Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Resurgence Results & Report! (5/11/24)
Will there be a true Paradigm Shift?

Will the Roughneck surpass his Maniac mentor?
While there’s respect between them, Jon Moxley and Shota Umino won’t go easy. After all, they’re fighting for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship! Will #SHOOTER bring this title home to NJPW? Or will it stay All Elite with Moxley?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff match – Strong Survivor: Matt Vandagriff VS Adrian Quest; Vandagriff wins.
- Kickoff match – Strong Survivor: Mustafa Ali VS Lio Rush; Lio wins.
- Six Man Tag: The House of Torture VS Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC; The House of Torture wins.
- Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser VS West Coast Wrecking Crew; WCWC wins.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; ELP & Leo win and become the new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
- NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Alex Windsor; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
- Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay & KENTA; Naito & Yota win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins.
- NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb VS Lance Archer; Cobb wins and retains the title.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Yuya Uemura; Takagi wins and retains the title.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, No Ropes, Last Man Standing: Eddie Kingston VS Gabe Kidd; Kidd wins and becomes the new NJPW Strong Openweight Champion.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS Shota Umino; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Kickoff match – Strong Survivor: Mustafa Ali VS Lio Rush!
It’s been a long time since The Beacon and The Bad Child have faced off, but they’re finally crossing paths again. Both men’s careers are in a Resurgence to be sure, but who proves to be a Strong Survivor?
Ali is rather high off himself as he goes to the ring, and Lio handspring kicks him off the apron! The fans fire up as the TNA X Division Champion flounders around on the outside, and Lio goes out after him! Lio throws hands, they both get in the ring, and the bell rings. Lio CHOPS and fans “WOO~!” Lio CLUBS Ali to a corner, fires off more hands, but Ali shoves him back. Lio run sin, Ali goes up and over, things speed up and Lio hurdles. Lio whips, Ali reverse, Lio reverses, repeat! Lio uses ropes to go up and around to whip, then he redirects! The fans rally for Ali but Lio ducks. Ali comes back, Lio sends him right out! Ali lands on his feet, turns around, into Lio’s DIVE!
The fans fire up again while both men hit railing! Lio gets up and in to build speed and DIVE again! Ali is sent back into railing but Lio wants another! The fans fire up and Lio builds speed, to then build more speed, and he DIVES! Direct hit and the fans cheer the hattrick! Lio puts Ali in and stalks him to a corner. Ali stands up but Lio fires hands! Lio climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count but Ali stops Lio at four to FLAPJACK him off the buckles! The fans rally up as Ali snarls and Lio sputters. Ali has Lio in a facelock, suplexes, but Lio blocks! Ali throws body shots as fans duel, then he whips. Tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER!
Ali then suplexes, for a JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO! Lio toughs it out but Ali talks trash on him. Ali slaps Lio around, drags him up, and the fans rally. Ali bumps Lio off buckles, CHOPS him in the corner, then says, “In Ali We Trust!” The fans are torn but Ali whips Lio corner to corner. Lio slides to a stop, then dodges Ali to go up and over and over again! Lio tilt-o-whirl RANAS Ali into buckles! Then a roll up, spin and ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Lio says its time! Lio springboards, but no Rush Hour! Ali hits a LUMBAR CHECK! Shoutout to his old rival, Cedric, then Ali goes up top! 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up and Ali is shocked that Lio survives! Ali goes back up the corner, aims again, and 450- NO, he has to bail out as Lio moves! Ali runs back in, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO, and into a KOJI KLUTCH!! Lio endures, pushes around, has a cover, TWO! Ali has the victory roll, TWO! Both stand, Lio gets around, but Ali trips him! Ali steps through and turns Lio over into a SHARPSHOOTER! The fans cheer that unique way into the hold, and Lio endures. Lio pulls Ali’s hair to pull him down! Then HEEL KICKS! Lio runs, rebounds, RUSH HOUR! Lio hurries up top and aims, for the FINAL HOUR!! Cover, TWO as Ali goes Matrix!!
But then Lio jumps up to POISON RANA!! Cover, TWO!! Ali survives again and the fans rally up. Lio storms over to the corner, climbs up, and the fans rally again. Lio aims, but Ali rolls away to the far corner. Lio hops down, storms up, but Ali YANKS him into a corner! Lio stops himself in time, but Ali blocks his kick! Ali hooks Lio up, backslide, but feet on the ropes!! ALI WINS!!
Winner: Mustafa Ali, by pinfall
The politician celebrates his win, but Lio knows he cheated to get it! They argue, the ref steps in, but then Ali CLOBBERS Lio! Ali stomps away on Lio, but then Young Lions rush in to break it up! The fans are torn but then the lights go out? House of Torture is in the building tonight… But when the lights come back, Lio’s foaming black liquid from the mouth! He’s laughing and shouting at Ali as the X Division champion gets outta there! Is this a bad omen of what’s coming for Ali and his gold?
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls held onto these belts through The Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but not without some controversy. The Headbanga & Young Guerrilla get one more shot, can they take the titles back? Or will TMDK make this a more decisive victory?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if justice is served!
The teams sort out, Mikey starts against ELP. They circle, the fans rally, and the two tie up. Mikey headlocks, ELP powers up and out, but Mikey runs him over! Mikey talks trash, things speed up, but Mikey avoids ELP’s dropkick! ELP avoids the sliding lariat, and both men stare down. They both go after the other’s partner! ELP BLASTS Shane down but Leo ROCKS Mikey first! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey, tags Leo, and the fans rally as they double whip Mikey to a corner. Leo runs in to SPLASH, ELP runs in to clothesline! Feed to Leo for a SIDEWALK SLAM! ELP is up top, AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and the two high-five!
Leo paces around Mikey, brings him up, but Mikey throws body shots! Leo CLUBS away on Mikey, then reels him in to suplex. Mikey fights that and suplexes Leo! Leo fights that, Mikey slips free but Leo elbows him away! Shane tags in to kick low! TMDK double whip, then DOUBLE ELBOW! Leo stays up, runs up, but into a double drop toehold! Then FIST DROP SENTON COMBO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Shane powers up. Shane shakes out that leg, runs up, but blocks Leo’s boot! Shane CHOPS, but Leo doesn’t flinch. Shane is surprised, so he CHOPS again! Leo still doesn’t flinch! Leo storms up on Shane, Shane winds up and CHOPS!
Leo just sighs and paces around. Leo grabs Shane by the neck, then CHOPS him down! Leo swings on Mikey but Mikey gets away. Leo tags ELP, and ELP CHOPS Shane! The fans “WOO~” but Shane kicks low. Shane whips,. ELP goes up and over and then ducks ‘n’ dodges to roll off Shane’s back! But Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and Mikey spins him around for a DRAPING DDT! Shane BLASTS Leo off the apron, too! The fans are torn and Mikey tells the ref ELP just fell like that. Mikey puts ELP in for Shane to cover, TWO! ELP stays in this but Shane brings him around for a NECKBREAKER! Shane pushes ELP to a cover, TWO!
Shane pulls on ELP’s arm, twists the wrist, then KICKS ELP in the back! Shane shakes out that stanky leg, but ELP gets up to fire forearms! ELP ROCKS Shane, runs, leaps, but Shane keeps ELP from Leo! Shane shoves ELP back and DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up, Shane covers, TWO! Shane tags Mikey, Mikey runs at Leo, but Leo gets away. Shane stands ELP up, URENAGE POWER- RANA! ELP sends Mikey away and fakes Shane out to go low! But Shane grabs a foot! ELP ENZIGIRIS Shane, reaches for Leo, but Mikey has a foot! Mikey ducks the enzigiri, but ELP BOOTS him into Shane! The fans fire up, hot tag to Leo!
Leo storms in and he rallies on TMDK! Mikey blocks a boot, ducks a lariat, but the UPPERCUT takes him down! Leo has Shane for a scoop, but Shane slips free! Shane CHOPS, Mikey clotheslines! TMDK double whip, but Leo comes back to DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans fire up with Leo and he aims at Mikey! Mikey staggers up, into a choke grip! But Mikey fights free! Leo swings, Mikey gets around, but Leo fights the back suplex! Leo ROCKS Mikey, Mikey ROCKS Leo, repeat! The forearms fly, the fans fire up, and Mikey gets the edge! Mikey runs, into an ELBOW! Leo runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!
Leo keeps calm and he brings Mikey up. Leo scoops Mikey, tags ELP, POWERSLAM to SPRINGBOARD SWANTON! To LIONSAULT! Leo BLASTS Shane while ELP covers, TWO! Mikey survives but ELP & Leo say this is over! They go to corners and tune up the band! But Shane anchors Leo! Mikey blocks Sudden Death to ROCK ELP! Mikey clothesline Leo, Shane UPPERCUTS! FOREARM! UPPERCUT! LARIAT! Leo stays up, so Shane LARIATS! Leo roars and runs up, but into a BACK SUPELX NECKBREAKER COMBO! ELP returns to BOOT Shane, BOOT Mikey, then runs, but into the URENAGE POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as ELP survives. Mikey tags Shane and TMDK go after ELP together. Mikey scoops, ELP slips free and shoves Mikey at Shane! Mikey ducks so Shane can LARIAT ELP! Shane sits ELP up for Mikey to SLIDING LARIAT! Mikey gets ELP up to scoop, TANK BUSTER!! Cover, LEO BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but Mikey goes after Leo! Leo grabs Mikey by the neck! And then he gets Shane! But TMDK fight free, ROCK Leo, and DOUBLE TROPHY LIFT! Leo fights free and he BOOTS Shane down! Mikey ducks ‘n’ dodges, but runs into the POWERSLAM! Leo then hauls Mikey up, for GOD- NO, Mikey slips free!
Mikey waistlocks Leo but Leo gets free, and ELP hits SUDDEN DEATH! Almost a Hidden Gap a la Bishamon! ELP dodges Shane, Leo UPPERCUTS him down! ELP builds speed to DIVE onto Mikey! And then Leo gets Shane up! GODSEND!! ELP goes up and then onto Leo’s shoulders! SUPER THUNDERKISS!! Cover, ELP & LEO WIN!
Winners: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Justice IS served! ELP & Leo take these titles back, but will their Resurgence see them through the Summer? Or will TMDK want to settle the score before the Fall?
NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Alex Windsor!
The Windy City Riot saw La Primera make it past the highspeed AZM, but now she’s running headlong into Iron Will Windsor! Will Vaquer be able to hold onto the gold when facing someone tough as titanium? Or will the winds of change blow across the Golden State?
The introductions are made, the amethyst colored belt is raised, and we see who is NJPW Strong!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. The fans rally as Alex puts the pressure on. Vaquer rolls, but so does Alex! Vaquer steps over to bring Alex down, and she twists the wrist! Vaquer then shifts to have a motorcycle stretch, but Alex powers it back onto Vaquer! The fans rally, Vaquer arm-drags and then wraps Alex up in a straitjacket stretch! Alex fights up, but Vaquer kicks the legs out to pull her back onto knees! But Alex rolls back to put the straitjacket on Vaquer! The fans rally, Vaquer fights up, and she powers out to victory roll! TWO!
Alex escapes, and she ROCKS Vaquer! Alex takes another swing but Vaquer gets around, waistlocks, then spins and wrenches Alex’s arm to YANK it! The fans rally, Alex wrenches back, but Vaquer rolls, handsprings, and wrenches again. The fans cheer this technical exchange, and Vaquer gets Alex’s other arm to wrangle her down! Vaquer isolates that arm to STOMP it! The fans cheer while Vaquer watches Alex get up. Vaquer is right on her with a whip, but Alex ducks ‘n’ dodges to run Vaquer over! The fans cheer and Alex kicks Vaquer. Alex runs, Vaquer stays low then hurdles. Vaquer DROPKICKS Alex and the fans fire up again!
Vaquer runs corner to corner to jump at Alex, but Alex puts her up top! Alex CHOPS, then YANKS Vaquer down! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Alex KICKS Vaquer, KICKS her again, then hauls her up to CLUB her down. Alex clamps onto Vaquer’s arm to then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Alex sits Vaquer up to basement LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Alex drags Vaquer up and cravats for a neck wrench. The fans are torn but Vaquer endures and wrenches free. Alex CHOPS, then cravats for some knees! Vaquer still endures and the fans rally up. Vaquer pries free, arm-drags Alex down, then isolates the arm again, only for Alex to avoid the stomp!
Alex mule kicks, SUPERKICKS, and Vaquer falls! Alex covers, TWO! The fans fire up as Vaquer survives, but Alex scowls. Alex runs in at the corner, but Vaquer dodges! Vaquer then fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! The fans fire up, Vaquer goes corner to corner, but Alex dodges! Alex swings but Vaquer spins her around, snap suplex! Vaquer drags Alex up into the headscissor squeeze, then turns her over to RAM her into the mat again and again and again! The fans fire up and Vaquer lets off to cover, TWO! Vaquer is annoyed but she brings Alex down to scrape her face! Then she drops the leg, brother! Cover, TWO!
Alex is still in this but the fans rally behind Vaquer. Vaquer drags Alex up, but Alex HEADBUTTS! Vaquer HEADBUTTS! Alex HEADBUTTS again! Vaquer HEADBUTTS again! They DOUBLE HEADBUTT! Both women wobble, then run in! Vaquer dodges to SUPERKICK! Vaquer runs, but Alex LARIATS her down! The fans fire up while both women fall on the logo at center! A standing count starts, the fans rally up, and both women sit up at 3 of 10. Alex aims from ropes, runs up at Vaquer, but Vaquer gets around, shoves, only for Alex to stop herself! Alex puts Vaquer on the apron, Vaquer ROCKS Alex, but Alex catches the shoulder thrust for a DRAPING DDT!
Vaquer is stuck in ropes so Alex goes up a corner! MISSILE DROPKICK! Vaquer flops out of the ropes, Alex drags her to a cover, TWO! Alex hauls Vaquer up, suplexes, but Vaquer fights free, SOLE FOOD! And then wrench for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Alex survives but the fans rally up again. Vaquer runs, but Alex follows to clothesline at ropes! Then she whips to clothesline again! Then leg lift SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Vaquer survives but Alex steps through, for a SHARPSHOOTER! Vaquer endures, even as Alex sits deep with her at the center of the ring! The fans rally, Vaquer fights around, ROPEBREAK!
Alex lets go in frustration, but she drags Vaquer right up. Alex says Vaquer is a POS, but Vaquer JAWBREAKERS and SUPERKICKS her for it! Vaquer then brings Alex around, tucks her in, but Alex fights free! HEADBUTT! Vaquer stays up, runs up, but Alex blocks to DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives again and Alex is losing her cool! The fans fire up as Alex steps through, but Vaquer kicks her away! Alex goes to a corner, runs back in, but only gets buckles! Vaquer runs up, blocks boots, and DRAGON SCREWS! Vaquer sits Alex up in the corner, runs and METEORAS! The fans fire up as Vaquer isn’t done yet! Tuck and PACKAGE BACKBREAKER!! Cover, Vaquer wins!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Women’s Champion)
La Primera pulverizes the Iron Will and holds onto the title! She holds all three of her titles high, will anyone ever take those from her?
NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb VS Lance Archer!
Two big bad behemoths battle over a belt that’s more about speed and time than size and strength! But then will the Imperial Unit make this a quick Tour of the Islands? Or will the Murderhawk Monster show how fast #EverybodyDies?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see how this kaiju movie short film turns out!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Archer fires a forearm, runs, but Cobb hits a SPANISH FLY!?! Cobb almost gives himself a brainbuster but he whips Archer, for a TOUR OF THE- NO, Archer slips free! Cobb gets under the lariat, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Archer tumbles out of the ring, Cobb follows, and he gets Archer back in the ring. Cobb storms up to ROCK Archer, but Archer shoves back. Cobb RAMS into Archer, then whips corner to corner. Archer goes up and over, keeps moving, but Cobb ducks the lariat! Cobb runs in but Archer TOSSES him out! Archer aims from the apron, to CANNONBALL!
The fans fire up with Archer, then he ROCKS a Young Lion! Archer brings this poor soul over to scoop and SLAM him onto Cobb! The fans boo but Archer soaks up the heat. Archer hauls Cobb up, but Cobb throws body shots and CHOPS! The ring count starts, Archer ROCKS Cobb! Cobb ROCKS Archer! Archer kicks low and then APRON CHOKE SLAMS! The count is 6 of 20 while Cobb flops to the floor. Archer grins and we reach 10 of 20. Archer drags Cobb up, to whip him into railing! The count is 15 so Archer leaves Cobb behind! Cobb hurries up and in at 18! The fans cheer but Archer is annoyed.
Archer storms over to Cobb, stomps him then drags him up. Archer puts Cobb in a corner to CHOP! Cobb sputters and Archer smirks. Archer tells the booing fans to shut up, then he swings, but Cobb dodges to CHOP back! Archer ROCKS Cobb, then CLUBS away at the ropes! The ref reprimands, Archer lets off and says this is HIS title now! The fans boo and Archer scares referee Scarlet off! Scarlet says hey, she’s the authority here, leave her alone! Archer drags Cobb up, but Cobb fires body shots! Cobb ROCKS Archer, runs, but Archer follows to CROSSBODY! Archer laughs while the fans are torn.
Archer talks trash, goes back for Cobb, stomps him, then covers, TWO! Archer is upset with the ref again but she cowers away. The fans boo Archer for being a bully, but he drags Cobb up. We hit five minutes, the fans rally for “COBB! COBB! COBB!” Archer tells them to shut up, but Cobb suplexes first! The fans fire up while both behemoths are down! Cobb and Archer stir, rise up, and crawl to each other. Archer pats Cobb on the head, but says he’s tired of Cobb’s crap! Archer ROCKS Cobb with a forearm, but Cobb ROCKS Archer back! Archer ROCKS Cobb, so Cobb ROCKS Archer! The fans chant “MEAT!” with each forearm they throw!
The forearms keep going, even as both men stand! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Archer CHOPS, Cobb CHOPS, and so fans “WOO~” as they keep going! They even throw LARIATS! “MEAT! MEAT!” Both men fire up, and they DOUBLE LARIAT! DOUBLE LARIAT! DOUBLE LARIAT! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Archer kicks low, SMASHES Cobb, then runs, but into a SUPERKICK! The fans fire up while Archer leans on ropes. Archer snarls, runs up, but into an URENAGE! FALLING HAMMER! Cover, ONE?!? GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up while Cobb is surprised, but he goes back for Archer.
Archer grabs at Cobb but Cobb fights off the claw! Archer BOOTS Cobb, ripcords, and SCRAPBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Archer drags Cobb back up. Archer puts Cobb in a corner, then puts him up top. Archer wants the inverted crucifix! But Cobb fights that and CLUBS away on Archer! Cobb shoves Archer, but Archer comes back with a STEP-UP KNEE! And now the crucifix, for the BLACKOUT BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Into a ghost pin!! TWO!!! Archer escapes and the fans fire up again! Cobb goes to a corner, Archer snarls and runs in to SPLASH! Archer fires up and the fans boo, but he runs back in for another-
NO! Cobb catches Archer and carries him out, ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO!! We’re past the 10 minute mark so time is still on Cobb’s side. Archer goes to a corner, Cobb fires up and rises up! Cobb runs in but into a BOOT! Archer slashes his throat and says that belt is his! Archer drags Cobb up with a knuckle lock, then CLUBS him. Archer goes up the corner, CLUBS Cobb more, then walks the tightrope! Archer flips the fans off, but Cobb yanks him down! TOUR OF THE ISLAND!!! Cover, Cobb wins!!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (still NJPW World Television Champion)
Archer tried to go Old School but he let filler get in the way! Cobb is still the star of NJPW World, will he have the biggest and best “season” of them all? Wait! Tomohiro Ishii walks out here! The Stone Pitbull stares the Imperial Unit right in the eye and the fans fire up! Cobb can tell what Ishii wants, and the fans sure like the idea of this match! Cobb sets the belt down, and he mockingly does a Rainmaker Pose. Ishii says he’ll be back. Will Ishii look to terminate Cobb’s reign and make his own?
NJPW receives a message.
“Bloodied, left for dead, surviving only by the last drop of blood running through my veins. New blood. Evolution. Valiantly, eternal, wreck. Those words define my destiny. The NEVER Openweight Championship IS my destiny! And I don’t care who is victorious tonight, Henare is back! And I’m coming for anybody who holds that championship! I’ll ensure this fight forever and ever and ever! I’m bringing my mana, I’m bringing vengeance, and I’m TAKING that NEVER Openweight Championship! Understand this challenge! Agree to it! RAH! And let’s make it so!” The Face of Fury is back, but at who will his Rampage be aimed?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Yuya Uemura!
The Rampaging Dragon is no stranger to the NEVER Openweight Division, but he is no stranger to the KOPW Championship that the Heat Storm now holds. Will Yuya be able to take down one of the toughest men in NJPW to become a rare Double Champion? Or will Takagi earn himself a golden ticket back to the cerulean blue belt?
Each man holds up their titles, the fans cheer, but of course only one is on the line here. The introductions are made, the NEVER belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives up!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. Takagi and Yuya slowly approach, circle, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Yuya gets around to waistlock. Takagi switches, Yuya switches back, but Takagi drop toeholds. Takagi pushes on the foot, floats to a headlock, but Yuya pops out the back. Yuya headlocks now, but Takagi powers up, only for Yuya to hold on tight! Takagi stands up, pries at the hold, but Yuya grinds Takagi’s head. Takagi still tries, throws some body shots, and pries free. Takagi hammerlocks, headlocks, but Yuya powers out to headlock back! The fans cheer this exchange as Takagi endures.
Takagi throws body shots, then hits a BIG back suplex! But Yuya holds on! Yuya grinds the headlock, but Takagi fights back up. Takagi throws body shots, powers out, but Yuya runs him over! The fans cheer, things speed up, but Yuya drops onto Takagi’s dropdown for a headlock! Takagi fights back up, puts Yuya in a corner, but the ref counts. Yuya and Takagi let off slowly, but then Takagi fires off forearms! Takagi then whips corner to corner, but Yuya goes up! Takagi catches him going over but Yuya hits a takeover! Takagi headscissors, Yuya kips free, and Yuya runs up. Takagi sidesteps to ELBOW, JAB! YUKON LARIAT!
The fans fire up while Yuya flounders away to a corner. Yuya is on the apron but Takagi goes out after him. Takagi brings Yuya up to SMACK him off the apron! Then Takagi follows Yuya around the way to SMACK him off the apron again! Takagi asks if the fans want that again, and the fans cheer! So Takagi fireman’s carries, to SNAKE EYES off the apron! DDT to the floor! The fans fire up more while Takagi stands tall. The ring count starts while Takagi leaves Yuya behind. Yuya is still down at 5 of 20, then at 10. Yuya sits up at 12, slowly crawls over at 15, and slides in at 18! Takagi’s right on Yuya for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally as Yuya stays in this, and Takagi keeps cool as he looms over Yuya. Takagi sits Yuya up into a chinlock and he grinds Yuya down. Yuya endures, fights up, but Takagi hits a takeover. Takagi makes it a lateral press, ONE! Takagi still has a half nelson to keep Yuya down but Yuya fights around to a ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Takagi lets off cleanly, and he brings Yuya up. Takagi cravats for a neck wrench but Yuya endures again. Takagi cranks harder but Yuya throws body shots! Yuya headlocks but Takagi hits a snap back suplex! The fans fire up and Takagi gets a leg. Takagi turns Yuya but Yuya scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK!
The ref counts but Takagi has both legs! ROPE GULLOTINE! Yuya sputters and the ref checks on him, but he’s okay to continue. Takagi storms over to KICK Yuya in the back! Takagi then drags Yuya up, has him on ropes, and KNEES him low! And KNEES him again! The fans rally, Takagi assesses the crowd. Yuya? “BOO~!” Takagi? “YAY~!” Takagi is satisfied and he whips Yuya to then KNEE him again! But Yuya suplexes first! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi flounders to a corner and the fans rally. Yuya grits his teeth, rises up, and Yuya runs in at the corner! But Takagi BOOTS first! Takagi runs up, but into an arm-drag! And another arm-drag!
Yuya DROPKICKS Takagi down, then kips up! The fans fire up and Yuya storms around. Yuya aims from a corner as Takagi slowly rises. Yuya runs in to SPLASH! Then he reels Takagi in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Takagi is tougher than that but Yuya fires up again. Yuya goes to a corner and climbs up. Takagi springs up and CHOPS him first! Takagi ridge hand chops again and again! Takagi goes up but Yuya fires forearms! Takagi staggers back, then Yuya CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Yuya keeps calm, and he fires back up. The fans rally, Yuya brings Takagi up but Takagi fights the clinch! Takagi throws elbows but Yuya throws knees!
Yuya lifts but Takagi arm-drags free! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feints to DDT! The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Takagi stands. The fans chant “Let’s Go, Shingo!” as he looms over Yuya. Takagi kicks Yuya around, brings him up, and catches the lariat to spin Yuya around, reel him in, and FACEBUSTER! Takagi then drops a KNEE on Yuya’s neck! Yuya writhes, Takagi hauls him up and whips him into a corner hard! Takagi wants the ref to check Yuya, but Yuya says he’s fine. Takagi runs up, blocks a boot, and he clotheslines through! Then YUKON LARIATS! Then scoop and SLAM! Takagi goes up, FALLING ELBOW!
The fans fire up and Takagi isn’t done! He hauls Yuya up to POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO! STF!! Yuya endures and the fans fire up! Yuya endures, so Takagi shifts to the JUST FACELOCK! Takagi pulls way back but Yuya still endures! Yuya reaches out, fights around, claws his way over, but Takagi really pulls on the facelock! Yuya still swims his way to a ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets go and the fans rally up again. Takagi brings Yuya up, puts him up top, then climbs up after him. Yuya fires a forearm, then another, then another! Takagi HEADBUTTS back! The fans fire up as Takagi goes to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!
The fans fire up, Takagi crawls to the cover, TWO!! Yuya survives but Takagi looks to the cameras! The fans fire up as he says, “My time is coming! TOKI GA KITA!” The fans join in on “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi goes to Yuya at the ropes. Takagi brings Yuya up, pump handles, MADE IN- VICTORY ROLL!! ONE!! Takagi escapes as Yuya couldn’t hold on! Takagi hurries to waistlock but Yuya fights the lift! Takagi BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Yuya staggers forward, but PELES in return! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi and Yuya crawl towards each other, and they give junkyard dog headbutts! Takagi stands first, but Yuya CHOPS!
Takagi nods and CHOPS back! The fans “WOO~!” as we pass 15 minutes. Takagi eggs Yuya on, Yuya CHOPS! Takagi CHOPS, Yuya CHOPS, repeat! Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, and then CHOPS! Yuya springs up to CHOP Takagi down! The fans fire up with Yuya as Takagi goes to a corner. Yuya runs in to DOUBLE CHOP! Then he reels Takagi in for an URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Takagi stays in this but Yuya stays focused! Yuya roars, rises up, and he brings Takagi up with a cording hold! Then another cording hold! But Takagi fights the Deadbolt! Takagi powers Yuya to ropes and OVERHEAD SUPLEXES! Yuya roars, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but leaps into Takagi’s arms!
Takagi pops Yuya up for a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! The fans are thunderous while both men are down again! Takagi goes to a corner, runs up, and PUMPING BOMBERS! But he isn’t done, he drags Yuya up to pump handle! Yuya fights the lift, but Takagi still hits an USHIGOROSHI! Then pump handle for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives but Takagi wags his finger. The fans rally and duel as Takagi rises. Takagi brings Yuya up, pump handles, but Yuya sunset flips! Takagi turns that to a NECK TWIST! The fans rally as Takagi gets Yuya back up, fires boxing elbows, then ROCKS Yuya!
Yuya staggers to ropes, comes back, but into a JAB! HEADBUTT! SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!?!? The fans are thunderous, Yuya staggers around, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! Pump handle, torture rack, but Yuya slips free! To DEADBOLT!! Bridging cover, TWO!!! Takagi escapes and the fans are thunderous again! Yuya fires up, “This is Awesome!” as Yuya drags Takagi around to the drop zone. Yuya goes up, and FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and Yuya can’t believe it! Yuya won’t let that stop him, though, and he gets Takagi up. Yuya waistlocks, then full nelsons, but Takagi fights it!
Takagi elbows Yuya, but Yuya ducks to ROCK Takagi! Takagi wobbles, but he grins as he grabs Yuya by the hair! HEADBUTT!! Yuya HEADBUTTS back?!? Takagi drops but Yuya stays on his feet! Yuya stands Takagi up to run, but into a LARIAT! Takagi runs, but Yuya gets around! O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO!!!! Takagi escapes Yuya’s best Sanada impression and the fans are electric! Takagi then runs up, but Yuya dodges! PUMPING BOMBER into cradle, TAKAGI WINS!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
The Heat Storm was strong, but he could not slay the Dragon! Takagi holds onto this title, but he also holds up Yuya’s KOPW belt! Yuya snatches his belt back, but will Takagi look to take it from him for real? However, Takagi must prepare because Henare is coming after him. Will Takagi deny Henare his destiny? Or will the Face of Fury soon become the Face of the NEVER Division?
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, No Ropes, Last Man Standing: Eddie Kingston VS Gabe Kidd!
The Mad King and the Mad Man have gone back and forth, physically and verbally, but the Windy City Riot really ramped up the animosity. Now there’s quite literally nothing holding them back, not even ropes! Will Eddie hold on to the last piece of what was the Continental Triple Crown? Or will Gabe keep the War Dogs oath of bringing belts and bodies to the Club?
Kidd has Kensei Abbot live and in person to rap the War Dogs theme for his entrance! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is the last mad man standing!
Young Lions stand in the way until both men are ready. Kidd takes his time putting his robe aside, and he’s ready now. The bell rings, the Young Lions clear out, and Kidd runs up to JUPM KNEE! He and Eddie start throwing hands fast and furious! Kidd fires palm strikes over an dover, but Eddie gives them all back! Kidd ROCKS Eddie, Eddie ROCKS Kidd, repeat! The fans fire up, Kidd SLAPS Eddie, so Eddie SLAPS Kidd! Kidd CHOPS Eddie but Eddie just gets mad! Eddie throws his shirt off and brings the straps down! The fans are thunderous as Kidd CHOPS! Eddie CHOPS back! Kidd CHOPS, Eddie CHOPS, repeat!
The fans “WOO~” as the CHOPS continue back and forth! Kidd then SPITS on Eddie, but Eddie CHOPS him down! Eddie rains down furious fists and forearms! And he just keeps going until he’s good with it! The standing count starts but Kidd rolls off the ring to stand up. Kidd then starts looking under the ring, and he brings out chairs! The fans fire up as Kidd stands. Eddie runs up but Kidd CHUCKS the chair at him! Eddie falls and tumbles to the floor and now the standing count is on him. Kidd steadies himself, Eddie is still down at 7 but he sits up, so Kidd runs up to CLUB Eddie down! Kidd gets the chair, and CHUCKS it at Eddie again!
Eddie flops over and fans boo, but Kidd tells them all off! Kidd flips off the fans so the fans give it back. Kidd runs up to BOOT Eddie, then stomps on him! Kidd digs his foot into Eddie’s face, and we see Eddie is bleeding! The fans rally as Eddie rises and goes to the ring. Eddie staggers around, but Kidd brings his chair, and CHUCKS it at Eddie again! Eddie falls, but Kidd isn’t done with him! Kidd goes under the ring to bring out a chain! Kidd brings the chain to the ring while the fans rally for Eddie. Kidd wraps that chain around his arm, then aims at Eddie. FULL METAL LARIAT! Eddie is down, the count starts, and Kidd soaks up all the heat.
The count is 5 of 10, Kidd drops the chain. We hit 6, then 7, but Eddie staggers to his feet! Eddie flips Kidd off, so Kidd UPPERCUTS him! Eddie drops to a knee, so Kidd BASEMENT DDTS! Kidd lets the count start and he talks a lot of trash. Eddie sits up at 4, reaches out at Kidd, but Kidd ROCKS him! Eddie tells Kidd off, Kidd fires more forearms, then BITES Eddie’s head! The fans boo but Kidd brings Eddie to a corner. Kidd puts one of the crossbars in Eddie’s mouth! Then he digs it into Eddie’s eye!! The fans boo but Kidd lets off and soaks up the heat from the Toyota Arena while Eddie has the ref check him.
Thankfully, Eddie’s eye is still there, but Kidd half nelsons! Eddie fights the suplex, then switches to POST Kidd! That’s really dangerous from this side given the bare buckles! Kidd falls to the floor, the ref checks him, and the standing count starts. Eddie rests for only a moment, and the count passes 5. The count reaches 8 but Eddie sees Kidd crawling. Eddie gets that chain and wraps it around his hand to FUL LMETAL PUNCH Kidd again and again! Kidd is busted open, but Eddie still wraps the chain around him to CHOKE him! Eddie walks the War Dog to the corner, wraps the chain around the post, and tries to HANG Kidd!!
The fans freak out and this is only the first five minutes! Eddie lets go and Kidd sputters before falling over. The count starts again, Kidd gets the chain off him, but Eddie goes looking for stuff. Kidd crawls around at 7, but Eddie has a stop sign! SMACK and Kidd goes down! But this doesn’t stop Eddie, he puts the sign on Kidd to STOMP it onto him! Eddie leaves Kidd behind to go looking for more goodies. The count is past 5 but Eddie brings out a trash can and lid first! Eddie puts the can in the ring, to then SMACK Kidd with the lid! Kidd staggers around, so Eddie SMACKS him again! Kidd scrambles away to the ring and fans want tables.
Eddie goes for the trash can, but Kidd flips him off. So trash can SMASH! Kidd staggers around, into another trash can SMASH! And another! And another! Kidd falls, and Eddie’s headbutting the can! He truly is a mad king! Kidd is down, the count starts, and we pass 5 of 10! Kidd rises at 8, so Eddie storms over! He won’t even let the count continue as he stands Kidd up! Eddie SMACKS Kidd with the chair! Kidd falls again, Eddie roars, and the count begins again. Kidd flounders around at 4, but Eddie keeps the can away from him. SMASH! Eddie mockingly counts but the count has to reset because of that.
Eddie says fine, he’ll really end it now! Eddie drags Kidd up, throws fists right on the wound, then DIGS his fingers in! Eddie stands Kidd up and half nelsons, to HALF- NO, Kidd fights free! Kidd reels Eddie in, SAIDO on the can!! It wasn’t the whole can, but that still hurt! But now it’s a double standing count as Kidd is also down! Kidd rises up but he has the ref stop, because he isn’t satisfied with just this! Kidd goes looking under the ring again, but he doesn’t find what he wants. Kidd ROCKS Eddie with a haymaker, the standing count starts, and Kidd keeps searching. We pass 5 of 10, but Kidd hurries back to Eddie.
Eddie stands, but then flops over onto the trash can! Kidd stands on him triumphantly, but this isn’t done yet. The fans boo, but Kidd stomps Eddie before continuing the search. Kidd asks where it went, doesn’t find it, but he throws chairs in instead. But then he finds a LADDER! That’s not quite it, but Kidd JAMS Eddie with a chair to keep him down! The count starts again, Kidd keeps searching, but he’s gone around the ring quite a few times already. Eddie stands at 7, and Kidd finally finds it! A chair wrapped in barbed wire!! Kidd puts that in the ring, tells Eddie off, and reels him in! BARBED WIRE PILEDRIVER!!!
The fans lose their minds as that is double-edged for someone who wears trunks like Kidd! The standing count starts, both men are down past 5, but Kidd stands at 7! Eddie sits up at 8 but Kidd is on him! Kidd HEADBUTTS, then sits the regular chairs up. Kidd puts the barbed wire chair across them like a bridge, and he tells Eddie to get up. Eddie wobbles as he rises, and the fans chant for “E C DUB!” Kidd fires off palm strike after palm strike, almost toying with Eddie really as he just throws more shots! Kidd DECKS Eddie, then soaks up heat. But he then drags Eddie back up, suplexes, but Eddie blocks!
Eddie wrenches, and MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Kidd sputters, staggers, and Eddie SMASHES him off the barbed wire chair!! Eddie storms around, then DOUBLE STOMPS Kidd onto the barbed wire!! Both men are down and the count begins! We pass 5 of 10, Eddie rises at 7, and he waves off the count. Eddie grabs the ladder and brings it over, to SMACK Kidd on the back! Kidd writhes but Eddie won’t stop there. Eddie sets the ladder aside, brings Kidd up, and clinches! EXPLODER onto the ladder!!! Kidd writhes across the rungs and now Eddie wants the count. Kidd flails and flounders, but he’s still down at 8! Kidd stands at 9, only to flop over!
The count begins but Eddie says hold on. Eddie goes looking under the ring now, and he even wants the ref to help? Because Eddie is bringing out a TABLE! The fans are finally satisfied as the ref helps Eddie set this table up as a bridge from ring to railing! That proves harder than you’d think, so Eddie YANKS railing closer to the ring! The table bridge is completed, though wouldn’t it have been easier just to stand it up? Eddie still goes back for Kidd, brings him up, and URA- NO, Kidd ducks to fire UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT! But Eddie URAKENS! Kidd flounders and the count starts. Eddie stalks Kidd, kicks the trash can aside, then URAKENS again!
The count begins again, Kidd is still down at 5 of 10, but then Eddie changes his mind at 9! Eddie isn’t satisfied, either, and he goes looking for more plunder! Eddie brings out handcuffs!? The fans are going nuts just seeing that, and Eddie shouts at Kidd, “Show me how much you love NJPW!” Eddie cuffs himself, Kidd fights but Eddie cuffs him! They’re attached at the wrist, and Eddie tells Kidd to get up! Kidd rises, and they start throwing haymakers! The fans are thunderous as these two go wild! Eddie HEADBUTTS Kidd, brings him around, and even though cuffed together, he reels Kidd in! But Kidd fights the lift!
Eddie CHOPS Kidd, CHOPS again, and keeps him close with the cuffs. Kidd ROCKS Eddie, CHOKES him with the chain, and then turns Eddie around for a BRAINBUSTER through the table bridge!!! The fans lose their minds and both men are down on the floor! The standing count is rising fast, both men are still down at 5! At 7! At 9! KIDD STANDS, KIDD WINS!!!
Winner: Gabe Kidd (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)
Eddie raised the stakes to an insane limit, and loses his own gamble! Kidd is bringing this title home to the War Dogs, and both David Finlay and Kensei help him to his feet! Is the Mad Man going to keep his promise by taking everything from NJPW to restore NJPW to what it was?
The War Dogs leave Eddie behind for medics to check, and he makes it back to the ring. The fans cheer Eddie on as he rests on the NJPW Strong logo, but then JACK PERRY makes his way out here? The House of Torture won earlier tonight, but then why is The Scapegoat coming back to the ring? Unless… THE YOUNG BUCKS are here!! Matthew & Nicholas Jackson attack Eddie and stomp him out! The Elite is here because Eddie is part of Team AEW for Double or Nothing’s Anarchy in the Arena! The fans are torn, and many chant “C M PUNK!” at The Elite. But Matt gets the mic to say, “NJPW, it’s been a minute, right?”
Matt says “This guy is an idiot! Who picks a fight on Wednesday night, and then on Saturday, shows up at the hometown of The Young Bucks? Beautiful Ontario, California!” Nick stomps Eddie in the nuts! Matt says now that he’s standing here in this great city, it’s all hitting him. He got the chills! So many great memories here! They had a backyard wrestling company out here, there are people he went to high school with. But now that he’s taking it all in again, he’s starting to realize, this was a great place to live, when they were poor. Just like all the fans! No judgment! Matt stomps Eddie but then apologizes.
Matt says the best thing he and Nick ever did was become multimillionaire executives, take their lovely families, pack their bags, and buy mansions in the “high desert!” Nick says he loves this relationship of AEW and NJPW! It gives him a chance to beat Eddie’s ass at two different shows! How about June 30th, when NJPW and AEW combine and do the greatest show, Forbidden Door! But even sooner than that, in two weeks AEW will be in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and The Elite will kick Eddie’s ass on PPV! Nick stomps Eddie, then tells Jack that this dumbass audience wants to see them hit their finisher on “this p*ick!”
Jack holds onto the mic for Nick, Matt sits Eddie up, and Jack says let’s all say it together. One, two, three! E V P TRIGGER!! Eddie falls back over and Matt thanks everyone for tonight! They’re not coming back to Ontario, CA, it is beneath them now, goodnight! The Elite stands tall over Eddie, but will it be a much different story when Eddie has Bryan Danielson & FTR backing him up at Double or Nothing?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS Shota Umino!
The Maniac took this title off Tetsuya Naito at Windy City Riot and completed a historic trifecta of being the first WWE, AEW & IWGP World Champion ever. Then he made it through “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs on Dynamite and through Ren Narita just last week at Wrestling Dontaku. However, he now faces his NJPW protege in what is The Roughneck’s biggest match yet! Will #SHOOTER be the student that surpasses the master? Or will Moxley show Shota that he’s 100 years too early to beat him?
Moxley poses on the apron, and Shota DROPKICKS him down! The ref reprimands and the fans go nuts, but then the bell rings to put this on record as Shota FLIES! Direct hit and the fans fire up with Shota! Shota whips Moxley into railing, then Shota mocks the Moxley shoulder slink. Shota then goes around the way to cut Moxley off at the pass, and Shota kicks Moxley low. Shota puts Moxley in the ring, CLUBS him on the neck, then CLUBS him again. Moxley snarls and gets in Shota’s face, so Shota bumps him off buckles! Shota stomps a mudhole in, digs his boot in, but lets off as the ref counts, to shove the ref! Shota then stomps Moxley more!
Shota digs his boot in again, the ref reprimands, but Shota lets off. Shota UPPERCUTS, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Moxley LARIATS first! Moxley then gets Shota up to LARIAT again! And LARIAT again! The fans fire up and Moxley storms around while Shota goes to the apron. Moxley goes out after Shota to bring him to the ramp. Moxley CLAWS Shota’s back, then snap suplexes him on the ramp! The fans fire up while Moxley leaves Shota behind to refresh the count. Moxley pats Shota on the cheek, he’s oddly proud of Shota pulling that move. Moxley puts Shota in the ring, then waits on him to rise.
The fans rally, Moxley runs up, but Shota ducks to ROCK him! Moxley ROCKS Shota but Shota shouts at Moxley! Shota runs, ROCKS Moxley, but Moxley rebounds to BOOT! Moxley says F U, but Shota says Moxley is the no brain mother effer! The fans fire up and Shota runs to ROCK Moxley! Moxley hits back, they fire forearms back and forth, and they each egg the other on! The forearms keep going, the fans fire up with each shot, and then Moxley KICKS a leg! And JABS! And KNEES! Moxley whips, Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges and CLOBBERS Moxley! The fans fire up and Shota gets Moxley up, for a NECKBREAKER!
Shota fires up and the fans are with him as Moxley goes to ropes. Shota storms up on Moxley and whips corner to corner. Shota runs in, to UPPERCUT! Then Shota fisherman’s for the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Shota’s not quite perfect but he still fires up. Shota storms after Moxley to snapmare, then he clamps on for the HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Moxley taught Shota this move and now he feels this move! Shota fires up again and he brings Moxley up. Shota clinches, but Moxley fights with elbows! Moxley shoves Shota to a corner, runs up and clotheslines! Then CHOPS! Then forearms!
Shota grits his teeth and gets in Moxley’s face, even as Moxley fires more CHOPS and forearms! Shota then puts Moxley in the corner to CHOP and forearm on repeat, just as Moxley taught him! But Moxley CLAWS eyes, digs his elbow into Shota’s face, and he sits Shota down so he can stand on him! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Moxley hops off at 4. Moxley “apologizes” with a bow, then stands Shota up. Moxley puts Shota up top to CHOP! Moxley climbs up after Shota and rains down fists! Fans count to 3 then Moxley BITES Shota’s face! The fans are torn but then Moxley punches more! But Shota slips under to tuck Moxley!
Shota learned this one from Ospreay! CHEEKY NANDOS! Moxley is still stuck, so Shota CHEEKY NANDOS again! Moxley eggs Shota on, Shota feints then CHEEKY NANDOS anyway! Shota drags Moxley down, pulls him into the corner, then SLAMS a leg into the post! The ref reprimands but the fans fire up, and Shota tells Moxley he’s an SOB! Shota SLAMS the leg back into the post! The fans cheer while Moxley tries to crawl away, but Shota gets him again! Moxley is still an SOB and Shota SLAMS the leg into the post again! Moxley hobbles away but Shota CLUBS the bad leg. Shota then whips Moxley hard into railing! Shota runs up to dropkick the bad leg!
The fans fire up again and Shota stalks Moxley. Shota puts Moxley into the ring, aims and runs up, to dropkick the leg again! Shota reloads and runs in from another corner, but he blocks the boot! Shota dropkicks the bad leg again! Then he brings Moxley out for a SHINBREAKER, into a takedown and roll, KNEEBAR!! Moxley endures as Shota pulls back on the leg! Moxley asks where the hell Shota learned this one, and he scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Shota lets go at 4. Moxley hobbles, Shota stalks him, and Shota kicks the bad leg! And kicks it again! And then kicks it again!
Shota puts the bad leg int he ropes, pulls on it, but Moxley grabs at Shota. The ref counts, Shota lets off to run, but Moxley TOSSES him to the apron! Moxley runs to BLAST Shota off the apron! Shota rises, Moxley gets the bad leg working, and he builds speed! Moxley DIVES and sends Shota into railing! The fans fire up and Moxley stands on railing to show off a bit. Moxley then goes back to Shota, drags him up, and puts him in the ring. Moxley rolls in, paces around Shota, then drags him up, for an X PLEX! Cover, TWO! Shota’s tougher than that but Moxley drags him up to TOSS him back out.
Shota hits railing and falls to a knee. Moxley goes out to stand Shota up and grind an arm. Moxley CLUBS that arm, then hammerlocks it, to POST it! Shota clutches the elbow and hobbles away, but Moxley goes after him. Wrench and ELBOW BREAKER, then a KNEE down low! Moxley hammerlocks the arm again, to POST it again! Moxley gets in the ring and paces around as the fans cheer. The ring count starts, Moxley lets it climb, and Shota rises at 8 of 20. Shota hobbles over at 10, slides in at 11, but Moxley is right on him. The fans cheer as Moxley shots Shota how those HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS are down! Then he KICKS! ELBOW! KICK! Repeat! Moxley covers, TWO!
Moxley keeps Shota down by digging a knee into the arm, and he bends it back! The fans rally while Shota endures, but Moxley shifts position to push on the arm. Moxley SNAPS the fingers, and Shota scrambles away! Moxley gets in Shota’s face, CHOPS him, then eggs Shota on. Shota stands, Moxley pushes him around, but Shota fires a forearm! Moxley fires it back! Shota shakes his head, shouts and forearms again! Moxley ROCKS Shota right back! Shota staggers, fires another forearm, but Moxley ROCKS Shota again! Shota fires himself up and the fans are with him! Shota fires forearm after forearm, but Moxley KICKS the leg!
Moxley wrenches the arm to a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK, then he drags Shota down! Shota endures, even as Moxley tortures the elbow! The fans rally, Moxley shifts to an ARMBAR! Shota endures, kicks and flails, reaches out with his legs, and finds the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Moxley lets off, and he SLAMS the arm on the mat! The fans continue to rally as Moxley brings Shota up. Moxley puts Shota up top, CHOPS him, then climbs up to join him. DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Shota endures, the ref reprimands, but Moxley still twists the arm! The ref counts, Moxley lets go at 4, then stands Shota up! SUPERPLEX!
Moxley hurries to get Shota back up and in, for a stalling PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up! Moxley SLAMS Shota’s bad arm again, then paces. The fans fire up for Shota but Moxley goes out to look under the ring. After all the violence from Eddie and Kidd, what’s even left under there? Moxley finds a TABLE! The ref reprimands, this isn’t a No Disqualification match! Moxley flips the ref off and sets the table up anyway. The fans duel while Moxley makes sure the table is just how he wants it. Moxley blesses it with a quick prayer, then goes back to Shota. Shota runs up to forearm!
Shota throws more shots but Moxley ROCKS him back! Shota CHOPS, Moxley CHOPS, repeat! Then Moxley HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS again! Moxley runs, but into a DROPKICK! Shota fires up, the fans rally behind him, and he crawls to ropes on one end while Moxley goes to the other. Shota stands, Moxley runs in, but Shota BOOTS! Shota drop toeholds Moxley onto the ropes, then slingshots to APRON DDT! Moxley flounders and the fans fire up with Shota! Moxley is on the apron, and very close to the table he set up. The fans rally with “OI! OI! OI!” for Shota as he makes a lap around the ring.
Shota brings Moxley to the table, throws hands, then CLUBS Moxley onto the furniture! Shota goes up the corner and the fans fire up! The ref says don’t do it, but Shota still MACHO ELBOWS through the table!!! The fans lose their minds as Shota rises from the wreckage! Shota shouts, but then he sits back down. A ring count starts, but Shota stands at 7 of 20. Shota leaves Moxley behind, and Moxley flounders at 11. Moxley sits up at 12, drags himself up at 13, but Shota’s back up top!? Moxley turns around at 15 of 20, staggers at 17, and slides in at 19! Only for Shota to MISSILE DROPKICK him down! And then, EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
Moxley survives but Shota won’t let that stop him! Shota hurries to spin Moxley, POP-UP KNEE, and IGNITION! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives again but Shota just revs up the engines! Kick and DEATH- NO, Moxley wrenches out to CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! But Moxley clamps on the BULLY CHOKE!! The fans rally, Shota rolls Moxley into an STF!! “This is Awesome!” as Moxley now endures! Moxley fights free of the crossface, and gets the BULLY CHOKE back! Shota fights around, stands up, then switches to CROSS RHODES!! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives but it’s right back to the STF!! The fans fire up again as Moxley endures!
Moxley fights around, drags Shota along with him as he claws his way forward, but Shota drags him back! Shota wants the arms but Moxley resists! Shota traps the arms after all, flips Moxley off, this is just like with Ospreay! Shota rains down forearm after forearm on Moxley’s head and neck! The fans are thunderous as Shota lets off and roars! Moxley flounders around, gets to his feet, and swings wild. Shota storms up on Moxley in a corner, puts him up top, then climbs up. Shota has the arms but Moxley fights that! Moxley wrenches Shota’s hand, for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Shota CLUBS Moxley’s leg, but Moxley underhooks him!
The fans freak out, but Shota fights to underhooks, and CLAWS Moxley’s back! Shota gives Moxley extra CLAWS, then he goes to the very top! SUPER DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Moxley survives but Shota won’t be deterred! Shota aims from a corner, for the BLAZE- PARADIGM SHIFT!! But BLAZE BLADE hits on the rebound!!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as mentor and mentee slowly stir. Shota crawls after Moxley, and he fires a forearm! Moxley gives it back! Shota throws another forearm, so Moxley takes off the wrist tape. Moxley fires a forearm, Shota gives it back!
The forearms keep going, and then the two stand up. Shota fires a forearm, but Moxley says Shota’s just pissing him off! Moxley ROCKS Shota, and Shota says Moxley’s the one pissing him off! The forearms keep going, and they’re picking up speed! The fans fire up, Shota ROCKS Moxley but Moxley KICKS, KNEES and ROCKS Shota! Shota drops to a knee, Moxley aims to KICK! And KICK! And KICK! Shota just grits his teeth! Moxley pie faces Shota, scuffs him, and pie faces again. Shota stands up and the fans are all fired up! Shota winds up, to ROCK Moxley! Moxley wobbles, drops to a knee, and now Shota gives the scuffs and slaps!
Shota kicks and kicks and pie faces Moxley, eggs him on, and Moxley stands. Moxley paces, then he comes back to fire forearms with Shota! The fans rally as they go back and forth again, picking up speed, and then Shota kicks the leg! Moxley kicks Shota’s arm! Shota ROCKS Moxley with elbow after elbow, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Moxley ROCKS Shota, runs, but into a POP-UP UPPERCUT! But Moxley still GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Shota rises to HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Moxley’s up to KING KONG LARIAT! But Shota’s up to SHOTGUN!! Shota and Moxley both stand, the fans are thunderous, and they both run in! Moxley’s LARIAT hits first! Cover, ONE?!?!?
We’ve hit 30 minutes and Moxley is scowling at Shota. The fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this has to end somehow! Moxley rises, Shota flips him off, so Moxley STOMPS that finger! Moxley gets Shota up, DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Shota shocks Moxley and the fans are thunderous again! Moxley is beside himself as he hobbles around and fires back up. The fans are loving this as Moxley drags Shota up and in again. DEATH- NO, Shota slips free to SATELLITE DDT! The fans rally as hard as they can as Moxley goes to a corner. Shota goes to the other, runs in, and BLINDSIDE KNEES! Then TORNADO DDTS!
Shota isn’t done there, he drags Moxley right up to fisherman, EVOLVED DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Moxley survives and Shota pounds the mat! Shota goes back to a corner, Moxley eggs him on, so he gets BLAZE BLADE!! Shota hauls Moxley up, underhooks, SWINGING DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Moxley survives again and Shota is going nuts! Shota reloads one more time, Moxley rises up, and Shota runs in to BLAZE BLADE!!! Shota roars and the fans are thunderous again! But Moxley still WRINGS Shota’s arm! And CURB STOMPS! And then DEATH RIDER!!!! Cover, Moxley wins!!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
Moxley defied human limitations to survive this shootout! It may not be 100 years too early, but it’s still a few years too early for Shota to surpass The Maniac. But then, how long will Shota have to wait until he is truly the New Ace of NJPW?
As for Moxley, he still shows his student respect by offering a hand. Shota takes it, and Moxley helps him sit up. The fans cheer, and Moxley even kneels down to tell Shota that while he didn’t win this time, he’s on the right track. Shota bows deeply to show respect for his mentor, and the fans also cheer that. Moxley sets the belt down, and he bows in respect to Shota. The fans cheer that, too, but then THE HOUSE OF TORTURE ATTACKS! Evil & Ren Narita beat down Moxley & Shota! The fans boo as Narita CHOKES Shota with the push-up bar! Evil gets the mic, and in English, he says, “Hey, Jon Moxley. F YOU!”
The fans boo more, especially as Evil now lifts up the IWGP World title. “Next challenger is me!” The fans also boo that but Evil says no no no, he is the REAL IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! “So next challenger is you, b*tch!!” And then, just as he did with the NEVER Openweight title, Evil brings out a can of black spray paint, and he vandalizes the world title!! Then he says, “Hey, y’know what? I am the REAL NJPW Pro-Wrestling President! Everything is Evil! <That’s what it is! Remember that!>” The King of Darkness drops the mic as the lights dim. Will Darkness Fall on NJPW once more? Or can Moxley tear down this house of lies?
After Evil & Ren leave, Moxley gets back up so that he can finally speak. “Evil…! I know what you just did, spray painting this belt, was meant to be a very big insult to me, to the fans and to NJPW. And it is. You will pay dearly for it. But I gotta tell you man, this black don’t look too bad. After I beat the s*it outta you, I might keep it like this. So good looking out. Ontario, California, thank you for tonight, this incredible experience you got to be a part of, and NJPW live pro-wrestling show, an authentic NJPW show right here in California, on this side of the Pacific. That’s really something special.
“Every time we come here, we will bust our asses, because you came here tonight and was such a great crowd, gave us something to dig, and we need that energy to beat the s*it out of each other.” The fans cheer that! Moxley tells Evil, “One day, somebody’s gonna hit me and I’m gonna go down, and I’m not gonna get back up. But trust me, today in Ontario, California, is not that day. And Evil, you are not that guy! NJPW, Ontario, California, thank you, we’ll see you next time.” The Maniac rides on, even into the shadows. Will he stare into the abyss and make the abyss flinch first?
My Thoughts:
An awesome night for NJPW in the USA, even though I did still skip stuff. There’s just too much going on with how Best of the Super Juniors was this morning and AEW’s got their stuff during primetime. Great match from Lio and Ali in the kickoff show, and what a wild development for Lio’s character. Great NJPW Strong tag title match, and I was fairly surprised ELP & Leo won. I guess NJPW is okay playing hot potato with these titles, but I still hope we get some huge Winners Take All Fatal 4 as teased during Wrestling Dontaku just last week. And very good NJPW Strong Women’s title match, but I figured Vaquer would retain. Alex Windsor just didn’t have what felt like new champion vibes.
Cobb VS Archer was a lot of fun, though I was worried it was gonna end quick only because Cobb’s Spanish Fly wasn’t as clean as it could’ve been. Great win for Cobb over Archer, which I figured would happen, but I like Ishii stepping up. That is going to be a stiff, hard hitting showdown. Great promo from Henare to preemptively call out the NEVER Openweight Champion, and then an awesome match from Takagi VS Yuya. I figured Takagi would win, but it is intriguing that he teased going back for the KOPW title. Is Yuya sadly just a transitional champion for Takagi to be the NEVER KOPW combo champ?
That No Ropes Last Man Standing was some wild stuff, and I was really surprised Kidd took the title. At the same time, Kidd had to make good on his promise/threat to NJPW as a company, and winning this title was definitely more likely than his taking the NEVER title last week. And then great crossover as The Elite weren’t present on Collision in Vancouver because they were in California! It’s a smart Heel strategy to go after one target while they’re alone and the others are in another city. Eddie better bring this up on Dynamite for good continuity.
And then an awesome main event from Moxley and Shota. Moxley was maybe booked a little too strong surviving so many things, but it’s not like this never happens in pro-wrestling. Shota definitely had the best match of his career, even in losing, but I guess even a Reiwa Three Musketeer has to wait until they can be top champion. Evil going after Moxley was a little surprising but there’s connections here given the beef between Moxley & Shota with The House of Torture. Evil cut a pretty good promo for using English and not Japanese, and while he spray painted the belt, I’m surprised he didn’t steal it like usual.
Moxley’s promo in response was good, and it’s funny how he downplayed the belt being defaced. Evil probably won’t beat Moxley, but it’d make sense if he did because he’s a former IWGP World Champion, and he’d also have the whole House of Torture go after Moxley to do it. Perhaps it happens at Forbidden Door, which The Elite also made sure to name drop tonight to remind us it’s coming.
My Score: 9/10
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So much gold is on the line!
Stephanie Vaquer is the first ever NXT Women’s Double Champion, and she’s willing to defend both belts separately! Will Vaquer still be golden after tonight?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Jaida Parker; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
- Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont w/ Wes Lee; Igwe & Dupont win.
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Lexis King VS Je’Von Evans; Lexis wins and retains the title.
- Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley VS Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson; Gigi & Tatum win.
- Ethan Page VS Andre Chase w/ Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors; Ethan wins.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Fallon Henley; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Jaida Parker!
The Dark Angel starts her Double Header to start the show, and Miss Parker is ready to take her shot on goal! Will Jaida get out the mud with this one? Or will she learn that La Primera don’t play, either?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and both title and history are on the line!
The bell rings and the fans duel already. The two tie up, go around, and Jaida knees low! Jaida wrenches, wristlocks, and YANKS the arm. Jaida wrenches, YANKS, and wrenches again, but Vaquer rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to a wristlock in return. Jaida powers through to scoop and SLAM! She eggs Vaquer on, scoops her again, and SLAMS her! Jaida talks trash, the fans rally, and Vaquer goes for a leg. Jaida stops Vaquer with a facelock, shifts to hook the arms, but Vaquer slips through to trip Jaida up! Vaquer has the toehold, then ties Jaida’s legs up into a DEATH LOCK! The fans fire up while se see Ava Raine and the Women’s Division watching backstage.
Jaida endures, crawls back, and reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Vaquer lets go, but Jaida runs up. Vaquer dodges, comes back, and tilt-o-whirls to a roll-up! TWO, Vaquer dodges Jaida and sits her down for body scissors! Gedo Clutch, TWO! Jaida escapes that one and the fans fire up. The two reset, circle again, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Jaida powers her way to a facelock. Jaida CLUBS Vaquer, headlocks, then THROWS Vaquer down! Jaida wraps on the body scissors, but Vaquer pushes back to a cover, TWO! Jaida CLUBS away on Vaquer, rolls her over to a cover, TWO!
Jaida facelocks, drags Vaquer up, but Vaquer wrenches free. Vaquer whips, Jaida reverses, but Vaquer RANAS! Jaida tumbles to a corner and the fans fire up. Vaquer runs up and LARIATS, but Jaida fires a forearm! Vaquer CHOPS, SOBATS, and whips corner to corner. Jaida goes up, over, and HIP DROPS! Jaida caught Vaquer with that one and the fans fire up! Jaida talks more smack before she rains down fists, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Jaida lets off of Vaquer to clap back at the Vaquer fans. Jaida whips Vaquer to a corner hard, then scoops for a BACKBRAEKER! Vaquer writhes, Jaida drags her back up, and Jaida whips Vaquer to then ROCK her! Jaida whips Vaquer and CLUBS her, then she brings Vaquer around for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Jaida stays on Vaquer with a facelock, and snap suplexes again! Cover, TWO! Jaida is annoyed, but she whips Vaquer, only for Vaquer to fire off forearms! Vaquer dodges a lariat, ROCKS Jaida again and again, but Jaida knees low! Jaida stands Vaquer up, runs and BLOCKBUSTERS! Cover, TWO!
Jaida grows frustrated but she pushes Vaquer over. Jaida digs a knee into Vaquer’s back and pulls her back! Vaquer endures, fights to her feet, but Jaida wrangles her back down. Jaida digs her knee in more but Vaquer still endures. Vaquer fights back up, only for Jaida to CLUB her back down! Jaida whips Vaquer to a corner, then whips her back in! Jaida talks some smack while NXT returns to single picture. Jaida whips Vaquer back into the corner, then corner to corner. Vaquer staggers, Jaida scoops, but Vaquer slips free and drops down, VICTORY- NO, Jaida stuffs it! TWO, and both women stand! Jaida blocks a shot, wrenches and slips around, BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up as Vaquer goes to a corner. Jaida runs in, but into a BOOT! Jaida comes back, but into a HANGING TRIANGLE! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Vaquer lets go at 4. Jaida staggers away, Vaquer springboards in and CROSSBODIES! Direct hit, and the watch party loses a few guests, such as Jordynne Grace. The fans fire up as Vaquer runs and dials it up, 619! Jaida flounders, Vaquer storms up, and the fans fire up for the headscissors! Vaquer turns Jaida over for the PRIMERA DRILLER! Vaquer goes all the way to TEN, then brings Jaida up. Vaquer underhooks but Jaida wrenches free!
Jaida knees low, reels Vaquer in and suplexes, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Vaquer survives and Jaida grows further frustrated. Jaida drags Vaquer up, dragon sleepers, “This is Awesome!” as Vaquer slips free. Vaquer waistlocks. Jaida switches and shoves, then SPINEBUSTER! Jaida drags Vaquer back up, POSTS her, then has her in the ropes! Jaida CHOPS Vaquer, then runs to TEARDROP! Jaida high steps, but GRACE is ringside! The Juggernaut is not happy with how Jaida interrupted her last week! Jaida frowns, but she still blocks Vaquer’s kick! Jaida ROCKS Vaquer, runs and builds speed, into a victory roll! VAQUER WINS!!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s Champion)
Jaida is beside herself, but she let someone else get in her head before the end. Refs rush out here to keep Jaida from going after Jordynne. The bottom line is that Vaquer still has the top title in the NXT Women’s Division. But FATAL INFLUENCE ATTACKS! The fans boo as Fallon, Jacy & Jazmyn mug Vaquer, wanting to soften her up for the main event! Jacy drops a SENTON, then another SENTON! Then a third SENTON! The fans boo as hard as they can, but will NXT once again be under the Influence?
Trick Williams paces backstage.
But he spots someone walking in and says he doesn’t wanna hear any of that, he doesn’t have time for it today. But Je’Von Evans says, “Deadass, I didn’t like how you pushed me to the side last week. I was focused on Dark State, and I was trying to tell you and Oba that-” Trick says Je’Von still doesn’t get it! Just because they’re from the Carolinas, they’re supposed to be brothers? Trick told him once and he’ll tell Je’Von again, the focus is on Stand & Deliver and the NXT Championship. Je’Von knows Trick’s obsessed with Oba, he’s been that way for the last four months! How is Trick focused so hard on Oba that he couldn’t do what Je’Von did and just drop him?
Trick says be real. Je’Von only dropped Oba because Oba was focused on Trick. Oh, really? Well, if Trick keeps on doubting Je’Von, then Je’Von will just keep on shocking him. Trick said Je’Von would never be champion, but tonight, Je’Von proves Trick wrong again. Trick says yeah, Je’Von has potential, good for him. Randy Orton said Je’Von’s got potential, there’s all these “cosigns,” but there’s a difference between having potential and having the title. Everybody can’t hold that title in the air. Je’Von says he thought Trick was mad before. But that title has really changed Trick into someone else.
Trick says it’s a champion thing, dawg. That’s something Je’Von doesn’t understand. Well, after tonight, Je’Von will. The Young OG heads out, but will he take the Drama King’s throne as Heritage Cup Champion?
The NXT Women’s Division Watch Party continues.
As the others murmur about how the opening match ended, Ava says she needs to go check on Vaquer. But Lash Legend says, “SKRRT! Excuse me, Miss Mayor.” Ava says, “Yes, Lashes?” Lash needs to check into why Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley have a title match with the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions when it should be the Meta Girls. Ava tries to start, but Gigi says maybe it’s because Ava is tired of giving Lash & Jakara opportunities and they lose. Ever think about that? Tatum says first, Gigi & Tatum will beat Ash & Heather By Elegance, and then they’ll bring those TNA titles to NXT!
Jakara says whatever, she and the Bougie Bully have been a real tag team a lot longer than anyone else in this room. Zaria steps up but Sol Ruca has her calm down. Lash tells them both to sit back down. Jakara says you don’t send girls to do a woman’s job. They ran up on Ash & Heather but Gigi & Tatum went and took their shot. Oh, “took their shot,” huh? Please, Miss Jackson. If you’re about the action, Gigi & Tatum will show them something. Lash says don’t even go there. The Meta Girls head out, telling Ava to fix this. Ava has a lot on her plate, but will Gigi & Tatum show they can make an impact?
Sit-down interview with Ricky Saints.
Vic Joseph sits down with The Absolute and says he has been waiting for this moment ever since Ricky arrived over a month ago. Ricky has already had some big moments, but there are those in the locker room that say Ricky doesn’t belong. It’s Stand & Deliver Season, tensions are high, is that all white noise or motivation? A bit of both. Ricky thinks it is funny, as there are superstars back there that have had a head start on him. And it wasn’t until he actually showed up that the decided to up their game. Vic and the fans are finding out just how confident Ricky is as a performer. And confidence can scare people.
That is what Ricky has been dealing with all his life. So coming here and getting that is nothing new to Ricky. Then where does Ricky find that inner confidence? Ricky says when he was breaking into the business, he was living out of his car. There were times he didn’t know how he was going to eat for that weekend. He didn’t know if he’d have money for food or clothes. But at the end of those days, the only thing he actually had was his confidence. The confidence in the fact that he was going to get out of that situation. That is why he’s sitting with Vic right now, in NXT and the WWE. It is because of that confidence.
Ricky wears the scars and battle wounds as pride. But wait, Shawn Spears interrupts? Vic tries to explain this is an exclusive interview, but The Chair Man says he is going to take it from here. Vic steps aside and Spears tells Saints to relax, he’s just sitting down. Spears says they’ve known each other a long time. Ricky says too long. Then why does Ricky think Spears didn’t ask Ricky to join The Culling. Because Spears knew Ricky would say no. Spears knew Ricky would say that, and tells Ricky that he’s wrong. Remember that conversation in Philly? How many times has Spears had to talk Ricky off the metaphorical ledge?
How many times did Ricky not believe in himself? All the advice he’s given over the years. The reason Spears didn’t offer is because, sadly, Ricky is still the same man he left over a year ago. Nothing’s changed. This arrogance is a plague everywhere Ricky goes. All he does is create a long line of enemies, and it is all his fault. Wow, what’s really weird to Ricky is that Spears doesn’t get how if he wants to be number one here in not just NXT but in WWE, it’s that he’s going to make enemies. Spears has heard that same thing, “You wanna make friends? Or do you wanna make money?” That is Spears’ point with Ricky!
Look at Spears! He is a champion in the WWE, with three of his best friends, family even, right by his side. Ricky says they’re the only reason he has that title. And Ricky is going to be the one to take it from Spears. Oh, so Ricky wants the North American Championship? Is he sure? Even though they both know what the outcome’s going to be? Do not add Spears to your long list of enemies, Ricky. You know what they are capable of. Jensen, Niko & Izzi step in, but Spears has them stay back. Spears tells Ricky that in case it doesn’t work out, he can always go back to… Oh, no, never mind. They both know Ricky burnt every bridge.
The Culling leaves, and Ricky says he’ll just have to win then. Will Spears still be so high and mighty when Saints comes marching in?
Other superstars finish watching the interview.
Wes Lee’s guys, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont, cannot believe this. What is Ricky doing? He can’t be for real. Wes says no, he is. It’s “Ricky ‘Everything is About Me Once I Walk Through the Door’ Saints.” But in time, he’ll realize he ain’t the guy around here. But don’t sweat it, it’s almost time for their match. Let’s get it. The Wes Side heads out, Ethan Page puts his coat up, and Kale Dixon tells Uriah Connors that Ricky is pulling an Ethan Page. That’s what All Ego did, didn’t he? That’s gotta suck. Ethan says two more words, and Kale will get knocked out again. Uriah steps up for Kale, but then Andre Chase steps in.
Chase tells Ethan, “What the hell is your problem? You know that’s not how we handle things here.” Oh, and this isn’t a classroom, professor, this is the real world. Yeah, and Ethan knows better. Kale & Uriah are young and inexperienced. Oh, then Chase better teach them that their words have consequences. Actually, Ethan forgot that their dead-end university is closed. Oh, is that how Ethan feels? Yeah! Then maybe Chase should teach them about sensitive tough guys like Ethan who can’t handle the truth. Ethan says, “We’ll see.” Ethan heads out, Chase tells Kale & Uriah that he’ll handle this. And seeing how eager they are, Chase lets Kale & Uriah follow.
Kale & Uriah are excited to see Mr. Chase handle business, but will All Ego stomp all over the name of Chase U?
Hank ‘n’ Tank walk ‘n’ talk.
They’re riled up from last week, being talked down to by Wes, but forget about last week. Right here, right now, these two will prove they’re not just two individuals. They are two minds intertwined! Nobody is more connected than the Bodacious Belly Boys! What does Motor City Machine Guns say to that? Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin are waiting and they like the energy. Hank ‘n’ Tank have got this! One time for the boys! HONK HONK! MCMG wants to see Hank ‘n’ Tank bring out that it factor, will this be the night they level up? Or will Ty & Ty show them what it takes to evolve?
Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont w/ Wes Lee!
NXT is picture in picture for entrances, and while the teams sort out. Igwe starts against Tank and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock as Igwe is taller but Tank is wider. The two reset, tie up again, and Igwe waistlocks. Igwe SLAMS Tank down, holds him down, but Tank fights back up. Tank wiggles and swivels and switches, but Igwe fires elbows! Igwe goes to ropes, bucks Tank, then runs him over! Igwe drags Tank up, tags Dupont, and they double wrench to double YANK the arms! Tank goes to ropes, Dupont brings him around, and Dupont CLUBS the arm! Dupont wrenches to RAM shoulders, then taunts Tank.
Dupont stands Tank up but Tank rolls Dupont up! TWO, and Tank wrenches to YANK the arm! Tank wrenches the arm again, Dupont fights the elbow breaker, but Tank powers him into the corner! Hank tags in, sets up, and Tank HONK HONKS the ELBOW BREAKER! Hank runs up and LARIATS Dupont! Hank bumps Dupont off buckles, then goes corner to corner with Dupont to bump him off more buckles! Hank whips, Dupont reverses, and Dupont SPLASHES! Dupont talks trash, then whips corner to corner. Hank goes up and over, and he BODY BLOWS! NXT returns to single picture as Hank climbs up!
Igwe storms in but Tank intercepts! The fans fire up as Tank bumps Igwe off buckles and climbs up! Hank ‘n’ Tank coordinate, and they rain down fists! The fans count along, and we go to nine, wind up, and TEN! Hank ‘n’ Tank send Ty & Ty into each other, and then HONK HONK, BIG BELLY SANDWICH! Igwe falls out, Wes is annoyed, and Hank wrenches Dupont to YANK the arm. Tag to Tank, drop toehold and ELBOW DROP! Tank then sits Dupont up for Hank to run, run, and run, to DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Tank hurries to get Dupont for a cover, TWO! MCMG watches this backstage, Tank whips but Dupont blocks!
Dupont reels Tank in to LARIAT! Tag to Igwe, Ty & Ty double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Igwe snarls, but Tank avoids the stomp! Igwe hobbles, Dupont tags in and he CLOBBERS Tank! Dupont talks trash, whips Tank, but Tank KICKS Dupont! Tag to Hank, and Hank TOSSES Dupont onto Igwe! The fans fire up as Tank holds the way open! Shoutout to MCMG, Hank DIVES! Direct hit and Hank even hits the desk! The fans are losing their minds over the world’s biggest “five hole goal” as Hank puts Dupont in the ring. Dupont goes to a corner, Hank runs in, BACK BODY BLOCK and BULLDOG! The fans fire up with Hank, but Wes distracts him!
Hank takes a swipe, Wes gets away, and Dupont UPPERCUTS Hank down! Tag to Igwe, he stomps away, and Igwe clamps onto Hank’s arms, to then pull and STOMP! Igwe then drags Hank up to fire hands, then he lines up a shot. Hank wobbles, Igwe BOOTS him down! Igwe drags Hank up, whips him to the corner, then he runs up to RAM into Hank! Dupont tags in, but Hank fights back! Dupont full nelsons, Igwe BODY BLOWS, and Dupont FULL NELSON SLAMS! Cover, TWO! Hank survives that mugging but Dupont drags him back up. Dupont has the full nelson and he thrashes Hank around! Hank fights up and hits a JAWBREAKER!
Dupont staggers, Igwe tags in! Igwe drags Hank from Tank, but Hank fights and flails! Hank powers up, the fans rally, and Hank steps forward. Igwe CLUBS Hank on the back! Igwe keeps the facelock, but then takes a swing on Tank! Tank dodges. then Hank dodges, hot tag to Tank! Tank rallies on Ty & Ty with big forearms and LARIATS! Tank dodges Igwe to then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Dupont storms up but Tank ROCKS him, and BLASTS him! Wes is freaking out as Tank cartwheels past Igwe to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Tank suplexes Igwe, FISHERMAN SPINEBUSTER! Cover, DUPONT BREAKS IT!
The fans rally, Igwe goes to a corner, and Tank runs in. Igwe runs up, Tank dodges to go up, up and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! Tag back to Hank, and Tank goes up? Hank turns Igwe, but Wes slides in! The ref stops Wes, but that lets Dupont trip Tank up! No Skull ‘n’ Bones, Igwe shoves Hank away! BOOT and Hank is on spaghetti legs! Dupont tags in, SLAM DUNK SAIDO!! Cover, Ty & Ty win!
Winners: Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont, by pinfall
The Wes Side used numbers against Hank ‘n’ Tank trying to use another legendary team’s style. Will Hank ‘n’ Tank ever find that thing that makes them a legendary tag team?
Ava Raine checks on Vaquer.
Vaquer is being iced and taped up from that attack earlier, and the NXT GM says she should’ve known better. Is Vaquer sure she can defend the North American Championship tonight? After what Fatal Influence did, Ava- Vaquer stops Ava there. Vaquer is the double champion, and she will keep her word to Ava, to the NXT Women’s Division, and to her home country of Chile. Vaquer IS La Primer. Fallon will still get her title match. Okay, but is Vaquer sure? They can always reschedule. Vaquer says she’s sure, thank you. Vaquer heads out with both belts in hand but ice wrapped around her waist. Will Vaquer still make history by successfully pulling off the double header?
Backstage interview with Fraxiom.
Sarah Schreiber is with the NXT Tag Team Champions and brings up that the last time we saw them, they were battling it out with The Hardy Boyz at Roadblock. What was it like for Axiom to go home to Spain and push Der Ring General, Gunther, to his limits? Axiom says that was a dream come true. Axiom pushed the WWE World Heavyweight Champion to his limits in front of Axiom’s home crowd. His friends, his family! That’s a moment he’ll never forget. Nathan Frazer says him, too, amigo. Because Frazer didn’t get invited to that. But hey, it’s Stand & Deliver Season, and-
Axiom stops Frazer there. They talked about this. It was all meant to be a big surprise for everyone, and… Frazer has a big mouth. So- Oh, what is that supposed to mean? Does Axiom think Frazer was going to tweet it out or something? Well, he’s kinda done something like that before… Hey, maybe if Frazer was there, Axiom would’ve beat Gunther! Okay, what is that supposed to mean? Wait, as Fraxiom argue, someone pulls up. It’s OBA FEMI! And The Ruler does not look happy. Axiom gets out of there, and Frazer is unsure where he’s going. Frazer follows, will the dysfunction start up all over again?
NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Lexis King VS Je’Von Evans!
The Drama King continues to talk a big game, but perhaps changing the rules from British Rounds to First Fall might come back to bite him. Will this Cup still be Lexis’ prized possession? Or will the Young OG shock the world by adding his name to the Heritage Cup legacy?
NXT returns as Lexis makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the trophy is raised, and we see if this is still Lexis’ way and Lexis’ life.
The bell rings and the two approach. Lexis takes a swing, Je’Von dodges, and Je’Von asks if Lexis is still mad about last week. Lexis runs up, Je’Von headlocks, and Je’Von thrashes the hold. Lexis powers up but can’t power out. Je’Von thrashes the headlock more, but Lexis pries at the grip. Lexis pulls hair, puts Je’Von in a corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Je’Von dodges the sucker punch to hit a headlock takeover! The fans cheer as Je’Von shows he has that technical side, but Lexis headscissors. Je’Von kips free, headlocks again, but Lexis fires body shots. Je’Von CLUBS Lexis and CHOPS him, then it’s back tot he headlock.
But Lexis hits a BIG back suplex! The fans boo but Lexis stomps away on Je’Von. Lexis soaks up the heat, drags Je’Von up and scoops for a SLAM! Cover, TWO! Je’Von is tougher than that and Lexis stays focused. Lexis taunts Je’Von, clamps on the chinlock, but Je’Von endures. Je’Von fights up, but Lexis crossface forearms Je’Von down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for “YOUNG O G!” Lexis tells them to shut up, then he winds up. Je’Von dodges to springboard and FLYING SCHOOLBOY! TWO, and Lexis swings, into a wrench! Je’Von goes up the ropes, BOUNCY~” RANA! Lexis gets up, Je’Von dodges him, for a springboard CROSSSBODY! Cover, TWO!
Je’Von DROPKICKS Lexis right down and the fans fire up! Lexis bails out, Je’Von grins and builds speed. Je’Von DIVES, direct hit on Lexis and he ends up on the desk! The fans fire up as Je’Von cheers himself on, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Je’Von perches on the desk as he waits for Lexis to get up. The ref reprimands and wants this in the ring, so Je’Von hops down to fetch Lexis. Je’Von CHOPS Lexis, brings Lexis around, but Lexis SHOVES Je’Von into steel steps! Je’Von writhes, Lexis talks trash, and he drags Je’Von up to put him in the ring. Lexis drags Je’Von up to scrape laces off the face, then he KICKS Je’Von in the back! Je’Von grits his teeth but Lexis stands him up. Lexis bumps Je’Von off buckles, then headlocks to throw in some sneaky punches! The ref sees those and reprimands, but Lexis drags Je’Von up. Je’Von stops the buckle bump to give a buckle bump!
Je’Von CHOPS and Lexis sputters! Je’Von CHOPS again, but Lexis dodges to throat chop! The ref reprimands, but Lexis stomps Je’Von around. Lexis hoists Je’Von up for a BIG back suplex, covers, TWO! Lexis looms over Je’Von, stomps him, then drags him up to bump off buckles. Lexis uses the ropes so he can dig both boots in! The ref counts, Lexis backs off, and he drags Je’Von out from the corner. Je’Von fires body shots, then whips, only for Lexis to reverse. Lexis DROPKICKS Je’Von down, covers, TWO! Je’Von stays in this but Lexis stays on him with a chinlock. Lexis leans on Je’Von but Je’Von still endures.
NXT returns to single picture as Je’Von rises up. Je’Von arm-drags free, then BODY BLOWS! And BODY BLOWS! Lexis ROCKS Je’Von right back! Lexis runs up to LARIAT in the corner, and CHOP! Lexis wrenches, then has an inside fisherman, for a FISHERMAN DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Je’Von survives and Lexis is furious! The ref defends his count was fair, so Lexis drags Je’Von back up. Lexis talks trash, Je’Von CHOPS! The fans fire up while Lexis sputters and drops to his knees! Je’Von then goes to a corner, and Lexis snarls. Lexis runs up, blocks a boot, but Je’Von stands on Lexis’ foot! Je’Von ROCKS Lexis, UPPERCUTS, then runs and hits a SUPER OG PUNCH!
The fans fire up and Je’Von keeps moving, springboard and DREAMCAST KICK! The fans fire up as Je’Von hurries to the apron! Je’Von then climbs, FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!? Lexis survives and the fans are thunderous! Je’Von just brushes that off and brings Lexis up. Je’Von underhooks, “This is Awesome!” but Lexis BACKDROPS free! Je’Von lands on his feet! Lexis runs up to SUPERKICK! Lexis snarls, drags Je’Von back up and reels him in! “LONG! LIVE! THE KING!” CORO- NO! Je’Von wrenches out, whips, but Lexis reverses! Je’Von hits a NEURALIZER! Lexis tumbles out while the fans fire up!
Je’Von shakes the ropes, he is all fired up! Je’Von runs and FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up again! Je’Von hurries to get Lexis in, then he goes up the apron. Lexis distracts the ref, OBA GRABS JE’VON! APRON POWERBOMB!!! The Young OG writhes, the fans boo, but the ring count is climbing! The Ruler counts along as we pass 5 of 10, and then 8! 9! TEN! Lexis wins!!
Winner: Lexis King, by count-out (still NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
The King keeps his crown thanks to The Ruler getting revenge on Je’Von! And while Oba stalks Je’Von back into the ring, the lights go out! Because THEY are here! Dark State is in the crowd! Je’Von fights Oba while Dion, Saquon, Cutler & Osiris creep closer! Oba ROCKS Je’Von, reels him in, but Je’Von gets out of the bomb! Trick Williams runs in, Oba dodges, TRICK SHOT hits Je’Von!! Trick is a bit stunned, but refs and security rush out here! Dark State waits at the barriers to see how this plays out. Fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but the refs won’t let Trick and Oba get started! Dark State is loving this! Will NXT truly fall into chaos?
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley VS Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson!
It was last week that these teams “crossed the line” into TNA to call out Ash & Heather By Elegance, but it was the “weird girls” who were given the title opportunity. Will Gigi & Tatum make Lash & Jakara understand why? Or will the Meta Girls make them pump the brakes?
The teams sort out and Gigi starts against Lash. They circle, tie up, and go around. Gigi arm- NO, Lash blocks the arm-drag to then press Gigi down. But then Sol & Zaria walk out on stage to watch this in person. Lash whips and THROWS Gigi away! Lash talks smack on Sol & Zaria, then tags in Jakara. The Meta Girls double whip Gigi to the corner, then Lash sends Jakara in for a back body block! Lash runs up to SPLASH, then she feeds Gigi to Jakara’s SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO! Gigi stays in this but Jakara stays on her. Gigi reaches up to RANA Jakara to the corner! Gigi back body blocks, tag to Tatum!
Gigi sends Tatum and she CROSSBODIES Jakara in the corner! Tatum sets up, Gigi runs up, POETRY IN BRONCO BUSTER! Gigi gives Jakara a wild ride, then Tatum high stacks, TWO! Jakara toughs it out and then ROCKS Tatum with a right! But Tatum drop toeholds! Tatum drags Jakara back, then top mounts to hook the legs, and she turns Jakara over for the SPIDER-WEB SURFBOARD! Jakara endures, Lash storms in and pushes things over! Lash drags Tatum up, tells her off, and then Jakara HOTSHOT BULLDOGS! Tatum flounders, Jakara tags Lash, and Lash BOOTS Tatum down! Lash puts Tatum on the ropes and dares Zaria to do something.
Tag to Jakara, and she drops a knee on Tatum’s face! And another knee! Jakara runs to cartwheel ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Jakara drags Tatum up, tags Lash, and then Jakara feeds Tatum to Lash’s scoop! Lash SLAMS Tatum, talks trash to Zaria & Sol, then covers Tatum. TWO, and Lash is annoyed. Tag to Jakara, the Meta Girls mug Tatum, but Jakara swaggers too soon! Tatum BOOTS her away! Tatum breaks free of Lash, leaps, but Lash catches her! Tatum still reaches out, tag to Gigi! Lash throws Tatum back, Tatum dodges Jakara, Jakara ROCKS Lash! Gigi goes up to DOUBLE FLYING LARIAT the Meta Girls!
The fans fire up as Gigi hurries to DECK Jakara! SUPERKICK for Lash! Gigi wrenches and ROCKS Jakara, to then ripcord and LARIAT! Tag back to Tatum, Gigi gives her a boost to ENZIGIRI Lash! Tatum & Gigi then set Jakara up, DOUBLE HEADBUTT SANDWICH!! But that’s not all! They hook Jakara up, CEMETERY DRIVE!! Cover, Tatum & Gigi win!
Winners: Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley, by pinfall
The combination of STO and Lightning Spiral is certainly deadly! Will it help them knock out the Knockouts Tag Team Champions?
Tony D’Angelo is at the restaurant.
The cousins tell The Don, “the streets are talking.” “And they’re talking a lot.” Tony knows that. He hears everything. He’ll handle it. The rest of the Family arrives, and they sit with Tony. Luca asks how he’s doing, and Tony says he’ll be alright. Those four guys put a pretty good beating on him. Tony doesn’t even know who they are. Tony wants intel. He wants to know who they are, what’s their motive, what’s their purpose, and where they eat before they even do. Understood? Rizzo says got it. They’ll take care of it. Luca says Tony can count on them. Tony says he knows he can. Stacks stays silent, but then Tony tells him to hold on.
Stacks sits back down while the others leave, and Tony asks if Stacks is good. Yeah, everything’s alright. Besides this “Dark State.” But why? Tony says Stacks is Underboss for a reason. They grew up together. Remember back in high school, when Stacks and Ralphie Ziparetto hit that high roller card game? Yeah, he does. There were some big sharks there. That there were. And remember when they tried to pull his card and Tony had to step up and convince them to give Stacks a pass? Yeah, he remembers. He’ll never forget what Tony’s done for him. Tony knows Stacks won’t. Because Tony believes in Stacks, trusts him, and can always trust him. Right?
Stacks stands up and pats Tony on the shoulder. “You can always trust me, T. Always.” Stacks leaves, but is that enough for Tony to believe him? Or is something brewing in the background of all this?
Hank ‘n’ Tank regroup with MCMG.
Tank doesn’t get it! They did everything Sabin & Shelley said: Stay connected, step in unison! Shelley says okay, enough. Let’s talk them off the ledge. MCMG thinks Hank ‘n’ Tank did great. But hey, they’ve also been in this game a long time, wrestled all sorts of teams from all over the world. They definitely feel Hank ‘n’ Tank are future champions, but… They have to remember that everyone’s process is different. Everyone takes a different path to the top. It’s short term pain for long term gain. There are levels to this, but a couple words of advice: trust your partner, and don’t compare yourselves to other teams. MCMG’s been together well over a decade.
But y’know what? This isn’t linear, it is undulating. It took MCMG a long time to get to the top, to get to the WWE. And within weeks, they were WWE Tag Team Champions! The most important thing: Don’t give up. Don’t give up! Tank says yeah, they’ll get there, and they’ll see MCMG down the line. They all fist bump, but what path will it be? Will Hank ‘n’ Tank just need more time? Or will they find a major breakthrough as soon as next week?
Ethan Page VS Andre Chase w/ Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors!
While All Ego and The Professor have different philosophies, they do have something in common: They both want to rebound from some disappointing losses. Wait, Ricky Saints pushes right past Ethan to join commentary. The Absolute wants to watch this in person, will he see Ethan rebuild his ego? Or will we finally see some school spirit again?
NXT returns and Chase makes his entrance, still a bit worse for wear, but Kale & Uriah are pumped up enough for all three of them. Chase has them remember, it’s not Chase U, though. Even so, Uriah & Kale put up that U and cheer Mr. Chase on. On commentary, Vic apologizes for Shawn Spears interrupting their interview. Ricky says hey, just one more Canadian wrestler who doesn’t like him. The bell rings and the two tie up. Chase headlocks, Ethan pries at the hold, and Ethan powers up and out. Chase goes up the corner and around to roll Ethan up! TWO, Chase trips Ethan, steps through, but Ethan boots him away.
Chase comes back, Ethan drops down, but Chase counters hip toss with a hip toss! Ethan hits a headlock takeover, and he holds Ethan down as Ethan kicks around. Ethan fights up, the fans chant, “We Want Thea!” Ethan stomps Chase’s foot, headlocks back, but Chase powers up and out. Ethan runs Chase over! Things speed up, Ethan counters hip toss with hip- NO, Chase MONKEY FLIPS that hip toss away! The fans fire up and Chase headlocks. Ethan powers up to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans rally but Ethan KNEES Chase in the side, stomps away, then drops an ELBOW! Ethan brings Chase up, but Chase stops the buckle bump!
Chase fires forearms, then whips, but Ethan reverses to DECK Chase! Ethan DECKS Chase again, then looms over Chase at the ropes. The fans boo but Ethan drags Chase up again. Ethan whips Chase to ropes, but Chase grabs ropes! Chase DUMPS Ethan out, then takes aim, only for Ethan to step aside. Ethan glares at Kale & Uriah, but Chase is on the apron! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up for Chase as he FLYING LARIATS! Down goes Ethan and the fans fire up! Chase wants Kale & Uriah to calm down, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Chase drags Ethan up, puts him in the ring, then storms up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Ethan is tougher than that but Chase brings him back up. Chase whips Ethan to a corner, but Ethan reverses. Ethan runs in, Chase ELBOWS him away, then Chase goes up. Ethan ROCKS Chase first, then brings him off the corner for an OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Ethan stomps Chase, then drops an ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Ethan clamps onto Chase with a chinlock and he grinds Chase down. Chase endures, Uriah & Kale rally the fans, and Chase fights up! Chase fires body shots, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! Ethan covers, TWO!
Ethan grows frustrated, but he clamps back on with a chinlock. Chase endures, even as Ethan grinds him into the mat. Kale & Uriah keep cheering Chase on with the U, and Chase fights up again. Chase JAWBREAKERS free! Ethan staggers, but he still scoops and SLAMS Chase! And back to the chinlock! Chase endures all over again as Ethan squeezes tight. Chase fights up, pries at the hold, and NXT returns to single picture as Chase fires body shots. Ethan knees low, then whips, but Chase KICKS Ethan back! Chase then wrenches and SWINGING NECKBREAKERS! The fans fire up while Ethan and Chase are both down.
Chase and Ethan go to corners, and Ethan runs up, only for Chase to dodge! Chase rallies with ELBOW after ELBOW! Chase whips, Ethan reverses, but Chase reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! The fans fire up and Chase starts to spell it out, but he feels so conflicted! Uriah & Kale tell him it’s okay! Spell it out! Chase says alright! “C! H! A! S!” But Ethan blocks the E! Only for Chase to dodge the roundhouse and SIDE EFFECT! Cover, TWO! Ethan stays in this but Kale & Uriah coach Mr. Chase to keep going. The fans fire up, Chase storms up on Ethan and brings him around. Chase goes up the corner, reels Ethan in, but Ethan wrenches out! ICONOCLASM!
Ethan then RIPCORD CODE BREAKERS! Cover, TWO!! Chase survives and the fans fire up! Ethan is frustrated but Uriah is relieved and Kale is pumped up! Ethan and Chase rise up, and Ethan pie faces Chase. “Stay down! Stay down!” Chase eggs Ethan on! Ethan SLAPS! Chase SLAPS! Chase CHOPS, CHOPS, runs, but Ethan BOOTS him! Ethan goes to the apron to get Chase, and brings him up, only for Chase to APRON NECKBREAKER! Chase hurries in, goes up, and TORNADO DDTS! Cover, TWO!! Ethan survives and the fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” Chase hurries back up top, but Ethan hits the ropes! Chase gets tripped up!
Ethan goes up the corner, hoists Chase onto his shoulder, and fans boo as Ethan hits a SUPER POWERSLAM!! Cover, TWO?!?! Chase survives and the fans are thunderous! But TWISTED GRIN!! Cover, Ethan wins!
Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall
Chase gave Ethan much more of a fight than expected, but Ethan still won out. All Ego talks trash on Ricky, Ricky says if Ethan wants some, he’s right here. But then SHAWEN SPEARS CLOBBERS RICKY! The Culling mocks Ricky’s pain and Ethan smirks. Will they all make sure Ricky has nothing to show for showing up in NXT?
Dark State speaks.
They post to X as Dion shouts, “Y’all like that, huh? Y’all like that?! We ain’t even gotta do nothing and y’all go crazy!” Cutler says, “Just ask Tony D what happens when we decide to get involved!” Osiris says, “When the lights go out, anxiety goes through the roof!” Saquon asks, “Are y’all slow? When are y’all gonna realize that when Dark State strikes, ain’t nobody safe! NOBODY!” They head out into the night, when will they strike again?
NXT Media catches up with Trick Williams.
The reporter asks if Trick meant to hit Je’Von earlier tonight. Trick says everyone wants to talk about Je’Von. Everyone who can see knows Trick was aiming for Oba. Je’Von was just collateral damage. Nah, forget that! Je’Von’s a distraction! Just like how Eddy Thorpe was a distraction! A distraction from what Trick wants. Everyone’s a distraction from the fact that Trick is the man around here! Trick is supposed to be NXT Champion. Oba knows it. And if Oba is still The Ruler, then he knows where to find Trick right here next week. Trick turns to go but the reporter asks his opinion on Dark State.
Tricky says that ain’t his business. Trick leaves, not interested in distractions. But is he overlooking a major problem gnawing away at the foundation of NXT?
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Fallon Henley w/ The Fatal Influence!
La Primera made it through Jaida Parker, perhaps in part thanks to Grace. But Fatal Influence still had to stack the deck against Vaquer with an ambush. Will the Toxic Cowgirl just be picking the bones like a vulture? Or will the Dark Angel still have gold on each shoulder?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Vaquer can defy the odds to make history again!
The bell rings and the fans rally behind “LA PRIMERA!” But Jacy distracts Vaquer and Fallon RAMS her into the corner! Fallon RAMS in again and again, then drags Vaquer out to snap suplex! Vaquer writhes, Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon top mounts but Vaquer pushes her up and away. Vaquer then fires a flurry of forearms! Fallon kicks low then whips Vaquer. Fallon KNEES low, the fans boo, but Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon snarls, storms around, and she drags Vaquer up. Fallon bumps Vaquer off buckles, then stomps a mudhole in. Fallon whips corner to corner, runs up, but Vaquer BOOTS her away! Vaquer then DROPKICKS Fallon down! Cover, TWO!
Vaquer and Fallon rise up, and Fallon BOOTS Vaquer down! Fallon drags Vaquer to then stomp her in the stomach and ribs! The fans rally but Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon frowns, but she clamps on with a REAR BEARHUG! Vaquer endures, the fans rally for her, and Vaquer pries at the grip. Vaquer turns around to JAWBRAEKER, and SUPERKICK! Fallon falls onto ropes, Vaquer dials it up, but Jacy & Jazmyn warn Fallon! Fallon ducks the 619, then RAMS into Vaquer! Fallon POSTS Vaquer, then runs to swing and TIGER FEINT Vaquer down! The fans boo but Fatal Influence soaks up that heat while NXT goes picture in picture.
Fallon storms back into the ring, stalks Vaquer, and drags her up. Vaquer fires body shots, but Fallon KNEES low! Vaquer falls over, clutches the ribs, but Fallon drags her back up. Fallon bumps Vaquer off buckles, stomps her down, then talks trash. Fallon stomps away on Vaquer, digs her boot in, but steps off as the ref counts. Fallon drags Vaquer up, TOSSES her out, then paces. The ring count starts while Vaquer writhes. Fallon storms out to stand Vaquer up, and she RAMS Vaquer into the apron! Fallon drags Vaquer up again, SMACKS her off the desk, then puts her in the ring. Fallon stomps away on Vaquer, covers, TWO!
Vaquer toughs it out and Fallon grows frustrated. Fallon drags Vaquer by her hair, talks smack on the fans, but Vaquer ROCKS Fallon again and again! Vaquer SOBATS, runs, but Fallon BOOTS her down! Fallon huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Vaquer around again. Fallon clamps on a top wristlock and grinds the arm. Vaquer endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Vaquer fires shots, but Fallon kicks low! The fans boo but Fallon whips and ROCKS Vaquer! Fallon cravats, Vaquer powers out, but Fallon comes back to get around. Fallon waistlocks and sits Vaquer down! Fallon then runs to SLIDING FOREARM!
Fallon keeps moving and she KICKS Vaquer in the side! Vaquer writhes, but Fallon drags her up to bump her off buckles. Fallon goes out to the apron, and she redials, but Vaquer dodges the feint kick to bump Fallon off the buckles! Then they go side to side, but Fallon blocks the buckle bump! Fallon SMACKS Vaquer, goes up the corner, but Vaquer SMACKS Fallon back! Vaquer goes up, but Fallon fights back. Vaquer HEADBUTTS again and again and again! Then she brings Fallon up for a SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” while both women are down! Fallon and Vaquer crawl to each other, and Fallon SLAPS Vaquer!
Vaquer HEADBUTTS Fallon! Fallon ROCKS Vaquer! Vaquer HEADBUTTS again! Fallon kicks low, Vaquer sits down, but Fallon is right on her. Fallon whips, Vaquer reverses, EAT DA FEET! Vaquer bumps Fallon off buckles again and again and again, all three levels! Vaquer scrubs Fallon’s face with her boot, then goes corner to corner! METEORA! The fans fire up as Vaquer snapmares Fallon, and wraps on the headscissors! But Fallon victory rolls, and she STOMPS Vaquer’s ribs! Fallon then drags Vaquer up, clinches, pump handle, FALL AWAY SLAM! Fallon stomps Vaquer again whiel fans boo.
Fallon stands Vaquer up, runs, but Vaquer victory rolls! TWO!! Fallon SOBATS, then she TOSSES Vaquer out! The ref argues with Fallon, but that lets the Influence rush in! Vaquer dodges Jacy to SUPERKICK! But Jazmyn’s NYX KICK hits!! The fans boo as Jazmyn puts Vaquer in, and Fallon goes up, up, and BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives and Fallon is shocked! Fallon argues with the ref, then she snarls at Vaquer. Fallon runs in, Vaquer dodges! SUPERKICK! Vaquer tucks the arms, but Jazmyn gets on the apron! Vaquer runs up but Jazmyn scurries away. Fallon hooks Vaquer up again, but Vaquer slips underneath!
Vaquer shoves Fallon into Jazmyn! Then roll-up, roll through, and tuck! S V B!! Cover, Vaquer wins!!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s North American Champion)
The Influence is shocked, but their numbers game backfired! La Primera keeps both titles, but then Jacy & Jazmyn attack! The fans boo as they and Fallon stomp Vaquer again! They set her up, but HERE COMES JORDYNNE! The Juggernaut is back, and she picks Fallon up, BOOTS Jacy, and then SMACKS Jazmyn using Fallon! Grace ELBOWS Fallon down, then LARIATS Jacy! A BACKHAND for Fallon, and the fans fire up! Grace picks up both belts, and she hands them back to Vaquer. But she kinda holds on, too… Grace lets them go, Vaquer gets fired up, but then Jaida SHOVES Grace into Vaquer!
Jaida fires hands on Grace, but Grace DECKS her in return! And then she runs up to HIP ATTACK Jaida down! Grace shows Miss Parker isn’t the only one that’s hip-notic. But then Vaquer turns Grace around so they can stare down. Grace bailed Vaquer out two times tonight, will Vaquer have to face Grace two times in one night?
We cut back to the watch party, and Ava tells Stevie Turner that this is historic. No one has pulled off two defenses in one night, but Vaquer did. Lola Vice steps up and says she wants next. Kelani Jordan says nope, not before her! She deserves her own shot at the title. Cora Jade says she wants in, but so does Izzi Dame, Karmen Petrovic, and pretty much everyone else in the room. Ava says okay, okay! She will figure this out! Just what will Mayor Ava choose for Stand & Deliver Season?
My Thoughts:
An awesome NXT, really packed for just the two hours, and with some great story intertwining. Saints VS Spears next week for the North American Championship is a touch surprising, but they laid the groundwork really well tonight. Good interview promo where Spears “interrupts” and gives Ricky that not so subtle threat. Then with that promo, they cleverly used it to make Ethan VS Chase and put Ricky on commentary. I wonder, though… Ricky’s line about Canadians hating him, was that a shot at Adam Copeland taking those cheap shots at him last year?
That aside, great match from Ethan VS Chase, but I figured Ethan would win, this keeps building anticipation for the moment Chase U returns. But also, Ricky jawing with Ethan was a good distraction for Spears to attack. It feels like Ricky is going to win, but The Culling could easily cheat him out of the title and we extend things towards Stand & Deliver. Igwe & Dupont VS Hank ‘n’ Tank was a great match, but between Wes interfering and Hank ‘n’ Tank clearly trying to do things like MCMG and not their own way, Hank ‘n’ Tank were of course losing. I believe I said this when “going extreme” like the Hardys didn’t work out that Hank ‘n’ Tank just need to find a team more their style, aka The Dudleys.
Very good promo from Tony D with The Family, with Tony’s strength as The Don being questioned by “the streets,” but also perhaps Tony questioning if Stacks is going to stay loyal this time. They teased Stacks turning on Tony way back when The D’Angelos were feuding with Gallus, but they might actually pull the trigger now. The Culling is working to replace The D’Angelos as the top faction, Tony has done almost everything in NXT, and something would be very fitting if Tony was betrayed before he can win THE NXT Championship and become the Grand Slam Champion.
Very good stuff in this Dark State story, though it’s really more the others in it, like Je’Von, Trick and Oba. Je’Von VS Lexis was a great match, but I should’ve figured Oba would cost Je’Von. Also, good promo from Fraxiom to revive their dysfunction while also segueing into Oba showing up. Trick hitting Je’Von by accident was also a good touch, and he had a good promo after. Him claiming he doesn’t care about Dark State is intriguing, too. Could Trick be working with them behind the scenes? It’d be very “CM Punk helped The Shield” of them to do in this story. Perhaps Dark State affects the NXT Championship match for that purpose.
And of course, the highlight of the night, the throughline story, is NXT’s incredible women’s division. Opening with Vaquer VS Jaida for THE NXT Women’s Championship was rather telling that Jaida would lose, but it’s a bit disappointing it had to be because of Jordynne. I get wanting to keep Jaida strong and they’re clearly planting sees of Jaida VS Jordynne there, but it doesn’t really help Vaquer. Though they also have Fatal Influence attack to put Vaquer in the underdog position with the beat up ribs. Vaquer does get to show her grit by overcoming the unofficial 3v1, but all that could’ve still happened without Jordynne costing Jaida on some level.
I also did appreciate that the watch party had a part to play. Gigi & Tatum VS Meta Girls was really good stuff, and I really like that team finisher from Gigi & Tatum. They probably won’t beat Ash & Heather By Elegance, but they can have a great showing. And all the other women wanting their shot at Vaquer’s belts, Ava can definitely give us something big in the last three weeks before Stand & Deliver. Maybe a small tournament, maybe a battle royal, it really depends on if Vaquer will defend the belts in another double header or in a Winner Takes All match.
My Score: 9/10
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The American Nightmare is in Scotland!
After confronting a “whiny” John Cena in Brussels, Belgium, Cody Rhodes is now in Glasgow, Scotland! Will there be another Raw encounter between champion and challenger?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso VS A-Town Down Under; The Usos win.
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan; Lyra wins and retains the title.
- Dragon Lee VS Chad Gable; changed to…
- Dragon Lee VS El Grande Americano; Grande wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS PENTA; Bron wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
JOHN CENA IS HERE!
Glasgow erupts with boos just like Brussels did last week, and then “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” Cena wears the custom Scotland “The Last Time is Now” merchandise, and fans show their Cody Rhodes signs. Cena goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and the fans boo again. Cena hears those boos, and then says, “Is something on your mind? Seems like you have something you want to say to me.” The fans keep booing, and there’s still dueling even now. Cena says yeah, they’re ready to do their worst tonight, aren’t they? It’s because they finally understand what is going on. Cena has turned the spotlight onto the fans, and now they know that he can pick apart any one of these random ticket holders to shreds!
Cena knows they know that no one is safe! Cena put a clueless kid on blast! His poor, pathetic face was everywhere! WWE posted it! And you all loved it. The fans tell Cena off, and Cena just smiles. Cena says who is better: him, the one guy who actually tells the truth; or all the fans, whose collectively best idea is to use profanity! The fans are the ones who loved to watch and rewatch and meme up a poor, defenseless kid getting destroyed! Cena doesn’t need to single out anyone here, because they are ALL horrible people! No, tonight, the fans get to find out how Cena makes them pay for the abuse they have put him through.
For 25 YEARS, Cena has listened to their lies and their noise! But he didn’t waste that time being mean, he paid attention. Fans tell Cena to STFU, and Cena says, “You make this so easy. While you were chanting profanity at the top of your lungs, I’ve been paying attention. I’ve been learning from you, quizzing you, studying you, testing you, prodding you, rewarding you for playing along with your stupid, curse ridden nursery rhymes. And in doing so, you have told me every single thing about your. You know nothing about me, I know more about you than you.” The fans boo, but Cena says the truth is, “Your life is sad!
“Because this is the best it’s gonna get. This is all you have! But to me, you have been nothing more than an experiment. You have been rats in a cage. Oh, you don’t believe me? Pick out any moment in my career, and I’ll tell you what I learned from you. When I bled, you thought I was tough. When I spoke, you were inspired. When I was edgy, you were excited. When I was vanilla, you were bored. When I was loyal, you were loved. When I was selfish, you were disrespected. When I speak in rhythmic tones, you say, ‘What.’ You make this so, so simple. You will always tell me everything about yourselves, because you so desperately want to matter.
“And the most important thing you ever told me was in April 2005. It was the day I gave you my greatest idea. I gave you the WWE Spinner Championship! And just like right now, you ate me alive. All you have to do is google, ‘Negative comments about the spinner belt.’ You all told me loud and clear how stupid I was, because I changed your championship into a toy, and the championship is not a toy. The championship is a symbol of the center of all this, and the toy belt I made for you disrespected tradition and disrespected your legacy. Listen closely, because that was the biggest mistake you ever made.
“In that one single moment, you were vulnerable enough to tell me what means the most to you in this life. And now that I know that… I am going to ruin wrestling. I am going to ruin wrestling for every fan, for every wrestler, for everyone. At WrestleMania, I make history by winning a 17th (world) championship. And I finally force you to forget the name of the fun machine, jet-flying WOO~, Ric Flair. You will forever say the name ‘John Cena.’ But even worse… I’m going to win that championship, the center of every superstar of this entire business, of every fan in this building, I will win that championship and retire with it. I am taking it home with me!
“And leaving all of you to create a brand new toy belt, because the real one comes home with me! I will be the LAST REAL CHAMPION in WWE! Revenge is best served cold, and I pay you back by ripping your heart out and forcing you to watch as I just walk away with your memories, and your traditions, and your dreams, and there is nothing you can do to stop me!” But wait! Here comes Cody Rhodes! Glasgow fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives the fans, and joins Cena in the ring. Cody grabs his own mic, the fans cheer, and Cena just glares the entire time. Cody raises the belt and the fans cheer again.
The fans sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” Cody then lifts the mic to say, “I’m sorry, what’d you say? You said you were going to take this away from them? Don’t you think you need to take it away from me first? Admittedly, I made a mistake last week. I looked at you, I talked about Old John, I talked about New John, I didn’t look hard enough. Hearing it, seeing it now, you are clearly sincere, you are clearly angry, and you are clearly willing. Perhaps you’re the most dangerous John Cena has ever been. But you have made a massive mistake. And the mistake was not hitting me upside the head with this at Elimination Chamber.
“Oh, no, no. The mistake was saying what you just said in front of these lovely people while I was in the building!” The fans cheer and sing for “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” Cody asks Cena if all that bothers him. Because it doesn’t bother Cody. What bothers Cody is that he didn’t unpack their history. But Cena should know well enough just how hard Cody fought just to hold this title ONE time, just to validate ONE name! And if Cody understands Cena right, Cena is saying that the timeline of all pro-wrestling hangs in the balance because of Cena’s vanity? Cena wants the title, right? He wants to take it?
Cody sets the belt down on the mat, and says he’ll give Cena that chance right now. The fans fire up as Cody takes off the tie, and dares Cena to take it! The mics drop, Cena prepares to draw as the two square up, but then Cena steps back. The fans boo as Cena leaves, not giving Cody the satisfaction of doing things his way. Cody picks up his mic again and shouts, “JOHN!” Cena turns around, comes back down the ramp, and the fans cheer as Cody dares him to bring it! Cody’s jacket comes off now, the fans fire up more, but Cena shakes his head and leaves again. Cody tells Cena, “one thing, John. I cannot let you do it. I cannot have that on my conscience.
“Right now, I need you to see me, I need you to see all of them, and I need you to understand that your psychotic need to take this does not outweigh OUR right to keep it!” The fans cheer that! Cody says the champ is no longer standing there, the champ is standing in the center of this ring! And Cena walking away empty handed, that is how he walks away from WrestleMania, and that is how he walks away from the WWE! The fans cheer as Cody says the champ is here! But will Cena use whatever means he has to in order to carve his name into eternity?
Jey Uso & ??? VS A-Town Down Under!
Main Event Jey put Austin Theory away so fast, you’d blink and miss it. Theory & Waller want revenge, but who’s joining Jey tonight? Why none other than JIMMY Uso! It’s an Uso Reunion in Glasgow, will they put Theory & Waller in the Uso Penitentiary? Or will they suffer the Grayson Waller Effect #AllDay?
While we get an accidental non-ad break for the YEETing, we also get ATDU making their entrance. And after a quick self-plug for the WWE original series, Stephanie’s Places, the teams sort out. Theory starts against Jey for revenge from last week. They tie up, Jey headlocks, but Theory powers up and out. Jey runs Theory over, the fans fire up, and Jey says “YEET!” Jey runs, Theory stays low to then hurdle, but Jey stops the hip toss! Jey then LARIATS Theory! Theory scrambles away, and he tags Waller in while Waller is busy taunting Glasgow. Waller says he ain’t impressed, but Jey says YEET! Jey blocks a kick, then plays keep away before he SMACKS Waller!
Jey BODY BLOCKS and PELES Waller in the corner, then tags in #BigJim! The fans fire up as Jey whips Waller, and the Usos DOUBLE ELBOW, then handshake DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! They DOUBLE LARIAT Waller up and out, but here comes Theory! The Usos TOSS Theory out, and then Jimmy FLIES! Down goes ATDU and the fans fire up! YEET! Jimmy high-fives some fans before fetching Waller into the ring. Jimmy storms up but Waller mule kicks! Waller CLUBS Jimmy, CLUBS him again, then whips corner to corner. Jimmy goes up and over, then UPPERCUTS! Cover, TWO! Waller stays in this but Jimmy stays calm.
Jimmy CHOPS Waller to a corner, but Waller kicks low! Waller swings but Jimmy dodges, and Jimmy CHOPS! Waller flops down, the fans chant, “UCE! OH!” Jimmy CHOPS Waller, whips, but Waller grabs ropes. Theory tags in, Waller KICKS Jimmy, then Waller TOSSES Jimmy! Waller builds speed, slides, but Jimmy dodges! Jimmy UPPERCUTS Waller, but then Theory DECKS Jimmy! The fans boo, Jey checks on his brother, but Theory mocks the Yeet. Theory puts Jimmy in, dares him to reach for Jey, then stomps Jimmy’s hands. The Usos are in trouble while Raw goes… Well no, another not ad break?
Theory taunts the fans, the fans boo, but Theory taunts Jey. Theory drags Jimmy onto ropes to CHOKE, but he stops at 4. Waller gets a cheap shot in as Theory argues with the ref! Jey protests but now Theory rains down fists on Jimmy. Theory mocks the Yeet, says “SUCK IT!” then drags Jimmy up. Tag to Waller, ATDU mugs Jimmy, and Waller CLUBS Jimmy down! Waller lines up a shot, and he KNEES Jimmy in the side! Waller drags Jimmy up, fires hands, but Jimmy SMACKS back! And he CHOPS Theory! Jimmy ROCKS Waller, then ELBOWS Theory! Waller blocks boots, puts Jimmy in ropes, and CLUBS him!
Waller runs to ROLLING ELBOW Jimmy in the back! Tag to Theory, DRAPING JUMP STOMP! Cover, TWO! Theory clamps onto Jimmy with a chinlock and grinds him down. The fans rally up, Jimmy fights to his feet, and Jimmy reaches out. Jimmy fires body shots, then hits a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down! Jimmy and theory crawl, hot tag to Waller, and he BLASTS Jey off the apron! Waller rains down fists, then talks trash. The fans boo, Waller paces, and Waller steps on Jimmy’s face! The ref reprimands, but Waller clamps on a cravat. Jimmy endures the neck wrench, and the fans tell Waller he’s a wanker.
Waller puts on more pressure, and we fade to block for just a second. Jimmy fights up, the fans rally up, and Jimmy fires body shots. Waller knees low, then sucker punches Jey! But Jimmy UPPERCUTS Waller! Waller goes to the apron, Jimmy storms over, but Waller HOTSHOTS! Waller then somersaults in, but into a SAMOAN DROP! The fans fire up as Jimmy and Waller crawl again, hot tags to Theory and Jey! Jey LARIATS Theory, DECKS Waller, then fires haymakers on Theory! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Pop, lock ‘n’ put some stank on the YEET! Then an UPPERCUT! Theory blocks a kick, but not the DRAGON WHIP!
The fans fire up with Jey and they “YEET!” with him. Jey dodges Waller to HIP ATTACK Theory! SUPERKICK for Waller! SUPERKICK for Theory! Cover, TWO! Jey stays cool and the fans rally up again. Theory rises, Jey waits on him, and fireman’s carry for a- NO, Theory fights free, tag to Waller! Jey dodges Theory to UPPERCUT! Waller grabs Jey, and DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOWS connect! Then they double whip to POP-UP DOUBLE HAYMAKER! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives but Waller hurries to a corner. Waller goes up, and he hits a BALLER- NO! Jey dodges, that was an airball! Hot tag to Jimmy! Jey POPS Waller up for Jimmy’s SAMOAN DROP!
The fans fire up as Jimmy goes from Alley-Uce to the top rope. Theory runs up, Jimmy kicks him down, but Waller hits the ropes! That trips Jimmy up and Waller drags Jimmy into a fireman’s carry, Jimmy slips free, tag to Jey! SUPERKICK for Waller! Theory sneaks a tag! Theory hides, Waller BOOTS Jimmy away! Waller runs up, Jimmy ALLEY-UCE into the SPEAR!! The fans fire up but Waller’s not the legal man! Theory is back, but he runs into a ONE D!! Cover, Usos win!
Winners: The Usos, by pinfall
One and done for the Day One Ish! BUT GUNTHER YANKS JIMMY OFF THE CORNER!! The fans boo, but Gunther and Jey start brawling! Then a SUPERKICK for Gunther! Jey SUPERKICKS again! Gunther ends up in a corner, Jey runs in, but he trips?! Gunther pounces to attack with elbows and fists! Jimmy runs in with a chair! Gunther gets away while he can, but he mocks what happened to Jey tripping. Jimmy has his brother’s back, but will Der Ring General keep up the blindside attacks?
The Judgment Day is backstage.
Raquel Rodriguez stretches, and she says she’s missing something. Liv Morgan says, “Imagine how you’d feel with one of these on each shoulder by the end of the night.” Liv has Raquel hold up the title belt and Raquel likes that idea. Dominik Mysterio & Carlito walk in, and Dom says Finn hasn’t talked with any of them since last week. Liv says typical Finn. She loves the guy, but he is always more concerned about his own problems. Dom gets that, he just wishes things went different last week. Liv says it’s fine, things are turning around for the better. Liv beat Jade Cargill just last Friday, and Raquel will become the NEW Women’s Intercontinental Champion! #DoubleChamp!
And just because Finn didn’t win last week doesn’t mean they have to give up on the Men’s IC title. Liv wants Dom to talk with Adam Pearce, and Carlito interrupts by saying Liv’s right. Now it’s time for Carlito to go for the gold. Um, yeah… But also, Dom should go talk with Penta again. Dom says Finn is already against that idea, but Liv says Finn was against Liv joining, and look how that turned out? Dom has the brains, he should just trust himself. Liv says she and Raquel are going to go, Dom wishes them luck. Carlito says yeah, they brought him in, too, and look how that turned out. Okay but can he share his apples? Nope.
The Judgment Day is doing what they want, but not really consulting all members on that. Will things really work out for the better? Or are they just one move away from everything falling apart?
Lyra Valkyria prepares for her match.
Bayley is there to give her a fist bump of encouragement before she heads to gorilla. Lyra also passes by Adam Pearce talking with the LWO. Is the Raw General Manager going to help Dragon Lee get a fair fight with Chad Gable? Or could “El Grande Americano” still make an appearance?
The rich and illustrious history of lucha libre…
… is filled with legends like Blue Demon, The Guerrero Family, and Mil Mascaras. But one star shines brighter than all the rest: El Grande Americano! Hailing from the Gulf of America, El Grande Americano was raised to be the ultimate luchador. He quickly rose to the top of the industry, and for decades was the face of Lucha Libre. But after being blackballed by his jealous enemies, he disappeared without a trace. Now, the legend has returned to bring honor and glory back to this beautiful sport! He is an icon! He is a trailblazer! He is… El Grande Americano!”
Adam Pearce talks with The LWO.
Rey Mysterio asks just what the Hell is that video. That is the introduction to the newest member of the Raw roster… That’s ludicrous! It’s all just Chad Gable! Gable steps in and says they’re wrong. He also coughs and wheezes a bit. Gabel says he knows there are physical similarities, but he is not Grande Americano. He also doesn’t have the energy to argue right now, he got sick on the way over. Sadly, he cannot compete tonight. He has a doctor’s note. Pearce reads it, and it is legit. Rey cannot believe this. But whatever, it’s okay. They’ll just see Gable in the parking lot! Pearce has Rey stand down, and Gable says whoa now. Let him finish.
Gable suggests that Lee should take on the new guy, Grande Americano, and see what he’s got. Rey & Lee are still incredulous, but Pearce says his hands are tied. Rey says he gets it. Lucha libre tradition is about not backing down. Lee says whether Americano is Gable or not, Lee will take the match. Then it’s official! Lee glares at Gable, and Rey says Gable’s a jackass. The LWO walks out, Gable says he can’t believe Pearce is going to let them talk to him like that, but Pearce can’t believe Gable needed a doctor’s note. Gable coughs as if on cue, but will the Boy Wonder still get a big win here in Glasgow?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan!
The Morrigan has been undefeated in title matches ever since winning the tournament, but she is quite literally up against her biggest challenge yet. Will Lyra still fly high this close to home? Or will Big Mami Cool become Double Champ Rodriguez?
The introductions are made, Lyra’s belt is raised, and we see who holds the #ShinyShiny!
The bell rings, the two circle, and they feel things out. Lyra dodges Raquel, then gets around to waistlock. Raquel THROWS Lyra off with ease but the fans boo. Lyra brushes herself off while Raquel tells the fans to shut up. The two tie up, Lyra goes for a leg, but Raquel gut wrenches to SWING Lyra around, and then THROW her away! The fans boo but Liv applauds. Raquel drags Lyra up with both ands, then THROWS her into a corner! Raquel runs up, Lyra dodges and headlocks! Raquel powers up and out, Lyra goes up, but Raquel catches her! Lyra holds on, Raquel yanks her from the corner, but Lyra slips free.
Lyra dropkicks legs out, then she gets under Raquel. Raquel fights the Northern Lights to gut wrench and Gory Especial! Lyra sunset flips, but avoids a stomp! Lyra headlocks again, but Raquel powers up and out again. Lyra ducks ‘n’ dodges, wheelbarrows, and victory rolls Raquel out of the ring! The fans fire up with Lyra and Lyra builds speed, but Raquel stops the dropkick! Raquel drags Lyra out but Lyra RANAS her into the desk! Liv panics, Lyra waistlocks, and Lyra puts Raquel in the ring. Lyra hurries up the steps, Liv coaches Raquel, and Raquel stands. Lyra leaps, into a BOOT! The fans boo but Liv cheers, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Raquel has Lyra on the ropes to CHOKE her! Raquel steps off as the ref counts, and Raquel drags Lyra up. The fans rally for Lyra, but Raquel reels her in to suplex. Raquel SLINGSHOT JACKHAMMERS! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and Raquel is frustrated, but Liv coaches her to keep going. Raquel pie faces Lyra, drags her to a drop zone, and then goes up the ropes. Raquel soaks up the heat before the VADER- FLOP! Lyra dodges, goes up a corner, and the fans fire up again! TURN OF FORTUNE!! Cover, TWO?!? Raquel survives that flying leg drop and Lyra is shocked! The fans rally as Lyra fireman’s carries!
Raquel kicks and flails, slips free, then shoves Lyra to a corner. BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Raquel goes up, VADER SENTON! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and Raquel grows frustrated. Liv coaches Raquel and she drags Lyra up again. The fans rally, Raquel bumps Lyra off buckles, and then Raquel puts Lyra up top. Lyra BOOTS the haymaker away, then she fires forearms! Raquel wobbles, Lyra adjusts, and Lyra CROSSBODIES, but into Raquel’s arms! Raquel pops Lyra up to a suplex, but Lyra DDTS! Cover, Liv gives Raquel the ROPEBREAK! The fans boo and Lyra knows something is up! Lyra glares at Liv but Liv just taunts Lyra.
Lyra hurries to bring Raquel up again, fireman’s carry, but Raquel powers out. Raquel shoves, Lyra dodges the boot and WRECKS Liv with a dropkick! But Raquel drags Lyra into a scoop, but Lyra slips around to victory roll! LYRA WINS!!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion)
Lyra couldn’t outpower Raquel, but she did outthink her! But now Liv attacks from behind! The fans boo as Liv & Raquel mug Lyra, but here comes Bayley! The Role Model ROCKS Liv, then gives her a HOTSHOT in the ropes! Bayley fires haymakers on Raquel but Raquel knees low! Raquel hoists Bayley up, but now Lyra saves Bayley! And together, they grab legs and DUMP Raquel up and out! The fans fire up as Bayley & Lyra send Judgment Day into retreat! But will Lyra thank Bayley by giving her a title match?
Jimmy & Jey regroup backstage.
Jimmy asks Jey what’s up, and that for the last couple of weeks, Jimmy sees Jey is all up in his own head. Jimmy doesn’t get it. Last week, Jey was hitting that dive for 15 years, and then he becomes a joke! A meme even! What’s with him? Tonight, that killshot was right there, but Jey’s out here slipping. Jey keeps this up, he will not win at WrestleMania. Jey knows that! Jey knows. But everyone reminds him every week. He ain’t beat Gunther, he’s 0-3! But you know what else? He doesn’t know if he can beat Gunther. Jimmy says he can’t?! Jey gets up, Jimmy keeps him from going off somewhere.
Jimmy says Jey can’t beat him. Not this Jey Uso. The Jey that Jimmy knows, the Right Hand Man, that’s the Jey that can! The one that become Main Event Jey, that’s the Uce we need! The one that won the Royal Rumble, THAT’S the Jey we need! Understand him? Jimmy then spots someone off to the side. Jimmy says he’s got Jey on this. Jimmy confronts Gunther! Gunther grins as he walks over, and Jimmy says Gunther VS Jimmy next week! Wow, really? Sure. So long as Jimmy doesn’t trip and fall like his brother. Jimmy SLAPS Gunther for that one! The Usos head out, Gunther leaves it at that. But then Gunther grins. Is Gunther going to make Jimmy an example to Jey?
Adam Pearce is in the ring.
The Raw GM says, “We are officially on the Road to WrestleMania!” The fans cheer that, and Pearce shows the contract for the WWE Women’s World Championship match between Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky. Last week, Rhea Ripley came out here, thought it was appropriate to start a fight, to pick a pen up off the ground, and to scribble her signature onto the contract, as if that makes anything official. Pearce assures us, and he wants this to be crystal clear, Rhea Ripley is NOT in the title match. Glasgow boos, Pearce says they can do that all they want, but the match is Iyo Sky VS Bianca Belair!
Furthermore, the signature Rhea put down means nothing, because Miss Ripley already knows that she has a rematch. A rematch Pearce has tried to get Rhea to settle down on for weeks now, that in the meantime, Bianca won the Elimination Chamber and the right to call herself THE #1 Contender. So that is the issue here. Bianca earned hers, Rhea is owed one, but Rhea seems to want it on her time. Pearce ain’t doing it that way, so therefore- Iyo interrupts! The fans cheer the Evil Genius as she has both belt and mic in hand while heading to the ring. Iyo tells Pearce, “I don’t care about contracts. Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, it doesn’t matter who it is.
“I’ll take on BOTH of them! Because… I am the Women’s World Champion~!” The fans like that, and Pearce says he appreciates her being a fighting champion. But if you’d just let him- Nope, Bianca interrupts! The fans cheer the EST as she has her own mic to say, “Oh, girl, uh-uh, hold up, hold up! No, Pearce, you are right, I earned that #1 Contender’s spot. And I… went through Elimination Chamber to get to WrestleMania. So I am not about to let Rhea headbutt her way into this match! If she did not earn it, then she does not deserve it.” Pearce agrees, so if everyone- NOPE, Rhea interrupts!
The fans fire up as Mami makes her way out, and Pearce is beside himself. Rhea has a mic to say, “Honestly, I don’t give a damn about WrestleMania. And I don’t care who I have to go through to get MY title back. All I want is my rematch.” Oh, now she wants that? Pearce has been talking about it for weeks! Bianca says if Rhea wants her rematch, well, she already waited three weeks, so she can wait three more. Then she can get her rematch after WrestleMania, with Bianca. Yeah, she said what she said. Iyo says hold on, but Rhea pushes her aside. The fans boo, but that’s the last straw for Iyo!
Iyo runs up but Pearce gets in there! Pearce shouts “ENOUGH! ENOUGH!” He’s glad they’re all out here, because he was going to give his solution, if they’d just give him a second! NEXT WEEK, Rhea gets her rematch! Then the winner faces Bianca at WrestleMania! Ladies, thank you, have a very nice Monday. Pearce storms off, Bianca and Rhea still argue, but Iyo says bet! She leaps over Bianca to DDT Rhea! Bianca ROCKS Iyo, torture racks, but Iyo fights free with an arm-drag! Rhea BOOTS Bianca, gets around Iyo, but Iyo lands out of the back suplex! SHOTEI! Bianca chicken wings Iyo! Iyo victory rolls Bianca at Rhea, and Bianca LARIATS rhea!
Iyo dodges Bianca again, HOTSHOTS from the apron, then goes up the corner! She FLYING RANAS Rhea on the ramp! Bianca is up, Iyo takes aim, and the fans cheer Iyo on as she springboards! Bianca dodges, torture racks again, KISS OF DEATH to the outside, onto Rhea! Bianca holds up the belt, but will this be how WrestleMania ends? Who will it even be against after next week’s rematch?
Dominik finds Penta backstage.
Dirty Dom asks if Penta has a second to talk. Penta nods, and Dom says he knows Penta is good, but he could be great. Dom is willing to offer Penta a spot in the Judgment Day, and then maybe things will go Penta’s way. Penta wants to speak but Dom says hold on. Penta could be Intercontinental Champion tonight. Just think about it. Dom heads out, Penta looks like he’s already decided. Will the Man with Cero Miedo really need allies like The Judgment Day?
The New Day barge into Adam Pearce’s office.
He’s already exasperated as Kofi Kingston tells him that The New Day is the greatest tag team on Planet Earth! Xavier Woods says that means they deserve a shot at the WWE World Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. Oh, are they really asking for a title match at WrestleMania? No, they are DEMANDING one! Wow, really? Do they watch the show? Guess not, or else they wouldn’t be coming in here and demanding a title match just because they’re the New Day, greatest team of all time! Instead, they’d want a chance to prove it, and ask for a match. When they’re ready to do that, come back and see him. For now, get out, and don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you!
New Day tells Pearce to check his blood pressure. They leave, but Bianca barges in. There is way too much going on! Who is she facing at WrestleMania? Pearce says it’ll be clear next week after Iyo VS Rhea. And now, Bianca won’t just be sitting ringside to watch, she’ll be the one in that ring calling it right down the middle! That’s right, Bianca is now the special guest referee!! The EST doesn’t know how to referee! Well, she has a week to figure it out! Now bye, drive save. Bianca storms off, Pearce is losing his cool, but what will this mean for the Road to WrestleMania?
Dragon Lee VS El Grande Americano!
The LWO doesn’t care one way or another if “The Big American” luchador is Chad Gable or someone else entirely, because they just want payback for the interference that’s been happening week after week. Will the Boy Wonder shine brighter than this supposed lucha legend? Or will we all be saying “UH GRACIAS~!” after tonight?
The bell rings and the fans rally. The two tie up, “Grande” waistlocks but Lee switches. Grande switches back, trips Lee, and then rolls to facelock, float, and armlock. The fans sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~!” while Lee fights up. Gable- Er, Grande steps over, arm-drags, and then soaks up the cheers and jeers. Grande runs up to CHOP, then whip. Lee reverses, runs in, but Grande puts him on the apron. Lee jumps up but Grande DECKS him! “GRACIAS~!” Grande then builds speed, but Lee is back to RANA! Grande tumbles out, Lee builds speed, and Lee DIVES! Direct hit and down goes Grande!
The fans fire up, Lee puts Grande in the ring, and then clamps on a GROUND COBRA TWIST! Lee grabs at the mask, the ref reprimands, and Lee stops. Grande throat chops! Grande whips, Lee reverses to kick low and reel Grande in. But Grande RANAS free! Grande FLYING HEADBUTTS, then covers, TWO! The fans again sing, “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~!” Grande goes to the apron with Lee, then he fires a forearm. Lee V-TRIGGERS, then runs up, but into an EXPLODER to the floor! Both men have a hard landing but the fans fire up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Grande has Lee in an inverted Gory Especial! The fans rally as Lee sits up, and he rains down fists! Lee victory rolls Grande, TWO! Grande stands, ducks ‘n’ dodges, FLYING HEADBUTT into the V-TRIGGER! Grande ends up on the apron, Lee goes out the side. Lee drags Grande up to the top rope, the fans rally, but Grande fires body shots. Lee drops back, but he ROCKS Grande! Grande is in the Tree of Woe! Lee goes up, aims, APRON WOE STOMPS!! Grande flops to the floor but even Lee clutches a knee from that landing. The ring count starts and the fans rally. Both men are down at 5 of 10, but slowly rising.
Lee and Grande hear 8, and they spring in at 9! The fans cheer, and Grande fires a CHOP! Lee fires a CHOP! The CHOPS keep going, harder and harder, then Grande CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Grande runs, Lee dodges and CHOPS! And BOOTS! Grande ROCKS Lee! But Lee dodges to snap GERMAN SUPLEX! Grande flounders, Lee fires up, SUPERKICK! Grande falls again but Lee takes aim! Lee runs in, but Grande OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES him into the corner! Lee is in a heap, Grande covers, TWO!! Lee survives and the fans fire up! The fans again sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~!” as Grande climbs!
Grande aims to MOONSAULT, but he has to roll through as Lee dodges! Lee runs in, swings through the lariat, and he gets Grande up for a LIGER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Grande survives but Lee vows to end it! Lee brings Grande up, puts him up top and CLUBS him! The fans declare “This is Awesome!” as Lee climbs. Grande is back in the Tree of Woe, but he sits up to pull at Lee’s mask! Grande UNMASKS Lee!! Lee falls, covers his face, and Grande sits up! The fans boo, but Grande gets after a leg! ANKLE LOCK!! The fans boo, Lee can’t fight while also covering his face, so Lee TAPS! Grande wins!
Winner: El Grande Americano, by submission
A controversial way for a luchador to win a match, but it seems El Grande Americano is willing to do anything! Will we ever get to the bottom of this not so mysterious mystery?
CM Punk is here!
Glasgow fires up and sings along with Cult of Personality as the Second City Saint makes his way out here. Punk says, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” and continues down to the ring. What will he say in the fallout of Friday Night SmackDown’s brawl in Bologna? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Punk has the mic while fans chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Punk says, “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Glasgow or what?” The fans cheer that! Punk says that unfortunately while he’s happy to be here, always great to spend quality time with Glasgow, he is not in a good mood. He’s pissed off, but it’s hard to stay mad hearing an ovation like that. Punk says he’s also a little tired, very jetlagged, hasn’t slept well, mostly because of the uncertainty of his Road to WrestleMania. By the way, he apparently has a match now. Did you see the nice graphic? It’s beautiful.
But what Punk wants, he’s not getting. Or is he? Punk says what he wanted was win the Royal Rumble. he didn’t. Then it became what he needed to do, and that was win Elimination Chamber. But because the more things change, the more they stay the same, he work with children. The undisputed heavyweight champion of being a diaper piss baby is Seth Rollins, and he screwed Punk at Elimination Chamber. That doesn’t get Punk to what he wants. For two people, it is clearly personal, but for Punk, it’s just business. It has become simple math: the two men that want to stand in Punk’s way of getting what he wants have go tot go.
Seth Rollins takes it personal because he’s been crying ever since Punk came back to the WWE, because the magnitude of Punk and the shadow he casts belittles everything Rollins is about. Roman Reigns takes it personal, which Punk acknowledges, because Roman sees in real-time that his Wise Man isn’t just his Wise Man. So while it’s personal for the, it is business for Punk, and it’ll be business on Friday in London. It’ll be a good ol’ fashioned contract signing. The fans boo but Punk asks why. Because they wanted it here, right? The fans cheer that! Well, so did Punk, which is why Punk’s here!
Punk can’t wait to get his hands on the contract, read the fine print, and see if the contract gets Punk any bit closer to what he wants… or if it’s just another rug pull from the Powers That Be. So Seth, Roman, fuel up the jet. Since you couldn’t grace them with your presences here in Glasgow, see you in London! But before you put pen to paper, listen to two things and understand them very well. One: neither of you have defeated Punk without the other one’s help, because you can’t! And two: Punk brought them into the WWE, so he cannot wait to be the man to take them both out of it! Punk drops the mic, will he be the one that ends The Shield’s story?
Logan Paul speaks.
Via his Instagram, The Maverick tells AJ Styles, “Congrats, you’ve been added to the list of people whose downfall I’ve been preying on. What you did to me in Madison Square Garden is unforgivable. I’m in London on March 31st, Monday Night Raw, I wanna see you face to face. Bring your A Game, bring your soccer mom haircut, I’ll see your b*tch ass there.” Logan ImPAULsively called out The Phenomenal One, will he be the one to regret it?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
Cathy Kelley is with the badass Intercontinental Champion and notes that he puts that title on the line in the main event, against one of the fastest rising stars in Penta. Earlier tonight, Dom approached Penta to join Judgment Day, is Bron at all concerned that Penta could be bringing backup in an onslaught of new friends? Bron says that’s Penta’s business, it is none of his concern. But as far as tonight, Bron will beat Penta in the center of that ring, then retain this title for one reason: The dogs are barking in Glasgow! Bron barks it up, then heads for gorilla. Will the Big Bad Booty Nephew not worry about the numbers and just go for the win? Or will he learn that #CeroMeido is math he can’t ignore?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS PENTA!
Raw returns as Penta makes his entrance, followed by Bron’s. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is really the biggest badass!
The bell rings and the fans bark as Bron stares Penta down. They slowly circle, tie up, and Penta waistlocks. Bron pries at the grip, wrenches out to wristlock, and the fans duel. Penta wrenches, wristlocks, and headlocks in return, but Bron powers up! Bron shoves Penta away, but then Penta dodges to KICK a leg! And KICK it again! Penta whips, Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges, then builds speed to LARIAT! The fans bark for Bron while Penta flounders to a corner. Bron runs up to RAM into Penta! And RAM again! And again! The ref counts, Penta sputters, and Bron brings Penta up. Bron whips, Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS!
Brun tumbles into the ropes then out of the ring! The fans fire up and Penta goes up, up, and- JUMP KNEE from Bron! Penta falls to the floor and Bron grins. The fans bark while Penta sputters to the desk. Bron aims for that FLYING LARIAT! Bron and Penta crash onto and over the desk! The fans bark more while both men are down! The ref checks on both men, but Dom & Carlito come out here? The fans boo, is Dom just assuming Penta’s decision? We’ll have to see, after the break.
Raw returns again and the fans rally as Penta fires body shots. Penta CHOPS, but Bron just frowns. Bron ROCKS Penta, eggs him on, but Penta CHOPS! Bron frowns again, then he ROCKS Penta! Penta comes back with a flurry of forearms! The fans fire up, Penta runs, but Bron ROCKS him again! Bron runs, but Penta SUPERKICKS! Bron wobbles, Penta runs up, but into another KNEE! Bron runs, runs, and- SUPERKICK from Penta! Both men fall and the fans fire up! The fans rally while Bron and Penta slowly rise. Penta has Bron first, reels him in, but Bron shoves Penta away. Penta comes back and KICKS Bron!
Penta then gets around Bron to mule kick a leg! Penta runs to SLING-DOG Bron down! Bron flops out, the fans fire up, and Penta builds speed to DIVE into an UPPERCUT! Bron hurries back in, fireman’s carries Penta, but Penta pops up to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Carlito says that alone proves Penta is Judgment Day material, but Penta calls his next shot. Bron rises, Penta runs in, DEST- NO, Bron stops that to make it a fireman’s carry, then a military press! GUT BUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives, Bron is a bit surprised, but the fans still bark. Bron vows to end this and he goes to a corner.
Bron aims, Penta rises, and Bron runs in, into another SUPERKICK! Penta then GAMANGIRIS in the corner! Penta puts Bron up top, climbs up after him, but Bron shoves him down. Bron fires hands, then he hoists Penta up! Bron fireman’s carries Penta, but Penta fights free! Penta hops down to the apron so he can jump up and RANA Bron off the corner! Bron tumbles out, Penta builds speed, and Penta FLIES! Dom & Carlito love the tope conjilo, and Glasgow says, “This is Awesome!” Penta drags Bron up and into the ring, then takes aim again. MEXICAN DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Born survives and Carlito is shocked!
The fans rally as hard as they can, and Dom coaches Penta up. Penta tells Dom to watch himself, then he drags Bron up. Penta pump handles Bron, but Bron fights free! Penta goes to a corner, BOOTS in return, and then goes up. Bron anchors Penta, Penta CLUBS away on Bron, then ROCKS him! Bron staggers away, but he springs right up top to SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! Penta survives the “Breakkensteiner” and Bron is frustrated. The fans rally up as Bron brings down the straps! The fans bark as Bron takes aim from the corner. But Dom gets on the apron! Carlito grabs Bron, but Bron TOSSES Carlito!
Bron runs and he SPEARS Carlito! The fans fire up, the ref reprimands Judgment Day, but Dom CHOP BLOCKS from behind! The ref catches it, the match is over!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by disqualification (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
The fans boo but Dom rains down fists on Bron! If Dom is trying to get Penta to join up, he sure messed up that! The fans tell Dom off, but Bron ROCKS Dom with haymakers! FINN BALOR SMACKS BRON WITH A CHAIR! The Prince is here after all, and he SMACKS Bron again! Penta doesn’t even realize what happened, and then Finn glares at Dom?! Finn decides to give Dom the chair, and Dom JAMS it into Bron again and again! Penta understands now that Judgment Day screwed this up for him, but Dom offers him the chair? The fans say “NO! NO! NO!” but Penta still takes the chair. Dom says take Bron out, Cero Miedo!
Penta aims, but while Dom is encouraging Penta to do it, Finn is upset with Dom about it! Penta throws the chair at Dom to SUPERKICK into his face! Finn is even more upset because he knew this would happen. Finn CLOBBERS Penta, stomps away on him, and the fans boo more. Finn grabs the chair again, and he SMACKS Bron back down! Bron tumbles out, and Finn tells Dom he’s too stupid to be making decisions. Finn goes up, and he gives Penta a COUP DE GRACE! Judgment Day has no new members and no new gold, but will Finn get Dom to understand that they can still run Monday Night Raw?
My Thoughts:
Another great Raw, especially with this Glasgow crowd. Cena continues to be the perfect “Justified Heel” with another great promo, and it is amazing that he uses the Spinner Championship as the cornerstone of all of this. I almost thought he was going to say he would remake the spinner belt using the current title’s design. But at the same time, it’s good enough that he vows to retire that belt with his retirement so that whatever comes next will only ever be second place. Or third, given how there’s the WWE World Heavyweight Championship again. And Cody had a good retort again, but Cena is the one bringing the better promos.
While there was speculation that Glasgow would get to believe in Joe Hendry tonight, I knew it just makes sense in story that Jimmy would be the mystery partner for Jey. Very good match from Usos VS ATDU, very good win for the Usos, and a great promo where Jimmy lights that fire in Jey before slapping Gunther. Gunther VS Jimmy is going to be really good, and this fits a bit more of what I was hoping we’d get in the build. Gunther and Jimmy can tear it up while Gunther still wins out, a real example set for Gunther VS Jey at Mania, but also incredible motivation for Jey given he’ll be watching his brother get beat up.
Very good promo from Punk, a touch better than Rollins’ last week, but both boil down to hyping up what’s happening on SmackDown this week. Great stuff with this Chad Gable/El Grande Americano stuff. That video package was like 90% AI generated images, 10% Photoshop, but I guess that adds to how Grande Americano’s legacy is fake and it’s just Gable. Lee VS Grande Gable was great stuff, and what a wild way for Grande Gable to win with Lee’s mask coming off. Rey will surely want his own match with Grande Gable, and I feel like this has to come down to a Mask VS Mask match so that when Grande loses, he is exposed as Gable all along.
Great promo stuff for the Women’s World Championship, as Pearce puts his foot down and has them do things his way. No Triple Threat, at least not yet, as we instead get Rhea VS Iyo one more time, but Bianca being the Special GuEST Referee is of course going to create shenanigans that then compel a Triple Threat. New Day complaining and demanding a title match is good stuff, too, and I would think Pearce is going to put New Day into a big contenders match. Honestly, all tag teams on Raw should be put in that: New Day, A-Town Down Under, Alpha Academy, Creed Brothers, LWO’s Wilde & Del Toro, winners face War Raiders.
And the Judgment Day were once again a great throughline for Raw. Good promo from the group to set up things for tonight while also keeping the dysfunction in mind. Lyra VS Raquel was a great title match, great win for Lyra, and good stuff with Bayley making the save. I feel like we might get a tag match of Lyra & Bayley VS Liv & Raquel before we get Lyra VS Bayley for the title. I still feel like they could escalate and make it more than just 1v1 for WrestleMania, as Liv can even get herself in on the Intercontinental Championship, but we should also really get others like Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and even Natalya going again or else they’re signed for no reason.
And of course, awesome stuff with the Men’s Intercontinental Championship. It plays up the Judgment Day drama of Finn and Dom each trying to be the mastermind, but everyone wanting titles. Bron is still great in the ring but his character isn’t getting much other than “bark bark.” Even if he went back to talking a lot like Uncle Scott Steiner, that would be a bit more fun. But right now, he’s just this obstacle that the others are trying to get past while also dealing with their own stuff. Judgment Day standing tall because of Finn’s surprise appearance certainly cues up at least a Triple Threat of Bron VS Penta VS Finn, but maybe Dom gets himself in that match to “improve Judgment Day’s odds,” which just pisses Finn off and creates the real fallout in the group.
My Score: 8.9/10
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