ropes! SLING- NO, Okada gets under, ripcords, but Tanahashi ducks! Tanahashi takes a swing but Okada ducks! Ripcord, but Tanahashi full nelsons to DRAGON SUPLEX! The fans fire up as Tanahashi rises again! Tanahashi runs, SLING- NO, Okada blocks it midway! Tanahashi CLUBS Okada to go for a sleeper, then he whips. Okada reverses, Tanahashi SLINGBLADES after all! Cover, TWO! Okada snarls as he survives but Tanahashi goes to a corner!
Tanahashi climbs up, takes aim, HIGH FLY FLOW onto knees! Okada saves himself but perhaps in a double-edged way! Both men writhe while the fans rally and duel again. Okada rolls his way to another corner, Tanahashi goes to the ropes. Okada runs up to SHOTGUN Tanahashi down! The fans fire up as Okada brings Tanahashi up and around, short arm LARIAT! Okada drags Tanahashi back up, for another- DRAGON PALM! Tanahashi won’t let Okada have his way, but Okada glares at him! DRAGON PALM again! Okada lets go and Tanahashi eggs him on! DRAGON PALM, and SLING- DROPKICK!
Okada brings Tanahashi up, gut wrenches, TOMBSTONE! Okada roars and the fans fire up again as he ripcords! Tanahashi cradle counters! TWO!! Okada gets free, gut wrenches again, but Tanahashi fights that to his own gut wrench! The two fight for control and the fans rally up! Tanahashi powers through to gut wrench, but Okada kicks and turns things around! Fireman’s carry, LANDSLIDE! And then ripcord, RAINMAKER!! Cover, OKADA WINS!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall
Almost 12 years to the day of the #RainmakerShock, number sweet sixteen of the series goes to Okada! The final score is 9-4-3 in favor of The Rainmaker and another instant classic is put in the books. The end of an era to be sure, but the respect between these men is immortal. They hug it out as the fans cheer, will we ever see this showdown again?
Okada takes a moment to bow to the NJPW faithful, and he kneels down by the NJPW lion logo. Okada is clearly emotional as he touches it one last time. Okada takes one last deep bow to the crowd, will there ever come a day when the Rainmaker returns to Osaka?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado VS Chase Owens & KENTA!
The Headbanga & Young Guerrilla have been owing Bullet Club a lot of payback, and now they get their chance! But same goes for The Crown Jewel & The Fang Revived in taking these titles back to the Club! Will ELP & Leo show ain’t nobody reala than Guerrilla? Or will these New Beginnings be Just Too Sweet?
The introductions are made, the heavyweight belts are raised, and we see what it takes to go from 100th to 101st!
The teams sort out and there is a fan loudly cheering on “KEN-TA! KEN-TA!” But then everyone else cheers on “E L P!” In the end, ELP starts against Kenta and the fans rally up with the bell. ELP and Kenta circle, the dueling definitely a 99:1 ratio. Kenta tells the one guy to stop already. Kenta and ELP tie up, ELP powers Kenta to ropes, but Kenta turns it around. The ref calls the break but Kenta pulls hair! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Kenta mocks the champs. ELP stays cool and mockingly starts up a Kenta chant. The fans join in because plot twist, it’s for referee Kenta Sato.
ELP and Kenta approach, kenta headlocks but ELP powers out. Kenta steps on the drop down then soaks up the heat. ELP fires off forearms, then CHOPS! ELP whips and DROPKICKS Kenta, then handsprings up! The fans fire up and things keep moving. ELP hops over Kenta’s dropdown to scuff him in a very Kenta way! The fans cheer and ELP goes up a corner. The fans cheer him on, but Chase sucker punches him! The ref reprimands but Kenta also BLASTS Leo! Chase & Kenta mug ELP, the CHOP and body shot, then double whip. Leo gets in, ELP ducks the lariats so Leo can DOUBLE LARIAT! Leo stomps Chase, ELP brings Kenta up.
Kenta and ELP brawl, but Leo joins in. Kenta throws hands on them both, runs, but ELP hurdles for Leo to DDT Kenta! Chase ROCKS ELP and ROCKS Leo, then whips Leo. Leo reverses to SPLASH, ELP runs in to back elbow! Feed to Leo for the SIDEWALK SLAM, then FALLING AX HANDLE! The fans rally up, ELP & Leo high-five then knuckle lock. ELP goes up and up and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS Chase & Kenta down! Leo says hecc yeah and they get Kenta back in the ring. ELP pushes Kenta to a cover, TWO! The fans rally as ELP paces around Kenta. Kenta wants ELP to hold on, and he wants to apologize for what happened?
ELP doesn’t buy that and he storms up on Kenta, only for Kenta to YANK ELP into buckles! Kenta rains down fists on ELP, then stomps away. The ref counts, Kenta lets off at 4, and Kenta drags ELP up. Kenta TOSSES ELP out, then storms out to the apron. Kenta JUMP STOMPS Kenta down! Chase and Kenta tell the ELP fans to shut up already, and then Kenta RAMS ELP into railing! The fans rally but Kenta taunts ELP. ELP slaps Kenta from the floor, but Kenta stomps ELP down. Kenta puts ELP in, drags him up and brings him back. Tag to Chase, they mug ELP, and ELP sputters as he falls over.
Chase drags ELP up, wrenches and scoops, BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kenta steps in, Bullet Club double whips ELP but ELP holds ropes! ELP BOOTS Chase, TOSSES Kenta, then RANAS Chase! Fans fire up while ELP and Chase are down, and ELP crawls for the corner! But Kenta YANKS Leo away from the apron! Fans boo but Chase CLUBS ELP! Chase whips corner to corner, sends Kenta in and Kenta forearm smashes! Chase forearm smashes, then he reels ELP in! Chase tucks the arms but ELP back drops free! ELP fakes high to then go under Kenta, but Kenta grabs a foot! Kenta brings ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS!
Fans fire up as ELP crawls again, hot tag to Leo! Leo rallies with UPPERCUTS, then he whips Chase. Chase KICKS back, dodges the lariat, but Leo still runs Chase over! Leo scoops Kenta, gives him SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up as Leo looks like a Phenom, but Chase pokes him in the eyes! Chase whips Leo to a corner but Leo comes back to CLOBBER Chase! The fans fire up again and Leo takes aim. Leo runs corner to corner but Chase avoids the splash! SOBAT! AX KICK! ROLLING ELBOW! Chase brings Leo in, but Leo suplexes first! Cover, TWO! Chase stays in this but Leo stays on him with a scoop.
Leo brings Chase over, tags ELP, POWERSLAM to the step-up SWANTON! Then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! ELP coordinates with Leo and the fans rally up. ELP straitjackets and torture racks Chase, Leo gets moving, but Kenta DUMPS Leo out! Chase slips free, rolls ELP up, TWO! Chase fires off fast hands, ROCKS ELP and ELP goes to a corner. Chase runs corner to corner but ELP BOOTS him! Chase SOBATS back, runs in, SUNSET BUCKLE BOMB! Kenta steps in and he whips Chase in, to forearm smash! Chase goes up and out, trips ELP, and Kenta HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! Chase SUPERKICKS Leo from the apron!
Kenta goes up and aims, COUP DE GRACE on ELP! Chase hauls ELP up to fireman’s carry and GUTBUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up! Chase tags Kenta, they get ELP up and whip. They double elbow ELP down, then roll and cradle ELP for a DOUBLE- NO, ELP lands out of the throw, hot tag to Leo! ELP gets around Chase, baits Kenta in, and then ducks so that Kenta’s BOOT hits Chase! ELP BOOTS Kenta, Kenta URAKENS ELP, but Leo CHOPS Kenta down! Leo clotheslines Chase up and out, then aims at Kenta! Choke grip, but Kenta grabs the ref! Kenta sends the ref into Leo, then CHOP BLOCKS Leo!
Fans boo as Kenta fires those right cross palm strikes! But Leo choke grips! Kenta breaks free to KNEE Leo right down! Kenta fires up and fans rally as he goes to fireman’s carry! Kenta lifts Leo but Leo fights free! Leo shoves, Kenta ducks ‘n’ dodges, but runs into the SNAP POWERSLAM! Leo calls to ELP and wants to finish this! The fans fire up as the Guerrillas tune up! SUDDEN DEATH to choke grip, and ELP PLANCHAS Chase! GODSEND for Kenta!! Then ELP goes up the ropes! Then up Leo’s shoulders! SUPER THUNDER KISS!!! Cover, but Chase YANKS the ref out!! Fans boo, but then Jado gets in Chase’s face!
Chase shoves Jado so Jado fires hands! Chase LOW BLOWS then C-TRIGGERS! Leo is furious and he storms up, but TAIJI ISHIMORI IS HERE! Ishimori CLOBBERS ELP with an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship belt! Leo grabs Taiji, but Kenta LOW BLOWS Leo! BELT SHOT for Leo!! Kenta high stacks, Chase shoves the ref in to count it, BULLET CLUB WINS!!
Winners: Chase Owens & Kenta, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Bone Soldier should be listed on the victory for this one, he’s the only reason this New Beginning leaves such a bitter taste in the mouth! We start a new era as we now have a 101st team in the record books, will Bullet Club look to make all of NJPW #JustTooSweet?
Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Bryan Danielson!
The Front Man may have lost to the American Dragon the last time they battled, but what was supposed to be a technical master class ended with a busaiku knee. ZSJ wants a proper wrestling finish, will he make that happen himself? Or will Bryan refuses to #JustTapOut?
The fans chant “YES! YES! YES!” for Bryan before the bell, then continue to rally at the bell. Bryan and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and the fans start to duel. ZSJ and Bryan clinch, move around, then break to go again. ZSJ rolls, dares Bryan to try something but leans back as Bryan tries to slap. ZSJ shoots in with a leg guard trap but Bryan holds that off. Bryan has a foot, ZSJ kicks free but Bryan jumps on! ZSJ slips free, the two separate and the fans fire up. Bryan and ZSJ reset, feel things out again, and knuckle lock. The fans sing, “Oh~ Zack Sabre Jr~!” but Bryan rolls to wrangle. ZSJ wrenches back, and wrenches, and knuckle locks again.
The two spin around and around then break, and the fans cheer. ZSJ and Bryan reset, feel things out again, and knuckle lock again. ZSJ puts Bryan in a corner but Bryan powers his way out. Bryan clinches, shifts around, but ZSJ holds off the facelock. Bryan goes for a leg instead, and he has a spladle of sorts! ZSJ keeps his shoulders up and shifts around, but Bryan holds off the armbar by hooking a leg with a leg. ZSJ and Bryan each try for toeholds but Bryan shifts around to have the mount. ZSJ moves but Bryan keeps a leg. They knuckle lock, ZSJ lifts Bryan to put him in an armbar! But Bryan slips around, only for ZSJ to get away!
The fans cheer the technical exchange as the two reset again. The singing returns, but Bryan ignores it as he and ZSJ feel things out again. They knuckle lock with one hand, then knuckle lock with both hands. They go forehead to forehead as they push each other around, and the fans rally up as they both try a dropdown! ZSJ smirks as he and Bryan stand up and go forehead to forehead again. They both try the dropdown again, then reset. Then Bryan uses ZSJ’s dropdown against him to get the ARMBAR! ZSJ clasps hands, bridges, rolls, and floats around to facelock. Bryan powers things to a corner, and the ref calls the break.
The fans cheer as ZSJ eggs Bryan on and Bryan has the legs. The ref reprimands and Bryan lets off. The fans cheer again as the two reset. They circle, feel things out, then ZSJ stands on Bryan’s one hand to wrench the other. ZSJ bends the fingers, twists the wrist and reestablishes the knuckle locks. Bryan endures, fights up, and breaks one hold to wrench the other. Bryan has ZSJ’s wrist and arm-drags him with it! Bryan wrenches to OVERHEAD arm-drag now! ZSJ gets up but Bryan wrenches to whip to a corner. ZSJ goes up and comes back to GUILLOTINE! ZSJ then has the HOVERBOARD, but Bryan pries free!
ZSJ has the leg, Bryan rolls to get a leg for himself! They duel with heel hooks but Bryan turns ZSJ over to trap one leg with the other! ZSJ endures as Bryan has a Deathlock, then SNAPS it on! ZSJ headlocks Bryan to fight back but Bryan has a crossface! Bryan powers ZSJ into his modified Muta Lock but ZSJ pries free! The fans cheer this newest exchange as the two go to corners. Bryan and ZSJ both catch their breath before circling again. They knuckle lock again, then ZSJ bridges to straitjacket! Bryan endures, bridges and turns, then he puts the straitjacket onto ZSJ! Bryan digs his knee in for the “British Surfboard,” but ZSJ bridges!
ZSJ scoots under Bryan and kicks him away! Fans cheer as that exchange goes to ZSJ. The singing returns as Bryan and ZSJ reset again. They tie up, ZSJ facelocks and cranks the hold but Bryan wrenches and WRINGS ZSJ into ropes! ZSJ hobbles into a corner, checks his leg but those ropes really got him. Bryan waits on ZSJ as he goes around the ropes to another corner, and ZSJ comes back. The fans rally up, the two knuckle lock, and Bryan headlocks. Bryan changes sides, to dropkick ZSJ’s bad leg! GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Bryan then steps through to a toehold! ZSJ fights with a leg hook but Bryan rolls around.
Bryan has the legs and hooks them up. ZSJ resists as Bryan wants the arms and the fans rally up for him. ZSJ reaches out, Bryan dares him to use them then. ZSJ eggs Bryan on, claiming he doesn’t need ropes, so Bryan slaps him around! Bryan tells ZSJ to get the ropes but ZSJ tells Bryan to just bring it! So Bryan STOMPS ZSJ’s knees! ZSJ writhes and Bryan drags him from the ropes. Bryan KICKS the leg, then KICKS ZSJ in the back! ZSJ sits up and dares Bryan to do that again. The fans cheer, and Bryan KICKS him again! Bryan drags ZSJ around, pulls on the leg, but ZSJ kicks with the good leg.
Bryan turns ZSJ over and leans on that knee! ZSJ endures as Bryan adds the other leg, then rolls him around. ZSJ headlocks in return, but Bryan puts the bad leg on the ropes. The ref calls the break, Bryan pushes on the foot, then claims ZSJ needs to let go. ZSJ does let go of Bryan’s arm, but then Bryan HIP DROPS the bad leg! Then HIP DROPS it again! ZSJ scrambles away and the ref backs Bryan off. The fans boo the sneaky Dragon, and they rally up behind ZSJ. Bryan gets a leg to DRAGON SCREW it! TMDK coaches ZSJ as he writhes, and ZSJ gets up in frustration. ZSJ hops on one leg as he circles with Bryan, but Bryan just gets the bad leg to DRAGON SCREW it!
Bryan holds on, ZSJ kicks free, and ZSJ hobbles back up. ZSJ growls and fires up, then knuckle locks. Bryan gets the leg again but ZSJ steps through! But Bryan turns neck twister into a takedown! ANKLE LOCK, but ZSJ rolls to get the ANKLE LOCK on Bryan! Bryan hops up, gets ZSJ’s leg, ANKLE LOCK!! Fans rally, ZSJ fights up but Bryan has him, LEG TRAP GERMAN SUPLEX! Bryan holds on, pushes ZSJ down, then hooks up the legs again. Bryan grabs for the arms, ZSJ resists, so Bryan fishhooks ZSJ’s nose! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Bryan lets off, saying he has until 5. Bryan then CLUBS ZSJ to get those arms!
The fans rally up as Bryan pulls! Up, up and away into the ROMERO SPECIAL! ZSJ endures, the fans rally, but Bryan lets ZSJ down so he can DRAGON SLEEPER! But ZSJ gets his legs free, rolls back, only for Bryan to snapmare! ZSJ bridges up to snapmare! ZSJ shoves Bryan’s bridge down to NECK TWIST! The fans rally up again as both men are down. Bryan sits up but ZSJ follows. They both stand, and Bryan trips ZSJ, only for ZSJ to boot him away. Bryan trips again, ZSJ boots again! ZSJ fires up, and turns Bryan’s takedown into a NECK TWIST! And basement dropkick! The fans fire up while both men are down again.
ZSJ slaps the bad leg into working, and he storms back up on Bryan. ZSJ cravats and cranks the neck wrench, but Bryan endures. Bryan powers ZSJ to a corner, the ref counts, and ZSJ lets go. Bryan keeps ZSJ in the corner but lets off slowly. Bryan ROCKS ZSJ with haymakers, slaps and an UPPERCUT! Bryan wraps the bad leg around ropes, then lets off at 4. Bryan runs side to side to DROPKICK the leg! ZSJ hobbles, Bryan runs corner to corner, to DROPKICK high! Bryan keeps moving, but ZSJ shoots around! COBRA TWIST! The fans fire up while Bryan endures! Bryan reaches around but ZSJ grabs the arm and hops on, IRON OCTOPUS!
Bryan endures as ZSJ twists him! Bryan powers up and gets free by pulling on the bad leg! STRETCH MUFFLER! ZSJ grabs an arm but Bryan shifts to the HEEL HOOK! ZSJ grabs Bryan’s leg for a heel hook in return! They fight, Achilles for Achilles, and ZSJ SLAPS Bryan! Bryan SLAPS ZSJ! They go back to the heel hooks, then ZSJ SLAPS! Bryan SPITS in ZSJ’s face, so ZSJ SLAPS! And SLAPS! And SLAPS! Bryan grins, and he SPITS at ZSJ. Then he kicks ZSJ in the face! ZSJ returns the favor and now they go KICK for KICK! Both men egg the other on, and they go KICK for KICK, and they both KICK the other out of the hold!
But then both men grab the HEEL HOOKS again! They go around, roll into the ropes, and then the apron! The ref tells them to let off but Bryan kicks! ZSJ SLAPS! Bryan kicks and kicks and kicks, then TWISTS the foot! ZSJ falls to the floor just to get away! Fans cheer “This is Awesome!” as Bryan rises up, to FLYING KNEE ZSJ down! The fans fire up again and join in on “YES! YES! YES!” as Bryan rises again. Bryan puts ZSJ in, climbs up a corner, and Bryan aims for the DIVING HEADBUTT! ZSJ catches him!! TRIANGLE HOLD! ZSJ throws elbows, then shifts to CLARKY CAT!! Bryan endures as ZSJ pushes on those arms with the JIM BREAKS ARMBAR!!
Bryan fights around with his legs, but ZSJ traps those legs! SUNDAY RAIL ENGINEERING WORKS! Bryan endures the double heel hook, scrambles around, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go but the fans are thunderous! The fans again declare, “This is Awesome!” as ZSJ and Bryan rise up. ZSJ brings Bryan up to scoop but Bryan slips free! ZSJ switches, Bryan mule kicks the bad leg! ZSJ shakes it off! ZSJ comes back and UPPERCUTS! Fans fire up while Bryan snarls, and Bryan UPPERCUTS! ZSJ nods as he leans on the ropes, and he UPPERCUTS again! Bryan comes back to UPPERCUT! ZSJ fires up and eggs Bryan on!
Bryan UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS, but ZSJ CLUBS Bryan’s lariat! Bryan CLUBS ZSJ’s lariat! Bryan KICKS ZSJ in the arm! And again! ZSJ SLAPS, Bryan ROCKS ZSJ! ZSJ ducks the buzzsaw but a BUZZSAW comes right back! The fans fire up while both men are down! Bryan makes his way back over, drags ZSJ to ropes and puts the bad leg in position. HIP DROP! The ref reprimands, but Bryan goes up a corner! ZSJ gets up to RISING HEADBUTT! ZSJ then climbs up but Bryan HEADBUTTS him down! ZSJ rises again and the fans fire up! ZSJ HEADBUTTS, then climbs. Bryan HEADBUTTS again, and again, and again!
ZSJ wobbles but he HEADBUTTS in return, and again, and again! ZSJ wobbles again, but he HEADBUTTS one more time! ZSJ goes up to the top rope, but Bryan slips under! Bryan shoves ZSJ and ZSJ gets crotched on the top! Bryan climbs up again and the fans fire up for the SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! Bryan crawls to the cover, TWO!! ZSJ lives and the fans fire up again! Bryan sits ZSJ up and throws down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Then Bryan turns ZSJ over for CATTLE MUTILATION! But ZSJ turns that back over! ZSJ shakes his head, fights up and slips around, but Bryan drops down out of the full nelson!
ZSJ avoids the wheelbarrow, and GERMAN SUPELXES! Bryan is up, ZSJ ducks the buzzsaw, to ZACK DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!!! Bryan survives and the fans are electric! ZSJ fires up and aims from a corner! Bryan sits up and ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Bryan sits back up! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS again! ZSJ fires up with Osaka, but Bryan blocks the kick! Only to swing into a TRIANGLE HOLD! ZSJ squeezes tight, but Bryan fights his way through! Bryan CLUBS ZSJ in the chest, fires forearms, and gives some serious ground ‘n’ pound! Bryan lets off as the ref checks, but ZSJ is still conscious! ZSJ wags his finger, but Bryan gets the arms!
Bryan stands up to DRAGON STOMP! Then he shifts around, omoplata and- NO, ZSJ fights off the Lebell! Bryan grabs the other arm and he copies JIM BREAKS! ZSJ headscissors back, but Bryan powers his way around to get a leg! OVER THE SHOULDER CRAB! ZSJ flails with his free leg, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans fire up as Bryan lets ZSJ go. The fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but there is a time limit on this. Bryan rises to KICK ZSJ in the chest! ZSJ falls over and Bryan grins. We hit the 30 minute mark, the halfway point of the limit! Bryan KICKS again and ZSJ falls back over!
ZSJ pushes himself up defiantly, and fans cheer! Bryan KICKS, ZSJ eggs him on, so the KICKS keep coming! Bryan then SPITS at ZSJ before he KICKS! But ZSJ rises up! Bryan rushes in, ZSJ gets around, O’Conner Roll but no bridge as Bryan has the SLEEPER! But ZSJ rolls back to SLEEPER! Bryan rolls back to roll and omoplata! But ZSJ rolls to stack, jackknife bridge! TWO!!! Bryan escapes, the fans are electric, but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! ZSJ falls into a corner from exhaustion but the fans are still fired up! Bryan sits up, ZSJ storms up to UPPERCUT! Bryan KICKS the bad leg! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again!
Bryan KICKS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, then ZSJ UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS and UPPER- NO, Bryan catches him! Bryan goes for the backslide, ZSJ rolls through, but the leg jams! BUSAIKU KNEE!! But Bryan says that’s not enough! “YES! YES! YES!” Bryan aims from a corner, he runs back in, BU- NO, ZSJ dodges to body scissor, EURO- NO, Bryan pops free! ZSJ blocks Bryan’s O’Conner, has a double wristlock clutch, TWO! But Bryan ends up in the EURO CLUTCH! TWO and Bryan O’Conner Bridges! TWO!! ZSJ ghost pins, ZSJ WINS!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall
At 36 minutes, this instant classic ends with The Front Man on top! He gets even with Bryan from WrestleDream, and with his tekkers! Bryan is frustrated that it ended like that, but ZSJ offers a handshake. Bryan refuses, but then offers it back! ZSJ accepts and the two bow. Clearly these two want one more, when and where will this modern trilogy have its end?
10 Man Steel Cage Match: The United Empire VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
The Aerial Assassin is almost All Elite, but he has a score to settle with The Rebel first! It is faction warfare at its finest, and most violent, will Will Ospreay lead Jeff Cobb, Henare, TJP & Francesco Akira to one last victory? Or will David Finlay, Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Moloney ruin Ospreay’s farewell?
Unique to this match, the cage itself isn’t flush with the ring, but surrounds the ringside area, keeping this from spilling out into the crowd, a signature of the War Dogs’ tactics. The way this cage match is going to go is rather like WarGames: two men will start 1v1, and every two minutes, someone new will be added. The War Dogs ended up with the advantage on this one, but that means the Empire’s last man will be the freshest. This match can only end once all ten men have entered, so let the games begin!
In a surprising move, The Rebel is the first out! Fans boo the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, but then in another shocking move, Will Ospreay himself starts for the Empire! The generals of these armies are going to lead by example, will either be standing by the end of it?
The fans are already thunderous for Ospreay, and Ospreay gets a mic first to say, “Oi, oi, Osaka, konbanwa <good evening>. I had a long flight over here, and you and me are gonna get in this ring, and you’re only gonna give me two minutes? Noo~! If you are a REAL leader, you’ll give me ten minutes right now.” The fans like the sound of that! Red Shoes checks with Finlay on that, and the fans certainly want it. Finlay says he’ll compromise, and will give Ospreay five. Ospreay says that’s good enough, the change is announced, and the bell rings! The two rush in, fire off forearms and the fans fire up as this is fast and certainly furious!
Finlay throws knees, whips Ospreay to ropes, but Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Finlay flops out of the ring but can’t go far with that cage! Ospreay PLANCHAS to take Finlay down! The fans fire up and Ospreay shakes the cage! Ospreay storms up but Finlay throws body shots and forearms. Ospreay ROCKS Finlay back, then ROCKS him again. They go around the outside, Finlay kicks and CLUBS Ospreay, then whips Ospreay at the wall. Ospreay stops, ROCKS Finlay back, and then pushes him into the ring. Ospreay aims, but Finlay DECKS him first! Finlay goes out to fire off on Ospreay again, then whips him into the wall!
Fans feel that one as Ospreay falls in a heap! Gedo loves it as he watches from the outside, and Finlay hauls Ospreay up to UPPERCUT! Finlay goes looking under the ring, and he finds a chair! Finlay swings but Ospreay ducks and the chair hits cage! Ospreay then trips Finlay to CATAPULT him into the wall! Fans fire up again as Ospreay snarls and stands back up. Ospreay drags Finlay up, puts him in the ring, and he gets the fans to rally up. Ospreay gives Finlay some Kawada Kicks while fans sing “Ospreay~! Ospreay, Ospreay, Ospreay~! Ospreay~, Ospreay~!” Ospreay CHOPS Finlay to a corner, but Finlay pie faces him.
Finlay gives more pie faces but Ospreay CHOPS Finlay off his feet! Ospreay whips Finlay to a corner, runs up but Finlay dodges. Finlay comes back but Ospreay BOOTS him! Ospreay runs up but into a DEEP SIX! Finlay snarls and stomps Ospreay, then rains down fists. Finlay has Ospreay at the ropes and springboard stomps him! The fans boo but Finlay soaks it all up. Finlay storms up on Ospreay to ROCK and UPPERCUT Ospreay. Finlay asks if Ospreay’s ready to die, and he fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Finlay drops a knee on Ospreay, then puts him on ropes. Finlay tells the fans to say goodbye to their hero.
Finlay pushes Ospreay around, but Ospreay CHOPS! Ospreay CHOPS again, then UPPERCUTS! Finlay kicks low, CHOPS back, then whips. Ospreay holds ropes, and he FLAPJACKS Finlay to BOOT him down! The countdown finishes, and the War Dogs send out “Drilla!” He betrayed Ospreay and the Empire to join the War Dogs, now he looks to tear Ospreay himself! But wait, he’s also dragging out Callum Newman!? Callum isn’t even in this match, he competed earlier tonight! Drilla has a belt of forks like he’s an evil Rambo, and he hauls Callum up. Ospreay is distracted, Finlay SMACKS him with a chair!
Fans boo as Drilla shoves Callum down, and has handcuffs! Drilla cuffs Callum while Finlay taunts Ospreay to save his boy! Callum is cuffed to the cage wall and Drilla stomps him down! Drilla digs Callum’s face into the cage and tells Ospreay he messed up! Finlay lets off of Ospreay and Drilla tucks his belt of forks away for now. Drilla and Finlay mug Ospreay, then bring him around to double whip hard into the cage! The cage stays standing but Ospreay falls over. Drilla & Finlay mug Ospreay more, then stand on him. The fans boo but the War Dogs soak it all up. They then double whip Ospreay again, but he stops himself!
Finlay rushes in but Ospreay sends Finlay into the wall! Ospreay then uses the wall to TORNADO- NO, Drilla stops that to CHUCK Ospreay into the steel! Drilla not only soaks up the heat but he climbs the cage to taunt and SPIT at the fans! But the countdown is done, and the Empire sends out Henare! The Face of Fury, the Maori Juggernaut, is ready to rampage all over Osaka and the fans are loving it already! Henare CLOBBERS Drilla, CLOBBERS Finlay, then fireman’s carries Drilla! Henare SMACKS Finlay with Drilla’s boots, then WASTELAND SLAMS and SENTONS on Drilla! Finlay CLUBS Henare back but fans rally for Henare!
The War Dogs double whip Henare but he breaks the line to CLOBBER Finlay and CLOBBER Drilla! Henare helps Ospreay up and now they mug Finlay! They double whip, body shot, KICK and DOUBLE KICK SANDWICH! Opsreay & Henare double whip again, Henare scoops for the BERSERKER BOMB! The fans fire up with the Empire as they each get a Dog. Henare fires off on Drilla, Ospreay is after Finlay! Ospreay rains down fists and the fans count along, Ospreay goes to nine before the big right for TEN! Henare throws body shots on Drilla, then he climbs up to rain down his own set of TEN!
Ospreay TOSSES Finlay out, Henare brings Drilla around to HEADBUTT! The countdown is done again while Ospreay SMACKS Finlay with a chair! The War Dogs send out 100 Proof now, Clark Connors having wrapped up his arms, and is that razor wire?! Connors dodges Henare to SPEAR! Ospreay dodges Connors but then Connors still SPEARS him, too! Connors shows off the arm, BARBED WIRE FOREARM for Henare! BARBED WIRE FOREARM for Ospreay! Connors DIGS that wire into Ospreay’s head! Drilla stomps Ospreay, too, then they taunt the fans. Finlay flips everybody off while Connors brings out a TABLE!
Gedo says he loves this as Connors puts the table in the ring. Finlay digs Henare’s face into steel, the table is set up in a corner, and Gedo mockingly asks if Henare wants to quit. Drilla shows that Ospreay is bleeding from what Connors’ forearm did to him! Connors and Finlay punch away on the bloody forehead, but the countdown is almost done! The Empire sends out TJP! The Public Enemy has himself some barbed wire, and he runs up to RAM into Drilla, GAMANGIRI Connors, and ROCK Finlay! TJP goes up to FLYING FOREARM Finlay down! TJP wraps his leg in the barbed wire so that he can SCRAPE Connors’ face!
The fans fire up as TJP scrubs away, then runs side to side to BOOT WASH! The fans fire up more, and Ospreay fires off on Drilla. Ospreay whips Drilla into the wall! TJP POSTS Finlay, SMACKS him off the wall, and he regroups with Ospreay. Henare ELBOWS Drilla down, TJP JAMS Finlay with a chair! Drilla sends Ospreay into a wall, but TJP sends Drilla into a wall! Finlay claws at TJP’s face, throws body shots, then he CLUBS Henare off of Connors. The countdown is back and the War Dogs send out the Dreadnought! Alex Coughlin has chairs draped all along his arms, his strength carrying them all on his biceps!
Coughlin drops off the plunder, DECKS TJP, then slides in to CLOBBER Henare, and CLOBBER Ospreay! GUT WRENCH PLEX for Henare! GUT WRENCH PLEX for Ospreay! Coughlin hauls them both up, reels them in, DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! Coughlin goes out while Finlay JAMS Callum for good measure! Coughlin scoops TJP to RAM him into the wall, then POST, then LAWN DART into the wall! Coughlin roars but the fans boo. Connors SMACKS TJP, Finlay and Coughlin dump chairs onto him! They’re burying TJP under steel! Then Coughlin JAMS Henare! And then DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS Henare onto the chair pile!!
But the countdown is back, so the Empire sends out the Nova Fireball! Francesco Akira sneaks in from the other side! The War Dogs all gathered at the entrance but Akira’s climbed the cage itself! Akira CROSSBODIES onto them all! The fans fire up with Akira as he sends Drilla into the wall! And he SMACKS Connors with a kendo stick, then he SMACKS Finlay! Akira follows Finlay into the ring but Finlay catches the stick! Akira dodges the stick to LOW BLOW! Fans fire up as Akira rips the War Dog shirt away to then rain down fists from all sides! The fans are thunderous as Akira just keeps firing away with rage!
Akira then gets that kendo stick, and he SMACKS Finlay on the back! And then SMACKS him again, and again, and again! Ospreay digs boots into someone but Drilla gets Ospreay, and Akira wears that kendo stick out on Finlay! Akira gets a chair and the fans rally behind him! Akira aims and CHUCKS the chair into Finlay! But Connors SPEARS Akira through the table!! Just like when Connors & Drilla took the tag titles from Catch 2/2! Connors beats down on Ospreay as The War Dogs send out their last man, Gabe Kidd! Kidd is #WarReady as he brings a CART of items! Kidd and Connors TOSS chair after chair into the ring!
Ospreay has to watch out not to get hit, and now Kidd has a table! Kidd SMACKS Henare down with it, then CHUCKS a chair into Ospreay’s face! He’s a madman for sure, and he SMACKS Ospreay! And CHUCKS a chair into Akira! The fans boo but Kidd flips them all off! The Dogs hit who they can with chairs, and Kidd brings more things out from under the ring. He finds as LADDER! Kidd sets that up in a corner of the cage, Finlay CLUBS away on Ospreay, and Connors gets yet another table! Coughlin DECKS Ospreay, Kidd scuffs Ospreay, and the Dogs all soak up the heat. They Too Sweet over Ospreay, then stand on him.
But wait! They forget that the Empire has one last man! And we all know it’s The Imperial Unit, Jeff Cobb! Cobb storms down, and he RAMS Drilla into the wall! The wall almost falls, but then Cobb sends Kidd into it! And he OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Kidd onto the chairs! Connors leas, but Cobb catches him! GOURD BUSTER on the apron! Cobb glares at Coughlin, they brawl with forearms in the ring! Finlay directs the others while Cobb JABS Coughlin! Cobb suplexes, Coughlin slips free to CHOP! Meanwhile, Henare is so bloodied, refs call on medics to help. Coughlin fires up, runs, but Cobb drops to DROPKICK!
Coughlin roars, he runs up, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Coughlin flounders out but Finlay gets in to SMACK Cobb with a kendo stick! Cobb doesn’t budge! The fans fire up as Cobb fireman’s carries, for an F5000!! Cobb sees Finlay get up, and he RAMS him into a corner! Ospreay runs in to BOOT! Feed to Cobb’s ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO! Cobb GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULTS! Cover again, TWO! Finlay survives but the Empire is far from done. Ospreay brings out yet another TABLE! Ospreay drags the table in, puts that in a corner, and he hauls Finlay up. Feed to Cobb’s scoop, but Finlay fights for his life!
Coughlin gets Finlay away from Cobb to fire forearms! Cobb fires back, they go back and forth but Coughlin ROCKS Cobb! Coughlin roars, picks Cobb up, the cage is finally locked shut as Cobb escapes the scoop! Cobb ROCKS Coughlin, scoops him, but Coughlin avoids the Tour! Coughlin CLAWS Cobb’s eyes! Fans boo but Connors aims at Cobb! SPEAR but only Connors goes through the table! Cobb ELBOWS Coughlin, helps Ospreay with the GAMANGIRI, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Coughlin is in a drop zone, Ospreay goes up, and the fans fire up for the LEAP OF FAITH! Cover, Finlay breaks it!
Finlay fires off on Ospreay, Kidd RAMS Cobb with the ladder! And he RAMS Ospreay, too! Fans boo but Kidd grins. Kidd puts the ladder on Terry Funk style, LADDER COPTER! Ospreay gets hit, Akira gets hit, then Ospreay gets hit again! Even Cobb gets hit! “I’m a MADMAN, y’know!!” But Ospreay BOOTS Kidd, ROCKS him with haymaker after haymaker, but Drilla SUPERKICKS Ospreay! Drilla helps Kidd with the ladder to run Ospreay down! Ospreay goes Matrix to dodge! Then he handsprings, NEUTRALIZER hits the ladder to knock both men down! The fans are thunderous and Ospreay rises up!
Ospreay grins through his crimson mask and he brings that ladder around, making a bridge from ring to cage wall! Fans murmur as Ospreay is cooking up something, and he brings Kidd out to the apron! But Finlay hurries to CLAW Ospreay’s face! Finlay reels Ospreay in, but Ospreay slips free! HOOK KICK! Finlay falls into the ring so Ospreay climbs a corner. Ospreay aims to BLINDSIDE CHEERIO! The fans fire up and Ospreay prepares that arm! Fans join in on “OI! OI! OI!” and Ospreay aims. HIDDEN- NO, Finlay blocks to an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, Akira breaks it! The fans fire up as Finlay gets Akira up, but Akira RANAS Finlay out!
Akira gets a chair, but Drilla kicks low! Connors joins in, they whip Akira to then drop toehold Akira into the chair! Then Drilla suplexes, FALCON ARROW on the chair! Akira flops around, Drilla drags him to a cover, TWO!!! Akira survives and the fans fire up for his grit! Connors clears the space, he says he and Drilla are gonna go to work. The fans boo, Henare is removed by the doctors so this is 5v4 as Drilla puts one out. Connors climbs, but TJP emerges from under the ring! TJP YANKS Connors down and Drilla is shocked! TJP is full Aswang and Drilla freaks out! Coughlin runs up but gets a CROSSBODY!
TJP blocks Drilla’s boot to slip around and SAIDO! Kidd runs in, kicks and whips but TJP reverses to THESZ PRESS! And DOUBLE STOMP! The fans fire up and TJP coordinates with Akira. ALLEY-OOP for Finlay! Catch 2/2 fires up, they run to DOUBLE BOOT Drilla! They haul Drilla into the Tree of Woe and TJP climbs! WOE STOMPS!! Drilla flops out, TJP covers, TWO! Drilla is still in this but Catch 2/2 won’t let off! Akira climbs, fans cheer “CATCH! NI NI!” But Finlay disrupts things! Drilla brawls with Akira up top but TJP dodges Finlay’s lariat. TJP CROSSBODIES Finlay and himself out, Ospreay tucks Drilla in! CHEEKY NANDOS!
Ospreay says he’ll do TJP’s part! But Drilla slips under to LOW BLOW! But Ospreay RAMS Drilla into the corner, only for Connors to go up and over, SUPERPLEX on Akira!! Wait, Henare is back?! Bandaged as he is, he hits a RAMPAGE on Connors! Kidd hits the REBOUNDER on Henare! Cobb GERMAN SUPLEXES the madman! Coughlin scoops Cobb!? FALL AWAY SLAM, bridging cover! MAMBA SPLASH breaks it!! Cover on Coughlin, but DRILLA KILLA using Ospreay breaks it up!! All ten men are down and the fans are thunderous! “This is Awesome!” as this battle continues to the half hour point!
The factions regroup in opposite corners, and the fans rally behind the Empire. The Dogs bark to fire themselves up, and all ten men stand up! The brawl is on and the fans are thunderous again! Akira fires off on Drilla, TJP waistlocks Connors, Henare has Kidd, Cobb brings Coughlin out of the ring, and of course Ospreay brawls with Finlay! Everyone else spills out of the ring but the generals stay inside! They go forearm for forearm harder and harder, and the fans fire up! Ospreay wobbles, but he ROCKS Finlay! Finlay shakes his head and ROCKS Ospreay! Ospreay fires himself up to ROCK Finlay again!
Finlay fires a flurry, but Ospreay BOOTS! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS, but both men run! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, Finlay falls but Ospreay tumbles out! Ospreay is on the apron, he aims, but Connors SPEARS Ospreay down, they crash through the table! But Henare is back in and he has a trash can! Henare CHUCKS the can at Finlay’s head! Then Henare picks the can back up, woozy as he is, and he puts that can around Finlay! Henare runs, RUGBY KICK to the can! Fans are thunderous again, but Kidd is back! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, neither man falls, so Kidd fires off palm strikes! Kidd eggs Henare on, then ducks the uraken!
Kidd SLAPS Henare but Henare URAKENS after all! Henare has the fisherman but Kidd slips free! Kidd runs, but Henare LARIATS! Fans fire up as Henare leans against ropes. Kidd sits up and Gedo coaches him up. Kidd gets a chair, but so does Henare! Kidd dodges Henare’s swing but Henare PUNCHES Kidd’s chair! The seat goes right out of it! Then Henare swings, HEADSHOT, and again that seat comes right out! But Kidd stays up!? Kidd fires off hands, but Henare SLAPS him right down!! Henare still falls over, so Catch 2/2 get in! Coughlin dual wields kendo sticks, but then he throws those to Catch 2/2?!
Coughlin eggs TJP & Akira on, so they SMACK! And SMACK! And SMACK! Coughlin withstands it all, he might truly be an Android! Coughlin blocks both shots, but then they DOUBLE SUPERKICK! They double whip, DOUBLE SMACK but Coughlin keeps going! TJP sets up and Akira jumps off him to SHOTGUN Coughlin out! The fans fire up as Akira hurries out after Coughlin, then he and Henare fetch more tables! They set those up near a corner, and Henare BODY SHOTS Coughlin! Henare reels Coughlin in but Coughlin resists the lift! Henare CLUBS away, then JUMP KNEES! Coughlin is put on the tables!
Henare climbs the cage?! The fans fire up as Henare SUPER SENTONS down through the tables!! The fans are thunderous as the Face of Fury takes out the Android! But Coughlin CLOBBERS TJP with a black bag! And as if we didn’t already know, it’s got thumbtacks in it! Connors reaches inside, and he brings out a bottle o’ beer! Connors takes a big swig, just to SPIT it on TJP! Then he pours out what’s left inside, and yes, its MORE thumbtacks! Connors tells Osaka off, then even pushes Red Shoes away so he can drag TJP up! Connors says Too Sweet, NO CHA- NO!! TJP says no to the No Chaser and he gets around to waistlock!
Connors throws elbows, but TJP wrenches him to FACEBUSTER onto the tacks!! Connors writhes and just gets more tacks on his body! TJP then gives him the JUMP SOBAT, and Connors falls onto tacks!! TJP then feeds Connors to a TOUR OF THE ISLAND!! Cover, Finlay SMACKS it apart with a kendo stick! Finlay SMACKS TJP, CHUCKS a chair at Cobb, then CHUCKS another chair! And then another chair! And another chair! Finlay calls to Gedo and Gedo tosses the Shillelagh in! SHILLELAGH SHOT!! Fans boo but there’s nothing that can be done! Finlay puts Cobb’s face onto a chair, then gets another! CON-CHAIR-TO!!!
Finlay grins as he goes Rated R and he pushes Cobb. Wait, he pushes Cobb out!? He doesn’t want to cover Cobb for the win!? Finlay is so obsessed that he needs it to be Ospreay! Cobb gets cuffed, Ospreay rolls Finlay up! TWO!! Ospreay BOOTS Finlay, SUPERKICKS Drilla, but Finlay CLOBBERS Ospreay! Finlay wants Ospreay to get up, then he runs, into a SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay roars and the fans are thunderous again! Ospreay calls his shot, springboards, but Finlay CUTTERS first!! But HIDDEN BLADE hits outta nowhere!! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay survives again but Ospreay seethes.
The fans rally as hard as they can for Ospreay, he drags Finlay up, but the rest of the Empire has been handcuffed! STORM- NO, Finlay slips free, backslides, suplexes, INTO OBLIVION!! Roll through and another INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Ospreay survives and no one can believe it, least of all Finlay! Finlay calls to the Dogs to go fetch a table? But we’re not talking any normal table. Gedo brings out a table wrapped in barbed wire!! How’s Gedo gonna get that in with the cage door locked? Wait, Great-O-Khan runs down here to stop him!! The fans fire up but Gedo pokes Khan in the eyes with keys!
Gedo uses those keys to unlock the cage door! Fans boo as Gedo breaks the rules Finlay set forth in the first place! Finlay and Gedo get the barbed table into the ring, but then Akira WRECKS Gedo with a dropkick! Khan stomps Gedo and drags him out of the cage but Finlay sends Akira into the wall! Wait, Khan gets the key!! Khan uncuffs Callum! All bets are off now, but then Gedo LOW BLOWS Khan! Finlay sets the table up in a corner, stalks Ospreay, and hauls Ospreay up. Ospreay fights the lift and back drops free! Fans fire up again as Ospreay ROCKS Finlay! Finlay wobbles dangerously close to the table!
Ospreay kicks Finlay, reels him in, and takes aim! But Kidd makes the save! Kidd UPPERCUTS and HEADBUTTS Ospreay, then aims! Ospreay stops by using his bare hands! Kidd says this table is for December! But Ospreay throws elbows, and SMACKS Kidd off that table! Ospreay SCRAPES Kidd’s face off the barbed wire!! Ospreay has Finlay, but Gedo CLAWS Ospreay’s eyes! But CALLUM HOOK KICKS GEDO! TJP RED MISTS Finlay! Ospreay HOOK KICKS Finlay! Ospreay and Callum do it together, DOUBLE OSCUTTERS!!! Callum keeps Gedo out, TJP feeds Finlay to Ospreay! Finlay gets a POWERBOMB through the barbed wire table!!!
Finlay flails and writhes, hoisted on his own petard! Cover, TWO!?!?! Finlay survives and he defiantly flips Ospreay off! Ospreay snarls, the fans rally as hard as they can, and this passes 50 minutes! Ospreay takes off the elbow pad and aims from a corner. Finlay slowly rises, but Drilla JABS Ospreay with a fork!! The fans boo but Kidd drags Ospreay to the apron, near that ladder bridge! PILEDRIVER through the ladder!! Kidd and Ospreay both writhe in the wreckage, and Akira stares down Drilla and his fork! Akira grits his teeth, runs in, but Drilla JABS him in the forehead!! Drilla tastes his fork and fans boo.
Drilla goes back to Akira as Akira is bloodied, just like New Year Dash! But Akira just fires off fast hands! Seeing his own blood has awoken something dark in Akira, and he grabs Drilla’s fork!! AKIRA JABS AWAY ON DRILLA!!! The fans are thunderous as Akira gets even with Drilla!! But then Connors has his dog collar! Akira dodges, dodges again, and THESZ PRESS with the fork!!! Akira grabs the collar and he straps it on Connors! Akira walks the dog, yanks him around, and then TOSSES him over! Connors wants mercy but Akira says hell no! Akira trips Connors and HANGS him with the collar!!
Connors sputters and coughs while TJP watches him! Akira drops Connors, aims at Drilla, NOVA FIREBALL!!! Cover, but Kidd breaks it! Kidd punches away on Akira but TJP storms in! TJP jumps on to BITE Kidd’s neck! Finlay SMACKS TJP with a kendo stick! The Dogs set up chairs again, making a nasty pile. Finlay goes up, Kidd lifts TJP, FULL METAL HIJACKER!! But the Dogs still aren’t done! They clear out space and go looking for even more plunder! Or rather, they’re taking the ring apart! They untie the canvas from the ring itself, and we make it a full HOUR! Kidd says they can go all night with this if they want!
The Dogs move the canvas and get all off the padding away, to expose the hardwood!! They’re going beyond pro-wrestling, all to settle this fight! Fans boo but the Dogs soak it up! But Henare is back to ELBOW Kidd, ROUNDHOUSE Finlay, but Kidd UPPERCUTS back! Kidd reels Henare in, but Henare fights the suplex! Kidd fights the suplex, they both fight for control! Henare powers through to SLAM Kidd down!! Boards come loose but Kidd gets out of the ring to keep from falling through it! Finlay is back up but Henare BODY BLOWS first! Then ULTIMA NELSON!! Finlay endures but Coughlin CRACKS Henare with a kendo stick!
Coughlin brings Henare out, Akira crawls on the padded side, and Coughlin re-cuffs Henare! Coughlin CHOPS Henare, tells him to stay down, and Kidd says to finish him! Coughlin SMACKS away on Henare with a kendo stick! Coughlin says this is what Henare gets for messing with the War Dogs! Connors SMACKS away on Cobb! Finlay finds Akira and says bring it! Akira fires up and the fans are with him! Akira runs up, fires hands, but Finlay shoves and BOOTS him back! But Akira wrenches to SUPERKICK! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS! Finlay suplexes, but Akira slips around to DDT! Cover, Coughlin breaks it!
Coughlin hauls Akira up, to TOSS him into a corner! Coughlin stumbles because of the loose boards, and then Akira SUPERKICKS him back! Akira SUPERKICKS again, and again, has to steady his footing, and SUPERKICKS again! Akira tells Osaka, “IKU ZO! <LET’S GO!>” Akira puts Coughlin up top and then climbs up after him! Fans are freaking out, commentary is freaking out, but Akira still SUPER- NO, Coughlin blocks! Kidd ROCKS Akira, then Coughlin hands him off to Kidd, HARDWOOD HIJACKER!!! But Kidd can’t make the cover from his banged up knee! Finlay flounders his way around, he covers, OSPREAY BREAKS IT!
Ospreay drags Akira to the safe side of the ring and the fans rally up. This match is still going, pride trumping both mercy and reason at this point. Finlay swims his way through the hardwood and padding, everyone else down and out. Kidd & Coughlin stand to back their pack leader, and then Connors & Drilla join in! Ospreay helps Akira out of the ring to where it’s safe, and then he stands up to face all five War Dogs! The fans rally as hard as they possibly can for Ospreay’s heroism, and Finlay dares Ospreay to make the first shot. Finlay kneels, Ospreay winds up, but Ospreay falls before he can throw Hidden Blade!
Finlay and the Dogs laugh at Ospreay, and then Finlay drags Ospreay up. Finlay lets Connors & Drilla DOUBLE SPEAR Ospreay! Then Finlay puts barbed wire around his knee, so that he can BARBED WIRE INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, War Dogs win!
Winner: The War Dogs, by pinfall
Mercifully, this war is over. And sadly, this is how Ospreay’s NJPW career ends. Finlay gets a mic while the fans boo, and Finlay says, “War Dogs run New Japan!” That’s all Finlay wants to say, that’s all he has to say, and that’s all anyone cares to hear from him. The War Dogs move on from the United Empire, will nothing stop them from running through the rest of NJPW?
As for the United Empire, they pick up the pieces and regroup, most concerned about Ospreay and Henare at this point. The fans still rally for Ospreay and his courageous fight. Henare is freed of the cuffs and then escorted to the back by medical. As for Ospreay, TJP, Akira & Callum help him sit up. The fans cheer Ospreay on as he manages to stand. Khan and Cobb also stand in the ring with Ospreay, and the fans now chant, “Thank You, Ospreay!” Ospreay is understandably emotional as the moment sinks in. Ospreay takes a deep bow and the fans applaud.
Ospreay finds the mic and kneels as he says, “Osaka. For eight years, you guys have been my home. You have seen me from a young boy become a man. I wanna thank everybody, every single person in here. Thank you so much for looking after me.” The fans applaud, and Ospreay continues, “I promise you all, I swear to this. I swear to all of you, I promise, I will come back one day, I promise.” The fans cheer that! Ospreay asks they please do not forget him, because he will never forget any of you, he really won’t. He loves you all so much. The fans applaud again, and Ospreay manages to stand back up.
Ospreay says he is ready to show the world what NJPW has produced! He is the man today because of all of these fans. So until he comes back, matte ne, arigato gozaimasu!! Ospreay says this isn’t goodbye, but just see you later on. The Empire hugs it out, still united even as their fearless leader moves on to a new chapter in his career. Who will pick up the mantle of leader in his stead? How far will Ospreay go now that he is All Elite?
My Thoughts:
This was a wild night for NJPW in Osaka. I know I skipped half but that main event ended up nuts as it was. Okada VS Tanahashi for the last time, at least in Osaka and under NJPW, was a great match, and I had a feeling Okada was going to win here. This isn’t his final final match, Sapporo is next, and it sounds like ZSJ wants that match. Who knows how that goes after ZSJ got a win in an awesome match with Bryan Danielson tonight. I could see ZSJ beating Okada to get that rub on his way to a new singles title opportunity. And while people argue that Okada can revive rivalries with this person and that person in AEW, I still argue that going to AEW undercuts a lot of the emotion going into his departure. Just look at how often Moxley and Bryan show up in NJPW since they’re AEW guys.
Then it seems Bullet Club really is going to run a lot of NJPW at this point. I did not think ELP & Leo were losing but something is fitting about Taiji Ishimori screwing ELP over when he also had a hand in kicking ELP out of Bullet Club. Chase & Kenta make for an interesting duo to be tag team champions, and that adds gold to Finlay having the Global and Connors-Moloney having the junior tag titles. In other companies, Chase & Kenta would probably be transitional champions to some other big team, but maybe they just want to escalate the feud, forcing ELP & Leo to chase the heavyweight titles while trying to hold on to the NJPW Strong titles.
And then that Steel Cage Match ending up more like WarGames, and then even going beyond that in brutality, there are definitely mixed feelings here. English commentary was making a note of not liking how far the War Dogs went, and how deconstructing the ring was “not pro-wrestling.” Part of that is probably because the War Dogs were doing it and the War Dogs are Heels so you hate what Heels do by definition. But at the same time, there was some legitimate reason, because as we saw, the boards being exposed and loose was really risky for everyone, not really sure it was needed after everything else they’d done in the match.
In the end, I was only moderately surprised the War Dogs won. Ospreay is leaving, he goes out taking the loss, that’s just tradition. It gives the War Dogs momentum as they go for full domination of NJPW, they might even go back for the NJPW Strong titles in an attempt to leave the Guerrillas with nothing. But Ospreay’s final words to NJPW were very touching, and because he’s going to AEW, his words about coming back one day were very true. He could easily come back the same way Bryan and Moxley show up whenever they want, and of course there’s always Forbidden Door. As for Ospreay in AEW, he could probably show up at Revolution to challenge whoever is AEW World Champion, and that’d be pretty awesome.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Have a Holly Jolly Rampage!
The Continental Classic rolls on, and Brody King takes on Komander in hopes of grabbing three more points towards the top of Gold League!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Konosuke Takeshita & Brian Cage w/ Don Callis VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs & Mark Davis; Konosuke & Cage win.
- Lio Rush & Action Andretti VS Myles Hawkins & Goldy; Lio & Action win.
- Willow Nightingale VS Harley Cameron; Willow wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Brody King VS Komander; Brody wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Tony Schiavone is in the ring!
Schiavone welcomes out the Blue League’s current points leader, Kyle Fletcher, and of course… Don Callis. But they’re not alone as the rest of the Don Callis Family makes their way out to the ring. Wait, shouldn’t Brian Cage be in New York for Final Battle…? Well anyway, Schiavone says there’s a lot of gold and- Callis takes the mic, and he says, “I have something important to say.” The fans boo and Schiavone excuses himself as Callis says the Don Callis Family are the TRUE One Percenters of professional wrestling! They prove it each and every day!
Murder Machines: The most feared tag team in the world! “Don Callis’ favorite wrestler,” Kyle Fletcher, shows every day why he is THE One Percent! He beat Will Ospreay! He beat Kazuchika Okada! And now, he’s gonna beat Daniel Garcia and win the Continental Classic! Callis hands the mic over to Kyle and Kyle says it might be true that last Saturday wasn’t the best day for Kyle, but anyone watching that match saw the clear bias from the officials in this company! The fans boo as Kyle claims there is an agenda in AEW to see the Don Callis Family NOT succeed. But it doesn’t matter, it changes nothing!
Kyle WILL be the winner of the 2024 Continental Classic. That brings Kyle to Daniel Garcia. “You wanna talk about restoring the feeling, Daniel? I couldn’t care less about your feelings! All I speak are facts! And the fact is, I am the hottest young prospect in this industry, and I will be the future of this whole place!” The fans boo more but Callis says one last thing he wants to say, is when you’re the One Percent, you’re not like the other 99! They are not like all of these fans! They are not like “the boys in the back,” like Mark Davis & Will Hobbs, “a couple of scab workers!” They’re not even in the same business, Hobbs!
And Callis has waited to get Hobbs on a PPV so that the world could watch why they call Konosuke Takeshita “The Alpha.” And Hobbs, YOU are not in the same business as Konosuke, and you find that out at Worlds End! But speaking of, here comes the Powerhouse! Will he and Dunkzilla finish things with the Don Callis Family? Or will the AEW International and ROH World TV Champions get even for last week?
Konosuke Takeshita & Brian Cage w/ Don Callis VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs & Mark Davis!
The teams sort out and Konosuke starts against Hobbs to give the DC fans a preview of Worlds End. Hobbs and Konosuke step up, talk trash, and then the forearms go back and forth! The fans cheer for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” and Hobbs ROCKS Konosuke! Hobbs even shouts “MEAT!” before he whips Konosuke. Konosuke ducks ‘n’ dodges but then so does Hobbs! Hobbs SPINE- NO, Konosuke flails free and Hobbs says it was that close. Konosuke says to cool off while he paces on the outside. Konosuke steps back into the ring, but he tags to Cage. The fans stay fired up for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” as Cage and Hobbs circle.
Hobbs and Cage DOUBLE LARIAT! Neither man falls, so they DOUBLE LARIAT again! And again! And again! Cage kicks low, shouts, “Who Betta Than Cage?” But then Hobbs CLOBBERS him! Hobbs even gets Konosuke to back down with a glare. Hobbs brings Cage up to fire forearms, then he tags Davis. Davis & Hobbs double whip and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up as Davis stalks Cage to a corner. Davis CHOPS Cage, and CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Cage sputters but Davis scoops to SLAM Cage down! Then ELBOW DROP! Cover, ONE! Cage stays in this but Davis bumps him off buckles.
Tag to Hobbs and he brings Cage out. Hobbs and Davis reel Cage in, fans chant “AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! MEAT MEAT MEAT!” but Konosuke makes the save! Konosuke swings, Hobbs dodges, so the elbow DECKS Davis! Hobbs ROCKS Konosuke, Cage ROCKS Hobbs! Cage clinches, Konosuke returns, KNEE RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP COMBO! Cage covers, TWO! Cage rains down fists, the ref reprimands, but Cage steps off. Cage drags Hobbs up, bumps him off buckles, and tags Konosuke. The Callis Family stomps a mudhole into Hobbs, but then Hobbs CHOPS Konosuke! Konosuke snarls, and he CHOPS in return!
Konosuke ROCKS Hobbs, climbs up, and he rains down fists! The fans count but then Konosuke BITES Hobbs on the forehead! The ref counts, Konosuke lets off, and Hobbs sputters on the ropes. Konosuke tags to Cage and the Family gets Hobbs up. They DOUBLE SUPLEX Hobbs! Cage covers, TWO! Cage drags Hobbs up but Hobbs fires body shots. Hobbs UPPERCUTS but Cage ROCKS Hobbs! Cage ROCKS Hobbs again, Hobbs fires back, repeat! The fans rally for “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Cage gets the edge, then whips, but Hobbs KICKS him away! Cage swings, Hobbs bobs ‘n’ weaves, to then hit an EXPLODER!
The fans fire up while Hobbs crawls, hot tag to Davis! Davis fires hands on Cage, “MEAT! MEAT!” Davis DECKS Cage, then whips him to ropes. Cage reveres but Davis picks him up, BACKDROP! Davis SENTONS but onto knees! Davis writhes, Cage tags Konosuke! POWER- NO, Davis stops the knee! Davis takes a swing but Konosuke ducks that, to BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! High stack, TWO!! Davis survives and Konosuke snarls, but Rampage goes picture in picture.
Konosuke rains down fists on Davis, but lets off as the ref reprimands. Konosuke tags Cage and Cage drags Davis up. Cage ROCKS Davis, whips him into a corner, and Davis hits buckles chest first! Cage RAMS into Davis, and RAMS in again, then CHOPS! Davis staggers but Cage whips him to ropes. Davis reverses, to dosido with Cage, only for Cage to CLOBBER Davis! Cage BOOTS Davis down, covers, but Hobbs breaks it! Cage gets mad and the ref reprimands Hobbs, then Cage soaks up heat from DC. Cage stalks Davis to a corner and fires haymakers! The ref reprimands but Cage DECKS Davis! Cage soaks up more heat while he flexes.
Holiday Bash returns to single picture while Davis crawls. Cage storms over but Davis fires hands! Davis CHOPS, CHOPS, but Cage JUMP KNEES! Cage whips Davis, Davis cartwheels and swings on Cage! Cage blocks, waistlocks, but Davis switches! BIG back suplex! The fans fire up as Davis rises and reaches out! Davis crawls, as does Cage, hot tags to Hobbs and Konosuke! Hobbs LARIATS Konosuke, LARIATS again, then runs up to LARIAT in a corner! Cage runs up but he’s send into Konosuke! Hobbs SANDWEICHES the Family! Hobbs whips, Cage reverses, but Hobbs comes back to CLOBBER him! Hobbs scoops Cage for a POWERSLAM!
The fans fire up but Konosuke runs up! Hobbs scoops him, too! POWERSLAM! Hobbs pumps up and the fans are with him! Hobbs stomps and shakes the ropes, then he goes back for Konosuke. Konosuke rises, Hobbs pops him up, but Konosuke ELBOWS him! Konosuke fires hands, then ROLLING ELBOWS! Hobbs staggers, Konosuke whips him, but Hobbs reverses! SPINEBUSTER! Cover, Davis blocks Cage, but Cage SHOVES Davis onto the cover! Cage then TOSSES Davis out, and he goes back for Hobbs. Hobbs TOSSES Cage! Hobbs grins as he has Konosuke alone. The straps come down, and Hobbs runs up, only for Konosuke to dodge!
Konosuke runs, Cage tags in, and Konosuke BOOTS Hobbs in the corner! Cage runs up to UPPERCUT, GAMANGIRI, and then GERMAN SUPLEX! Hobbs flounders, Cage hauls him up, PUMP HANDLE FACEBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Hobbs survives and Cage is furious! Cage tags Konosuke, the Family gets Hobbs up, and they double wrench to double whip. But Hobbs breaks the double lariat and Davis tags in! Hobbs DOUBLE LARIATS Cage & Konosuke! Davis runs up, they STEREO LARIAT! Konosuke BOOTS Davis and Cage waistlocks Hobbs. Konosuke runs but Davis GAMANGIRIS! Cage SUPERKICKS Davis!
Hobbs SNAP POWERSLAMS Cage! ALPHA ELBOW from Konosuke! Davis GERMAN SUPLEXES Konosuke! Cage fireman’s carries Davis, F5!! Cage runs up on Hobbs but Hobbs dodges! Hobbs LARIATS Cage and himself out of the ring! The fans fire up while Davis rises again! Konosuke also stands, and they run up! DOUBLE LARIATS! Davis GAMANGIRIS, Konosuke ends up in the corner! Davis goes side to side, SLIDING FOREARM! The fans roar as Davis hauls Konosuke up! Konosuke fights the lift, dodges Davis, and comes back, DOUBLE LARIATS finally take both men down! But not for long as they both roar to their feet!
Konosuke swings, and he SWATS Davis’ enzigiri! Konosuke then POWER DRIVE KNEES!! And then, RAGING FIRE!! Cover, Callis Family wins!
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita & Brian Cage, by pinfall
The Alpha slam dunks on Dunkzilla, and now he has 8 days to prepare for the Powerhouse! Will Konosuke hold onto his International Championship against Hobbs? Or will taking that title be the perfect payback?
Backstage interview with Willow Nightingale.
Renee Paquette is with the Babe with the Power who is in action later tonight. But first, Renee wants to congratulate Willow to making it to the finals of the inaugural International Women’s Cup. She heads off to Tokyo very soon, how is she feeling about it? Willow is very excited. Inaugural WrestleDynasty, one step closer to the inaugural International Women’s Cup winner, and so it is mind boggling after how- Kris Statlander steps in. Kris tells Willow that there is a lot she should say, but for now, she’ll say good luck at the Tokyo Dome. #BornAgainKristen takes Willow by surprise, will Willow win tonight and have momentum going to the New Year?
Lio Rush & Action Andretti VS Myles Hawkins & Goldy!
The dysfunction in Top Flight Airlines led to The Bad Child & The Sight to See winning over Darius & Dante Martin, meaning they’re next up to face Private Party. Will this be little more than a tune-up for Lio & Action?
The teams sort out, Lio starts against Myles, but then Lio handspring kicks Goldy off the apron! Myles back suplexes but Lio lands out and then dodges! Myles falls out of the ring, Action handspring kicks him down! Lio DIVES onto Goldy! Action DIVES onto Myles! The fans fire up as Action puts Myles in fast. Lio joins Action and they mug Myles. Myles fights back with forearms and CHOPS! Myle runs, but Lio & Action split the difference. Lio spins Myles for Action to mule kick, knee lift and ROLLING ELBOW! Lio fires fast hands, then DECKS Myles! Goldy springboards but Lio & Action dodge! Lio eggs Goldy on, then he and Action split the difference again!
Action runs up, Goldy dodges, but Lio LARIATS Goldy on the other side! Myles whips Lio but Lio hits RUSH HOUR! Action torture racks Myles for a NECKBREAKER! Lio covers, Lio & Action win!
Winners: Lio Rush & Action Andretti, by pinfall
Fast win for this furious duo, but “Oh my gosh, is that Private Party?” Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy make their way out here and DC fires up! The AEW World Tag Team Champions call for “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” Lio & Action get their shot in the near future, but wait! Dante & Darius make their way out here? Private Party looks to the tunnels, but Lio & Action CLOBBER them from behind! Dante, Darius & Leila don’t worry about the champs, they stare Lio & Action down. Lio & Action hold up the belts, then throw them at the Martins. The refs keep this from getting any more physical, but will Lio & Action take those belts from Quen & Zay soon enough?
Backstage interview with Harley Cameron.
Renee is now with the “multifaceted” Harley and notes she’s in action against Willow Nightingale tonight. Harley says yes, she IS multifaceted. She wants us to appreciate ALL her facets! Renee says yes, but she has yet to earn a singles win in AEW. Fine, ruin her fun. But then Harley asks if some person off camera is gonna say anything or just stand there. In steps Penelope Ford, and Mrs. Superbad says yes, she was simply observing. But Ford couldn’t help but notice that she and Harley share a lot of similar… facets. Harley asks how much Ford’s cost. Uh, no, not those…
Ford meant that she hasn’t had such a good 2024, either. So from The Bad Girl to the… Harley doesn’t have a good nickname yet. Well, don’t worry about it. Ford will watch Harley’s back and Harley will watch Ford’s. Wait, is something on Harley’s back? No, Harley… Just good luck. FEEL THE WRATH OF HARLEY CAMERON! No, she was being nice to you, Harley. Right, don’t feel the wrath of Harley Cameron. There is nothing on your back, Harley, stop scratching. Wait! W-What? Nothing, sorry. But will Harley be feeling Willow’s wrath instead?
Willow Nightingale VS Harley Cameron!
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two tie up. Harley pushes but Willow digs in her heels to SHOVE Harley down. Harley comes back, she and Willow reset and tie up again. Willow puts Harley in a corner, the ref counts, and Willow lets off. DC duels between Willow and Harley, and Harley wants a Test of Strength. Willow accepts the knuckle locks, but then Harley kicks low! Harley runs, wheelbarrows, but Willow turns that into a BIG back suplex! The fans cheer as Willow runs, DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Willow bumps Harley off buckles, then fires LARIAT after LARIAT! The fans count al the way to TEN!
Willow brings Harley out with a smile, and scoop SLAMS her! Harley flounders, Willow storms up on her for another scoop and SLAM, right as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Willow storms around while Harley staggers up. Willow scoops Harley again, then carries her around to put her in the Tree of Woe! Willow stomps a mudhole in, then lets off to run up! But Harley BOOTS her while upside-down! Harley gets free, ELBOWS Willow, then runs to knee her low! Harley runs with Willow to HOTSHOT BULLDOG! Willow is stuck in ropes, and Harley AX KICKS her! Harley then headscissors Willow to CHOKE her in the ropes! The ref counts, Harley lets go at 4, and Harley soaks up cheers and jeers from DC. Harley stomps Willow, then drags her to the outside. Harley SMACKS Willow off the apron!
Harley paces while Willow flounders, and Harley has her against railing. Harley CHOPS Willow, then brings her around. Willow blocks the bump to SMACK Harley off the apron! Harley turns things around to SMACK Willow off the apron! Harley shoves Willow in, storms up on her, and stands her up for buckle bumps. Harley stomps Willow, digs her boots in, and she thrashes around! The ref counts, Harley lets off at 4, but Willow elbows her in return! Harley RAMS into Willow again and again, but Willow CLUBS Harley! Harley ROCKS Willow, whips her to ropes, and ELBOWS Willow down! Harley soaks up more cheers and jeers while Rampage goes to break.
Holiday Bash returns and Willow CANNONBALLS, but Harley dodges! Willow hits only buckles and she hobbles after Harley. Harley kicks, KNEES, and ENZIGIRIS! Harley roars, runs, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Harley grows frustrated. The fans rally while Harley waistlocks, but Willow switches! Harley kicks free to switch back, but Willow ELBOWS Harley back! Willow fireman’s carries, storms around, but Harley pops up! Harley fires down elbows, then victory rolls, TWO! Willow escapes and ROCKS Harley! Fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO!
Harley survives but Willow roars! The fans fire up as the straps come down! Willow gut wrenches for the BABE WITH THE POWER BOMB!! Cover, Willow wins!
Winner: Willow Nightingale, by pinfall
Willow faced the wrath of Harley Cameron and she prevailed! But then PENELOPE FORD goes after Willow! The fans boo but Ford did say she’d back Harley up. They both beat up on Willow, but here comes Kris! Kris Statlander storms the ring, Harley & Ford run away! Willow is again surprised, but the fans want these two to “Hug It Out! Hug It Out!” Kris says no, she doesn’t feel like it’s the right time. Kris lets Willow have the ring, is this proof that the #BornAgainKristen isn’t just a nickname?
Team Triple J speaks backstage.
Standing alongside Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, as well as Jeff & Karen Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt says, “They’ve asked us to look back and reflect on 2024, and Jeff, guys, what an incredible series of moments we’ve had in 2024.” The group agrees. From Wembley Stadium to Double J being in the Owen Hart Cup, some true career highlights that he will cherish forever. But Jarrett doesn’t like looking in the rearview mirror, he likes to look ahead. Next week, he’s not bringing resolutions, he’s bringing a game plan for 2025! What does the Last Outlaw have in store for himself and the team in the New Year?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Brody King VS Komander!
While the rest of Gold League stands at 6 points, these two men are struggling to keep up. Will the King of Death join that traffic jam at the front of the block? Or will the Commander of the Skies be a spoiler for Christmas?
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Brody and Komander circle while the fans bark it up. There are fans who sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~” for Komander as the two tie up. But then Brody picks Komande up with both hands, and puts him on the to rope. Brody pats Komander on the shoulder, and the fans bark more. Komander hops down, not intimidated by Brody’s size. Komander then dodges Brody, DROPKICKS him, but Brody CLOBBERS Komander on the return! Brody eggs Komander on and then scuffs him. Komander gets mad and CHOPS! Brody grins and eggs Komander on. Komander CHOPS, but Brody wants more!
Komander fires up to CHOP, but Brody CHOPS Komander down! The fans fire up and Brody grins. Komander sputters, Brody paces, and Brody drags Komander up. Brody CHOPS Komander again! Brody bumps Komander off buckles, CHOPS again, and Komander flounders away! Brody stalks Komander to the corner, CHOPS him again, and Komander falls over! Brody hauls Komander up, whips him, but Komander goes up and over! Komander ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Brody BACKDROPS Komander! The fans bark while Komander writhes, and Brody drags Komander up. But Komander fires body shots and a CHOP!
Brody KNEES low and Komander drops. Brody CHOPS Komander again! Brody asks, “Are you done?!” Brody whips Komander, but Komander ducks ‘n’ dodges to then springboard, but Brody catches Komander with ease! Brody pops Komander up, but Komander pops free, sunset flip, ONE!! Brody drags Komander up and CLUBS him! Komander wobbles, Brody ROCKS him again! Brody drags Komander off the ropes, suplexes, but Komander slips around! SLEEPER! Big men still have to breathe, but Brody RAMS Komander into the buckles! Brody swings, misses, and that bad hand hits post! Komander fires KICKS on the legs!
Komander bobs ‘n’ weaves, kicks, mule kicks and ENZIGIRIS! Brody wobbles and the fans rally up! Komander knuckle locks, CHOPS, and he goes up and up and jumps around! But Brody breaks the grip and DOUBLE CHOPS Komander to the floor! The fans bark it up and the ref checks Komander while Rampage goes picture in picture.
Brody storms out after Komander, who is somehow still in this. Brody drags Komander up, and he whips Komander hard into railing! Brody revels in the DC dogs barking, and Brody stands Komander up. Brody CHOPS Komander off his feet, then refreshes the ring count. Brody drags Komander up, and whips him hard into railing! So hard, in fact, that Komander goes up and over! Brody hurries to haul Komander back up, and he suplexes Komander to the floor! Komander writhes more while Brody refreshes the count again. Brody goes back to Komander, scuffs him, and brings him back up.
Komander KICKS Brody, CHOPS, but Brody CHOPS him down! Brody revels in the noise from DC while he stands on Komander’s neck! The ref reprimands, Brody steps off and rolls into the ring. Brody again refreshes the count so he can fetch Komander. Brody puts Komander in the ring, covers, TWO! Komander is still in this but Brody is more amused than anything. Brody paces then brings Komander up. Brody CHOPS Komander to a corner, then revels in the noise a bit more. Brody then digs his boot into Komander, but lets off as the ref counts. Brody drags Komander up to CHOP, but Komander CHOPS! Brody CHOPS Komander down!
Brody digs his boots in again, but the ref counts. Brody steps away, then drags Komander to his feet. Brody ROCKS Komander as the Holiday Bash returns to single picture. Brody eggs Komander on, stands him up, and ROCKS him again! Komander flops against ropes but Brody dares him to keep fighting. Komander staggers up, but Brody CHOPS him! Komander is stinging but Brody ROCKS him! Brody whips, Komander ducks ‘n’ dodges to QUEBRADA, but Brody catches him! But Komander slips down into the STANDING BONE LOCK! The fans fire up but Brody powers up! Brody THROWS Komander right off! SENTON FLOPS as Komander moves!
Komander hurries to basement DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Brody and Komander both crawl to ropes! They both stand, Brody runs up, but Komander swings around, CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Brody flops out to the floor! Komander sees that and the fans fire up! Komander builds going side to side, and he goes up and up and CROSSBODIES, but Brody catches him! Brody RAMS Komander into the railing! And then whips him hard into more railing! Brody makes Komander take a seat, then CHOPS him! The fans bark with Brody as he gets space, and Brody runs back in, but Komander ducks! Brody CRASHES into railing!!
Komander has the fans all fired up as he rises! Komander rolls into the ring, the count is climbing, but Brody is rising! So Komander runs corner to corner to go up, up and AWAY!! Direct hit with that escalara cannonball! The fans fire up as Komander rises again! Komander and Brody both head for the ring while fans sing again, “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” Komander has Brody in the drop zone! Komander goes up the corner, but Brody CLUBS him first! Brody has Komander in the Electric Chair Lift, then goes up the corner!? But Komander fights, shifts, and SUPER SUSNET FLIP POWERBOMBS!!
Brody is in the drop zone again and Komander rises! 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Brody survives and Komander cannot believe it! “This is Awesome!” as Komander rises and goes to another corner. Komander tunes up the band, runs corner to corner, but Brody SLAPS him first! Brody runs but Komander dodges, Brody POSTS himself! Komander is on the apron and he runs up, to SHOTGUN Brody to the floor! Brody sputters, Komander climbs the corner, and the fans are thunderous! Komander springboards to ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Another direct hit and Komander feels so close to his first points in the C2!
Komander hurries to get in the ring, but then slides out to start a new ring count. Komander climbs again while Brody rises. Komander watches Brody slide in, then tightrope walks to CIELITO LINDO!! But that was on Brody’s back! Komander pushes Brody but that’s a lot of dead weight to push! Brody sits up but Komander KICKS him! Komander roars, the fans fire up, handspring- TORTURE RACK! Brody flips Komander around, GONZO BOMB!! Cover, Brody wins!!
Winner: Brody King, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Komander earns 0)
If it wasn’t clear before, this was a painful punctuation mark, Komander is mathematically ELIMINATED from the semifinals. However, Komander’s final C2 match is Dynamite’s Miracle on 34th Street against Claudio Castagnoli! Can Komander be the biggest spoiler of this entire tournament? Can Brody prove to everyone in the Gold League that the House Always Wins?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here for Holiday Bash, though some clear redundancies from last week’s Winter is Coming edition. We got another group Don Callis Promo, and we barely got anything different from Callis and Kyle. The tag match’s only changes were Cage switching in for Archer, even though Cage is in reality defending his ROH World TV Championship in the Hammerstein Ballroom for Final Battle, and then the Callis Family wins this time so Hobbs and Konosuke can be even going towards Worlds End. Now, Konosuke could very well retain the International Championship at Worlds End because NJPW is totally open to Konosuke Takeshita VS Shingo Takagi being Winner Takes All, AEW International and NEVER Openweight titles on the line together.
Lio & Action of course won their match, but the real purpose was to get a confrontation out of them, Private Party and OG Top Flight, Darius & Dante. Good stuff, and it teases anywhere between a Triple Threat to Lio & Action VS Darius & Dante Round 2. Very good promo from Triple J to set up for something, anything really, for 2025. Fight for the Fallen can even be the start of whatever that plan is as part of the “mother of all streams.” And good stuff with the women’s division tonight. Ford & Harley makes a natural duo now given their names, and Willow and Kris could possibly reunite now that Kris is a Face again. That wouldn’t really make up for the weird fumble in the middle where Tony Khan just wanted Kris to get away from Stokely, but hey, this story itself could be really well done.
And great stuff out of Brody VS Komander, really got the drama going before the end. I mean, we all knew Komander was out of the running before tonight, and was most certainly taking the loss here, but Komander got to really show some grit. And now, five people at 6 points going into the final round, they’re really adding great drama to Gold League. Collision tomorrow and then Dynamite Miracle on 34th Street will be some great stuff, but I still think Ospreay should be one of the semifinalists, the second spot can be whoever they want.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Feel the StrongEST, the FastEST, the RoughEST, the ToughEST, and the BEST Glow!
With Jade Cargill out of action, Naomi is stepping in to help Bianca Belair defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships tonight on SmackDown!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: The Bloodline VS LA Knight, Apollo Creed & Andrade; The Bloodline wins.
- Braun Strowman VS Carmelo Hayes; Melo wins.
- Johnny Gargano VS Alex Shelley; Gargano wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Naomi VS Nia Jax & Candice LeRae; Bianca & Naomi win and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
Solo Sikoa is here!
The fans boo as the “Undisputed” Tribal Chief leads the Samoan Werewolf and Good Bad Guy to the ring. Roman Reigns put out the challenge for Tribal Combat, and on January 6th, in Los Angeles, for the first-ever Monday Night Raw on Netflix, it will happen! But first, Solo and his Bloodline go to the ring, and the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Solo tells them all, “ACKNOWLEDGE ME.” The fans boo instead, as expected. Solo lets that slide, and he says, “Roman Reigns sat on his little boat with The Wise Man and decided to challenge me on January 6th to a Tribal Combat match for the ula fala on Monday Night Raw, the debut on Netflix.”
The fans “WHAT?” Solo says instead of saying that, the fans should ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. The fans boo more, but Solo says shut your mouths and listen to what THE Tribal Chief has to say! The fans continue to boo and they continue to chant, “O T C! O T C!” Solo tells Roman that if he wants Tribal Combat, if he wants to take THE Tribal Chief to war, then let’s do it! Solo will leave his Bloodline behind, “WHAT?” Roman will leave his behind, “WHAT?” They’ll leave the Wise Man behind. “WHAT?” Jimmy and Jey, too. So listen and listen carefully: On January 6th, Solo walks in and walks OUT as THE Tribal Chief!
The fans boo more but Solo says on January 6th, he will STILL be the Head of the Table! He will STILL be YOUR Tribal Chief! And he will STILL have the ula fala! So Roman, after Solo beats your ass in LA, Roman can go back out on his little boat, sail off to the Island of Irrelevancy, and Roman can finally ACKNOWLEDGE SOLO. But wait! Drew McIntyre is here!? The Scottish Terminator has already hit Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso and Sami Zayn, but let’s not forget Solo was chief among those who screwed McIntyre out of the world championship. Solo has Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga stand down as McIntyre goes to the ring.
McIntyre grabs a mic but Solo tells him, “I gotta admit, I was very happy when you kicked my brother, Jimmy, in the face last week. Yes, I was very, very happy. But you better have a damn good reason why you’re interrupting me.” McIntyre says he’ll make it quick because it causes McIntyre physical pain to be this close to Solo and not beating Solo within an inch of his life. You like what McIntyre did to Jimmy? What about Sami and Jey? McIntyre wants to know, when Solo lies in bed at night, is he asking when McIntyre is coming after him? Because Solo is the one that cost McIntyre the title at Clash at the Castle.
Solo is the one who caused McIntyre’s family the pain and misery that caused him more pain and misery! But Solo also stood up to Roman Reigns. The only one to have the balls to stand up to Roman! The rest of them acted tough, acted like they were going to do something, but Roman snapped his fingers, didn’t change one bit. McIntyre’s heart says jump Solo, but McIntyre’s head says he and Solo have the same goal. So here’s what McIntyre is thinking: McIntyre can start working through the hit list, taking out more and more OG Bloodline members, and Solo does one thing for him: Take out Roman for good.
The fans boo but McIntyre says once all that business is finished, then he and Solo can settle theirs. But then JIMMY yanks McIntyre out of the ring! And CRACKS him with the crutch! And again! And then he runs up to CLOBBER McIntyre! McIntyre goes running into the crowd, Jimmy does his best to pursue, but now here comes LA Knight, Apollo Creed & Andrade! The Bloodline has a Six Man Tag on their hands, will Knight even let Solo make it to LA?
Six Man Tag: The Bloodline VS LA Knight, Apollo Creed & Andrade!
The brawl is on, Apollo after Tama, Andrade after Jacob, and Knight after Solo! Solo shoves back, but Knight LARIATS him up and out! Apollo DUMPS Tama and Andrade BOOTS Jacob! Apollo BOOTS Jacob, then Andrade BOOTS him again! Jacob tumbles out but Solo has him stand down! The Bloodline regroups while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and the match is already going as Apollo ducks ‘n’ dodges Tama to then slide under. Tama keeps moving, Apollo hurdles over, drops down, then DROPKICKS! Apollo fires up and the fans are with him, then Apollo gorilla presses Tama! The fans fire up and Apollo marches around. Apollo says this is for Solo, and he DROPS Tama! Tama flounders, Apollo brings him over, and he tags in Knight. Knight fires hands on Tama, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight brings Tama around to whip but Tama reverses. Knight catches Tama for a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Tama is tougher than that but Knight stomps him.
Tag to Andrade and the unlikely partners mug Tama. Andrade CHOPS Tama, then has him in a corner. Andrade tags Apollo, they double whip Tama to DOUBLE ELBOW! Apollo covers, TWO! Tama stays in this but Apollo drags Tama up. Apollo ROCKS Tama, the fans rally, and Apollo ROCKS Tama again. Apollo tags Andrade back in, they mug Tama, but Tama fires body shots! Tama shoves Andrade but Andrade RANAS on the return! Tama tumbles out, Jacob runs in, but Andrade DUMPS him out! Tag to Apollo, and then Andrade climbs! Apollo builds speed, and Apollo FLIES while Andrade ARIHARA MOONSAULTS!
The fans fire up as Knight then gets in to keep Solo back! Knight dares Solo to try something, but Solo stays back. Knight goes back to his corner while Apollo puts Tama in. The fans fire up as Apollo reels Tama in. Tama fires body shots and switches to a waistlock. Apollo elbows free, but Jacob sneaks a tag! Tama shoves Apollo and Jacob BODY CHECKS Apollo! The Werewolf is all geeked up while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Solo whips Apollo to ELBOW him down! Solo throws up the one but the fans boo. Solo drags Apollo up, bumps him off buckles, and the fans rally. Solo UPPERCUTS Apollo down, then stalks him along the ropes. Solo drags Apollo up but Apollo fires hands! Solo keeps Apollo from his corner but Apollo throws more shots! Solo whips Apollo hard into the Bloodline corner! Tag to Jacob and he looms over Apollo. Jacob drags Apollo up to scoop and SLAM! The fans boo but Jacob runs to SENTON, onto knees! Apollo saves himeslf and both men are down! They crawl, hot tag to Andrade!
El Idolo dodges Jacob, BLASTS Tama then ROCKS Solo! Andrade fires hands on Jacob, runs, then ducks ‘n’ dodges to FLYING FOREARM! Jacob tumbles to a corner while Andrade kips up! The fans fire up and chant “SI! SI! SI!” Andrade runs in, CIEN SHADOWES! Cover, TWO!! Jacob survives but Andrade keeps his cool. Andrade goes up a corner, MOONSAULT DOUBLE! Cover, TWO!! Andrade is frustrated now as Jacob survives again! Andrade thinks on what to do, and he brings Jacob up. Andrade fires forearms but Jacob grabs Andrade’s neck! Andrade fights free and fires more shots, but Solo sneaks a tag!
Andrade whips, Jacob reverses, but Andrade KICKS Jacob away! Jacob just roars! Andrade runs up, Jacob FLAPJACKS him into Solo’s HOTSHOT! That combo sends Andrade tumbling out to the floor, and Solo brings him up to POST him! The fans boo as The Bloodline stands tall, and Solo shows off his ula fala. Solo goes back to Andrade and puts him in the ring. Tag to Jacob, and Jacob whips for a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Andrade sputters and coughs while Jacob is geeked up again, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Jacob watches Andrade crawl to the apron, and waits for him to go to a corner. Andrade sits up but into the HIP ATTACK! Jacob snarls as he kicks Andrade around. Tag to Solo and he whips Jacob for Jacob to whip him! Another HIP ATTACK on Andrade! Solo scowls at the fans, then talks trash on Andrade. Solo drags Andrade by his foot and brings him over to tag Tama. Tama then slingshot ELBOW DROPS! Andrade sputters more but Tama covers, TWO! Andrade is still in this, but Tama rains down fists on Andrade to keep him down! Tama HAMMERS and CLUBS Andrade, then he talks smack on Apollo and Knight.
Tama kicks Andrade to the Bloodline corner, drags him back up, and then fires a BODY SHOT! Andrade sputters, Tama tags Jacob, and then Jacob whips Tama in for a STINGER SPLASH! Andrade falls over, Jacob clamps claws into the shoulders! Andrade endures, fights up, but Jacob HEADBUTTS him down! Jacob clamps the claws on again and really digs into Andrade’s shoulders! Andrade kicks and flails in pain but Jacob just thrashes him around more! Jacob shouts at Andrade but Andrade fights up to his feet! Andrade fires body shots, but Jacob HEADBUTTS him down again! Jacob stalks Andrade to a corner as SmackDown returns to single picture.
The fans boo but Jacob rains down fists in the corner! Jacob then sucker punches Apollo! Andrade sits up, Jacob runs in, but Andrade moves! Hip attack hits buckles and the fans fire up! Andrade and Jacob crawl, Solo shouts for Jacob to get up! Jacob grabs Andrade’s foot and brings him up! Andrade ENZIGIRIS free! Hot tags to Tama and The Mega Star! The fans are thunderous as Knight dodges then CLOBBERS Tama! Tama flounders to a corner, Knight stomps away on him, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” The ref counts, Knight stops at 4, but then he CLOBBERS Jacob! KNEE for Tama! Solo runs up to TOSS Knight!
Knight dodges Solo in the corner and hits a NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up even more and Knight tags Apollo. Knight hits Tama with the BIG back suplex! Apollo goes up top for the FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Tama survives but Apollo clamps on with a CROSSFACE! Knight WRECKS Jacob with a dropkick, and the Samoan Werewolf tumbles up and over the desk! Knight goes out to say that’s what Jacob gets, BUT SHINSUKE IS HERE!? Nakamura CLOBBERS Knight into the desk! The King of Strong Style gets away with that while the ref was busy checking Tama! Solo CLOBBERS Apollo, but Andrade whips Solo!
Solo reverses and ELBOWS Andrade! Solo drags Tama to their corner and then tags in. Solo aims at Apollo, HIP ATTACK! Solo hauls Apollo up, URENAGE! And then SAMOAN SPIKE!! Cover, Bloodline wins!!
Winners: The Bloodline, by pinfall
It seems Drew McIntyre isn’t the only one who is surprisingly on Solo’s side. The sinister samurai made sure to strike from the shadows to screw over Knight, will Knight make sure Nakamura comes to regret it? As for Solo, he is rolling towards the Raw Netflix debut, will he not need his Bloodline to retain the ula fala?
Backstage interview with Motor City Machine Guns.
Byron Saxton is with Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin ahead of the emotional grudge match. Shelley takes on his former friend, student, and the man who betrayed MCMG to take those WWE Tag Team Championships. That man is Johnny Gargano, so what thoughts are flowing through Shelley’s mind? Shelley says it is one thought: Payback. Sabin says they’ve known Gargano almost 20 YEARS, and only now does Gargano let the mask fall away to show us the truth. Shelley says it cuts a lot deeper when it’s someone you considered a little brother. Shelley tells Johnny that he makes sure Gargano knows he made the BIGGEST mistake of his life.
Sabin asks Shelley if he’s ready to do this. Shelley says this is something he has to do alone. He wants to see if Gargano is man enough to do the same. Sabin says okay, let’s get warmed up. Shelley wants a 1v1 shootout with Johnny Wrestling, but will Gargano do anything but do this himself?
SmackDown shares footage from after Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Byron Saxton was with Chelsea Green & Piper Niven and said before anything else, congratulations. Chelsea pats herself on the back, Piper pats Chelsea a bit, too, and Byron takes her back through the closing moments. Unpretty-Her on Michin, the bell rings, and we hear Lilian Garcia say the words, “AND NEW Women’s United States Champion, Chelsea Green.” What went through her mind? Chelsea takes out her gum and puts it in “Bryan’s” hand, and then tells him that she always knew this would happen. He might be surprised, and that’s so cute, but she wasn’t. She’s been doing this for ten YEARS, and worked her entire life to be an overnight success.
This is Chelsea’s time! Red, white and Green! Say it with her, Bryan! #RedWhiteAndGreen. So then, let’s talk the historical significance. Chelsea will now go down in the history books as the FIRST-EVER Women’s US Champion, so how does she’s now synonymous with the likes of Harley Race, the first-ever Men’s US Champion? She would say, “Duh.” She’s in the books where she belongs. Probably should’ve been three years ago, but she was released. It should’ve been way back in 2015, but she wasn’t hired. So now is the time. NOW IS THE FREAKIN’ TIME!! Yes, it is her time. What does a Chelsea Green reign look like going forward?
Chelsea says it looks like she’s going to Disneyland, so she’s got a plane to catch. Can they wrap this up? Of course. Have fun in Disneyland. Yes, well-deserved. Piper calls for champagne. Will we never hear the end of this now that Chelsea has gold to go with the ego?
Kevin Owens speaks.
“What happened after Saturday Night’s Main Event was not my fault. There’s a lot of people to blame for it. Cody Rhodes, the referees, Nick Aldis, WWE Management, they’re all to blame. I was screwed out of winning that championship. What happened to me is a travesty, a tragedy! I should be standing here Undisputed WWE Champion, but I’m not. But I took this (the Winged Eagle belt) because I deserve it. And I’m not giving it back until I get what i want. Everyone needs to understand, you can only push a man so much until they snap. But the good news is, I haven’t snapped yet.
“It can all get so much worse, trust me. You don’t want me to snap. So Cody, Nick Aldis, WWE officials, what happens next is on all of you.” The Prizefighter has said his piece, will he hold the championship hostage until his demands are met?
DIY talks backstage.
Ciampa gets it, Gargano’s known MCMG a long time. So it surprises Ciampa that Shelley is so dumb! He wants this grudge match but he can’t win the tag titles back in a singles match. So what’s he doing? Gargano says Shelley wants his payback, that’s obvious. But Shelley wants to challenge Gargano’s manhood?! Gargano is all man! He made a kid! Yeah, Papa John, Daddy Ciampa, of course they made kids. But Shelley did specify that he wants to do this on his own, so Ciampa knows what that means, right? Ciampa has to stay backstage, too. Gargano will handle business by himself. He’s not some naive 18-year-old kid with a dream anymore! Dream came true!
Gargano will go remind Shelley that he’s Johnny Freakin’ Wrestling! So Ciampa can just relax right back here. Ciampa says go get him! Ciampa won’t even move a muscle from here, you can trust him. Can he? Or is this all another facade to lower everyone’s guard?
It’s an all new Grayson Waller Effect!
A-Town Down Under is already in the ring, and fans boo as Austin Theory & Grayson Waller show off the abs. Waller then welcomes us to the Grayson Waller- And Austin Theory…! Effect. The hottest show keeps getting hotter cuz Waller gets scoop after scoop, lads. And tonight is a big scoop! A big, BIG scoop! The first transfer from Raw to SmackDown, it’s the Monster of All Monsters, BRAUN STROWMAN! The fans cheer as Braun makes his way to the ring, and he’s coming out as Santa Braun! Or perhaps, Strowman Claus? Either way, Braun throws free merchandise to the fans, what a gift for Christmas!
Braun empties the bag and then goes to the ring. Turns out, nothing for Waller & Theory! Waller sits behind the desk and thanks Braun for coming. And how nice of Braun to help all the poor here in Hartford. The fans boo and Braun asks if Waller’s really starting this like that. Is he really trying to piss Braun off already? No no no! Braun is right, it really is nice. And this is big! The biggest acquisition in SmackDown history! On the biggest talk show in WWE history! Braun says it doesn’t get any bigger than this, baby! The fans cheer and Waller says before we start, he knows how this goes, sometimes.
Waller just wants us to know that he invested a lot of money into the new set. Maybe we continue to spread Christmas cheer and have a civil conversation. No damage. Well, if Waller runs his mouth, then Braun can promise he’ll wear Waller out using all the stuff in here. Waller says he’s a bit surprised Braun agreed to this. If no one has said before, but Braun is a little intimidating. But the more Waller thought about it, the more it made sense. Even Braun sees the sense in associating with ATDU! The fans boo and Braun says he threw up a little bit in his mouth, and that get a good laugh.
Waller says okay, but SmackDown’s a bit scary right now. Bloodline is going wild, people are getting attacked backstage, and you don’t wanna be alone in the car park. Sorry, parking lot. Braun asks if Waller knows who he’s talking to. No, he didn’t mean anything by it. Waller just figures, it’d be a good idea if Braun looked after Braun for once. And that means setting up the ultimate alliance. Braun Strowman & A-Town Down Under as the same team! They’d be untouchable! The cunning and intelligence of Waller & Theory, Braun’s strength. Get it? Brains & Braun. Braun says he already told Waller to watch his mouth! Does Waller want his set shoved up his-
Wait! Carmelo Hayes makes his way out here! Braun sighs and Melo says no, no, no, cut this out. Melo has a bone to pick with Braun. Aldis thought he was going to humble Melo by setting him up against Braun. Everybody here knows that that wasn’t fair. But newsflash, Nick Aldis, you can’t humble greatness! Melo might lose, but he’ll never quit. So Braun, “you big ugly dumb Santa Claus b*tch,” let’s run this thing back right here, right now! Cuz now, Melo’s ready! Braun says if Melo didn’t learn his lesson last week, Braun will remind him what the Braun Strowman Effect is! Waller & Theory run away as Braun grabs the fake palm trees!
Braun CHUCKS trees at Melo but Melo just laughs. Will Melo not miss the game winner in this rematch? Or will Braun be the one to humble H1M?
Braun Strowman VS Carmelo Hayes!
SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Braun chuckles at Melo wanting to tie up. They do tie up but then Melo slips around to KICK the leg! Braun just brushes that off as he and Melo circle. Melo uses the ropes and even the ref as a shield so Braun backs off. Melo comes back, taunts Braun, then drops back to ropes. The ref wants Braun to let off, and Braun does, but then Melo sucker punches him! Melo talks smack, then whips, but Braun blocks! B raun shakes his head, whips Melo, but Melo ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ slides out. Melo says safe! Melo says he’s smart, but then gets spooked as Braun storms up to ropes!
The ref has Braun stay back, and Melo gets cocky again. Braun signals to the fans that he’s taking a lap and the fans fire up. Braun goes outside, builds speed, but Melo runs! Melo slides into the ring, Braun gets on the apron, but Melo KICKS him! The fans boo but Melo hits the FADE AWAY! Braun flounders, Melo CLUBS and KNEES and repeat! Braun SHOVES Melo out of the ring! Braun shakes it off then storms back up on Melo. Braun YANKS Melo up by his hair! And then he TOSSES Melo across the way! The fans fire up and Braun drags Melo up again. Braun whips, Melo dropkicks the legs out! Braun falls, Melo runs, FADE AWAY, but into Braun’s hands!
Braun pops Melo up, but Melo SPIKE-RANAS! Braun sputters and Melo soaks up heat. Braun rises up like the monster he is! Melo turns around, Braun runs up, but Melo DUMPS Braun out! Melo BOOTS Braun away, then gets cocky again. Melo goes out the side and he runs up a la Braun. But Braun BOOTS Melo right down! The fans fire up and Braun looms over Melo. Braun drags Melo up, whips him at steps, but Melo goes up! Melo leaps, but into Braun’s arms! We’re at 7 of 10 as Melo slips free! Melo SLAPS Braun! Braun grabs Melo by the neck and TOSSES him into the ring! We’re at 10!! MELO WINS!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by count out
Talk about rope-a-dope! Melo steals this win by getting the better of Braun’s anger! Braun scowls at smart-aleck Melo, and he storms in! Melo runs out to the crowd and into the night, but Braun pursues! Will Melo #GetTheseHands one way or another?
Nia Jax and Candice LeRae talk backstage.
They’re both excited for the tag title match tonight, because Nia can become a double champion. Tiffany Stratton walks in and Nia says there she is! Tiff wishes them luck tonight, and cannot wait to be there ringside when the ref raises their hands. Nia gets a guilty look on her face and Candice tells Tiff that they were talking… It’s best if Tiff stays in the back. But hey, she can take some notes if she wants. And if she wants to help, she can prepare champagne, balloons and maybe even streamers. They’re gonna need all that after the big win. So Tiff should get on that while Candice & Nia strategize.
Tiff looks to Nia but Nia just says, “Thanks, Tiff.” Tiff leaves, Nia shrugs off the guilt and says she and Candice are ready. Candice is sure Tiff will have the most beautiful party ready for them. Will the Irresistible Force & Poison Pixie succeed in taking the tag titles for their own? Or will it be Bianca & Naomi having that champagne to celebrate?
Melo returns backstage.
And he’s on high alert knowing Braun is still hunting him down. Melo bumps into Legado Del Fantasma, and then Braun storms up! Braun asks where Melo went. Santos Escobar says screw that, he’s no snitch. Braun says not telling is gonna get Santos worse. Angel steps in and says Melo went that way. Braun thanks Angel and storms off after Melo. But then Pretty Deadly asks Braun to please read through their script. Braun slaps the script down and says he doesn’t care about their stupid musical! But then Melo SMACKS Braun with a chair! And SMACKS him again! Melo talks trash before heading out, but Braun gets back up.
Braun is angrier than ever, and he still hunts Melo down! Is there going to be nothing left of H1M after Braun #GetsTheseHands on him?
Johnny Gargano VS Alex Shelley!
Longtime friendships thrown away in order to get ahead is practically cliche in pro-wrestling, but to think Johnny Wrestling would be the kind to do that. Will Shelley make Gargano regret ever treating 20 YEARS like it was nothing?
The bell rings and Gargano runs up! Shelley dodges to fire hands, then he bumps Gargano off buckles. Shelley stomps a mudhole in, then stands Gargano up to dig his forearm in! The ref counts, Shelley lets off, then he climbs up to rain down fists! Gargano YANKS Shelley down! Shelley flounders, Gargano CHOPS Shelley to a corner, then he mocks the MCMG hand pointing. Gargano CHOPS Shelley, ROCKS him, then wrenches him to whip corner to corner. Gargano runs up but Shelley ELBOWS him away! Shelley goes up to FLYING KNEE! And then he CLOBBERS Gargano! The fans fire up as Shelley drags Gargano up.
Shelley wrenches, hammerlocks, but Gargano elbows free! Gargano brings Shelley around to schoolboy ROUNDHOUSE! Shelley sputters, Gargano brings him up, and Gargano says he’s no longer the student. Gargano ROCKS Shelley, stomps away, but stops as the ref counts. Gargano soaks up heat, then shakes out his left hand before he runs up. Shelley puts Gargano on the apron to HOTSHOT! Gargano falls, Shelley aims, and Shelley slingshots to stomp Gargano’s bad hand! Gargano staggers away, but runs back up on Shelley, only for Shelley to jump the sweep! SUPERKICK! Then FLYING KNEE!
The fans fire up while Gargano goes down, and Shelley says that’s what Gargano gets while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Gargano has Shelley in a clinch. Gargano fires body shots, then he hits a JAWBREAKER! Gargano goes to a corner, Shelley runs up, but Gargano BOOTS back! Gargano runs up and slips around Shelley to SLINGBLADE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Gargano is frustrated but he stalks Shelley to the apron. Gargano brings Shelley up, talks more smack, and he fireman’s carries. Shelley slips out but Gargano ROCKS him! SLINGSHOT- SUPERKICK! Shelley takes Gargano out of the air and both men are down! The fans rally up, and Shelley stands to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP again!
Shelley CHOPS, whips, then kitchen sink knees! And then PENALTY KICKS! Ghost pin, TWO! Gargano escapes, but Shelley wants the arm! Shelley uses the Garga- NO, Gargano turns chicken wing into roll up, TWO!! Shelley escapes, clinches, and spins Gargano, ASAI DDT! Cover, TWO! Shelley wants the arm again! The fans rally as Shelley drags Gargano up, wrenches and wristlocks, but Gargano ROCKS Shelley with forearms! Shelley CHOPS back, CHOPS again, and CHOPS again! Shelley wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! But Gargano ENZIGIRIS! Shelley runs up, Gargano dodges and SUPERKICKS!
Gargano scoops Shelley, takes aim at a corner, LAWN DART! Cover, TWO!! Shelley survives and the fans rally up! Gargano grows frustrated but he brings Shelley around. Gargano wants the arm now! GargaNO Escape, but Shelley says NO to that! They both fight up, end up in a corner, and the ref counts. Gargano lets off, to then ROCK Shelley with a cheap shot! Gargano runs up, but into a BUCKLE SHOT! Shelley shakes out the stars and he goes to the corner. The fans fire up as Shelley climbs, but Ciampa shows up! Gargano GAMANGIRIS Shelley down! But wait, here comes Sabin! Ciampa violated the deal first so Sabin’s not letting him do worse!
Gargano climbs up while Sabin chases Ciampa off, but Shelley SHOVES Gargano! CROSSBODY! Gargano rolls through, and pulls tights! Gargano wins!!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall
Distraction tactic and pulling the tights? Gargano has no shame! But he and Ciampa have the WWE Tag Team Championships, so is that all that matters?
Backstage interview with Bianca Belair & Naomi.
Byron Saxton is at gorilla with The EST & The Glow, and before they head to the ring, he wants to recap the crazy couple of weeks. The mysterious attack on Jade Cargill, the big win at Survivor Series in WarGames, and now they can solidify themselves as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Bianca says these past few weeks have been rough to say the least. And while you can trust Bianca will find out what happened to Jade, you best believe they won’t be stripped of the tag titles. That’s just what the culprit wants and Bianca isn’t going down without a fight. Thankfully, Bianca has a friend who always has her back.
Naomi says yeah, she’s got her back forever! And she can never turn down a good “snatch ‘n’ drag.” But she also knows how important these titles are to Bianca & Jade, and they’re just as important to her. Naomi will go out there and do everything she has to in order to keep the titles. Bianca holds out Jade’s belt to Naomi, but Naomi says no. Not until she’s earned it. Bianca says okay, and the music hits. Naomi is fired up, will this be the StrongEST Glow yet?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Naomi VS Nia Jax & Candice LeRae!
SmackDown returns as the Irresistible Force & Poison Pixie make their entrance together. The introductions are made, the tag titles are raised, and we see who is truly the strongest duo!
The teams sort out and Bianca starts against Candice. They tie up as the fans rally, and Bianca powers Candice right to a corner. But Candice pulls the braid! The ref reprimands, Candice shoves Bianca, then pie faces her! But Bianca SHOVES Candice to the corner! Bianca runs up but into an elbow! Candice goes up but Bianca ROCKS her! Bianca gorilla presses Candice but Candice scrambles free! Candice hurries away and she tags in Nia. Bianca says bring it and the fans rally for the “E S T! E S T!” Nia and Bianca tie up, Bianca headlocks, but Nia powers up and out. Tiff is watching backstage as Nia scoops Bianca, only for Bianca to slip free.
Bianca runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and DROPKICKS! Nia rebounds but Bianca avoids the elbow drop! Bianca tags Naomi then sets Nia up! Naomi and Bianca both run the ropes, Bianca handsprings, SPLIT LEG DROP AND MOONSAULT COMBO! Naomi covers, TWO! Naomi hurries back after Nia but Nia shoves her away. Naomi slides under the lariat then mule kicks! Naomi runs but into a POP-UP HEADBUTT! Nia drags Naomi to a cover, TWO! Naomi stays in this for Bianca’s sake but Nia storms back up as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Nia DRIBBLES Naomi off the mat, then stares Bianca down. Nia stalks Naomi to a corner, puts her on ropes, and CHOKES her! The ref counts, Nia lets off, and then Nia drags Naomi over to the corner. Nia traps Naomi while she tags Candice. Nia fires some elbows before backing off, and Candice RAMS Naomi! Candice ROCKS Naomi, sits her down, then stomps a mudhole in. Candice taunts Bianca, drags Naomi to a cover, TWO! Candice CLUBS Naomi down, then clamps on with a top wristlock. Naomi endures while Candice leans on the hold. Naomi fights up, arm-drags free, then hurries for her corner!
Candice scrambles after Naomi and THROWS her by her hair! Candice stomps Naomi to the corner, tags Nia, and Nia runs up to HIP ATTACK! Nia taunts Bianca, drags Naomi up, and clamps on with a cobra clutch! Nia leans on Naomi to grind her down. Naomi endures, fights up, and JAWBREAKERS free! Nia staggers around, but she scoops Naomi! Naomi slips free to the apron and HOTSHOTS Nia! Naomi BOOTS Candice. RAMS Nia, then reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Naomi is down, but she BOOTS Nia away before heading for her corner. Candice hurries and tags in, but Naomi hot tags Bianca!
Bianca rallies on Candice with shoulder tackles and DROPKICK! Bianca kips up, wrenches, and suplexes Candice! SmackDown returns to single picture as Candice slips free! Candice dodges Bianca, Nia sneaks a tag, and Bianca scoops Candice for a GUT BUSTER! Bianca runs at the corner to RAM Candice, then she climbs up! The ref tries to explain but Nia runs up! Bianca backflips up and over! Nia almost squashes Candice, but she turns around. Bianca dodges Nia, but Candice hits a CODE BREAKER! SAMOAN DROP from Nia! Cover, TWO! Bianca survives and the fans fire up! Nia snarls as she drags Bianca into a motorcycle stretch!
Bianca endures and the fans rally up. Bianca fights up but Nia POSTS her first! Nia then mocks the fans with clapping, then she scuffs Bianca. Nia dares Bianca to tag, then she THROWS Bianca by the braid! Bianca goes to ropes, and Nia pulls the braid around them! The ref reprimands, Nia lets off, but Candice gets her shots in! The fans boo but Bianca gets away. Nia soaks up the heat and then brings Bianca around. Nia has the cobra clutch back on and she thrashes Bianca around. The fans rally as Bianca endures, and Bianca fights back up. Nia kicks Bianca but Bianca rebounds to reel Nia in!
Bianca tries to suplex but Nia’s too big! Nia shoves Bianca to the corner, but Bianca BOOTS back! Bianca ELBOWS Candice, runs up on Nia, but Nia picks her up! Nia RAMS Bianca into the corner! Tag to Candice and she climbs. Nia holds Bianca up, Candice MISSILE DROPKICKS Bianca into the SPINEBUSTER! Candice then BLASTS Bianca off the apron, then uses Nia as the step for the STEP-UP SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Bianca survives, she’s the toughEST for a reason! Candice is frustrated and she CLUBS away on Bianca! The fans rally for “E S T! E S T!” Bianca throws a body shot but Candice CLUBS her down again.
Candice tags Nia and Nia pulls the braid to keep Bianca back. Nia whips Bianca to Candice but Bianca slips around. Candice standing switches, Nia runs up, but Bianca ducks and Nia clips Candice! Bianca scrambles while Nia checks Candice, hot tag to Naomi! Naomi LARIATS Nia but Nia stays up! So Naomi UPPERCUTS Nia! Nia still stays up! Naomi dodges, goes up the ropes, FLYING CHUCK! Nia wobbles and the fans fire up with Naomi! Naomi reels Nia in but Nia whips her away! Naomi BOOTS from the corner, then goes up! FLYING FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Nia stays in this but Naomi pounds the mat.
The fans rally up, Naoim brings Nia up, but Nia HEADBUTTS her! Nia runs up at the corner, but Naomi dodges to POST her! Nia is down, Naomi goes up! SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT FLOPS as Nia moves! Nia CLUBS Naomi, puts her in the drop zone, then goes up! But Naomi SMACKS Nia off the post! Tag to Bianca, and Naomi gets under Nia?! POWERBOMB!! Naomi drags Nia into the drop zone! Bianca aims for the 450!! Cover, CANDICE BREAKS IT! The fans fire up, Nia is busted open from hitting that post, but here comes TIFFANY! Is she doing what it looks like? Tiff cheers on Candice & Nia, no cash-in yet.
Candice tags in, goes after Bianca, but Bianca RAMS Candice into the corner! Bianca runs but into a BOOT! Candice goes up, TORNADO DDT! Cover, Naomi GAMANGIRIS Candice! Fans cheer “CASH IT IN!” at Tiff but Bianca tags in Naomi. Nia sneaks a tag, and as the Naomi goes after Candice, the ref has to explain. In that distraction, Nia asks for the briefcase! Tiff is conflicted, but she hands it over. But then the ref sees Nia with it! Bianca HANDSPRING KICKS Nia off the apron! Nia falls right at Tiff’s feet! Bianca tags Naomi, then PLANCHAS onto Nia! Naomi has Candice but Candice cradles! TWO!! Naomi KNEES Candice down!
Naomi hurries up, up and SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, NAOMI & BIANCA WIN!
Winners: Bianca Belair & Naomi, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Tiff’s hesitation costs Nia, and that means Naomi has earned that title belt! Bianca personally hands it to her and the two celebrate together. Will they hold onto the titles all the way ’til Jade is back in action? Or will a team come along that outshines even the StrongEST Glow?
My Thoughts:
A great episode of SmackDown here, though I think it was also prerecorded. They were in Hartford last week, weren’t they? And I thought that was prerecorded given how Jimmy Uso’s promo was received… But speaking of, good stuff from Bloodline to open. McIntyre calling a true with Solo was a bit of a surprise, but I suppose we should’ve seen that coming with how McIntyre is a Heel and often a hypocrite. Jimmy going after McIntyre was also good stuff, he can clearly still be a factor even with a bad toe. Very good Six Man Tag, too, but I should’ve known Nakamura would interfere and cost Knight’s team. Good win for Solo, and we’ve still got a couple weeks before Raw on Netflix, so the go-home math will still sort out with the first SmackDown of 2025.
Very good promos from MCMG and DIY, and of course Ciampa still went out to ringside despite the “promise” he made. And of course Gargano cheated, but that adds heat to the coming tag title rematch. They might even put that on the first SmackDown of 2025 to hype it up. Especially as I think it’s going to be the first THREE HOUR SmackDown. NBC is willing to do that knowing Raw is going to Netflix, meaning SmackDown will get more time to do more great things, which works with all the belts we’ve got now.
Good stuff with Braun and the Grayson Waller Effect, but of course we set up more between Braun and Melo. Clever move for Melo to win by count out, and of course Melo gets cocky for it. Braun was almost classic Braun with how he shrugged the chair shots off backstage. We’ll of course get one more Braun VS Melo, and maybe someone from Legado or Pretty Deadly screws Braun over given how he treated them. Very good promo from Chelsea after her big win on Saturday, and I’m sure she’ll be celebrating this win in both kayfabe and real-life through the holidays, ready to start her first title feud on January 3rd.
Very good promo from Kevin Owens, but I feel like he had to contradict himself here from what he said during the Raw on Netflix “kickoff show” on Wednesday. Kevin said then that he’s going to act as the defending champion with the holiday house show tour, but he said here he isn’t the champion since he got screwed. Either way, he’ll really play up how he is somehow the victim in all this, making the return of Cody Rhodes all the better. We’ll surely get one last match of Cody VS Kevin, maybe with a big stipulation on it, and then we’ll have a moment of (more than likely) Cody holding up both Winged Eagle and corporate logo championships.
And of course, very good stuff in the two main Smackdown women’s stories. That promo from Nia, Candice and Tiff was really good because you kinda feel for Tiff being treated as the odd one out. And then very good promo right before the match with Bianca & Naomi. I like Naomi wanting to earn the belt, and we got a great tag match. Nia surely got busted open “hard way,” aka legitimately, that post surely has edges you gotta watch out for. But Tiff showing up was of course for the briefcase distraction, not cashing in. Tiff hasn’t been pushed that far yet, that might come with the Netflix debut. But Naomi & Bianca of course retained the titles, that’ll cue up Jade making a return to identify her attacker, and it might be Naomi after all…
My Score: 8.8/10
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