Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (3/19/24)
Enact the Catch Clause!
The No Quarter Catch Crew is gonna keep you guessing!
Riley Osborne is after the NXT Heritage Cup, but he doesn’t know if it’s Charlie Dempsey, Drew Gulak, Damon Kemp or Myles Borne defending it! Will this be a #TeachableMoment for the young star of Chase U?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Roxanne Perez VS Tatum Paxley; Roxanne wins.
- NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match Qualifier: Nathan Frazer & Axiom VS The No Quarter Catch Crew; Frazer & Axiom win and advance.
- Sol Ruca VS Brinley Reece w Malik Blade & Edris Enofe; Sol wins.
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship Catch Clause: ??? VS Riley Osborne w/ Chase U; Drew Gulak wins and retains the cup for the NQCC.
- NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match Qualifier: The Good Brothers VS Hank ‘n’ Tank; The Good Brothers win and advance.
- Trick Williams VS Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four; Trick wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Roxanne Perez VS Tatum Paxley!
The Prodigy no longer cares about anyone but herself, and about anything but winning. Will she continue to do whatever she wants on the Road to Stand & Deliver? Or will Tatum avenge Lyra Valkyria?
Tatum rushes down the ramp for her entrance, only for Roxie to DIVE onto her first! Roxie dribbles Tatum, whips, but Tatum reverses. Roxie stops herself, SMACKS Tatum off the apron, then puts Tatum in. The fans chant “Be! Aggressive! Be, be, aggressive!” while the bell rings. Roxie stomps away on Tatum at the ropes but the ref counts. Roxie CHOKES Tatum, lets off, and Tatum sputters to a corner. Roxie runs up, but Tatum RAMS her into the corner! Tatum fires off hands, the ref counts and Tatum lets off in frustration. Roxie bails out, but Tatum runs, only for Roxie to block the dropkick! Tatum kicks Roxie away, then headscissors to BOOT CLAP her!
Tatum puts Roxie back in, runs up, but slides under the lariat to DROPKICK! The fans fire up, Tatum runs up, but Roxie drop toeholds her into ropes! Roxie then wrenches, clinches, and ARMBAR DDTS! The fans are torn but Roxie puts the bad arm in ropes. Roxie pulls and thrashes the arm, but lets off as the ref counts. Tatum goes to a corner, Roxie storms up and she whips corner to corner. Roxie runs in to UPPERCUT while fans duel. Roxie wrenches, reels Tatum in, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS! Cover, TWO! Tatum stays in this but Roxie stays on her by dropping knees on the arm! Tatum writhes but Roxie stands on the bad arm, and then Tatum’s face!
The fans duel, Roxie drops knees on the arm again! Tatum shakes the arm out but Roxie steps over, CLUBS Tatum, then grabs the bad arm! Tatum endures as Roxie pulls on the arm, then Roxie YANKS it! Tatum writhes from that dark armbar, but Roxie pushes her to a cover, ONE!! Roxie hangs tough but Roxie clamps right onto the bad arm. Tatum endures as Roxie chinbars and armlocks. Tatum fights up, throws Roxie away, then runs up. Roxie wrenches but Tatum rolls her up! TWO!! Roxie gets up, swings, but Tatum counter punches! And counter punches again! But Roxie SOBATS, only for Tatum to JAWBREAKER!
The fans rally and duel, Tatum shakes out the bad arm, and she CLOBBERS Roxie with the good one! Then DROPKICK, EDDY GORDO KICK and ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up as Roxie staggers to a corner. Tatum runs in but Roxie dodges! The bad arm hits buckles, Roxie clinches, but Tatum fights the leg sweep into a SMASH off the knee! Pump handle, LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Roxie survives but Tatum underhooks! Roxie fights and the bad arm gives up! Roxie WRINGS that arm into buckles, then hops on! POP-ROX!! And CROSSFACE!! Tatum taps, Roxie wins!
Winner: Roxanne Perez, by submission
Roxie is still a prodigy, because she’s excelling at being ruthless! She then demands a mic, and she stands over Tatum as she says, “It’s been one week, and I’m not waiting any longer! Ava, make the decision you know you have to make. Get out here and give me the title that I deserve, that I never lost.” Roxie drops the mic and says she’s waiting. But wait, is that Lyra Valkyria?! Even with one good arm, the Morrigan is here and she fires off on Roxie! The fans fire up as Lyra fires forearms and knees! Tatum says wait, but Roxie shoves Lyra into Tatum! Then Roxie DECKS Lyra! The fans boo as Roxie rips the sling away to CLUB the arm! CROSSFACE!!!
The fans boo, refs rush out, but Roxie says that title is hers! Roxie lets Lyra go, holds up the belt, is she going to get it back one way or another?
The Meta Four talks backstage.
Jakara Jackson & Oro Mensah are hyping up Noam Dar, but Lash Legend looks to be all flustered. Dar says last week, Trick was smooth on the mic, but he attacked Meta Four from behind! Tonight, Supernova 11 is gonna be too smooth for the One Trick Pony. Dar cannot wait to get his hands on Trick. Lash blurts out that after that kiss last week, she can’t wait to get her hands on him, either. WHAT?! WHOA~! No, no, she means, uh… To beat him up! That’s it! But then The Alpha Academy steps in? Dar freaks out and calls for security given the last go-around with them!
Maxxine says relax, their business doesn’t concern them. Otis says to Lash that after last week, he is a little concerned. It shouldn’t. Well, Otis is a bit jelly of Trick Willy. No, no, Lash is not doing this again. She leads the way out. Maxxine says focus, guys. Tozawa says the locker room is this way. The Academy heads off, what is this newest return to NXT all about?
Lyra is in the trainer’s room.
The trainer working with her wants to check her but she insists she’s fine. Ava Raine walks in and asks, but Lyra again says she’s fine. Well, she is cleared as tolerated. Lyra says make the match. What match? You know the match. Lyra VS Roxie, Stand & Deliver, for the Women’s Championship. Well, if that’s what Lyra wants, then it is official. Lyra storms off, but is she only playing into Roxie’s hands?
Josh Briggs storms in outta nowhere!
He interrupts commentary because he has something to say! “Oba Femi is gonna come out here and talk about how he damn near put Brooks Jensen through the ring last week. Look, Brooks is a tough kid, he’s gonna bounce back, but uh… What pissed me off was Oba did it with a smile on his face the entire time. He wasn’t out here to hunt and destroy, he was out here to wound! So Oba, what don’t you come on out here and try to put me through the ring?” The Ruler makes his entrance, and he chuckles as he tells Josh, “I’m surprised you didn’t enjoy my title defense from last week.
“But you do have a point, though. I relish the idea of testing a man’s limits. I relish the idea of pushing a man to the edge. Because when I step through those rings, when I step through the ropes, there’s no place for emotion. The only thing that matters is results! And my results speak volumes.” He holds up the North American Championship and the fans applaud. Oba then steps up to Briggs and says Briggs is a man of courage, we will give him that. Briggs says look at Oba. He walks around here with so much confidence. Oba walks around thinking he’s the badass man here. But just like everyone else, Oba ends up meeting someone just a little bit tougher.
So allow Briggs to reintroduce himself: He is Josh Briggs, he is the Man of Mayhem, and this is where he throws hands! So Oba, how about we do this: put the North American title on the line, and let’s see who falls off the edge first. Oba tells Briggs, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” But wait! DIJAK makes his way out here! Fans boo but Hard Justice tells everyone to wait a second as he joins them in the ring. Dijak takes his sunglasses off to look the title over. Then he says, “Oba Femi. The Man of Destiny. Must not be the Man of Memory, though, because last week I told you when you’re down playing around, I’ll be the man waiting for you.
“So champ, here I am.” So either Oba forgot or is ducking Dijak. Briggs speaks up, and says if Dijak wants to play Shaft, go play it somewhere else. This is between Briggs and Oba. Dijak asks if Briggs just called him Wannabe Shaft. Bingo! Like, Samuel L. Jackson? Yeah, the very one. Uh, Briggs, Dijak isn’t sure if you can tell, but Dijak’s White. The fans laugh at that, but Dijak says this isn’t even about him and Briggs, so Briggs can go on ‘n’ git lost, this is about Dijak and Oba. Oba says no no, this isn’t about either of you two. When it comes to this title, there is Oba, and then everyone else. Oba goes to leave, Dijak turns him around, but Briggs shoves Dijak into Oba!
Dijak runs up on Briggs but Oba DECKS him first! Oba then dodges Briggs to clothesline him out of the ring! But Briggs lands on his feet! Dijak runs back up, Oba gets around to back suplex, but Dijak lands on his feet! Refs rush out to keep this from getting any wilder! Is it going to be a big meaty match for the North American Championship at Stand & Deliver?
Shawn Spears is watching.
The Chair Man likes what he sees. “There it is in its purest form. Pride always comes before the fall. The downfall of a man and his ego. Tch, tch, tch. It’s such a shame.” Spears leaves, and Gacy pokes out his head! “Or is it?” From one strange man to another, is the Perfect 10 about to have an encounter with the broken one?
NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match Qualifier: Nathan Frazer & Axiom VS The No Quarter Catch Crew!
The Jersey Island Rocket is all about Hard-Hitting Home Truths while the Undeniable Truth is all about the numbers. And the truth is, there’s a dozen possibilities for this match-up, will Frazer & Axiom be ready for whatever combination is thrown at them? Or will there be too many variables for them to keep up with?
NXT returns and the NQCC makes their entrance. Dempsey holds onto the NXT Heritage Cup since he’s the one who won it, but is that a telltale sign he’s sitting this one out? The teams sort out and turns out, Dempsey and Myles Borne are the competitors! Axiom starts against Dempsey, they tie up, and Dempsey wrenches an arm to arm-drag and double wristlock. Axiom rolls, wrenches, and wrangles Dempsey to have the wristlock. Fans taunt “Baby Regal!” as he rolls and slips around to wrench, but Axiom rolls right through! The two reset, tie up, and Axiom waistlocks. Axiom spins Dempsey, snapmares, and chinlocks, only for Dempsey to slip free and wrench an arm.
Dempsey wristlocks and stretches the arm but Axiom rolls. Dempsey headlocks, Axiom powers up, and Frazer tags in. Axiom CLUBS Dempsey, then runs, but Dempsey blocks the Penalty Kick! Only for Frazer to ENZIGIRI! Axiom adds a basement dropkick, Frazer covers, TWO! Frazer headlocks to keep Dempsey from Myles. Dempsey powers up but Frazer hits the flying takeover! Dempsey kicks around, fights up, and back suplexes. Frazer lands on his feet but Myles tags in. Frazer runs, redirects, and redirects again to DROPKICK Myles, then arm-drag him around! Frazer has the cording hold but Myles fights around.
Myles reaches out but Frazer grinds the arm. Tag to Axiom, they whip and KICK Myles, then Frazer clotheslines Myles up and out! The fans rally up as Frazer builds speed, but Dempsey catches him to a SLEEPR! Axiom GAMANGIRIS Dempsey, then DIVES onto Myles! Frazer DIVES onto Dempsey! Axiom keeps going, another DIVE on Myles! Frazer DIVES on Dempsey again! The fans fire up as Axiom puts Myles back in. DIVING CROSSBODY! But Myles rolls through! Dempsey tags in, Myles swings and- NO, Axiom DDT counters the slam! Then he wheelbarrows Dempsey, but Dempsey stops the victory roll to WHEELBARROW GERMAN!
The fans fire up as Axiom flops out of the ring! Dempsey roars, Kemp & Gulak taunt Axiom, but the ref wants them to stay back. Myles pushes Axiom in as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dempsey fires forearms on Axiom, then UPPERCUTS him down! Dempsey kicks and KNEES Axiom around, then drags him up. Dempsey reels Axiom in for a swinging BACKBREAKER! Axiom writhes, Dempsey covers, TWO! Dempsey KNEES Axiom in the back, brings him around, and BRIDGING ARM-DRAGS him into the buckles! Myles tags in, Dempsey UPPERCUTS Axiom and Myles ROCKS him with a haymaker. UPPERCUT, HAYMAKER, repeat! They pinball Axiom, then Myles hits a BIG back suplex! Myles stomps Axiom, then whips him back into the NQCC corner. Axiom bounces off buckles, Dempsey tags in.
Myles stands Axiom up for Dempsey to GUT WRENCH PLEX! Dempsey half nelsons into the cover, TWO! Dempsey keeps on Axiom with a clinch, then whips him to the corner. Axioms tops himself to DECK Myles, but Dempsey DECKS Axiom! Dempsey stands on Axiom, tags him in, and Myles stomps Axiom. Myles ROCKS Axiom, Axiom kicks low and CHOPS! Myles DROPKICKS in return! Myles KNEES Axiom in the back, whips him into the corner hard, and Axiom falls back again. Dempsey tags back in, he drags Axiom back up, and UPPERCUTS him to ropes. Dempsey forearms but Axiom kicks low! And kicks again!
Dempsey blocks a kick to FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Dempsey wasn’t quite perfect and he’s frustrated. Dempsey drags Axiom up, UPPERCUTS again, then tags in Myles. Myles stomps a mudhole into Axiom, then digs his boots in! The ref counts, Myles lets off and he tags Dempsey. Myles hands Axiom off for Dempsey to whip and ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Dempsey keeps Axiom away from Frazer but Axiom fires a forearm! Dempsey CHOPS Axiom down! Cover, TWO! Dempsey whips Axiom as NXT returns to single picture, but Axiom BLASTS Myles off the apron! Then he BOOTS Dempsey!
Axiom goes up, leaps, but Dempsey catches him for the FALL AWAY BRIDGE! Cover, TWO!! Axiom escapes but Dempsey brings him up again. Dempsey clamps on a SLEEPER! The fans rally, Axiom fights up, and Axiom pries the hold open. ELBOW BREAKER and CHOP! Dempsey ROCKS Axiom, Axiom CHOPS again! They CHOP and CHOP, and Dempsey CHPOS, CHOPS and- CROSS COUNTER from Axiom! Hot tag to Frazer! Myles tags in, but Frazer springboards to DOUBLE MISSILE DROPKICK! Then he CHOPS Myles on ropes, whips, but Myles reverses! Frazer ducks ‘n’ dodges and CLOBBERS Myles!
Frazer then wrenches Myles for ANARCHY! And then the RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!! Myles survives but Frazer drags him to a drop zone. The fans rally for “NXT! NXT!” as Frazer climbs. PHOENIX- NO, Frazer rolls through as Myles moves. Frazer runs back in, Myles pops him to the apron, but Frazer ROCKS Myles! And SUPERKICKS Dempsey! Frazer springboards, into a SNAP POWERSLAM! That looks familiar! Cover, TWO!! Myles is frustrated but he drags Frazer up. Myles scoops to swing and SPINNING POWERSLAM!! Cover, Axiom URENAGES Dempsey onto it!
The fans are thunderous as all four men are down! “This is Awesome!” as Dempsey and Axiom bail out. Frazer gets Myles up top, tags Axiom, and they DOUBLE GIRI! Then Axiom tags Frazer back in before he climbs up. Axiom has Myles for a SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Frazer is up top for the PHOENIX SPLASH!! Axiom GOLDEN RATIOS Dempsey!! Cover, Axiom & Frazer win!!
Winners: Axiom & Nathan Frazer, by pinfall (advance to the #1 contenders match)
Speed kills, and it was more than the NQCC’s skills could handle! They join the LWO in the Triple Threat, and there’s one spot left! Who joins this already fast ‘n’ furious battle to Stand & Deliver?
NXT Anonymous is watching.
The prying eyes watch as Robert Stone argues with Von Wagner. Stone says he doesn’t get it, and Von asks what does Stone mean. Stone asks what the hell was all that, where Von carried him outta the arena like he was a child! Von wants Stone to slow down. He did what Stone wanted him to do! Stone says he did that for his family, his kids, and sure, he didn’t win, but at least he went down like a man. Von carried him away like his little baby! Von didn’t mean to upset him, but what was he supposed to do? Let King drop Stone on his neck again and again? Von isn’t trying to embarrass Stone, but he can make this right.
Stone says he doesn’t care what Von does! Do whatever you want! Stone storms off, but is there anything Von can do to make this right?
Backstage interview with Baron Corbin & Bron Breakker.
Kelly Kincaid is with the Wolf Dogs and says we know two of the teams in the Triple Threat #1 contenders match, and Corbin says that we do. Tonight, we will find out the third. Will it be The OC? Or will it be Hank ‘n’ Tank? He’s ready for that, is Bron ready for that? Bron says Corbin kinda cut Kelly off, though. Oh, don’t start with him, they just got here. Bron sighs and says Corbin is just grumpy that he had to pay for dinner last night. Time out, time out. If someone were to say, “Hey, let’s go to dinner, I got this,” doesn’t that mean they’re paying? Instead of getting up and going to the bathroom when the check comes.
Bron says when a dog’s gotta go, he goes. Don’t say it like that. But then in walks the Academy! Otis says “Oh yeah~, my dove, Corbs has a point.” See? Corbin likes Otis. But then Otis asks why they weren’t included in this whole tag team eliminator thing. Never mind, Corbin no longer likes Otis. Bron says that wasn’t up to them, but Tozawa says, “Master Gable sent us to represent The Alpha Academy. A thank yew~!” Corbin says, A TOO LATE~! Maxxine says they weren’t looking for a handout. They will earn their spot. So how about next week, if “Otise” and Tozawa beat the champs, they get in on the tag title match.
Bron & Corbin talk it over, and Corbin says he gets why The Academy’s back. Just like the OC, they’re creating their own opportunities. Bron accepts, so they have the match. But now they’ve gotta pay for it. Tozawa says next week, they will do whatever it takes to Stand & Deliver. Otis promises the Wolf Dogs “pure carnage,” and it’ll be fun. Bron says it won’t be fun. Tozawa & Otis are incredible athletes, but next week, the results will be the same: Spear, End of Days, it is over. Just like all your hopes and dreams of holding these titles. The Wolf Dogs head out, will they send Otis & Tozawa packing back to Raw?
Sol Ruca VS Brinley Reece w/ Malik Blade & Edris Enofe!
The Soul Surfer is back in action and looking to ride that wave to the top! But will it be so easy to get back in the swing of things? Or will she learn a lot from #BrinEnergy?
NXT returns and Brin makes her entrance, Malik & Edris by her side. They even hype her up as she does push-ups. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Sol waistlocks and SLAMS Brin, then facelocks. Brin fights up, wrenches out, and WRINGS Sol, but Sol flips through! Sol drop toeholds, floats to a facelock, then brings Brin up again. Sol snapmares but Brin handsprings through! Brin headlocks, grinds, but Sol fights up. Brin thrashes the hold, but Sol powers up, only for Brin to hold on tighter! Sol fights up again, wrenches the hold open, then headlocks in return. Brin powers up and out, things speed up, and Brin hurdles!
Sol leaps over, dodges Brin, then blows past her! Brin hip tosses but Sol handsprings through to X-FACTOR! Cover, TWO! Sol clamps on with a chinlock but Brin fights around. Brin fights up, reaches out, and the fans rally. Sol thrashes Brin, brings her down, and grinds her into the mat. Sol has an arm, it’s almost a cobra clutch now. Brin still endures, fights back up, and the fans rally. Sol ripcords but Brin rolls her up! TWO, and Sol SUPERKICKS! Brin comes back to LARIAT! The fans rally, Brin LARIATS again and again, then scoops to SLAM! Brin runs to handspring and LARIAT! Brin pumps up then fireman’s carries!
Sol fights free, goes to a corner, but Brin runs in. Sol stops the monkey flip to put Brin up top and CHOP! Sol then wrenches to ICONOCLASM! Brin writhes and flounders away and the fans fire up. Sol runs to rally with big shoulder tackles! Then a BACKBREAKER, mule kick, and BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! The fans fire up, Brin stands, but into Sol’s scoop! Brin slips free, shoves Sol to a corner, then runs in, Sol POSTS Brin, then runs up, SOL SNATCHER!! Cover, Sol wins!
Winner: Sol Ruca, by pinfall
Malik & Edris are bummed that Brin goes down, but Sol is back on track! Will she be riding that wave- BLAIR ATTACKS!! The fans boo as Blair KAMI-GOYES Sol down! The Ichiban Gaijin gets payback on Sol’s payback, what will it take for these two to settle the score?
Gigi Dolin talks with Wren Sinclair backstage.
They both can’t believe what happened last week. They’ve seen some things, but nothing quite like that. Well, for starters, Arianna Grace hit her down there! Like, ow! Second, Gigi wasn’t afraid to get Grace back, but of course Gigi’s luck, the ref sees it when she does it. Grace walks in and says yes, he did. She loves the oh so elegant phrase, “The referee’s decision is final.” See, Gigi, your actions were intentional. Hers were accidental. Oh, sure. But now, Grace must bear the responsibility of bringing out the “true lady” deep within Gigi! It won’t be easy, but it will be ten times worth the reward!
Gigi tells Grace that she cheated. Giorgina, not now! There’s so much work to be done! Grace gets a little box and brings outs a gift. It is a sash that reads, “Ms. NXT in Training.” From here on, Gigi shall wear this! Just look at her! Seriously…? Okay, now smile, they are gonna get the before photo. Yes, good, good. Gigi sighs, just what is Grace going to put her through for this makeover?
Ridge Holland speaks.
It was via his Instagram that the Yorkshire Grit posted a video message. “It’s pretty obvious that this effort to improve myself and effort to redeem myself here in NXT is not going the way that I’d hoped. And the result against Shawn Spears last week proves that. I need to be honest with myself. So… I’m just gonna do what everyone wants me to do.” Ridge sighs, but just what is it he’s going to do?
The D’Angelo Family is here!
Tony D’Angelo leads the way for Channing Lorenzo, Adriana Rizzo & Luca Crusifino as he goes to the ring. The Don is handed a mic, and he says two weeks from this Saturday will be the biggest Stand & Deliver of all time. And he will get his opportunity at the NXT Championship. “Now as The Don, timing is an ultimate premium. And right now, The D’Angelo Family is in a booming period of strength and aggressive expansion.” Tony brought in Luca because in that big brain of his, he has a law degree, and a sociology degree from Duquesne University. The fans applaud that. Now joining along Rizzo & Stacks is a man who will bring wisdom to match the muscle.
Ilja Dragunov knows that wisdom equals power. And The Don has immense power. And with that comes responsibility that trickles all the way down the rest of the family. So please put it together for the Consigliere, Luca Crusifino. The fans applaud, and Luca thanks The Don. It is Luca’s honor and he pledges his loyalty to The D’Angelo Family. Now that that’s over with, Tony addresses Ilja. “Mad Dragon. Unbeatable, unbreakable champion.” Tony has respect for Ilja, and for Ilja’s mother moving them out of Russia for a better life. That takes guts. Tony has even more respect for what Ilja is doing for his family.
But these past couple of weeks, Tony has shown Ilja and everybody that Tony D is the man who will break the unbreakable! So at Stand & Deliver- Ilja interrupts! He is on the tron and says he came to the restaurant for a conversation, and Tony goes and leaves him alone on a bridge with nothing but his own thoughts. Tony can feel the title within his grasp. He can smell it, taste it, sense it, but this title is one power beyond Tony’s reach. And now that Ilja understands how this is going to go until Stand & Deliver, Ilja wants Tony- No, no, no, Ilja, you got it all wrong. You have no idea what Tony can do. Ilja has no control!
See, there is so much space and opportunity between now and Philly on April 6th. In fact, Tony spoke with Ava, and now Ilja has a match with The Underboss. Stacks likes that, and Tony says he’ll see Ilja at Stand & Deliver. The real question is, what shape will Ilja be in when he gets there? That decision is completely up to Ilja, but Tony promises him, one wrong move and Ilja is gonna wish he never messed with Tony D! Stand & Deliver will be a burial! See you next week, kid. The Don silences the disruption, but is he only feeding Stacks to the Mad Dragon’s monstrous appetite?
Karmen Petrovic and Lola Vice have at it via TikTok.
The real-life Beatrix Kiddo says “Your hands can’t hit what your eyes can’t see. Who wants to kick it with me?” But then Lola snaps back with the text, “lmao your ninja turtle karate skills are hilarious,” and the audio of, “Aye, that’s so cute. Your kicks are basura!” Then she shows off firing off on a heavy bag. When and where will these two finally throw down and back up the talk?
Thea Hair finds Riley Osborne backstage.
She says hey, and knows he’s preparing for the Heritage Cup match, but she just wanted to apologize. Riley says she doesn’t need to but Thea says no, she has to say this. She wasn’t herself on their date, or herself the last couple of months. She is just trying to figure out who Thea is, was, wants to be, who knows. Growing up is hard. Yeah, you don’t need to tell Riley, he gets it. But Thea just hopes they can still be friends. That goes without saying! He’s just happy the real Thea is back. They high-five and Riley heads out. Then Duke & Andre Chase step in. They commend Thea for that, but then Riley calls to them. Aren’t they coming? Oh, right!
Chase U follows Riley through gorilla to be his corner team. Will this match be made a little easier after seeing Dempsey & Myles take a hard loss to Axiom & Frazer? Or will whoever steps in for the NQCC still have enough juice to keep the Cup?
NXT Heritage Cup Championship Catch Clause: ??? VS Riley Osborne w/ Chase U!
NXT returns as the No Quarter Catch Crew returns. And again, given Dempsey already battled earlier tonight, it is Drew Gulak stepping up to defend the Cup. The bell rings to start round one, and the two tie right up. They go around, Gulak wrenches and wristlocks, but Riley rolls, handsprings, wrenches and WRINGS Gulak! Gulak gets up and Riley grins as the two go again. Gulak wrenches, wristlocks, but Riley rolls, spins, wrenches and wrangles Gulak. The fans cheer but Gulak fights up. Gulak slips through to wrench, then he spins Riley to wrangle him. Riley kips up, goes up and over, then runs, to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!
Gulak runs up but Riley arm-drags him down! Riley has the cording hold but Gulak fights to his feet. Riley wrenches, cording holds, but Gulak powers Riley to ropes. Gulak whips, Riley blocks hip toss but then so does Gulak! Gulak cording holds but Riley goes to hip toss. Gulak throws Riley down and still has the cording hold. Riley fights up, slips up and around but is still stuck in the cording hold. So Riley backflips free! They knuckle lock, go shoulder to shoulder, then Riley MONKEY FLIPS! Riley rolls back, Gulak leg guards to MONKEY FLIP in return! They roll again, Riley goes up and flips to arm-drag!
We’re at one minute as Riley ROCKS Gulak to a corner. Riley UPPERCUTS, then follows Gulak to another corner, Gulak ROCKS Riley, then CHOPS him! Gulak whips Riley to a corner, but runs into an elbow! Riley uses ropes to get up for a KNEE! Then Riley goes way up, SHOOTING STAR! Cover, Riley scores!
Gulak: 0; Riley: 1
And the crucial first fall goes to the challenger! NQCC tells Gulak to focus, Chase U tells Riley to do this one round at a time. The second round begins and the two run up, only for Gulak to bail out! The fans boo but Duke asks where Gulak thinks he’s going. Riley then FOSBURY FLOPS out onto Gulak! The fans fire up and Riley hurries to get Gulak in! Riley goes up the corner, leaps, and CROSSBODIES! But Gulak rolls it through to a cover! TWO, and Riley DROPKICKS! Riley STANDING MARIPOSAS! Cover, TWO! Gulak stays in this but Riley stays on him. Riley whips, Gulak reverses but Riley goes up and FLYING SUNSETS! TWO and Gulak stacks! TWO!
Both men get up to their feet, Riley whips but Gulak reverses. Gulak drops, then runs crisscross. Riley drops, hurdles but into a sunset! Gulak scores!!
Gulak: 1; Riley: 1
It’s all tied up, and then Gulak DECKS Riley for the hell of it! The fans boo, Chase U wants after NQCC and the ref gets in between them all! Gulak gets away with one but now it’s all about the final fall! We see if Riley can rebound after the break.
NXT returns again and round three is not only under way, but we’re under one minute left! Riley endures Gulak’s neckbreaker stretch, and the fans rally up. Riley pries at the grip, spins Gulak around but Gulak back suplexes! Riley lands out, waistlocks, but Gulak bucks the O’Conner! Only to turn around into an ENZIGIRI! Gulak falls, Riley hurries, but we have 20 seconds! SENTON onto knees! Gulak gets the dragon sleeper, and the GuLOCK! Under ten seconds, Riley just has to endure! Saved by the bell!
Gulak: 1; Riley: 1
Wait, what’re Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx doing here? They don’t even like Chase U! Are they just here to be trolls? The ref gets Gulak to let go, and Mr. Chase helps Riley to the corner. Riley refreshes while NQCC tell Gulak to keep it up. The fourth round begins, Gulak runs up but Riley gets around. Gulak switches, O’Conners, then has the GU- NO, Riley rolls to a cover! TWO!! Gulak runs up again but into BOOTS, then the SOMERSAULT SPIKE-RANA!! Cover, TWO!! Gulak sunset flips, TWO!! Riley stacks, ONE, Gulak sunset flips, TWO! Both men stand, Gulak trips Riley to jackknife bridge! TWO as Riley bridges up in time!
Gulak fights the backslide, the fans rally up, and Gulak hooks Riley now. Riley fights the backslide and hooks Gulak! Gulak resists, flips Riley up an dover then reels him in, but Riley cradle counters! TWO!! Gulak escapes, but Riley CHOPS! Gulak rebounds to LARIAT! Riley flounders and we reach 90 seconds. Gulak snarls, winds up, and runs in, but Riley forearms first! Riley turns things around, puts Gulak up top, and the fans are behind him as he climbs! Jacy mockingly cheers as Riley fires forearm after forearm. But Gulak throws body shots! Thea wants after Jacy but Duke holds her back! We’re under one minute, Jacy runs into the ring!
Thea wants after Jacy, the ref stops them both, but this makes him miss JAZMYN tripping Riley! Superplex becomes crossbody!! Cover, Gulak wins!!
Winner: Drew Gulak, by pinfall (still NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
The NQCC get an assist from the toxic mean girls, but they’ll take it! Will Thea rip Jacy & Jazmyn apart for being such massive pains in the ass?
Fallon Henley finds Brooks Jensen on his way out.
She calls to him but he doesn’t hear her. Or maybe ignores her? She pulls at his arm and he asks what she wants. She just wants to make sure he’s okay. Where is he going? Jensen says he is done. He is sick of everything here. She says not to be like that, but he says really? Don’t be like that? If anything, she should forget about him! Things are going great for her, and great for Briggs, but life for Jensen…! He doesn’t know what he wants, but it sure as hell ain’t here. Jensen storms off, and now Kelani Jordan storms in! She wants to know where Kiana James & Izzi Dame are! They will regret ever putting their hands on her, she knows they’re the ones who attacked last week!
Fallon has Kelani slow down. There is two of them and one of her, and how’d that go last time? Good point. Kelani says it was good Fallon had Thea’s back. But what goes around comes around. Fallon asks how she can help, and the two head inside. Will the Cowgirl and the Gym Princess make Kiana & Izzi pay for what they did, with interest?
Ava Raine finishes a phone call.
She confirms, next week is Wolf Dogs VS Alpha Academy with the Stand & Deliver tag title match in the balance. Thea can be heard saying she is so upset right now, then she and Duke step in. Thea says Jacy & Jazmyn literally cost Riley that match, those two little…! Ava agrees, that was wrong. Jazmyn is gonna have her first match next week because of it. Duke says that sounds more like a reward. Ava says it’ll be against Thea. Oh sweet! Thank you, thank you! Thea hurries off, ready to rip into Jazmyn! Duke also thanks Ava, but then Ava says she actually wants to talk. She’s had her eye on him, and a few others.
Ava has decided that Duke is going to be in action next week. And if he is successful, he might end up in the North American Championship picture come Stand & Deliver. Hmm, the MVP of Chase U, at SND. “Sounds good to me.” Ava says good, and Duke heads out. Just what is the NXT General Manager cooking?
NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match Qualifier: The Good Brothers VS Hank ‘n’ Tank!
Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows want after those NXT Tag Team Championships, and that means they gotta Stand & Deliver! Will next week’s Triple Threat get Just Too Sweet? Or will Walker & Ledger take the ball and run it in for a touchdown instead?
NXT returns and Hank ‘n’ Tank are already brawling with The Good Brothers! The fans fire up and the ref has the bell ring so this is on record! Tank clotheslines Gallows out, then Hank clotheslines Karl out! Hank ‘n’ Tank goe to the ropes to DOUBLE IMPLODER SPLASH! The fans fire up with the grid iron boys! Tank puts the Machinegun in, then storms up to JAB and whip. Tank UPPERCUTS Karl down, then fires back up! Tank storms after Karl but Karl mule kicks hard! Tank goes to an open corner, Karl runs up, but into an elbow! Tank headlocks but Karl powers out. Hank tags in, sneaks up on Karl and pick shim up to SMACK him off buckles!
Tank then scoops Karl for the SIDEWALK SLAM! Hank BLASTS Gallows, he and Tank say fire in the hole! DOUBLE SPLASH SANDWICH! The fans fire up with the “MEAT! MEAT!” Hank throws body shots on Karl, then whips him corner to corner. Hank runs in to SPLASH, then he pushes Karl down for a cover. TWO, but Hank stays on Karl with a facelock. Hank whips Karl to a corner, runs up and fires more body shots. Hank kicks low, then brings Karl around. Hank suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Karl kicks back, tags Gallows, and Big LG swings, only for Hank to counter punch over and over!
Gallows CHOPS Hank, CHOPS him again, then whips him to the corner. Gallows runs in but into a BOOT! Hank hurries up and the fans fire up, but Karl distracts Hank! Gallows UPPERCUTS Hank to the floor! Tank hurries to check on his guy but the fans chant “Too Sweet! WOOP WOOP!” Gallows goes out to then SMACK Hank off barriers! And SMACK him off the apron! Gallows puts Hank in, stalks him, and then runs to BOOT him down! Gallows rains down fists on Hank, then throws a body shot! Gallows drags Hank up, bumps him off buckles, and then throws some body shots in return for earlier. UPPERCUT, then a short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO!
Hank is hanging in there, but he’s also got some blood in his mouth. Tag to Anders and the Good Brothers mug Hank. Karl brings Hank around but Hank throws body shots! Karl UPPERCUTS, has Hank on ropes, and then whips him to the corner hard! Hank sputters as he drops to his knee, but Karl stomps him down! Karl stomps a mudhole in but the ref counts. Karl lets off, soaks up the cheers and jeers, but Tank coaches Hank up. Karl drags Hank up, tags Gallows, and they mug Hank some more. Gallows HEADBUTTS Hank, then UPPERCUTS him! Hank wobbles and staggers but Gallows fires knees. Hank fires body shots but Gallows powers him to the corner.
Tag to Karl, the mugging continues. Snapmare and chinlock, and Karl grinds Hank down. The fans rally as Hank endures and reaches out. Hank throws elbows and haymakers but Karl keeps him from Tank! Hank still tries, he’s fingertips away, but then he breaks fere and ENZIGIRIS! The fans fire up but Gallows tags in! Gallows keeps Hank from Tank, but Hank breaks free to HEADBUTT! Both men staggers back, hot tags to Karl and Tank! Tank rallies on the Good Brothers! Big clotheslines then an atomic drop for Karl! Tank goes up, tags Hank, and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES Karl!
The fans fire up as Hank feeds Karl to the pop-up, that then sends Karl into the BIG back suplex! The fans fire up but Gallows CLOBBERS the cover! Tank fires hands on Gallows, then he and Hank double whip. They dodge Gallows’ double clotheslines to run and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Gallows falls, the fans fire up, and Hank tags Tank back in! Tank gets Karl, scoops him, but Gallows drags Hank out! Karl puts Tank in a corner, Gallows DECKS Hank! Gallows RAMS Hank into steel steps! Karl SPINEBUSTERS Tank, then tags in Gallows! They get Tank back up, for the MAGIC KILLER! Cover, Good Brothers win!
Winners: The Good Brothers, by pinfall (advance to the #1 contenders match)
And with that, the Triple Threat is set! Good Brothers, LWO or Frazer & Axiom, who will Stand & Deliver?
Backstage interview with Trick Williams.
Kelly is with Trick to say he made a huge return two weeks ago, and had a viral moment just last week. He’s on fire! Trick says oh, you saw that? Let’s talk about it. Well, does he have any other thoughts about his match at Vengeance Day, when his best friend turned on him? Trick says he’s traveling light these days. He’s making his own decisions, but that’s how he wants it. Tonight, he’s got Noam Dar. Dar’s a bad boy, but he ain’t going far. He can have the whole Meta Four gang, that’s cool. But Trick’ll be sticking, moving and look good while he does it. You feel him? Kelly says yes, but she does note that Carmelo Hayes is somewhere in the building.
Trick knows. And he tells Melo that he’s glad Melo’s here. If Melo shows his face, Trick will whoop dat ass. That’s all it is, and that’s all it’s gonna be. Trick hears the Meta Four theme starting, so he gets going. Will he prove to Supernova 11 that he isn’t a one trick pony but THE Trick?
NXT Media catches up with Roxanne Perez.
They ask her what her thoughts are on the women’s title match for Stand & Deliver. Roxie says if Lyra isn’t gonna do the “right thing” and just hand her the title, then Roxie will gladly rip it out of her hands. Now get outta her face. Roxie leaves for the night, but will she own the night in Philadelphia?
Kiana James & Izzi Dame come across Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx.
They all say hey, and Kiana says that was the energy they like to see out there. Jazmyn’s really getting the hang of this. Thanks. Izzi asks if they saw Thea’s face last week. “I thought we were friends~!” HAH! And after everything Jacy did for her! She took the toddler under her wing, made her into the “grown ass woman” she always wanted to be, and this is how she repays Jacy? Kiana knew there was still some toxicity in her. But Thea is a lost cause. Jacy put in the charity work, and what’d it turn into? Babysitting. Jazmyn says next week, she takes care of that cringeworthy brat. Just like Kiana & Izzi did to Kelani last week.
Jacy & Jazmyn head out, and Izzi laughs at Fallon trying to save the day and still taking the loss. Fallon is always trying to- ATTACK! The brawl is on and the refs rush in! Fallon & Kelani want their revenge, when and where will they get it?
Trick Williams VS Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four!
Trick is ready to finally settle things with HIM, but he has to get through the spotlight seeking Scottish Supernova first. Will Trick turn it up to 11 when he Whoops Dat Dar?
The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally, Trick dodges Dar to then scoop and SLAM! Then scoop and SLAM again! Dar staggers up into a third scoop and SLAM! The fans fire up and Trick brings Dar up again. Trick headlocks, Dar endures the grind and pops out the back. Dar headlocks, Trick powers out and they RAM shoulders. Both men talk trash and fire up, but Dar kicks, KICKS and runs, into the EDDY GORDO, but blocks it! Dar ANKLE LOCKS, but Trick rolls to throw Dar away! Dar comes back, waistlocks, but Trick switches. Dar fights the lift, throws elbows, then drops down to kick from below!
Dar throws Trick down, has the ARMBAR, but Trick clasps hands! Dar clubs the grip, Trick stacks Dar, TWO! Dar ROCKS Trick, runs, but into a DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Lash is flustered but Trick drags Dar up. Trick reels Dar in but Dar wrenches out to kick and BACKHAND! Dar then jumps on for a GUILLOTINE! Trick stays on his feet as Dar pulls on the hold! Trick powers up and RAMS Dar into buckles! Dar lets go, but then dodges the haymaker. Trick bobs ‘n’ weaves to avoid Dar’s hands, then JABS! JABS! And UPPERCUTS! The fans fire up and Trick stands Dar back up. Trick whips, Dar goes up and around to slide under!
Dar runs back in but Trick ROCKS him! Trick goes up, but Dar TRIPS him up! Trick flounders, Lash is concerned but Jakara snaps her out of it. Dar KICKS and KICKS and feints to sweep the legs! Dar runs side to side to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Dar grows frustrated, as does the Meta Four. But wait, we get a shot of Melo’s room. His guards say it’s time, is Melo gonna make his way out here? Dar kicks Trick around, brings him up, and wrenches an arm. Trick throws body shots, but Dar knees low! Dar flexes, the fans boo, but Dar whips. Trick blocks the whip and shakes his head! Trick whips Dar, Dar goes up and under agian!
Dar keeps moving, but into a POP-UP HAYMAKER! The fans fire up with Trick, but Dar scrambles out of the ring! Trick stays fired up and NXT goes picture in picture.
Trick waits on Dar, then blows a kiss to Lash. Trick nods, she knows what’s up. Trick fetches Dar, but Dar fights the suplex! Dar RAMS Trick into the apron, then ROCKS him! Dar flexes again, Oro mocks Trick, and Dar brings Trick around. But Trick SMACKS Dar off the apron! And SMACKS him off again! Trick puts Dar in, runs up, and BODY SHOTS! Then he wrenches, dragon sleepers, and INVERTED SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Dar is still in this, and Lash is still conflicted. Dar goes to an apron, Trick storms out after him, and Trick fires hands! Trick clinches but Dar holds ropes to resist!
Dar throws elbows, then drops down to SWEEP the legs! Trick lands hard on the apron, then Dar brings him around! DRAPING COMPLETE SHOT to the floor! Both men are down and the Meta Four is conflicted. Dar drags Trick up, whips him hard into steel steps, then flexes again. Lash is having a real hard time watching now, but Dar puts Trick in the ring. NXT returns to single picture as Dar brings Trick up, but Trick fireman’s carries! Dar shifts around to a SLEEPER! Dar is a backpack with those body scissors, but Trick RAMS him into buckles! Dar CLUBS Trick in return, then goes up. But Trick ROCKS Dar!
Dar fires hands back but Trick ROCKS him again! Dar SLAPS, Trick swings, but Dar blocks! Dar leaps into the TRIANGLE HOLD! Trick stays on his feet, the fans rally up, and Trick deadlifts Dar for the POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Dar survives but Trick is too sore to be upset. Oro & Jakara coach Dar up, but Trick fires up with the fans! Both men stand, and Trick ROCKS Dar! Dar ROCKS Trick! Trick UPPERCUTS Dar! Dar rebounds to ROCK Trick! Trick and Dar go back and forth, but then Dark ducks the STEP PUNCH! Trick wobbles, Dar runs, but into the LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up and Trick roars!
Trick grabs an arm, cartwheels and- DDT COUNTER!! Dar covers, TWO!! But into the ANKLE LOCK! Trick endures and reaches out but Dar keeps him from the ropes! Trick crawls but Dar drops into the CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEEBAR!! The fans rally for Trick as hard as they can, and he claws his way forward, to the ROPEBREAK!! Dar lets go in frustration, but Oro & Jakara coach him. Dar still has Trick where he wants him! Dar storms up on Trick, eggs him on, then fires forearm after forearm! Dar stomps away at the ropes, but the ref counts. Dar lets off at 4 to soak up heat. Dar then goes back for Trick, but Trick clinches! BOOKEND!!
Both men are down and the fans are going wild! Trick and Dar stir, sit up, and Trick fires up! Trick ROCKS Dar again and again and again! Then UPPERCUTS! Trick whips, LEG LARIATS, and then LEG LARIATS again! Trick FLAPJACKS Dar and the fans are thunderous! But Oro gets on the apron! Trick DECKS him! Lash gets on the apron, and she calls Trick over. Is Trick being lured in by a honey trap? The fans chant “KISS THAT TRICK!” but Lash goes to SLAP! Trick blocks it, and is shocked she tried! Dar runs up to GERMAN SUPLEX!! Dar SPINNING ELBOWS!! Cover, TWO!!! Trick survives, even as Lash toys with his heart!
Dar says pinkies out now, and he runs up, into a TRICK SHOT KNEE!! Cover, Trick wins!!
Winner: Trick Williams, by pinfall
The fans are thunderous for the win, and Lash feels like she just backed the wrong horse! But then Trick gets the mic and says everyone needs to pay attention. He has something to get off his chest. “HAYES! This is personal! We don’t gotta wait ’til Stand & Deliver. Bring your punk ass out here right now!” The fans like the sound of that! Trick watches the ramp, and we see Melo’s security force walk out here. The fans chant “Melo, You Missed!” But where is Melo? Wait, the guards are flanking the ring! And NOW Melo makes his entrance! Trick is on edge as he watches all four thugs. Wait, the man in the hooded jacket isn’t Melo! Melo’s in disguise as one of his guards!!
Melo jumps in to CLOBBER Trick from behind!! The fans boo as Melo tricks Trick, then calls in his goons! They all mug Trick, and Melo says this is what happens! You think you can double cross him!? Melo made Trick!! Melo hammers away on Trick while the fans boo! Trick sits back up, Melo waves goodbye. RUNNING KNEE!! Melo vows that at Stand & Deliver, he takes Trick out! Will Trick learn that there’s nothing he can do to stop… HIM?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for NXT as we are getting ever closer to WrestleMania Weekend. Great opening match from Roxie VS Tatum, which Roxie of course wins, but I like that this was Lyra’s return moment. Roxie still beats her up because of the hurt arm, but this officially established Lyra VS Roxie for the title. I almost feel like there should be an extra stipulation, but I suppose them having it out in a fair fight is enough to prove who is the rightful champion. Good promo from Gigi, Wren and Grace to get going on the beauty pageant makeover, can’t wait to see where that goes. And good return match for Sol that she of course won, but then of course Blair had to attack her. Now that is a match that could also use a stipulation, like Falls Count Anywhere.
Tonight’s episode also did great work in connecting stories, too. Good stuff with Meta Four’s promo including Alpha Academy to call back to their feud, followed by Alpha Academy challenging Wolf Dogs in hopes of going to Stand & Deliver. Pretty sure Wolf Dogs win, the tag title match at Stand & Deliver isn’t turning into a Triple Threat the same time a Triple Threat determines a contender. And speaking of, we got some great qualifier matches tonight, especially out of Axiom & Frazer VS NQCC. A little surprised Dempsey was getting in on the tag match but I suppose that did keep him from being in the Heritage Cup match. But great win for Axiom & Frazer all the same.
The second qualifier of Good Brothers VS Hank ‘n’ Tank was a really good slug fest, but of course Good Brothers win. I’m pretty sure they’re the ones winning the Triple Threat to give Wolf Dogs a great match, and maybe even win the titles to add to the Good Brothers’ list of achievements. As I’ve said before, Bron Breakker is “signed” to SmackDown, something’s gotta send him off from NXT. Then going back to NQCC, really good Heritage Cup match from Gulak and Riley, and of course cheating helps Gulak win. I just didn’t anticipate Jacy & Jazmyn being why. That does help get things going in their story with Thea, though.
And good stuff from Fallon helping Kelani go after Kiana & Izzi. I don’t know who would join Team Thea but I feel like we could get a big 8 Woman Tag. Jacy, Jazmyn, Izzi & Kiana already feel one moment away from becoming a new faction, might as well make it official through a match. Though at the same time, such a set-up would of course go the Faces’ way with the fourth person being a great return from injury. Which sadly, there have been a lot of those in the Women’s Division on both NXT and RawDown. Nikkita Lyons is out again, and it is still a problem in her legs. Seems the aftermath of that one strength coach is still going to be felt for a long time.
That aside, good promo from The D’Angelo Family with Dragunov, but I am rather surprised that Tony got the better of Dragunov here, too. After Tony ditched Dragunov, Dragunov should’ve had the last word, but in a rather kids-on-the-playground “nuh uh!” moment, Tony turns things around on Dragunov again and essentially stands tall. Pretty sure Dragunov destroys Stacks, though, so that’ll be Dragunov getting his momentum back. Really good promo segments towards the North American Championship, and it is clear that Oba, Dijak and Briggs are gonna fight for the title, making for another Triple Threat. Though, who knows, Ava made it seem like there could be at least a couple more.
Gacy seems to have moved on to Spears, or vice-versa, that’ll be some good stuff. Ridge also had a good Instagram promo, maybe he’ll start raging and get his spot in this NXT big meaty man match. Jensen meanwhile seems to be taking a sabbatical, at least in character, given all his frustrations. Maybe something happens with Briggs where Jensen feels the need to come back, but who knows. And of course, awesome stuff from Trick tonight, from that match with Dar and all the interacting with Lash, to Melo getting one over on Trick. Trick VS Melo could easily be the main event even with it being non-title, but you can bet it’ll be one, if not the best pure match on the Stand & Deliver card.
My Score: 8.9/10
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The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!
As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
- Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
- Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
- Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
After the Triple Threat Tag…
The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?
Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!
Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!
ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?
Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!
Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!
ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!
Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!
Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!
Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.
Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!
ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!
Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!
ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!
ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.
ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall
Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?
KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!
The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!
Sumo Rules!
Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!
Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!
Khan: 0; Taichi: 1
Special Guest Referee!
The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.
Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!
The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!
Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!
Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!
Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!
Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!
Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!
Khan: 1; Taichi: 1
Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!
Last Man Standing!
Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!
Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.
Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.
Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!
Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.
Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!
Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.
Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!
Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!
Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.
The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!
Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!
Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)
Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?
As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.
Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.
Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.
Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Rockin’ around the Christmas Collision!
The Continental Classic continues on Christmas Collision, with crucial points on the line this close to AEW Worlds End! Who will finally take the lead in Gold League?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford; Kris wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Daniel Garcia; Garcia wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Mark Briscoe VS The Beast Mortos; Briscoe wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli; Claudio wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!
Claudio Castagnoli: 2-1, 6 points
Will Ospreay: 2-1, 6 points
Ricochet: 2-1, 6 points
Darby Allin: 2-1, 6 points
Brody King: 2-2, 6 points
Komander: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!
Kyle Fletcher: 3-1, 9 points
Kazuchika Okada: 2-1-1, 7 points
Mark Briscoe: 2-2, 6 points
Shelton Benjamin: 2-1, 6 points
Daniel Garcia: 1-1-1, 4 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Ian Riccaboni is in the ring.
He has Big Boom AJ & Big Justice with him in the Hammerstein Ballroom, and yes, they’re ready to bring the BOOM~! They’re ready to watch the action tonight, and even the final face-to-face of MJF and Adam Cole. AJ says if MJF is gonna bring the doom, then you know he and Big Justice will bring the BOOM~! But tonight, their guy, Adam Cole will bring the BOOM~ too! And of course we have big Continental Classic action! Daniel Garcia VS Shelton Benjamin in a critical showdown, and while Shelton is tough, Garcia is going to bring the BOOM~! Plus, Mark Briscoe battles The Beast Mortos! The Chicken is their guy, time to bring the BOOM~!
In Gold League, we have Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli, and the Swiss Superman is a DOOM~! Let’s go, Darby, bring that BOOM~! And then a match everyone wants to see, the fireworks rematch of Will Ospreay VS Ricochet! If you’re a fan of high-flying wrestling, this is the right night to be right here in AEW! Ricochet and their guy, Ospreay, will bring the BOOM~! But speaking of, that match is up first! The Aerial Assassin joins AJ & Big Justice in giving a BOOM~, but will Ricochet make sure tonight is #OuttaThisWorld?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Ricochet!
Wait, are the fans throwing white streamers or is that… No, yeah, it’s toilet paper! Ospreay laughs at the fans basically calling Ricochet crap. Ricochet throws the toilet paper back! The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans fire up for Ospreay as he and Ricochet circle. The fans also sing, “F HIM UP, OSPREAY, F HIM UP!” Ricochet shrugs that off, he and Ospreay tie up, and then Ricochet rolls. Ospreay shoots in, waistlocks, but Ricochet switches. They go around, Ricochet gator rolls with Ospreay, then floats to a headlock. Ricochet wrenches, hammerlocks then headlocks again. Ospreay powers up and out, Ricochet runs him over, but Ospreay kips up!
The fans cheer and Ospreay smiles as he and Ricochet reset. They tie up, go around, and Ricochet wrenches to a wristlock. Ospreay rolls, wrenches and wristlocks, but Ricochet spins and wrenches to hammerlock. Ospreay reaches back, headlocks and hits a takeover. Ricochet rolls to a cover, TWO! Ospreay holds onto the headlock but Ricochet powers up and out. Ospreay runs Ricochet over, Ricochet bails out, and then Ospreay handsprings to fake Ricochet out! The fans cheer as Ospreay superhero lands out, and Ricochet is annoyed. Ospreay holds ropes open for Ricochet, but Ricochet goes around the way to step in on his own.
The fans boo Ricochet being a bad sport but Ricochet ignores that. Ospreay and Ricochet knuckle lock, then Ricochet kicks low! And CHOPS! Ricochet whips, Ospreay reverses, but Ricochet rolls off Ospreay’s back! Things keep moving, Ospreay avoids the handspring to then duck ‘n’ dodges and RANA! But Ricochet handsprings through! The fans fire up, and Ospreay arm-drags Ricochet down! The fans cheer while Ricochet endures the grind. Ricochet fights up and puts Ospreay on ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet and Ospreay slowly let g o, and Ricochet SLAPS Ospreay! Ospreay CHOPS Ricochet!
Ospreay takes a swing, Ricochet ducks under to roll back and RANA! But now Ospreay handsprings through! Ricochet dodges to waistlock but Ospreay bucks the O’Conner. Ricochet arm-drags Ospreay down, but Ospreay headscissors back! Ricochet pops free but Ospreay arm-drags! Ricochet headscissors, Ospreay pops free, and Ospreay handsprings, but Ricochet catches him! Ricochet then THROWS Ospreay into the Tree of Woe, and Ospreay falls down! The fans boo while Ospreay bails out, but Ricochet FOSBURY FLOPS! The fans boo but Ricochet takes the toilet paper to wipe himself, then he SMOTHERS Ospreay with it!
The fans boo that literally disgusting act of disrespect, but Collision goes picture in picture.
Ricochet taunts the fans, then drags Ospreay up. Ricochet puts Ospreay in, soaks up more heat, then KNEE-BOARD SENTONS! Ricochet swaggers to taunt the fans more, then he goes back to Ospreay. Cover, ONE!! Another cover, TWO! Ricochet taunts the fans more, then goes back for Ospreay. Ricochet stands Ospreay up to CHOP, and Ospreay goes to a corner. Ricochet RAMS into Ospreay, RAMS him again, then snapmares to UPPERCUT in the back! Cover, TWO! Ospreay stays in this but Ricochet drags him into a motorcycle stretch. Ospreay endures while Ricochet digs a knee into the back. Ospreay fights up, fights with elbows, then runs, but into a DROPKICK!
Ospreay is down in a daze but Ricochet has to shake out the stars in his own head. Ricochet covers, ONE! Ospreay then uses that one to flip off Ricochet. Ricochet RAMS Ospreay in the back! Ricochet then clamps on with a chinlock, and he digs his knee into Ospreay’s back. Ospreay endures, even as Ricochet JAMS Ospreay. Collision returns to single picture as the fans rally for Ospreay again. Ospreay fires up, fires hands, but Ricochet RAMS him into a corner. Ricochet runs up, RAMS into Ospreay, then goes to the apron. Ospreay takes a swing but Ricochet dodges and gets around him to GERMAN SUPLEX! Ospreay lands out!
Ospreay runs, handsprings, NEURALIZER KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ospreay goes to the apron, takes aim, and he springboards to PIP PIP CHEERIO! Down goes Ricochet, Ospreay covers, TWO! Ospreay stays focused and the fans rally up. Ospreay drags Ricochet up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS him again! Ricochet staggers, Ospreay runs, but Ricochet TIGER WALL KICKS! Forearm, SOBAT, and Ricochet runs, but into a POP-UP, and STYLES- NO, Ricochet sits up, slips free, and he underhooks Ospreay for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives but Ricochet goes up.
Ricochet has to double clutch, the fans let him hear it, but Ricochet still MOONSAULTS! Ricochet lands out as Ospreay moves, and Ospreay runs up, but into an ELBOW! Ricochet handsprings, but into a pop-up, Electric Chair, spin around, STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Ospreay is surprised. Ospreay pulls on the elbow pad and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Ospreay aims, but Ricochet bails out! The fans boo but Ospreay storms after Ricochet. They’re both on the apron and Ospreay goes up a corner. Ricochet anchors Ospreay first! Then Ricochet has the Electric Chair Lift!
Ospreay fights free, fights off a nelson, then he KICKS Ricochet! Ospreay runs, but into a pop-up APRON DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! The fans chant “You Still Suck!” but Ricochet adds a SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Ricochet puts Ospreay in, then springboards to 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives, but then Ricochet AX KICKS! Dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, VERTIGO! Cover, TWO!? Ospreay survives and Ricochet is shocked! Ricochet snarls and he aims from a corner. The fans rally for Ospreay but Ricochet loads up. SPIRIT- NO, Ospreay ducks under! Ospreay gets up, Ricochet blocks a kick!
Ricochet V-TRIGGERS, then he reels Ospreay in! But Ospreay fights out of the bomb, but then Ricochet returns the favor! Ricochet suplexes, into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Ospreay springboards for the OSC- CUTTER FROM RICOCHET!! Ricochet hurries to get Ospreay up, powerbomb into fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! SPIRIT- HIDDEN BLADE!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Ospreay and Ricochet both slowly sit up and the fans rally as hard as ever. Ricochet and Ospreay stare down, talk a bit of trash, then stand up. Ospreay draws a line in the sand and dares Ricochet to step up.
Ricochet steps right up, they stand toe to toe, literally! They start firing forearms! The fans cheer Ospreay, boo Ricochet, and Ricochet wobbles! But then Ricochet comes back with forearm after forearm! Ospreay wobbles, but he grins as he rises and roars! Ospreay fires a flurry on Ricochet, then ROCKS him! Ricochet flops over, Ospreay hauls him up! But Ricochet grabs at the ref! Ospreay kicks Ricochet’s arm away, but then Ricochet RAMS Ospreay into the ref! The fans boo but then Ricochet hurries to HOOK KICK! And VERTI- NO, Ospreay slips free to underhook! STORM BREAKER! Cover, but the ref is down!
The fans count, Ospreay would’ve won twice over! Ospreay calls to the ref, the ref sputters around, and Ospreay goes up. But then Ricochet kicks the ref into ropes! Ospreay gets tripped up and the fans boo more! Ospreay is confused as to what happened, but SPIRIT GUN hits the mark!! Cover, RICOCHET WINS!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Ospreay earns 0)
The One & Only got away with murder, but there’s nothing that can be done now! Ricochet has NINE points, will he be headed to Worlds End?
Adam Cole heads to the ring!
The fans cheer as the Panama City Playboy returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom, and yes, they join in for the “BOOM~!” and the “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY~!” Cole grabs a mic, but he keeps his eyes on the ramp. That’s because we all know who’s next. MJF makes his entrance, but with a handful of security guards in front of him first. And not even AEW security, that’s his own personal security. MJF grabs a mic and has them cut his music. The fans boo but MJF tells them, “If I wanted your help, I’d ask for it. Sit down and shut up.” The fans tell MJF to STFU, but MJF shrugs that off.
MJF tells Cole that MJF is frustrated. It’s because for the past few months, MJF has had to listen to Cole say MJF is Cole’s biggest enemy! If memory serves, and MJF’s memory always does because unlike the fans here, he isn’t a complete moron… Didn’t Cole turn on MJF? But then does Cole realize he has bigger enemies out there? Like spray tan, cracks in the floor, gusts of win, and maybe… a cavity. Because last MJF heard, Cole’s dentist isn’t seeing him anymore. Cole was already staring daggers into MJF, but now he’s pissed. MJF has Cole calm down, and he tells the fans to shut up so he can shoot straight.
When MJF was the longest-reigning and greatest AEW World Champion of all time, Cole was nothing more than MJF’s cute little sidekick. That ate Cole up inside. Cole wanted to be MJF. Cole wanted #TripleB. But the sad truth is, Cole had many opportunities to win the title before MJF got anywhere near it. It’s almost like when it comes to Cole being elite enough to become world champion, just like his “s*itty little ankle,” Cole blows it. MJF laughs at his own joke, and then tells the fans he is talking, it is not that complicated. But this is why MJF doesn’t buy the hogwash that Cole turned on MJF because MJF would turn on Cole first.
Cole turned because he, like all these shmucks, is jealous of MJF. And who can blame Cole? MJF is rich, handsome, funny, entertaining, and then look at Cole. For crying out loud, Cole used to be ADAM COLE BAYBAY. Now, he’s just a crack baby! Cole asks if MJF is done. Was that the last line? Because it felt like MJF practiced that for two weeks in front of a mirror. But MJF killed it, really. Cole could come back with childish comments to hurt MJF’s feelings, but he won’t. Cole could mention MJF has had two surgeries on that fake head of hair of his while only in his 20s, which is hilarious, but he won’t.
Cole could talk about how MJF pulled some strings to get his girlfriend hired, like the real politician he is, but Cole won’t go there. Cole could talk about how every single time MJF enters a room, everyone waits for him to leave because he is loud, obnoxious and annoying as hell. But Cole won’t go there. Because Cole is not like MJF. They are nothing alike. That is why the friendship was ruined. Because, MJF, the truth is you say Cole is a failure, but in virtually every wrestling company Cole has worked for, he is the longest-reigning champion in so many!
In this very building, Cole bled BUCKETS against Kyle O’Reilly, wanting to prove he was one of the best in the world, and that is exactly what he did! Does Cole have regrets? Sure. Are there things Cole wishes he could take back? Absolutely. But Cole does NOT regret turning on MJF. The only reason it drives MJF insane is because Cole beat MJF to it. That’s MJF 101: Get close to someone, then turn on them. It’s what MJF does. Cole just did it better than MJF, and MJF knows it.
But Cole has been thinking, trying to understand what’s going on in MJF’s head, and he finally figured it out. MJF is terrified of having anyone close to him, because he feels it is a weakness. That hit a chord? Because not only does MJF act like a child, he thinks like a child! MJF knows in his heart that he was going to be the one to turn on Cole first! DAMN RIGHT HE WAS!!! MJF realizes he let the cat out of the bag. MJF says congrats, Cole, he solved the mystery! A regular Scooby-Doo! Great job, Adam.
But you want the truth? Here it is. The fact of the matter is, last year at Worlds End, MJF had every intention on stabbing Cole in the back that night. Cole just got lucky. When #BetterThanYouBaybay started, MJF didn’t give a damn about Cole. Cole was nothing more than a pawn. But MJF will admit, he did eventually start to care. For the first time in MJF’s life, he cared about someone else. Fans mockingly go, “Aww…” But MJF says that is just when Cole became a liability. And since Cole’s “a fragile little freak,” him jumping off that ramp and exploding his ankle made him a distraction!
Distractions, liabilities, emotions, there are no room for those when all you should be concerned with is maintaining the world championship! But Cole doesn’t get it, does he? Last year was a fluke. Cole ain’t the Devil, he just beat the Devil to it. But this year, Worlds End, December 28th, the same show where Cole tried to end MJF’s world, MJF ENDS Cole!! MJF throws down the mic and the fans are torn. Cole smirks and says MJF ends things then? Well, how about Cole ends this? COLE DECKS MJF! The guards rush in, but Cole fights them off! MJF sends more but Cole SUPERKICSK! And SUPERKICKS! And SUPERKICKS!
But then MJF LOW BLOWS Cole! MJF tells the fans to shut up! MJF takes out the Dynamite Diamond Ring! But then The Kingdom rushes out here! MJF runs away from Matt Taven & Mike Bennett, but he vows this ends at Worlds End. We have one week left, is that the last week Cole has in AEW? Or will MJF finally lose the one thing he has left in that diamond ring?
Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.
Lexy Nair is with the #BornAgainKristen and brings up her trying to make amends with Willow Nightingale last night, as well as making the save when Harley Cameron & Penelope Ford were beating Willow up. Kris says what she and Willow have to discuss is between them. But as far as her and Penelope go, they’ve got a lot of history, and if Ford wants a fight, Kris will give her a fight. Then speaking of history, Kris still has her eyes set on the TBS Championship, can she tells us more on that?
Kris says she looked back on 2024 and she had a downward spiral that started with losing that title. Maybe if she wins it back, Kris will right her wrongs. On that note, Mercedes Mone, you don’t have an opponent for Worlds End so here Kris is. Let her know when you’re ready for round two. Kris heads out, will she prove to everyone that she is still the Galaxy’s Greatest?
Backstage interview with Orange Cassidy.
AEW returns and Lexy is now with Freshly Squeezed. In exactly one week, he will compete against three other men for the AEW World Championship. There are a lot of combustible elements at play, and Cassidy says yeah, we saw that on Dynamite. Jay White, Hangman Page and Cassidy can’t exactly have a conversation. So really, Cassidy wants them to listen. “Between now and Worlds End, Jon Moxley can run and hide. He can hide behind his goons, he can run away in a pickup truck. But when that bell rings in seven days, he has nowhere to go. He will be in the ring with us. Us three. And you both know that we need to remove Jon Moxley from the equation.
“We can. We’ve done it. And after that, us three, we can fight for the AEW World Championship and one of us will become the AEW World Champion. Just something to think about. See you guys on Dynamite.” Cassidy is ready to remove the Maniac from the throne, but will the Switchblade and Cowboy listen to reason?
Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford!
As Kris just said, she’s calling out The CEO in hopes of one more TBS Championship match. But will the Superbad Girl be more like the Grinch for Kris this Christmas?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Kris circles with Ford. They tie up, Kris powers Ford to a corner, then throws Ford back into the corner! The ref counts, Kris lets off, but Ford shoves her! Kris ROCKS Ford, TOSSES her, then runs up on her. Kris whips, drops down, then hurdles over. Kris CLOBBERS Ford and the fans fire up as she flexes. Kris drags Ford up, reels her in, and suplexes, and she holds Ford up! The fans cheer and Kris goes all the way to TEN, but Ford slips into a SLEEPER! Kris pries the hold open and she brings Ford around for another suplex! The fans fire up as Kris holds Ford up for five before the SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Kris drags Ford up, whips her to the corner, but Ford goes up, only for Kris to Electric Chair Lift! Kris climbs, Ford fights with fists, and she shoves Kris down! Ford steadies herself, then hits a FLYING BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ford is frustrated but she storms up on Kris. Ford bumps Kris off buckles but the fans rally behind Kris. Ford stomps a mudhole, but she lets off as the ref counts. Kris goes to the apron, but Ford jumps up to drop KNEES on her! The fans boo but Ford soaks up the heat, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Ford brings Kris around to THROW her into railing! Ford soaks up more heat, then drags Kris up and RAMS her into the apron! Ford refreshes the count, then stalks Kris around the way. Ford whips Kris into the steel steps! Kris falls over in a heap but Ford drags her up into the ring. Ford covers, TWO! Kris stays in this but Ford kicks her around. Ford CHOKES Kris on the ropes, thrashes around, but lets off as the ref counts. Ford drags Kris up and whips her to ropes, then LARIATS as Collision goes to break.
Christmas Collision returns and Ford CHOKES Kris on the ropes again! The ref counts, Ford lets off and Kris sputters to the apron. Ford runs and goes up, up, and KNEE DROPS on only apron! Kris then SHOTGUNS Ford off the apron! The fans fire up and Kris brings Ford up, to THROW into railing! Kris puts Ford in the ring, the fans fire up, but Ford kicks low. Ford reels Kris in, but Kris suplexes, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ford flounders to a corner but Kris has the fans rallying behind her. Kris runs up to UPPERCUT! Kris goes side to side but Ford dodges the knee! Ford hits a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Ford wasn’t quite perfect there but she watches Kris go to a corner. Ford runs corner to corner, handsprings, but Kris catches her! The fans fire up as Kris GERMAN SUPELXES, but Ford lands out! but Kris goes Matrix to dodge! So does Ford! STUNNER! Ford runs, Kris does her best to follow, but Ford hops up for a POISON-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and the fans fire up! Ford is beside herself, but she drags Kris to a drop zone. Ford goes up top, and MOONSAULTS BUT FLOPS as Kris moves! Kris hurries to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! The fans fire up as Kris scoops to tuck Ford in! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! Cover, Kris wins!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Ford gave Kris quite the fight, but Kris came out on top! Wait, here comes Mone! Kris did call the CEO out, so Santa Mone says, “Ho, ho, ho ho ho! New York Citaaaay~! Please say hello to your C E O! Kris, after the year I’ve been having, I was planning on taking Worlds End off. I was planning on going to the Ritz in Boston.” The fans boo Boston, but Mone says since it’s the holidays, Mone feels like being nice. She already beat Kris once anyway, so she’ll just beat her twice! At Worlds End, you see that money changes everything, because Mone is the greatest TBS Champion of all time!
The challenge has been accepted, and Mone is looking to be busy before the New Year. Will Kris make her regret it?
Big Boom AJ & Big Justice return to the ring.
They’re getting Christmas Collision ready to bring the BOOM, but out comes Chris Jericho, who is still ROH World Champion after overcoming Matt Cardona last night at Final Battle. And he has Bryan Keith & “Big Bill” Morrissey with him as he asks if AJ has a permit for being here tonight. Did they talk with Mayor DeBlasio? Because they certainly didn’t run this past Jericho. Do they know who he is? Big Justice says yeah, he knows! “You’re a JACKASS!” Jericho is taken aback, but the fans agree with Justice. The Bad Apple says this is why dumbass kids should be sitting and not heard. Jericho says yeah!
And if being a jackass means he’s the King of New York, then Jericho’s the biggest jackass! And besides, Jericho talks for everyone here saying we do not want AJ & Justice here! The fans boo, they disagree with Jericho. But Jericho says they don’t even have Costcos in New York! New Yorkers shop at bodegas. Fans are torn, because they kind of agree. Jericho says his favorite is the Walgreens a few blocks over in Flushing. And speaking of Flushing, that’s where AJ & Justice belong: in the toilet! This is the Hammerstein Ballroom, the House that Jericho built! The fans boo that, it’s the House that Hardcore built.
But Jericho says there’s no time for goofy gimmicks like BOOM~, or bandit masks, or scissoring! Scissor me, Bad Apple~! But then wait! The Acclaimed is here! Well, Anthony Bowens is, at least. Bowens pushes past The Learning Tree and he joins AJ & Justice in the ring. Bowens has the music cut, and he tells Jericho that he doesn’t get why Scissor King is catching strays, but you caught his attention. Jericho is trying to intimidate a man in a walking boot and an 11 year old child while spouting nonsense about being the King of New York. Why doesn’t Jericho do what he has asked so many others in the past: SHUT THE HELL UP!
The fans cheer but Big Bill says, “As the Learning Tree always says, when a man tries to silence another man, he’s probably afraid of the truth.” The fans do cheer Big Bill because he is from New York. Bowens says he has no idea what that means, Bill. But he does know we’re live on TNT, Christmas Collision, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City! So Chris, why not walk your ass to this ring and get it whipped by the Scissor King?! Jericho says if Bowens wants him to do that, then not tonight. Jericho waves bye, but AJ says hold on, listen up. We know Jericho is running scared, but we know at some point, Bowens will get to bring the-
Bowens stops the Boom? Because he wants to scissor! AJ says okay, and they SCISSOR BOOM~! But is that true? Will Anthony Bowens be the one to tear down the Learning Tree and be a champion?
Backstage interview with The Vendetta.
Lexy is now with Deonna Purrazzo & Taya Valkyrie, and they’ve got a hot streak going. Deonna’s message last week was ominous, but who was it for? Taya says there are so many options. Everyone deserves a slice of The Vendetta. There’s Mercedes, Mariah, Toni Storm, even Lexy could get some, so watch your back. Speaking of Toni, she stumbles in and apologizes for interrupting. She just wants to say hi to everyone, hello. Oh, Deonna, a pleasure. Deonna says she knows who Toni is. R-Really? So cool! Taya says she’ll make a guess: Toni has a tattoo on her leg, a little duck with a knife through it.
Wow, how’d Taya know? Deonna says no no no, she is not doing this again. She does not get what sick crap Toni’s up to, but she is already done with it. So for Dynamite’s Miracle on 34th Street, Toni VS Taya! Taya says she’ll make Toni forget everything! Toni nervously thanks The Vendetta, and says this is a big opportunity to face someone like Taya. Toni leaves, Deonna and Taya sigh, and Lexy has no idea what to say. Is Toni’s mind unraveling before our eyes? Or is there still a bit of Timeless inside Toni Time?
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Daniel Garcia!
This showdown was inevitable, but it’s even more fitting after The Standard of Excellence beat up the TNT Champion just because he stood up to the Hurt Syndicate. Will Shelton continue to bring the pain? Or will he not survive Red Death?
The bell rings and Garcia goes right at Shelton! Garcia fires hands but Shelton RAMS him into the corner! Shelton fires hands but Garcia turns things around to fire more shots! The ref counts, Shelton shoves Garcia back, but Garcia runs up to fire hands! Shelton shoves Garcia again, but Garcia gets under the lariat to waistlock. Shelton fights the lift but Garcia shoves him to SLAP! And CHOP! Shelton just grins and he picks Garcia up again! Shelton TOSSES Garcia away and Garcia goes to ropes. Shelton brings Garcia back up, scoops and SLAMS him, then brings him up again. Scoop SLAM! Shelton drags Garcia up and puts him in a corner.
Shelton whips corner to corner hard and Garcia falls! The fans sing, “We Hurt People!” Shelton drags Garcia around, stomps him around, then TOSSES Garcia out hard! Garcia sputters but Shelton storms outside. Shelton brings Garcia up but Garcia fires hands! Shelton RAMS Garcia into the apron, then railing, then back to the apron! And repeat! Garcia falls in a heap and the fans fire up. Shelton grins as he drags Garcia up, to then THROW into steel steps! Shelton leaves Garcia behind and the ring count climbs on Garcia. Garcia drags himself up at 7 but Shelton goes out after him again.
Shelton puts Garcia in the ring, then grabs at him. Garcia grabs ropes but Shelton stomps him. Shelton stands Garcia up to DECK him! The fans cheer but Shelton brings Garcia up again. Garcia fires a forearm, then he CHOPS! Shelton eggs Garcia on, so Garcia CHOPS! Shelton grins, Garcia CHOPS, but Shelton DECKS him again! The fans duel but Shelton whips Garcia to ropes, for a BIG backdrop! Garcia flounders and Collision goes picture in picture.
Shelton stalks Garcia to the ropes, brings him up and around, then puts him on other ropes so he can CHOKE him! The ref counts, Shelton steps off, and Garcia coughs and sputters to a corner. Shelton stalks behind Garcia, stands him up, and winds up to ROCK Garcia! Garcia flounders against ropes then falls to the mat! Shelton stands over Garcia, drags him up and puts him in the corner. Shelton throws hands and Garcia stumbles. Garcia falls, but Shelton stands on him. Shelton stomps Garcia, drags him up, but Garcia fires up! Garcia breaks free to fire CHOPS and forearms on repeat!
Garcia whips, Shelton reverses and Shelton BOOTS Garcia down! Cover, TWO! Shelton is still amused, and he clamps onto Garcia with a chinlock. Garcia endures as Shelton grinds him down, and Garcia fights up, only for Shelton to wrangle him back down! Shelton leans all his weight on the hold and he squeezes tight. Garcia fades but the fans rally, and Garcia gets a second wind! Garcia fights up, Christmas Colilsion returns to siongle cipture, and the fans duel as Garcia fires hands! Garcia runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS SHelton down! The fans fire up and Garcia aims from a corner. Garcia runs up, Shelton gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX!
The fans are torn while Shelton storms around. Shelton waits on Garcia, waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! Garcia flops around but Shelton stalks him to the ropes. Shelton goes to the apron, runs up, but Garcia BOOTS him! Garcia takes a swing, but Shelton waistlocks! Garcia holds ropes to fight off the suplex to the floor! Garcia stands up and elbows Shelton away! Then Garcia LEAPS, but into Shelton’s clinch! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY to the floor! Garcia flounders, fans sing, “We Hurt People!” Shelton runs up but Garcia drop toeholds him into a chair! Shelton sputters and the fans rally up. Garcia makes Shelton take a seat, then rains down fists!
The fans count along and Garcia goes to nine, puts up the dukes, then hits TEN! Garcia gets space, runs back in, and he SHOTGUNS Shelton outta the chair! The fans are thunderous as Garcia goes back for Shelton. Garcia drags Shelton up but Shelton pushes him away. Shelton LARIATS Garcia, then rolls into the ring. The ring count starts, the fans help Garcia stand, and the fans fire up! Garcia hurries to the ring, but Shelton BOOTS, only for Garcia to block! DRAGON SCREW! Garcia runs, Shelton gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Even with a bad leg, Shelton has so much strength! Shelton storms up in the corner, but Garcia dodges!
Shelton’s knee hits buckles, and Garcia leg scissor rolls him! Garcia steps through for the DRAGON TAMER!! Shelton endures and the fans fire up! Garcia sits on the hold, but Shelton powers up! Shelton powers out of the hold, has Garcia’s legs, and he turns Garcia over into a QUEEN ANGELITO STRETCH! Garcia endures, reaches out, and he army crawls his way forward! But Shelton drags Garcia back! Garcia cradles Shelton! TWO!! Shelton escapes, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shelton SUPERKICKS Garcia! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Shelton covers, TWO!! Garcia barely gets out of that and Shelton is furious!
“This is Awesome!” as Shelton looms over Garcia. Shelton drags Garcia up, but Garcia trips Shelton! Jackknife bridge, GARCIA WINS!!
Winner: Daniel Garcia, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Shelton earns 0)
A Christmas Collision miracle? Who knows! But Garcia is still alive in the C2, but Lashley snatches Garcia into a SLEEPER! The fans boo but MVP hands the pimp cane to Shelton! But here comes Mark Briscoe, and he has a chair! Security wants this to stop before it gets out of hand, and even producers get out here! But wait! Is that Swerve Strickland rushing in from the crowd?! It is! He goes right up top to SUPER SWERVE STOMP the Syndicate and security guards! Garcia gets free of the pile, Mark Briscoe is with him, and now the locker room hurries out here to stop this from getting worse!
The fans chant, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” and Nana eventually hands the mic to Swerve. “Bobby FREAKIN’ Lashley! Didn’t I say I was gonna get my hands on you by the end of ’24? By the end of 2024, I said I was gonna get my hands on you, and that’s what I did, courtesy of the most dangerous man in AEW. Whose house?!” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve is still aiming for Lashley’s head, will he and Lashley have it out at Worlds End?
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Mark Briscoe VS The Beast Mortos!
After getting a couple shockers, The Sussex County Chicken could easily jump up to the front of the block with one more! But will he #ManUp and bring down the menacing minotaur? Or will The Beast be a massive spoiler for Briscoe?
The bell rings and we’re on the clock again. The fans rally and duel while both men fire up. They RAM shoulders, and then fire forearms! The fans fire up as Mark gets the edge, but Mortos swings! Mark dodges to CHOP, then fire forearms! Mark ROCKS Mortos, whips, but Mortos reverses and SPLASHES Mark! Mortos runs but Mark follows to LARIAT! Mark runs, Mortos follows, but Mark dodges to CHOP! And CHOP! And forearm! And Mongolian Chop! Mark fires forearms against the ropes, then roars. Mark runs but Mortos follows to UPPERCUT! The fans fire up, Mortos runs but Mark follows to FOREARM!
Mark runs, Mortos follows, and he slingshots to hook and backslide, TWO! Mark trips Mortos to jackknife, TWO! Mortos gets around, hammerlock and cradle, TWO! Mark slips around to roll Mortos, TWO! Both men stand, both men dodge, and the fans cheer the standoff. The fans cheer “BOTH THESE GUYS! BOTH THESE GUYS!” as they reset. Mark and Mortos run up to RAM shoulders again! And again! Mortos is getting the better of this, and he CLOBBERS Mark! The fans cheer Mortos while Mark goes to ropes. Mortos runs in but Mark TOSSES him up and out! Mortos clutches a leg, stands up, but Mark runs!
Mortos slides in, dodges, and he SPEARS Mark! The fans fire up and Mortos roars while Collision goes picture in picture.
Mark rolls to a corner while Mortos headbutts buckles. Mortos then runs corner to corner to DROPKICK Mark! Mark sputters, Mortos drags him to a cover, TWO! Mark stays in this but Mortos drags him into a chinlock. Mark endures, even as Mortos leans on the hold. Mark fights up as the fans rally, and Mark fires body shots. Mortos THROWS Mark down! Mortos then CRANKS Mark’s neck, then KICKS him in the chest! Cover, TWO! Mark is still in this and he goes to ropes. Mortos storms up but Mark CHOPS! Mortos SMACKS Mark and Mark falls into a corner. Mortos stomps Mark, then digs his boots in!
The ref reprimands and counts, Mortos steps off, then Mortos snapmares Mark so he can step on Mark’s face! Then NECK TWIST! Cover, TWO! Mark stays in this and he goes back to ropes. Mortos waits on Mark to stand, then SMACKS him down! Mark dangles out of the ring in the ropes, but Mortos goes after a leg while Collision goes to break.
Christmas Collision returns and Mortos has Mark in a corner. Mortos whips corner to corner, then runs up to UPPERCUT, CHOP, and HEADBUTT! Mark staggers and the fans rally up for Mortos. Mortos brings down his kneepads, runs corner to corner, but Mark dodge! Mortos hits buckles then falls to the outside! The fans fire up as Mark then WRECKS Mortos with a dropkick! Mark builds speed and he DIVES, direct hit on Mortos! The fans fire up and Mark even hugs a few! Mark tosses a chair into the ring, and fans rally for #DEMBOYS. Mark sets the chair up, but Mortos anchors Mark’s legs! Mortos then SMACKS Mark!
Mortos drags Mark to the apron, Mark fires forearms. Mortos shoves Mark, but Mark fireman’s carries! Mortos fires elbows to get free! Mark REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUTS! Then APRON GERMAN SUPLEXES! Mortos falls to the floor while the fans lose their minds! Mark rises up, takes aim, and he fires the fans up more. Mark goes up a corner, for a SUPER SKY TWISTER! The fans are thunderous and Mark high-fives the front row. Mark then goes back to the ring and builds speed! Mark uses the chair to FLY! Direct hit and Mark even lands on his feet! The fans fire up and Mark hurries to get Mortos back up.
Mark puts Mortos in the ring, “This is Awesome!” as Mark takes aim. FROGGY-BOW onto knees! Mortos saves himself there, and then roars! Mortos whips Mark, scoops him, and has the torture rack! BEAST BACKBREAKER! Then Mortos hauls Mark up for a POWER BREAKER!! The fans fire up for Mortos and he DISCUS- NO, Mark dodges, runs, but into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Mark survives and the fans fire up again! Mortos snarls, hauls Mark up, and then scoops! But Mark slips free! Mark crane kicks, then underhooks! But Mortos backdrops free! Mark rises, Mortos runs, but into a fireman’s carry!
Mark hits a ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Then Mark goes up the corner, and the fans fire up for the FROGGY-BOW!! Cover, TWO?!? Mortos survives but Mark shakes his head. Mark just goes back up top! Mortos sits up and roars! But Mark still FROGGY-BOWS!! And then he underhooks, lifts, JAY DRILLER!! Cover, Mark wins!
Winner: Mark Briscoe, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Mortos earns 0)
And with that, Mark is now even with Kyle Fletcher, who Mark already beat earlier on! That is all the difference between the one seed and the two seed, how will this final round shake out?
Julia Hart speaks.
“Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. I’m no coward. What you call tricks, I call advantages. I suggested that you watch your back. I gave you all the warnings. So I’m not understanding why you feel the need to call me classless and sneaky. I thought I was being more than reasonable. I know you’re strong, but are you smart? Are my ‘tricks’ too much for you? I guess we’ll find out January 1st, Fight for the Fallen. But remember: The House Always Wins.” The Princess of the Black Throne is ready, but will she learn Hayter Hits Hard?
Backstage interview with Mariah May.
Alex Marvez is with the AEW Women’s World Champion and says in one week’s time, it will be Mariah VS Thunder Rosa for the title, in a Tijuana Street Fight! Marvez notes that Mariah not only had some harsh words for Rosa, but for her father, as well. Mariah says, “Aw~, Papa Rosa is gonna be in the front row. Is that to watch the match? Or does Thunder need a new mami?” But speaking of Rosa, she RAMS Mariah right into the door! And dribbles her off it, too! Mariah pulls hair, Rosa tries to choke Mariah, and then Mariah shoves Rosa away. Mariah calls Rosa crazy, but Rosa says she’s not done with Mariah!
Rosa storms after Mariah into the hall, and then to the stage area! Mariah has made it to ringside, Nigel tries to warn her, but Rosa CLOBBERS Mariah! Rosa rains down fists, then stomps away! Rosa SMACKS Mariah off steel steps, then grabs a chair! Mariah sputters, but gets away before Rosa swings the chair! Security rushes out here for the third time tonight, and Rosa LEAPS! The cluster keeps her away from Mariah but fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” Rosa holds up the AEW Women’s World Championship, will she send the “Woman From Hell” back where she came from in order to have the gold again?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli!
While The Relentless One has been after each and every Death Rider, he gets one served up to him on a silver platter. But will Darby bring down the Swiss Superman before the final round? Or will Claudio crush Darby’s hopes and dreams this close to Christmas?
But before Claudio even gets in the ring, Darby DIVES out onto him! The fans fire up as Darby fires fast hands! Claudio gets away but Darby pursues, jumps on, and throws more hands! Claudio carries Darby up the ramp to then THROW him down! Darby writhes, Claudio drags him up, and Claudio gorilla presses! Darby slips free, goes to the entry, and then dodges Claudio to send him into the light truss! And then he shoves Claudio into it again! Claudio falls, and now Darby climbs up!? The fans fire up as Darby is up on the camera balcony! Darby SUPER CROSSBODIES Claudio down!
Claudio tumbles down the ramp and Darby sputters while fans lose their minds. The ref checks Darby, his fall was still really wicked. Claudio sits up in a daze as he’s now ringside, and somehow Darby pursues! They both get in the ring, the bell rings, and Darby runs up! But into a POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio is already frustrated. Claudio drags Darby by his legs, to GIANT SWING~! The fans count as Darby goes around and around, and Claudio goes past TEN, past FIFTEEN, past TWENTY, and all the way to THIRTY!! Darby flounders out of the ring while Collision goes picture in picture.
The ref goes out to check on Darby, and somehow he’s okay to continue. Claudio steps out to fetch Darby, and lift shim up with one hand! Claudio then gut wrenches and carries Darby, to SLAM him onto railing! And DUMP him down! Claudio drags Darby up again, gut wrenches again, and he TOSSES Darby onto the railing! Darby flops back down and clutches his lower back, but Claudio leaves him behind. The ring count begins but Darby sits up. Claudio goes out after him again, and brings him up to CHOP! Darby staggers away to a corner, Claudio storms up and CHOPS again! Darby flops down but Claudio looms over him.
Claudio gets space, runs up, and he UPPERCUTS Darby against railing! Darby stumbles away, Claudio goes to the ring, but Darby rolls in, just to roll back out. Darby earns himself some time, but then Claudio storms out after him. Darby hurries int he ring to get away, but Claudio is after him there, too. Claudio stands on Darby’s hands, then stomps them! Darby writhes, but Claudio stomps his hands more! Darby goes to a corner. Claudio stands him up and CHOPS! Claudio UPPERCUTS, CHOPS, and Christmas Collision returns to single picture. The fans duel, Darby fires hands, but Claudio UPPERCUTS!
Claudio whips, Darby springboards, COFFIN- NO, Claudio catches Darby! Darby fights free, runs, but Claudio runs up! Darby DUMPS Claudio, then runs to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp! The fans fire up again and Darby puts Claudio in. Claudio rolls out the far side but Darby DIVES again! Claudio is sent into railing but Darby goes up a corner! The fans fire up for the SUPER COFFIN SPLASH! Direct hit and both men are down again. The ref starts the ring count, the fans rally up, and Darby refreshes the count. Darby LEAPS onto Claudio for a SLEEPER! Claudio goes to steel steps and he steps up, but Darby squeezes tight!
Claudio steps back down, and he runs into the timekeeper’s area! BACKPACK SENTON through the table! The fans lose their minds again while Claudio leaves Darby behind in the wreckage. Darby stirs, the ref starts another ring count, and Darby crawls. “This is Awesome!” as Darby leaps in at 7! Claudio runs but Darby slips around! O’Conner Roll, TWO, springboard and SPALSH! Cover, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO! Claudio is up, but Darby sunset flips! Claudio stays up, and DOUBLE STOMPS! Claudio deadlifts Darby to then TOSS him out of the ring! Darby hits apron on the way out and fans tell Claudio he’s sick!
Claudio goes out after Darby and drags him up again. Claudio scoops and then POSTS Darby! And POSTS him again! Claudio TOSSES Darby aside, rolls into the ring, but only to refresh the count. Claudio then drags Darby by a leg and brings him over. Claudio SWINGS Darby into steel steps!! Claudio puts Darby in the ring, stands him up, and runs to LARIAT! Darby flips through the air! Claudio covers, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio is frustrated. The fans rally for Darby but Claudio rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Then Claudio tucks the arms, RICOLA- CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio escapes in time!
The fans rally while both men are down again. Darby and Claudio slowly rise, and Ricochet watches, very amused as Darby is his next opponent in the round robin. Darby crawls to a corner, climbs up, but Claudio UPPERCUTS! Claudio HEADBUTTS Darby, then climbs up again. Claudio brings Darby up and suplexes, but Darby fights around! SUPER SCORPION DEATH DROP!! The fans are thunderous for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Darby rises up. Darby climbs to the very top, COFFION DROP onto knees! Claudio saves himself, then he hauls Darby up. Straitjacket and RICOLA~ BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Darby survives and shocks Claudio! Claudio argues with the ref but the count was fair! Darby’s just that tough! Claudio goes back to Darby and ripcords him into the RICOLA~ BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!?! HOW?!? Claudio goes outside, and he brings out something from under the ring. He also has a chair! The ref takes the chair from Claudio, but Claudio has BRASS KNUCKLES! BRASS KNUCKLE PUNCH!!! Cover, CLAUDIO WINS!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Darby earns 0)
The Swiss Superman screws over Darby, but then he gets that chair back. But wait, Ospreay slides into the ring! And HE has the brass knuckles that Claudio tossed aside! Ospreay dares Claudio to do something, but Claudio simply leaves. Does this mean Ospreay’s ready to ride against the Death Riders with Darby? Or will we see a Miracle on 34th Street send Ospreay and Darby to Worlds End?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision here as the last one before Worlds End, and therefore a bit of a go-home in itself. While the continued feud of MJF and Cole has still been a bit clunky since they did the double turn, their faceoff did a good job addressing some of that. They got good digs at each other as always, and MJF snapping and revealing “the truth” was their big move to recover this story. We of course got a brawl, and good save by The Kingdom. It feels like MJF still finds a way to hold onto the diamond ring, but c’mon, how fitting is it for Cole to get a diamond.
Good bit with Toni Storm and The Vendetta, and Deonna’s reaction to Toni was great. Deonna is justified in thinking this is still an act from Toni, not a legitimate psychological problem, and Toni VS Taya will be good stuff. Good promo from Kris Statlander, good match from her and Penelope Ford, and of course a good win for Kris. Good promo from Mone to make Worlds End official, but as I’ve been saying, Mone is more likely to lose the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship as part of the big NJPW Tokyo Dome weekend. The irony is, Mina Shirakawa is her challenger and Mina shows up plenty in AEW, so I don’t know how that math is supposed to work.
Good promo from Mariah May as it also turned into a brawl with Thunder Rosa. As it stands, Rosa standing tall holding up the belt means she is NOT winning at Worlds End, but they could still give us a little more from Rosa and Mariah on Dynamite’s Christmas episode to turn the tables. Good promo from Julia Hart to respond to Jamie Hayter, they’ll have a good match. Good promo from Orange Cassidy to try and reason with Jay White and Hangman Page, but that’s all the more reason Moxley likely uses the challengers all against each other like he did on Wednesday. Though, it would be fun if they at least started the match all annihilating Moxley with their finishers, making us think it’ll work out in favor of “Team AEW.”
Good stuff with Big Boom AJ & Big Justice here tonight, both hyping up the show but also interacting with Jericho’s group and even Anthony Bowens. They’re adding some more foreshadowing to The Acclaimed breaking up, and I guess we’re supposed to see this as a positive move, Bowens feuding with Jericho. Unless Bowens is going to be the guy that dethrones Jericho for whatever ROH cable TV debut/return is planned, the Jericho Vortex strikes again. Bowens should be going for an AEW midcard title, but right now, those are all tied up what with the C2 going on and the International Championship being tied up in Worlds End and NJPW plans.
Speaking of the C2, great stuff with all the matches tonight. Shelton VS Garcia was great stuff, and while Garcia gets the win, they’re still giving us some set-up for a TNT Championship match of Garcia VS Shelton. Mark Briscoe of course made the save, but great surprise for Swerve to show up. Lashley VS Swerve for Worlds End just needs to be said, it already feels a given. All that brawling was also a good segue into Mark VS Mortos, and another great showing for Mortos, even in losing. But as Mark has already had all his matches and is at 9 points, Kyle doesn’t even need to win against Garcia, he just needs to draw so that Mark will be out, and Garcia with him.
While Ospreay VS Darby on Wednesday raised the bar, Ospreay VS Ricochet still had great stuff of its own. Plus, Ricochet is bringing out more of his Heel side what with using the ref, and Ricochet’s win puts the pressure on Ospreay for Christmas Dynamite. Now, no offense to Brody King, but I’m thinking Ospreay wins that to take one of the semifinal spots. Darby VS Claudio tonight was also great, but Darby doing his best Sting off the truss was not the best when he gets that whiplash on the floor. I really thought that match was going to be called for concussion protocol, but Darby’s weirdly indestructible.
Claudio still cheats this win so there’s more heat on the Death Riders and Darby is also behind the 8 ball. Ospreay making the save was good, we can definitely have another “Team AEW” VS Death Riders with Ospreay joining Darby and a couple others, but the way they did the order of matches, Claudio’s got a seemingly easy ride against Komander for Christmas. Though, how awesome would it be if Komander pulled off the spoiler? Or if they were really going to add some drama, they should create a situation where the Death Riders end up ringside, violating the Continental Rules of no cornermen and that disqualifies Claudio. Claudio misses out on the semifinals because of a technicality, sending Ospreay and maybe Ricochet to the semifinals.
My Score: 8.8/10
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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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