Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE King & Queen of the Ring Results & Report! (5/25/24)
ALL HAIL!
Bow down to the… Bow down to the King & Queen!
The thrones are open as WWE crowns a new King & Queen of The Ring! Lyra or Nia, Orton or Gunther, who will reign and head for SummerSlam?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Countdown Show – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill VS Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell; Bianca & Jade win and retain the titles.
- WWE Women’s World Championship: Becky Lynch VS Liv Morgan; Liv wins and becomes the new WWE Women’s World Champion.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat: Sami Zayn VS VS Bronson Reed VS Chad Gable w/ Otis; Sami wins and retains the title.
- 2024 Queen of the Ring Finals: Lyra Valkyria VS Nia Jax; Nia wins and will challenge for a title at SummerSlam.
- 2024 King of the Ring Finals: GUNTHER VS Randy Orton; Gunther wins and will challenge for a title at SummerSlam.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS Logan Paul; Cody wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the King & Queen of the Ring Countdown Show!
Join Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Wade Barrett & Big E in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action for this historic night!
Corey Graves interviews Cody Rhodes.
Corey sits with The American Nightmare and talks about his role has changed since becoming champion. It’s only been a couple months, but Corey wants Cody to best describe the feeling of “finishing the story.” Cody would say whatever that feeling is, that’s the feeling he wants to chase for the rest of his life. It was a sensation that he can’t describe. It made him happy, it made him smile, it made him cry, it was everything. That moment met if not exceeded expectations. Corey says Cody got what he was chasing, he is now WWE Champion and the face of this company. What does that responsibility feel like?
If that is true and Cody is the face of this wonderful company, he feels more appreciative of the team around him more than he ever was. He told Logan Paul and stands by this, this is a team effort. What is the time requirement of being THE WWE Champion in this day and age? Fans might hear this often, think this is hyperbole about how much your life changes winning the Royal Rumble and winning the WWE Championship. Media, teleconferences, “stuff.” It feels pretty balanced and he’s able to do it all.
Then are there any superstars, past or present, that have been world champion who Cody has gone to for advice? He’s stayed connected to Randy Orton, remembering back to 2008 when John Cena was on top. Cody is doing his best to do what they did right, but do it his way. He wants to do it bigger. Then what is the opinion on the state of the industry? What’s great about the last three years is new fans. From little kids or returning adults. There’s this almost pat on the back for the ones in Cody’s generation, because they were beaten over the head with how “wonderful” The Attitude Era was. And it was, it really was.
But sometimes, Cody’s bitter about it because this era is here, they’re the ones doing it now. Biggest arena attendance, and that’s on Cody’s name, not on The Rock or Austin, and that’s something Cody can be proud of. Then if Cody had to give his younger self advice, what would he tell that Cody? When you’re in the position of that Cody, “Undesirable,” low on the role sheet, then bet on yourself. Stardust shouldn’t be in any main event anywhere, so Cody had to figure out how to make Cody better. If you’re the same as you were, that’s not good, you’re not growing. He made the call to “get better.” More of this interview later on in the show.
Backstage interview with Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair.
Byron Saxton is with the StrongEST Storm, and he says it is a big night to say the least. First televised tag title defense for them, how do they feel? Jade is beyond excited, this is her first PLE in Saudi, who gets that this soon? And with The EST, they will take these belts like they always do. Byron asks about Bianca’s knee, and she says it is not 100%. She lost out last night because of Candice. Candice started this, but Bianca beat her before so she will do it again. She and Jade will remain champions. Byron wishes them luck and Jade says who needs luck? Will nothing stop this dynamic duo when they stand side by side?
Backstage interview with Lyra Valkyria.
Kayla Braxton is with The Morrigan and says tonight is the night. She is about to embark on the biggest challenge of her WWE career, and only after being called up for a month now. She could be the NEW Queen of the Ring, how surreal is it to realize she’s made it here so fast? So surreal! She was just in NXT wanting to regain the title, but now she’s here in Jeddah! She can’t imagine a more surreal start as a rookie on Raw. And now, the finals of QOTR! She will be facing Nia Jax, who had choice words for her. Has Lyra marinated on those claims?
Lyra can’t wait to prove Nia wrong. Nia says she’s gonna “buzz” through her, but surely everyone else thought the same. Dakota Kai, Zoey Stark, Iyo Sky, all former champions, but Lyra is the one here. She is the one that will be Queen and going to SummerSlam. Lyra is gonna launch herself into the WWE Women’s World Championship scene! Lyra is ready to fly, but can she get through the Irresistible Force?
Backstage interview with Triple H.
Byron is with The Game and says there is a lot of excitement already tonight, with the finals of King & Queen of the Ring tournaments. How important are these matches? They’re massive. And the excitement is an understatement, the whole week, the moment WWE landed, being in Riyadh and the WWE Experience, HHH can’t imagine how as a kid it’d feel to go to such an immersive world. But last night, in Jeddah for SmackDown, it was off the charts. They’ve had a great time, but this whole night is the main event. It is the reason we are here.
And these aren’t just fancy titles you win and get to say you’re king or queen. This is about cementing legacies. The competition for these crowns is massive. When you look at tonight, Nia Jax since her return has torn through everyone. From going toe-to-toe with Rhea Ripley to tearing through Becky Lynch, Naomi, Bianca, Jade, all to get here. Can Nia finish that job? Can she establish herself as Queen? She has to go through Lyra Valkyria. In many ways, a lot of accolades on her own, but should Lyra be here already? It’s been “a cup of coffee.” But also, Lyra beat Iyo Sky to be here. And when you beat a former Women’s Champion to be here, anything is possible.
And of course, Randy Orton returning form near career ending injury. Can The Viper solidify his legacy? Can he put the stamp on his return? Can he finish this and take another step forward as one of the greats? In his way is Gunther, who has been like no one before him in WWE. Longest reigning Intercontinental Champion, went through just about everyone to get here. Orton VS Gunther is impossible to call, but HHH will be doing what we’re doing: sitting on the edge of his seat and watching with baited breath. A king is crowned, a queen is crowned, and they’ll each face top champions at SummerSlam. This is gonna be awesome.
Byron thanks HHH for sharing his thoughts on a night that will be talked about for years. The Game set things out pretty well, so who will be crowned and move on to “The Land” to fight for gold?
Michael Cole & Corey Graves tag out of the panel.
In their place, Kayla Braxton and Kevin Owens are here to help Wade & Big E for the second hour! The Prizefighter is back, and he saved Randy Orton from The Bloodline. Kevin says yes, you’re welcome, he loves praise. And he’s glad to have made it here at all. He made sure Orton would have some support, check the shirt. It’s good, right?
Corey’s interview with Cody, part two.
Saudi Arabia, it will be Cody VS Logan Paul. Cody’s had limited access to Logan in Logan’s short time in WWE, but to Cody, who is Logan Paul? Cody looked up the definition of “maverick.” An unorthodox or independent minded person. Cody doesn’t dislike that, and it describes Logan. The ventures Logan has gone on, he has just been so successful. And as a pro-wrestler, he is more fundamentally sound than he has any right to be. Then there’s a healthy professional respect there, but what about personal? Well, fortune favors the bold, but everything Cody just said about Logan has informed Logan’s decisions. Logan is too bold in taking credit for WWE’s success.
Knowing Logan actually believes that, the best thing that can happen to him is slip on a banana peel, fall on his face, and we see what he does next. Then what are Cody’s thoughts to Logan taking his US Championship out of the deal? Titles mean everything. Cody knows a lying wrestler when they say they don’t care about a title or a list. Cody would’ve loved to get the Grand Slam, maybe he’ll finish that story later. Then how does Cody plan on neutralizing Logan’s lethal right hand? This might not be the best person to quote, but JBL talking about HBK’s Sweet Chin Music, “Just duck.” That’s JBL for ya.
That is Cody’s current strategy, in that he doesn’t need to get to the point where he’s off balance. No matter how quick, how athletic, how in-your-blood, it’ll end quickly at that right hand. Then as we approach that match, how does it go down? As much positive things and wonderful platitudes Cody could throw out at Logan, to be completely honest, he doesn’t stand a chance. Logan finds out that he’s great and all, but not on the level he thinks. That’s actually a great thing for Logan to find out. Corey wishes Cody luck, they shake hands, but will Cody still be Undisputed Champion after facing the ImPAULsive One?
Backstage interview with Liv Morgan.
Byron is with the #1 contender to the Women’s World Championship and notes her Liv Morgan revenge Tour. This tour could reach an epic conclusion if she wins the title off Becky Lynch. Where is her confidence level right now? Liv thanks him for asking that, because she has never felt better in her whole life! She’s been waiting for this day the last 8 months of her life, ever since Rhea Ripley injured her. And she completes the LMRT by taking what Rhea loves most, in the Women’s World Championship. Becky is charged up, too, how is Liv going to change that?
Liv says Becky keeps reminding everyone that Liv has yet to beat her, but that changes tonight because Becky’s never face this Liv. There’s nothing she can throw at Liv because- Wait, what’s Dominik Mysterio doing here? Dom says Liv knows what he’s doing here. He flew all the way to Saudi Arabia to make sure Liv doesn’t get her hands on Mami’s gold. Dom leaves, and Liv definitely didn’t expect that. Will Liv be able to focus on The Man when she has Mami’s Latino Heat lurking?
Countdown Show – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill VS Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell!
The StrongEST Storm said it themselves, they’re gonna get even with The Poison Pixie for the damage done and leave here still holding the gold. But while Candice & Indi may have last their way and gone to the dark side, will they come away the winners?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is the greatEST!
The teams sort out and Jade starts against #IndiWrestling. They tie up., Indi waistlocks but Jade throws her off! The fans cheer but Candice says that’s okay. Indi gets up, goes for a leg, but Jade lifts her up! Indi slips out, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but then runs into a scoop! And a FALL AWAY SLAM! The fans fire up as Jade kips up! Jade runs Indi over, then tags Bianca in. The fans cheer as Jade keeps Indi from Candice, to scoop and SLAM! Bianca runs up, gets the lift from Jade, DOMINATOR SPLASH COMBO! Wakanda Forever, Black Girl Magic! The fans fire up, Candice tags in, and she goes after Bianca’s bad leg.
Bianca is aware of that, dodges Candice, but then Candice tilt-o-whirls! Bianca blocks the rest of that, to tilt-o-whirl GUTBUSTER! Bianca gets her bad leg moving, the fans rally for her, and she RAMS into Candice! And again, and again, and again! Bianca lets off, whips Candice back in, but Candice BOOTS back! Candice goes up, but Bianca ROCKS her! Bianca trophy lifts Candice, hobbles a bit, but Candice slips free! Tag to Indi, Bianca THROWS Candice then ROCKS Indi! Bianca drags Indi up but Candice CHOP BLOCKS Bianca! The fans boo but Indi stomps Bianca. Indi keeps between Bianca and Jade with a gut wrench.
The fans rally, Bianca fights up, but Indi puts her in a corner for stomps. Indi puts the good leg around ropes and pulls! Bianca falls, Indi stomps both legs, and then mocks Bianca swinging her hair using her own braid. But then Bianca throws body shots! Indi kicks the bad leg, Bianca falls, and Indi gets Bianca up. Indi snapmares Bianca into the ropes! Bianca writhes, Candice tags in and CLUBS Bianca down! The fans boo but Candice taunts Jade. Candice gets the bad leg to SMASH the knee! The fans rally, Candice CLUBS Bianca more, then grabs the bad leg again. Candice drags Bianca back, stomps that leg, but the fans rally harder.
Candice stands Bianca up, ROCKS her, then tags Indi. But Bianca DUMPS Candice! Indi YANKS the braid! Indi keeps Bianca down, tags Candice back in, and Candice STOMPS Bianca’s leg! Cover, TWO! Bianca is toughing it out but Candice drags her to DDT the bad leg! Jade reaches out but Candice turns Bianca for a HALF CRAB! Bianca endures, the fans rally, but Candice sits deep! Bianca fights, Candice drags her back, but Bianca BOOTS her away! Indi tags in, Bianca scrambles but Indi CLUBS her down! Indi ELBOWS Jade, too! Indi mocks Bianca, brings Bianca up, but Bianca blocks the whip! Bianca whips, Indi KICKS back!
Indi runs up but into a BOOT! But Candice grabs Bianca from behind while Indi distracts the ref! Bianca TOSSES Candice in, dodges Indi, hot tag to Jade! Jade BOOTS Indi, SPINEBUSTERS Candice, and then fires up! The fans fire up with Jade, and she STINGER SPLASHES Candice! STINGER SPLASH for Indi! Back to Candice! Jade TOSSES Candice across the way! Then DOUBLE SPLASH for them both! Jade reels Indi in, flexes, and POWERBOMBS! Cover, Candice breaks it! Jade scowls at the Poison Pixie, TOSSES her out, but Indi SHOTGUNS Jade in the back! Indi has Jade in ropes, tags Candice, then BOOTS Jade!
Indi drapes Jade out, Candice LIONSAULTS Jade down! Cover, TWO!! Jade survives and Candice is furious! Candice tags Indi, then climbs. Indi drags Jade back up, but Jade fights back! Jade POSTS Indi, but Candice MISSILE DORPKICKS! Jades taggers away, Bianca tags in! Bianca ROCKS Candice, then CHOP BLOCKS her! Payback time! Pop-up, wheelbarrow, DDT to GERMAN SUPLEX!! Cover, Bianca & Jade win!
Winners: Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Candice couldn’t weather the storm, and with a combo like that, will Bianca & Jade be unstoppable as tag team champions?
Backstage interview with Logan Paul.
Byron is with The Maverick and wants to revisit SmackDown and everything Cody Rhodes has said. Logan is a fraud, suffers from Impostor Syndrome, so in response to that and the general controversy, what is Logan’s approach? There’s no controversy, there’s no syndrome. Logan went from YouTube to boxing Mayweather. And for the third time, he’s in Saudi Arabia, wrestling for a title. He left with the US Championship last time, he’ll leave with two belts this time. It is a cycle of people doubting him and him proving people wrong time and time again. he will show us why he belongs here, in the ring, and on top. Will Logan make good on all that in tonight’s main event?
A Champion’s Journey.
“The moment an idea becomes an obsession signifies the beginning of a champion’s journey. An opportunity to take the throne, defend what’s already yours, and delivery a massive spectacle in front of the world. Tonight, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it’s no longer about how far you’ve come, but how high you will ascend. Remember this: Every journey starts with a spark of an idea. And what we make of our obsessions becomes our destiny. This… is WWE King & Queen of the Ring!”
WWE Women’s World Championship: Becky Lynch VS Liv Morgan!
Mami Rhea went down with injury, a battle royal was held, and it was these two that were there at the end. Obviously we know The Man won, but the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour isn’t over until she’s taken over! Will Morgan live the dream after fighting for so long? Or is she still not ready for The Big Time?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is really on top!
The bell rings and the fans rally up for Becky. Liv wags her finger, and she circles with Becky. They tie up, go around, end up on ropes, but then come off ropes. Liv shoves Becky, Becky shoves back! They start shoving, the ref has them back up and reset. They circle, tie up, Liv waistlocks but Becky switches and SLAMS! Becky holds onto Liv, but Liv fights up. The fans rally for Becky as they switch around again. Liv goes to ropes, Becky lets off slowly, but Liv ELBOWS her! The ref reprimands but Liv ROCKS Becky with a forearm. Liv fires more shots, talks trash, then CHPOS! Liv whips, Becky reverses and BOOTS Liv down!
The fans fire up while Liv sits up and sputters. Becky runs, Liv drops then follows, but Becky still runs her over! Liv bails out, Becky talks trash and eggs Liv on. Liv cools off but Becky goes out after her! Becky ROCKS Liv, SMACKS her off the apron, then brings her around to SMACK off more apron! The fans cheer as Becky SMACKS Liv off the barriers! Becky goes for more apron but Liv blocks! Liv ROCSK Becky, SMACKS her, the ring count is 8 as Liv puts Becky in. Becky gets Liv int he ropes for an UPPERCUT, SOBAT and then goes up the corner! But Liv YANKS Becky down! Becky flounders away and Liv hurries in. Cover, TWO!
Becky goes to a corner but Liv storms after her. Liv smirks as she stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Liv lets off at 4, and then she storms up to stomp some more! The ref counts, Liv lets off and runs back in, btu Becky dodges! JUPM KICK! JUMP0 NO, Liv blocks the second one to LARIAT back! Liv puts Becky through ropes, bends her back and even has body scissors! The ref counts the rope clutch, Liv lets off at 4. Liv then SHOTGUNS Becky in the back! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, but Liv stomps and kicks Becky around. Liv drags Becky back up, puts her on ropes, and CHOKES her! The ref counts, Becky SLAPS Liv!
Liv SLAPS Becky, whips her, but Becky BOOTS back! Liv staggers, storms back up, but into an ELBOW Becky goes up and up, but Liv YANKS her down again! Cover, TWO! Liv keeps on Becky with a top wristlock! The fans rally as Becky endures, fights up, and fights back. Liv KNEES Becky down! Liv has an almost Shankly Gates Stretch but Becky endures. Liv pulls on the arm but Becky finds an opening to slip out from under Liv. Becky arm-drags free, then dodges Liv to fire a forearm! Liv hits back! Liv whips, Becky reveres but Liv goes up, wheelbarrows, and she sends Becky into buckles! O’Conner Roll, TWO, and Liv hits buckles!
Becky snarls, runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS take both women down! The fans fire up, and they sing Becky’s song as Becky slowly rises. Becky and Liv fire forearms back and forth! Liv ROCKS Becky, Becky ROCKS Liv, repeat! Liv gets the edge but Becky LARIATS! And LARIATS again! And CALF KICKS! Liv goes to a corner, Becky fires up and runs in, FOREARM SMASH! Then BECKSPLODER! Liv bails out, the fans fire up, and Becky builds speed! Becky WRECKS Liv with a dropkick! Becky now aims from the apron, and she FLYING FOREARMS! Becky drags Liv up, puts her in the ring, then climbs a corner!
The fans fire up as Becky reaches the top. But Liv trips her up! Liv ROCKS Becky, climbs up, the fans duel as the fists fly! Becky shoves Liv down, adjusts, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Liv is still in this and the fans duel again! Becky snarls, grabs an arm, DIS- NO, Liv rolls Becky up! TWO, Becky wants Liv’s arm again! Liv ROCKS Becky, runs up, springboard and CODE BREAKER! Becky falls, Liv covers, TWO! Becky survives and Liv is growing frustrated. The fans continue to rally as Becky flounders to a corner. Liv grins, then snarls, then runs in, but only gets buckles! Becky KICKS and CLOBBERS Liv! Cover, TWO!
The fans continue to rally as Becky drags Liv into the drop zone. Becky climbs, but Liv moves! Becky rolls through the leap, but Liv MISSILE DROPKICKS back! Cover, TWO! Liv is beside herself as Becky stays in this. Liv sees Becky go to ropes, runs up, OB- NO, Becky turns that into a FINAL CUT! Cover, TWO! Becky is now a bit frustrated, but the fans fire up again. “This is Awesome!” as Becky snarls. This place is shaking as Becky clinches, MAN- NO, Liv victory rolls! TWO and Becky has it, TWO! Beck runs up, Liv dodges to GAMANGIRI! Cover, TWO!! Liv is starting to lose her cool as Becky refuses to lose!
The fans rally up again, Liv kicks Becky around. Becky SMACKS her! Liv hits back, they go haymaker for haymaker! Liv gets the edge, runs with Becky, but no springboard here! Becky kicks, BUTTERFLYU SUPLEX into an ARMBAR!! Liv flails, stacks Becky, TWO! Liv has the RINGS OF SATURN!! Liv pulls on Becky, Becky turns her to a cover, TWO! Liv still stays clamped on, RINGS OF SATURN!! Liv’s arsenal is deeper than before, she goes for a ghost pin, but Becky slips free! DISARM-HER!!! Liv endures, reaches out, but Becky’s between her and ropes! Liv moves around, and wait, DIRTY DOM is ringside now?!
The fans boo as Becky stares Dom down! Dom doesn’t want Liv to win, but Liv just got a ROPEBREAK for this! The fans boo Dom and Becky tells him to go away. Liv gets up, and she swings, but into the MAN- CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!!! Becky survives and Liv snarls. Liv stares Dom down, then drags Becky to a drop zone. Liv goes up a corner, but Becky goes after her! Becky gets Liv for a SUPERPLEX! Both women are down and Liv flounders all the way to the other corner! The ref checks Liv, Dom gets a chair! And he slides it into the ring for Becky!? He wants The Man do protect Mami? Dom then distracts the ref!
But Liv runs up, DDT onto the chair!!! Dom freaks out, he just messed up the wrong woman! ObLIVion!!! Cover, LIV WINS!!!!
Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s World Champion)
Liv says she told you so! She comes out on top all because Dirty Dom couldn’t keep his dirty mustache out of this! Liv took out Mami, she just took the title from The Man, did the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour just accomplish its mission?
WWE Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat: Sami Zayn VS VS Bronson Reed VS Chad Gable w/ The Alpha Academy!
As the Great Liberator put it himself, this is a battle of mind, body and soul. The Mind is Master Gable, the manipulator and technical genius of The Alpha Academy. The Body is “Big” Bronson Reed, the Colossal Aussie whose Tsunami wipes out all in its path. And The Soul is Sami himself, who puts his all into every fight he’s in. Sami bets on Soul every time, because he bets on himself. But when he only has a 33 and one-third chance of winning, will the numbers spell disaster for him tonight? Or can he overcome these odds and stay golden?
Oh, Maxxine Dupri IS here. But then Gable says no, she should stay in the back so she doesn’t mess this up like she does everything else. Maxxine does as told, will Gable only need his number one guy to come out on top?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who makes it reign in the desert!
The bell rings, the fans are thunderous for Sami, but then Gable takes a swing! Sami counter punches, throws more hands, but then Bronson throws Sami! Gable CHOPS Bronson, Bronson HEADBUTTS him! Bronson SPLASHES Sami in a corner, Gable CHOPS Bronson! Gable CHOPS again, but Bronson CHOPS back! Bronson then scoops and lifts Gable, but Gable slips free! Gable bails out, Bronson pursues, but then Sami PLANCHAS onto Bronson! Gable CLOBBERS Sami from behind! The fans still sing for Sami, “OLE~! OLE OLE OLE~!” but Gable puts Sami in the ring. Sami blocks a buckle bump to give a buckle bump!
Sami climbs up and he wants fans to count along! Sami punches away until we reach TEN! Gable staggers, Sami AX HANDLES him down! Bronson is back to LARIAT Sami! The fans boo as Bronson flexes. Bronson drags Sami up, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but into an ELBOW! Gable comes back, Bronson spins him, then he catches Sami! URENAGE DDT COMBO! Bronson stalks Sami, drags him up, and HEADBUTTS! Gable bails out while he can and Bronson runs in at Sami,. Sami drop toeholds Bronson into buckles! Sami ELBOWS Gable away, and the fans fire up as he goes out after Gable!
Gable trips Sami and has him in the apron skirt! Gable CLUBS away on Sami, then goes to a corner! Gable climbs, leaps at Bronson, MISSILE DROPKICK! Bronson tumbles, Gable soaks up the heat, and he gets Sami out of the skirt. Gable ROCKS Sami with a right, but the fans still sing for Sami. Gable stands Sami up, talks trash, and he ROCKS Sami again! Gable whips, Sami holds ropes, and he DUMPS Gable right out! But Bronson runs in! Sami TOSSES Bronson out! The fans fire up as Sami builds speed, and he FLIES! Direct hit and down go both Bronson and Gable! As if this place wasn’t already rocking!
Sami hurries to get Bronson up but that’s a big ask. Sami gets Bronson in, hurries up a corner, and the fans fire up again. But Bronson ROCKS Sami first! Bronson climbs up after Sami, fireman’s carries, but Sami kicks and flails, to then SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Bronson survives but the fans are thunderous again! Sami stalks Bronson, reels him in, but Bronson’s too big for Blue Thunder! Sami CLUBS away on Bronson’s back, tries again, but Bronson is still too big! Bronson CLUBS Sami now, puts him up top, but Gable CHOP BLOCKS Bronson! Gable climbs up after Sami, but Bronson joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!!
Bronson snarls, hobbles over, and he drags Sami to a drop zone. Bronson climbs and Otis is watching. Bronson KAIJU SAULTS but FLOPS as Sami moves! Gable MOONSAULTS on Bronson! Cover, Sami breaks it! The fans are thunderous as all three men are down! Sami hurries to get Bronson up again but that’s still too much to lift! Bronson reels Sami in, but Sami wrenches out to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Knuckle lock, up and up and TORNADO DDT! Cover, Gable breaks it, with an ANKLE LOCK!! Sami endures, reaches out, but a Triple Threat means no disqualifications, no ropebreaks!
Sami flails, fights around, but Gable leans on that hold with all his might! Sami still flounders forward, but Gable drags him back! GRAPEVINE! But Bronson runs up! Gable grabs Bronson for the ANKLE LOCK!! Bronson endures, Sami gets Gable for the ANKLE LOCK!! The fans fire up as it is a chain! Gable lets Bronson go to flail around, but Bronson runs up! Sami uses that to BLUE THUNDER BOMB!!! Cover, TWO!! Bronson survives but it’s just as shocking that Sami hit the Blue Thunder! All three men are down again, Gable goes to a corner. Sami goes after him with forearms but Gable gives those back!
The fans cheer Sami, boo Gable, but then Bronson SPLASHES them both! Bronson puts Gable up top, fireman’s carries Sami, and then he adds Gable to the stack! DOUBLE SAMOAN DROP!! The fans cheer the show of strength but Bronson then eyes his targets on the outside. “This is Awesome!” as Bronson builds speed! Bronson DIVES?! And he takes out both Sami and Gable!! The fans lose their minds, Bronson puts Sami in the ring, and Bronson climbs the corner. The wave is rising, TSUNAMI FLOPS as Sami moves in time! Sami runs corner to corner, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX from Gable!
Gable holds on, he GERMAN SUPLEXES again! The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” Sami throws elbows, switches, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Sami holds on, to GERMAN SUPLEX again! But Bronson joins in! Gable elbows Sami, switches, but that means having Bronson? DOUBLE GERMAN?!?! The fans are thunderous for that show of strength! The three men stir, Gable shoves Bronson out and says it’s time! Otis CLOBBERS Bronson! Gable says that’s what he’s talking about! This is the Otis that Gable wants to see! Gable TOSSES Sami out, time for Otis to get him, too! The fans say “NO! NO! NO!” and Otis is conflicted.
Gable says do it! Do it for Gable! But Otis hesitates and Gable asks what’s wrong with him. Gable gets Sami up in a waistlock, and he wants Otis to hit Sami! Otis paces in frustration, but he can’t bring himself to do it! The fans cheer! Gable is mad, and asks what is wrong with him! Gable tells Otis to listen to his coach. Gable SLAPS Otis! The fans boo, Otis snarls, but Gable asks what Otis is gonna do. Is Otis suddenly Sami’s friend? Gable SLAPS Otis again! Gable sets Sami up again, Otis snarls and runs up, but Sami ducks! LARIAT hits Gable after all!! Otis is stunned, and Sami has Bronson in a corner! HELLUVA KICK!!! Cover, Sami wins!!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Otis was a deciding factor in this match, but in Sami’s favor! Will Gable ever forgive Otis for this? Will Sami continue to be the heart and soul of this Intercontinental Championship?
Backstage interview with Bianca & Jade.
Byron is again with the tag team champions and congratulates them on defending those titles. But is there a secret to how they’ve gelled? What secret? Candice & Indi stepped up and got stepped on. Bianca got even with Candice, she gave her a taste of her own medicine, these two had something to prove and they proved it. If you want it, come get this work. #AndStill!
2024 Queen of the Ring Finals: Lyra Valkyria VS Nia Jax!
As we heard from The Morrigan, it is truly surreal that she is here, in this moment, so soon after being drafted from NXT to Raw. But she put in the work, so she most certainly deserves it. The Irresistible Force has also been putting in the work, “buzzing” through opponent after opponent, though maybe with a little controversy at times. But when it comes to this crown, there can only be one. Will Lyra plant her flag and prove she belongs? Or will Nia cement her legacy beyond a shadow of a doubt?
The introductions are made, the throne awaits, and we see who wears the Queen’s Crown!
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two stare down. They slowly circle, then Nia runs up. Lyra dodges and keeps her distance. Nia tries again, Lyra dodges again, then Lyra headlocks. Nia powers out, Lyra comes back and gets around, but the crucifix takedown doesn’t work. Lyra shifts to sunset flip but still Nia stays up. Nia drags Lyra up, TOSSES her, but Lyra handsprings through! The fans cheer, Lyra dusts herself off, and then she drop toeholds. Nia still stays up, and she fireman’s carries! Lyra slips around to a SLEEPER! Nia RAMS Lyra into buckles, gets free, runs back in, but Lyra TOSSES her out!
Lyra aims, builds speed, and WRECKS Nia with a dropkick! The fans fire up, but then Nia RAMS Lyra into the apron! Nia puts Lyra in, Lyra staggers around, and Nia storms up. Lyra DORPKICKS Nia to a corner! Lyra fires off forearms, Nia shoves her away. Lyra comes back, TORNADO- NO, Nia throws Lyra away again! Nia scoops, but it’s back to the SLEEPER! Nia SLINGS Lyra off, snarls and runs up, and she SPLASHES Lyra in a corner! Nia CLUBS Lyra, shoves her down, then stalks her. Nia kicks Lyra around, soaks up heat, then runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and the fans rally up again.
Nia kicks and stomps Lyra, then drags her up. Nia whips Lyra to a corner hard, then soaks up more heat. Nia digs her boot into Lyra at the corner! The ref counts, Nia lets off, and Lyra crawls. Fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Nia. Lyra RAMS into Nia again and again, but Nia CLUBS Lyra down. Nia drags Lyra up, scoops, and she RAMS Lyra into buckles! Nia puts Lyra in the Tree of Woe, then HEADBUTTS Lyra right out of it! The fans boo but Nia drags Lyra up again. Nia puts Lyra in ropes, and pulls her back against them! Nia lets go and Lyra clutches her back. The fans rally but Nia brings Lyra around for a COBRA CLUTCH!
Nia thrashes Lyra, Lyra endures, and the fans rally again. Nia grinds Lyra into the mat, but the fans continue to rally. Lyra fights up, throws elbows, but Nia SWINGS Lyra around to THROW her away! The fans boo but Nia stalks Lyra. Lyra BOOTS from below! Nia comes back, but into a JAWBREAKER! Lyra SOBATS, KICKS, RAMS and KICKS again! ENZIGIRI! Nia drops to a knee! Lyra runs, but into a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and Nia scowls. Nia drags Lyra to a drop zone, goes up the corner, A-NIA- NO, Lyra slips out of the ring! So Nia just goes to the outside of the corner! APRON A-NIA- NOPE! Lyra moves again!
Lyra then runs up to WRECK Nia with a dropkick! Lyra keeps moving, and she- GETS CAUGHT! Nia drags Lyra out to wheelbarrow, but Lyra BULLDOGS to the floor! The fans fire up as Lyra turns things around! The count starts, both women rise up at 3 of 10. Lyra shoves Nia in at 4, hurries up a corner, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Nia bounces off a corner, Lyra runs up to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Nia is still in this and Lyra is frustrated. The fans rally, Lyra goes up, but Nia gets under. Lyra hobbles on a bad leg, Nia SAMOAN DROPS again! Nia hurries to put Lyra right in the drop zone! Nia goes up again, but Lyra KICKS the legs out!
Nia is stuck in the Tree of Woe! Lyra runs corner to corner to WOE STOMP! Cover, TWO! Nia is still in this but Lyra hurries back up! Nia stands, for the CHANGE OF FORTUNES!! Cover off the flying leg drop, TWO!! Nia survives and Lyra is shocked! Lyra tries to fireman’s carry, but this is Sami with Bronson all over again! Nia CLUBS Lyra, shoves her away, and SPLASHES in the corner! Lyra grins, fireman’s carries, and climbs up the corner! But Lyra fights to slip, around, she SUNSET FLIPS, but Nia holds onto the ropes! A-NIA-LATOR!! Cover, Nia wins!!
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall (2024 Queen of the Ring Winner)
Lyra tried, but not all birds can fly over a mountain. Triple H presents Nia the crown personally, and they hug it out. Kayla interviews Nia and congratulates her but Nia says save it, she doesn’t need it. She knows the fans aren’t happy for her, but she is very happy for herself. And she’ll be a lot happier and we’re gonna be a lot angrier, because Nia will become WWE Women’s Champion at SummerSlam. Will The Role Model be able to withstand The Irresistible Force when they meet in The Land?
Backstage interview with Becky Lynch.
Becky is tearing into Dom as Byron walks up, and Byron asks her on any comments. Becky doesn’t know what happened out there, why Dom was there, what’s going on with him, Rhea or Liv. This revenge tour, that revenge tour, but Becky has a rematch clause! She’s gonna talk with Pearce, and she’s gonna demand a rematch this Monday on Raw! Will The Man make sure the new champ’s time in the spotlight is short lived?
2024 King of the Ring Finals: GUNTHER VS Randy Orton!
Der Ring General set the bar for being Intercontinental Champion, and then he powered his way through Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, and Jey Uso. The Viper meanwhile has set the bar for being a living legend in this company and in this business, and yet the one thing he has yet to win is that crown. Will Orton show even Gunther is vulnerable to the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment? Or will Gunther go from Ring General to King General?
The introductions are made, another throne awaits, and we see who bows down to the king!
The bell rings and the fans are all fired up. Orton and Gunther stare down, then slowly circle. The fans are strongly behind “R K O! R K O!” and even make the song “ORTON~! ORTON ORTON ORTON~!” Gunther is unbothered as he and Orton tie up. They go around in a deadlock, each man rather equal in height and size. Orton puts Gunther on ropes, but Gunther puts Orton in a corner. The ref counts, Gunther pushes Orton as he lets off, and the fans applaud. The fans cheer on Orton even more now, but Gunther is still unbothered. They circle, tie up, and are in another deadlock. Gunther powers Orton back but Orton puts Gunther in a corner!
The fans rally, the ref counts, and the two men still clinch. The ref has to get in there, and finally Orton lets off. The fans cheer as both men reset, neither back down. Gunther starts talking a bit of trash but the fans boo. Orton goes for Gunther, Gunther gets the arm. Gunther wrenches, wristlocks, then clamps onto the shoulder. Orton drops to his knees but he endures the grind. Orton fights up, makes sure his bad leg is good, and then he wrenches Gunther’s arm! And wrenches again, and again! Orton WRINGS Gunther out! Gunther gets up, puts Orton on ropes, and the ref counts. Orton lets go and Gunther backs off while fans cheer.
Orton and Gunther stare down as they reset, and the fans fire up again. The two circle, feel things out, tie up again, and Orton headlocks. Gunther fights with a forearm in Orton’s face, but Orton just cranks the hold harder. Gunther powers up, powers out, but Orton runs him over! The fans fire up, Orton hits a headlock takeover! Orton grins as he has the ring technician down. The fans rally, Gunther fights with forearms in Orton’s face again, and fights up to his feet. The fans rally harder, but Gunther powers up, only for Orton to hold on tight! Orton thrashes the hold, but Gunther endures. Gunther fights up again, powers up, and he puts Orton in a corner.
The ref counts, Orton lets go slowly, and Gunther CHOPS! Orton grimaces but he shakes it off. Gunther winds up again, to CHOP! Orton snarls through the pain, Gunther eggs him on, and Orton comes back. Gunther CHOPS again! Orton seethes, and he blocks a chop! The fans fire up as Orton fires haymakers in return! Orton has Gunther in a corner, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Gunther UPPERCUTS back! Orton staggers and goes to ropes, but he kicks back! Orton UPPERCUTS Gunther down! Orton has Gunther in a corner, ROCKS him, then climbs up on him. Orton rains down fists and the fans count along to TEN!
But Gunther grabs Orton first, throws him back, and the bad leg jams! Orton slips out of the clinch but Gunther avoids the RKO! That was as close as you could get! Gunther STOMPS Orton’s back! And stomps him again! Orton goes to ropes, Gunther CLUBS him right between the shoulders! Orton seethes through the pain, but Gunther waistlocks. Gunther stands Orton up, shoves him, and CLUBS him in the lower back! Orton flounders away but Gunther stalks him. Orton ends up on ropes again, the fans rally, but Gunther drags Orton up again. Another shove, but Orton ROCKS Gunther first!
Orton fires off haymakers, but Gunther turns things around to stomp and CHOP! Orton falls, sputters, and the fans boo. Gunther stalks Orton, “This is Awesome!” as Gunther stomps Orton against ropes. The ref counts, Gunther goes up to soak up the heat. Gunther already claims the crown, then he stalks Orton along ropes. Orton stands in a corner, and Gunther CLUB Shim! And CLUBS him again! And again! Orton crawls, Gunther stalks him, and Gunther clamps on an inverted top wristlock! Orton endures, the fans rally, and Orton stands. Gunther wrangles Orton back down, has the motorcycle stretch, then a chinbar and cording hold!
Orton endures the armlock, fights up, and he fights free, but Gunther kicks low! Gunther scoops to a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Orton but Gunther stalks him. The fans boo Gunther as Orton rises up. Gunther scoops again, for a SLAM! Orton writhes and the fans boo but Gunther paces. Gunther talks some more smack, goes back to Orton, and Orton slowly rises. Gunther drags Orton up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Orton fights it! Orton tries to suplex but Gunther fights it! They both battle for control, and it’s Orton who suplexes Gunther up and over! The fans fire up and Orton starts getting a sinister smile on his face.
Orton watches Gunther rise, storms up, but Gunther gets around to CLUB Orton’s back! And CHOP Orton’s chest! Gunther runs, but into Orton’s LARIAT! Orton then rallies with more LARIATS! Gunther takes another, swing, but he avoids the powerslam! Gunther runs up to LARIAT in return! Cover, TWO! Orton is still in this and Gunther grows frustrated. The fans rally up while Gunther looms over Orton. Gunther stands Orton up, reels him in, but Orton fights the lift! Orton RAMS Gunther into a corner! Gunther comes running back but into the SNAP POWERSLAM! Gunther goes to the apron but the fans fire up!
Orton storms his way over to get Gunther in the ropes! The fans fire up for the DRAPING DDT! Orton rises, and while he hears the thousands of fans, he hears those voices in his head! Gunther rises, Orton runs up, but no RKO! Gunther scoops to SLAM! Gunther hurries to a corner and climbs up! GUNTHER SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Orton survives and the fans are thunderous! Gunther hurries back to the corner, he wants another one! GUNTHER- NO, he has to roll as Orton moves! RKO!!! But Orton can’t make the cover!! Orton has to crawl, and Gunther rolls away to the apron! The fans boo and Orton can’t believe it.
Orton goes out after Gunther on the floor. Orton also eyes the commentary desks… The fans want ot see it, and Orton gets Gunther up, DESK BACK SUPLEX! “One More Time! One More Time!” Orton says okay, and he DESK BACK SUPLEXES again! That’s twice for the American commentary, what about the Saudi Arabia commentary? Orton refreshes the ring count, he doesn’t wanna win that way. But then Gunther RAMS Orton into the apron! Gunther CHOPS Orton, “This is Awesome!” as Gunther gets Orton in. But Orton powers up to back drop free! The fans fire up and Orton leans on the apron.
Orton hears the ring count, he gets Gunther up for a THIRD DESK BACK SUPLEX, all for the American commentary! Orton drags Gunther in at 7 of 10, drags himself up onto the apron at 8, and the fans rally for him. Orton steps in, Gunther SHOTGUNS Orton’s bad leg in the ropes! Orton is stuck, Gunther kicks him down and kicks him around! Gunther gets Orton’s bad leg, drops a knee on the knee, then clamps on! Orton fights the turnover but Gunther still has the HALF CRAB! Orton endures, powers up and powers out! But Gunther stomps the bad leg again! Gunther turns Orton back over, HALF CRAB!
The fans rally as hard as they can as Orton endures again! Orton fights his way over, fights to turn back over, and he BOOTS Gunther away! Gunther comes back for the leg, and it’s back into the HALF CRAB! Orton endures, the fans rally, but Gunther digs his knee into Orton’s lower back! Orton fights forward, ROPEBREAK! But Gunther drags him away! Orton kicks and kicks and kicks free, RKO!!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Gunther survives, because of the bad leg! Ghost pin, GUNTHER WINS!!!
Winner: Gunther, by pinfall (2024 King of the Ring Winner)
The fans can’t believe it, but Der Ring General snatches this one away outta nowhere! The crown continues to elude Orton, will he ever finish his WWE checklist? As for Gunther, HHH returns to give him the crown, and the King General is born! Byron is here to interview and congratulate Gunther. Gunther was confident he’d win, he achieved this goal, how does it feel to be King of the Ring? Gunther takes a moment, and there are fans who chant, “You Deserve It!” Gunther thanks them for that, but what he does or doesn’t deserve is none of their business. The fans boo, but Gunther says it doesn’t even matter that he defeated Orton here in the finals!
What happened today was the Apex Predator becoming the prey of Der Ring General. Der Ring General is now King of the Ring! And at SummerSlam, the King becomes the World Heavyweight Champion! Gunther has put Damian Priest on notice, and also in effect all of Raw. Will Gunther keep the mat sacred from here to The Land?
Crown Jewel returns!
Riyadh will once again host the landmark spectacle of the Fall! Saturday, November 2nd, who will return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as champion?
Backstage interview with HHH.
Kayla is now with The Game and says he has some breaking news. Yes, he does. It has been an incredible night so far, congratulations to Liv Morgan, to Nia Jax, and to Gunther. But for big announcements, earlier tonight, the medical staff just cleared Drew McIntyre! And true to his word, Damian Priest agreed to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against the Scottish Warrior. The match is now official! Priest VS McIntyre for the title, June 15th in Glasgow, Scotland! It will be a Clash at the Castle to be sure, but will McIntyre bring about Priest’s judgment day? Or will even all of Scotland rise for El Campeon?
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS Logan Paul!
The American Nightmare was able to #FinishTheStory at WrestleMania 40, and he had a phenomenal first defense at Backlash. But now, he goes up against the Maverick United States Champion who is known for pulling fast ones over on his opponents. After all, Logan won his US title by cheating Rey Mysterio, and even found a way to not defend it here tonight. But will Cody show Logan that this business isn’t about ability but dedication? Or will we all have to call him #TwoBeltLogan?
As special guest ring announce, Saudi Arabia’s own Ibrahim Al Hajjaj is here! Ibrahim makes the introductions, Cody’s belt is raised, and it’s time to see who is truly Undisputed!
The bell rings and the fans sing “CODY~! CODY CODY CODY~!” The fans then fire up as Cody and Logan slowly circle. They hear the fans rally harder for Cody, and Cody revels in it a moment. Then he and Logan tie up, are in a deadlock, but Logan uses his height for leverage. Logan has Cody in a corner but Cody turns that around. Logan talks trash but Cody lets off cleanly. The two reset, Logan avoids Cody going for a leg, but Cody gets around to waistlock. Logan switches, Cody switches, repeat and repeat. They end up on ropes, the ref counts, and the two let off cleanly. The fans rally for Cody as he and Logan reset.
Cody and Logan circle, feel things out, and tie up again. Cody wrenches, wristlocks, then UPPERCUTS the arm! Logan wrenches to wristlock, but Cody cartwheels fere! Logan sweeps, covers, ONE! Logan avoids a sweep to sweep again, ONE, and Cody wants that leg! Logan scrambles to the ROPEBREAK and Cody lets off. The fans boo Logan but Logan gets up to reset with Cody again. They stare down, circle, tie up, and Cody headlocks. Logan powers up and wrenches free, goes for the top wristlock but Cody fights it off. Cody slips around and he wrenches to then headlock. Logan powers up and out, drops down then hurdles, but Cody kicks and RHODES-
NO, Logan blocks! Logan SLAMS the hand off the mat! Logan talks trash, Cody gets up in a huff and shoves. Logan shoves back, so Cody fires a forearm! Logan UPPERCUTS, Cody haymakers, repeat! Cody ROCKS Logan, reels Logan in and suplexes, SLINGSHOT GOURD BUSTER! The fans fire up with Cody, then he pushes Logan to a cradle, TWO! Logan gets free but the fans are on Cody’s side. Cody get Logan up, headlocks again, but Logan endures. Logan throws body shots, powers up and out, but Cody ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for Logan to duck the crossbody! Cody tumbles out, Logan PLANCHAS! Down goes Cody again!
The fans boo but Logan stalks Cody, and RAMS him into steel steps! Logan asks if Michael Cole saw that. The fans chant “You Suck!” but Logan says no brass knuckles needed. Logan puts Cody in at 6 of 10, but the fans tell him off. Cody goes to a corner, Logan runs up to throw body shots! Logan keeps Cody cornered and fires more of those boxing blows! Logan then brings Cody in, lifts, ALLEY-OOP BOMB! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Cody sits up. Logan brings Cody up, gut wrenches for a GUT WRENCH PLEX! Cover, TWO! Cody stays in this but Logan stays on him with a ground ‘n’ pound! The fans boo but Logan lets off to step on Cody.
STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Logan drags Cody to a drop zone, climbs up the corner, but Cody ROCKS Logan first! Cody climbs, CLUBS away on Logan, but Logan throws hands back! Logan knocks Cody down, but Cody returns to go up and up and SUPER ARM-DRAG! A rough landing for both men but the fans fire up all the same! Both men rise, and Cody JABS! But Logan throws a body shot! Logan wrenches, clamps on, IRON OCTOPUS! Cody endures and powers out as the fans rally up! Cody CLUBS Logan’s legs, but Logan sunset flips! Cody stays up to PUNCH Logan down! Cody grits his teeth and the fans rally up harder.
Cody goes to ropes, Logan runs up but Cody DUMPS him out! Then BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! Logan falls to the floor and the fans fire up for Cody! Cody pounds the mat as he fires himself up, and the fans clap along. Cody builds speed, but Logan moves aside! No dive for Cody, so he goes out to fire hands! Cody sends Logan into barriers! And then back into barriers! The fans fire up again and Cody drags Logan up. Logan throws hands, his posse is there to cheer him on! They help him hydrate with Prime, but then Cody kicks low! Cody takes that bottle and SMACKS Logan with it! Logan’s buddies shove Cody, so Cody drags one over the barriers!
The ref stops Cody but then Jeff gives Logan a THIRD pair of knuckles! Cody runs in, BRASS KNUCKLE BODY SHOT!! The fans boo but we all knew Logan was a POS before this, what else would he do? Logan tells Cole to do his job, Cole says Logan should stick to his word! Logan’s a loser! Logan gets pissed that Cole said that, but Corey stands in Logan’s way! Corey talks Logan down, and then Cody DIVES! Down goes Logan and the fans are thunderous! Cody dribbles Logan off the desk, puts him in the ring, and then runs to CLOBBER Logan! The fans fire up, Cody baits Logan to a corner! Up, over and SNAP POWERSLAM!
Cody winces from the pain in his side, but the fans rally as hard as they can! Cody rises, grits his teeth, and he brings Logan up. Springboard, but Logan ducks the Disaster Kick! Logans wings, Cody ducks, to JAB! JAB! JAB! Flip, flop, fly and BIONIC ELBOW! Cover, TWO! The fans continue to rally for Cody, and he drags Logan by a leg. Cody steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Logan endures, flails, reaches out, his shoulders are down! ONE as Logan sits up, and he grabs at Cody’s hair. Cody puts pressure on the leglock. Logan backstrokes towards ropes, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Cody lets the hold go at 4.
Logan goes to the apron, Cody storms up, but Logan RAMS into him! Logan slingshots, but Cody gets under the Buckshot, to CODY CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Logan survives and Cody can’t believe it! Cody huffs and puffs and the fans fire up with him again! Cody fires hands on Logan, has him in a corner for more, then brings Logan out to reel him in! Cody gets the Inverted Gory Especial, for the- NO, Logan slips free and steals CROSS RHODES!! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives his own move and Logan is beside himself! Logan snarls, he drags Cody to a drop zone, and he climbs up top. FROG SPLASH, but he has to bail out as Cody moves!
Cody comes back, gets around, ANARCHY SUPLEX! Cody hits that curtain call, and now it’s time to end this! Cody looms over Logan, roars, and then he dragon sleepers! CROSS- NO, Logan slips around to RAM Cody into a corner! And RAMS him in again! And again! The ref counts, Logan brings Cody around, to TOSS out of the ring. Logan goes out to the apron as Cody slowly stands. Logan brings Cody up to SMACK off the Arabic desk. Logan puts Cody back in, just to drag him back out. SMACK off the American desk! Logan dares Cole to say something now as he clears the desk. Logan “apologizes” as he messes things up.
Logan goes to Cody, brings him around, and puts him on the desk. Logan refreshes the count, then gets on the desk. Logan reels Cody in, says it is the Logan Paul Levesque Era! Logan underhooks the arms! But Cody fights free! Cody fires forearm after forearm, then goes from barrier and back again, CODY CUTTER on the desk!! The fans lose their minds while both men are down! The count is climbing, Cody hurries in at 7 of 10! Logan is still down at 8! Cody hears 9 and asks the ref to stop!? Cody again doesn’t want it like that, he wants to finish this in the ring! The fans cheer his sportsmanship, and Cody clears the Arabic desk!
The fans fire up as Cody refreshes the count again. Cody brings Logan over, “This is Awesome!” but then Logan RAMS Cody into steel steps! ONE LUCKY PUNCH!! Logan talks a bunch of trash but he has to get Cody in the ring for this to matter! Logan puts Cody on the desk first, then grabs himself some fresh Prime! Logan goes into the ring, goes up the corner, and he’s ready to go viral again! Logan is up top, soaks up the heat, takes a sip, and gives a HHH spit before the VLOG SPLASH!! The fans lose their minds again as Logan flounders his way back up. The count returns, Logan drags Cody up and into the ring at 5 of 10!
Logan goes up a corner, aims again, FROG SPLASH!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Logan is shocked and the fans are thunderous as Cody still lives! Logan gets angry now, and he demands Cody get up. Logan drags Cody into position, “I HATE YOU!” Logan fires body shot after body shot! Then he whips Cody into the corner, goes corner to corner, but into a BOOT! Cody sputters, snarls, and he goes back for Logan. Cody whips Logan, Logan reverses, and he sends Cody into the ref! Logan runs in, Cody moves, the SPLASH hits the ref!! Logan turns around, into Cody’s kick! Inverted Gory Especial, DIN’S FIRE!! Cover off the vertebreaker, but no ref to count!!
Cody realizes what happened, checks on the ref, apologizes, and says they gotta finish this. Cody goes back to Logan, for a LOW BLOW!! Cody falls, Logan reaches down, and brings out a FOURTH pair of brass knuckles! How’d he smuggle all of these in!? Logan pumps up, but WAIT! Ibrahim anchors Logan’s legs! Logan kicks Ibrahim away and asks who the hell even is that guy! Cody blocks the hand! CROSS RHODES!!! But that’s not all! ANOTHER CROSS RHODES!! And then A THIRD CROSS RHODES!!! Cover, Cody wins!!
Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall (still Undisputed WWE Champion)
Logan tried all his tricks and then some, and Cody makes him pay for it! Will Logan have to learn to do this the right way? As for The American Nightmare, his story as champion continues on. Gunther will be facing the World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam, so who is next for THE WWE Champion?
My Thoughts:
An awesome show for this year’s King & Queen of the Ring. Really good interview promos throughout the “countdown” show, and a really good women’s tag title match to top it off. That finishing string of moves was also used at Backlash but it wasn’t a finisher then, so I’m glad they used it as a finisher now. Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark won the right to be challengers next, maybe we get them against Jade & Bianca for Clash at the Castle. Speaking of, glad to learn Priest VS McIntyre is official for Clash at the Castle, what else would they do? There’s a very good chance McIntyre wins, as Priest has been adamant about Judgment Day not cheating for him, and Priest could end up arguing with Finn or McDonagh and that costs Priest the title.
Great Women’s World Championship match, and great tie-in of the story, Dom costing Becky when he meant to cost Liv. Becky wants her rematch, she’ll probably get it, but there’s a good chance Liv uses another dirty tactic to keep the title, only for Rhea to return and challenge Liv. There’s something brewing with Liv and Judgment Day, as she’s been spotted Easter Egg style with Finn Balor. There’s all the memes of Liv VS Rhea for “custody” of Dom, guess we’ll see. The Triple Threat for the Intercontinental Championship was also great stuff, and while Sami was of course winning, we got a great moment of Otis accidentally clobbering Gable. That will definitely be a major point on Raw, and Sami can move on to any number of contenders now.
Awesome Queen AND King of the Ring matches tonight, and it makes sense the brands split the two. Lyra is great but she wasn’t gonna be the challenger to a world title so soon, and what a creative finish with Nia crushing Lyra’s powerbomb attempt. As I figured just last night with SmackDown, Bayley will have to take on some powerhouses with Piper Niven in Glasgow and Queen Nia in Cleveland, really bringing out that classic Underdog Face side of her. At the same time, we have to remember Money in the Bank is in July, who knows who will be Miss Money in the Bank by SummerSlam, they could take advantage of Nia almost having Bayley and snipe the title.
Gunther VS Orton was so good, and they played up Orton’s bad leg and bad back to perfection. It was one of the few times where Orton hits an RKO and can’t make the cover. Plus, Gunther winning not with a finisher but a fast pin was a great move to protect Orton in the loss but to still make sure it was Gunther getting the crown and getting in on the world title scene. Priest VS McIntyre in Glasgow, a new Mr. MITB to worry about after July, and Gunther VS World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam. It’d be rather fitting if Priest got cashed in on, and we also have to worry about Bash in Berlin on August 31st. Gunther’s gotta be doing something for that, and could possibly be champion going into that.
And of course, awesome main event from Cody and Logan. Gotta admit, it was clever for Logan to have other people sneaking him knuckles, and it was good Heel Heat for him to resort to this. But of course Cody won by making it through all the cheap tricks and he has a win on the US Champion. As I was theorizing last night, it feels like Cody VS Styles 2 should happen for Clash at the Castle, and then because Cody got a win over a champion and Cleveland is Logan’s hometown, Cody VS Logan 2 for the US Championship should happen. Now, whether Cody becomes Grand Slam Champion at SummerSlam, who knows. MITB will also be in play, someone could use that to snipe the Undisputed title off Cody while Cody gets the US title, a wild switcheroo if they go for it.
My Score: 9.1/10
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An episode with truly international flavor!
While Will Ospreay defends his AEW International Championship against Brian Cage, Kazuchika Okada takes on former mentor, Ultimo Guerrero! Will the champions stay strong on the Road to The Forbidden Door?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata VS The Premier Athletes w/ Mark Sterling; Joe, Hook & Shibata win.
- Private Party VS Chris Jericho & “Big Bill” Morrissey w/ Bryan Keith; Jericho & Bill win.
- AEW Continental Championship Title Eliminator: Kazuchika Okada VS Ultimo Guerrero; Okada wins and denies Ultimo Guerrero a title match.
- Six Man Tag: The Patriarchy VS The Iron Savages; The Patriarchy wins.
- Toni Storm & Mariah May w/ Luther VS Lady Frost & Leyla Hirsch; Storm & Mariah win.
- Malakai Black & Brody King VS Leon & Max St. Giovanni; Malakai & Brody win.
- Hechicero w/ The Gates of Agony VS Matthew Menard; Hechicero wins.
- AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay VS Brian Cage; Ospreay wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Six Man Tag: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata VS The Premier Athletes w/ Mark Sterling!
Three dangerous men joined forces out of respect for what each of them can do, but they aren’t getting much respect from others. But will the Samoan Submission Specialist, The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil & The Wrestler beat some respect into Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari & Josh Woods? Or can the Premier Athletes actually put their money where their muscles are?
The trios sort out, Joe starts against Nese and the fans sing, “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” Nese says not tonight. Nese and Joe tie up, Nese waistlocks, but he can’t lift Joe! Joe smirks, wrenches free, and wristlocks. Nese rolls, wrenches and headlocks. Nese’s team cheers but they’re the only ones. Joe powers up and out, then he runs Nese over! Joe smirks, stalks Nese to ropes, then brings him around. The fans fire up for Joe as he scoops, but Nese slips fere! Nese SOBATS, runs, but into an ELBOW! Tag to Hook and the fans fire up more! Hook puts Nese in a corner to fire off body shots! Hook throws hands, Nese shoves past him but Hook fires more shots!
Nese throws forearms on Hook, but Hook counter punches! Nese staggers, comes back, but Hook gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Nese manages to land out and he STOMPS Hook down! Nese tags Daivari and they mug Hook with haymakers! The fans boo but Nese lets off. Daivari brings Hook up, bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS! Daivari snapmares Hook, clamps on a full nelson and leans on the hold. The fans rally and Hook fights up, and he pries the hold open! But Daivari waistlocks! Hook elbows free, and hot tags to Shibata! Shibata storms in but he has to slow down as Daivari gets away to his corner.
Woods reaches out, so Daivari says here’s something for The Wrestler. Daivari tags Woods in, he steps to Shibata, and they fire forearms! The fans rally up as the shots keep going, then Shibata gets the edge! Woods trips Shibata, goes for an arm, but Shibata slips right around to go for the arm! Woods goes for Shibata’s arm, but Shibata goes after Woods again! Woods powers through to get the arm, but then Shibata slips around, changes sides, and has the ARMBAR! Woods scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Shibata lets off and CLUBS away on Woods. Shibata cranks the arm for a double wristlock but Woods throws body shots!
Shibata leg scissors to trip Woods! KNEEBAR! Nese storms in to stomp Shibata! The fans boo, Woods tags Nese in. Nese stomps Shibata around, then taunts the fans. The fans boo but Nese CHOPS Shibata. Shibata doesn’t flinch! Nese CHOPS again, but Shibata eggs him on! Nese throat chops! Nese whips, Shibata reverses, but Nese ELBOWS back! Nese goes up and up and QUEBRADAS, but Shibata steps aside! Everyone’s learning from Joe now! The fans fire up and Joe smiles. Shibata then tags Joe in, and he stalks Nese. Nese rises up, into the JABS! JABS! JABS! Joe fires off fast hands, CHOPS Nese down, but Sterling gets on the apron!
Joe scares Sterling off, but this is all a delay tactic so Nese can crawl, and Woods can HOTSHOT Joe! The fans boo but Nese brings Joe around, BULLDOG HOTSHOT! Joe staggers, Daivari tags in! Nese & Daivari mug Joe, run, and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Daivari covers, ONE!! Joe is still tougher than that! Woods tags in, he and Daivari mug Joe, and then Woods CLUBS away on Joe’s chest! Cover, ONE!! Joe is still tougher than that so now Daivari tags back in. Daivari and Woods mug Joe, then Daivari stands Joe up. Daivari throws hands, but Joe hits back! They go back and forth, Joe gets the edge, but Daivari CLAWS the eyes!
Daivari sucker punches Shibata down! Daivari whips, Joe reverses and sweeps the legs! SENTON! The fans fire up, hot tags to Hook and Nese! Hook rallies on Nese, wrenches and NORTHERN LIGHTS! Woods runs in but Hook KNEES him down! Nese gets up, but into the clinch! TAZ PLEX! The fans fire up and Hook stalks Nese, to give crossface forearms! Daivari runs up, Hook DECKS him! Woods gets in to GERMAN SUPLEX! Hook tumbles, but Shibata tags in! Shibata ROCKS Woods, BOOTS Nese, BOOTS Daivari, then STO for Woods! Shibata runs up at Nese for a BOOT! Shibata fires off forearms and the ref counts.
Shibata goes corner to corner to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Shibata drags Nese up, SNAP HALF HATCH! Cover, TWO! Nese survives, but ends up in an ARMBAR!! Nese endures, but he taps! Shibata’s team wins!
Winners: Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata, by submission
The Premier Athletes did prove they’ve got guts, but not enough to overcome this trio of warriors! Will Joe, Hook & Shibata find themselves on the road to trios gold?
The Bang Bang Gang speaks.
Juice Robinson says, “Apparently… AEW isn’t gonna recognize the fact that I was anointed one-quarter of the AEW Unified Trios Champions!” Austin says he’s pissed, Colten confirms that is true, and adds that apparently, The House of Black still gets their shot. At least, once Buddy’s leg gets better. And apparently, PAC cares!? He interrupted their match, he pushed Juice off the top, and then he flipped Austin off! But that’s good. Because their fearless leader, Jay White, is off training his butt off. You thought EIGHT abs was something? Jay will be coming back with TEN! SO Pac, you better hope you don’t see The Switchblade in the Owen Hart Cup!
Because then, The Bastard will do more than just “care” now. He’ll cry to sleep! And if you’re not down with that, they’ve got two words for ya! GUNS UP! Bullet Club Gold is taking aim at a lot of different targets, but will they be able to hit the mark?
Private Party VS Chris Jericho & “Big Bill” Morrissey w/ Bryan Keith!
Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy have been busy this week. They got called out by The Learning Tree on Dynamite, they put in a fast and furious match last night on Rampage, and now they’ll be entering the “Jericho Vortex” when they take on Big Bill and the man himself. But will Quen & Zay teach Jericho something about not looking down on the younger guys? Or will Jericho ruin the fun #ForTheWorld?
The teams sort out and Jericho starts against Quen. The fans rally up and Jericho says here’s a free lesson from The Learning Tree. Then he tags out to The Redwood. Bill steps in, sporting new gear that quotes Tony Schiavone, on the butt… Bill and Quen tie up, Quen gets around and headlocks. Bill powers out and runs Quen right over! Because as the shorts say, “Too much man!” Bill mocks the “Shots! Shots! Shots!” then he stands Quen up. Bill CHOPS Quen, drags him up, then CHOPS him again! Bill keeps Quen in the corner, and he ROCKS him with a right. Then Bill TOSSES Quen across the way!
Bill mocks the dancing, runs corner to corner, and he SPLASHES Quen! Quen was practically smothered by that move! Quen falls over, but Bill stands him back up, and gives a thumbs up before he TOSSES Quen again! Quen writhes, goes to ropes, then the corner. Bill runs in again, but Quen dodges the splash! Bill staggers, Quen goes up, and Quen leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK! Bill staggers, Quen is on him in a corner! Quen rains down fists, Bill stops him at 6, then DECKS him! Jericho applauds, and Bill tags him in. The fans are torn as The Learning Tree waves, and Bill hoists Quen way up! Jericho “helps” SLAM Quen down!
Jericho & Bill wave, then Jericho stands Quen up to CHOP! Jericho CHOPS again, then whips corner to corner. Jericho runs up but Quen BOOTS him! Quen goes up and leaps to FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! Then hot tag to Zay! The fans rally as Zay TACKLES Jericho and rains down fists! Jericho pushes him away but Zay comes back, another TACKLE and more fast hands! Jericho tries to get away but Zay fires off high and low and all around! Jericho CLAWS eyes! The fans boo but Jericho brings Zay up. Zay CHOPS, fires more forearms, then just more and more and more! Zay runs, but Jericho sends him out!
Quen is there, for SILLY STRING! Jericho tumbles, Zay covers, TWO!! Jericho survives, Quen tags in, and he TACKLES Jericho! Quen fires off hands just like Zay! Quen stomps Jericho around, runs, but Bad Apple Bryan Keith trips him! The fans boo, but then Jericho CLOBBERS Quen! Jericho waves to the fans, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Jericho takes his time waving to all sides of the arena, then he drags Quen up. Jericho hits a BIG back suplex, then has the cocky cover, ONE! Jericho perhaps returning the favor from last night there, but Jericho bumps Quen off buckles. Tag to Bill and Bill stomps away on Quen! Jericho adds on, the ref counts, and Bill digs his boots in. The ref counts more, Bill lets off with applause, and then Bryan CHOKES Quen! Bill SUCKER PUNCHES Kassidy! The ref reprimands but Bill goes back to Quen. Bill mocks the “Shots! Shots! Shots!” then CLUBS Quen on the back. Then SLAPS Quen down! Bill mocks the shots more, then mockingly cheers.
Bill drags Quen up, puts him on ropes, and RIPS his shirt open to CHOP him down! Quen sputters, Bill drags him up and tags in Jericho. They mug Quen in the corner, then Jericho brings Quen around. Quen fires hands first! Quen runs, but Jericho DROPKICKS him down! Jericho waves to the fans again, then he drags Quen up. Collision returns to single picture, Jericho bumps Quen off buckles, then Jericho puts Quen up top. Jericho CHOPS Quen, climbs, and wants his “branches” to fire up. The fans are torn, but Jericho has Quen on the very top, but Quen throws hands! Quen shoves Jericho down, and the fans rally up!
Quen adjusts, leaps, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jericho survives and Quen is frustrated. Quen and Jericho crawl, hot tag to Zay! Zay springboards to CROSSBODY! Zay keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DROPKICKS! Bill storms in, but Zay DUMPS him out! Zay then triangle jumps to DROPKICK! That’s Jericho’s move! Zay then kicks and hits a STUNNER! Then a STUNNER for Bill! The fans fire up and Zay runs up to SUNSET BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and shocks Zay! Bryan coaches Jericho, Zay tags Quen. Private Party mugs Jericho, then Quen whips Jericho to a corner. Quen runs up to SPLASH!
Quen brings Jericho around again, SOBAT and SOBAT! Quen runs, but Jericho THROAT CHOPS! Then LIONSAULTS! But onto knees! Quen holds Jericho, Zay uses him as a step to FLY onto Bill! Then Zay hurries back and goes up again! Quen sets Jericho up again, SWANTON BOMB! Quen climbs now, for the 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and Quen can’t believe it! Tag back to Zay, but Bill returns! The ref is busy with Bryan, too! Zay springboards, into a BOOT! The Redwood slips away, Bryan hops down, and Jericho covers Zay, TWO?!? Zay survives and the fans fire up!
Jericho huffs ‘n’ puffs, drags Zay up, but Zay is dead weight. Jericho KNEES Zay, then KNEES him again. Jericho says if Zay wants to be a threat, he has to fight. So Zay fires off fast hands and CHOSP! Zay whips, Jericho reverses, but Zay KICKS, then RAN- NO! Jericho turns Rana into WALLS OF JERICHO! Zay endures, even as Jericho sits deep! The fans fire up as Zay fights around! Zay reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! Zay lets go in frustration but also exhaustion, so he tags to Bill. Bill storms up but into a mule kick! Zay runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but into the BOSS MAN SLAM!! Cover, TWO?!? Zay survives and Bill is frustrated.
Bill mocks the shots again, gives a thumbs up, then he drags Zay up. But Quen runs in! Bill choke grips Quen, to CHOKE SLAM him onto Zay! Cover, TWO?!?! Zay survives and Bill is surprised! Bill tags Jericho back in, and Jericho climbs. Bill gets Zay up and brings him over, CHOKE- NO, Zay slips free and shoves Bill into Jericho! Jericho lands on his sapling, then Quen DROPKICKS Billy into him! Private Party DOUBLE LARIAT Bill out! Then they get Jericho set up! GIN & JUICE!! CODE BREAKER STYLE!! Quen CLOBBERS Bill, Zay covers, TWO?!?!? Jericho survives and no one can believe it!
The ref defends his count was fair but Zay can’t believe that math. Jericho is up, Zay fires off forearms! “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” Zay fires body “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” then runs to LARIAT! Zay is all fired up and the fans are with him! But Bill returns! Zay LION- NO, Bryan Keith CLOBBERS Zay!! The ref was busy with Bill, he missed that! Jericho drags Zay to a cover, Jericho’s team wins!
Winners: Chris Jericho & “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Consider this one a 3v2 Handicap Match, because the Bad Apple got involved. And he even goes after Zay now! Quen goes after Bryan, but Bill & Jericho go after Quen, but Samoa Joe’s team runs out there! Joe LOW BLOWS Bill! Shibata and Hook go after Jericho and Bryan, but Jericho gets outta there! The Learning Tree wants nothing to do with this! So Shibata isolates Bryan’s arm, and STOMPS it!! Jericho feels Bryan’s pain, emotionally speaking. Joe gets a mic to say, “HI~, CHRIS~!” But week after week, Jericho has “graced” us with his presence, but Joe and his associates here have been talking. And every idea that falls from Jericho’s tree “absolutely SUCKS!”
The fans cheer but Joe isn’t done. Joe tells Jericho that they come from very different schools of thought. And the best ideas survive the crucible of combat! So that is what Joe suggests! Joe, Hook & Shibata VS Jericho and what’s left of his tree, come Forbidden Door! Will Jericho, Bill & Bryan be able to regroup in the eight days they have? Or will they be turned into the lumber that builds the school of Samoa Joe?
BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!
Though Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland are Forbidden Door opponents, and hardly friends after how personal they’re making things, they must team together against The Gates of Agony! Will Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona crush the champions before they ever reach Long Island?
AEW Continental Championship Title Eliminator: Kazuchika Okada VS Ultimo Guerrero!
Christopher Daniels promised The Elite that they would face top tier competition for their titles, and he finally realized who would be best for The Rainmaker: the man who mentored him while on excursion in Mexico! Will Okada be able to stay undefeated in AEW when facing one of CMLL’s best? Or will Ultimo Guerrero show him that he still has a lot to learn?
The bell rings and Okada stares Ultimo down. The fans rally up, the two circle, and Ultimo offers a handshake. Okada slaps the hand away, he no longer cares about his former sensei. The two tie up, Ultimo waistlocks, then he SLAMS Okada down. Ultimo facelocks, Okada wrenches out but Ultimo rolls and trips Okada. Ultimo rolls Okada but Okada arm-drags free, and the two stand! The fans fire up as they reset and go again. Ultimo gets his side of the crowd going, but Okada has plenty of fans, too. The two speed things up, Okada drops but Ultimo runs him over! Ultimo whips, Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Ultimo CHOPS!
Ultimo scoops, Okada slips free, but Ultimo LARIATS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Ultimo stands first and he brings Okada around. Ultimo puts Okada in a corner to CHOP! Okada sputters, but Ultimo CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Okada drops to a knee, Ultimo brings him up to scoop, and SLAM! The fans fire up, Okada slowly rises, but Ultimo is on him again. Ultimo CHOPS, and CHOPS, then brings Okada around. Ultimo whips Okada to ropes, then LARIATS him down! Ultimo stalks Okada to a corner, KNEES low, then KNEES low again! The ref counts, Ultimo snapmares Okada down then clamps on a chinlock.
The fans rally, Okada endures and fights around, but Ultimo pushes him down to get a leg. STRETCH MUFFLER! Okada endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts in Español, and Ultimo lets go at 4. Ultimo stomps Okada to the corner, lets off again, but Okada powers up to Alabama Lift! REVERSE NECK- NO, Ultimo fights it to an IRON OCTOPUS! Okada hurries to the ROPEBREAK, and Ultimo lets off again. Ultimo whips Okada to a corner, runs in, but Okada pops him up to the Alabama! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Okada scowls and the fans fire up while Collision goes picture in picture.
Okada goes back to Ultimo, drags him up, and CLUBS him. Okada TOSSES Ultimo out, goes out after him, and UPPERCUTS! Ultimo staggers, Okada UPPERCUTS him again, and Ultimo sits in a corner. Okada stands Ultimo up, to SMACK hm off the chair! Okada drags Ultimo up and puts him back in the ring, then takes his time stepping in. Okada brings Ultimo up, turns him, and hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Ultimo stays in this and Okada is annoyed. Okada paces, drags Ultimo up and DECKS him! Okada looms over Ultimo as Collision goes to break.
Collision returns and Okada has Ultimo in a corner. Okada brings him up but Ultimo body shots! And CHOPS! Okada knees low, whips, and runs in to BACK ELBO! Okada goes corner to corner, but Ultimo follows to clothesline! Ultimo keeps moving, but then Okada follows! Ultimo dodges, and DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! The fans fire up, the ref checks, and both men are still in this. Okada sits up first but Ultimo stands first. Ultimo whips, Okada reverses, but Ultimo pops Okada up to the apron! Ultimo sweeps the legs, fires up, and runs side to side to WRECK Okada with a dropkick!
The fans fire up and Ultimo goes out to the apron. Ultimo storms over to Okada, drags him up, and whips him into railing! Then he CHOPS! The fans fire up as Okada reaches out in pain. Ultimo storms up behind Okada, the ring count climbs, but Ultimo POSTS Okada at 7! Ultimo slides into the ring at 8, Okada flounders in after, and Ultimo eggs Okada on. Ultimo fireman’s carries, Okada slips free! Ultimo ELBOWS Okada, runs, but into the DROPKICK! Okada snarls and he drags Ultimo back up. Okada ripcords, but Ultimo ducks the lariat! Ultimo kicks low, runs in, but Okada avoids the splash! Okada fires forearms then goes up!
Okada pulls at Ultimo’s mask! The fans boo the disrespect, but Ultimo hits a RUNNING POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Okada stays in this but Ultimo rises up. Ultimo drags Okada up, puts him up top backwards, then climbs up behind him. Ultimo goes to the very top!? But Okada CLAWS at Ultimo’s face through the mask! Ultimo drops down, Okada climbs off the corner, and Okada ripcords! Ultimo ducks again, rolls Okada up, TWO!! Okada escapes and the fans fire up! Ultimo swings, but Okada gets around, and UNMASKS HIM! Ultimo does his best to cover up, but Okada ripcords! RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (denies Ultimo Guerrero a title opportunity)
Despite how he got the win, Okada grins because for him, a win is a win! Will The Rainmaker be unstoppable now that he does what he wants?
Backstage interview with Top Flight.
Lexy Nair is with Dante, Darius & Action, and she congratulates Dante for making it into the AEW TNT Championship Ladder Match. Now, they wanted this time so what’s on their mind? Dante says the last time he was in a ladder match, he broke his leg. A broken fibula, a dislocated ankle. It took a lot of hard work for Dante to make it back here. He had to relearn how to walk, how to run, how to jump, and how to be himself again. But now, he’s going back in to that environment. A lot of people are saying that’s crazy. But it’ll take a little bit of crazy to become the NEW TNT Champion, so boys, at Forbidden Door, he’ll get some gold to celebrate with.
Lio Rush walks in and he wants to talk about last week. Action says before that, he does want to congratulate Lio Rush on the win last night. Lio appreciates that. And he asks if Darius is cool. Darius nods so Lio takes that. Lio tells Dante that when it came to last week, Lio is a man of his word. He has Dante’s back. Always has, always will. But come Forbidden Door, Lio is in the match, too, and he wants the TNT Championship for himself. Dante says same for him. So then see you there. Darius says they’ll see who the better man is. Top Flight heads out, but will the Bad Child make sure he’s the Man of the Hour in New York?
Six Man Tag: The Patriarchy VS The Iron Savages!
While Christian Cage still wants to be AEW World Champion, he also wants his “sons,” Nick Wayne and Killswitch/Luchasaurus, to succeed, too. So they are going to go after the AEW World Trios Championships as a family, no matter who they have to go through. Killswitchasaurus took out Jacked Jameson, Dirty Bulk Bronson & Beefcake Boulder all by himself, so will it be even easier when Captain Charisma & The Prodigy Son are with him? Or will everyone be sippin’ sauce and livin’ hoss on Saturday night?
Before the match, Jameson has a mic. He tells Christian that he has been a focal point on the biggest shows in wrestling since most of us were little kids. Christian is one of the greatest of all time, and is now better than he’s ever been. However, ever since coming to AEW, Christian’s been acting more like “Low T Loser!” A couple weeks ago, Christian had Killswitch take them out for no reason! Then he’s got that little peeper, Nick Wayne, who looks like Timothée Chalamet but even wimpier! But they ain’t going to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory! They’re going to the milk farm in #TIDDYCITY!!
The fans are a little torn about that idea, but then The Patriarchy makes their entrance. But then Christian leaves?! No, he joins commentary! He’s leaving this all up to his “sons!” The teams sort out in this unofficial handicap match, and Luchasaurus starts against Bronson. The fans are on the dinosaur’s side, but Jameson says time to sip some sauce! Bronson grabs the cup and he CHUGS it! Bronson is all fired up, runs up on Luchasaurus, but Luchasaurus HEADBUTTS him down! Nick wants in, so Luchasaurus tags. Nick swaggers around, toys with Bronson, then taunts Jameson. Nick eggs Bronson on, kicks him around, then KICKS Bronson ont he back!
Nick flexes but Bronson gets up! Bronson is literally twice as big as Nick! Bronson back suplexes, Nick lands out! Nick kicks and runs, but into a back drop! Christian coaches Nick from 30 feet away at the desk but Bronson says it is time for TIDDY! CITY~! Bronson sends Nick right into Boulder’s beefy chest! Nick sputters, Luchasaurus tags in! He CLOBBERS Bronson, BLASTS Boulder & Jameson, then TOSESS Bronson toa corner! Luchasaurus fires off fast hands, whips corner to corner, then runs up to BOOT Bronson down! Christian says this is the most elite big man in the business. Boulder storms up, he grabs Luchasaurus!
Luchasaurus ELBOWS Boulder, SHOVES him up and out, but Jameson grabs Luchasaurus by the hair! Christian says that’s cheating! Well, he would know… Jameson CLUBS Luchasaurus, goes up, but Luchasaurus garbs him first! To THROW him down onto Boulder! Nick gets in, he gets a boost from Luchasaurus, SUPER PLANCHA onto the Savages! Christian says they are the next Trios Champions and it is not up for debate. Luchasaurus waits on Bronson, Bronson slowly staggers to his feet, and into the choke grip! But Bronson CLUBS at the arm! Bronson breaks free, fires hands over and over, then LARIATS!
Christian is upset but Luchasaurus stays up! Bronson LARIAT, then DISCUS LARIATS! Luchasaurus drops to a knee, Bronson fires back up, “I’M GONNA BUST~!” Bronson runs, but into the choke grip! JURASSIC CHOKE SLAM! And then Nick wants back in! Christian says to do it, so Luchasaurus tags. Luchasaurus gets Bronson up, Christian says now his boys need his help. WAYNE’S WORLD! Christian goes to ringside, and Nick gladly tags his “father” in. Christian then has his “sons” get Bronson up, and he says THEY are the next Trios Champions! KILLSWITCH for Bronson! Cover, Patriarchy wins!
Winners: The Patriarchy, by pinfall
Christian tops it off after his “sons” do the heavy lifting, but a win is a win. Will nothing stop The Patriarchy as they look to reign over AEW together?
Mercedes Mone visited Arena Mexico.
And she told Stephanie Vaquer this is why she’s the CEO. She flew all the way to Mexico just ot make a point. Mone said hola, and then stared Vaquer down. Mone knows Vaquer is NJPW Strong Women’s Champion for now, but that title is hers come Forbidden Door. But then Vaquer told Mone, “You’re in my house now, b*tch! And we speak Spanish here!” So Mone used the internationally understood SLAP ACROSS THE FACE! The fight was on, and Mone snatched both belts! Will Mone prove she is The CEO of the entire world? Or will she find out why Vaquer is La Primera?
Toni Storm & Mariah May w/ Luther VS Lady Frost & Leyla Hirsch!
While Mina Shirakawa is coming for The Leading Lady’s AEW Women’s World Championship and the spotlight, she also wants her Mariah back! Will Storm and Mariah show Mina that their bond is more than just skin deep? Or will they both freeze up facing a LEGIT cool duo?
The teams sort out and Storm starts against Leyla. The fans rally for Storm as she and Leyla circle. They tie up, and Storm powers Leyla back, but Leyla puts Storm in the corner. They go around again, on the mat, then back to their feet. Storm wrenches but Leyla gets around to trip Storm. Leyla pushes Storm to a cover, ONE as Storm bridges. Leyla pushes her down, ONE! Leyla tries again, ONE! Leyla hops on but Storm stays bridged up! They stand, Storm wrenches to a facelock, then tags Mariah. The fans cheer as Storm whips Leyla to ropes, then BOOTS her down! Mariah SHOTGUNS Leyla down, but Leyla scrambles away.
Frost tags in, Mariah and Storm are too busy celebrating together. Frost gets around Mariah, goes to ropes, but Mariah bucks the O’Conner. Frost rolls through, comes back, tilt-o-whirl and sunset flip! TWO, but Mariah SLAPS Frost! Mariah puts some stank on the CHOP! Mariah then scoops for a SPIN OUT SIDEWALK SLAM! The fans fire up and Mariah even BLASTS Leyla for good measure! Storm runs in to HIP ATTACK Frost! Storm and Mariah pose together, and Storm cues us to picture in picture.
Storm and Mariah talk but Leyla drags Mariah back in! Frost drags Storm out, the two are separated and Frost fires off on Storm! Leyla throws Mariah down, covers, TWO! Frost CHOPS Storm against barriers! Leyla drags Mariah up to snap suplex! Leyla soaks up the heat, drags Mariah up, then tags in Frost. Leyla snap suplexes again, and Frost STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Frost stays on Mariah and brings her back over, tag to Leyla. They mug Mariah, stomp her down, then Leyla digs her boots in. The ref counts, Leyla lets off, and then she drags Mariah up. Luther rallies the fans while Mariah endures the REAR BEARHUG!
Mariah reaches out while Leyla leans on her. Mariah fights up, reaches for Storm, but Leyla brings her away. Mariah fights with elbows, then runs, but Leyla reels her in! Mariah switches, Leyla switches, but Mariah wrenches to a SAIDO! Mariah and Leyla crawl, hot tag to Storm! Storm rallies on Leyla, BLASTS Frost, and Collision returns to single picture! Storm dodges Leyla, blocks the boots, and DRAPING BACKSTABBERS! The fans fire up and Storm stands Leyla up, for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Storm stands Leyla up again. Storm reels Leyla in, but Leyla back drops!
Storm sunset flips, but Leyla drops into the ARMBAR!! Storm flails, reaches out, and the fans rally up again! Mariah jumps in to RUNNING KNEE Leyla down! Storm is free, Frost runs up, but into a HEADBUTT! Mariah hurries back and reaches out! Hot tag to Mariah! She drags Leyla to a corner, Frost is in the other. Mariah and Storm say kiss THESE! But then Frost & Leyla dodge! GAMANGIRI for Mariah! Now Mariah and Storm are in corners! Frost hits the CANNONBALL! Leyla adds a SWINGING DROPKICK! Leyla drags Mariah to the drop zone and Frost goes up! Leyla goes after Storm but Storm HEADBUTTS!
Storm shields Mariah from the FROSTBITE!! Frost drags Leyla to cover Mariah, STORM BREAKS IT! The fans fire up, Frost fires off on Storm! Frost bumps Storm off buckles, Leyla gets Mariah up. Leyla ROCKS Mariah, coordinates with Frost, and they whip Storm and Mariah into each other! The two HUG! Then they dodge Leyla & Frost, to DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up as now they DOUBLE HIP ATTACK! Storm gets Leyla for STORM ZERO! Mariah covers, she and Storm win!
Winners: Toni Storm & Mariah May, by pinfall
The mentor and protege embrace as they come out victorious! But with Mina Shirakawa trying to wedge herself between them, will this story have a tragic ending?
Serena Deeb speaks.
“Leading up to Double or Nothing, I was 6-0. Physically, I was unbeatable. Mentally, I was untouchable, unbreakable. And subsequently, I’ve had three of the toughest losses of my career, to some of the best women in this company. And I know how this goes. Sometimes you’re on the up, sometimes you’re on the down. But when you’re on the down, you gotta stop it in its tracks and you gotta lift yourself back up. If there’s anything that my wrestling career has shown, it’s perseverance, it’s redemption, it’s grit. So next week, I will be in Buffalo at Collision, and I am begging anybody to step into my ring, to step into Deeb’s Dojo!
“Because, baby, I’m on the up. And from here, I’m gonna remind everybody, and I’m gonna remind myself, just who the hell I am: The Professor of Professional Wrestling.” Who will accept Deeb’s “pop quiz” next week on Collision?
Malakai Black & Brody King VS Leon & Max St. Giovanni!
The Bang Bang Gang mocked the misfortune of this malevolent faction, and they are looking to take their anger out on whatever poor souls AEW have found for them. Will LSG & MSG soon RIP at the feet of The Kings of the Black Throne?
The teams sort out, MSG starts against Malakai. They circle, MSG is wary of Brody, but he ties up with Malakai. MSG wrenches, wristlocks, but Malakai rolls, wrenches and cording holds. MSG slips around to wrench back, but Malakai spins to wrench then headlock. MSG powers out but Malakai runs him over! Malakai stands MSG up but MSG ROCKS him with a forearm! MSG winds up, but Malakai blocks the kick to ELBOW him away! Malakai runs up, but into an ELBOW! LSG tags in, but runs into an arm-drag! Malakai clamps onto LSG’s arm, wrenches it, and tags in Brody. The fans bark as Brody CLOBBERS MSG!
LSG arm-drags free of Malakai, then runs up, but Malakai drops down so Brody can CHOP LSG off his feet! LSG sputters, the fans bark for Brody, but MSG is back! Malakai blocks MSG’s superkick to KICK the other leg. Brody and Malakai FOREARM KNEE SMASH COMBO! LSG runs up, but into a POP-UP KNEE COMBO! Then DANTE’S INFERNO!! Cover, The House wins!
Winners: Malakai Black & Brody King, by pinfall
The brothers St. Giovanni could not withstand the wrath of the Dark Father and the King of Death, who still have fury burning in their eyes. But as they head up the ramp, Ian Riccaboni is there to interview them. He congratulates them on the win tonight, but he must ask: How does it feel after what happened to Buddy last week? Malakai chuckles, and says what a “human” question. Brody tells Ian that revenge is never a straight line. They feel nothing. Does that mean Buddy doesn’t matter? Or are Malakai & Brody just waiting until the right time to strike?
Hechicero w/ The Gates of Agony VS Matthew Menard!
The Alchemist of Lucha Libre warned MJF that at Forbidden Door, he’s going to break off one of MJF’s arms! Will Hechicero use Menard as an example of that? Or will Hechicero have a hard time handling some Daddy Magic?
The bell rings and Menard dodges Hechi to fire off fast hands! Menard whips Hechi to then CLOBBER him! The fans fire up with Menard as he keeps on Hechi, with a LARIAT! “What you got!?” The fans cheer, Menard whips, but Hechi gets under the leap frog to DUMP Menard down! Hechi ELBOW DROPS, then basement DROPKICKS! Menard bails out, shakes out the stars, then slides back in. But Hechi stomps away on Menard, then CHOKES him on ropes! The ref counts, Hechi BITES Menard before letting off. Menard gets up but Hechi CHOPS him! Hechi runs to JUMP KNEE! The fans are torn, but Hechi gets Menard up, for a back drop!
Hechi traps an arm, grabs the other, and DARK SACRIFICE! Menard writhes, staggers around, and Hechi slithers around to make sure MJF knows he is numero uno! Hechi runs up, but Menard dodges! Hechi hits buckles, and Menard fires off shots! Menard whips corner to corner, then runs up to clothesline! Menard climbs, and he rains down fists! The fans fire up and count all the way to TEN! Menard is all fired up, then he hits a CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Hechi stays in this but Menard scowls. Menard runs, but into a CROSSBODY from Hechi! SLEEPER on the ropes! The ref counts, Hechi RAMS Menard down!
Hchi then slingshots to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Hechi waits on Menard, runs and tilt-o-whirls, HEADSCISSOR LEG DROP! Then Hechi rains down shots on Menard’s back, before reeling him into the CRUCIFIX ARMBAR! Menard taps, Hechi wins!
Winner: Hechicero, by submission
The Gates of Agony storm in to celebrate with Hechi, will the Alchemist of Lucha turn the Wolf of Wrestling into a lap dog? Or will MJF prove that he’s better than even Hechicero, and he knows it?
Jeff Jarrett speaks.
“When I was asked officially about being in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, all the emotion came back. It’s hard for me to imagine it’s been 25 years, but there are so many things that I remember like it was yesterday. In the late 90s, we would become Tag Team Champions, and I kinda look back on those days as the favorite days of my career. His passing in 1999, May 23rd, on the Monday the following day, I made a promise to myself that I would be able to look Oje & Athena in their eyes, and it really meant something. They were little kids when it happened, but to let them know what a great man their father is. I never, ever met anybody like him.”
Jarrett looks back, and he’s since become a 12-time world champion, a two-time Hall of Famer. The Owen Cup means more to him than anything he’s ever done. Toby Keith passed away earlier this year, another good buddy. And as the song says, he ain’t as good as he once was, but he’s as good once as he ever was. To get the opportunity to win three matches, then stand in the ring in Owen’s hometown of Calgary, Jarrett is absolutely gonna do it. The Last Outlaw must still wait and see what “wild card” is dealt, but will he make it through no matter what?
AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay VS Brian Cage!
The Aerial Assassin wants to be the #TwoBeltBruv by taking Swerve’s AEW World Championship, but he also has to defend the belt he has. And while The Machine doesn’t work for The Mogul anymore, he might end up helping him out with this match. Will Ospreay stay golden on the Road to The Forbidden Door? Or will Cage make sure Ospreay’s limping into Long Island?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time to see #WhoBetta!
The bell rings and Cage CLOBBERS Ospreay! Cage fires off in the corner, the fans boo and the ref counts. But then Ospreay turns things around to fire back! Ospreay goes up to rain down fists, but Cage SHOVES him away at 4! Ospreay lands out on his feet, only for Cage to run him over! The fans boo but Cage drags Ospreay up to ROCK him! Ospreay staggers, Cage CHOPS him, but the fans rally for the “BRUV! BRUV! BRUV!” Cage whips, Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges and RAN- NO, Cage stops that and TOSSES Ospreay! Then he scoops to do bicep curls, before the FALL AWAY SLAM! Cage flexes but fans boo.
Ospreay grits his teeth as he stands up, and Cage runs in. Ospreay DUMPS Cage out, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again. Cage shoves Ospreay but Ospreay comes back to BOOT! Cage falls to the floor, the fans fire up with Ospreay, and he PLANCHAS! Down goes Cage and the fans fire up again! Ospreay paces, brings Cage up and into the ring, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Ospreay aims from the apron, springboards, but Cage catches him! Cage stalling suplexes Ospreay, walks around with him, but Ospreay flails. Cage still keeps Ospreay up, to JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO! Cage is annoyed but he brings Ospreay back up. Cage brings Ospreay around, bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS! Cage ROCKS Ospreay, soaks up the heat, then smirks as he drags Ospreay back up. Ospreay fires forearms in return! Cage SOBATS, scoops, and SLAMS, to then drop a leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Ospreay stays in this but Cage stays on him. Cage drags Ospreay up, to HEADBUTT him!
Ospreay staggers, Cage bumps him off buckles, but Ospreay kicks low! Ospreay ROCKS Cage, CHOPS him, then CHOPS him again! Ospreay whips corner to corner, but Cage reverses hard! Ospreay falls back, Cage dusts himself off, and then Cage asks, “Who betta?!” Cage looms over Ospreay, gives him clubbing crossface forearms from both sides, and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns and Cage has Ospreay in a BEARHUG! Ospreay endures, the fans rally, and Ospreay throws elbows! Ospreay BELL CLAPS and Cage lets him go! Cage still knees low, CLUBS Ospreay, then shouts, “Who betta than Cage, huh?!” Cage runs but into the TIGER WALL KICK and ENZIGIRI! Cage staggers to a corner and the fans fire back up! Daniel Garcia is watching, as he still wants a shot at the International Championship. Ospreay runs corner to corner to BOOT Cage! Ospreay pushes Cage out, goes to the apron and springboards in, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is annoyed but he just brings Cage up.
Ospreay reels Cage in but Cage resists the lift. The fans rally as Ospreay fires Kawada Kicks! And then winds up to CHOP! Ospreay reels Cage in again, but Cage back drops free! Cage goes corner to corner to UPPERCUT, GAMANGIRI, then GERMAN SUPLEX! Ospreay has a rough landing and the ref checks him, but he seems okay to continue. Cage goes to the corner, and he deadlift SUPERLEXES! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay toughs it out and Cage grows frustrated. The fans rally for Ospreay but Cage reels him in. Cage puts one out, lifts Ospreay up, but Ospreay RANAS Cage into the buckles!
Ospreay hurries up top now, and he BLINDSIDE CHEERIOS! The fans fire up and Ospreay prepares his elbow pad. Cage stirs, Ospreay goes to a corner and the fans are thunderous! HIDDEN- NO, Cage fireman’s carries first! But Ospreay fights around, sunset flips, but Cage stays up to YANK Ospreay up! But Ospreay gets around, full nelsons, only for Cage to ELBOW free. Ospreay HOOK KICKS back! Ospreay springboards, OSC- DROPKICK from Cage!! The fans boo, but Cage aims and spins, but Ospreay slips through the lariat! And he gets Cage up, SITOUT BOMB! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous!
Ospreay and Cage stir, a standing count begins, and the fans rally up. Both men are down at 5 of 10 but Ospreay sits up first. Cage follows, and Ospreay stands at 7. Ospreay brings Cage around to fire a forearm! And then another forearm! And then another! Cage ROCKS Ospreay back! Cage stalks Ospreay, hauls him up to a fireman’s carry, and F5!! Cover, TWO!! Cage is losing his cool and he argues with the ref but the count was still two! Cage seethes, and Collision goes picture in picture again.
Ospreay stirs while Cage paces around him. Cage slashes his throat, brings Ospreay back up, and he SLAPS Ospreay! Ospreay wobbles, Cage SLAPS him again! Ospreay ROCKS Cage, ROCKS him again, and again! Cage ROCKS Ospreay right back! Ospreay staggers around, finds his way back, and he fires more forearms on Cage! So Cage DECKS Ospreay! Cage eggs Ospreay on, and Ospreay rises to fire another flurry! Cage ROCKS Ospreay again, and Ospreay leans against Cage. Cage pushes Ospreay down, talks trash, then stands on Ospreay’s back! Cage flexes, soaks up the heat, but Ospreay pushes up off the mat!
Cage STOMPS Ospreay down! Cage runs, but Ospreay avoids the elbow drop! Cage staggers back over, brings Ospreay up, but Ospreay fires forearms! Cage ROCKS Ospreay but Ospreay just fires up! Ospreay fires another flurry, Cage ROCKS him again, but Ospreay ROARS! Ospreay fires shot after shot but Cage ROCKS him one more time! Ospreay goes to a corner, Cage brings him around and reels him in. Suplex, but Ospreay slips free! Ospreay waistlocks, Cage switches, but Ospreay ELBOWS free. Cage ROCKS Ospreay again, but Ospreay headbutts buckles to fire himself up! The fans are thunderous as Collision returns to single picture!
Ospreay eggs Cage on, then blocks a shot to fire KAWADA KICKS! Cage JUMP KNEES! DISCUS- SUPERKICK! Cage stills wings, Ospreay swats the lariat to HOOK KICK! Cage still LARIATS through!! Cage gets Ospreay up, lifts, POWERBOMB! Deadlift, SPINNING SITOUT BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives and the fans are thunderous again! Cage seethes and pounds the mat in frustration but the fans are behind Ospreay. Cage drags Ospreay up, fireman’s carries again, but Ospreay fires elbows! Ospreay pops up to spin and RAN- NO! Cage blocks that again! Cage brings Ospreay up, but Ospreay slips into a DDT!
Cage staggers, Ospreay whips, but Cage reverses! Ospreay handsprings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Ospreay springs right up to HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cage survives and shocks Ospreay! Ospreay just fires himself back up and the fans rally as hard as they can! Ospreay gets Cage up, reels him in, and underhooks those big meaty arms! But Cage fights with those arms to RAM Ospreay into a corner! Cage goes corner to corner, but Ospraey BOOTS him! Ospreay goes up but Cage GAMANGIRIS! Right in the mouth! Cage goes up, but Ospreay slips under and tucks Cage in! CHEEKY NANDOS!
Cage wobbles, Ospreay puts him back up! Ospreay goes up TO SUPER- NO, Cage slips free! So Ospreay GAMANGIRIS back! Ospreay goes up but Cage scoop him! SUPER SPINNING POWERSLAM!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Now Ospreay shocks Cage! The fans are electric for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” Ospreay rises, Cage runs in, and he CLOTHESLINES Ospreay in that corner! Ospreay’s momentum puts him up top! Cage goes up after Ospreay, fireman’s carries, but Ospreay pops up to SUPER STEINER!! The fans are electric again, for the OS- NO!! Cage stuffs that to ripcord and HAYMAKER!
Cage vows to end this! Suplex, STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! And POISON-RANA!! Ospreay gets moving, OSCUTTER!!! Cover, TWO!??!? Ospreay throws his elbow pad away, he means business this time! HIDDEN BLADE!!!! Cover, Ospreay wins!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (still AEW International Champion)
The Machine proved he can get his stuff in, and that he can take one of the best to the limit, but that is where Cage hits his limit! Ospreay is rolling into Dynamite next week, where he will have no choice but to team with The Realest to take on some common enemies. Will Will Ospreay & Swerve Strickland make it through The Gates of Agony? Or will neither of them make it to The Forbidden Door?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision, though stocked full of more action than I expected. Thankfully, it was less talky than usual, and what promos we got were fairly efficient. Well, I feel like there was a touch of redundancy to Lio interacting with Top Flight when we got that moment on Rampage. I guess AEW is worried not enough people are watching Rampage. Deeb sending out an Open Challenge for the Collision go-home next week was good, I’m sure we’ll get a great match of her and a visiting CMLL or Stardom talent. And after Jarrett’s very moving promo, I actually want to see him make it to the finals. I don’t see him winning the whole thing with Pac AND Bryan Danielson on the other side of the bracket, but for the sake of honoring Owen Hart’s memory, Jarrett at least has to get past the wild card.
Storm & Mariah VS Leyla & Frost was a good tune-up match for the Six Woman Tag set for Dynamite, but as such, The Outcasts likely win. As I said on Wednesday, if Mariah is going to beat Saraya in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup, she’ll have to lose out on Dynamite because that’s how the math works. Hechicero of course beat Daddy Magic, but that’s because MJF is going to win at Forbidden Door. And then of course The House of Black beat the St. Giovanni brothers. Their dismissive nature towards the interview was an interesting one, but I would think they will get their revenge on The Patriarchy soon enough.
Good promo from The Bang Bang Gang that helped feed into the various stories. The Patriarchy of course beat The Iron Savages, but Christian avoided doing work in an even more obnoxious way than I expected. I still think Pac should work with Malakai & Brody in an attempt to get revenge on The Bang Bang Gang together, but I guess that depends on if Pac goes to the Owen Hart Cup finals or not. Oddly, I’d love if The Bang Bang Gang did face The Patriarchy for some rare Heels VS Heels shenanigans. Christian will try to cheat at the same time Bang Bang Gang tries to cheat so it comes down to who can cheat better.
Though going by the other tag matches, the Joe-Hook-Shibata trio is a great team, and they naturally made quick work of The Premier Athletes. Then they logically went after Jericho’s group after that great match with Private Party. Jericho likely will still owe Hook an FTW Championship match, but it’d also be great if Joe-Hook-Shibata got their shot at the trios titles. We’d get some awesome promos between them and the Bang Bang Gang, as well as some fresh showdowns. And really good match of Okada and Ultimo Guerrero. It was a little sluggish, but I suppose between Ultimo and Okada needing to get a rhythm, and Ultimo being 52, it was still very solid stuff. But Okada winning was fine, it leaves him available for a different match-up for Forbidden Door weekend.
And just an awesome International Championship match for the main event. I did not think Cage was going to get as much offense in as he did, but I appreciate that they let him. Cage needs to be seen as a threat on some level so pushing Ospreay like this was a good way to do it. But of course Ospreay wins, because they’re continuing to tease Garcia VS Ospreay.
My Score: 8.9/10
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The Road to the G1 has begun!
NJPW is heating up the G1 Climax already by bringing us a Qualifier Series! Whose New Japan Soul will burn bright through the Summer?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Masatora Yasuda VS Daiki Nagai; Time Limit Draw.
- Great-O-Khan & Francesco Akira VS Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato; Khan & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Tomohiro Ishii, Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma; The United Empire wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Hirooki Goto, El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg; Goto, Desperado, Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg win.
- G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier First Round: Callum Newman VS Yujiro Takahashi; Callum wins and advances to New Japan Soul in Korakuen Hall.
- G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier First Round: YOSHI-HASHI VS Chase Owens; Hashi wins and advances to New Japan Soul in Korakuen Hall.
- 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The House of Torture; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier First Round: Callum Newman VS Yujiro Takahashi!
The United Empire has been on a roll tonight, but while those were tag matches, The Prince of Pace has to do this on his own! Can Callum conquer the Tokyo Pimp? Or will he have to watch out for the usual tricks?
The bell rings and the two run in! Yujiro BOOTS Callum down, stomps him around, and Callum goes to ropes. Yujiro ROCKS Callum with a forearm, then stalks him to a corner. Yujiro stomps Callum again, CLUBS him, then brings him out to knee low. Yujiro CLUBS Callum again, whips corner to corner, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and keeps moving, to then BOOT Yujiro! The fans fire up while Yujiro bails out. Callum eggs Yujiro on, but the ref wants him to stay in. Yujiro slides in, Callum dodges and DROPKICKS! Yujiro bails out again and the fans fire up. Yujiro hurries back up to the apron, but Callum DROPKICKS him down!
Callum takes aim as Yujiro stands up, for the PLANCHA, but Yujiro moves aside! Callum lands on his feet but that strains the legs. Yujiro reels Callum in, REVERSE DDT to the floor! The ref wants this back inside, and fans rally up for Callum, but Yujiro stalks him. Yujiro drags Callum up to RAM him into railing! Yujiro brings Callum back up, to RAM him into the apron! The ref reprimands but Yujiro brings Callum around, to whip into railing! Callum goes down in a heap and Yujiro leaves him behind. The ring count starts but Callum sits up at 4 of 20. The fans cheer Callum on as he rises at 10 of 20 and hobbles over.
Callum rolls in at 13, the fans cheer, but Yujiro stomps Callum right down. Yujiro digs his boots in, the ref counts, so Yujiro lets off at 4. Yujiro whips Callum into a corner, stomps him, ROCKS him with a forearm, then ELBOWS him. Yujiro throws more elbows, then runs up to BOOT! Callum slumps down but Yujiro pushes him to a cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Yujiro argues the count. The ref says it was fair, so Yujiro drags Callum to center. Yujiro drops a leg, drops it again, then drops it again! Cover, TWO! Callum stays in this and the fans rally up. Yujiro is annoyed, but he eggs Callum on. Yujiro brings Callum up, and Callum fires a forearm!
Yujiro eggs Callum on more as Callum throws more shots. Yujiro then knees low! Yujiro snapmares Callum and then basement BOOTS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Callum toughs it out. Yujiro brings Callum up, puts him against ropes, then fires forearms. The ref reprimands, but Yujiro gets space. Callum BOOTS first! Callum runs up but into a kick! Yujiro runs but Callum follows, trips him, and DOUBLE STOMPS him! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yujiro goes to one corner, Callum goes to the other. Callum fires up, the fans are with him, and he runs Around the World to DROPKICK!
Callum snapmares Yujiro, runs up and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans still applaud as Callum has control. Callum clutches his beat up back, uses the ropes to stretch it out, and then he clamps onto Yujiro with chicken wings. Yujiro hurries to the ropes, so Callum ROCKS him with a right! Callum sits Yujiro in the ropes, then runs to DROPKICK Yujiro in the back! Yujiro falls, Callum brings him up and chicken wings. Yujiro fights the lift, stomps Callum’s foot, then ROCKS him with an elbow! Callum comes back to ROCK Yujiro with a forearm! Callum runs, but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Callum sputters, Yujiro runs up and BOOTS him!
Yujiro brings Callum around, reels him in, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Callum survives and the fans cheer! Yujiro is frustrated but he stalks Callum. Yujiro drags Callum up, reels him in, INCOLLE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Callum is tougher then the Intercollegiate Slam and Yujiro grows further frustrated! Yujiro stumbles after Callum, brings him up, and fireman’s carries. Callum fights free, but Yujiro blocks the lariat! Yujiro ducks the backhand but not the ROUNDHOUSE! Both men are down again as Callum catches his breath. The fans rally up and Callum fires himself back up. The fans join in and Callum takes aim.
Callum goes to run but Yujiro reels him in! Yujiro waistlocks, Callum switches, but Yujiro BITES Callum’s hand! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Yujiro stops at 4. Yujiro runs, but Callum blocks the boot, ROCKS Yujiro, then runs. Yujiro uses the ref as a shield! He gets the cane! But Callum blocks the cane attack, kicks Yujiro low, but now the ref sees Callum with the cane! Callum defends his innocence, the ref takes the cane, and Yujiro LOW BLOWS!! The fans boo but Yujiro reels Callum in, for PIMP JUICE! Cover, TWO!! Yujiro is stunned that Callum survives! Yujiro pleads with the ref, but no, it was not a three.
Yujiro drags Callum up, reels him in, for BIG- NO, Callum wrenches out! Yujiro ROCKS Callum, runs, but Callum shoots around to chicken wing and TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Yujiro escapes but the fans fire up! Callum aims from a corner, runs Around the World, and DROPKICKS! Yujiro staggers, Callum goes up, and he roars as he springboard DOUBLE STOMPS! Then OSCUTTER!! Cover, Callum wins!
Winner: Callum Newman, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
It was a grueling first fight, but Callum was able to outpace Yujiro, and he now moves ahead! Callum faces Kenta in Korakuen Hall, will Callum continue to build momentum? Or will he #GoToSleep before the Climax?
G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier First Round: YOSHI-HASHI VS Chase Owens!
The Head Hunter and the Crown Jewel have battled many times, both in the G1 and more recently, over the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Sadly, neither man has that gold, but they’re looking at something bigger. Will Yoshi-Hashi #GetBackUp and head for the next round? Or will he be the victim of a Jewel Heist?
The bell rings and the two circle as the fans rally up. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, but Chase swings Hashi around to put him on ropes. The ref counts, Chase lets off, but then he blows snot on Hashi! Chase eggs Hashi on so Hashi fires forearms! Hashi CLUBS Chase, Chase knees low and Chase TOSSES Hashi out. Hashi runs up to the apron but Chase DECKS him! Chase builds speed but Hashi dodges the dropkick! Hashi kicks low, whips, and Chase hits railing! Chase staggers away while fans applaud. Hashi goes after Chase, brings him around, and whips him into more railing! Chase staggers again while fans applaud.
The ref wants this back in the ring but Hashi lines up a shot. Chase stands, Hashi runs up, but Chase BOOTS him! Chase RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS Hashi into railing! The ref goes out to check Hashi while Chase leaves him behind. Chase opens the gate so he can snatch a fan’s Yoshi-Hashi towel! Chase sneaks that over so he can CHOKE Hashi with it! The ref sees that, reprimands, but Chase whips Hashi hard into railing! Down goes Abe-san, too! Since when was Chase copying the House of Torture? Chase storms over, brings Hashi up, and puts him in the ring. Hashi sits up, Chase runs, SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer as Hashi stays in this. Chase is annoyed and he mocks the fans as they rally up. Chase CLUBS Hashi on the neck, stomps Hashi’s hand, then brings him up to wrench and wristlock. Chase bends the fingers, then SNAPS them! The ref reprimands Chase being a Villain, but Chase stomps away in the corner. Chase then bends the fingers, and he makes Hashi flip Goto off on commentary. Chase CHOPS Hashi, CLUBS him, then RAMS into him! Chase digs in his shoulder, then lifts Hashi to RAM him in again! Hashi hobbles, Chase whips him corner to corner hard, and Hashi bounces off buckles! Chase soaks up the heat while Hashi writhes.
Chase drags Hashi up but Hashi fires body shots. Hashi CHOPS and the fans cheer! But Chase BOOTS Hashi down! Chase clutches his stinging chest, drags Hashi up, but Hashi suplexes first! The fans fire up while both men are down, and Chase goes to a corner. Hashi goes to the other, runs in corner to corner, and CHOPS! Hashi ROCKS and CHOPS and repeat on Chase! The fans fire up, the ref reprimands, but Hashi lets off with one more CHOP! Chase sits down, but he SPITS at Hashi! So Hashi CHOPS him again! Hashi whips corner to corner, Chase reverses, but Hashi comes back to run Chase over!
The fans cheer and Hashi cleans himself off. Hashi then runs up to CHOP, run again, and BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Chase stays in this but the fans rally up for Hashi. Hashi storms over to Chase, brings him up, but Chase throws body shots. Hashi eggs him on, Chase throws more shots, then a CHOP of his own! Hashi DECKS Chase and the fans fire up! Hashi goes back to a corner to catch his breath. Chase slowly goes to the other corner, Hashi runs in again, but Chase blocks the lariat to BUCKLE SHOT, STO, and SENTON! The fans fire up while both men are down! Chase runs corner to corner now to forearm smash!
Chase reels Hashi in, short arm LARIAT! Then a half nelson to GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Hashi stays in this and the fans fire up again! Chase is annoyed but he drags Hashi back up. Chase reels him in, but Hashi back drops free! But Chase is right back up! BLINDSIDE C-TRIGGER! Chase then wrenches, hammerlocks and JEWEL HEISTS! Cover, TWO!! Chase is furious with the ref but the ref defends his count! Chase scowls, drags Hashi up, and reels him in. Chase tucks the arms, PACKAGE- NO, Hashi flips free to CODE BREAKER! Roll up and bridge, TWO! Chase escapes but Hashi dropkicks the legs out!
The fans fire up again while both men are down! Hashi and Chase go back to corners, and both men run in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither falls! DOUBLE LARIATS collide again, and Chase staggers back! Hashi runs corner to corner, but Chase sends him into buckles! Chase rolls Hashi up, and puts his feet on ropes! TWO!! Hashi escapes but Chase gets moving, to C- NO!! Hashi blocks the trigger! Chase fires hands but Hashi CLUBS the leg! Hashi puts the leg in ropes, to SUPERKICK! Full nelson, DRAGON SUPLEX! Chase roars and rise sup, he swats a lariat and BACK ELBOWS! Hashi roars and swings, but into a HALF ‘N’ HALF!
But Hashi is right back up! C-TRIGGER!! Hashi falls back but Chase has to sit down! The fans fire up and rally for Hashi as he stirs. Chase aims as Hashi goes to ropes, and he runs in to C-TRIGGER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and the fans fire up again! Chase drags Hashi back up, POINT-BLANK C-TRIGGER!! Hashi flops over but Chase wants to go for the execution! Chase reels Hashi in, tucks the arms, and PACKAGE- NO! Hashi kicks and flails to fight! But Chase powers through! PACKAGE- NO, Hashi fights free with a back drop! Chase sunset flips it! But Hashi sits on it! Cover, TWO!! Even Chase has to check if he got free in time!
Chase runs, but Hashi dodges the trigger! ELBOW! CHOP! SUPERKICK! Chase roars, but into a SUPERKICK! Hashi reels Chase in for a DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Chase survives and the fans fire up! Hashi rallies the fans, runs, and LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Chase is still in this but the fans fire up more! Hashi gets Chase up, full nelsons, then pump handles, KARMA!! Cover, Hashi wins!
Winner: Yoshi-Hashi, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
The Crown Jewel cracked under the pressure and now Hashi heads for Korakuen Hall! But Hashi’s friend and teammate in Chaos, Tomohiro Ishii, will be waiting! If Hashi made it through this, can he make it through the Stone Pitbull?
8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The House of Torture!
Tetsuya Naito is preparing for the Forbidden Door and his battle with Jon Moxley, but it seems some old enemies are knocking at his door. Will Titan, Bushi & Yota Tsuji help Naito stay tranquilo? Or will Evil, Ren Narita, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sho make sure Darkness Falls in Fukushima?
Before the match, Sho gets on the mic to sarcastically with Naito a happy birthday. As such, he says it’s cute Naito thinks he’s going to have a happy birthday at all. Sho talks trash on LIJ, too, but the fans boo. And then The House just attacks! The bell rings, the brawl is on, and while Evil, Narita & Kanemaru drag Naito, Bushi & Yota out, Sho digs his boot into Titan’s neck! Red Shoes reprimands, Sho lets off, and he drags Titan up to CLUB him down. Sho talks trash as he digs his boot into Titan’s head. Titan gets up to fire off a strike fest! SOBAT and Titan runs, but Kanemaru gets a cheap shot in!
Red Shoes reprimands, Titan swings on Kanemaru but Kanemaru avoids it. Kanemaru throws Titan down by his mask, only for Titan to kip up! PELE! Kanemaru falls, Titan gets around Sho to knuckle lock, CHOP, and he goes up and up! Titan tightrope walks but Kanemaru gets in, so Titan MISSILE DROPKICKS the Heel Master! Then DROPKICK for the Murder Machine! The fans fire up as Titan snapmares, gets a leg, and drops a leg on the knee! And then Titan drags Sho over to tag in Naito! The fans cheer as the birthday boy drags Sho up and wrenches his arm to a wristlock. Sho begs for mercy as Naito cranks the hold!
Sho reaches out, Naito keeps him from ropes, and they go around and around. Naito even teases Evil by just barely keeping Sho back from a tag! Naito grins as he brings Sho away and Bushi tags in. Bushi climbs up, Evil protests, but Bushi still gets away with the AX HANDLE! The fans cheer, and Bushi BLASTS Evil off the apron! Bushi CHOPS Sho, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Sho dodges. Sho runs in but into the PENDULUM KICK! Bushi aims but Dick Togo anchors Bushi’s feet while Sho gets in Red Shoes’ face! Narita BOOTS Bushi down, and then the rest of the House attacks the rest of LIJ!
Narita whips Bushi into railing, Evil CHOKES Naito, Sho whips Yota! Sho and Bushi get back in the ring, even as Evil CHOKES Naito, Kanemaru CHOKES Titan, and Narita brings Yota into the crowd! The fans have to be careful, and Red Shoes reprimands, but this lets Sho CHOKE Bushi in the ring! Sho tags Kanemaru and he scrapes his foot off Bushi’s face. Kanemaru snapmares Bushi, ELBOWS him in the head, then stomps him around. The fans rally for Bushi but Kanemaru sends him into Evil’s boot! Kanemaru tags Evil, Red Shoes sees Evil has a shirt ready to use, so Evil gives that up so he can kick Bushi out of the ring.
Red Shoes is busy putting the shirt aside, so he misses Sho and Narita mugging Bushi! Narita grabs a chair, Sho stands Bushi up, and Narita JAMS Bushi! Yota protests, Narita puts Bushi in for Evil, and Evil drags Bushi up for a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! But then someone rings the bell? Dick Togo makes the announcement and Evil even grabs Bushi’s mask cover to celebrate. Red Shoes says no, this doesn’t count in any way, shape or form. Evil says fine, and he tags Narita. Narita drags Bushi up, Bushi CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Narita CLAWS Bushi’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands while Narita scrapes Bushi’s face off ropes!
Red Shoes counts, Narita lets off and runs, but Bushi blocks the boot to ENZIGIRI! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Bushi crawls, but Narita stomps him down! Narita BLASTS Yota, stands Bushi up, but Bushi blocks a kick to CLUB the leg! Bushi then dropkicks the legs out, crawls for his corner, and the fans rally up! Hot tag to Yota! The fans fire up as Yota runs Narita over! Kanemaru & Sho get in to kick low then double whip, but Yota kicks Sho while he arm-drags Kanemaru! The fans fire up as Yota scoops Sho for a BACKBREAKER! Kanemaru storms up but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER!
Narita returns, kicks low and whips, but Yota reverses to scoop and BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up for the hattrick while Narita writhes! Yota gets the fans even more fired up and he smiles. Yota drags Narita up, fireman’s carries, but Narita fights free. Narita CHOKES Yota, Red Shoes reprimands, but Yota breaks free! Yota swings, Narita ducks then gets the SLEEPER! Yota endures, and he RAMS Narita into the corner! Yota sputters, but Evil sneakily unties the buckle pad! Yota runs back in and surprise! Yota runs into bare buckles! The fans boo but Narita tags Evil in. Evil & Narita split the wishbone on Narita, then Evil DECKS Naito!
Narita & Evil whip Yota to an open corner. Evil runs in but Yota BOOTS him! Narita runs in, he blocks Yota’s boot, but Yota reels Narita in to STOMP down! Evil mule kicks, runs, but into a COMPLETE SHOT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yota crawls over, hot tag to Naito! Naito fires hands on Evil, kicks and CLUBS him, then whips. Evil reverses but Naito holds ropes. Naito BOOTS Evil, runs up and gets around, then whips to arm-drag! Evil stands, Naito RAMS into him, but Evil fights the atomic drop. Naito RAMS Evil into the corner, whips him corner to corner, then ELBOWS him! Naito snapmares and basement dropkicks!
The fans fire up as Naito poses, then he covers, TWO! Evil is still in this but Naito stays on him. Evil kicks, Naito blocks and he CLUBS the leg! Naito kicks and kicks, but Evil blocks! Kanemaru gets in to dropkick the legs out! Kanemaru & Sho hold off LIJ while Evil steps through, for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Naito endures, pushes up, crawls forward, but Evil sits deep on the hold! Dick pokes Naito in the eyes! But even so, Naito fights forward to the ROPEBREAK! Evil holds until Red Shoes counts 4, then Kanemaru tags in. The House sends Naito to an open corner. Sho runs in to forearm smash, then Narita adds his own!
Kanemaru runs in to elbow! Evil runs in to clothesline! Snapmare, and then Narita gets in Red Shoes’ face! Dick goes up the corner while Evil & Kanemaru hold Naito open! DICK CHOP! Kanemaru covers, TWO!! Naito survives and the fans fire up! But Kanemaru & Evil SMASH the knees! Kanemaru steps through to FIGURE FOUR! Naito endures, the fans rally, but Kanemaru thrashes around! Bushi gets in to stomp Kanemaru, but Sho kicks Bushi! Sho throws Bushi out, but Naito is still free of the leglock. Dick distracts Red Shoes, letting Kanemaru get his whiskey! The fans boo as Kanemaru aims, but Naito ducks the bottle!
Titan SHOTGUNS Kanemaru, then he BOOTS Dick! Sho kicks Titan, whips, but Titan reverses. Titan goes Matrix to then CALF KICK Sho! Evil & Narita attack, double whip, but Titan uses that to FLY out onto Sho! The fans fire up, Bushi & Yota get in! CODE BREAKER for Evil, STUNNER for Narita! Then Naito baits Kanemaru into an atomic drop! Bushi ENZIGIRIS! Yota SUPERKICKS! Bushi gives Naito a boost, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up as Naito gets Kanemaru up, wrenches, and tilt-o-whirls, DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ wins!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall
The House of Torture tried but failed, and the night is tranquilo after all! Yota grabs the blue buckle pad and threatens Narita with it! Souled Out runs away to help the rest of The House get outta here, will they ever learn their lesson?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring, and naturally, Naito gets the mic. “Buenas noches, Fukushimaaa~!” The fans cheer, and Naito continues. NJPW visits the Fukushima Prefecture often, but it has been three YEARS and eight MONTHS since they were last in THE Fukushima City. Therefore, Naito thanks everyone for coming out tonight. Gracias, amigos. Naito then notes that yes, today happens to be his birthday. The fans cheer that! And Naito says he isn’t sure where she is, but his mom made the trip all the way from Tokyo just to be here tonight. The fans are surprised, but then cheer for Mama Naito.
Naito says again, he isn’t sure where she is in the crowd, but he says gracias to her. The fans applaud that, and then Naito says that in these last three years and eight months, surely there are a lot of new fans here. So, did those new people enjoy NJPW and LIJ? The fans cheer! Then, after these three years and eight months, the next time will be… Hmm. Two years? Three? Four? Just next month? Well, Naito isn’t sure. But until then, remember: Tranquilo! Assen na yo! The fans cheer, and Naito asks, “So, shall we?” The fans cheer, and Naito says if he remembers right, it has been since October of 2016, so SEVEN years and eight months, since the last time! Is everyone ready?
The only way to close out tonight’s New Japan Soul in Fukushima is of course… “Bushi, Hiromu,Takagi, Titan, Yota, y Naito! Nosotros! LOS! INGOBERRRRRNABLEEEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!” Big mic drop and LIJ is rolling forward, but they will have to do this all over again tomorrow night. Will Naito keep up the pace as he heads for Jon Moxley and the Forbidden Door?
My Thoughts:
A very good return for the New Japan Soul series here, with plenty of tune-up matches for tomorrow’s New Japan Soul and those G1 Climax qualifiers. Really good G1 Climax qualifiers tonight, though the fans were just cold for Yujiro against Callum. Good win for Callum, and he’ll have a good showing against Kenta but I don’t expect Callum to make it to the A Block prelim finals in a couple weeks. Hashi VS Chase was very good, great win for Hashi, and while they avoided Bullet Club VS Bullet Club, they’re totally giving us Chaos VS Chaos as Hashi takes on Ishii. I’m leaning towards Ishii making it through and facing Kenta in the prelim finals.
And then a really good, really fun 8 Man Tag for the main event. Naito is definitely building momentum towards his match with Moxley in just over a week, which I would hope he wins, but it doesn’t seem like there’s a clear challenger for Naito afterwards. At the same time, the G1 is next, he’s gonna be in that as champion, the round robin nature makes for at least one person getting that golden ticket win off him in like a middle round. Also happy birthday to Naito, and it was so nice to know his mom made the trip out there to spend time with him.
My Score: 8.8/10
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