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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Who heads for Montreal?
To determine a challenger to the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, SmackDown holds qualifying matches for a #1 contender’s match! Who wins tonight to advance to Saturday Night’s Main Event?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Randy Orton VS The Miz; Orton wins and advances.
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss VS Giulia & Kiana James; Charlotte & Alexa win.
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Trick Williams VS Matt Cardona; Trick wins and advances.
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa; Priest wins and advances.
- WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes VS Leon Slater; Melo wins and retains the title.
- Jordynne Grace VS Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre; Grace wins.
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Sami Zayn VS Ilja Dragunov; Sami wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bagpipes play for Drew McIntyre!
A troupe of six play the music of the Scottish Terminator’s people before the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion officially makes his entrance. London cheers as Drew steps on stage, belt around his waist, and they sing for “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” as he takes his time walking down the ramp. Drew gets his pyro, the fans cheer more, and Drew continues to the ring. Drew looks at the championship while he hears the fans cheering, and he goes up the corner to raise the belt up high! The fans cheer as Drew gets more pyro! And a lot of it! The fans cheer again, and Drew puts the belt on his shoulder, but then he goes back out to join the front row in cheering!
Drew goes back to the ring, grabs the mic, and the singing for “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” continues. Drew says, “I prayed for this and it happened.” The fans cheer that, then chant, “You Deserve It!” Drew says, “I know it’s been a rough few years in the UK here, but if there’s somebody that can bring us together, it’s our Undisputed WWE Champion. It’s the first-and-only-ever BRITISH WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre!” The fans cheer that! Drew says the love he’s been shown the past week is incredible. Texts, social media posts, the cheers all across Europe, including tonight, “you bunch of mentalists.”
And Drew just wants to say to each and every one out there… “Screw you.” The fans laugh at that, but Drew says no, this isn’t even being a bad guy wrestler. Seriously, screw you! When he got FIRED from WWE, where were they? They wanna jump on the bandwagon now? 99% of them weren’t there for him! When he was being screwed over by Roman Reigns and the Bloodline, there was no uprising for him, huh? How’d they help him out? When CM Punk screwed Drew, the fans cheered Roman and Punk and doing the YEET with Jey Uso! The fans do chant those things now, and then Drew brings up Cody and the corrupt refs!
Was there a hashtag for Drew? NO! There is only one person Drew needs to thank, that ever believed in Drew, and that person… is Drew! So thank you, Drew! If you wanna chant, chant “Thank You, Drew!” The fans do chant, “Thank You, Drew!” Well, there’s one more person Drew must address: The former… Oh, that feels good to say. Drew knows Cody Rhodes is here, and it must cut like a knife to say FORMER WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes! The fans now sing for “Cody, Cody Rhodes~!” Yes, Drew knows Cody’s crack team is trying to figure out a title rematch. Drew admits to having Nick Aldis add a little extra clause.
Since 99% of Americans can’t read, Drew will tell us what it is: There is NO rematch clause! Cody must start at the bottom, work his way back up. The Vanilla QB1 Era is over! The Dangerous Drew Era begins tonight! The fans cheer that! But then here comes Randy Orton! The fans also cheer for The Viper, they sing along with Voices, and Orton goes right to the ring. Orton grabs himself a mic while the fans finish singing, and then the fans cheer as Orton and Drew are face to face. Drew says this must be Orton out here to congratulate him. The fans chant “R K O!” while Orton chuckles. Orton says Drew and the fans in London all know that they don’t like each other one bit.
So no, this is not Orton here to congratulate Drew. Orton is here to remind Drew that a few months ago, Drew had the chance to kick Orton through the table and declined. The fans again chant “R K O! R K O!” Orton says he wanted to tell Drew that when Orton has the opportunity to return the favor, he won’t hesitate. he beat Drew for that title before, he’ll do it again, and it’ll be courtesy of the three most dangerous letters in all of sports entertainment: R K O! The fans cheer that, but Drew smirks. Only for JACOB FATU to show up! The fans cheer the Samoan Werewolf as he storms his way down the ramp and to the ring.
Drew wants Fatu to hold on, but Orton steps aside so Fatu can DECK Drew! Fatu goes out after Drew, DRIBBLES him off the desk, then whips again! Drew reverses to POST Fatu, but Fatu isn’t even bothered! Drew hurries away, Fatu chases him into the crowd! Orton is more amused than anything, will Drew get out of London in one piece? But then The Miz slithers in! SKULL CRUSHING FINALE on Orton!! The Hollywood A-Lister strikes outta nowhere, but will he soon regret that? We find out, after the break!
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Randy Orton VS The Miz!
SmackDown returns and the match is already going as Orton fires body shots and a HEADBUTT! But Miz kicks the leg out and BASEMENT DDTS! Cover, TWO! Orton survives then bails out, then throws his shirt off. The fans rally, but Miz pursues. Orton ROCKS Miz, then brings him up for the DESK BACK- NO, Miz lands out to then CLUB Orton! Miz hits the DESK BACK SUPLEX! The fans boo as Miz mocks Orton’s signature pose, then Miz puts Orton in the ring. Miz stomps Orton, but the fans taunt Miz with, “OH~ Miz is a Wanker~!” Miz throws hands, Orton fires back, and they go back and forth.
Orton fires off haymakers, whips Miz to a corner, but Miz reverses. Miz soaks up heat, runs in at Orton, but Orton LARIATS first! And LARIATS again! Then a dodge and SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up for Orton while Miz scrambles to the apron. Orton goes after Miz, brings him through the ropes, but Miz fights free! Miz hurries away while the fans boo, but Orton pursues. Orton finds Miz at the desk! Kick and DESK BACK SUPLEX! Miz sputters and writhes while the fans fire up. They want that “One More Time!” Orton obliges, another DESK BACK SUPLEX for Miz! The fans rally, they still want that “One More Time!”
Orton gets Miz up again, a third DESK BACK SUPLEX! Orton refreshes the count while Miz slumps off the desk. The fans cheer Orton, he puts Miz in the ring, and he has Miz in the ropes! The fans fire up again and Orton smiles as he drags Miz in, DRAPING DDT! The fans cheer again, and Orton hears those voices! Miz slowly rises, R K- FINALE!?! Cover, TWO!! Orton survives and the fans cheer! Miz is beside himself as Orton survives his finisher again! The fans rally behind Orton but Miz storms up to full nelson again. But Orton arm-drags free, RK- NO, Miz rolls him up, TWO! Miz scrambles, RKO!! Cover, Orton wins!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
The fans cheer as The Viper strikes, and now punches his ticket to Montreal! But will Orton truly be the Apex Predator when he battles three others for that #1 contender’s spot?
Drew returns backstage.
He grumbles about crazy Fatu, but Ilja Dragunov finds him. The Mad Russian is glad they are finally talking face to face. Obviously, Drew has some problems, so Ilja will get to the point: Tonight, Ilja will beat Sami Zayn and be one step closer to the championship. Ilja won a championship his first night back, simply because he doesn’t fight like a sane man! Drew says yeah, he doesn’t care, there’s a crazy person after him! Go ahead, win your match, win the Fatal 4 Way, and we’ll see him at the Royal Rumble. Drew swears he did NOT knock Fatu’s teeth out, but he sure will do that to Ilja! Drew runs off, but is that true? If Drew didn’t sideline Fatu, who did?
The Wyatts speak.
Bo Dallas says, “Solo… You think you stole our light. But you’ve just inherited the weight of what it really means. The lantern has never been a weapon. We carry it in the dark, so the dark doesn’t carry us. It does not belong int he hands of someone who believes taking it is more powerful than its true purpose. It will come back to us. Like a moth to a flame, we will not rest until it’s home.” The warning has been issued, will MFT heed it?
Charlotte Flair finds Alexa Bliss backstage.
The Queen hip bumps Lil’ Miss Bliss to cheer her up, but it doesn’t really work. Alexa says last week sucked: She lost to Giulia, Nia & Lash messed with her before the match and then beat her up after. It was a complete numbers game, Alexa was alone, so was Charlotte actually sick? Or was she just “cough cough” sick? No, it was not a “cough cough,” it was a “barf barf.” And Alexa’s the one that got a title opportunity without Charlotte, but Alexa has no idea how many title opportunities Charlotte turned down because she put the team first. Really? Yes, really. Name them. Not the point. Well, does Charlotte have Alexa’s back? Does Alexa have Charlotte’s back?
Bottomline is, Alexa is Charlotte’s person. Charlotte was sick. Heart hands, and Charlotte says she’ll finish warming up. But then Nia & Lash walk in saying that was so cute. Charlotte has no reason to trust Nia, but this is typical Alexa. She makes you feel guilty then plays victim. She’s really good at it. Yeah, Charlotte has no reason to trust Nia. And they won’t like her response. As for this charade, Charlotte gets why Alexa isn’t friends with Nia. And Lash has changed. Charlotte heads out, will #Charlexa be able to focus on the match before them? Or will the Irresistible Force & Bougie Bully make sure all eyes are on them again?
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss VS Giulia & Kiana James!
SmackDown returns and the Beautiful Madness and Miss Management are already waiting in the ring. Charlotte makes her entrance, followed by Alexa. The teams sort out and Alexa starts with Kiana. The fans “WOO~” for Charlotte while Kiana talks some trash on Alexa. Kiana shoves Alexa, but Alexa SLAPS back! The fans cheer that! Alexa then ducks a shot to SLAP, ROCK, KNEE, and DROPKICK Kiana! Alexa runs, but Kiana gets up to KNEE low! Kiana brings Alexa around, suplexes, but Alexa tags out to Charlotte. The fans “WOO~” again and Kiana talks more trash. Charlotte slips around her, Kiana ELBOWS free, then whips, but Charlotte reverses!
Kiana hits buckles, but she ELBOWS back again! Kiana goes up and over Charlotte, then SUPERKICKS! Charlotte wobbles, Kiana runs, but into Charlotte’s BOOT! Tag to Alexa, and she gets a hand in the spin and DROPKICK! Giulia tags in, Alexa dodges but Giulia ROCKS Charlotte! Alexa ROCKS Giulia! Alexa ROCKS Kiana! But then Giulia SHOTGUNS Alexa! Giulia taunts Alexa, the ref keeps Charlotte back, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
The ref reprimands but Kiana backs off. Giulia wrenches Alexa’s hair to THROW her to the corner. Giulia stomps away on Alexa in the corner, the ref counts, but Giulia stops at 4. Giulia tags Kiana, Kiana stomps Alexa, then Kiana CLUBS Alexa. Alexa goes to another corner, Kiana whips corner to corner, and Alexa hits buckles hard! Kiana grins as she storms back up, and she bumps Alexa off buckles. Tag to Giulia and Giulia brings Alexa onto the ropes. Giulia hooks Alexa up in the ropes, and fishhooks the face! The ref counts, Giulia stops and sucker punches Charlotte! The ref stops Charlotte, Giulia DROPKICKS Alexa and Kiana BOOTS Alexa down!
Giulia ELBOW DROPS Alexa, covers, TWO! Giulia is already annoyed with the count, but she stomps away on Alexa. Giulia CLUBS Alexa, HEADBUTTS her, and HEADBUTTS again! Giulia bumps Alexa off buckles, tags Kiana, and Kiana brings Alexa around to kick a leg. Kiana taunts Alexa, but she sucker punches Charlotte! The fans give thumbs down, but Kiana snap suplexes! Charlotte protests, that distracts the ref! The ref is late to the cover, TWO! Kiana fireman’s carries Alexa, but Alexa fights to a sunset flip! TWO! Kiana stops Alexa, but she still reaches out! Kiana RAMS Alexa into the corner! And RAMS her again and again!
Kiana handsprings, runs back in, and she RAMS Alexa again! The ref counts, Giulia tags in, and Kiana snapmares Alexa to BOOT her! Giulia is up top, she MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Alexa survives, but Giulia HEADBUTTS her to the cover! Charlotte again distracts, another late count, TWO! Giulia is annoyed but she tags Kiana as SmackDown returns to single picture. Kiana sends Giulia in, but Alexa dodges! Giulia hits buckles, Alexa DUMPS Kiana out, and the fans fire up! Kiana hurries back in, she anchors Alexa’s foot, then she drags her back! Alexa ENZIGIRIS free, hot tag to Charlotte!
The fans fire up as The Queen RUNS Kiana over! And RUNS her over again! CHOP and CHOP for Kiana, CHOP and CHOP for Giulia! CHOP after CHOP, “WOO~” after “WOO~,” and then Charlotte CHOPS Giulia down! Charlotte runs up, Kiana dodges, but Charlotte keeps moving! WALK OVER LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Charlotte stalks Kiana to a corner. Charlotte whips, Kiana reverses, but Charlotte goes up and out. BOOT for Giulia, BOOT for Kiana, and then Charlotte goes up! CROSSBODY on Kiana! Cover, TWO! Kiana is tougher than that, but Charlotte stays focused. The fans rally up as Charlotte runs in, but into a BOOT!
Kiana runs up, but into a BOOT! Charlotte steps on Kiana to a corner, she and Giulia scrap, and Kiana YANKS her down! The fans boo but Charlotte still wrenches Kiana to a NECKBREAKER! Charlotte runs, but into a SIPNEBUSTER! Kiana shows her power, and she tags Giulia! Giulia KNEES Charlotte down! Cover, Alexa breaks it! The fans fire up but Giulia is furious! Kiana whips, Alexa reverses and TOSSES Kiana out! But Kiana trips Alexa! Giulia has Charlotte, Charlotte shoves free, but Giulia BOOTS her! And KICKS her! And KICKS her again! Charlotte snarls, she ducks the buzzsaw!
Charlotte shoves and ROCKS Giulia! Charlotte runs, but Giulia follows to HEADBUTT! Giulia runs, but into a BOOT! Charlotte has Giulia but Kiana tags in! Charlotte runs, Kiana KNEES her first! But Alexa tags in! Kiana runs, but into the clinch! TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL!! Cover, Charlexa wins!
Winners: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, by pinfall
Bliss proved she does have Charlotte’s back! But then Nia & Lash attack after all! They BLAST Giulia, DECK Alexa, and HEADBUTT Charlotte! And HEADBUTT her again! Nia POSTS Charlotte while the fans boo! Nia & Lash soak up the heat, but Giulia is back up! Kiana says hold on, hold on, they’re good. Giuila says she is NOT good, she wants after Nia! Miss Management has her client back off, if just for now. Will the Beautiful Madness make sure no one disrespects her and gets away with it?
Solo Sikoa speaks.
“Bo. You’re absolutely right. This is just more than a lantern. I can see the millions of fireflies across the world. They are now in my possession. Your legacy is in my hands. And if you want this lantern back, I suggest you put those tag team titles on the line. But that’s just the beginning. You see, my family is going to take back all the gold. But until then… I’m going to take real, real good care of this. And he is going to be with me when I take out Damian Priest and bring back the WWE Undisputed title to the family.” Solo then blows out the lantern, but will it be lights out for the Archer of Infamy? Or will Priest be the one headed to Saturday Night’s Main Event?
Cody Rhodes is here!
London sings along with Kingdom as The American Nightmare makes his entrance. There’s a bit more smoke than usual, but we still get “WHOA~ OH~!” and the pyro! Cody takes a moment to take in the crowd before he goes down the ramp and to the ring. Cody then stands on the corner for the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro, but even that seems different without the Undisputed Championship on his arm or around his waist. Cody grabs the mic, the fans cheer, and Cody takes a moment to hear them singing, “Cody, Cody Rhodes~!” Cody then says, “Well, that sounds a bit different. That’s okay. That’s okay.
“Because if anything, I guess it was becoming a bit… episodic. I would come out here, I would tap my fist three times, we’d all say ‘Whoa,’ I’d walk to the ring, and I’d ask you, ‘Whaddya wanna talk about?'” The fans are a bit torn there, and Cody takes a moment. The fans now sing for “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” Cody says don’t worry, they will discuss the NEW WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre. Cody never broke down why the name of his podcast is Whaddya Wanna Talk About. It was quite simple: He wasn’t just the company’s champion, he was the people’s champion. The fans are again torn, but Cody says he didn’t want the fans to be spectators, he wanted them to be teammates.
But perhaps Cody got comfortable with the episodic, with the predictable. He didn’t see all the eventualities, all the ways in which he could lose. Or, is Drew just that good? The fans agree there! Cody says he could ask himself that, or he could ask what HBK, Hogan, and Stone Cold have in common with Cody. Simple: they’re the only ones to go back-to-back in Royal Rumble wins. And only one of those names won it three times, that’s how a near impossible feat that is. And they all know Cody loves a gamble, he loves a long shot. Here in WWE, where we have the best men’s and women’s divisions, sometimes the best power you can have is self-belief.
So here and now, in a city that means a great deal to Cody, a city he wrestled in every weekend for WhatCulture Pro-Wrestling to sharpen his skills and became the American Nightmare, a city that DOES deserve a WrestleMania (the fans erupt for that!), let Cody make it official! Drew says there’s no rematch clause, good! They’ll do this the old fashioned way! Cody is officially declaring for the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match!! The fans love that, too! “So, London, what DO you wanna talk about?! Let’s talk about Jacob Fatu!” The fans are torn on that name, and Cody says he met Fatu backstage at APW, you know he’s a thoroughbred!
Cody saw Fatu VS Solo Sikoa, and you could tell Fatu was on the come up. Fatu is a young veteran in their industry. But as such, Cody is aware and positive that Fatu knows what a receipt means! And Fatu has the largest receipt coming from Cody! Fatu is all gas, no brakes, come down here and collect. Or Cody can find Fatu first and beat the brakes off his ass! The fans are fired up with Cody, but is this gambler going to bust even before we reach the Royal Rumble? Or will a fight with Fatu be just the momentum Cody needs to have his threepeat?
Backstage interview with Matt Cardona.
Cathy Kelley is with The Complete, saying he is moments away from his match with Trick Williams to qualify for the #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way. What would it mean to not only come back to the WWE but to win that title? Cardona says the way Cody lost was a shame, and Cardona was really looking forward to facing his friend for that belt. But now that it’ll be Drew McIntyre. They go way back, too. Drew’s first WWE match was with Zack Ryder. And just like Cody and Drew, Cardona left WWE to find himself, and he’s back, But while Cody and Drew are each former world champions, Cardona is not. Yet.
Cardona isn’t back just to be back, he wants his time at the top. The journey, the ups and downs, the grind, it all led back here for Cardona to be Undisputed Champion! Cardona is #AlwayZReady, but will he be able to #WhoopDatTrick? Or will the former NXT & TNA World Champion soon be headed for another top title in his young career?
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Trick Williams VS Matt Cardona!
SmackDown returns as Trick continues to vibe with London. Then the fans cheer as Cardona makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans rally and duel already. The two circle, tie up, then break. Cardona smirks, Trick flexes, and the two go again. Trick waistlocks, spins Cardona, then pie faces Cardona! Trick talks trash, but Cardona RAMS him into a corner! Trick bobs ‘n’ weaves, then he pie faces again! Trick says he runs this house, dawg! But Cardona ROCKS Trick, ROCKS him again, then fires hands in the corner! The ref counts, Cardona backs off, but Trick KNEES low! Trick scoops and SLAMS, then snarls as he checks his chin.
Trick tells Cardona not to mess with him! Trick RUNS Cardona over! The fans are torn but Trick talks trash. Cardona rises up, he dodges the tackle, but Trick CLUBS the backdrop away. Trick pie faces, then runs, but Cardona DROPKICKS him! Then clinch and FLATLINER! Trick staggers up, Cardona LARIATS him up and out! The fans fire up with Cardona, and he builds speed to WRECK Trick with a dropkick! Cardona then aims from the apron, MISSILE DROPKICK to the floor! The fans rally up again and Cardona grits his teeth while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Cardona drags Trick up, puts him in the ring, but Trick bails back out. Cardona goes to the ropes, and he drags Trick up by his hair! But Trick trips Cardona up! Trick drags Cardona out to THROW him into barriers! Trick talks trash, then FLAPJACKS Cardona off the apron! Trick fires up, then he brings Cardona up to put him in the ring. Cardona goes to a corner, Trick storms up on him, and he ROCKS Cardona. The ref reprimands, but Trick CHOPS Cardona. Then ROCKS him again! Trick hears the fans cheer and jeer, and he talks some smack on them now. Trick UPPERCUTS Cardona and Cardona slumps against ropes.
Trick whips Cardona, FLAPJACKS again, then kips up! Trick says he runs this house, then he storms up on Cardona at the ropes. Trick CHOKES Cardona, the ref counts, but Trick stops at 4. Cardona coughs and goes to a corner, Trick digs his boots in, but the ref counts. Trick stops at 4, snarls, then he whips Cardona corner to corner! Then a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Trick keeps Cardona down with a chinlock, but the fans rally while Cardona endures. Cardona fights up, fires body shots and CHOPS, but Trick LEG LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Trick rains down forearms and Cardona can barely guard!
Trick drags Cardona back into the chinlock and he squeezes tight. The fans rally as Cardona endures again, and Cardona fights up. JAWBREAKAER! Trick rebounds, but Cardona dodges to then ROLLING ELBOW! Trick pushes Cardona back, Cardona avoids the sweep but not the EDDY GORDO KICK! Cardona wobbles, but he comes back to BOOT Trick! Trick comes back, but Cardona catches the leg lariat to SAIDO! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Trick crawls, Cardona rises, and the fans duel. Trick is in a corner, Cardona runs up, forearm SMASH! Cardona fires shots, soaks up cheers and jeers, then goes side to side for the BROSKI BOOT!
Cardona then ZIGZAGS! Shoutout to his pal, Nic Nemeth, then covers, TWO! Trick survives but Cardona underhooks him! Trick fights the lift, BACKDROPS, but Cardona sunset flips it to high stack! TWO!! Trick escapes, runs up, but the splash misses! Trick slumps down, Cardona goes for another, but Trick avoids the boot! Trick wags his finger, but then Cardona just WRECKS him with another dropkick! Cardona hurries to fetch Trick into the ring while the fans still duel. Trick runs back up, SLINGSHOTS Cardona into the ring, then TRICK KICK! Cover, TWO!! Cardona survives but Trick gets the arm.
The fans rally up, Trick cartwheels to RIPCORD, and BOOK- DDT!! Cardona turns things around, goes to the corner, and he runs up, ROUGH- NO, Trick pops free! Trick runs up, but into KNEES! Cardona goes up, lines up the shot, but Trick avoids another one! Both men run, and Trick POUNCES Cardona?! The fans fire up and Trick takes aim again! Cardona staggers up, TRICK SHOT!! Cover, Trick wins!
Winner: Trick Williams, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
A hard fought match for the first-time-ever, and Mr. Whoop Dat punches his ticket to Montreal! Will Trick soon win his first Saturday Night’s Main Event to- “Hey, Kit. Are you there?” The fans fire up for Mr. Masculinity Detox! Kit steps past Trick and Cardona, to then BLINDSIDE Cardona! The fans boo as Kit sends Cardona into the steel steps! Kit says, “TOXIC! TOXIC! TOXIC!” London goes back to cheering as the song continues, but will Kit make himself the topic no matter where he goes?
Backstage interview with Damian Priest.
Cathy Kelley is now with the Archer of Infamy, and brings up his chance at Drew McIntyre and the Undisputed Championship. But that means going through Solo Sikoa first. How do you prepare for such an opportunity? Priest says he could go on and on about Drew, there’s a lot of history there. He won’t get ahead of himself, tonight is about Solo. Facing Solo 1v1 isn’t an issue. But is it going to be 1v1? Priest doesn’t think so. But Priest will remind us that in London, he became Senor Money in the Bank. So tonight, Solo, MFT, if Priest has to do 1vALL again, he’ll do it. Priest has to get past this and get at Drew. So tonight, it’s whatever it takes.
Priest heads out, will he make sure no one stops him on his path back to the top? Or will Solo use The Outlaw as an example to all of the WWE Universe?
SmackDown returns and…
Kit is still in the ring with a mic,. “You all know that I’m right! You know there’s a problem! And I’m the solution. So I will say it again. I will let the whole world know. you all need reassurance, you all need leadership. you all need ME!” The fans cheer that, but then FATU slips in behind Kit! Kit says he is the tonic to the toxic masculinity, he is KIT! WIL-SON! But he turns around into a SUPERKICK! The Samoan Werewolf is raging, the fans are torn, but Fatu dares Cody and/or Drew to show up! SENTON on Kit, then a MIGHTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Kit flounders away, the fans are still torn, but now Fatu grabs a mic.
“YADADA MEAN!?” The fans cheer that! Fatu tells Cody, “You got something to say about me?! You have something to say TO me? Well check this out! Bring your punk ass out here right now!” Fatu throws off his vest, and Cody makes his entrance again! Cody is in his tracksuit but that comes off pretty quick, too! The American Nightmare and Samoan Werewolf start throwing hands and the fans fire up! Cody hammers away in the corner, but Fatu RAMS him into another corner! Security rushes out here but fans boo! “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” Aldis hurries out here, and he wants them both to stop!
The fans cheer as Cody breaks free! Cody CLOBBERS Fatu, everyone falls over, and SmackDown goes back to break! What must Aldis do to restore order?
BREAKING NEWS!
Now set for Saturday Night’s Main Event, it will be Cody Rhodes VS Jacob Fatu! Will Montreal survive the American Nightmare and Samoan Werewolf tearing it up?
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa w/ MFT!
The Archer of Infamy and the would-be Tribal Chief have said their piece, and now they must back those words up with actions. Will Priest defy the odds as Solo isn’t solo out here? Or will Solo, waving the Wyatt lantern as he walks out here, lead by example for his family?
The bell rings and Solo circles with Priest. They tie up, Solo headlocks, and Solo talks trash. Priest powers up and out, they RAM shoulders, and Priest rebounds to RAM Solo! Solo staggers, but he and Priest reset. They tie up, but Solo kicks low! And HEADBUTTS! Solo ROCKS Priest, whips him to ropes, but Priest reverses to BACK ELBOW! Priest mule kicks Solo, reels him in, but Solo fights the lift. Solo UPPERCUTS, but Priest SUPERKICKS! Solo tumbles out, MFT is there to check on him, but Priest pursues. The fans fire up as Priest runs up, but MFT stands in the way! The fans boo, the ref tells MFT tos tay back, and Priest goes back tot he apron.
Solo runs up,b ut Priest dodges! Solo still avoids the roundhouse and he BOOTS Priest down! The ref wants Solo to back off, but now MFT mugs Priest! The fans boo, JC Mateo pretends to be shocked, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Solo goes out to fetch Priest, SMACK him off the desk, and put him in the ring. Solo soaks up heat, HEADBUTTS Priest down, then HEADBUTTS him again and again! Solo stalks Priest to ropes, kicks him out, then pursues. MFT backs up so Solo can SMACK Priest off the desk again! Solo soaks up more heat, winds up, but Priest clinches! FLATLINER on the desk! The ring count is climbing but Priest puts Solo in at 5 of 10. Priest then winds up to UPPERCUT! Solo wobbles, Priest powers up the arm, and he runs to COME- NO, Solo ducks, shoves, and SAMOAN DROPS! Cover, TWO! Priest survives and Solo frowns.
Solo motions that he’s gonna be champion, and he rains down fists in the corner. The ref counts, Solo stops at 4, and he soaks up more heat. Solo runs corner to corner, HIP ATTACK! Priest sputters in the corner, Solo soaks up more heat, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Solo aims again, he runs back in, and HIP ATTACKS! Priest sputters again and the fans duel. Solo smirks as he goes corner to corner again, and mocks Jey Uso with the “Run it back” motion. Solo runs back in, but Priest is up! WHEEL KICK! Priest hits that just in time, and JC shields the imaginary eyes of the lantern from that collision.
Solo and Priest go back to corners while the fans rally up. Priest huffs ‘n’ puffs and fires up! Priest and Solo stare down, run up, and they RAM shoulders! Then they fire haymakers back and forth! The fans duel, Priest KICKS, Solo ROCKS, and the hands keep firing off! Solo gets the edge, but Priest avoids the last shot to BELL CLAP! Then he KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! ROLLING ELBOW! Priest then winds up again, but Solo HEADBUTTS! Priest ROUNDHOUSES! Solo rebounds to SUPERKICK! Priest staggers, but he SPIN KICKS! Solo stays up, Priest SPIN KICKS again! Solo rebounds, Priest ducks ‘n’ dodges, then LEAPING LARIATS!
The fans fire up with Priest while Solo goes to a corner. Priest runs up, BACK ELBOW! Priest keeps moving, but Solo fireman’s carries! Priest slips free, ELEVATED FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, MFT coaches Solo, but Priest goes to the corner. Priest climbs up, but Solo distracts the ref. Talla reaches out to trip Priest up! The fans boo but the ref wonders what happened. The ref puts two and two together, and he EJECTS Talla! The fans cheer, Talla is mad, but Solo hurries up after Priest! Fireman’s carry, but Priest slips free! Priest has the crucifix! RAZOR’S EDGE on Solo! Cover, TWO!! Solo survives and MFT is relieved.
Priest sighs but he just brings down the straps. The fans fire up as Priest aims, but Tama Tonga distracts! The fans boo, but Loa gets on the apron! Priest runs Loa off, but Solo prepares his own right hand! Priest avoids the spike, COMEBACK- SPINNING SOLO!! Solo goes up the corner, FLYING SOLO!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Priest survives, but Solo- OH NO! The Wyatts are here!! The lights go out, the fans go nuts, and when the lights are back, the Wyatts are BEHIND MFT! JC, Loa and Tama turn around, and then Howdy, Gacy & Lumis JUMP on them! The fans fire up as the factions fight all around ringside, Nikki Cross cheering her brothers on!
Things spill out into the crowd, Howdy RAMS JC into the post, then TOSSES JC into security staff! Howdy sees the lantern, but Solo CLOBBERS Howdy first! The fans boo, but Solo brings the lantern to the ring. The ref reprimands, Solo sets the lantern down, but Priest guzels! SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest wins!!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
Solo’s obsession with tearing down the Wyatt legacy just cost him his own chance at glory! Saturday Night’s Main Event is now wepa, but will The Archer of Infamy hit the mark in Montreal? Meanwhile, Howdy laughs as he takes the lantern back. But TALLA is back! And he BOOTS Howdy down! The fans boo but Talla takes the lantern back for MFT. Will the Wyatts have no choice but to put those titles on the line in exchange?
Sami Zayn heads for gorilla.
And on the way, he crosses paths with Drew McIntyre. Drew tells Sami that he heard what Sami said last week. Sami hoped that Drew would win, but thought Cody would? Well, lucky Sami isn’t a betting man, or he’d lose big, as usual. Sami says he meant what he said, a part of him did want Drew to win, and that part of him is happy Drew did win. Because now, Sami is going to go to war with Ilja Dragunov, and win. Then next week, in Sami’s hometown of Montreal, Sami will become #1 contender. And then at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, they’ll see each other again.
Oh, really inspiring, Sami, but here’s the truth: Drew has beaten Sami ELEVEN times, Sami has beaten Drew ZERO times. And if Sami does happen to make it to the Rumble, absolutely nothing changes. Sami says, “We’ll see.” Sami continues on, will he be able to defeat the Mad Russian and head home to Montreal? Or will he fall short of his world championship dreams yet again?
WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes VS ???
Speaking of championship dreams, it is another opportunity for someone, anyone, to step up to H1M! Who will go for gold in London? We find out, after the break.
SmackDown returns, London cheers on “MEL~O! MEL~O!” But who is answering the call? It’s TNA X-Division Champion and the star of Bradford, England, LEON SLATER! The fans fire up for their guy, but will the Youngest In Charge soon be a double champion? The introductions are made, the US title is raised, and we see who hits the game winner!
The bell rings and the two run up! They tie up, go around, and Melo headlocks. Melo hits the headlock takeover, Leon headscissors, Melo kips free. Roles reverse as Leon hits the headlock takeover for Melo to headscissor. Leon kips free, Melo turns things back around with another headlock, but Leon powers up and puts Melo in the corner. The ref counts, Leon backs off, and the fans applaud as Leon whips. Melo reverses, Leon goes up and over, but Melo turns hip toss into hip toss and lateral press! TWO and Leon has the ghost pin! TWO, Leon stands, dodges Melo, but Melo blocks! Melo dodges, then hits the FADE AWAY JUMPER!
The fans fire up as Melo then brings Leon up. Melo CHOPS, ROCKS, and CHOPS again. Leon ROCKS Melo back! The fans rally up as Leon runs to CHOP Melo in the corner! Leon shakes out his hand, that’s how hard he hit Melo! But Melo kicks Leon, CHOPS again, and the fans fire up. Melo whips, Leon reverses, but Melo rolls off the back. But Melo’s leg jams! Leon hesitates, but Melo says bring it. Leon runs up, Melo dodges to waistlock, but Leon bucks the O’Conner! Melo blocks one kick, ducks the enzigiri, but that REWIND HEEL hits! The fans fire up, Leon whips but Melo reverses, only for Leon to handspring back elbow!
Melo bails out, Leon aims, PLANCHA! Down goes Melo and the fans fire up! Leon puts Melo in, he goes up the corner, and Melo hobbles up into the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Melo is still in this, but the fans sing, “Leon Slater, DOO DOO DOODOO!” Leon is feeling it, Melo applauds, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Leon and Melo circle, though that bad leg is still a problem. Melo shakes it out, he and Leon go again, and Melo waistlocks. Leon switches, they go to the mat, and Leon body scissors for a GEDO CLUTCH! TWO, and Melo is up! Leon hurries after him, but Melo ELBOWS Leon away. Melo reels Leon in, suplexes, then floats to a cover, TWO! Melo takes his kneepad down to check his knee, and Leon crawls to ropes while the fans rally up. Melo stalks Leon, has him in a corner, and he climbs up. Melo rains down fists, gives a little forearm grind instead of the six-seven, then he snapmares Leon. But Leon’s right up to CHOP!
Melo flops to the apron, Leon brings him up, but Melo RAMS Leon! Melo hobbles but runs, only for Leon to blow past him! Melo hurdles, ducks, and then DROPKICKS! But even that wasn’t the best, and he shakes the leg out. Leon slowly rises, the fans rally more, and both men stand. Melo hobbles over to Leon, brings him up, and reels him in again. Leon fights the suplex, Melo still tries, but Leon pops free! Leon shoves and DROPKICKS Melo down! Cover, TWO! Melo is toughing it out but Leon still has the fans behind him. Leon stands Melo up, whips him to ropes, but Melo reveres. Leon handsprings, but Melo dodges!
Leon avoids the Jumper again, then he follows Melo! INVERTED SPANISH FLY! The fans fire up while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as SmackDown returns to single picture and both men slowly rise. Melo is up first, he gets Leon to his feet, and he CHOPS! Leon snarls and he CHOPS again! Leon then brings Melo up, but Melo ROCKS Leon! Leon staggers, comes back, and he ROCKS Melo! Melo CHOPS, whips, but Leon reverses to BOOT! Melo is at the ropes, but he avoids the sweep! LA MYSTICA! And then the suplex, LAYUP CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Leon survives and the fans rally up while Melo grits his teeth.
Melo waits on Leon to rise up, then he storms up in the corner. Melo whips, Leon stops himself, and he stops the First 48! Melo fights the crab, reels Leon in, TWO! But then Leon LEG LARIATS Melo down! Cover, TWO! Melo survives the sudden turnaround but Leon stays cool. Leon drags Melo to a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Melo goes to the apron. Leon just adjusts, then leaps, but Melo dodges! Melo CHOPS Leon, but Leon fireman’s carries! Melo slips free, the leg jams, and Leon avoids the shoulder! GUILLOTINE LEG DROP in the ropes! Leon then goes back to the corner, springboards, but Melo slips around! Sunset flip, TWO!
Leon sits on the cover, TWO! Melo has it, TWO! Leon has it, TWO! ONE! ONE! And repeat! both men stand, the fans fi reup, and Leon SPIKE-RANAS! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives and the fans fire up again! Then Melo SUPERKICKS! Leon goes to the corner, Melo runs up, but Leon puts him on the apron. Melo’s leg jams again! Leon just builds speed corner to corner! Leon FLIES over the post!! Down goes Melo and the fans are thunderous! Leon puts Melo in fast, goes up the corner, and the fans are on his side! SWANTON- NO, Melo moves and Leon FLOPS! Melo hits the FIRST 48! Cover, TWO!! Leon survives and the fans fire up again!
Melo is frustrated, his leg is hurting, but he elbows Leon off him. “This is Awesome!” as Melo goes back up the corner. Leon hurries to anchor a foot, but Melo CLUBS away on Leon. Leon UPPERCUTS Melo, then climbs back up. Leon and Melo fight for control up there, and they’re on the very top! Melo hits a SUPER LAYUP CUTTER!! Cover, MELO WINS!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall (still WWE United States Championship)
A standing ovation as two young icons just put on an instant classic, and Melo gives respect to Leon. This was the first time they’ve fought, will there be many more in the years to come?
Shinsuke Nakamura watches this backsatge.
But then Tama Tonga calls him out. Tama says Nakamura is looking at the US title, but the next chance doesn’t belong to him. Nakamura took his shot, and he blew it. Once MFT takes the tag titles, that US Championship is Tama’s. Nakamura and Tama do go way back, so this is Nakamura’s one and only warning: Stay out of Tama’s way. Nakamura tells Tama in Japanese that he knows their history, but he warns Tama in return that he better be ready to fight for what he wants. Will the Good Bad Guy bring the US title to MFT? Or will the King of Strong Style get another chance?
Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae walk ‘n’ talk backstage.
Johnny Wrestling looks at the Axiom mask he stole and he still can’t believe “those dorks” fell for it last week. Who even wears turtlenecks? But Axiom steps in and says he’ll be the better man. He wants to save Gargano from a beating, so just hand the mask over. Oh, Gargano doesn’t have the mask. He hands it to Candice, she hurries off, and Axiom tells Gargano to grow up. Gargano says if Axiom will excuse them, they’re gonna do married people things. Laters. Wait, another Axiom? This one DECKS Gargano, and surprise! It was Frazer! Oh, another surprise is that Frazer talked with Aldis. Next week, it is Gargano VS Frazer, 1v1.
And after Frazer beats Gargano, his amigo will do the same and take that mask back. So enjoy it while you still can. Fraxiom high-fives and heads out, will they get their revenge on Gargano one way or another?
Jordynne Grace VS Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre!
The Juggernaut chose SmackDown because of all the names she’d love to beat down. She already handled “Slaygent A,” will she bring down The Hot Mess next? Or will even she have to pledge her allegiance to Chelsea Green?
SmackDown returns and Jade Cargill is ringside to watch this. The Storm has put Chelsea and Jordynne on notice, will her presence do that tonight? Jordynne makes her entrance now, and the bell rings. Chelsea runs up to tie up with Grace, but she SHOVES Cheslea away! Chelsea gets up to SLAP Grace, and SLAP and SLAP again! Grace just brushes those off, then SLAPS back! Chelsea wobbles, Grace whips her, and then SPINEBUSTER! Grace hauls Chelsea up, reels her in, and the fans rally as Grace claps using chelsea’s back. Grace hits a stalling suplex, then she SLAMS Chelsea down! The fans cheer, Grace covers, TWO!
Grace clamps onto Chelsea, fireman’s carries, but Chelsea slips free to RAM her into buckles! Chelsea salutes, BOOTS Grace into the corner, then Alba SUPERKICKS Grace behind the ref’s back! Chelsea runs, slides, and THROWS Grace down! Cover, ONE!! Chelsea is furious already, and she drags Grace up. Chelsea whips Grace to the corner, salutes again, and the fans are torn as she runs in. Grace slips around to RAM Chelsea into buckles! ANd again, and again! Backslide, roll through, and short arm LARIAT! Short arm LARIAT! And- NO, Chelsea slips aroudn to waistlock. Grace ELBOWS free, then she ROCKS Cheslea!
Grace ELBOWS, LARIATS, then roars! the fans fire up and Grace runs in, but she blocks a boto firsT! Then a wrench and MUFFLER PLEX! Grace shouts fo rChelsea to ger up. Chelase stands, Grace fireman’s carries, DIRECT EFFECT! Jackknife bridge, Grace wins!
Winner: Jordynne Grace, by pinfall
A new move for her new win streak, but Jade just golf claps Grace’s win. Grace grabs a mic, and she says, “Hey, champ. I’m glad that you came out here tonight to watch me. It’s extremely important that you know exactlly waht’s coming fo ryou.” The fans are torn, but Grace says if watching was just enough, that’s fine. But if Jade’s tired of babysitting that title, then step into the ring right here, right now! The fans fire up as Jade stands up! Jade goes to the ring and says Grace msut be stupid. But then Chelsea runs up! Grace dodges, Cheslea BLASTS Jade!! Chelsea is shocked, but also dazed, and Grace picks up the belt.
Grace smiles as she holds up THE WWE Women’s Championship, before she throws it back to Jade. Jade says, “Bet!” When and where will these forces of nature battle it out?
Backstage interview with Trick Williams.
Cathy congratulates him on his win tonight, and says he didn’t just ease his way onto SmackDown, he jumped into the deep end. What does this mean to him that he is headed to Saturday Night’s Main Event for a #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way? Trick says let this be a warning: he is putting all of SmackDown on notice! All you bums, bobbleheads and bootlickers, know that Trick is that dawg! Trick looks like money, he feels like money, because Trick IS money. And he wants a special shoutout to Randy Orton and Damian Priest! Congrats, you have a match with the future of this business, let’s talk about it! And hold on. He might be Whoop Dat Trick, but on Saturday, he whoops dat ass.
Cathy says yes, she was going to add- Oh, Priest steps in. Trick is the guy who does a lot of talking. Priest doesn’t. You already know what’s up on SNME. But Trick’s free on Friday, right? So is Priest. And Priest is ready to whoop dat Trick. Priest heads out, will he have quite the appetizer with Trick when SmackDown arrives in Montreal?
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Sami Zayn VS Ilja Dragunov!
We saw these two battle over the United States Championship, and #BigMatchSami lost the title to the returning Mad Russian Dragon. But now, they fight for a much bigger prize on this Road to WrestleMania! Will Sami make up for that loss and join that Fatal 4 Way? Or will Ilja continue to rise up the ranks and be one match away from taking over the world?
SmackDown returns as Sami makes his entrance. The fans sing along with the song and Sami high-fives the front row along the ramp. The bell rings and the fans fire up as Sami and Ilja stare down. They step up, and they start firing forearms! The fans rally up as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster! Sami fires a flurry, but then Ilja CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Then SPIN CHOP! CHOP to the leg! BOOT! Ilja runs, but into a LARIAT! The fans fire up while Ilja goes to ropes and Sami catches his breath. Sami storms up on Ilja to CHOP! Ilja just eggs him on! Sami CHOPS, fire more forearms, then stops as the ref counts.
Ilja KNEES low, fires more forearms, then whips. Sami reverses, Ilja reverses back, but Sami goes up and over! Sami runs up, Ilja BOOTS him, then JUMP KICKS! The fans fire up with Ilja, and he stands Sami up to bump him off buckles. Ilja CHOPS, then runs corner to corner. Ilja KNEES low, keeps moving, and he BOOT WASHES! Ilja snapmares Sami down, then hops up, KING KONG KNEE DROP! The fans fire up and Ilja goes up again! KING KONIG- NO, Sami dodges! Sami then kicks Iljia and suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO! Ilja is still fighting and the fans rally back up.
Sami stands Ilja up to CHOP! Ilja goes to a corner, Sami ROCKS him, and the fans cheer. Sami ROCKS Ilja again, has him in a corner, and CHOPS! Sami reels Ilja in, whips him to ropes, but Ilja KNEES Sami! Then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ilja holds on and he talks some smack while the fans rally. Sami stands, switches, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ilja headlocks in return as Sami stands him back up. Ilja then pries the waistlock open, switches, but Sami switches. They switch and switch and switch, then Ilja SNAP GERMANS! The fans cheer, Ilja goes back to the corner, and Ilja rises up, only for Sami to CHOP!
The fans cheer and sing for “Sami, Sami Zayn~!” but Ilja fires body shots. Sami CLUBS Ilja again and again, then goes up to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down and the fans cheer again while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Sami and Ilja both stir, and Sami crawls over to Ilja. Sami brings Ilja up with a facelock, but Ilja wrenches out to waistlock. Sami fights the lift, but Ilja CLUBS him and HAMMERS him, then pump handles for an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Sami survives, but Ilja SLIDING FOREARMS in the back! Ilja ELBOWS and CLUBS Sami again and again, then stalks him to ropes. The fans rally up, and Ilja stomps Sami at the ropes. The ref counts, Ilja BOOTS Sami, then SLAPS him! Sami sputters, but he comes back to SLAP Ilja! Ilja and Sami make it a SLAP fight, then Sami fires haymakers! DDT! Cover, TWO! Ilja stays in this, but Sami stays cool.
Sami checks his teeth, they’re all there. Sami stands, Ilja crawls to ropes, but it’s Ilja who eggs Sami on! Sami stomps a mudhole into Ilja at the ropes! The ref counts, Sami stops at 4, but the fans rally up again. Sami huffs ‘n’ puffs and brings Ilja around. Sami goes for the corner but Ilja wants the leg! Ilja eggs Sami on, Sami HAMMERS Ilja down! Sami busts Ilja’s eyebrow open! Ilja sputters, Sami goes to the apron, and the fans rally up again. SmackDown returns to single picture as Sami rises, but Ilja SLAPS him! Ilja SLAPS again, climbs up, and he fires up again! The fans are with Ilja on that, but Sami gets some shots to the chin!
Sami CLUBS Ilja, then adjusts position, SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ilja survives and the fans fire up again! Sami is beside himself, but he hurries to get after Ilja at the ropes. Sami drags Ilja up, around, but Ilja stops the Blue Thunder with elbows! Ilja runs, but Sami reels him back in! Ilja slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, CONSTANTINE SPECIAL! The fans fire up while both men flounder! Ilja goes to a corner, goes up top, and he aims to go COAST2COAST! Sami falls, Ilja covers, TWO!! Sami survives and now Ilja is stunned! The fans rally again while Sami is down. Ilja winds up, H-BOMB- BOOT!!
The fans fire up as Sami counters the falling forearm! Both men stagger to their feet, then Sami clinches! But Ilja fights off the exploder! Sami ROCKS Ilja, Ilja springs up to ENZIGIRI! Ilja has Sami in the corner, he runs corner to corner and LARIATS! Ilja runs corne rto ocrner again, another LARIAT! Ilja goes for a third, but he ducks Sami’s Helluva Kick! Ilja knew that trick and Sami crashes into buckle! They both go to the apron, and Ilja fireman’s carries. Sami fights free, HEADBUTTS Ilja, and Ilja staggers back. But then TORPEDO MOSCOW!! Both men fall to the floor! The fans rally while the ring count climbs!
Ilja rises at 5 of 10, rolls in at 7, and Sami sputters at 8. Sami rises at 9, and leaps in at 9.99! But Ilja is on him! POWERBOMB! Ilja goes up, up, and SUPER SENTONS but onto KNEES! Not the cleanest counter, but Sami clinches Ilja! BUCKLE EXPLODER! The fans fire up with Sami, he runs corner to corner, HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Sami wins!!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
And with that, our #1 contender’s Fatal 4 is set! Orton, Trick, Priest, and Sami! But then Trick CLOBBERS Sami from behind! The fans boo but Trick lets his hair down and goes wild! Trick aims again, TRICK SHOT!! Sami is down, Trick stands over him, and he soaks up all that heat. But will Trick be able to whoop three decorated superstars at once? Or will Sami’s journey to the top finally be fulfilled in Montreal?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for SmackDown, a lot of action that also helped in the various story builds. Drew McIntyre had a great opening promo, but they also segued really well into Orton VS Miz as the opener. We also got a very good promo from Cody, and of course he wants to threepeat at the Royal Rumble. It was wild for Kit Wilson to go after Matt Cardona to give Fatu an opening to attack and then call out Cody in return. Very good brawl from Fatu and Cody, and Cody VS Fatu for Saturday Night’s Main Event is going to be great. If Drew didn’t do the attack, will Cody win against Fatu and reveal it was him all along?
Good promo from Charlexa with Nia & Lash, and then a very good tag match. Good win for Charlexa, but at least Giulia and Kiana got a bit better of a showing. But of course Lash & Nia attacked after, and now all three teams have beef. With Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez as contenders from Raw, we’ll definitely get separate contenders for SmackDown now to parallel. Then it’ll be about Rhea & Iyo trying to survive both challenges, perhaps to build up the go-home week to Royal Rumble. If Liv & Roxie actually win, then the SmackDown team stands no chance, no matter who it is, because Liv & Roxie wouldn’t be transitional champions.
Very good stuff from Grace, Chelsea, and Jade, and I wonder if they’d give us a Triple Threat of Jade VS Grace VS Chelsea. Chelsea would definitely be the one to take the loss to keep both Jade and Grace strong, regardless of who wins. But at the same time, we’d still need a proper 1v1 of Jade VS Grace for the title to settle the feud. Good promo with Fraxiom getting payback on Gargano and setting up Frazer VS Gargano and Axiom VS Gargano. Absolutely awesome US Championship from Melo VS Leon, I did not think they’d go that hard, but it was greatly appreciated. Melo selling bad leg is definitely foreshadowing how he eventually loses that title, though it might not be for some time.
And of course, great stuff in all four SNME qualifier matches, even with all the results being how I expected. As I said last week, a shame that Cardona had to lose here, but Trick is getting on a roll already. Orton VS Miz was a great opening, and Sami VS Ilja was an awesome main event. Trick going after Sami kinda foreshadows Sami winning out in the end, as Sami VS Drew is definitely a great choice for the Royal Rumble, too. It really is a story of “Something’s gotta give.” Drew pointed out the 11-0 record between him and Sami, but Drew has/wants to make it through his first title defense, it could come down to Drew using shenanigans like he did to dethrone Cody.
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.15.26
TNA had some time to cook up their big debut. Did they burn it, or make a succulent feast?
AMC era has begun! Granted it’s not without a big loss, being The Rascalz seem to be headed to AEW. Which honestly I’m conflicted. If it was their decision because the money was astronomical, then I can’t fault TNA for not being able to compete with the TK Bank Account. But if TNA didn’t even try and let them walk for money that could’ve been negotiated…then TNA fumbled harder than CJ Stroud. Jake Something is a non-factor, but The Rascalz could be a big mistake.
WOAH! @AJStylesOrg and @FrankieKazarian come face to face on #TNAiMPACT on @AMC_TV! pic.twitter.com/CSh7IpV5ex
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2026
Ratings:
- Elijah & The Hardyz vs Order 4: Jeff wins via Swanton Bomb – *
- TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: The IInspiration (c) vs The Elegance Brand: Maggie wins via pinfall – (-) *** – TITLE CHANGE!!!
- TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs Mike Santana: Santana wins via Spin the Block – *** 3/4 – TITLE CHANGE!!!
Results:
AJ Styles comes out to kick off TNA episodes on a new network. He walks out to the WWE theme, makes a quick hype promo, doesn’t interact with anyone aside from the crowd. Definitely feels like more could’ve been done with AJ, but it was nice to see him.
Elijah & The Hardyz vs Order 4
The Hardyz come out with some guitar guy, Justin Lyonz or something…BDE and another streamer buddy? Definitely already feels overbooked just on the intro.
Order 4 tries to start fast but things back fire quickly and…this is starting off like an old episode of like WCW Thunder. Just messy overbooked intros, hot start into a commercial. 13 minutes in and it’s not a good start. Coming back from the commercial, Ali had the advantage but then Jeff Hardy is turning it around, all the apron dwellers are down. Ali tries the Rolling Neckbreaker, Jeff catches him with a Twist of Fate. Tasha tries to get in the way, Ali gets shoved into her, Matt hits the Twist of Tasha draped over Ali…shmoz spot. The Great Hands actually turn things around after the pinfall break, but Elijah stops them with some Mule Kick action, into a Twist from Matt and Swanton from Jeff. I think we saw maybe 3 minutes of this and it was all just cliche chaos crap.
Loser Agent Zero attacks after the fact…even though Elijah laid him out last week and the luster is off of Zero. He’s a joke. The Righteous come out to make a…Save? Dutch hits Death Walks on Matt and Vincent pulls out…a pad lock or something and then chains Jeff to the post via his eat gauge. This is…an embarrassing mess of crap just happening. If this is anyone’s first episode, I apologize for the Crash TV whiplash effect of this so far.
20 minutes of worthless D List Star spotting that leads to a comedy spot with Ryan Nemeth (which is fine, I love Ryan) but then it goes into Santino finding a new General Manager type because he’s been compromised. And it’s…Sonya Deville with Daria Rae as her new gimmick name. She comes out as the heel “management” type who wants to get rid of Santino. And…she apparently signed Elayna Black. Yikes, back to back no one cares reveals. Sonya Deville and Cora Jade. Cora’s hot, but wrestling competence…ya that’s non-existent.
I can almost tolerate Sonya since she’s supposed to come out and be a heel immediately, so the lack of current love, buzz and pop, is fine. But bringing Cora Jade along like she’s anything more than eye candy is…pathetic. It has been 30 minutes since the last actual wrestling match happened.
WHY DO WE GO INTO ANOTHER GOOFBALL TALK SEGMENT?!?!? The Elegance Brand, with Perez Hilton…has he even been relevant since like 2008? What is this? I get that it’s a dumb shtick before the match but STOP TALKING. This…Mr Elegance thing is complete garbage.
TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: The IInspiration (c) vs The Elegance Brand
The IInspiration comes down to stop the awful segment and as soon as things start we cut to commercial again. WHY. M has control cause of course the heels are in control until Cassie gets the knees up and M crashes and burns on the Moonsault. Jessie hot tag, lays out both Elegance members. She dispatches of M, Armbar Suplex on Heather but the Concierge pulls out Jessie. Jessie blocks the numbers game but eats combination kicks from Heather. They go for their Bow and Arrow, Stomp combo but Cassie shoves off Heather, IInspiration double teams M, Mr Elegance hops on the apron and gets slapped.
This is a sloppy mess of over booked gimmicked garbage. Idolizer on Maggie but interference for days and Maggie gets the pin and the…I don’t care. Get rid of these titles. I love Maggie, but this is pathetic and the fact we need NXT tag teams to flesh out a contender bracket is sad. What the actual FUCK is this episode? This feels like a fever dream.
TNA International Champion @Stacks_WWE and @AriannaGraceWWE take plenty of shots at @milanmiracle ahead of #TNAGenesis! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/9V2wMk3zlk
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2026
Jesus, okay the Visa issue is legit because I know there’s problems in e-sports and other professional mediums. But now Lei Ying Lee comes out because her title match becomes an Open Challenge because Dani can’t compete at Genesis. ZaRuca comes out, and I don’t care who challenge Lei, but I swear if TNA makes Lei drop the title to an NXT wrestler again. Sol actually says Zaria deserves the shot, which surprises Zaria…kind of a nice moment. But still…I swear, no more NXT wrestlers taking TNA gold.
Christ on a crutch, another talking segment. The System has to say stuff because Dango is retiring on Saturday, but come the hell on. So far there have been 2 matches, we saw 3 minutes of the first one, some people missed the entire second match because AMC ran back to back commercial breaks. But even seeing it, there’s was about 4 minutes of interference in that match. 90 minutes so far, and there’s been 7 minutes of visible wrestling. They’ve done garbage shows like this before, but I was hoping they would know better than to give us some gum flapping imbecile show. But NOOO.
TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs Mike Santana
Collar and Elbow tie up, Kaz tries the early Chicken Wing, but Santana fights it off and tries to catch him with a Spin the Block, but easily dodged and we reset. Santana hits the Shoulder Tackle and the crowd pops probably because it’s actually wrestling for what feels like the first time all night. Frankensteiner sends Frankie to the floor, Escalera Plancha from Santana keeps Kaz on the receiving end. Santana launches off the steps but misses and Kaz connects with a Belly to Belly.
Back from yet another terribly timed commercial, we see Kaz get shoved off the ropes, Santana tries the Rolling Buck Fifty, but Kaz connects with a Backstabber. He then decides to talk smack to Santana and big brother him. Santana absorbs Kaz’s shots, fires and then throws his own haymakers. Santana going a little Sting with a big Woo, catches Kaz’s foot and then Gamengiri. Kaz cuts him off, Santana cuts off Kaz, Rolling Buck Fifty out of the up and over, but only a 2 count.
Kaz claws the eyes, shoves Santana away, but Santana climbs the buckles again, Spanish Fly, no sell, into a struggle for signature moves when Santana snaps off a Code Red for another near fall. Santana takes too long to go for the Cannonball, knees up, Kaz hits the Angel’s Wings for two. Chicken Wing attempt two, but Santana rolls over into the pinfall, Kaz kicks out. A little cat and mouse on the Guillotine, but Slingshot Cutter into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop for two again!
Frankie tries to bring in the belt, it gets taken away, finisher counters, Fighting Spirit, Spin the Block misses, Kaz goes for a Shotgun Kick but ref bump. Santana hits the Spin the Block but the ref is dead. Kaz looks for the discarded belt, clocks Santana with it while the referee is still dead. Kaz aims for Fade to Black on the apron and connects! Throws Santana back into the ring, cover, Santana kicks out at two and fires! Kaz with the Canadian Destroyer but Santana no sells, Spin the Block! 1-2-2.999. Kaz kicked out of it. Kaz dodges the next STB, tries one of his own, but then Santana connects with another!
Overall Score: 2.5/10
This was an awful trainwreck of a fever dream. The Main Event was the only thing worth watching, and if you’re not a TNA fan, I wouldn’t expect people to have stuck around that long. The Main Event is 2 of the 2.5 points, the only other slightly decent part was utilizing Sonya Deville’s relative lack of interest and expected lack of pop, to just make her a heel out of the gates.
Everything else about this show was complete unadulterated dogshit. Mr Elegance talks like young Chris Jericho, Ryan Nemeth and Peter Brady did a failed fusion dance. The concept was cringe the execution is worse. The constant commercials at the start of matches and coming back for 2-3 minutes of trash is a 90s formula that doesn’t work nowadays. 80% of this show was useless talking, highlight segments of the history of TNA and running around to fix Genesis matches because all the UK wrestlers can’t make the show.
This was pathetic. If this was people’s first time watching TNA, it probably will be their last. This show made WCW Thunder look competent. I yearn for the days of Disco Inferno vs Lodi. Van Hammer vs Mike Awesome during his fat chick thriller era, would be better writing and television than whatever this was.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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