Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/19/24)
Main Event Jey wants the gold!
DOWN SINCE… DAY ONE, UCE!
Gunther is the longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion ever, but Main Event Jey Uso looks to start his own legacy! Will Jey YEET Der Ring General off his throne?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Cody Rhodes VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
- Women’s Elimination Chamber Last Chance Battle Royal: Raquel Rodriguez wins and advances to Elimination Chamber.
- 8 Man Tag: The Judgment Day VS The Awesome Truth & #DIY; The Judgment Day wins.
- Ivar VS Chad Gable; Gable wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER VS Jey Uso; Gunther wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes VS Drew McIntyre!
The American Nightmare has been on the Scottish Terminator’s radar, and now the two prepare to fight it out this close to Elimination Chamber in Perth! Cody still has a Universal Championship match at WrestleMania, but will McIntyre use this to gain momentum towards a World Heavyweight Championship match?
The bell rings and the fans fire up for “CODY! CODY!” Cody fires up and the fans fire up more, and the two circle. Cody and McIntyre feel things out, tie up, and McIntyre powers Cody back. Cody digs his heels in, the fans rally behind him, but McIntyre puts Cody in a corner. Cody turns things around, the ref counts, and Cody lets off. Cody eggs McIntyre on, the two go again, and Cody waistlocks. McIntyre elbows free, stalks Cody to a corner, and CHOPS! McIntyre ROCKS Cody, then CHOPS again! Cody headlocks but McIntyre powers out, only for Cody to slide under! Cody kicks low, drops, RHODES UPPERCUT!
McIntyre just scowls! Cody fires hands and runs, but into a BOOT! Cody falls over and McIntyre rains down fists! The fans boo but McIntyre CLUBS Cody. McIntyre stalks Cody to ropes, then CHOPS. Cody CHOPS back! McIntyre CHOPS again! Cody CHOPS, McIntyre kicks the legs out then CLUBS Cody again! McIntyre STOMPS a hand! Cody clutches his fingers but McIntyre looms over him. McIntyre hauls Cody up and scoops, but Cody slips free. The fans rally, McIntyre runs in but Cody TOSSES McIntyre out! The fans fire up more and Cody builds speed to DIVE into a forearm! Cody falls back and McIntyre storms up.
Cody DROPKICKS McIntyre in the ropes, then DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS a leg! Cody grabs that leg, gives a “WOO~” then steps through, FIGURE FOUR! The fans fire up, McIntyre endures, but he keeps off the mat. Cody pushes as hard as he can and the fans rally behind him, but McIntyre works on turning this around quite literally! McIntyre succeeds and now Cody endures! Cody fights his way forward, ROPEBREAK! McIntyre is free, Cody bails out, but the fans rally up as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Cody fights out of a motorcycle stretch. Cody hits low then fires hands! Cody runs, but McIntyre scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! McIntyre grows frustrated, and he stalks Cody to ropes. McIntyre puts Cody in the ropes to CLUB him down! Then McIntyre goes out, drags Cody to the apron, and he digs his boots into Cody’s head, digging Cody into the post! The ref counts and the fans boo so McIntyre lets off, to then ROCK Cody with a right! The fans boo more while McIntyre storms into the ring. McIntyre fires hands on Cody, then CHOPS! Cody eggs McIntyre on so McIntyre CHOPS more!
Cody fires forearms in return! McIntyre kicks the legs out, then he rains down fists! The fans boo but McIntyre stomps Cody down! McIntyre sits and watches Cody rise up, then storms up to CHOP again! The fans “WOO~” as Cody goes to a corner. McIntyre talks trash on Cody, CHOPS him again, then whips corner to corner. McIntyre runs up but Cody BOOTS him! Cody runs to BULLDOG! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Cody storms up, but McIntyre hits low, CLUBS hard, then runs, but Cody follows! Cody ROCKS McIntyre, goes up and over in the corner to then SNAP POWERSLAM!
The fans are fired up again and Cody is feeling it! Cody runs to springboard, DISASTER KICK! Cover, TWO! Cody keeps cool as McIntyre flounders. The fans rally for “CODY! CODY!” Cody runs to springboard, CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives and Cody grows frustrated. The fans fire up again as Cody roars, and he dragon sleepers! But McIntyre knees free! McIntyre runs up, Cody ducks to clothesline McIntyre and himself up and out of the ring! They tumble to the floor and Raw goes back to break!
Raw returns again and Cody fires haymakers back and forth with McIntyre! But McIntyre kicks low and reels Cody in! Cody fights the underhooks, wrenches and JABS! JABS! JABS! The fans fire up as Cody flips, flops and flies, BIONIC ELBOW! Cody runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife bridge, TWO! McIntyre hurries to deadlift SITOUT POWERBOMB Cody! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives and McIntyre is beside himself! Fans know “This is Awesome!” as both men stir. McIntyre rises, he steadies himself with the ropes, and then goes to a corner. McIntyre aims, and here’s the countdown! “THREE! TWO! ONE!”
SUPERKICK from Cody first!! And then a kick, underhooks, and- NO, McIntyre wrenches out! McIntyre underhooks but Cody wrenches out to underhook back! PEDIGREE!! Both men are down, Cody can’t make the cover! The fans are thunderous as Cody forces himself back up! Cody drags McIntyre up, whips him to ropes, but McIntyre wrenches. Cody dodges the lariat to springboard, into a GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! And then underhooks, FUTURE SHOCK!! Cover, TWO!!! Cody survives and McIntyre can’t believe it! McIntyre looks to the WrestleMania sign as motivation, and he goes back to a corner.
McIntyre goes up a corner, but Cody CLUBS him first! Cody climbs to the very top, brings McIntyre up to join him, SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Cody sits McIntyre up, springboards, SUPER CODY CUTTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! McIntyre survives and Cody is seething! Cody powers up and the fans are with him! Cody points to the Mania sign, also motivated! McIntyre rises, Cody brings him in, but JIMMY USO is here! Cody DECKS Jimmy, fans boo, but McIntyre swings! Cody dodges, dragon sleepers, but SOLO SIKOA is here, too!! SAMOAN SPIKE!! Just like Mania 39!!!
The fans boo as hard as they can, but The Rock & Roman Reigns said they’d do everything in their power to screw Cody! CLAYMORE!!! Cover, McIntyre wins!!!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
The fans boo but The Bloodline does what The Bloodline wants! Will this be the way this year’s Road to WrestleMania goes, too? Will McIntyre be able to win the Elimination Chamber with how he survived The American Nightmare?
Andrade speaks.
“I am a third-generation luchador. I never had a choice. My grandfather, my dad, my uncles, cousins, my wife, are wrestlers. This is my destiny. However, my family, my coaches, my friends, had many expectations. But I didn’t let that stop me. Look at me. Who I am, where I am. I define my destiny. I control my destiny. Realizing everything I have achieved, everything I am going to achieve. My destiny is here in the WWE. The Era of Andrade El Idolo has begun.” Then what is the first move of The Idol on this Road to WrestleMania?
Cody goes to the medic’s room.
Adam Pearce checks on him. Pearce got Jimmy & Solo outta here, hit them with one hell of a fine. But whatever Cody needs, just tell Pearce. Cody says he’s fine, so Pearce has everyone give Cody some space. But then Seth Rollins walks over. Rollins takes off the sunglasses to look Cody in the eyes. Then he pats Cody on the knee and heads out. Is Cody going to accept Rollins’ offer of being the shield on this Road to WrestleMania?
Women’s Elimination Chamber Last Chance Battle Royal!
Not only are those who lost the qualifying matches (Mia Yim, Alba Fyre, Zelina Vega, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark) in this match, but so is pretty much every woman on Raw and SmackDown who weren’t in qualifying matches. But with only one spot left in the Chamber, who will rise above the rest to find their way to Perth, Australia?
In a surprising return, Raquel Rodriguez is here! And we all know Big Mami Cool owes “Mami” Rhea a bit of payback! Will Ricky Desperado wrangle and toss the rest of this field to get back on track? We find out, after the break!
Raw returns and Zelina Vega makes her entrance, followed by Chelsea Green, and then followed by Natalya. The Hot Mess and the Queen of Harts just got back from helping open The WWE Experience in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will they be ready for this experience to head for Perth? The bell rings and it’s chaos! Zelina is after Lopez, Zoey is after Ivy Nile, Chelsea hits Maxxine but then Xia hits them both. Maxxine boots Xia away but Chelsea shoves her! Maxxine body scissors to bring Chelsea out with her! Maxxine BOOTS Chelsea but Sarah Logan BLASTS Maxxine to ELIMINATE her! But then Raquel catches Sarah, DUMPS her and ELIMINATES her!
Fans fire up as B-Fab shoves Xia and Xia bumps into Raquel. Xia dodges Raquel, fires off kicks, then goes up, but Raquel puts her on the apron! Xia ROUNDHOUSES, RAMS Chelsea, but Raquel CLOBBERS Xia and ELIMINATES her! The fans fire up, but Isla Dawn says hi. Raquel dares the wicked witch to do something, but Alba Fyre SUPERKICKS her first! They put Raquel in a corner and Isla HIP ATTACKS! Then feed to Alba’s TORNADO DDT! They get Raquel up but she fights their combo! Raquel goes for ropes but Isla saves Alba! So Raquel TOSSES Isla! Alba helps Isla stay up, but then Raquel BOOTS them both! Raquel ELIMINATES Isla!!
The fans fire up as Raquel has three eliminations already, and she vows she’s the one heading to Elimination Chamber while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and the brawling continues. Alba has Natty in a corner, Mia finds Chelsea and fires hands. Katana Chance tries to help with Natty, and Raquel EXPLODES to get free of Nox, Indi & B-Fab! Raquel TOSSES Nox up and out, but Nox holds on to ropes! Stark storms up, Nox goes after Alba, and Zelina is still after Lopez. Nox whips but Alba reverses! Nox holds onto ropes, Raquel scoops Indi. Lopez whips Zelina into a buckle! Indi holds on desperately, she wants to have her homecoming! Nox saves Natty from Alba, but then goes to whip! Natty reverses that and TOSSES Nox out to ELIMINATE her!
Natty gets payback from the Rumble but Nox smiles since that’s fair. B-Fab fires forearms on Stark, then ROCKS her! But Shayna storms up on B0Fab! B-Fab wrenches to HOOK KICK, but then Stark SUPERKICKS! Shayna & Stark TOSS B-Fab and ELIMINATE her! The Queen of Spades and Hunter work together even here, and look for another target. Lopez and Zelina are up top, and Lopez CLUBS away on Zelina. Zelina fights back with body shtos, then slips under to CLUB Lopez! Zlinea then 619s the legs out! Lopez falls, but Chelsea gets Zelina for a suplex! She puts Zelina on the apron but Zelina GAMANGIRIS back!
But Lopez BOOTS Zelina down and ELIMINATES her! The fans boo as La Madrina talks trash on La Muneca. But then Mia TOSSES Lopez out to ELIMINATE her! Fans fire up and Zelina goes after Lopez for revenge! The refs get these two outta there but they just brawl to the back! Indi stomps Mia, Mia whips Indi but Indi BOOTS! Chelsea and Candice brawl on the apron, but Chelsea CLAWS Candice’s eyes! And POSTS her! Candice falls, Chelsea ELIMINATES her! But then Indi runs up, UPPERCUTS and BOOTS Chelsea, then tries to scrape her off the apron! Shayna brings Indi around but Indi puts Shayna on the apron!
Stark dumps Indi out! Indi holds on, fights off Stark, then slingshots, but Shayna YANKS her down and ELIMINATES her! No homecoming for Indi! Katana helps Raquel with Alba, but then goes after Stark! DIAMOND DUST! Then she runs up, but Stark dodges! Katana goes up and tries to rana, but Stark shoves her down! Shayna KNEES Katana down to ELIMINATE her! Stark & Shayna keep the teamwork up, Alba TORNADO- NO, Raquel stops the DDT to TOSS and ELIMINATE her! Fans fire up as that’s number four just for Raquel! But Natty runs up to fire off! Natty whips, Raquel blocks and reverses!
Natty ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirls and CLUBS away! Raquel shoves Natty, BOOTS her, then reels her in! But Natty RANAS the bomb! They’re both on the apron, and Ivy SUPERWOMAN PUNCHES Natty down to ELIMINATE her! But then Stark has Ivy! Ivy dodges, kicks, but Stark blocks, only to get the DRAGON WHIP! Shayna runs up, Ivy fires kicks on her! ROUNDHOUSE for Shayna, JUMP KICK for Stark! Tilt-o-whirl but then KIRAFUDA KLUTCH! Then a feed to Stark’s SLIDING KNEE! They TOSS Ivy up and out to ELIMINATE her! The final four are now Stark, Shayna, Raquel and Michin!
The fans fire up as Mia looks at the other three. Stark CLOBBERS Mia, she and Shayna mug Raquel, but Mia runs up to GERMAN SUPLEX Stark! Fans fire up as Mia hurries to TOSS Stark! Stark holds on, Mia kicks at her, but Shayna grabs Mia! Mia switches, Shayna switches and feeds the MISSILE DROPKICK! Stark & Shayna DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE Mia up and out to ELIMINATE her! But then Raquel goes after them both! Shayna saves Stark, but Raquel rallies on them both! Shayna dodges one lariat but not the SOUTHPAW! Raquel scoops Stark, SNAKE EYES! Stark is on the apron but Shayna fires kicks!
Raquel blocks Shayna’s big knee to DUMP and ELIMINATE Shayna! Now it’s just Raquel and Stark! But then Shayna TRIPS Raquel! Stark slingshots, but Raquel SHOVES! Shayna makes the save, but Raquel BOOTS Stark down! Raquel WINS!! Or, does she? Chelsea was still in this?!? She whips but Raquel reverses!! Raquel TOSSES Chelsea out, and NOW she wins!!
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez
The fans are thunderous for Big Mami Cool going on to Elimination Chamber! Will this comeback story continue all the way down the Road to WrestleMania to face whoever is Women’s World Champion?
Jey Uso speaks.
“Anaheim, California, Jey Uso is now in your city! And tonight, the wait is over, Uce. Tonight, I bring down the empire, right? Tonight, I end the reign of the longest IC Champion in WWE history, Uce. So Gunther, allow me to reintroduce myself. They call me UCE, OOH~ my God, I am the new Intercontinental Champion. YEET.” Main Event Jey is in tonight’s main event, will he finally hold gold that’s all his own?
Rhea Ripley and Nia Jax sit down for an interview.
In different locations for obvious reasons, the Eradicator and Irresistible Force are both asked by Michael Cole about the physicality, and what they think going into this match. Rhea will be in her home country, does she have butterflies? No, she has worked for this, wanted this, and this is the first time she gets to compete in Australia as a WWE superstar. The last time she competed in Australia, she was on the independents, and that was seven years ago. Back then, she just wanted to fit in, please people, do what she was told, and wasn’t really comfortable in her own skin. There were times she even wanted to quit.
But she had a talk with herself and reminded herself who the hell she was. Rhea had to remind herself that she didn’t want to be like everyone else, she wanted to prove the doubters wrong, and that she is Rhea Bloody Ripley, and that she was the most dominant woman in the WWE. Nia mockingly says, “Aww, that’s so cute.” Nia tells “Mami” that Nia is twice her size with three times the talent. But this is so good that this is in Rhea’s homeland. Because when Nia squashes Rhea again, Mami will go home crying to her mommy.
Rhea says Nia can talk all she wants, and attack from behind all she wants, but in the end, when Nia’s in Perth, Australia, face to face with Rhea, and she hears everyone screaming for Mami, even Nia will crumble. All Nia’s momentum is going to fade away into nothing. And her nightmares will become reality when she realizes she’s just not good enough. So see you in Perth. Rhea gets up and leaves, Nia seethes. Two forces of nature are on a collision course, who will survive on the Road to WrestleMania?
Raw presents Truthline: The Truth About The Judgment Day.
Jackie Redmond starts off with, “R-Truth and The Judgment Day, an unlikely pairing whose relationship status has always been… complicated. Was R-Truth ever really in? At times, it appeared to be a match made in heaven. Until it became a match made in hell. Earlier today, I went one-on-one in an exclusive interview with R-Truth to discuss his tumultuous relationship with The Judgment Day.”
Jackie and Truth were walking outside and she knew this was a complicated situation for him. Please take us all the way back to the beginning, the first time Truth met the Judgment Day. When he first met them, their smiles lit up the room. Footage replays of Truth just randomly being in the Judgment Day clubhouse, getting powdered sugar from the jellyrolls all over the place. Truth says it was special. Like the first time John Cena put on a pair of jorts. And it is clear this is an emotional relationship, but how much of what’s gone on does Truth blame on Priest? Priest did say “Everybody loves R-Truth! Except me.”
Footage of Priest throwing Truth all over the place, and even commentary wondering why they were so against having Truth in the group. Truth says Damian broke his heart. Truth hasn’t cried since much since the finale of This is Us. Or when the ducks left Tony Soprano. Priest was Truth’s ducks. Okay… Jackie appreciates Truth’s vulnerability and being so candid. She has one last question: It is obvious Truth’s loyalty was genuine, but after everything he’s been through, will he ever be able to let anyone in again? Truth says that this must be how Genuine felt when he wrote Pony.
But Truth has new friends: HBK, Shawn Michaels; The Game, Triple H; aka, DX! Of course he is mistaken, it’s Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa, aka DIY. But Truth says they’ll show Judgment Day you can’t bully people, can’t silence people, and cannot Nick Mysterio locked away with no access to the internet! And they’ll show them that tonight. Jackie thanks Truth for his time and Truth says Live, Laugh, Love. Will Truth at least get one thing right in that he, The Miz & DIY will teach Judgment Day a lesson?
Michael Chandler is here!
The UFC Lightweight Champion of the world says what’s up to Anaheim, and says we are in the presence of the most entertaining UFC fighter on the planet! Now there’s a man from Ireland who has been making him wait way too long for a fight. And he still has one dude on his mind! CONOR MCGREGOR! Get your candy ass back into the octagon, they’ve got unfinished business! God Bless, see you at the top!
Chad Gable speaks.
Master Gable calls out Ivar for this mission he and Sarah Logan have been on in tearing down the Alpha Academy piece by piece. They pick on Tozawa, they pick on Maxxine, and they even managed to slip past the number one guy, Otis. Gable puts an end to that momentum tonight and builds his own. It’s WrestleMania Season, so time to get serious. Ivar, leave Sarah in the back while he leaves his crew in the back, too. Tonight, it’s about Chad Gable.
Ivar responds.
“The gods demand punishment. The gods demand pain! The gods demand that our raid come to a glorious and inevitable end! I’ve vanquished every member of the Alpha Academy, and now the gods turn their gaze to the head of the bow. Chad Gable, I accept your challenge for singles competition. But beware! The gods have chosen our path, and it goes straight through you!”
The War Beard is ready to fight Master Gable 1v1, but who will still be standing by the end?
8 Man Tag: The Judgment Day VS The Awesome Truth & #DIY!
We just heard from Truth about this situation, and now he puts action to his words! But will Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh put him down once and for all? Or will The Miz, Gargano & Ciampa help Truth not only see the light, but see a huge victory over his “former friends?”
The teams sort out and Miz starts against JD McDonagh. The bell rings and the Irish Ace fires off on the Hollywood A-Lister! JD gets around to back suplex but Miz lands out! Miz kicks a leg out, but Finn takes a swipe! Miz stays clear to give “It Kicks” over and over on JD! Miz winds up, Finn barks at him, so Miz DECKS him! Fans fire up but JD avoids the kick! JD and Miz brawl, everyone else rushes in and the fans fire up! Miz, Truth & DIY TOSS the Judgment Day out and tell them to “SUCK IT!” Judgment Day is furious and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Dom has Ciampa down with a chinlock. Ciampa fights up, reaches out, but Dom keeps him from the DIY corner. Ciampa throws body shots but Dom CLUBS him down. Tag to Finn, they mug Ciampa, and Finn ELBOWS Ciampa in the head! Finn CHOPS, whips, but Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges then tags Gargano. Ciampa then slides under Finn, CHOPS him, then Gargano CLUBS him! JAWBREAKER and wrench, to a LARIAT! The fans fire up while Finn flounders. Gargano drags Finn up but Finn RAMS him into the Judgment Day corner! Priest tags in as Finn RAMS Gargano more, then Priest ROCKS Gargano!
Priest reels Gargano in for a short arm LARIAT, then he stares down Truth. Priest whips Gargano hard into buckles, then tags Finn. Priest sets Gargano out for Finn to slingshot STOMP! Finn taunts Truth, drags Gargano up, and CLUBS him into a chinlock. Finn grinds Gargano down but fans boo. Gargano endures, even as Finn shifts and almost has a Bully Choke. Gargano fights up as the fans rally, and the fans chant “We Want Truth!” Finn tags JD in, but Gargano snap suplexes free! And he trips JD! Gargano TOSSES Finn, dodges JD, tag to Truth! The fans are thunderous as Truth unleashes the shoulder tackles!
Truth gets JD for the SPIN-OUT BOMB! And then “You Can’t See Me!” Truth runs for the FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth gets JD in the fireman’s carry but Priest tags in! Truth DECKS Priest, but JD HEADBUTTS Truth out of the ring! Priest is right on Truth, and POSTS him! Fans boo as Judgment Day stands over Truth and talks a lot of trash while Raw goes back to break.
Raw returns again and Truth fights up as Finn has a facelock. Truth reaches for his corner, gets a step closer, and another step, but then Finn DECKS Miz! Truth dodges Finn to hot tag Ciampa! Ciampa rallies on Finn, BLASTS JD and Dom, then dodges Finn! Ciampa rallies with big lariats, then he CLOBBERS JD, too! Ciampa clotheslines Finn in one corner, clotheslines JD in another, and repeat! Ciampa then ducks double lariats to LEAPING LARIAT JD & Finn! Priest gets up but Ciampa KNEES him down! JD runs up, Ciampa ducks and rolls him into the ropes! WILLOW’S BELL! Ciampa keeps going, and he TORNILLOS onto Priest!
The fans fire up with Ciampa, Dom runs up, but into a KNEE! Ciampa gets in the ring, but Finn catches him to a cradle! TWO, and Ciampa swings. Finn gets around, dragon sleeper, but Finn gloats too much! Ciampa turns it around to REVERSE DDT! Cover, JD breaks it! JD stands up, into Gargano’s SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Gargano stands up, into Dom’s SUPERKICK! Miz returns to BOOT Dom! Finn SLINGBLADES Miz! Ciampa dodges Finn, they both run, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans are thunderous as both men are down, and Truth rises up! “This is Awesome!” as both men crawl for their corners! Hot tags to Truth and Priest!
The fans fire up as Truth fires off fast hands on Priest! Truth whips, Priest reverses but Truth ducks ‘n ‘dodges to hit the LIE DETECTOR! Priest ends up in a corner, the fans echo “WHAT’S UP!?” and Truth does the splits! Truth runs in to SPLASH Priest, then clinch! But Priest fights that, choke grips, and SOUTH OF- NO, Truth slips free to kick low! Truth runs, SCISSOR KICK! Dom gets up but Truth DECKS him! Truth then sees Priest in a corner and the fans rally behind him! Truth baits Priest in, ands ends him into buckles! Then the FLATLINER! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and Truth can’t believe it!
Truth drags Priest up, but the rest of Judgment Day rushes in! Miz & DIY give them TRIPLE SUPERKICKS! Then they TOSS Judgment Day out, TRIPLE PLANCHAS!! The fans fire up and Truth does the splits to dodge Priest! CALF KICK! Priest flounders out and Truth smiles, as he builds speed! But Priest catches him! SOUTH OF- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!!! Priest escapes again, but Truth fireman’s carries! Priest slips free, BELL CLAP! Choke grip! SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Judgment Day wins!
Winners: The Judgment Day, by pinfall
Truth put his heart and soul into this fight after having his heart broken, but it wasn’t enough to get payback. Judgment Day rolls on into Elimination Chamber, will they completely dominate with both the Women’s World and Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships on the line?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Jackie Redmond is now with The Great Liberator and brings up his loss to Shinsuke Nakamura, with Drew McIntyre being a part of that. How does he respond? Sami says he’s been thinking about it a lot, almost to the point of obsession. And Sami’s made a decision, a hard one, but he feels he have to hit the pause button with McIntyre. Sami’s been down this road before with this kind of obsession, and Sami knows how he gets. He gets fixated on one thing or one person, and he gets stuck. He can’t move forward, can’t see what’s in front of him, and he can’t do that again, not for WrestleMania season.
Sami knows that there is a path. He doesn’t know what it is, but it will present itself, so he has to be there mentally to see it when it comes his way. He knows that sounds crazy, maybe delusional, after losing and facing adversity. But he did not get this far by not trusting his gut, and he feels it when he knows there is a path. And not only to go to WrestleMania, but to do something historic, to cement what he is saying about being a contender! Sami knows he will be a champion again. But when will that time come? Will it be in time for WrestleMania 40?
Becky Lynch is here!
The fans fire up as Raw enters the Big Time! Becky gets the mic and hears the fans chanting for her. Becky says, “The Man has come around to Anaheim! Wow, wow, you guys have been an amazing crowd tonight. And I’ve been lucky enough in my career that I’ve gotten to do some amazing things. So much so, that there’s not a lot of new things for me anymore. Well, except the hat. The hat is new. Do you like the hat?” Fans cheer her hat, so the hat stays. But Becky knows that in five days, for the first time in her career, she steps inside the Elimination Chamber, and with the need to win so that she can face Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship.
Now, Rhea and Becky have been dancing around each other the last year or so, having uncomfortably long stare downs at random intervals, all prolonging the inevitable, and the inevitable is that Mami and The Man will collide. And when they inevitably do, it will inevitably be the fight of their lives! The fans like the sound of that. Becky says she and Rhea both live for this, both love this, but how both of them have been living this has been different. For the last year, Rhea has been front and center for everything, she is the talk of the town. She has been riding a wave of momentum that comes around once in a lifetime.
Rhea’s also been propped up by her band of merry men, the Judgment Day. Fans boo that, and Becky says, “Those Truth Haters.” But then there’s Becky. Fans cheer, and Becky says she is the biggest threat to Rhea’s championship who has been hiding in plain sight. Becky’s been fighting anyone and everyone who wants a go, propping up this division! And Becky can confidently say that at this very moment, she’s the best she’s ever bene. Fans cheer that, too!
Becky continues with the flipside of that. On the flipside of Becky being the very best she’s ever been, so is everyone else. So in five days, stepping inside the Chamber, Becky does that with five of WWE’s most promising stars: Liv Morgan; Bianca Belair; Raquel Rodriguez; Naomi; and Tiffany Stratton. While Becky doesn’t have anything against any of these women- Well, Tiffany’s kinda annoying. And while Becky has beaten most of them, it was never inside the confines of that cage of steel and glass with the ultimate prize on the line, WrestleMania hanging in the balance. Becky says she has worked too hard- Wait! Here comes Liv!
Liv has a mic and tells Becky, “I’m sorry to interrupt. But before I get started, I just wanted to say, I’m a big fan of the hat.” But what Liv isn’t a fan of is having to sit in the back and listen to Becky explain why Becky is the one to defeat Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. Liv joins Becky in the ring and says that Becky wants to prove she’s the best. And Liv gets that, that’s very Becky of Becky. But Liv doesn’t really care about who is the best. This is about revenge! This is about redemption! This is about Liv’s life! Fans cheer, and Liv says here’s a little story. Liv and Rhea used to be tag team partners, were a great team, but then Rhea turned on Liv.
That’s okay, because Liv did move on, found success with other partners, like Raquel Rodriguez, and they became TWO-TIME Women’s Tag Team Champions. At least, until Rhea came out, cost them the titles, and then here’s where things get really crazy. Exactly a week after that, Rhea came out to injure Liv and cost Liv six MONTHS of her career, when Liv was at her very best! So while Liv has Becky here, she just wants to remind Becky that Liv was the very last person to defeat Rhea Ripley. And if after all of that- Raquel comes out! Raquel says chicas, they’re both making great points, they really are.
But it seems they’re both entirely focused on Rhea Ripley. After Chamber, who knows who the champion will be! It could be Rhea, but it could be Nia. And Raquel knows one thing for sure, there is only one woman big enough and strong enough to take on either one of them, and that’s Raquel! You saw what she did in the battle royal, right? WAIT! Here’s Naomi! The fans fire up as Becky welcomes Naomi back, and “to this tea party we’re apparently having.” Naomi thanks The Man, and asks, “What’s up, Raw?” Naomi joins the others in the ring and says she didn’t come back to just come back. She came back with a whole new purpose.
See, Naomi’s made a name for herself both in and out of the WWE. This go-around is way bigger than that for her. Naomi is here to climb back up to the top, because that is where she belongs now more than ever. But then “It’s Tiffy Time~!” Becky can’t believe Tiffany Stratton is here now. And Tiff says, “Um, excuse me, it’s Tiffy Time.” Naomi says she’s interrupting Glow Time. Tiff tells Naomi that while she was out there trying to make a name for herself, to which Naomi says, “And did.” Tiff says Naomi left an empty space. The only space Tiff is concerned about is being the Center of the Universe.
“And besides, nobody cares about the past. And looking at all of you, that is all I see.” Fans boo but Tiff says been there, done that, the future is her and her name is- The EST is here! The fans fire up as Bianca says okay, Tiff, she might be new and all, which explains why she doesn’t know what running her mouth gets her. Bianca says don’t get it twisted, she is the EST, and has been at the Tiffy Top for a very long time. And at Elimination Chamber, Tiff finds out she will never be her, do it like her, or be better than her. Now there is one thing that Bianca has done that no one else here has, and that is win the Chamber.
And this year, Bianca will continue her WrestleMania UN-DE-FEA-TED streak! Fans cheer, and Bianca says respectfully, if she has to, she’ll pin Becky, Raquel, Liv, Naomi and definitely Tiff. Because you can’t spell WrestleMania without E S T! The fans cheer, but Tiff tells Bianca that she is so last year. No, no, like literally. She peaked last year! Girl… Uh-uh. Tiff got here on Tuesday. Liv agrees, but then Tiff sucker punches her! Liv and Tiff brawl, and the others figure why not. Becky goes after Bianca and that leaves Raquel to fight Naomi! Fans fire up as things go to corners, Tiff and Liv fall out of the ring, but NIA GETS IN!
Nia CLOBBERS Bianca and Becky, then SPLASHES Raquel! Naomi fires hands but Nia whips her, fireman’s carries, and SAMOAN DROPS! Liv and Tiff are on the ramp but Nia goes after them, too! Nia SHOVES Tiff, then fireman’s carries Liv! Nia POSTS Liv, then catches Tiff to TOSS her! Fans boo but Nia laughs as she gets back in the ring, to CLOBBER Bianca! Nia soaks up the heat, then she hits a LEG DROP on Raquel! Becky runs up, but into a HEADBUTT! HIP ATTACK for Naomi! And then LEG DROP for Liv! And then a LEG DROP for Becky! Nia sends a message to Rhea, will there be nothing to stop this Irresistible Force?
Gunther speaks.
“Tonight is the greatest night of Jey Uso’s illustrious career. Because tonight he can fulfill his big dream of becoming a singles champion in WWE. Now Jey, let me reintroduce myself. I am Der Ring General, Gunther, the longest reigning and greatest Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of all time. And tonight, when that bell rings, I’ll make you understand that you do not belong in the main event. Jey, I’m afraid you’ll have to keep on dreaming.” Gunther is ready for the main event, but will he (not) be ready for Main Event Jey?
Shinsuke Nakamura speaks.
“Sami… Sami Zayn. You want to be a contender? First of all, fighters fight. True fighters don’t whine to everyone and try to get a spotlight. You want a spotlight? I’ll give you one. If you think you’re an underdog, I’ll make sure you stay that way. By defeating you again, by breaking you again, and by dragging you to the very bottom. Then you can bask in everyone’s sympathy. But I will show them that their contender is a pretender! You want more Shinsuke? Anytime, anywhere.” The King of Strong Style is not done with his old rival, will Sami even make it to WrestleMania at this rate?
Ivar VS Chad Gable!
No Sarah Logan communing with the Norse gods, no Otis, Maxxine or Tozawa. This is just about The War Beard battling the Alpha Academy’s fearless leader and who is the better man. Who will still be standing after the raid passes through Anaheim?
The bell rings, Gable rushes in, but Ivar BOOTS him down! Gable flounders, Ivar brings him up to CLOBBER him! Ivar then goes up a corner, but Gable runs up! Ivar shoves him away, but then Gable ROLLING KICKS Ivar to the floor! Fans fire up as Gable climbs the corner, and SUPER CROSSBODIES! Down goes Ivar and Gable returns into the ring. “A THANK YEW~!” The fans cheer, Gable goes back out and runs back in, only for Ivar to TOSS him into the timekeeper’s area! Gable lands on his feet, ROCKS Ivar in return, then goes up the barriers. But Ivar sweeps the legs and Gable hits barriers on the way down!
Ivar hauls Gable up, to BARRIER BOMB!! Gable tumbles down and Ivar seethes while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Gable brawls with Ivar on top of a corner. Ivar scoops, but Gable SUPER ARM-DRAG COUNTERS! Cover, TWO!! Ivar is still in this but Gable gets back up. Gable fires knees and an UPPERCUT, then throat chops! Ivar swings, misses, and Gable mule kicks! Gable runs, but Ivar FLAPJACKS him! Ivar underhooks, TIGER DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Gable survives and Ivar seethes. Ivar waits on Gable, runs up, but Gable ducks the leg lariat! Ivar is caught up, Gable CHOP BLOCKS the other leg! Gable hurries to waistlock, lifts, but Ivar elbows free. Ivar reels Gable back in, hauls him up, but Gable sunset flips it! TWO!!
Gable has the ANKLE LOCK!! The fans fire up as Ivar flails! Ivar rolls, BOOTS Gable away, and Gable tumbles out of the ring. Gable returns, ducks ‘n’ dodges to CROSSBODY Ivar and himself up and out to the floor! The fans fire up as Gable hurries to bring Ivar up. But Ivar RAMS Gable into the LED apron! Ivar runs up, but Gable dodges and Ivar splashes the LED! The fans fire up as Gable hauls Ivar up, but his back won’t let him suplex! HEEL KICK OF DOOM! Gable is down, but Ivar puts him in the ring at 6 of 10! Ivar climbs a corner, aims, and FLYING SEATED SENTONS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Gable survives and Ivar is furious!
Anaheim fires up again as Gable stirs. Ivar goes up the corner again, to DOOMSAULT but he FLOPS as Gable moves!! Gable hurries to waistlock again! The fans fire up as Gable deadlifts for the GERMAN SUPLEX!! Gable stands up, and brings down the straps! Anaheim is thunderous as Gable climbs up, for a MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO?!?! Ivar survives, but Gable has the ANKLE LOCK!!! Ivar flails, reaches out, but Gable drags him away! IVAR TAPS, GABLE WINS!!
Winner: Chad Gable, by submission
The raid has been stopped, and the Alpha Academy hurries out to celebrate with Gable! “A THANK YEW~!” Will this finally settle things between the Alphas and the Vikings? Or will it only escalate things towards war?
Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.
Cathy Kelley is with the Scottish Terminator and congratulates him on the win tonight. He says he wants to take a moment to talk about Cody. McIntyre always tells the truth, and Cody has been on the run of a lifetime the last two years. Cody’s built such great momentum, only one person has pinned him up to tonight. The second person is Drew McIntyre, “The Savior of WrestleMania.” Then does McIntyre feel that was all tainted by The Bloodline’s interference? Nope. Not at all. He has heard what people have been saying, calling him a hypocrite. But what do you think went through McIntyre’s mind seeing Jimmy & Solo out there?
Of course McIntyre wanted to attack The Bloodline on sight, but he can’t think like that. This is Drew McIntyre (hands apart), this is everyone else (fingers close together). He thinks on the bigger picture. McIntyre isn’t selfish, he’s doing this for the World Heavyweight Championship, for Raw, and for the WWE Universe. He defeated Cody Rhodes tonight, now he’s going to SmackDown on Friday to face LA Knight, then fly across to the other side of the world to compete in the Elimination Chamber, one of the most brutal matches in WWE. And he is gonna win. Then he’ll go to WrestleMania, win there, because he is the true workhorse of the WWE, and the future world champion.
McIntyre heads out, but will all this truly come to fruition? Or will LA Knight and the other Elimination Chamber entrants be a massive roadblock?
The New Day speaks.
Xavier Woods says, “First thing’s first, let’s get it straight. Tonight, Main Event Jey Uso walks out of Anaheim, California your new WWE Intercontinental Champion. And then next week, it’s our turn.” Kofi Kingston says Imperium tried to end his career. And if he remembers right, they said they wanted to take his head. Well it seems like they didn’t get the job done! What they did do is put New Day into a mindset they don’t want New Day to be in. They’ve been targeting New Day for weeks, and there’s no surprise there. New Day’s been doing this damn near a decade. And there’s a reason teams target New Day when they wanna make a name for themselves.
It’s because The New Day are the industry standard when it comes to tag team wrestling! Ain’t nobody better than ya bois the New Day! And yeah, the New Day won the Six Man Tag, but it ain’t over. Mama ain’t singing. It ain’t over until New Day says it’s over! Because with Imperium, it has been count outs, disqualifications, fighting through the crowd, throwing steel steps and putting each other through tables. So the New Day has a little surprise for Imperium: next week’s match has no rules. Because next week, it will be New Day VS Imperium… IN A STREET FIGHT!
Kofi & Woods have kendo sticks, and they beat out the rhythm, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Will they use those kendo sticks to beat that same rhythm on Vinci & Kaiser as they beat Imperium down once and for all?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER VS Jey Uso!
We’ve heard from Der Ring General and Main Event Jey, and now we see them put action behind those words. All reigns must come to an end some time, but will tonight be that time? Or will even Jey just be another notch on the belt?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see the difference between day 619 and day one, Uce!
The bell rings and the fans are strongly behind Jey with “YEET! YEET!” echoing out. Jey stares Gunther down, tells him to hear that, but Gunther shoves Jey! Jey SLAPS Gunther, just like last week! So Gunther BOOTS him down! Gunther CHOPS Jey, CHOPS again, and Jey ends up in a corner. Gunther scoops Jey onto the top rope, to then CHOP him again! Jey sputters, but Gunther climbs up to STAND on him! The ref counts while Jey is bent back, and Gunther lets off at 4. Jey tumbles out, Gunther goes after him to CHOP again! Gunther then hits a BARRIER BACK SUPLEX! Jey writhes but Gunther hauls him up.
Gunther hits an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Gunther seethes, Jey writhes, and the fans boo while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Gunther has Jey on the apron. Gunther hauls Jey up but Jey fires hands! Then a GAMANGIRI! Fans “YEET!” with each shot, and then Jey climbs! CROSS- CHOP!! Gunther takes Jey outta the sky, and then NECK TWISTS! Jey writhes and Gunther hauls him up. Gunther scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Jey flounders back to the apron but Gunther kicks him down. The fans rally with “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Gunther goes out to get Jey and reel him in, but Jey fights the bomb! Jey manages to back drop Gunther to the floor! Gunther hobbles to his feet, Jey turns around and ducks the lariat, to SAMOAN DROP onto the desk!
The fans fire up as Gunther tumbles, and “YEET! YEET!” rings out again. Jey feels that energy, hurries after Gunther and hauls him up into the ring. Jey then slides in, takes aim, and he runs in, but the Spear is sent into the corner! Jey UPERCUTS back, ducks the lariat, and mule kicks hard! Jey pops ‘n’ locks to UPPERCUT! Gunther’s in a corner, fans fire up and Jey throws off the elbow pads and wrist tape. “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey runs in, but into a SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Gunther hauls Jey up, for a GUNTHER BOMB! High stack, TWO!! Jey survives and the fans are thunderous! Gunther is shocked, but he drags Jey right back up.
Gunther stands Jey up, fans rally behind Jey and Jey wrenches out to SUPER- NO, Gunther blocks to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives but Gunther gets the legs! BOSTON CRAB! Jey endures as Gunther sits deep on his back! The fans rally, Jey reaches out, and he works to turn over! The fans still rally as Gunther holds on, but Jey makes it to the ROPEBREAK! Gunther lets go fast and paces in frustration. Gunther storms back up, stands Jey up to whip, but Jey holds ropes! So Gunther UPPERCUTS, runs, only for Jey to DUMP him out! Jey builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and down goes Gunther! The fans fire up again as Raw goes back to break!
Raw returns once again and Gunther eggs Jey on. Jey ROCKS Gunther with a forearm, but Gunther ROCKS Jey back! Jey fires another forearm but so does Gunther! Jey wobbles, Gunther eggs him on, so Jey UPPERCUTS! Jey eggs Gunther on now, so Gunther fires another forearm! The shots go back and forth, “YEET! BOO! YEET!” The YEETS get the edge, Jey pops ‘n’ locks ‘n’ puts some stank on it, for the UPPERCUT! Gunther CHOPS Jey off his feet! Gunther hauls Jey back up, to CHOP again! Jey wobbles and drops to a knee, but Gunther stands him up for another CHOP! Jey staggers, rebounds, and Gunther CHOPS him back down!
Gunther demands Jey get up, then eggs him on. “I told you you’re not good enough to succeed on your own! You’re nobody!” Gunther stands Jey up, makes him look him in the eye, but Jey UPPERCUTS! Gunther CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS from all sides! Then he reels Jey in, for the- NO, Jey slips up and over the bomb, ducks ‘n’ dodges to SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!! Gunther survives, Jey isn’t quite as strong as The Tribal Chief with that move. Jey goes to ropes and watches Gunther. The fans rally up and Jey goes to a corner. Jey climbs, but Gunther runs up to SLAP him first! Gunther then CHOPS again!
Jey wobbles up top, Gunther climbs up to join him. Gunther brings Jey up for a SUPER HALF HATCH! Jey tumbles into a drop zone, Gunther goes up, GUNTHER SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!? Jey survives and Gunther is beside himself! The fans rally up as hard as they can while Jey stirs. Gunther hauls Jimmy up to CHOP, then has Jey on the ropes. Gunther CHOPS again, but Jey SLAPS! Gunther CHOPS, Jey forearms, repeat! The fans fire up, Jey dodges a shot, then SPEARS again!! Jey sees Gunther bailing out so he hurries, to APRON SPEAR!! Fans are thunderous again as Jey SPEARS Gunther on the floor!!
Gunther flounders, Jey seethes, and Jey puts Gunther in the ring. Jey runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SPEARS!! Not the cleanest but it was enough! Jey goes back up, takes aim, USO SPLASH!! Cover, wait who’s ringing the bell!? That wasn’t time yet! JIMMY?!? He just couldn’t help himself! Pearce ejected Jimmy but he snuck back in to screw Jey! Security rushes in but Jimmy runs away, and Gunther CHOPS Jey from behind! SLEEPER, but Jey rolls it back! TWO!!! SUPERKICK!! Gunther falls, but then Jey DIVES onto Jimmy!! Jey gets even with his brother, hurries back up top, and USO SPLASHES onto knees!!! Gunther cradles Jey, Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
The Bloodline hit all their targets tonight, and that helps Gunther make it to day 620! Will anyone ever come as close to Jey did tonight? Or will Gunther simply reign until to the end of time?
Wait, Jimmy isn’t done with Jey, he goes right after him! Fans boo as Jimmy beats Jey down, and then lines up the shot! SUPERKICK!! Jimmy tells Jey, “You thought you was gonna reign without me?! No matter how big you get, I’m always the big brother! Always!” Jimmy stands over Jey, his own twin brother, and smiles as the fans boo. But then Jimmy goes up a corner! He mocks the bounce, then hits the USO SPLASH!! Jimmy again stands over Jey, but then just goes back to a corner, for another USO SPLASH!! No mercy from his own twin, will Jey ever get away from The Bloodline’s shadow?
My Thoughts:
An awesome Raw here, especially for a go-home. No Go-Home Syndrome tonight, I think HHH Era is the cure to that. Great continuity with The Bloodline’s promo from SmackDown, with their interference to “ruin” the awesome opener from Cody VS McIntyre, and then more interference to “ruin” the awesome main event from Jey VS Gunther. Great use of continuity with McIntyre, him bringing up the hypocrisy in his promo, and that’s good momentum going into his match on SmackDown with LA Knight that was totally recorded last Friday since there’s no way to be in Perth, Australia in time if they’re still gonna be stateside that late.
Anyway, Jey VS Gunther having Jimmy interfere is a very big tease that we’ll get Uso VS Uso for WrestleMania this year, which can be some awesome stuff, and a way for Jey to neutralize Jimmy from interfering with Cody VS Roman. Meanwhile, Rollins checking in on Cody is a good nod towards them teaming up. I still think they’re going to have an “impromptu” tag match against Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, which then leads to Cody & Rollins VS Roman & Rock, or maybe Solo if Rock isn’t ring ready. There might even be a response from Cody & Rollins on SmackDown after Chamber to keep this going.
Really good interview promo for Rhea and Nia, though it wasn’t even really an interview after they both said their part and then Rhea just left. Awesome return moment for Raquel Rodriguez getting in the Women’s Battle Royal and pretty much dominating. The fans do seem to be coming around on Chelsea (not me yet, sorry) so her trying the sneaky win was clever, but no, it had to be Raquel at this point. Great promo from all six Chamber entrants, and of course it turned into a brawl. Quite the clever surprise of Nia going after all six of them, though. Nia stands tall here because duh, she’s losing to Rhea, but Nia doing that keeps the math even between all six Chamber entrants. Though, c’mon, it’s still gotta be Becky.
Gable VS Ivar being here was a bit of a surprise, but what an awesome match and awesome win for Gable. Since Jey didn’t dethrone Gunther, it’s anyone’s guess as to who gets a shot for Mania, but I’m not sure if it’s Gable. Gable had his shots, did great but obviously he didn’t win, so I don’t know if a super serious shift in Gable’s attitude is enough to make me think he’ll win. Sami is talking about finding a path, but he’s going to have another match with Nakamura first. Maybe Sami wins the rematch and then forces a tiebreaker with Nakamura, and then Sami uses that momentum to earn a shot at Gunther? Sami did mention doing something historic, so ending Gunther’s historic reign at 665 days or whatever would be pretty awesome.
Really good promo from Andrade, too, and he says this is his era now, but a lot of wrestlers say stuff like that. I wouldn’t mind Andrade also being involved in an Intercontinental Championship story, or some other high profile story to bide his time while waiting on titles, just as long as he gets to do something. And great promo from The New Day to set up a Street Fight Tag. It’s rare we get to see intense New Day so this is going to be some great stuff as New Day quite literally fights their way back up the rankings.
And just amazing stuff again out of R-Truth with Judgment Day. “Truthline” was a great bit for the interview promo, and we got a great 8 Man Tag. Truth taking the loss was also fitting in the story, this will get that Face heat on him and The Miz as they perhaps fight their way to a tag title opportunity. Now, Judgment Day stands tall here, but then you can bet Dom & McDonagh lose to Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne this Friday on the prerecorded episode to bring the math back around. Feels like Judgment Day will sweep the night with Rhea beating Nia and then Finn & Priest beating “New Catch Republic.” Maybe HHH will one day figure out how to divide the titles but for now, it seems Bate & Dunne are gonna be fed to the Judgment Day’s reign.
My Score: 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)Â
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 PodcastÂ
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!
Will the reign of terror finally come to an end?
AEW’s most dangerous men, Jon Moxley and Swerve Strickland, battle for THE World Championship, and the right to lead this Dynasty!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Zero Hour – Best Wrestler Alive Open Challenge: Max Caster VS ???
- Zero Hour – Six Man Tag: AR Fox & Top Flight VS Nick Wayne & The Cru; win.
- 2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Mercedes Mone VS Julia Hart; wins and advances.
- 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Kyle Fletcher VS Mark Briscoe; wins and advances.
- 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Will Ospreay VS Kevin Knight; wins and advances.
- ROH World Championship Title VS Mask: Chris Jericho VS Bandido; wins and
- AEW TNT Championship, No Time Limit, Full Ringside Ban: Daniel Garcia VS Adam Cole; wins and
- AEW World Tag Team Championships: Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin w/ MVP VS “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith; win and
- AEW World Trios Championships: The Death Riders VS Rated FTR; win(s) and
- AEW International Championship Triple Threat: Kenny Omega VS Ricochet VS “Speedball” Mike Bailey; wins and
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm VS Megan Bayne; wins and
- AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley VS Swerve Strickland; wins and
PLAY BY PLAY
[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]
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)Â
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 PodcastÂ
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!
Who truly leads the NJPW revolution?
Hirooki Goto finally has THE top title in NJPW, but David Finlay looks to take it for his own! Will the Fierce Warrior fail to stop The Rebel?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima VS Daiki Nagai; Murashima wins.
- Yuya Uemura VS SANADA; Uemura wins.
- NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins and becomes the new NJPW World TV Champion.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shota Umino; Shota wins.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: The House of Torture VS Bullet Club War Dogs; The House of Torture wins and retains the titles.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Ryohei Oiwa; Takeshita wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Cobb & Callum win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL; Tsuji wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS David Finlay; Goto wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Yuya Uemura w/ Just4Guys VS SANADA!
It used to be Just5Guys, but the Heat Storm went down with injury, and the Cold Skull showed how Cold-Blooded he really was. Will Yuya make this War Dog pay for his crimes? Or will Sakura Genesis start with a Skull End?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind Yuya as he stares down with Sanada. They circle, feel things out, then tie up. Yuya wrenches, wristlocks, then hammerlocks, but Sanada reaches back to headlock. Yuya pries the hold open and puts the headlock on Sanada. Yuya hits the takeover, but Sanada rolls him to a cover, ONE! Yuya holds on, the two stand up, and Yuya wrenches again. Sanada rolls, kips up, and cartwheels to then handspring and wrench Yuya! Sanada hammerlocks, headlocks, spins to hammerlock again, but Yuya switches that onto Sanada. Yuya then spins through to hammerlock, headlock, cravat and snapmare, but Sanada handsprings through!
The fans cheer this great opening exchange, and the two reset. Sanada and Yuya circle, the fans rally up, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, then Yuya kicks an arm to wrench the other. Sanada kicks free to wrench back, but Yuya wrenches again. Sanada wrenches through, wrenches again, but Yuya wrenches right back! Sanada reaches for ropes but Yuya keeps him back. Sanada rolls but Yuya rolls with him! The fans cheer, and Sanada tries again. Sanada rolls, but Yuya rolls with him! The fans cheer again, but Sanada fights up to snapmare. But Yuya holds on and he wrenches again. Sanada tries another snapmare, but Yuya still holds on.
Yuya wrangles Sanada, traps the arm, and SNAP LOCKS it! The fans cheer while Sanada clutches his arm. Yuya runs and basement DROPKICKS! Sanada bails out, shakes out the arm, and the fans rally up. Yuya waits on Sanada while he paces around the outside. Sanada slides in but Yuya knees him first. Yuya whips, Sanada reverses, but Yuya goes up and over! Yuya arm-drags Sanada, then DROPKICKS him down! The fans cheer and Yuya fires up! Sanada goes to a corner, Yuya runs corner to corner, and he CHOP LARIATS! Yuya then reels Sanada in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada stays in this but the fans rally behind Yuya.
Yuya looms over Sanada, brings him up, and clinches, but Sanada fights back with elbows. Yuya CHOPS! The fans cheer while Sanada sputters, and Yuya whips. Sanada reverses again to hurdle, hurdle, and DROPKICK! Yuya falls and goes to the outside, but Sanada PLANCHAS! Down goes Yuya and the fans still fire up! Sanada brings Yuya up, headlocks and brings him around the way, to then whip Yuya hard into railing! Yuya sputters while he leans against the railing. The fans boo but Sanada soak up all that heat. Sanada opens the gate and brings Yuya out into the crowd! The fans are told to back up, but Sanada SMACKS Yuya off Milano Collection AT-san!
The fans boo this unorthodox way of weaponizing the surroundings, but Sanada isn’t done! Sanada drags Milano out of his seat, the fans cheer Milano on, and Sanada stands Yuya up. Yuya CHOPS Sanada, and Sanada falls onto Milano! Milano suffers further damage and embarrassment, but Sanada CLAWS Yuya’s face! Sanada then THROWS Yuya down onto Milano! The fans boo more, but Sanada drags Yuya up. They go past English commentary, and Sanada brings Yuya back to ringside. Sanada puts Yuya in the ring, but then has him on the apron! MAGIC SCREWÂ to the floor! The ref reprimands but Sanada doesn’t care.
Taichi checks on Yuya, and he glares at Sanada. Sanada storms over to drag Yuya back up, and he puts Yuya in the ring. The fans cheer while Sanada drags Yuya back up. Sanada puts Yuya on the ropes, for another MAGIC SCREW! Sanada mocks the fans cheering for Yuya, then he drags Yuya into the dragon sleeper! Yuya endures, and he arm-drags free! Sanada comes back, into Yuya’s SWINGING ARM-DRAG! And the URENAGE! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yuya crawls his way over, and he fires back up! The fans are with him as he goes to a corner! Yuya climbs, then watches Sanada stand.
Yuya leaps, but Sanada gets under! Yuya rolls through, but Sanada comes back! Yuya ducks the Shining Wizard, and he ENZIGIRIS! Sanada staggers, but he ENZIGIRIS! Sanada waistlocks, Yuya switches, GERMAN SUPLEX! Sanada lands on his feet! Tilt-o-whirl and dragon sleeper! Sanada holds on tight for the SKULL- NO, Yuya rolls back and pops free! Yuya catches one arm, then swings Sanada around, but Sanada catches Yuya! DEAD- NO, Yuya slips out of Deadfall, only for Sanada to shove him into the ref! The fans boo, but Sanada pops Yuya up to LOW BLOW! The fans boo more while Yuya drops to his knees!
Sanada goes to a corner, then runs up, SHINING WIZARD! Sanada isn’t done as he drags Yuya to the drop zone! Sanada goes up, ROUNDING- NO, Yuya dodges, and he RANAS! Then ARMBAR!! Sanada TAPS, Yuya wins!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, by submission
Sanada tried to steal this one like he did with Taichi, but Yuya powered through! Justice has been served, will Sanada see where he went wrong? Will the Heat Storm rise to the top and prove he’s the future of NJPW?
NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS Great-O-Khan w/ The United Empire!
The Headbanga knew the United Empire was coming for his gold, but his match with “Captain” TJP was just to soften him up for The Dominator! Will Khan bring this gold back to the Empire? Or will this still be the ELP Show?
It seems the United Empire is bringing a special guest! It’s the man who designed the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt, Masami Obari! Obari-san puts up the crown with the Empire, and joins Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young in Khan’s corner. Is this a sign Obari could also be designing something special for Khan? That aside, the match introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really the Face of NJPW World!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. ELP BOOTS Khan and Khan bails out! ELP builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit into railing and the fans fire up! ELP hauls Kahn up while fans duel, and ELP TOSSES Khan over railing! Fans move back as ELP ROCKS Khan with a right! ELP then goes into the ring, up the ropes, and fans join in as he says, “E! L! P!” SUPER CROSSBODY into the crowd! Direct hit and ELP ends up taking a seat! ELP smiles and high-fives the fans, then hurries to his feet. The fans rally behind ELP as he drags Khan up and CHOPS him! Khan flops over the railing and ELP gets fans to join in on “One more time!”
ELP hops over railing, drags Khan up, but Khan fights the suplex! Khan scoops, and SLAMS ELPÂ on the railing! ELP flops to the floor while fans fire up again! Khan drags chair after chair out from under the ring, and he sets them up nearby. The ref reprimands but Khan shoves him aside. Khan has created a makeshift table using the chairs, and he drags ELP up! ELP slips free, kicks low, and he reels Khan in! But the bad arm won’t let him lift! Khan hauls ELP up, and he APRON SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up while ELP sputters on the floor. Khan drags ELP into the ring, covers, TWO! ELP stays in this but Khan scoops him back up for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Khan pushes ELP around, gut wrenches him, and then GUT BUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Khan doesn’t let up, he gut wrenches for a GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! ELP is still in this and Khan is a bit surprised. The fans rally and duel, but the “O-KHAN! O-KHAN!” side seems stronger. Khan storms up but ELP fires a body shot! There wasn’t much behind it, and Khan taunts ELP. ELP rises to fire a forearm, but that’s the bad arm! Khan smirks but the fans rally again. ELP fires a forearm, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! The “O-KHAN!” side again outdoes the “E L P!” ELP still rises to throw a chop, but there is still little behind it.
Khan brushes himself off, takes a swing, but ELP catches him, wrenches, straitjacket and- NO, the bad arm won’t let him lift Khan into the torture rack! ELP goes to a corner, but Khan Mongolian Chops him! The fans are torn but Khan hops up to sit on his throne! But then ELP slips right out and GAMANGIRIS! ELP climbs up to get Khan, but Khan GROIN CLAWS?! The fans boo and somehow the ref missed that! Khan scoops ELP from that position, but ELP slips down! ELP slingshots back up, then SUPER STEINERS! The fans fire up while both men are down! ELP rises back up, goes right up top, and THUNDERKISS 86Â onto knees!!
Khan drags ELP into a roll up, TWO!! ELP survives, but Khan clamps on with the HITSUJIGOROSHI and then clinches for the FLATINER! Then the IRON CLAW! Khan drags ELP up for the ELIMIN- NO, ELP flips through! ELP then ducks, goes up the corner, and FLYING TORNADO DDTS! The fans fire up while both men are down again! ELP kips up and the fans cheer! ELP tunes up in the corner, Khan rises, SUDDEN- NO, Khan shoots around to IRON CLAW BACKBREAKER, then a spin, and Khan ROCKS ELP with an elbow! ELP BOOTS in return! Khan roars, blocks a kick, but not the ENZIGIRI!
Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Time is running out and that favors ELP. Khan crawls over to ELP, the two sit up, and Khan fires a forearm! ELP snarls and fires a forearm in return! But the bad shoulder doesn’t help. Khan fires a forearm, so ELP winds up and fires back! Khan fires another forearm, but ELP shakes his head. Both men stand, and ELP storms up to Khan. ELP rips the shoulder tape away! Khan eggs ELP on, so ELP SLAPS, SLAPS, and fires palm strikes! Then a HEADBUTT! ELP runs, but Khan dodges! Khan returns, ELP dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, and ELP stays up!?
The fans fire up and ELP calls to Jado. Jado takes ELP’s hand and helps POP that shoulder! ELP storms up on Khan, fires forearm after forearm after forearm, then he ROCKS Khan on the ropes! The fans rally, ELP whips, and ELP DROPKICKS! Then ELP handsprings and the fans fire up more! ELP drags Khan up, straitjacket and torture rack! ELP spins for the BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives but ELP vows to end this! The fans fire up as ELP tucks the arms. Khan wrenches out to IRON RIGHT! But SUDDEN DEATH returns! ELP hurries to tuck Khan in, and C R 2!! Cover, TWO?!? Khan survives and the fans are thunderous!
ELP isn’t sure what to make of this, but we’re past 10 minutes. ELP drags Khan to the drop zone, goes up the corner, but Khan bails out. The fans boo but ELP hops down. The ring count starts, but ELP goes out the side! ELP storms up on Khan as we pass 5 of 20! Jado stops Khan from using a chair! So Khan sends Jado at ELP! ELP stops Jado from running into him, and now ELP has the chair! Khan wants mercy, Jado tells ELP not to use the chair. ELP drops the chair, but the IRON RIGHT hits! We’re at 12 of 20 as Khan scoops ELP! T T DÂ on the chair structure!! Khan rolls in at 17, ELP is down at 18! 19! 20!! KHAN WINS!!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by count out (NEW NJPW World Television Champion)
Khan grins as his master plan worked out! TJP weakened ELP, then the chairs came into play like Chekov’s Gun. Khan has conquered another title, but what will he have in store for his “season” as NJPW World TV Champion?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Shota Umino!
The Ace continues down the Final Road, but the Roughneck is just starting his Second Chapter. However, after losing to David Finlay, could Shota be embracing a darker path? Or can President Tanahashi still show him the light?
Tanahashi is partially cosplaying Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and joining him is top cosplayer, Momo Momoto. Get your copy of Fatal Fury on April 24th! That aside, Shota makes his entrance, and despite his new edge, he still wears his shining white pants and jacket. The jackets are put aside, and Tanahashi shows off the abs. The fans cheer, and the bell rings. The fans rally for Tanahashi but Shota tunes it all out. They tie up, Tanahashi waistlocks but Shota wrenches. Tanahashi wrenches back, but Shota rolls, slips through, and hammerlocks. Tanahashi reaches around, and he elbows Shota into a headlock.
Shota powers up, but Tanahashi holds tight! The fans cheer and Tanahashi grinds the hold, but Shota fights back up. Shota fires body shots, powers up and out, but Tanahashi RAMS him! Shota rebounds and runs Tanahashi over! The fans fire up again while Shota shakes out the stars. Shota drags Tanahashi up, whips him to a corner, then runs in, only for Tanahashi to BOOT him away. Tanahashi goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Tanahashi bounces off and plays air guitar. The fans cheer while Shota goes to a corner. Tanahashi runs in but Shota dodges! Tanahashi hits buckles, Shota runs back in, but Shota blocks Tanahashi’s boots!
Shota brings Tanahashi out of the corner to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally while Shota paces around Tanahashi. Shota stomps Tanahashi’s legs, then stomps them again. Shota drops knee after knee on Tanahashi’s knee, then shifts into a toehold. Tanahashi endures as Shota shifts around to get a different angle. Tanahashi keeps his shoulders up, then works on his escape. Shota pulls on the leg, but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Shota lets go, and he stands Tanahashi up to grab the leg again. Tanahashi fights the lift with elbows, then he runs, only for Shota to dropkick the legs out!
Shota hurries to stand Tanahashi back up, and he has the leg for a SHIN BREAKER! Tanahashi falls, Shota steps over, S T F! Tanahashi endures, reaches out, crawls forward, and the fans rally as he drags Shota along. Shota shifts to have the leg and he drags Tanahashi back! KNEE SMASH into the mat! Back to the STF! Tanahashi endures again but the fans continue to rally! Tanahashi fights to the side, reaches out, but Shota pulls on the crossface! Tanahashi still manages the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go while the fans cheer, and Tanahashi crawls to a corner. Shota storms over, stomps Tanahashi’s leg, then stomps it again, and again!
Shota digs his boot in but the ref counts, so Shota steps off. Shota stands Tanahashi up to fire a forearm! And another! And another! Tanahashi turns things around to fire forearm after forearm! Shota turns things around to fire forearm after forearm! Tanahashi turns things back around for more forearms, but then so does Shota! Tanahashi turns things around again for another round of forearms! Shota shoves Tanahashi and eggs him on! The forearms fly back and forth, then Shota gets the edge! Shota bumps Tanahashi off buckles, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again! Shota eggs Tanahashi on while the fans fire up!
Tanahashi rises up, and Shota fires another forearm! Tanahashi leans into it! And he leans into another! And another! Shota throws a flurry, but Tanahashi swings! Shota ducks to SHOTEI in return! Tanahashi wobbles, Shota kicks, but Tanahashi blocks it, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while Tanahashi rises. Tanahashi drags Shota up, fires a strike fest, then whips. Shota reverses, Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up with Tanahashi and he drags Shota up. Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Shota down into the drop zone! Tanahashi goes up, SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Shota survives that solid impact and the fans rally up again!
Tanahashi waits on Shota, then he runs to SLING- NO, Shota slips around to half nelson! Tanahashi runs to ropes, bucks the nelson, but Shota ELBOWS and ENZIGIRIS! Tanahashi staggers, roars, but swings into the HALF ‘N’ HALF! Tanahashi’s back up, but runs into another HALF ‘N’ HALF But Tanahashi’s up again!? Shota gets him for a third HALF ‘N’ HALF! Bridging cover, TWO!! Tanahashi escapes and the fans are thunderous! Shota rises and now he waits on Tanahashi. Tanahashi slowly stands up, Shota runs the ropes, but Tanahasih slips under and spins Shota for TWIST ‘n’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!
Tanahashi roars as he brings Shota back up, but Shota fights the hattrick! Tanahashi fires body shots, Shota fires them back! Shota hooks the leg, SECOND- NO, Tanahashi fights the driver! But Shota fights the twist! Shota wrenches, swings, but into a full nelson! Shota breaks that, but ends up in a STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shota escapes and the fans are thunderous again! Tanahashi gets moving, and he SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi hurries right up top! The fans fire up while Shota stands, HIGH FLY ATTACK! Shota is down, so Tanahashi goes back up!
The fans fire up as Tanahashi aims again! HIGH FLY FLOWÂ FLOPS as Shota moves! Shota aims from the corner, fire in his eyes as Tanahashi rises. BLINDSIDE BUSAIKU KNEE!! Shota rises again while the fans rally as hard as they can for Tanahashi! Shota roars as he goes back to the corner! Tanahashi rises, into a BUSAIKU KNEE!! Shota isn’t done, as he drags Tanahashi up, hooks the leg, and SECOND- CRADLE from Tanahashi! TWO!!! Shota escapes in time! Both men stand, both men roar and run in! Shota dodges to then LARIAT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Tanahashi survives and Shota is furious, but the fans are electric!
Shota drags Tanahashi back up, reels him back in, and he hooks that leg! SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall
Whether light or dark, good or evil, that might just be a matter of perspective. What is clear is that Shota’s Second Chapter just punctuated a major part of Tanahashi’s last chapter! But wait, Shota wishes to speak. The mic is handed over, and the fans cheer Shota as he kneels by Tanahashi. “Tanahashi-san… I have just one decision, one option. I will lead Hontai here in NJPW!” Shota takes a bow of respect to President Tanahashi, but will he really lead the main unit when he is not yet atop the mountain? As for Tanahashi, he now has a week to prepare for his next match, that being with Konosuke Takeshita! Will The Ace be ready for The Alpha?
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: The House of Torture VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
The Bullet Club Civil War continues to rage on, and now Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho must put up their gold against Gabe Kidd, “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Taiji Ishimori! Will the House use all the tricks in the book to keep these titles? Or will the War Dogs be bringing gold and bodies back to the pound?
The introductions are made, the NEVER belts are raised, and we see who is truly Bullet Club Prime!
The War Dogs TRIPLE SHOTGUN! Yujiro & Ren fall out of the ring, Sho takes a TRIPLE SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Taiji and Gabe go up the corners, to DOUBLE ASAI MOONSAULT! Down go Yujiro & Ren and the fans fire up! The bell rings and Drilla drags Sho up. Gabe & Taiji set up Yujiro & Ren, Drilla SPLASH MOUNTAINS Sho out onto them!! The fans are thunderous and Drilla is all fired up! Gabe drags Ren out into the crowd to UPPERCUT! Taiji fires hands on Yujiro, Drilla has Sho, and it is chaos all around the arena! Drilla BOWLS Sho into chairs! Gabe does the same to Ren in some other segment!
Taiji SMACKS Yujiro off the timekeeper’s table! The fans rally, the ref reprimands, but Drilla drags Sho back to ringside. Drilla DECKS Sho, but Ren JAMS Gabe up with a chair! Ren has Gabe behind commentary and SMACKS him off a desk! Gabe falls back, Sho CHOKES Drilla, and then Sho puts Drilla in the ring. The fans boo but Ren POSTS Gabe! Sho stomps Drilla around, then tags in Yujiro. Sho stomps Drilla more, and the House all joins in. They drag Drilla up, whip him to a corner, then Sho runs up to forearm SMASH! Yujiro runs up to BOOT! Ren runs up to ELBOW! Ren snapmares Drilla down, then distracts the ref from seeing Yujiro’s FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!
The fans boo but Tokyo Pimp covers, only for Gabe to break it! Ren kicks Gabe back out, then Yujiro tags Ren in. The Souled Out Son of Strong Style storms up, but Drilla RAMS him into the corner! Gabe tags in, Taiji BLASTS the House, and now Taiji handsprings so he and Drilla can NEURALIZER HART ATTACK! Then CATAPULT into a HAYMAKER! Drilla lifts Ren into the Electric Chair, and Gabe goes up, up, and DOOMSDAY DEVICE!! Cover, Sho & Yujiro break it! The House brawls with the War Dogs, they go back and forth with forearms, but then the House just CLAW eyes! But the Dogs bark and CLAW eyes in return!
Taiji & Drilla whip, but Sho & Yujiro grab ropes! They TOSS Taiji, but Drilla sends Yujiro into Sho! GORE for Yujiro! Sho dodges Drilla to SPEAR! But Taiji springboards back in, SEATED SENTON! Ren BOOTS Taiji! Gable gets around Ren to ripcord, HAYMAKER, and Ren wobbles! The fans are thunderous, Gabe roars, and Gabe runs, only for Ren to dodge! Gabe rebounds, but into the NECKBREAKER DROP! Everyone is down, and this is just the first five minutes! Ren crawls to the corner, he tags Sho in, and Sho laughs as he stomps Gabe down. Ren and Sho stomp Gabe, digs their heels in, and soak up the heat.
Sho & Ren CHOKE Gabe, have him on the ropes, and then they double whip. Gabe DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up as the anti-hero stands tall! Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe runs to COMEBACKER LARIAT on Sho! Taiji returns, Gabe tags Drilla. Taiji gut wrenches Sho for CIPHER UTAKI, and Drilla deadlifts Sho! But Yujiro & Ren drag Gabe & Taiji outta the ring! Sho slips free to shove Drilla into the ref! The fans boo, but t hen Sho LOW BLOWS Drilla, and shoves him back into the ref!! The fans boo even more, but now Ren has his pushup bar! Ren CLOBBERS Gabe! The House regroups and they haul Drilla up.
Ren & Yujiro hold Drilla up while Sho has his “Torture Tool!” But then Sho spots something! CLARK CONNORS & SANADA are here! 100 Proof CLOBBERS Yujiro & Ren! Then he dodges Sho to UPPERCUT! Sanada… is in Astro Boy boots? What? But he has his guitar, and he aims at Sho! BUT HE SMASHES DRILLA?!?! Sanada gets the ref in the ring, Sho covers Drilla, House of Torture wins!!
Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
The Cold Blooded snake does it again!! He ditched LIJ for Just5Guys, then he betrayed J5G to be Bullet Club 4 Life! Only to now betray the War Dogs and join the House of Torture!! Sanada unzips his jacket to confirm it, he’s wearing a “House of Torture is Real Bullet Club” shirt!! But then he and the House run away as Gabe gets back up! Is this Sanada’s final form? Is this going to be the deciding battle in the Bullet Club Civil War?
NJPW announces the field for the Best of the Super Juniors 32!
The fastest moving round robin tournament is on its way back! And in this year’s field, it will be: last year’s winner, El Desperado; “Funky Weapon” Ryusuke Taguchi; Mr. Direct Drive, YOH; “The Way to the Grandmaster,” Master Wato; “The Time Splitter,” KUSHIDA; “The Jet,” Kevin Knight; “The American Shinobi,” Ninja Mack; “Japanese Young Punk,” Kosei Fujita; “The Sniper of the Skies,” Robbie Eagles; “The Ticking Timebomb” and perhaps the most decorated winner of all, Hiromu Takahashi; “The Black Mask,” BUSHI; “The Crown of Fire,” Francesco Akira; “The Bone Soldier Reborn,” Taiji Ishimori; “100 Proof,” Clark Connors; “The Murder Machine,” SHO; “Heel Master,” Yoshinobu Kanemaru; a wild card from CMLL; Dragongate’s Dragon Dia; DDT Pro’s MAO; and AEW’s Nick Wayne!
So that’s TWENTY in all, two blocks of 10, and it all begins May 10th! Desperado is on commentary and is very excited about those crossover names. But will he go back to back? Or will another prove they are the Best of the Super Juniors?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Ryohei Oiwa w/ TMDK!
The Alpha became a double champion to start the year off strong, but he has since hit a speedbump. Kenny Omega is now AEW International Champion, but Konosuke still has gold to defend. Will Konosuke keep this title as he also prepares for the Windy City Riot? Or will The Mighty Mullet get a grip on some gold?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives in!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The crowd seems split down the middle as Konosuke and Oiwa circle. They feel things out, back up, then tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Oiwa waistlocks, but Konosuke switches. Oiwa switches back, but Konosuke grabs a leg and trips him. Oiwa goes for an arm, Konosuke rolls back, and Konosuke floats to a facelock. The two stand, they’re on the ropes, and the ref counts. Konosuke lets off slowly, pats Oiwa on the shoulders, and the fans applaud. Oiwa and Konosuke go again, and Konosuke grabs an arm. Konosuke wrenches to wristlock, but Oiwa rolls, wrenches and wristlocks in return.
Konosuke rolls, Oiwa wrangles him, and Oiwa STOMPS the arm! The fans applaud, and Oiwa top wristlocks Konosuke. Konosuke arm-drags free, headlocks for the takeover, but Oiwa headscissors. Konosuke kips free, Oiwa headlocks for the takeover, but Konosuke headscissors. Konosuke hooks a leg to stop the kip up and he has the cradle! TWO and both men hurry to their feet. Oiwa headlocks, Konosuke powers up and out, then he drops down to jump over. But Oiwa drops on the monkey flip for a cover! TWO, and Konosuke bails out! Oiwa hurries out after him, headlocks again, but Konosuke powers up and out.
Oiwa whips Konosuke to send him hard into railing! The fans cheer, Oiwa drags Konosuke up, and Oiwa whips Konosuke, only for Konosuke to reverse! Oiwa hits railing, then Konosuke runs up to BOOT Oiwa! But Konosuke goes so hard, he falls over the railing! Konosuke gets back up while Oiwa is still down, and he drags Oiwa up. Konosuke puts Oiwa in the ring, the fans applaud, and Konosuke springboards! Oiwa dodges, runs up and ELBOWS Konosuke in the corner! Oiwa whips Konosuke to a corner, then runs up to ELBOW him again! Oiwa fires up, the fans are with him, and he whips corner to corner just to YANK the arm!
The fans applaud the savvy, and Oiwa clamps onto Konosuke’s arm. Konosuke endures as Oiwa grinds the shoulder. Konosuke fights up, Oiwa wrenches and wristlocks, but Konosuke powers up, only for Oiwa to wrangle him to the mat! Oiwa hammerlocks that arm, cording holds the other, and he rolls Konosuke up, TWO! Oiwa keeps Konosuke down with a double wristlock! Konosuke fights up, but Oiwa RAMS him into the corner! Konosuke drops to his knees but Oiwa drags him back up. Oiwa clamps onto the arm again, but Konosuke fights against it. Konosuke eggs Oiwa on so Oiwa puts on the pressure! Only for Konosuke to scoop and SLAM!
But Oiwa holds on and drags Konosuke down! Oiwa pulls on the arm with that keylock, but Konosuke fights up to his feet. Oiwa whips Konosuke to a corner, Konosuke stops himself and ELBOWS Oiwa back. And ELBOWS him again! Konosuke goes up, but Oiwa DROPKICKS him first! Konosuke falls against the buckles, and Oiwa goes out to grab the bad arm! The ref reprimands but Oiwa climbs up to throw down elbows. Oiwa then has a facelock, and the bad arm, but Konosuke fires body shots! Konosuke HEADBUTTS Oiwa! The fans rally as both men adjust their position, and Konosuke has Oiwa on the very top!
Konosuke fires up for the SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Konosuke clutches the bad arm, but he still rises back up! Konosuke drags Oiwa up, reels him in, but Oiwa fights with elbows! Oiwa wants the arm, Konosuke rolls through! Oiwa dodges the lariat to SNAP GERMAN! And then he waistlocks for another GERMAN SUPLEX! Konosuke stands, Oiwa runs up, but into an EXPLODER! Oiwa rises up, swings again, but into the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke huffs ‘n’ puffs and stands back up, daring Oiwa to do the same.
Oiwa stands, and Konosuke fires a forearm! Oiwa snarls and fires one in return! Konosuke fires another forearm, Oiwa staggers, but he stays up. Oiwa comes back to fire a forearm! The forearms go back and forth, the fans rally up as they go harder, but then Oiwa wrenches and YANKS the arm! Oiwa wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER, then another ELBOW- NO, Konosuke has a SLEEPER! Oiwa slips free to put the SLEEPER on Konosuke! Konosuke shifts, powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Both men rebound, and Konosuke JUMP KNEES Oiwa down! Konosuke fires up, hauls Oiwa up, but Oiwa SAIDOS!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Oiwa rises, the fans rally, and Oiwa goes to a corner. Oiwa climbs up, takes aim, and DIVING SPLASHES onto knees! Cradle, TWO!! Oiwa is free, and he runs up to HEADSCISSOR TAKEDOWN! Cover, TWO! Oiwa and Konosuke DOUBLE LARIAT! They stay up, Konosuke BOOTS Oiwa’s next lariat, then dodges the other! But he runs into a LARIAT all the same! The fans fire up and Oiwa waistlocks! Oiwa then spins Konosuke, but Konosuke dodges The Grip! Konosuke waistlocks, Oiwa switches, Konosuke switches back, and O’Conner CHAOS THEORY! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke grits his teeth and rises back up. Konosuke aims from a corner, Oiwa rises, POWER- NO, Oiwa catches Konosuke to a DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa hurries to clamp on the keylock! Oiwa drags Konosuke into SHANKLY GATES!! Konosuke endures being bent and twisted while the fans rally up! Konosuke shifts around, reaches out, but Oiwa puts all he can onto the hold! Konosuke still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Oiwa lets go in frustration. Konosuke rises, but Oiwa waistlocks! Konosuke holds onto the ropes with one hand, but Oiwa pulls him free! GERMAN SUPLEX! Konosuke lands out!?
Konosuke runs up, dodges a lariat, and then DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men rebound, and Konosuke LARIATS through! Konosuke hurries to suplex, RAGIN- NO, Oiwa fights the fire, but Konosuke suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, ONE?!!? Oiwa shows some true grit, and Konosuke is impressed! Konosuke storms up to ROCK Oiwa, then ROCK him again! Oiwa wobbles but Konosuke ROCKS him again! Konosuke spins, but so does Oiwa! Oiwa ROLLING ELBOWS first! SLEEPER! And then THE GRIPÂ misses! ROLLING ELBOW from Konosuke! Elbow pad off, ALPHA ELBOW hits!! And then RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
While The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Oiwa could not withstand The Alpha’s arsenal! Konosuke keeps this title around his waist, and now he must prepare for April 11th. Will Konosuke be ready for the Once in a Century Talent?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!
The leader and, uh, other leader(?) of Los Ingobernables de Japon won the World Tag League, and eventually won these titles off the Young Bucks. But the United Empire wants to take back what they never truly lost! Will the Imperial Unit & Prince of Pace avenge Aaron Henare? Or will things in the Heavyweight Tag Division stay tranquilo?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Empire gains more gold!
Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire, as is his wont. The pants are put aside, the teams sort out, and after the LIJ fist bump, Hiromu starts against Callum. The bell rings, the fans rally, and Hiromu stares down Callum. Hiromu vibes with the chants for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” The two tie up, are in a deadlock, and they go around. Callum uses his height to put Hiromu on the ropes, but then Hiromu turns things around. The ref counts the break, Hiromu lets off, but Callum avoids the chop! Callum whips, Hiromu reverses, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges, but then so does Hiromu! Hiromu RANAS, Callum handsprings through!
Callum runs up, Hiromu dodges and RANAS again, but Callum still handsprings through! But Hiromu spins Callum, only for Callum to fight the suplex! Hiromu CHOPS, Naito jumps in, and they double whip! But Callum BOOTS through Tendedero! LIJ tries again, Callum ducks this time, and he runs again, only for LIJ to avoid the boot! TENDEDERO! Naito & Hiromu hit Cobb with TENDEDERO! Cobb is furious but Hiromu goes after Callum. Hiromu drags Callum over to bump off buckles, then he tags Naito. The fans rally for Naito while he cravats Callum. Callum endures the neck wrench, Hiromu puts his boots in, and Naito sends Callum into them!
The fans applaud while Naito brings Callum up. Hiromu joins in and picks Callum’s legs up, DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Naito tags Hiromu, then drags Callum up for a CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS Callum in the corner, whips corner to corner, then runs up to LARIAT! Snapmare and Hiromu gets moving, but Callum dodges to basement DROPKICK! The fans rally up, Callum rolls and hot tags Cobb! The fans cheer as Cobb brings Hiromu up, reels him in, and then SLAMS him down by his waistband! Cobb steps on Hiromu but dares Naito to come in. GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT on Hiromu’s back!
Cobb mocks the LIJ fist with a hang loose, then he ROCKS Hiromu. Cobb whips Hiromu corner to corner, but Hiromu runs back to CROSSBODY! Cobb catches Hiromu, and swings, but Hiromu slips free! Hiromu ducks ‘n’ dodges to RAN- NO! Cobb stops that and he lifts Hiromu up! But Hiromu pops free to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tag to Naito! Naito fires hands on Cobb, kicks and CLUBS him, but Cobb just frowns. Cobb swings, Naito dodges to waistlock, but Cobb switches. Cobb shoves Naito, but Naito grabs the ropes. Cobb runs up, Naito BOOTS him, but Cobb eggs him on.
Naito fires forearms, but Cobb runs up, but into an atomic drop! Naito runs, ELBOWS Cobb down, then basement DROPKICKS! The fans rally, Naito BLASTS Callum off the apron, then whips Cobb. Cobb reverses, but Naoto BOOTS him! Naito goes up, and hits ESPERANZA! Cobb flounders, stands up, and Naito CORRIENDO SHIKI- ATHLETIC PLEX! The fans fire up as Cobb turns things around on Naito, and now he crawls to hot tag Callum! Callum runs corner to corner to JUMP KICK Naito! And then he brings Naito around to suplex, but Hiromu runs in! Hiromu dropkicks Callum’s legs out! Cobb “JOHN CENA!” SHOULDER TACKLES!
Naito wrenches Cobb, reels him in, and TORNADO DDTS! Cobb flounders away, Naito catches Callum and feeds him to a SUPERKICK! CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up! The fans rally, Naito drags Callum up, and Hiromu waits on Naito. Hiromu gives Naito the boost, but Callum stops the DDT! Callum and Naito switch, Naito feeds Callum to Hiromu for a dosido and roll-up! Callum rolls through, but runs into TENDEDERO! Naito wrenches, throws elbows, then wrenches again! DESTI- NO! Callum stops it, so Hiromu SHOTGUNS Callum into the DESTINO!! Cover, Cobb SHOVES Hiromu down to break it!
Cobb waistlocks and deadlifts Naito, but Naito fights with elbows! Cobb lets go to SUPERKICK Naito, then reels him in for a TOUR OF THE- CROSSBODY from Hiromu! The fans fire up with Hiromu, and he drags Cobb up. Hiromu fireman’s carries Cobb!? But Cobb slips free, and he TOSSES Hiromu out! Cobb calls to Callum, then he scoops Naito. But Hiromu SUPERKICKS Cobb to save Naito! And he SUPERKICKS Callum! But Callum stays up, dodges a lariat, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES Hiromu! Callum runs, but into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX into buckles! Hiromu fires up, the fans are with him, and he brings Callum back up.
Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Callum slips free! Feed to a POP-UP POEWRBOMB! Cobb hurries to TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Hiromu flounders away, but Naito runs up! But into a TOUR OF- DESTINO!! Callum runs up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, springboard, OSCUTTER 2.0!! And then the fisherman, for FIREBOLT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Naito survives and Callum is shocked! But Callum hurries to stand Naito up, reel him back in, but Naito wrenches out! Naito fires elbow after elbow, but Callum ducks! Callum ELBOWS Naito, but Naito SPITS at Callum! Callum CHOPS, Naito ELBOWS, and Naito ROLLING KICKS!
Naito hurries to get Callum back up, wrench, and DESTIN- NO!! Callum blocks to flip Naito into a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!!! Cobb roars, and he tells Callum to get this done! Cobb scoops, Callum aims, LAWN DART KNEE SHOT!! The fans are thunderous as Callum adds the BLOODY SUNDAY!!! Cover, COBB & CALLUM WIN!!!
Winners: Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Empire once again conquers the Heavyweight Tag Division, and Callum finally has gold here in NJPW! Khan waves the banner as he also wears the NJPW World TV Champion, is this Sakura Genesis just the beginning of The United Empire completely conquering NJPW?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Gene Blast took this title off of David Finlay, then kept it from Gabe Kidd, but now, amidst the Bullet Club Civil War, it is the House of Torture’s King of Darkness that wants this title. Will Evil rub it in The Rebel’s face that he has Finlay’s creation? Or will Yota be the one to keep things tranquilo tonight?
Evil & Dick don’t wait for the introductions, they attack Tsuji on the outside! They beat him down, drag him up, and put him in the ring! Evil stomps away on Tsuji and pulls the jacket off him, but that’s not YOTA Tsuji! That’s Yota’s older brother! The Tsuji brothers used this trick before, and it worked out again! Yota runs in and CLOBBERS Dick! Evil takes a swing but Yota BODY BLOWS first! The fans fire up as Yota BOOTS Evil down! Yota grins, then helps his brother up. The fans cheer as they both smile, and then Yota holds up the title. Yota hands that to the ref, the bell rings, and Evil suddenly wants mercy?
The fans rally for Yota and he eggs Evil on. Evil offers a handshake, but then goes for the eye poke! But Yota blocks with the classic one hand prayer! And then he pokes Evil in the eyes! The fans cheer, Yota runs, but Evil distracts the ref and Dick trips Yota up! The fans boo but Dick pretends his hands are clean. Evil kicks Yota around, but then Dick goes after Yota’s brother! Dick drags Elder Tsuji away from ringside and Evil mockingly says goodbye. Then he RAMS Yota into the timekeeper! Abe-san suffers again and the fans boo. Evil grabs the mic while he digs his boots into Yota, and he tells Yota that he wasn’t gonna get away with that cheap trick!
Evil talks trash on Yota, “Are you ready to fall like cherry blossoms off the tree?” Evil then laughs and stomps Yota down. Evil slips into the ring, the ref checks Yota, and Yota says he’s fine. Yota hobbles into the ring, but Evil pushes him down. Evil stomps away on the bad leg, then drops an elbow on the knee! Yota endures as Evil pulls on the leg, but Evil digs his elbow in. Yota drags Evil along to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and Evil distracts the ref again so Dick can SLAM Yota’s leg on the apron! Dick then hits a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Yota staggers away, the ref reprimands Dick, and Dick backs away.
Evil again argues with the ref, and Dick puts Yota in for him. Evil ties up the legs, and he salutes as he has Yota in a BLUE JUSTICE FIGURE FOUR! Evil mocks Yuji Nagata, and says HE is justice now! Yota endures, reaches out, and drags Evil along again. The fans rally as Yota keeps fighting his way over, and he has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Evil holds on so the ref reprimands. Evil lets go of Yota, then tells Yota to just quit now. Evil stands on the bad leg, but the ref has him back off. Yota grits his teeth and clutches the bad leg, but the fans rally behind him. Evil drags Yota up, but Yota fires a forearm!
Yota fires another forearm, and another, but Evil kicks the bad leg! Evil whips, but Yota can’t even make it to the ropes! Evil grins, and he grabs the bad leg to SMASH the knee on the mat! The ref checks on Yota but Yota refuses to let it end here. Evil stands on the bad leg, then he drags Yota up. Evil whips Yota into a corner, then runs up, but Yota BOOTS him! Evil tries again, and he blocks a boot, only for Yota to reel him in! DOUBLE STOMP! But that was double-edged given the bad knee! Yota falls over, shakes out the leg, and he tells the ref he can continue. Yota fires up and walks off the pain, and the fans rally as he goes after Evil.
Yota fires forearm after forearm, then whips. Evil reverses, but Yota RANAS! The fans fire up while Evil tumbles out of the ring! Yota fires up again, and he builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Evil hits railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! Dick is lurking nearby, but Yota stands up and fires up again! The fans cheer Yota on, and he drags Evil up. Yota puts Evil in the ring, the fans cheer again, but Dick is creeping! Dick grabs a leg, but Yota BOOTS him away! Yota ROCKS Evil, then slingshots and somersaults! Yota keeps moving, and he runs Evil over! Then SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Evil stays in this but Yota stays focused.
Yota drags Evil up, brings him around, and stomps him down. Yota goes to the corner, jumps up, up, but Evil dodges! No Marlowe Crush, and the leg jams again! Evil CHOP BLOCKS the leg! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Evil grins while Yota grits his teeth, and Evil stands first. Evil drags Yota around, stomps the bad leg again and again, then turns Yota over to SMASH the knee! Yota writhes and crawls to a corner, but Evil winds up the arm. Evil runs in, LARIATS, then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Yota stays in this and the fans fire up. Evil tells the fans to shut up, and then he talks more trash on those cheering for Yota.
Evil drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the fireman’s carry! Yota throws elbows, but Evil LARIATS! Yota stays up, and he glares defiantly at Evil. Evil LARIATS again, and Yota drops to a knee! Evil winds up, runs, but Yota blocks the lariat to ROCK! And SUPERKICK! But Evil CLUBS the knee, ROCKS Yota, ROLLING ELBOWS, then winds up to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up! But Evil has the legs, for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Yota endures as Evil sits deep on the iconic hold! The fans rally as hard as they can, and Yota powers up! Yota fights forward, claws at the mat, but Evil sits back down!
The fans rally more as Yota still endures! Yota shouts in pain, but he also powers up again! Yota fights forward, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go at 4, and paces in frustration. Evil then smirks as he drags Yota by his arm. Evil wants the ref to ask Yota, but Yota refuses to give in. Evil stands on Yota’s head, then drags him back up. Evil slaps Yota around, but Yota fires short headbutts into Evil’s chest. Evil laughs, fireman’s carries, but Yota flails free! But the leg jams! Evil kicks the bad leg, then whips Yota! Evil goes to the corner and comes back, but into the BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! CURB STOMP!!
The fans fire up as the Gene Combination hits! Yota sits back and clutches the bad knee, and tries to get it working again. Yota rises, fires back up, and he roars! The fans rally behind him and Yota drags Evil up to CLUB him back down. Yota goes to the corner, then goes up, up, and wait! Kanemaru has Elder Tsuji hostage! The distraction lets Evil CHOP BLOCK Yota off the corner! The fans boo but Dick CLOBBERS the ref!? Dick stomps away on Yota while Kanemaru puts Yota’s brother in the ring! Evil grins as now he, Kanemaru & Dick stomp away on the Tsuji brothers! Dick ROCKS Yota and has him in the corner.
Dick & Kanemaru double whip Yota, then Dick runs in for an ELBOW! Kanemaru adds an ELBOW, and Evil adds a LARIAT! They snapmare Yota, hold him up, and Dick goes up top! DICK CHOP!! The fans boo, but the Tsuji brothers are put together for a DOUBLE SPOILER CHOKER! The fans boo more, but here comes Shingo Takagi! He CLOBBERS Kanemaru, CLUBS Dick, then DECKS Dick! Takagi gets Yota’s brother out of there, but Kanemaru CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Kanemaru runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! And YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up for the Rampaging Dragon, “TOKI GA KITA!”
But Evil LOW BLOWS Takagi! Evil laughs at Takagi, but Yota LOW BLOWS Evil!! The fans cheer as now things are even! The fans rally up behind Yota and he hobbles over to Evil. Yota drags Evil up, reels him in, but Evil fights the suplex! They fight for control, and Evil suplexes Yota, but gets STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! And then Yota suplexes for the ORANGE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives and Yota roars! The fans fire up with Yota as he takes aim from the corner. Evil rises, but he sends the ref at Yota! Then Evil kicks low, and uses the ref to help with MAGIC KILLER! But that sends the ref tumbling!
The fans rally while Evil grins. Evil rises, he brings Yota up and runs, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous! Evil is furious but he drags Yota to his feet. Fireman’s carry and DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up again! Evil is even angrier now, but he slashes his throat and vows to end this! Evil drags Yota up, spins him around, EVERY- NO, Yota slips free and clinches! Evil fights free, but GENE BLASTER OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Evil survives but Yota just goes to the corner! Yota rises up, takes aim again, and the fans fire up as Yota roars!
Evil rises, Yota runs up, GENE- NO, Evil sends him into a corner! Dick drags the ref out! Evil has Yota up, Dick takes aim, but Yota ducks! POCKET SANDÂ hits Evil!! The fans fire up as Yota DECKS Dick! Kanemaru is back, and he dropkicks Yota’s legs out! Kanemaru calls to Evil, then he gets the whiskey! Evil stands Yota up, but Yota ducks again, WHISKEY MIST hits Evil in the face!! Takagi is back to PUMPING BOMBER Kanemaru!! Yota reloads, runs up, and GENE TRIGGERS! Yota goes up, up, and MARLOWE CRUSH!! Yota roars and the fans are thunderous! Evil rises, into the GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
The King of Darkness could not claim his throne, and that is TRUE justice! Will the House of Torture simply focus on battling with the War Dogs?
As for Yota, Takagi helps him stand, and Yota grabs the mic. The fans cheer, and Yota says, “I am the ray of hope to the new era of NJPW. But, how about you?” Wait! Yuya Uemura is here! Yota continues by saying, “Can you be the sun to light up this NJPW ring? OI, UEMURA!” Yota turns around to see Yuya there. Yota invites him in, and Yuya steps inside. Yota tells Yuya, “My next challenger is you.” The fans cheer, and Yuya takes the mic to say, “It’s not the belt that motivates me right now. To erase the memory of that day, I want to fight the Tsuji of today!” The fans cheer that! Yuya then says, “I, the Heat Storm, will be the one to light up pro-wrestling and everyone here!”
The fans cheer and Yuya gives the mic back to Yota. Yota smiles and says, “Oi, Uemura. Are you ready?” The fans cheer as Yota drops the mic. Gene Blast or Heat Storm, who will be forged in gold when these two collide?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto w/ YOSHI-HASHI VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
The Fierce Warrior finally leads the charge as THE champion here in NJPW, and he was even given the reins of Hontai by Hiroshi Tanahashi himself. But The Rebel does things his own way, from taking over Bullet Club to finally winning the New Japan Cup. There is only room for ONE world champion here, so will the G in IWGP still be for Goto? Or will the Savage King finally reign supreme?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly leads the revolution!
The bell rings and the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Red Shoes doesn’t even bother taking the measure, it is very clear Goto holds the crowd. Goto and Finlay circle, feel things out, and tie up. Finlay has the arm, hammerlocks, but Goto switches that onto Finlay. Goto headlocks, hits the takeover, but Finlay headscissors. Goto kips free, the two stand off, and the fans cheer. Finlay and Goto reset, circle again, and Finlay smirks as the crowd continues to cheer on Goto. They tie up again, are in a deadlock right at center, but Goto’s slight height advantage helps push Finlay back a couple steps. Goto puts Finlay on the ropes, and Red Shoes calls the break.
Goto and Finlay slowly let off, and Goto pats Finlay on the shoulders. But then Finlay ROCKS Goto with a cheap shot and headlocks! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Finlay grinds the hold. Goto powers up and out to then headlock Finlay in return. Finlay powers up but can’t power out as Goto holds tight! The fans cheer, Finlay fights up, and Finlay fires body shots. Finlay powers up and out, but Goto runs him over! The fans cheer and Goto looms over Finlay. Things get moving, and Finlay drops down, hurdles over, but runs into a HIP TOSS! Finlay hurries to his feet, but Goto TOSSES him out! Finlay tumbles into the railing!
The fans cheer and Goto eggs Finlay on. Finlay storms in but Goto kicks and CLUBS him! Goto CLUBS Finlay more, whips him, but Finlay reverses. Goto ducks ‘n’ dodges but then Finlay ducks to kick low! Finlay runs, but into a BACKDROP! The fans cheer while Finlay writhes. Goto stomps Finlay, then CLUBS him again. Goto CLUBS Finlay more and Finlay falls against ropes. Goto brings Finlay up, but Finlay fireman’s carries to HOTSHOT, then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Goto is tougher than that but Finlay stays focused. Finlay rains down fists, but Red Shoes reprimands about the closed fists.
Finlay lets off, and he throws up the Too Sweet while the fans boo. Finlay stands on Goto but Red Shoes doesn’t like the cocky cover. Finlay argues with Red Shoes, but Red Shoes won’t budge. Finlay clamps onto Goto for a neck wrench, but he also fishhooks Goto’s nose! Red Shoes reprimands, and Goto kicks forward to get the ROPEBREAK! Finlay lets go with just one hand but Red Shoes counts. Finlay CLUBS Goto down at 4! The fans rally for Goto while Red Shoes reprimands Finlay. Finlay drags Goto up and whips Goto hard into the corner! Gedo tells Goto to give up, but Finlay whips Goto hard into the other corner!
The fans boo but Finlay shrugs, then flexes. Finlay grins and covers Goto, TWO! Goto is tougher than that, but Finlay drags Goto up. Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Finlay throat chops! Finlay whips, but Goto reverses, and then Goto runs up, but into BOOTS! Finlay runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Gedo coaches Finlay but Goto brings him up for forearms. Goto whips corner to corner, then runs in, only for Finlay to FLAPJACK him off the buckles! Finlay then runs and LARIATS Goto and himself out of the ring! That was a rougher landing for Finlay and Red Shoes checks on him.
Finlay shakes out the bad hand, and he drags Goto up. Finlay RAMS Goto hard into railing! The fans boo but Finlay soaks up that heat. His hand seems to be alright as he waves to the fans. Finlay then dumps the belt off the timekeeper’s table! Finlay throws the tablecloth at the fans, then sets that table up near ringside. Finlay brings out a second table, and he places it right next to the first. Gedo tells Goto to give up now, and Finlay refreshes the ring count. Finlay brings Goto over to the tables, reels him in, and POWER- NO, Goto fights free! Goto RAMS Finlay into railing! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
Gedo coaches Finlay but Goto stomps him down. Goto stomps Finlay more, then whips him hard into the railing! Finlay falls to the floor but Goto stomps him. Goto drags Finlay up to CLUB him, but Finlay fireman’s carries! And POSTS him! Gedo loves it but the fans are torn at best. Finlay storms through the gate, but Red Shoes says to keep this near the ring. Finlay pretends not to hear that, and he hoists Goto up! But Goto RANAS out of the bomb and POSTS Finlay at the same time! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ring count starts again and Goto crawls his way over to Finlay by 7 of 20.
Goto stands at 9, and he drags Finlay up at 12. Goto puts Finlay in the ring and the fans cheer. We’re only ten minutes into this but Goto fires up. Goto fires forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs up, MURAMASA! And then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Finlay is tougher than that, but the fans continue to rally for Goto. Goto drags Finlay up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free to roll Goto up! High stack, TWO! Finlay basement UPPERCUTS! Goto sputters and rolls away to a corner. Finlay goes to the other and barks. There are fans who join in, and Finlay runs corner to corner, but into a BOOT! Finlay still LARIATS!
Finlay LARIATS Goto in the corner again and again! Finlay then clinches, but Goto fights with elbows! Finlay fires a forearm, Goto fires back! Finlay fires another forearm, but Goto fires back! The fans rally as Finlay wobbles already! Finlay fires another shot, Goto fires another shot, and they go back and forth! The fans rally but Finlay gets the edge! ROLLING- NO, Goto catches Finlay to an URA GTR! Goto runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Finlay runs, Goto follows, but Finlay dodges to LARIAT through! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up again! Finlay is annoyed but he watches Goto crawl to a corner.
Finlay runs in, and he UPPERCUTS! Then Finlay suplexes to TOSS Goto away! The fans boo but Finlay flexes and swaggers around. Cover, TWO! Goto is still tougher than that, but Finlay seems more amused than anything. Finlay sits Goto up and makes him look to the camera. Finlay fires crossface forearm after crossface forearm! Gedo tells Goto to just give up! Finlay fires more forearms, then stands over Goto. Finlay again taunts Goto’s kids like he did months ago, and the fans boo Finlay more. The fans continue to rally behind Goto, and Finlay clinches for the BACKBREAKER! Then he reels Goto in for a CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Goto survives! Gedo tells Finlay to keep on Goto, and Finlay pushes Goto to the apron. They’re near the tables! Finlay goes to the apron and tells the kids to say goodbye to daddy. Finlay reels Goto in, lifts him up, but Goto fights free! Finlay BOOTS Goto, stomps him on the apron, but Red Shoes reprimands. Finlay hauls Goto up and reels him in again, then mocks the tears. The fans boo, but Goto fireman’s carries Finlay! The fans fire up for the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER through the tables! Only one table breaks properly but Finlay suffers all the same! The fans are thunderous while both men are down!
Red Shoes checks and Finlay is somehow okay to continue. A ring count begins, the fans continue to cheer for “GO-TO-O!” and he rise sup. Goto heads for Finlay at 7 of 20, but reaches him at 13. Goto drags Finlay up at 14 and puts him in at 15! The fans cheer as Goto wants to win this the honorable way. Goto rolls in, drags Finlay up, and fireman’s carries for the G TÂ W!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives and the fans rally up again. Gedo pounds the apron to rally for Finlay but the crowd is still with Goto. Goto rises, hobbles around, and he roars! The fans cheer as Goto aims, BUZZSAW! Finlay flops back but Goto drags him up!
Goto dragon sleepers, but Finlay spins through! Goto fights the suplex, but so does Finlay! Got suplexes, Finlay slips free and then SNAP OVERKILL!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives as Finlay couldn’t get the full impact! The fans rally as hard as they can while both men are down! Finlay grits his teeth, clutches his back, and crawls back to Goto. Finlay drags Goto up, reels him in, and hoists him up for a BUCKLE BOMB! But Goto comes back! Finlay dodges the lariat to POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives again and Finlay grows frustrated! We hit 20 minutes and yet this feels like far less time! Finlay snarls as he drags Goto back up.
Finlay puts Goto on the top rope, then fires forearms. Finlay climbs while the fans rally more, and Finlay hoists Goto up. Goto fires body shots! Then he ROCKS Finlay with a forearm! Finlay drops back, but runs up and ROCKS Goto again! Finlay climbs to fire off more forearms, but Goto fires back! Goto HEADBUTTS Finlay again and again! Goto tucks Finlay in and the fans are already going nuts! Goto rises up to SUPER SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay survives and the fans are thunderous! Goto roars and he brings Finlay back up, only for Finlay to suplex, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Finlay staggers around, completely shocked! But he vows to end this now! Finlay drags Goto up, suplexes and OVER- NO, Goto cradle counters! TWO! Finlay holds on, suplexes again, OVER- NO!! Goto blocks the knee! Finlay fires furious fists and forearms, but Goto just HEADBUTTS him! Goto snarls and the fans are thunderous again! Finlay sputters, Goto stands him up to fireman’s carry! But Finlay sunset flips! Goto rolls through, into PRIMA NOCTA!! Finlay hauls Goto up, but Goto suplexes!! SHOTEN KAI!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Finlay survives and the fans are electric! Gedo himself is going nuts!
Goto hauls Finlay up, dragon sleepers, G T- NO, Finlay hooks the arm! The two fight for the backslide, but Goto spins Finlay through! G T R!!! But he’s not done! ANOTHER G T R!!!! Wait, Goto still isn’t done?!? Talk about overkill as Goto hammerlocks an arm, and gives Finlay the G T R KAI!!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The fans erupt for “GO-TO-O!” as he crushes the dream of the would-be king! If Finlay fought this hard just to fall short, how much harder must he fight to truly stand atop the mountain?
As for Goto, Red Shoes & Yoshi-Hashi help put the belt back on the champion while the fans cheer. Goto then gets the mic to say, “This is no Cinderella fairytale. This is reality!” The fans cheer that! Goto tells his son and daughter, “Thank you for fighting alongside me.” The fans applaud, and Goto continues to say, “No matter how many times you get beaten, if you don’t give up, then you don’t really lose. Children, you’ll face many adversities in life. But never back down!” The fans applaud that, too, and Goto tells everyone thanks for coming today. “Next up is Chicago in America. I know who I want to face.”
The fans are intrigued, and Goto tells Shota Umino to come out! Now the fans aren’t so sure about this. Goto says he knows Shota is watching, so please, come on out. The Roughneck returns, and Goto invites him into the ring. Shota takes off his jacket and hat, then steps into the ring to be face to face with Goto. The fans boo, so Shota hops back down. Goto says no, hold on, he’s not done talking. Goto wants Shota to step into the ring, so Shota does it for Goto. Goto knows Shota has “freed himself from doubt.” Then, they’ll fight with this belt on the line. The fans are again torn, but Goto tells Shota that they can show America a REAL NJPW match! What’s he say to that?
Goto holds out the mic, and Shota takes it. The fans are torn, with plenty of boos but also plenty of cheers. Shota tells Goto, “First of all, congratulations on your defense. Daddy’s pretty cool, isn’t he? Let’s show the world the power of NJPW’s Hontai.” The fans do applaud that, and Shota says, “I’ll give you everything I’ve got to take that belt.” Shota drops the mic to shake Goto’s hand, then he heads out. As for Goto, he continues to say that “The Goto Revolution isn’t just limited to Japan. The Goto Revolution continues, make sure you follow me! The G in IWGP, you’ve caught on, haven’t you? Let’s do this! The G in IWGP stands for GOTO!”
And with that, The Fierce Warrior is moving forward! Will he continue to lead NJPW and its new era? Or will the Paradigm Shift Shota speaks of just be a week away?
My Thoughts:
A great event for NJPW, Sakura Genesis is certainly one of the biggest nights on their calendar now. We got some great matches and some great story developments all over the place, really bringing some intrigue into the rest of the year and maybe even beyond. Great win for Yuya over Sanada, and then perhaps Sanada had about enough of being a War Dog, because he finally did what I knew he would and turned to the House of Torture. Great stuff in that on its own, and per Finlay’s backstage comments at the very end of the night, we’re getting another “Dog Pound Steel Cage match” for the blowoff.
The original was with United Empire, and that one got a little too wild, aka it ended Alex Coughlin’s in-ring career, so let’s just hope they don’t go as wild as they did that time. Either way, that blowoff will be great stuff, and it makes sense that no high level title is in either faction because this feud doesn’t really need it. Speaking of which, great stuff in the Global Heavyweight Championship match, with the Tsuji brothers pulling that old bait ‘n’ switch trick again. And of course the House had to get involved there, only for Shingo Takagi to counter that. Great win for Yota, and Uemura beating Sanada, Yota VS Yuya is going to be some great stuff, too.
I’m rather surprised we got new champions in Great-O-Khan and the Cobb Callum combination. Clearly, rumors of Cobb’s departure were greatly exaggerated. Surely Cobb & Callum will have a very good reign, as will Khan as NJPW World TV Champion. The most curious thing is that Obari the belt designer is with them. The most Bullet Club War Dogs did to the titles they held was put white straps on them. Perhaps Obari will give the Empire their own custom green? Or some new face plates to mark this new era of NJPW? His design for THE IWGP World title was a bit out of the norm at the time it was introduced, but it isn’t the worst so he could probably give the tag titles a fresh start.
Great match from Konosuke VS Oiwa, but I figured Konosuke would win so that he has momentum going into Windy City Riot next week. Great match from Tanahashi VS Shota, and it’s only a little surprising Shota won. After all, Shota is still one of the Reiwa Era Musketeers, NJPW still has high hopes for him despite the audience’s feelings. Likewise, a great main event from Goto VS Finlay, and a great win for Goto. Goto sure has his own high expectations for Shota, and their match at Windy City Riot could also be a measure of where Shota’s going both in story and in character. Chicago’s a tough town, they might not care for Shota even if he does start getting edgier.
Shota told Tanahashi he wants to lead Hontai and essentially be the face of NJPW, and becoming world champion would help do that. I just don’t think a show down in America is going to be where any of that happens. Shota may have to prove himself through the G1 Climax instead.
My Score: 9/10
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