Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (2/23/24)

Whose game is it?

Published

11 months ago

February 23, 2024

Steven Mitchell

SmackDown gives us a preview of the Elimination Chamber!

Drew McIntyre faces La Knight and Liv Morgan faces Tiffany Stratton in first-ever 1v1 showdowns, but who will gain last minute momentum before stepping inside the sinister structure?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Liv Morgan VS Tiffany Stratton; Tiffany wins.
Bron Breakker VS Dante Chen; Bron wins.
Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne VS Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh; Bate & Dunne win.
The Street Profits w/ Bobby Lashley & B-Fab VS The Authors of Pain w/ The Final Testament; The AOP win.
Drew McIntyre VS LA Knight; McIntyre wins, by disqualification.

PLAY BY PLAY

Bianca Belair is here!

The fans cheer as the EST makes her way to the ring, ready for the Elimination Chamber in Perth. But for now, she’s ready to watch this opening contest!

Liv Morgan VS Tiffany Stratton!

The Revenge Tour is going through Perth, and Liv lets Bianca know she’s watching her watch her. But will Liv make an example out of the Spoiled Rich Girl? Or will #TiffyTime start even before the Elimination Chamber?

The bell rings and Liv circles with Tiff. The fans rally as the two rush up. Liv dodges, Tiff blocks a kick but Liv ROCKS her! Tiff bails out and says she does this on Tiffy Time, not their time. Tiff says the Chamber is tomorrow, she’s gonna go. But Liv chases her down and throws her into barriers! Bianca applauds that, and then Liv sends Tiff into steel steps! Liv pushes Tiff in, covers, TWO! Liv stalks Tiff to a corner, runs up but is sent into buckles! Tiff then runs back to DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Tiff is annoyed and she stomps Liv around. Tiff puts Liv in a corner but Liv throws body shots!

Tiff CLUBS Liv, bumps her off buckles, and then bumps her off more buckles. Liv flounders but Tiff stands her back up. Tiff scoops, Liv slips free and BACKSTABBER into an Oklahoma Roll! TWO, but Liv stays on Tiff with a chinlock then chinbar. Liv facelocks, whips, and Tiff ends up in a corner. Liv runs up to back body block, then she rolls, but runs into a BOOT! Even Bianca felt that one. Tiff then DOUBLE STOMPS Liv down! Cover, TWO! Tiff is further frustrated but she drags Liv up. Tiff TOSSES Liv to a corner, then runs up to SPLASH! Tiff keeps moving, but Liv gets around, CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!

Liv hurries but Tiff bails out! Fans boo but Liv tells Tiffy to cry about it, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Tiff CHOKES Liv on ropes, then YANKS the ropes to jam her up! Tiff clamps onto Liv with a chinlock and she grinds Liv down. The fans rally, Liv fights up, and she throws body shots. Tiff ROCKS Liv, fans boo, but Tiff mocks Liv. “Wanna cry about it?” Liv throws body shots instead! Tiff CLUBS Liv, mocks Liv more, but Liv ROCKS her again and again and again! The fans fire up with Liv but Tiff knees low. Tiff runs, but Liv ROCKS her again! Bianca likes that! Liv runs, Tiff follows and KNEES low! Tiff runs but Liv reels her in! Tiff ELBOWS back, swings, but Liv dodges to CLOBBET Tiff!

Liv rallies with big shoulder tackles, then kicks, KICKS and ENZIGIRIS! Tiff falls over abut Liv kips up! The fans fire up and Bianca is feeling it as Liv runs up at Tiff. Back body block and a roll, to the SHINING WIZARD! Liv pushes Tiff out of the corner, goes up and FLYING CODE BREAKERS! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives, she isn’t a former NXT Women’s Champion for nothing. Liv keeps cool, though, and watches Tiff go to ropes. Liv runs up, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Tiff is frustrated again and both women are down. The fans rally, Tiff drags Liv to a drop zone, then goes to the corner.

Tiff goes up and up, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT- NO, she has to roll through as Liv moves! Tiff runs back in but Liv DOUBLE STOMPS her! Liv then wrenches and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP CRADLE! Cover, TWO!! Liv grows frustrated but she watches Tiff rise. Liv brings Tiff up but Tiff JAWBREAKERS fere! Liv runs back in but no Code Breaker! Tiff cartwheels and ALABAMA SLAMS! High stack, TWO!! Liv survives and Bianca is doing her best to contain her excitement. Liv and Tiff slowly rise, Tiff drags Liv back to a drop zone and goes back up the corner. The fans rally as Tiff goes up and up, but Liv anchors her!

Tiff hits Liv away, but Liv comes back to springboard SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives and Bianca is as fired up as the fans! Tiff goes to the desk, Liv goes out after her, but Tiff sends her into the desk! Tiff puts Liv in, then SLAPOS Bianca for the hell of it!! Bianca rushes up, the ref stops her, and Liv O’Conner Rolls Tiff! But the ref is busy with Bianca! The ref finally sees the cover and counts, TWO and Liv is sent into Bianca! Down goes The EST, and Tiff rolls Liv up! TIFF WINS!

Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall

The Center of the Universe just got the better of two former champions by using them against each other! Is that the exact strategy she’ll use inside the Chamber to put us all on #TiffyTime?

Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.

Kayla Braxton is with the Scottish Terminator and notes we’re just 12 hours away from him having what he’s called the “biggest match of his career.” What is his mindset ahead of The Elimination Chamber? McIntyre says, “One day. It feels like my entire life and career has led to this moment, this match. Every twist and turn, every moment of heartbreak. My greatest love, wrestling. My most dysfunctional relationship. That title needs me as much as I need it. If I lose tonight, if I lose at Chamber, if I lose at Mania, it was all for nothing. If I lose, my entire career is about as useless as CM Punk’s return to the WWE.”

McIntyre chuckles a bit, and sees Bobby Lashley walk over. Lashley says that was brutal, but he gets it. There was all this hype around CM Punk, then he gets hurt. Some of the memes McIntyre’s been posting, and that T-shirt he made, it has Lashley dying laughing. It’s almost as comical as WrestleMania 37, when Lashley beat McIntyre, put him in the Hurt Lock, and made him pass out. He should’ve seen his face. The hype is real, Drew. Lashley leaves, but will the Terminator look to tear down the All Mighty inside the steel structure?

Ashante THEE Adonis is in a rush.

He tells whoever he’s with to hurry up, cuz he looks good. It’s Cedric Alexander! He’s feeling good, too. Wait, what’re those? What? Red’s a good color on him. Yeah but his pants look like he got in a fight with his cat. Okay, okay, hold on, he’s got it. Cedric rethinks his look, and goes with a striped shirt and slacks. Where’d he get the shirt, tho? Babies R Us? He about to rip outta that thing. This is whack. Okay, hold up. Look number three is brown slacks, with a black shirt that has several shades of brown. Still no.

Cedric then tries on Adonis’ spare overalls that he wrestles in! Cedric gets it now. No, man, c’mon. They’re done. But later in the day… like, way later… They’re finally in the “right” look: leather pants, a cargo vest, and mirrored sunglasses. That’s bananas! No, he looks like Will.i.am. Or money. Money? Must be talking crypto. Adonis and Cedric may not agree on fashion, but will this be a hot new tag team to hit the scene?

The Bloodline sits in the private suite.

Roman Reigns smiles and Jimmy Uso laughs as they talk about what went down on Raw. Roman should’ve seen the look on Jey’s face, he was like, “How could you do this to me?” Uce, it’s NO YEET. Seriously, Jimmy got Jey right in the face, Roman should’ve seen it. Roman says hold on. Who sent Jimmy to Raw to do that? Oh, uh, Heyman did. The Wise Man called the play, Jimmy ran the play. Jimmy double and even triple checked, and that’s what he did. He ran it to perfection, really. So Jimmy is gonna stooge Heyman? Gonna sell him out like that? Roman laughs it off, though, because he called the play.

Jimmy nods and says okay. Then he did it right, right? Yep, perfection. Touchdown, Bloodline. But Roman leaves Jimmy hanging on the handshake. Heyman then hurries in and says Grayson Waller is here. Bring him in. Yes, My Tribal Chief. Heyman hurries away, and Roman says this should be good. What is The Tribal Chief going to tell the Aussie Icon ahead of the advertised Grayson Waller Effect with Cody Rhodes as the guest?

Bron Breakker VS Dante Chen!

The Big Bad Booty Nephew, one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, is here to layeth the smack down now that he is officially signed to the blue brand! Will he do exactly that as we continue down the Road to WrestleMania? Or will his NXT classmate prove he’s also worth of bigger things?

The bell rings, the two tie up, and Bron waistlocks to then SLAM Dante down! Bron then puts Dante in a corner, runs in, but Dante dodges. Dante comes back to DROPKICK, but Bron CLOBBERS him in return! Bron storms around, the fans rally up and bark, and Bron headlocks. Dante powers up and out but Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges, blows through the lariat to LARIAT right back! The fans bark more and Bron stalks Dante to the apron. Bron drags Dante up but Dante HOTSHOTS back! Dante throws hands then springboards, but Bron POWERSLAMS the crossbody! The fans fire up as the straps come down!

Bron aims from a corner, roars and runs in, SPEAR! Cover, Bron wins!

Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall

Fast and furious, and also victorious, Bron makes an impact on SmackDown! Will everyone else, even The Tribal Chief, have to worry about this juggernaut coming down the tracks?

Backstage interview with The Judgment Day.

Kayla is with Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh at gorilla, and says Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate have been on an absolute roll. The Bruiserweight & Big Strong Boi will challenge for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships at Elimination Chamber, so this match tonight with Dom & JD will give them an opportunity to scout the competition. Finn says, “Scout the competition? Kayla, the word ‘competition’ makes it sound like they have a chance, when in reality, they don’t stand a snowball’s chance in Hell against us!” Priest adds, “Besides, after our boys handle business tonight, the only thing left to do at Elimination Chamber is gonna be to pick the bones.”

Priest & Finn fist bump Dom & JD and send them off, will The Prodigal Son & Irish Ace be able to bring down the New Catch Republic?

The LWO talk backstage.

Cruz Del Toro tells Joaquin Wilde that they gotta take care of Legado. Every week, it’s the same thing. Wait, here comes Elektra Lopez. What does she want? She just wants to say that the last few weeks she’s watched them, it’s just sad. The LWO is basically dead. Where’s Rey? What has following him even done for them? But that is just a result of their bad choices. Maybe next time, their loyalty will be better. If there is a next time. La Madrina leaves, so that Angel & Humberto can jump Cruz & Wilde from behind! They beat Cruz & Wilde down, and then set them up for Santos Escobar to tell them they turned on him! They abandoned him! This is the price they pay, and it’s only the beginning.

Refs and security rush in, as do Carlito and Zelina Vega. The war between these factions is only escalating, what will it take to end this once and for all?

Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne VS Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh!

SmackDown returns as Bate & Dunne make their entrances. The teams sort out and Bate starts against JD as familiar foes. They circle, tie up, and JD wrenches to wristlock. Bate rolls, rolls and rolls! Bate is free, and he eggs JD on. JD and Bate tie up, Bate headlocks, but JD pulls hair! The fans boo but JD has the headlock now. JD grinds Bate but Bate fights up and powers out. JD runs Bate over, flexes, then runs. Bate drops, hurdles and rolls back, but JD stops himself. Bate kips up, grins, and the two circle again. They knuckle lock, Bate rolls back and headscissors to then bring JD to a corner by walking on his hands!

Bate goes along the ropes to then RANA JD out of the ring! The fans fire up and JD storms back in. Bate hurdles then MONKEY FLIPS JD! Tag to Dunne, Bate keeps JD away from Dom and the two double whip. They DOUBLE BACK DROP JD and fans fire up! Dunne drags JD up, snapmares him then kneels on him. Tag to Bate, Dunne sets up as Bate goes up, KNEE-BOARD SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Bate as he stands JD up. Bate whips, JD reverses but Bate holds ropes. Bate ELBOWS JD, DECKS Dom, then dumps JD out! JD throws Bate down by his hair! Fans boo but JD gets in to drag Bate up.

JD snapmares Bate by ropes, tags Dom, and Dom soaks up the heat before he slingshot SENTONS! Cover, ONE!! Dom is annoyed but he brings Bate up. Dom throws hands, tags JD, and they mug Bate in the corner. JD brings Bate up to UPPERCUT down. Tag to Dom, he and JD double whip while fans boo. Bate reverses to send JD up and out! Then Bate DECKS Dom, brings him around, UPPERCUTS and whips him to the corner. Dom reverses. Bate goes up to headstand, then he BOOTS Dom away! Tag to Dunne, Dunne CLOBBERS Dom! Dom wants mercy but Dunne gives him knees to the arm instead!

Dunne pulls on the other arm to bend the fingers, twist the wrist, and even the elbow! The fans fire up as Dunne then stomps Dom in the ribs! Dunne SMASHES Dom’s knee again and again and again! Then he twists the foot in a modified toehold! Then Dunne STOMPS the foot! Dunne wrenches Dom, tags Bate, and they double top wristlock! They STOMP both arms!! Dom can’t even clutch his arms now, but Bate whips him to a corner. Dom reverses, but Bate goes up and over. It wasn’t the cleanest, but Dom distracts the ref so JD can dump Bate out! Fans boo and Dunne protests, but Dom BLASTS Dunne! JD PENALTY KICKS Bate!

Fans boo but Dom soaks it up, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and JD drops a FALLING AX HANDLE on Bate! Cover, TWO! JD argues with the ref but the fans rally for Bate. JD sits Bate up but Bate fires body shots! JD JUMP KNEES Bate down! JD tags Dom, puts Bate in the corner, and Dom stomps a mudhole in! The fans boo but Dom lets off to flex. Dom then gets away from Dunne, drags Bate up, and he taunts Dunne before hitting Uno Amigo! Fans boo but Dom hits Dos Amigos! Dom stands Bate back up, gives some Latino Heat, but Bate stops the Third Amigo to suplex Dom in return! The fans fire up while both men are down and crawling! Hot tags to Dunne and JD!

Dunne ENZIGIRIS JD, ENZIGIRIS Dom, then GAMANGIRIS JD! And ENZIGIRI to GERMAN SUPLEX! JD flounders, Dunne STOMPS those hands! Then STOMPS them again! Then BUZZSAWS JD down! Dunne hauls JD back up, for the X PLEX! Cover, TWO! JD survives but Dunne drags JD back up. Dunne CHOPS JD to the corner, tags Bate in, and they reel JD in for a DOUBLE- NO, Dom saves JD from the suplex! Fans boo but then Dom sees he’s alone with British Strong Style! Bate & Dunne fire off fast hands from all sides! The fans love it but the ref reprimands! Dunne backs off, JD runs in but Bate sends him into Dom!

Bate now fires off hands on both JD & Dom in the corner! The fans fire up more as Bate beats JD down, then eggs Dom on. Dom runs up, into the fireman’s carry! And the AIRPLANE SPIN! Around and around and around and around, Bate then DUMPS Dom out! But JD rolls Bate up with tights! TWO, and Bate gives JD an AIRPLANE SPIN! The fans fire up as Bate hits the SPINNING SLAM! Bate tags Dunne in, then they coordinate, TOP BINS for JD in the corner! They set JD up for the REBOUNDER GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO!! Cover, Dom breaks it! Fans boo and Bate is frustrated with Dom.

Bate UPPERCUTS Dom, runs up, but Dom TOSSES Bate out hard! Dunne clotheslines Dom out for it! But JD kicks a leg out! Ripcord, but Dunn sunset flips it! TWO!! Dunne SLAPS JD, JD HEAD- NO, Dunn forearms! But JD ducks the enzigiri! GERMAN SUPLEX, but Dunne lands out! Dunne rebounds, JD ducks the lariat and SPANISH FLIES on the return! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives and JD is furious! The fans are thunderous, “This is Awesome!” as JD climbs! MOONSAULT onto knees! Dunne saves himself and then reels JD in! Dunne wrenches but JD has the ropes! JD HEADBUTTS in return!

JD distracts the ref while Dunne ends up on ropes. Dom dials it up to 619!! Fans boo but Dom flexes as he gest away with it. But Bate says Bop up, BANG! JD runs at Bate but is sent into POST! Dunne grabs an arm to SNAP the fingers! Tag to Bate, and they get JD hooked up, DOUBLE TYLER DRIVER!! Cover, Bate & Dunne win!

Winners: Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne, by pinfall

But wait, here come Finn & Priest! They’re upset that their boys lost, but then Bate DECKS Finn! Priest storms up but Dunne leaps at him! Only for Pries to toss Dunne in! Priest grabs each man but they fire off hands! The fans fire up as Bate & Dunne BLAST Priest off the apron! Finn & Priest regroup and run up, but then Bate & Dunne dodge, and they CLOBBER Dom & JD on the way out! The New Catch Republic has momentum going into Elimination Chamber, but will they come out of it the new Undisputed Tag Team Champions?

Logan Paul hangs out with Austin Theory & Grayson Waller.

The Maverick and A-Town Down Under are all admiring each other and themselves, but in steps Kevin Owens. Are they seriously all just looking at themselves? Wow, what a “great” hobby. But he’ll make this quick, since he feels gross being near all of them. He just wants to say, he truly, truly hopes Logan finds a way to bring the brass knuckles to Australia, because Kevin would love to use them to punch Logan again inside the Chamber. Honestly, what Kevin really wants is for them to catch Logan smuggling in the brass knuckles so they’ll have no choice but to send him back to the US. But hey, either will do. See you there, maybe. And where’s Austin’s shirt?

Theory and Waller are annoyed, and Logan doesn’t know why they didn’t just jump Kevin. He was right there, it was 3v1, they could’ve. Oh, true… Heyman walks over and asks if that was Kevin Owens. Y-Yeah, that was him. Heyman never liked him. They agree there. Oh, and today is Waller’s lucky day. The Tribal Chief wants to talk with Waller. Really? Heyman takes Waller away, leaving Logan and Theory a little jealous. They wish they’d be talked to by The Tribal Chief. But will this private meeting not be so nice?

Dakota Kai is being helped to the medic!

Nick Aldis and a referee help Dakota as she limps on a bad leg. Did Damage CTRL get to her just like they promised? Is Bayley going to realize it was a mistake not to make Dakota an ally?

The Street Profits w/ Bobby Lashley & B-Fab VS The Authors of Pain w/ The Final Testament!

What was supposed to be a Six Man match weeks ago never got going, so now they’ll try this at just 2v2. Will Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins put the fear of the All Mighty into Akam & Rezar? Or will the AOP write the Profits out of this story?

SmackDown returns and The Final Testament makes their entrance together. The teams sort out, and the fans rally as Ford starts against Akam. The two stare down, then Ford rushes up to DROPKICK! Akam stays up but then Ford DROPKICKS Rezar! Rezar stays up, Akam RAMS Ford into the corner, Rezar tags in, and the AOP mug Ford! Rezar CLUBS Ford, stalks him to ropes, and Kross talks some smack. Rezar brings Ford up but Ford fires body shots! Tag to Dawkins, they whips and DROPKICK Rezar to a corner! Rezar comes back but the Profits run him over! The Profits coordinate, BACK SUPLEX SPLASH! Dawkins covers, ONE!!

Dawkins keeps on Rezar but Rezar RAMS him into the AOP corner! Akam tags in, the AOP mug Dawkins now, then shove Dawkins down. The fans boo but Akam whips Dawkins to ropes. Dawkins holds ropes, BOOTS back, then sends Akam out! Rezar runs up but Dawkins dumps him out! The fans fire up and Dawkins builds speed! Dawkins FLIES to take out the AOP at the ramp! The fans fire up more and Kross is frustrated as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and The AOP mugs Ford again. The fans boo but the AOP soak it up. Rezar brings Ford around to CLUB him in the chest! Rezar soaks up more heat, clamps on a neck wrench and twists Ford’s head! The fans rally as Ford endures, and Ford fights up. Rezar CLUBS Ford, tags Akam, and the AOP coordinate for an ATOMIC KNEE! Cover, TWO! B-Fab is worried, Lashley might be a little bit concerned, too, and Akam CHOKES Ford on the ropes. The ref counts, Akam lets off and he tags Rezar. The AOP mug Ford more but the fans continue to rally. Rezar talks trash as Ford goes to the apron.

Rezar taunts Dawkins, then drags Ford up. Ford RAMS into Rezar, RAMS him again, then slingshots, but into a HAYMAKER! Ford falls and the fans boo but Rezar reels Ford back in. Rezar CLUBS Ford down, then hauls him up. Scarlett grins but B-Fab coaches Ford. Ford endures a facelock squeeze and he fights up. The fans rally, Ford throws body shots but Rezar shoves him. Ford mule kicks Rezar, DECKS Akam, then KICKS Rezar! Ford runs up but Rezar avoids the enzigiri! Rezar whips but Ford reverses to POST Rezar! Rezar flops down and Ford crawls as fast as he can! Hot tags to Akam and Dawkins!

The fans fire up as Dawkins rallies with big lariats! Akam kicks low, whips but Dawkins hurdles and FLYING ELBOWS! The fans fire up with Dawkins as he runs to CYCLONE SPLASH! Then ENZIGIRI! Dawkins reels Akam in, for the SILENCER! Cover, TWO! Dawkins keeps his eyes on Akam, drags him up, and fireman’s carries. Akam fights free, goes to a corner, and Dawkins runs in. Dawkins only gets buckles, then a BOOT! Akam shouts to Rezar, tags to him, and AOP sets Dawkins up, THE FINAL CHAPTER! Cover, Ford breaks it!! Ford runs up at Akam but Akam TOSSES Ford out! Akam snarls and tags back in.

The AOP get Dawkins back up, seems they just need to revise the ending. But Dawkins BOOTS Rezar away then ROCKS Akam with a right! Dawkins tags Ford and Ford climbs! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Akam, and Ellering should know this move! Ford goes up for a BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Cover, Rezar breaks it!! Rezar throws hands on Dawkins, but Ford SUPERKICKS Rezard! Dawkins returns to clothesline Rezar and himself out of the ring! Ford hurries to Akam but Akam grabs at him. Ford mule kicks but Akam blocks! Akam scoops but Ford slips free! Ford ENZIGIRIS Akam right down!

The fans fire up with Ford and he climbs a corner! Ford tells Kross to “SUCK IT!” but Scarlett distracts the ref! Kross SHOVES Ford down! Fans boo but B-Fab YANKS Scarlett down and Lashley CLOBBERS Kross! Lashley RAMS Kross into barriers, fires off hands, then fireman’s carries! Lashley runs but Kross slips free! Lashley ELBOWS Kross, Kross still POSTS Lashley! Kross gets an arm, takes aim at Lashley, and CHAIR SHOT on the arm!! Lashley writhes, did Kross just break that arm!? Ford grabs at Kross but Akam BOOTS him down! Akam then tags Rezar, and they get Ford up, to DRAG THE LAKE!! Cover, AOP win!

Winners: The Authors of Pain, by pinfall

Kross helped figure out the ending to this chapter, and he may have done more than just win a match. If Lashley’s arm isn’t good for the Elimination Chamber, can Kross take credit for ruining his Road to WrestleMania?

Dakota is checked by the medics.

It seems the knee took damage. Bayley walks in and asks if she can have a minute. Aldis and the medic walk out, and Bayley asks what happened. Dakota confirms it was DMG CTRL, they got her in the locker room. Bayley says she should’ve known. They’re using Dakota to get to her! Dakota says this isn’t Bayley’s fault. If she was in Bayley’s shoes, Dakota wouldn’t have trusted her, either. After everything Bayley did for Dakota, Dakota let Bayley down. Bayley says no, Bayley should’ve been there. DMG CTRL will not get away with this. Dakota says she meant what she said. She has Bayley’s back. If she has to earn Bayley’s trust again, then so be it.

Dakota says she and Bayley are gonna make DMG CTRL pay. Bayley nods, and it seems she still has one ally in this fight. But will they be able to make it through the Road to WrestleMania when the numbers aren’t in their favor?

The Bloodline waits in the suite.

Jimmy goes on about how he told Jey that they don’t need him anymore. But then Heyman walks in and presents Grayson Waller to Roman Reigns. Roman has Jimmy scoot over so Waller can sit next to him. Jimmy does as told and Waller takes a seat. Roman wants to tell Waller something, but for his ears only. Waller nods and leans in closer. Roman looks Waller in the eyes, but we cut away! Just what does Roman want Waller to do when it’s showtime in Australia?

BREAKING NEWS for Elimination Chamber!

The Kickoff Show will feature a Women’s Tag Team Championship match! The Kabuki Warriors will represent DMG CTRL against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell! Will the Poison Pixie help #IndiWrestling have a truly impressive homecoming?

BREAKING NEWS for next week’s SmackDown!

After the ambush by Legado on the LWO, Carlito is going to handle business by taking Santos Escobar on in a Street Fight! Will Caribbean Cool crush the Emperor of Lucha once and for all? Or will it be the other way around? And whether the Kabuki Warriors retain the titles tomorrow or not, they’re going to settle things with Bayley & Dakota Kai in a tag match! Will the Role Model & #CobraKai get even with DMG CTRL on the Road to WrestleMania?

Lashley gets checked by the medics.

They ice his elbow but he says he’s fine. Then in walks McIntyre. McIntyre has Lashley calm down, and says, “I’ll pray for you.” We know McIntyre doesn’t mean that in a nice way, but is there any hope Lashley can still compete inside the Chamber?

Drew McIntyre VS LA Knight!

The Scottish Terminator is putting so much on the Elimination Chamber, but also on this match tonight. Will McIntyre make The Mega Star just the first victim on his Road back to WrestleMania? Or will we see whose game it is, with everybody saying L A KNIGHT, YEAH?!

SmackDown returns and McIntyre now makes his entrance. The bell rings and wait, Logan Paul makes his way out here. The Maverick clearly wants to share in the main event spotlight given he’s also going to be inside the Chamber tomorrow morning. Logan joins commentary as Knight and McIntyre circle. They tie up, go around, and end up going along the ropes. They go in a corner, out of a corner, to another corner, and fans chant “LOGAN SUCKS!” the entire time. Logan revels in it, but McIntyre has Knight in a corner. Knight avoids the haymaker, then fires hands in return! McIntyre kicks low to ROCK Knight!

McIntyre CHOPS Knight, fans “WOO~!” and McIntyre whips. Knight BOOTS from the corner, goes up and leaps, FLYING LARIAT! Knight storms up to whip but McIntyre reverses. Knight turns back drop into NECKBREAKER! Knight stomps a mudhole, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” The ref counts, Knight lets off and then spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” Knight runs up, ROCKS McIntyre, but no BFT yet! McIntyre scoops, Knight slips free to roll him up, ONE!! McIntyre GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Knight falls and even Logan winces from that. Knight goes to the apron but McIntyre storms over.

McIntyre has Knight int he ropes, stares Logan down, but Knight DUMPS McIntyre out! Logan laughs, Knight aims and runs up, FLYING LARIAT! Down goes McIntyre and the fans fire up with Knight! Knight refreshes the count, then gets McIntyre up to fire hands. Knight whips, McIntyre reveres and reels Knight in, OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY to the floor! McIntyre rolls into the ring, but then wait, Kevin Owens appears! Kevin gets a chair, just to join commentary! Kevin says oh no, this is bad as McIntyre has Knight under the ring! CATAPULT GUILLOTINE into the ring frame!

Kevin says he was right, and Logan says that was ruthless. McIntyre glares at both Kevin and Logan, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and McIntyre grinds Knight down with an armlock and chinbar. The fans rally as Knight fights up, and Knight throws body shots. Knight whips but McIntyre reverses, Knight goes up but McIntyre BOOTS him out of the air! McIntyre hurries to cover, TWO! McIntyre rains down fists while Kevin and Logan bicker with each other. McIntyre lets off on Knight to look up at the WrestleMania sign. McIntyre goes back to Knight, drags him up, and puts him in a corner. McIntyre CHOPS, Knight CHOPS back! Knight CHOPS and CHOPS but McIntyre kicks the leg! McIntyre CHOPS Knight to then suplex and TOSS him!

Fans rally and McIntyre stalks Knight, to then stomp him on the head! Kevin says that’s rather disrespectful. McIntyre pushes Knight around, soaks up the heat, and then puts Knight in a corner. McIntyre winds up to CHOP! McIntyre CHOPS again, whips corner to corner, then runs up, but into a BOOT! Fans fire up as Knight drags himself along with ropes. McIntyre rises, storms up, but Knight counter punches! Knight JABS, JABS, “YEAH! YEAH!” Knight then winds up, but ducks McIntyre’s counter to atomic drop! Knight whips, McIntyre reverses, but Knight goes up and over clean now, to LARIAT!

Fans fire up as Knight kicks and DDTS McIntyre down! Cover, TWO! Knight drags McIntyre up, cravats, but no BFT! McIntyre kicks low, CLUBS Knight down, and then goes to a corner. Fans boo but McIntyre glares at Logan and Kevin before he goes up and out! McIntyre climbs the corner, but Knight leaps right up at him! SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives and Knight can’t believe it! The fans rally as hard as they can behind Knight as he stalks McIntyre. Knight suplexes but McIntyre slips free! McIntyre kicks low, underhooks, FUTURE SHOCK! But knight flounders away before McIntyre can cover,

McIntyre goes to a corner, he wants the countdown! “THREE! TWO! ONE!” CLAYMORE misses as Knight moves! Knight hurries to drag McIntyre out and SMACK him off the desk! And again! And again! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Kevin agrees with those, “Yes, true, correct.” Knight then says “YEAH!” and gives McIntyre one last SMACK! Knight refreshes the ring count, talks trash on Logan, but Logan says to focus. McIntyre DECKS Knight and Logan says see, he was right. McIntyre TOSSES Knight into Kevin! And then McIntyre gets Knight up into the ring! Kevin attacks McIntyre!

Winner: Drew McIntyre, by disqualification

KO hands McIntyre the win there, but then McIntyre SHOVES Kevin into Logan! McIntyre uses his enemies against each other but Knight comes back for more! “YEAH!” Knight puts McIntyre in the ring, but he gets a kick! Logan and Kevin brawl their way into the ring, Knight wrenches out of the Future Shock this time, and now the B F T hits!! Logan fires hands, but here’s Lashley! SPEAR for Knight!! Logan KICKS Lashley’s bad arm! But Kevin kicks Logan for a STUNNER! Lashley SPEARS Kevin!! The All Mighty doesn’t care about pain, he still dominates with even one good arm! But then he turns around into a CLAYMORE!!

The Scottish Terminator kips up just to show off, and the fans boo as he stands tall! But wait, RANDY ORTON is here!! RKO!!! The Viper truly strikes outta nowhere! Will it only take one shot for Orton to have his title shot at Seth Freakin’ Rollins?

My Thoughts:

A great go-home here, especially for being pre-recorded last week. Good recap packages and hype packages, and even stuff still set up for next week’s SmackDown. Really good promo and ambush from Legado on LWO, and the Street Fight they set up is going to be some really good stuff. Same goes for the promo out of Dakota and Bayley. I really hope this isn’t DMG CTRL luring Bayley into a trap where Dakota was never really on Bayley’s side, Bayley really should have an ally against the trio given there’s no possible reunion with Charlotte Flair or Sasha Banks. Now, DMG CTRL can totally make Bayley think Dakota’s still on their side and really mess with Bayley’s head, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Good match for Bron to squash Dante and have his first win as a SmackDown superstar, but obviously that’s all it was gonna be to start. The bulk of Bron’s story is still on NXT, and I feel like Corbin should start showing back up on SmackDown to support Bron, but also hope that Bron can put in a good word with Corbin to get him signed back to SmackDown. That in itself is a good way to put tension between the Wolf Dogs that then costs them the tag titles against Chase U or something like that. And speaking of tag teams, pretty good promo from Cedric & Adonis to introduce their team. They’re both great in the ring, are pretty good as talkers, they can make for a solid combo.

Great tag team match from Bate & Dunne VS Dom & JD. Dom & JD really are like junior versions of Priest & Finn so it works out. But of course Bate & Dunne win against Dom & JD because they’re not going to win at Elimination Chamber, certainly not with how go-home math tends to go. And we certainly got a lot of that in the Elimination Chamber match go-home math tonight. Tiffany got the win on Liv and stood tall against Bianca because Tiffany is not winning, but she’ll surely have a good showing in there.

Likewise, Kross doing damage to Lashley’s arm during the tag match was so Lashley would have a logical reason why he can’t win. That bad arm will hold Lashley back, and this will give us Kross VS Lashley at WrestleMania in a grudge match. Good promos between Lashley and McIntyre, and great main event from McIntyre VS Knight with Logan and Kevin both ringside. That final brawl almost had us thinking McIntyre was standing tall, but then Orton makes that great appearance, so the math would say Orton isn’t winning. Rollins VS McIntyre may have happened many times on the way to this point, but with no CM Punk now, doing it one more time seems like a good default move to me.

My Score: 8.7/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to New Beginning Results & Report! (1/30/25)

GO! ACE! GO! ACE!

Published

1 hour ago

January 30, 2025

Steven Mitchell

Tanahashi’s Final Road to New Beginning!

Evil couldn’t end President Ace, but will The House of Torture still take the NEVER Openweight Six Man Championships from him?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Masatora Yasuda VS Daiki Nagai; Time Limit Draw.
YOSHI-HASHI & Katsuya Murashima VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Jackson win.
8 Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Jado, Shota Umino & Togi Makabe VS The United Empire; ELP, Jado, Shota & Makabe win.
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Taiji Ishimori; Sanada & Taiji win.
Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins and become the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK; TMDK wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!

Evil tried to make WrestleKingdom 19 the last time we saw President Ace in this ring but he failed! However, his minions will not stop in trying to ruin the rest of Tanahashi’s last year. Will Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho take these titles back to the House? Or will The Ace, Joker & Rook stand tall?

The House walks out here showing off the belts they literally stole back at New Year Dash, but now the tables have turned! Tanahashi and team attack The House from behind! The fans cheer as The House finally tastes their own medicine! Tanahashi snatches back the belts so that he, Yano & Oleg can stand with them in the ring. The House protests but they’re one to talk. The introductions are skipped, the bell rings, and the brawl is back on as Tanahashi’s team goes back out after The House! Yano whips Sho, but Sho reverses to send Yano into railing! Sho stomps away on Yano, then helps Ren mug Oleg!

Yujiro turns things around on Tanahashi, and then he brings Tanahashi out to No Man’s Land! Sho bends Oleg’s fingers, puts his hand through the railing and pulls! The fans rally for Tanahashi’s team while the ref reprimands The House. Yujiro puts Tanahashi in, then he, Sho & Ren all stomp away! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but The House all put one out on Tanahashi. Yujiro stands Tanahashi up, then he and Sho double whip Tanahashi corner to corner. Yujiro runs in but Tanahashi dodges! Tanahashi then dropkicks Sho’s leg, then he dropkicks Narita’s leg! The fans fire up and Tanahashi runs at Yujiro.

Yujiro dodges, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up again as Tanahashi air guitars. Tag to Yano and he TOSSES Yujiro out! Yano then brings Yujiro out into No Man’s Land, then to the back of the crowd to THROW into some open chairs! The fans cheer as Yano brings out that Great Bash Heel side, but the ref reprimands Yano. Yano tells the ref to leave him alone, and he has a chair! The ref stops Yano from hitting Yujiro! Yano argues with the ref, but now Sho & Ren mug Yano! The ref reprimands them but the mugging continues. Ren leads the ref away so Sho & Yujiro can CHOKE Yano with a chair!

The fans boo while The House also beats up Oleg & Tanahashi. Yujiro drags Yano up and then brings him back to ringside to POST him! Ren brings Oleg around with a headlock and sends him into railing! Then more railing! Then into the crowd! Yujiro uses Yano’s red chair to CHOKE him! The ring count finally starts, but Ren JAMS Oleg up with a chair! The count reaches 10 of 20 and The House returns to the ring. Yano is still down at 15! The fans rally, Yano rises up at 17, and he lurches in at 19! The fans cheer but Yujiro is annoyed. Yujiro drops a leg, then an elbow, then a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Yano stays in this, but Ren sends Tanahashi into railing! Yujiro tags Sho, Sho CHOKES Yano with a boot to the neck! The ref counts, Sho stops, then Sho TOSSES Yano out! Sho keeps the ref distracted while Ren JAMS Yano up with a chair! Ren pushes Yano in, Sho covers, TWO! Yano survives and Sho is frustrated. Tag to Ren, he drags Yano up, and Ren whips Yano to ELBOW him down! Cover, TWO! Ren BLASTS Tanahashi off the apron! Ren grins as the ref now keeps Oleg back. Ren CHOKES Yano on the ropes, Sho joins in to CLAW Yano’s eyes, but then the ref counts. Ren lets off and Yano flops down.

Ren drags Yano up, but Yano pulls hair! Ren breaks free, knees low, then runs up. Yano dodges, clinches, and BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES! The fans fire up, Yano hot tags Oleg! Oleg jumps in and CLOBBERS Ren! Oleg then deadlifts Ren, but Sho attacks! The fans boo, Sho runs, SPEAR bounces off of Oleg! Oleg then deadlifts Sho! Shake, Shake, Shake! But Yujiro CLUBS Oleg! Yujiro & Ren double whip, but Oleg DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans fire up and Oleg runs at the corner to SPLASH Ren! Then he scoops and TOSSES Ren! The fans fire up as Oleg then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Ren survives but Oleg deadlifts Ren right to the fireman’s carry! Ren fights free, CHOKES Oleg, but Oleg breaks free! Oleg winds up but Ren ducks the chop! Ren CHOKES Oleg, the ref counts, but Oleg CHOKES Ren! The fans cheer, and then Oleg TOSSES Ren to the corner! Tag to Tanahashi and the fans fire up! Oleg and Tanahashi haul Ren up, double whip him corner to corner, then Tanahashi sends Oleg in! Oleg ELBOWS Ren, then Tanahashi SPLASHES! Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Ren into the drop zone! Oleg goes up, up and VADER BOMBS! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, Yujiro breaks it!

Oleg CLOBBERS Yujiro for that, then goes out after him. The fans fire up as Tanahashi powers up. Tanahashi runs, but Sho gets a cheap shot in! Ren BOOTS Tanahashi, tags Sho, and Sho BLASTS Yano! Yujiro turns things around on Oleg and now The House double whips President Ace! Sho runs in to forearm SMASH! Yuijro BOOTS! Ren ELBOWS Tanahashi! Ren & Sho snapmare Tanahashi, then hold the legs open! Yujiro shoves the ref aside, then FALLING HEADBUTTS Tanahashi down low! The fans boo but now Sho covers, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and Sho argues with the ref! The fans rally for Tanahashi, but Ren has his repaired pushup bar!

Ren takes aim, Tanahashi dodges, SHOTEI! Sho kicks, Tanahashi blocks to DRAGON SCREW! Yujiro runs up, but gets caught into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up as Tanahashi crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad! The fans cheer, Yano whips, but Sho reverses! Yano stops from hitting the buckles, then he dodges Sho to send him into bare buckles! Yano rolls Sho up, TWO!! Sho escapes but Yano hurries to get Sho’s legs! Oleg hops in, CATAPULT into Oleg’s BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up as Yano then stands Sho up, ONIGO- NO, Sho fights free! Sho dodges, but the ref stops him from hitting a low blow!

The ref and Sho argue, but Yujiro & Ren mug Yano! They double whip Yano, but Yano grabs ropes. Yano then sends Ren into Yujiro to DOUBLE LOW BLOW them! Atomic drop for Sho! Tanahashi runs up, SLINGBLADE! Oleg deadlifts Sho right into a fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! But YOSHINOBU KANEMARU is here! The Heel Master gets on the apron, but Young Lions already apprehend him! Yano hauls Sho up, for ONIGOROSHI!! Cover, KANEMARU TOSSES THE YOUNG LION ONTO THE REF! The fans boo but Kanemaru attacks Yano! But then Yano hits him with an atomic drop!

Kanemaru WHISKEY MISTS!? Sho LOW BLOWS Yano!! Sho rolls Yano up, HOUSE OF TORTURE WINS!!

Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

What a travesty! A miscarriage of justice! Evil isn’t even here, but his army of darkness just won the gold! Yano is upset, Tanahashi is disappointed, but Oleg is mad! Oleg storms back in, only for Yujiro to BELT SHOT him down! Yujiro then kicks Oleg out, and shows he’s pretty sore from the low blow. Will these belts help the House feel much, much better?

Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK!

The Fierce Warrior won the New Japan Ranbo to earn his shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so that means he and Zack Sabre Jr. will do battle for the New Beginning! Will the Rogue Luchador & Direct Drive help Goto gain the upper hand? Or will Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles help The Mighty Front Man prepare for war?

The teams sort out while all of TMDK’s title belts are put aside. The Japanese Young Punk steps to Despy, so Despy accepts. The fans cheer and the bell rings. Despy and Fujita stare down while the fans rally. Despy has the majority, and the two circle. They feel things out, Despy facelocks but Fujita slips around to waistlock. Despy slips out, moves around, but Fujita stays on him. They go around, break, and the fans cheer. They tie up, Despy wrenches to hammerlock, but Fujita elbows free to hammerlock back. Despy switches, Fujita switches, repeat! They go hammerlock for hammerlock, but then Despy top wristlocks to wrangle FUjita!

The fans cheer, Fujita fights up, but Despy shifts to a cording hold. Fujtia whips but Despy reverses and arm-drags! Fujita comes back, he avoids the arm-drag, and then he CHOPS! Despy is stinging, but Fujita CHOPS him again! And CHOPS him again! The fans cheer, Fujita CHOPS again, but now Despy CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, Despy ends up in the Mighty corner, and Eagles tags in. Eagles CHOPS, but then Despy CHOPS! Eagles shoves Despy and says he’s bored. He wants Yoh! The fans rally for Yoh, so Despy tags him in. The fans cheer as Yoh and Eagles circle. Wait, Yoh starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Eagles is rather amused, and says not bad. Eagles starts it up for himself, but Yoh sneaks up! Eagles stops the schoolboy and sits on the cover, TWO and Yoh has the sunset flip! TWO, both men stand and point at the other! The fans applaud, then Yoh kicks low. Yoh whips, Eagles reverses to go up and around to arm-drag! Eagles runs in, Yoh sidesteps but Eagles hurdles. Eagles RANAS then WHEEL KICKS! Eagles kips up and the fans cheer. Eagles puts Yoh in a corner, and he says “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP!

The fans cheer while Yoh flounders around. Eagles whips, Goto sneaks a tag, then Goto & Yoh DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Eagles! They BLAST ZSJ and Fujita, then call to Despy! Despy says no thanks, they can go ahead. “Se~ no!” DRUM BEAT on Eagles’ back! Goto asks if Despy is sure he doesn’t want in, and Despy says it’s fine. Goto CLUBS Eagles, but Eagles fires body shots! Eagles fires a forearm, but Goto knees low! Goto fireman’s carries, but Eagles fights free. Eagles waistlocks, Goto elbows free and runs, only for ZSJ to trip him up! Eagles BLASTS Yoh & Despy off the apron while Fujita basement dropkicks Goto!

ZSJ spins Goto around to be on the apron, then gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans cheer and ZSJ brings Goto out to UPPERCUT him down! ZSJ brings Goto up to UPPERCUT again, then UPPERCUTS him again! Goto stumbles and falls, Eagles CHOPS Yoh, and Fujita CHOPS Despy! ZSJ brings Goto up and wrenches his arm, then wrenches it again. But Goto fires forearms in return! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto again, the CHOPS continue by the ramp side, and ZSJ puts Goto in. Eagles tags ZSJ in whiel Fujita and Despy CHOP each other back and forth. ZSJ clamps on a headscissors and he squeezes tight!

Goto endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go cleanly and brings Goto to the corner. Tag to Fujita and he stomps Goto. Fujita drags Goto up while fans rally, and Fujita wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Fujtia wrenches again, ELBOW BREAKER! And again, ELBOW BREAKER! Fujita wrenches, top wristlocks, and he wrangles Goto to the mat. Fujita STOMPS that arm, then he tags Eagles. The Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions get Goto’s arms while ZSJ steps in to have a leg! Goto endures as TMDK cycles through the armlocks and leglocks! Red Shoes counts but TMDK keeps rotating before he reaches 4!

Then TMDK returns where they started, and Goto endures the DOUBLE STRAIGHT ARMBARS and INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Red Shoes counts, all three men let go at 4! ZSJ stands, he still has the deathlock, and he bridges back! Goto endures, keeps his shoulders up, but ZSJ stands to tag in Eagles. Eagles drags Goto around, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! Tag to Fujita, they drag Goto up, and they double whip him to ropes. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down, ZSJ hops in for a NECK TWIST! Goto sits up into a DOUBLE PENALTY KICK! Cover, Despy breaks it! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands.

Despy stands down, but Fujita BLASTS him off the apron! Fujita drags Goto up, wrenches, and whips him to a corner. Fujita runs up to CHOP, then he snapmares to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Fujita coordinates with TMDK. Fujita drags Goto up, and he wants to do the Chaos drum thing? ZSJ isn’t so sure but Eagles is for it. Eagles steps in, but Yoh runs up! Eagles kicks Yoh, and “Se~ no!” Eagles & Fujita DRUM on Yoh! The fans cheer and ZSJ acts like he doesn’t know what’s going on. The fans cheer for ZSJ to join in, but he puts up the X, that’s not for him. Eagles & Fujita DRUM away on Goto!

Goto stands up and grabs Fujita by the face! Eagles CLUBS Goto, he and Fujita double whip, but Goto DOUBLE LARIATS first! The fans fire up while they’re all down! ZSJ storms in and grabs Goto’s leg! ANKLE LOCK! Goto endures, fights around, and rolls through to throw ZSJ! ZSJ comes back to RAM Goto, then he runs, only for Goto to RUN him over! The fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Despy! Despy runs at the corner to ELBOW Fujita! Despy reels Fujita in for a suplex, high and hard! Cover, TWO! Despy fires up and the fans are with him! Fujita underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Fujita fights free!

Fujita swings but Despy blocks the chop! Despy knees low, whips, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! The fans cheer while both men are down! Fujita roars while he rises up, and he storms back to Despy. Fujita waistlocks, deadlifts Despy, but Despy fights the suplex with elbows! Despy is free, but Fujita runs up to slip around and backslide! Despy rolls through, Fujita KICKS him down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Fujita fires up again. Fujita drags Despy back up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Despy fights that. Despy wrenches, but Fujita ROCKS him! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return!

Fujita and Despy keep the wristlock while they fire forearm after forearm back and forth! The fans rally up as the shots go faster and faster, but then both men wobble! Fujita fires a forearm, then another! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return! Despy runs, Eagles slips in, SOBAT! Fujita UPPERCUTS! Eagles scoops Despy but Yoh makes the save! Eagles kicks Yoh, he and Fujita double whip, but Yoh reverses to crisscross them into each other! FALCON- NO, Eagles slips out, but Yoh switches! Yoh feeds Eagles to Despy’s ELBOW! Yoh reels Eagles back in, FALCON ARROW! The fans fire up but Fujita runs up!

Despy & Yoh double kick, double whip, but Fujita DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! Fujita kips up, the fans fire up, and Fujita whips Despy, but Despy reverses to SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita and Despy crawl for their corners, hot tags to Goto and ZSJ! The fans fire up as both men run in, Goto LARIATS ZSJ! Goto roars and the fans are with him! Goto fires a flurry of forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and Goto fires up again! Goto fireman’s carries but ZSJ pulls on an arm! Goto powers out and ROCKS ZSJ!

Goto runs, ZSJ wrangles him to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Eagles & Fujita BLAST Yoh & Despy off the arm! They have Yoh & Despy stuck on the outside with armlocks while ZSJ has the DISARMER! Yoh breaks free of Eagles and DROPKICKS ZSJ! Eagles returns to SUPERKICK Yoh! Despy is in, Eagles slips around and feeds him to Fujita’s MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up and TMDK drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms on Eagles & Fujita! They DOUBLE CHOP, then double wrench! MAX- NO, Goto fights free and kicks Fujita! Goto deflects Eagles’ kick to LARIAT! Fujita kicks Goto, runs, but Goto follows! LARIAT!

ZSJ RAMS Goto, whips, but Goto reverses! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up while ZSJ clutches his head. Goto hauls ZSJ up, dragon sleepers, but ZSJ drops down! Goto drops onto ZSJ for a cover, TWO!! ZSJ is up, Goto sends him into a corner! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP, into a GOTO SAN SHIKI!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes, BOOTS Goto, then runs! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Goto roars, runs, but ZSJ KCIKS the lariat, PELES the other arm, then SWEEPS the legs! Goto falls, but then sits up, into a PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up and ZSJ hurries to drag Goto back up.

ZSJ scoops, ZACK- NO, Goto slips free and has the SLEEPER! Goto sits ZSJ and rolls him, GOTO NI SHIKI!! TWO!! ZSJ has the legs, JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH, with bridge!! TMDK WINS!!

Winners: TMDK, by pinfall

It was a fast and furious finish of technical holds, but who else but the best technical wrestler in the world would pull it out? Goto is frustrated for getting caught like that, but will he avenge himself in just 12 days?

As for TMDK, Eagles starts off by saying, “G’day, Sendai!” Eagles then pretends to check his watch, and asks, “Rocky doki desu ka? <Where is Rocky?> Zabishii. <How lonely.>” The fans chuckle at Eagles’ fake crying, and Eagles then tells Yoh & Rocky that next month in Osaka, see you then! The fans applaud, and then Eagles offers the mic to Fujita. The fans cheer Fujita on, and Fujita accepts. “That lariat turned me inside out, so I’ll keep this short! I’m beating El Desperado!” The fans cheer that, ready to see Fujita challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on Tuesday, February 4th!

And lastly, that brings things to The Front Man. ZSJ takes the mic to say, “People of Sendai, thank you very much!” The fans cheer, but then ZSJ tells “Ko-kun” and “Robbie-chan” to “cut that drumming bit. It was lame.” The fans chuckle again, and ZSJ says 2025 isn’t the Year of the Snake. No, it’s all orange! ZSJ promises that TMDK won’t just paint NJPW orange, but the entire world! “Osaka will be here soon enough. Goto, this is your last chance. Let’s make the most of it.” The fans like the sound of that! ZSJ says they’ll end with this: This year revolves around TMDK! Arigato gozaimashita! The fans are ready, will the New Beginning in Osaka be Mighty?

My Thoughts:

A very good event for NJPW, though “Road to” always indicates more tune-up filler than thriller. Gabe Kidd going after Yota Tsuji and the Global Heavyweight Championship is an interesting development, but that is going to be a great match. The NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship match was really good stuff, and I was only a little surprised that The House of Torture won. Firstly, Tanahashi has to lose those titles at some time, so might as well pull off the Band-Aid now before The New Beginning events. Then this works with the story from Oleg and Josh Barnett where Barnett wants to help Oleg reach that singles title level.

And very good Six Man Tag main event to not only build Goto VS ZSJ but also Desperado VS Fujita. Great win for TMDK, but we have a lot of other Road to New Beginning events to build Goto VS ZSJ. A lot of filler 10 Man Tags are on the schedule, but I probably won’t be bothering with those. Despy VS Fujita will be great, but Fujita and Eagles are already the tag champions, so I don’t see Fujita winning. As for Goto VS ZSJ, ZSJ said it himself that this is very likely Goto’s last chance at ever being the top champion in NJPW, but I don’t see Goto winning. It’ll be an epic battle, but I feel like ZSJ is going to stay on top.

My Score: 8.7/10

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Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.30.25

Are we gonna get consecutive weeks of momentum or we gonna get the “LOL TNA” moment already?

Published

3 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Andrew Balaz

Coming off the first Live iMPACT! in 8 years, it has been pretty universally agreed upon that it was not a bad show. Good favor, a larger audience then they’ve had in years and TNA actually did fairly well establishing themselves as not a third rate duelist.

Let’s see if the good tidings continue or if things start to well…TNA.

The official liaison between @WWENXT and TNA, @AriannaGraceWWE, was rudely interrupted by Tessa Blanchard while speaking with @MeanGiaMiller!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn pic.twitter.com/8ImgauBAiO

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Ratings:

Cora Jade vs Hyan: Cora wins via Jaded – ** 1/2
Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater: Myers wins via Roster Cut – ** 3/4
Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via 450 – ** 3/4
Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint: No Contest? EY Turned Heel – N/A
Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek: Wes wins via Cardiac Kick – ***
Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$: Kaibas win via Danger Zone – ***

Results:

Nic Nemeth comes out to talk, doesn’t complain and says he’s just gonna dust himself off and start again. Ryan comes out to complain on behalf of “hiissss brrooother” and run down Hendry. Nic is playing babyface still and Ryan is instigating is typical little brother fashion. Nic tries to appease Ryan saying this could be a big year for both of them, so Fir$t Cla$$ music hits and KC Navarro cuts them off and hands off to AJ Francis. Ryan get mad at them interrupting, Nic tries to calm the situation but Ryan decides to agree to a tag match that Nic doesn’t seem like he wanted to go there. But Santino comes out and makes it official.

EXCLUSIVE: @XiaBrookside welcomed @WWENXT's @CoraJadeWWE to #TNAiMPACT, but things got HEATED fast!

Don't miss #TNAiMPACT TONIGHT at 8/7c on @AXSTV in the US, @Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and streaming worldwide on TNA+!

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/LP8ghA78Pv

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 30, 2025

Cora Jade vs Hyan

Hyan tries a Pump Kick, Cora catches it, lays her out and kicks her feet up in the corner getting cocky. Snapmare with the Hair, into a Springboard Single Stomp from Cora, Hyan is getting throttled along the ropes and putting up much of a fight to start. Hyan is usually just enhancement talent in TNA, even though she does have a solid pedigree in the indies and internationally. Hyan finally moves so Cora smashes herself into the corner, Wasteland from Hyan for a 1 count, Cora counters Hyan’s attempted offense and then hits Jaded for the win!

The match did what it needed to, Cora tried to lay in the boots further, Xia runs out to make a save but Cora baits her into a false sense of security and goes after Xia. So Masha comes out for the save on the person who made the save. Cora comes off looking pretty good and Masha scaring her off helps Masha’s aura.

.@MeanGiaMiller tries to get answers out of @WesLee_WWE, @TyriekIgwe_WWE and @_Tysonwwe_ for his attack on The Rascalz ahead of Lee's match with @The_Ace_Austin TONIGHT on iMPACT!

Watch #TNAiMPACT now on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn

Get one month FREE with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/UIU5GgiylE

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater

Myers grabs the quick Headlock into the Shoulder Tackle and welcome back to 1997 wrestling starts. Myers got cocky, shot Leon into the ropes and eats a Shoulder Tackle from Leon, so a little showboating from Leon gets under Myers skin and causes him to make a few missteps. Leon hits the Feint Mule Kick into the Handspring Back Elbow for 2, but when he tries to continue, Myers pulls him down into the buckles. Myers looks for a Spear, Leon Leap Frogs and Myers eats turnbuckle. He powders, the System shields him from a dive, and we’re starting to see the numbers game come into play.

A Thrust Kick from Myers rocks Leon as he’s coming back in, Strong Irish Whip into a Gator Roll and then Sleeper Hold. Again, offense brought to you by Bill Clinton. Leon gets away from the Sleeper, tries to hit the ropes and Myers does his Baseball Slide Trip. Slow heel moves from Myers, Sleeper, Facelocks, Back Elbows…just slow classic heel offense. Leon tries to fire, eats a Knee Lift. Irish Whip but Leon counters by hoping the ropes to the apron, quick pop shot and then Springboard Crossbody into a series of Lariats and a Shotgun Kick! Leon has the momentum, Blue Thunder Bomb for two! Leon goes to the top, Myers is up, Leon rolls to the other side to avoid Myers, Myers eats a Leg Lariat from Leon and Myers pushes off, Bicycle Kick, Thrust Kick into Implant DDT for only two! Myers looks to Spear, gets rolled up in a Small Package, Kick out, dumped outside, Leon flies over the corner onto Myers!

System surrounds Leon, tries to get a few shots, but Leon has some quick offense for everyone. In the chaos, Lish puts a Ring on Myers’ hand so a Loaded Punch into Roster Cut and Myers wins!

Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali

Slow start with Ali being arrogant into a Lucha stalemate section where there’s Satellite counters, Headscissors and a powder to break the nonsense. Corner counters, Overhand Chops from both, they tussle on the top rope, Ali backflips off the ropes, Laredo tries a Crossbody but Mustafa hits a Dropkick. Grounded Abdominal Stretch from Ali, Laredo tries to fight up and out, but Ali slams him back down, talks smack, slaps him and then eats a Michinoku Driver out of nowhere! But only a two count! Ali manages to pull Laredo into the corner pads, tries a dirty pin with feet on the ropes but the referee sees it, Laredo tries a Roll-Up in the disarray, Ali kicks out, they run back and forth, Ali just slides out thinking he’s outsmarted Laredo but Laredo hits the Suicida for a solid pop. Ali pokes the eye and grabs at the mask, Laredo is off kilter, Ali baits Laredo through the corner, hits the Draping DDT off the apron, slides Laredo back in and 450 for the win.

Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint

Jabroni duo comes out, and they look stupid, their music is generic Hot Topic trash and the one with hair walks like he’s pretending to be a Delirious fused with a Dinosaur. They look so insanely pathetic.

Dino-nerd tries a stand switch and suplex but Josh no sells and looks like the older sibling judging the little sibling’s stupidity. Bald jabroni tags in, does nothing, blind tag just for Josh to single handedly lay both out. Of course they’re trying to establish the loser squad, so the eventually have a good defensive moment that catches Josh and isolates him in their corner. He still mostly takes care of both of them. This is honestly pathetic.

Locomotion counter switches in the corner before a Shotgun Kick wipes out Josh, Dino-nerd tries a Lio Rush style splash but misses, Josh tags out, EY looks to tee off but he turns and lays out Josh. EY turns heel…that was not on my Bingo Card, but I’m not mad about it. EY has the maniacal look in his eyes again, so Sanity or Violence by Design could be back? Can he call the group SAnitY since they’re working with WWE now?

Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek

Things start slow then a few quick strike spots from Ace. A grounded Heel Kick and Enzuigiri rocks Wes, Wes slingshots back in, Sunset, Ace dodges tries to stay crouched to get cute but Up Kick from Wes kicks Ace in the face. Wes crotches Ace on the top rope, Enzuigiri, Suicida leaves Ace laying on the ramp. Wes hits the Street Fighter combo in with Ace shoved in the corner, the crowd chants “Boring” so Wes revels in the negativity and mockingly does the Rascalz taunt. A few quick shots and Ace kicks out at one and holds the ropes as Wes just lights him up with kicks. Ace asks for more, and goes full Strong Style. A few round kicks to the chest before Wes decides to do the hell thing and a Spinning Thrust Kick to the side of the face. Wes puts Ace in a Key Lock and Ace struggles to his feet before barely slipping the lock.

They trade strikes, Triangle Kick misses for Ace but he manages to connect after with a strike, a few more, Click Click Boom, Seated Miz Lariats in the corner, Wes falls out of the corner, Triangle Kick for the near fall, but the offense isn’t over and Ace hits the Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb! Ace looks for The Fold, Tyson and Tyriek make their presence felt, Ace does the apron dance and kicks them both in the face. Wes gets dumped out of the ring, Ace with a Fosbury Flop (not the best one he’s done), Tyriek picks the ankle long enough to slow down Ace as Ace walks into the Cardiac Kick!

Wes and crew attacks Ace after the match, so The Rascalz make the save. We’re obviously going to get a 6 man soon, and this is perfectly fine.

Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$

AJ starts with Ryan and just shoves him away and demands Nic, Nic gets the best of AJ but AJ tags in KC and KC gets in a few quick shots, some cute counters and showboating before eating a Dropkick from Nic. AJ comes in to try and take out Nic, the Kaibas take out AJ and then dump KC into AJ’s arms and hold the ring going to commercial.

During the commercial a little blind tag and Spiderman in the ropes taunt from KC caught Ryan off guard so First Class is in control. AJ is beating the hell out of Ryan in the ropes, then hits Tennessee Whiskey for the “Money Money Money” taunt. KC tags himself in and starts slapping Ryan around, Dropkick into 305 as KC cuts off Ryan from Nic, throws Ryan in the corner, Rolling Uppercuts, Snapmare, Roll through, Chest Stomp into a near fall. KC tags in AJ and a little tandem offense gives them another near fall but Mokuba refuses to lose…so far. AJ steps on Ryan’s chest and then lays in a few Overhand Chops. AJ slowing things down, looks for a power move but Ryan slips it into a Sleeper Attempt but AJ counters and slams Ryan down for another two count. Two Sidewalk Slams after getting bounced out of the corner, but Ryan keeps kicking out.

AJ takes Nic off the apron, looks for another Sidewalk Slam but Ryan turns it into a Satellite DDT. Simultaneous tag time, KC eats the fire from Nic, two Lariats, Stinger Splash, Rude Awakening, 10 Count Shots to the Heart for…AJ breaks it up! AJ looks for a Down Payment but Nic slips, Superkick, Ryan tries to rock AJ to no avail so they both Lariat AJ out and Avalanche Polish Hammer from Ryan lays out AJ. KC tries the Flash Pinfall but Nic rolls out, a few quick shouts, Spinning Heel Kick from KC for a 2 count. Nic hits a FAMEasser into Danger Zone after Ryan’s blind tag so Ryan gets the cover as Nic just laughs and takes it in.

Overall Score: 6.25/10

Nothing to really be offended by. Some of the stuff was a little low stakes or obvious filler, but stories moved forward with Cora, Wes and the Kaibas. Plus you know, Eric Young turning on Josh is a little unexpected. EY has been the fill in Dreamer/Scott with the “Ra-Ra” speeches and feel good crap for significant shows, so having him go back to Maniac is a nice twist.

Tessa also steering into this “Locker Room bully” persona is smart. It’s not a stretch from what people already think, so steering into the skid is very smart. I may not have been blown away by anything in this episode, but it was definitely decent and did a solid enough job showcasing the partnership and not making the TNA talent feel like an after thought.

All in all, very nice.