Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/13/24)
Raw enters the second round!
Can Kofi Kingston avenge Xavier Woods?
Der Ring General put Xavier Woods on the shelf, then took out The Fella in the first round! But will Kofi Kingston show him why New Day Rocks?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals: Shayna Baszler VS Iyo Sky; Iyo wins and advances.
- King of the Ring Quarterfinals: GUNTHER VS Kofi Kingston; Gunther wins and advances.
- Akira Tozawa VS Bronson Reed; Bronson wins.
- Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals: Lyra Valkyria VS Zoey Stark; Lyra wins and advances.
- Otis VS Sami Zayn; Sami wins.
- Becky Lynch VS Dakota Kai w/ Damage CTRL; Becky wins, by disqualification.
- WWE World Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: New Catch Republic VS Authors of Pain VS The Creed Brothers VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh; Finn & JD win and will challenge The Awesome Truth for the titles.
- King of the Ring Quarterfinals: Jey Uso VS Ilja Dragunov; Jey wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
Drew McIntyre storms right to gorilla.
The Scottish Terminator’s music hits and he goes right out on stage! The fans in Greenville, South Carolina fire up as he gets his pyro, then he goes to the ring. He passes by commentary and Pat McAfee sells out Michael Cole about calling McIntyre a hypocrite! McIntyre then steps into the ring, gets more pyro, but then the fans chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” McIntyre says maybe if we were in Atlanta or Charlotte, sure, but Punk’s not coming to Greenville. He only works the big cities, brother! The fans boo but McIntyre brings up Punk’s favorite line, “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist.”
McIntyre says the greatest trick Punk ever pulled was looking like a drug without ever taking any drugs. No, in seriousness, the greatest trick of Punk’s is making the fans believe in him, no matter how many times he breaks their trust! Management takes Punk back like an abusive relationship and McIntyre doesn’t understand it. Another thing he doesn’t understand is the fans buy all the crap he spews! McIntyre doesn’t like talking down to people like they’re stupid, but if you’re a fan of CM Punk, you’re stupid! Just look at the facts! Punk was here, calling McIntyre a coward, challenging him to a fight, after literally watching McIntyre take his leave!
Punk arrived a second later, talked trash, and it’s like he’s got a stooge on the inside, Adam Pearce. And then before that, McIntyre’s on stage, Punk’s in a skybox. McIntyre goes to the skybox, Punk’s down in the ring! Punk is running from McIntyre, but eventually, McIntyre will get his hands on Punk, torture him, and Punk will be begging for McIntyre to tear his triceps again. But until then, McIntyre won’t waste time on a guy who might not be cleared for the next 20 YEARS. And speaking of things that’ll never happen, Jey Uso lost another title match. The fans boo but McIntyre says that should’ve been his title match. Jey’s reward? McIntyre’s spot in King of the Ring!
McIntyre will deal with that BS later because number one on his list is the World Heavyweight Championship and that paper champion, Damian Priest! McIntyre’s been watching Priest, walking around like the big man with his limp Bloodline- Wait! Here comes Damian Priest! The fans fire up for El Campeon as he raises the world title up and heads to the ring. McIntyre smirks as Priest steps into the ring with him, then Priest gets himself a mic. Priest tells McIntyre that he’s got some serious issues. Since McIntyre can’t shut that hole in his face, maybe he should do something different tonight? McIntyre should say what he says, to that person’s face.
McIntyre says he’d love to, but if Priest was listening, Punk keeps running away from McIntyre every week. But at least Priest is stepping up to him. McIntyre will say something positive. Priest has a very inspirational story, worked his arse off, put his shift in, paid his dues. He deserves all the success in the world, but just not the World Heavyweight Championship. McIntyre’s next door neighbor, Dave, has a pretty inspirational story, but that doesn’t mean he should be world champion. But this is a case of the title making the title. This title is in its infant stage still, and it needs the man to make the title! It needs Drew McIntyre!
The fans boo but McIntyre says Priest knew he couldn’t beat McIntyre 1v1, so he had to use the briefcase- Priest stops McIntyre there. McIntyre is delusional! McIntyre is out here blaming everyone else for his own failures! Priest asks a question: did McIntyre not choose this life? He chose to be a WWE superstar, right? Yes, since he was 21 years old! And say “What” if you think Priest is a BS champion. “WHAT?” Gottee! Priest says that means he’s still champion. But check it, here’s what McIntyre should do. McIntyre should choose to find a mirror, take a look at the reflection, and then blame “that a-hole.”
Priest will break it down for McIntyre more. Priest wanted to cash in on Rollins, he really did. Then he and McIntyre could’ve gone to war at WrestleMania. But McIntyre had to go and stop Priest multiple times. That is McIntyre’s fault. Wait, oh, and then, McIntyre explained to the world that if Priest was smart, he’d wait for McIntyre to beat Rollins, and then he’d cash in on McIntyre! And so what happened? That’s on McIntyre. But let’s go back to WrestleMania. McIntyre finally achieved his goal, and all he had to do was take his wife and leave, enjoy the moment. But what happened? Priest says he acted like an idiot.
McIntyre saw Punk, made Punk more important than himself, this title, and his wife. Oh, wait, let’s also not forget that McIntyre got whooped by a one-armed man. So yeah Priest cashed in! McIntyre’s elbow will heal, he’ll get cleared. He wants his shot at the world title? Fine, he’s got it! But check this out, McIntyre. Call Priest a paper champion all you want, but when Priest is done, McIntyre will eat his words. #ALLRISE to that. Priest drops the mic and leaves McIntyre seething. That seems to happen a lot to McIntyre these days. Will McIntyre make good on this shot now that he has it?
WWE share footage from just before the show.
Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark arrived at the same time as Damage CTRL. Iyo Sky gets Shayna’s attention, tells her off in Japanese, but Shayna shoves Iyo! Producers stepped in to keep this from getting physical, and DMG CTRL moved on. The Evil Genius and the Queen of Spades will have it out tonight, who takes one step closer to the throne?
Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals: Shayna Baszler VS Iyo Sky!
The moment Iyo’s in the ring, Shayna rushes up from outta nowhere and TOSSES her back out! The fans fire up as Iyo is learning not to give Shayna fuel for the fire! Shayna ROCKS Iyo, refs rush out here, and they keep Shayna from adding on! The Evil Genius needs to rethink her strategy fast while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and the match is officially underway as Shayna whips Iyo to ropes. Iyo ducks ‘n’ waistlocks then redirects. Iyo ducks the boot, handsprings over Shayna’s back, then trips Shayna up! Iyo won’t stop, she basement dropkicks! The fans fire up as Iyo kips up! Iyo says she’ll wear the crown, then she runs up, but Shayna moves! Iyo slips out to the outside safe, but Shayna is on the apron! Iyo blocks the Penalty Kick, TRIPS Shayna up, and we get a QR Code before Iyo hurries back to the apron. Shayna stands, catches Iyo from the springboard, and HOTSHOTS her down! Shayna then goes up a corner, and she drags Iyo up by her arm!
The fans fire up for the HANGING WRISTLOCK! The ref counts, Shayna drops Iyo, and Iyo flops to the floor! Shayna goes out to get Iyo and whip her into barriers! Then into the apron! Then the barriers! The ring count climbs so Shayna SMACKS Iyo off the apron and puts her in the ring. Shayna slides in, Iyo scrambles back out, and Shayna is annoyed. Shayna goes out after Iyo to KICK her in the back! Shayna then opens the apron skirt and gets Iyo’s arm through the frame! Shayna BOOTS the arm, and she grins as Iyo writhes! The count climbs to 5 of 10, fans want tables, but that’s not this kind of match, Greenville.
Shayna puts Iyo in the ring, covers, TWO! Shayna clamps onto the bad arm and grinds it to a top wristlock. Shayna isolates that arm, lets her hair down, and the fans know what that means! But Iyo trips Shayna first! Shayna gets up, goes after the arm, but Iyo fires forearms! Iyo is free but Shayna shoves her. Things speed up and Iyo RANAS! Shayna tumbles, Iyo BUZZSAWS! The fans rally and duel while Iyo shakes out the bad arm. Iyo gets Shayna up, reels her in, underhooks, but Shayna wrenches out! Shayna headlocks but Iyo slips out the back to hammerlock. Shayna wrenches the arm again to hit SOLE FOOD!
Iyo staggers to a corner, Shayna runs up to KNEE! Shayna puts Iyo up top, climbs up after her, and the fans fire up! Shayna brings Iyo into a gut wrench, but Iyo fights with body shots! Shayna still tries but Iyo still fights the suplex! Iyo manages to SUSNET FLIP free! Iyo then SHOVES Shayna down! Shayna’s stuck in a Tree of Woe, the ref checks and helps her get free. Shayna goes to the floor but Iyo goes to the apron! ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and down goes Shayna! The fans are fired up and Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Shayna goes for an ARMBAR! Iyo stacks, TWO! SHOTEI!! Iyo fires forearms, puts Shayna in a corner, then fires off fast hands! The ref counts, Iyo lets off and she goes corner to corner, but is put on the apron! Shayna kicks, Iyo blocks, to HOTSHOT the leg! Shayna scrambles away, and Iyo takes aim again. Iyo springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Shayna tumbles to ropes, Iyo runs up to DOUBLE KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Shayna survives but Iyo stays focused. Iyo steps on Shayna, goes up the corner, and OVER THE MOONSAULT! Iyo blocks Shayna’s boots! Iyo sits Shayna up, BUZZSAW!
Shayna wobbles, Iyo steps over, LA MAGISTROL, and bridge! TWO!! KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!!! Iyo flails, reaches out, but Shayna shifts grips! Iyo rolls it back, pops free, and has a CROSSFACE!! Now Iyo makes Shayna suffer! Shayna fights up, pries free, dragon sleeper, BACKBREAKER! KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! Iyo survives and Shayna is beside herself! “This is Awesome!” as Shayna aims from a corner., Shayna runs up, but Iyo blocks the kick! DRAGON SCREW! Shayna hobbles to a corner, Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN! Then she puts Shayna in the drop zone, goes up top, OVER THE MOONSAULT!! Cover, Iyo wins!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
And with that, The Evil Genius moves on to the semifinals! Jackie Redmond interviews Iyo in the ring, congratulating her on advancing. She faces either Zoey Stark or Lyra Valkyria, what can we expect? Iyo takes the mic, and in Japanese, she promises to be the Queen of the Ring, and then the WWE Women’s World Champion! The fans fire up for that! Will the Evil Genius soon become an evil queen?
The Judgment Day are in the clubhouse.
They finish playing darts, and JD McDonagh says should get bonus points for his grouping rather than his accuracy. Finn says to worry more about Braun Strowman than about a game. And wait, Carlito is in here? Priest steps in and asks what’s up. Dom says he knows Carlito and Priest have history, but now is a good time to work together. They all agree on a lot of things, right? They agree that Rey Mysterio is a selfish bastard, right? Right! They know that from when Rey gave away Carlito’s WrestleMania moment to Dragon Lee. But no one knows more than Dom.
But hey, Rhea Ripley is out, Dom is hurt. Carlito can be the crew’s extra muscle. Well, all he’s saying is, they can all benefit mutually from this arrangement. Priest says what Carlito is saying does sound good. If the boys want to work with him, fine. But as far as Priest is concerned, Carlito’s not welcomed. Carlito gets it. Priest doesn’t trust him. But he trusts the boys, right? Then Carlito will say this: the most stubborn minds can be changed, and maybe one day, they can all be amigos. Carlito leaves, will The Punisher come around to accepting Caribbean Cool?
The Alpha Academy meets backstage.
Chad Gable says, “Well here we are. On the cusp of my big Intercontinental Championship match in Saudi, and uh… Maxxine. What a weekend you had, huh? Out there, galivanting around, blowing opportunities in Queen of the Ring, embarrassing the Alpha Academy, it’s pathetic! You’ve learned nothing! fortunately, I’ve got a chance at redemption. Talked with Pearce, got a couple matches for you two.” Otis will face Bronson Reed while Tozawa will face… Wait, no. It should be Otis VS Sami Zayn! That’s what Gable needs! He needs his number one guy to soften up Sami for Saudi, but no funny business! No hips shaking, no Worm stuff. Be serious, Otis. You know what that means, right?
Otis says yes, sir. No matter what. But Gable wants him to say it louder. No matter what. Otis heads out, and Gable tells Tozawa he has a big opportunity tonight so don’t blow it. He’s taking on Bronson Reed, and Gable swears, if he sees that dance…! Let’s go. Gable leads Tozawa away and Maxxine stays behind. Ivy Nile finds Maxxine and asks why she didn’t mention that QOTR match. Ivy could’ve helped her prepare. Maxxine says she’s sorry, but Coach Gable doesn’t want her training outside The Academy anymore. What? Maxxine, you don’t have to put up with this. But then Gable comes back and asks what is going on. Go do something! Anything!
Maxxine hurries away and Gable says Ivy has talent. She even has potential. But a piece of advice: stop wasting time with “Taylor Not So Swift,” okay? That one’s free. Gable heads out and Ivy can’t even! But is The Academy only going to fail when put under so much pressure?
Backstage interview with The New Day.
Cathy Kelley is with Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods. Kofi did the unthinkable time and again in his career. He is preparing for Gunther tonight, how will he do the unthinkable again and win against Der Ring General? Kofi says not to toot his own horn, but he is quite familiar with the unthinkable. But tonight isn’t about that. Tonight is about payback! Tonight is giving Gunther what he deserves for what he did to Woods! Over the weekend, Kofi went toe to toe with the greatest luchador of all time in Rey Mysterio. And it reminded Kofi of a few things: there is no room for fear in that ring. There is no room for self doubt! And most of all, there’s no room for failure!
Kofi knows how much this all means to Woods. Woods says this is something Gunther will never understand. Everyone knows how dangerous Gunther is, but Gunther… King of the Ring is something that brings honor! Earning that title brings honor! Because of what Gunther did to him, Woods can’t go out there to defend that honor. But luckily, Woods knows someone who is an incredible candidate to go out there and beat the hell outta Gunther, and that is one of the greatest champions of all time in Kofi Kingston. Tonight, Kofi goes out there and shows Gunther exactly why… NEW! DAY ROCKS!
Samantha Irvin introduces Lilian Garcia!
The iconic ring announcer is back and the fans cheer! Samantha wants Lilian to help her do the honor of introducing this next match. Lilian says she would absolutely love to! It’d be amazing, the fans are amazing, Samantha is amazing! The fans cheer, Lilian says she is so proud of Samantha, and they hug it out. Lilian then says the following is a King of the Ring Quarterfinals Match scheduled for one fall! Kofi makes his entrance first, looks at the crown on display, but will he get to wear it at the end of all this? Or will Der Ring General make himself Der Konig des Ring?
Adam Pearce talks with R-Truth.
Does the Raw General Manager see what he’s saying? He does. Truth thinks they’ve got a great plan for these titles. Tonight’s gonna be hot as hell! Miz steps in and again says please talk to him before putting their titles on the line. Truth says their titles aren’t on the line. Pearce confirms, it wasn’t about that. But they do need #1 contenders, so tonight, the Raw Tag Division will be having a hell of an opportunity. Truth says tell ’em! Miz double checks, The Awesome Truth is not defending the belts? Then why’re they here? In steps Kiana James!
The newest member of the division says that while they spoke on the phone last week, she wants to reiterate that she is so looking forward to working with Adam Pearce. And she looks forward to leveraging this opportunity to prove she is The One Percent. Pearce appreciates that, and says if she needs anything at all, don’t hesitate to call. She never hesitates. She adjudicates. She does what in the workplace? Truth doesn’t even know if that’s PG. Pearce sighs, but what is cooking for the Raw Tag Division here?
King of the Ring Quarterfinals: GUNTHER VS Kofi Kingston!
Raw returns and Der Ring General makes his entrance. And then Kofi DROPKICKS him off the apron! The fans fire up, Kofi goes out after Gunther to fire off hands, then he gets in the ring to build speed! Kofi DIVES and takes Gunther down! Kofi fires more hands, Gunther gets loose, but Kofi DROPKICKS him into the apron! Kofi SLAMS Gunther’s leg against the apron! Kofi stomps that leg, all payback for Woods! But Gunther CHOPS back! The ref wants this in the ring, it isn’t even a match yet! Gunther whips, but Kofi goes up and up and SUPER CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up with Kofi and he keeps Gunther from getting away!
Kofi SLAMS the leg on the apron! Then he drags Gunther to a corner, to SLAM it into the post! Kofi storms into the ring, puts the leg around ropes and pulls! The ref reprimands, Kofi lets off, just to run and DROPKICK the leg! The fans are all fired up for KofiMania, and the bell rings! Gunther hobbles up, but he avoids Trouble in Paradise! GERMAN SUPLEX, but Kofi lands out! Kofi runs up to dropkick the legs! Gunther falls, Kofi goes to a corner! Kofi climbs, aims, and SUPER BOOM DROPS!! Cover, TWO!! Gunther survives and Kofi scowls while the fans fire up! Gunther bails out, leans on the desk, but Kofi builds speed! Kofi DIVES, but into a clinch!
Gunther RAMS Kofi into the apron! Gunther seethes, drags Kofi up, and CHOPS him! Gunther then hits a BARRIER BACK SUPLEX! Kofi writhes, the ring count starts, but Gunther gets Kofi up. Gunther copies Randy Orton with a DESK BACK SUPLEX! Kofi writhes, Gunther refreshes the count, and he goes back for Kofi. Gunther gets Kofi’s legs as he stands on the desk, for a BOSTON CRAB! The ref reprimands and counts, Gunther lets off at 4 and the fans boo. Gunther goes to a HALF CRAB!! Kofi endures, the ref reprimands, but Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Gunther has Kofi in the ring. Gunther shoves but Kofi ROCKS Gunther! Kofi kicks at the bad leg, has Gunther in a corner, but Gunther turns things around to CHOP! The fans “WOO~!” for that one, but Gunther goes out to the apron to stomp Kofi back into the ring! Gunther taunts Kofi, kicks him around, and he brings Kofi up. Gunther whips Kofi to the corner hard, and Kofi falls to the mat! The fans rally with “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” but Gunther brings Kofi up. Kofi CHOPS! And CHOPS! And fires forearms! Kofi KICKS the bad leg, but Gunther scoops to SLAM him!
Gunther scowls, Kofi writhes, and Gunther knees on Kofi’s back. Gunther ties up the legs, even as the fans rally, but Gunther pulls Kofi into a BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Kofi endures, pops free to a cover, TWO! Gunther BOOTS Kofi down! Gunther hobbles while Kofi flops on the ropes. Gunther looms over Kofi, drags him back around, and he eggs Kofi on. Kofi slowly rises, and he KICKS the bad leg! Kofi stands to KICK again! But Gunther CHOPS! Kofi storms up to JAWBREAKER! Kofi runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Kofi writhes, Gunther shakes out the bad leg since he had to use it in the move, and the fans continue to rally.
Gunther drags Kofi around, and drops an ELBOW on the back! Gunther goes up a corner, to FALLING ELBOW DROP but misses as Kofi moves! The fans fire up with “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” as Kofi stands. Kofi KICKS the bad leg! And KICKS! And KICKS! And KICKS, but Gunther blocks! Gunther CLUBS Kofi on the back, ripcords, but Kofi slips under! But Gunther turns SOS into gut wrench! Kofi slips free, Gunther hobbles, and Gunther runs into a PENDULUM KICK! Kofi goes up top, and CROSSBODIES! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Kofi stands, but Gunther trips him! BOSTON CRAB!!
Kofi endures, the fans freak out! Gunther puts pressure on the hold but Kofi slips under and kicks from below! Kick kicks the bad leg! Gunther hobbles away, swings, but into SOS!! Cover, TWO!! Gunther survives and the fans rally again! “This is Awesome!” as Kofi goes to a corner. Kofi climbs up, and CROSS- NO, Gunther moves! Kofi staggers up, into a BLINDSIDE SHOTGUN! Gunther then ripcords Kofi to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Kofi survives and Gunther is a bit surprised, but the fans continue to rally. Gunther taunts Kofi, eggs him on, then drags him to a corner. Gunther pulls Kofi against the post!
The ref reprimands and counts, Gunther lets go at 4, and the fans boo. Gunther gets Kofi up, to GENERAL- RANA!! Kofi posts Gunther with that, and then runs up to TROUBLE IN PARADISE!! Both men are down on the outside and the ring count is climbing! Kofi crawls, drags himself up with the apron skirt, and slides in at 7! Gunther stands at 8 and hobbles around! Gunther is in at 9.5!! The fans can’t believe it, but the match continues! Kofi aims from a corner, Gunther stands, into TROUBLE IN- NO, Gunther avoids it again, to GENERAL BOMB!! High stack, TWO!! BOSTON CRAB!!! Gunther sits deep on the hold! Kofi TAPS, Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by submission (advances to the next round)
A fiery start but a miscalculation at the end, Kofi fails to avenge Woods’ injury! Gunther already claims the crown, but who will meet him in the semifinals?
Backstage interview with Lyra Valkyria.
Jackie Redmond is now with The Morrigan and asks how she’s feeling after last week’s big Raw debut. Not only did Lyra beat Dakota Kai, she came to the rescue for The Man, Becky Lynch. Lyra says what a perfect way to kickstart her rise to the top! And, to also send a message at the same time. DMG CTRL better get used to seeing Lyra, because she’s here to stay. And any time Becky needs a little Irish back-up, Lyra will be there. Speaking of, Becky steps in to thank Lyra for it! Great to have her on Raw! Becky wants Lyra to go crush it later tonight! Fighting Irish, ‘ey? Jackie says Becky’s the best, huh?
But to the match, Lyra faces Zoey Stark, how has she been preparing? Well, Zoey and Lyra have never gone 1v1 but- In steps Liv Morgan. Liv “doesn’t mean” to interrupt, but she just wanted to say hi and to congratulate Lyra, and says she’ll have so much fun here. Oh, uh, thanks, Liv. That’s really nice of you. Liv does want to say one thing, though. Has Becky always been such a b*tch? Lyra tells Liv to ask her directly. Becky circled back around to get behind Liv! Liv turns around, they both smile, and then Becky BOPS Liv right in the mouth! Becky says she’s not the one scared of a face-to-face fight, b*tch!
Becky heads out for real this time, but Liv seems to smirk. Will this revenge tour hit the Big Time as hard as the Big Time hit her?
Kofi returns backstage.
He’s definitely hurting, but then Karrion Kross finds him! Kross tells Kofi that was a “tough loss.” But don’t worry, there’s always time to turn things around. Kross leaves, Woods finds Koi and gives him an icepack. What did Kross want? Kofi isn’t sure. But will Mr. Doomsday make his intentions clear sooner rather than later?
Akira Tozawa w/ Chad Gable VS Bronson Reed!
The Alpha Academy is having to deal with major tests, all because Master Gable wants his opponents worn out before the Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat. Will the Stamina Monster find a way to bring down the Colossal Aussie? Or will it just be disappointment after disappointment for Gable?
The bell rings, Bronson runs in but Tozawa dodge! Tozawa fires off fists, but Bronson TOSSES Tozawa to a corner! Tozawa BOOTS Bronson, runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then slides under to SUPERKICK! Gable keeps on shouting how this is what happens when you listen to him! Tozawa spins, but Bronson ducks the kick, only for the SPIN KICK to hit on the second try! Tozawa hurries up top, MISSILE DROPKICKS, and Bronson actually falls! The fans fire up and Tozawa rips the shirt open! Gable gets mad, no fan pandering! That’s not what he taught Tozawa! Tozawa goes up, leaps, but Bronson catches him!
Bronson pops Tozawa up into a fireman’s carry, and a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Tozawa is dazed, Bronson puts him in the drop zone! Gable says Tozawa’s an idiot, this is not on him! TSUNAMI!! Cover, Bronson wins!
Winner: Bronson Reed, by pinfall
Well, whether or not Tozawa’s failure is on Gable’s hands, he has a big fight on his hands in two weeks. Will Gable fail his own greatest test in that Triple Threat?
Imperium regroups backstage.
Ludwig Kaiser says that was impressive out there, but then Cathy Kelley walks over. She excuses the intrusion but Gunther says sorry, no interview today. Kaiser scolds Cathy. The first thing when he comes out of there, she bothers him? After winning, he has to answer questions? What’re we doing here? Cathy says there’s no denying the momentum, but she did want to address his history with the remaining competitors in this tournament. The last time Gunther faced Ilja Dragunov, Ilja won. And Gunther’s win over Jey Uso was partially because of Jimmy Uso interfering. And then last week, Kaiser had to help Gunther against Sheamus.
Kaiser asks Cathy, “Who’re we talking about here? We are talking about Der Ring General, we are talking about the most successful, the longest reigning Intercontinental Heavyweight Campion in history! 666 DAYS! Gunther does not have to prove anything to anyone around here. Is that clear?” And she brought up Sheamus. If anyone out there actually believes, if Sheamus himself thinks he lost because of Kaiser, then they must be delusional! But Sheamus has had a legendary career, no problem admitting that. But one thing he’s never achieved is beating Gunther 1v1. Never happened, never will.
In fact, Sheamus should be standing here next to Kaiser thanking him, because Kaiser saved Sheamus last week! If Sheamus has a problem with that, then Kaiser will be the guy to put Sheamus out of his misery! Kaiser will expose and embarrass Sheamus in front of the whole wide world! We’re done here. Kaiser follows after Gunther, but is the Impeccable German perhaps getting ahead of himself when it comes to the Celtic Warrior?
Backstage interview with Adam Pearce.
Jackie Redmond is now with the Raw GM, and wants to talk this big announcement he has for the tag division. But first in steps New Catch Republic! Tyler Bate has to usher Pete Dunne along, and then he apologizes to everyone for the interruption. He just wants to thank Pearce for this great opportunity here on Raw to show some unbelievable tekkers. Well, Pearce appreciates that and wishes them luck. They head out, and Pearce says the Draft is behind us, the roster has a new look, and it is a new era. That means new opportunities. Tonight, he put together a Fatal 4 Way to determine new #1 contenders to the World Tag Team Championships.
So obvious, New Catch Republic, VS Authors of Pain VS The Creed Brothers VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh. The winners get their shot at The Awesome Truth. Jackie loves it! Opportunity is in the air, but also, while she has him, she wants to ask Pearce why Bron Breakker, a top pick in the Draft, wasn’t in the KOTR. Can he explain that decision? Well isn’t she a broadcast journalist. Pearce already talked with Bron last week. Bron has unlimited potential, anyone with eyes can see it, but the guy son this roster have earned spots at the highest levels. Pearce explained this to Bron, didn’t wanna shove him into the deep end.
But wait, here comes Bron. “The deep end,” huh? Bron will explain this to Pearce now: Bron’s opponents, when it comes to KOTR, he wouldn’t have been in the deep end with them, they would’ve been in that deep end with him. And Bron would’ve dragged them all under and watched them drown, while he smiled. Bron should’ve been in the damn thing. Bron storms out, Pearce is a bit stunned, but will the Big Bad Booty Nephew prove he’s a genetic freak and he’s not normal?
Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals: Lyra Valkyria VS Zoey Stark!
A former NXT Women’s Champion faces off with a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, and it is truly a glimpse at the bright future of the Raw Women’s Division. But will The Morrigan soar to new heights as she steps closer to the crown? Or will the Hunter take down her prey as she builds her legacy?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Zoey powers Lyra back but Lyra puts her in the corner. Lyra lets off, Zoey shoves her, so Lyra shoves back! Lyra dodges the lariat to headlock, but Zoey powers out. Lyra goes up and over, handsprings, then arm-drags Zoey! Lyra then dodges Zoey to go up and up and FLYING ELBOW! Another arm-drag, and Lyra has the armlock! Zoey fights up, powers Lyra to ropes and KNEES low! Zoey pie faces Lyra, whips, but Lyra ducks ‘n’ dodges. Lyra then jumps up to RANA Zoey out of the ring! The fans fire up as Lyra goes to the apron, but Zoey blocks the kick! Lyra kicks free, leaps, but Zoey dodges!
Zoey runs up to LARIAT Lyra down! The fans boo but Zoey soaks it up as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Lyra flounders. Zoey springboards in to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Zoey mocks Lyra’s posing, flexes on her, then clamps onto Lyra with a cravat. Lyra endures the neck wrench, Zoey shouts at Pat McAfee to put her dropkick over, but Lyra fights up. The fans rally as Lyra fires body shots, but Zoey fires forearms and elbows! Zoey kicks the legs out, then pushes Lyra around. Zoey runs, but Lyra avoids the knee to ghost pin! TWO, and both women stand up! Lyra blocks a shot to ROCK Zoey! And ROCK! SOBAT! KICK! ENZIGIRI! Zoey tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up!
Lyra builds speed and WRECKS Zoey with a dropkick! Lyra puts Zoey in fast, goes up a corner, and CROSSBODIES! Lyra pushes Zoey around, gets her up, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Zoey stays in this but Lyra stays focused. The fans rally behind Lyra and she drags Zoey up. Lyra fireman’s carries, but Zoey slips free to waistlock. Lyra switches, Zoey elbows out! Zoey CLUBS Lyra, KICKS the legs out, then runs up, but Lyra ducks the kick! Lyra kips up but Zoey ducks the enzigiri to SUPERKICK! And then HALF ‘N’ HALF! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and Zoey is losing her cool! Zoey storms to a corner, says she’s done!
Zoey climbs, DIVING- NO, Lyra moves and Zoey rolls through! But Lyra hits a WHEEL KICK! And then she reels Zoey in, TORNADO- NO, Zoey stops that to snap suplex into the buckles! Cover, TWO!! Lyra survives again and Zoey is furious! Zoey pie faces and pushes Lyra around, then she drags her up. Zoey SLAPS Lyra, Lyra SLAPS back! The fans fire up and Zoey SUPERKICKS again! Zoey scoops, Z 3- NO, Lyra blocks and fireman’s carries, into the NIGHTWING DRIVER!! Cover, Lyra wins!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
And now Raw’s half of the semifinals are set! Jackie interviews Lyra in the ring, saying she is making quite the first impression! Congratulations on moving on in the QOTR! Anything she’d like to say to Iyo ahead of their match? Lyra asks back if they wanna know why she’s so confident. Lyra speaks in Gaelic, then says you’ll find out what that means later. But she will say that she is Lyra Valkyria, the former NXT Women’s Champion, and she travels as the crow flies: straight to the top! The fans fire up as The Morrigan and the Evil Genius are set to collide! Who will own the skies and fly right to the finals?
Jey Uso speaks.
“Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Drew McIntyre couldn’t cut it, so they put ya boi in the King of the Ring tournament! Last week, Finn Balor got the YEET down! Tonight, though, the newcomer, Ilja Dragunov, welcome to Mon-Jey Night Raw, Uce! But you gonna get this work, too! Just like next week, Da Ring General, Gunther, YEET down. And then I’m gonna get a new crown, where it’s gonna go down, where I become the NEW King of the Ring. YEET!” Main Event Jey is ready for said main event, but will he be able to slay the Mad Dragon?
Otis w/ Chad Gable VS Sami Zayn!
Tozawa failed to slow Bronson Reed down by even a step, but now the Academy’s number one guy steps up to the Intercontinental Champion himself! Will this tree trunk fall on Sami and ruin his run up to the KQOTR event? Or will the Great Liberator help show the Academy’s ways aren’t working?
Raw returns as The Academy makes their entrance. The bell rings, Sami and Otis tie up, and Otis powers Sami to a corner., Sami gets free to fire off forearms! Otis puts Sami back in the corner to CLUB away on him! The fans boo but Gable cheers. The ref counts, Otis lets off, and Otis whips Sami to ropes. WRECKER ELBOW! Otis huffs and puffs and Gable says that’s the one he’s been looking for! Sami goes to a corner, Otis runs in to SPLASH! Sami flops and Otis is tempted. The fans want it, Pat wants it, but Gable says don’t do it! Otis starts getting that motor running but Gable tells him no! Otis really wants to, though!
Gable says NO, slow that roll! Otis listens… TO HIS HEART! He rips the shirt open, does the CATERPILLAR and ELBOW DROPS! The fans fire up but Gable is furious! Otis looks at Gable shouting at him, and he goes up the corner as told. VADER BOMBÂ FLOPS! Sami now takes aim, and runs in to HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Sami wins!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall
Okay, that one was on Gable. If he’d just let Otis be Otis, Otis would’ve won, the whole point of this match! Gable storms into the ring to berate Otis, but the fans boo. Gable SLAPS Otis?! Sami rushes back into the ring to go after Gable! CORNER EXPLODER! The fans are thunderous as Sami then runs up, but Gable bails out! Otis helps Gable up, even though he doesn’t deserve it, and Gable shakes Otis off. Gable doesn’t want Otis’ help! Gable blames Otis for all this, and then SLAPS Otis again!! Gable storms off, just how much more abuse is Otis going to put up with?
Braun Strowman talks with The Creed Brothers.
The Monster Among Men just wants to let Julius & Brutus know, they have a hell of an opportunity. It has been a lot of fun watching them make a name for themselves here on Raw, they’ve got a hecc of a future ahead of them. And just check the pipes on Ivy, she could give Braun a run for his money. But then JD calls Strowman out. Braun asks what JD wants, and JD says Braun got in their business. And? Here on Raw, Judgment Day doesn’t appreciate people sticking their nose in their business. Braun chuckles. What’s JD gonna do about it? JD says he should consider himself warned. JD storms off and Braun chuckles. He’s been warned~!
But anyway, Braun wishes The Creeds good luck in the Fatal 4 Way. Will Julius & Brutus make it through to then reach The Awesome Truth?
Becky Lynch VS Dakota Kai w/ Damage CTRL!
The Women’s World Champion got even with Liv Morgan for leaving her high and dry, but now she’s going to settle things with #CobraKai for picking the fight in the first place. Will Dakota see what happens when The Man comes around? Or will she be ready for The Big Time?
The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally up, the two start shoving, and then Becky dodges a shot to ROCK Dakota! Becky stomps away on Dakota in a corner, lets off as the ref counts, then runs back in. Dakota boots but Becky blocks to ELBOW Dakota! Becky bumps Dakota off buckles, brings her around, and bumps her off more buckles! And then off buckles in the third corner! Becky dribbles Dakota off the buckle, then lets off as the ref counts. Dakota bails out, Becky builds speed, and Becky WRECKS Dakota with a dropkick! Becky goes to the apron, and then hits a FLYING FOREARM! Dakota falls again, but Becky gets her up.
Becky SMACKS Dakota off the apron, brings her around, and SMACKS her off more apron. Becky puts Dakota in, storms up but Dakota shoulders in. Becky KICKS Dakota in the ropes, ROUNDHOUSES her away, but Iyo runs up! Becky BOOTS Iyo, then Becky goes up a corner. Kairi is there to distract Becky, and Dakota BOOTS Becky! Dakota THROWS Becky off the top, then storms over to stomp her! Dakota puts Becky on ropes to CHOKE! The ref counts, Dakota lets off, and she taunts Becky as she hits buckle bumps in return! Dakota counts along with her dribbling, but Becky hits back to bump Dakota off buckles!
Becky whips, Dakota reverses, but Becky reverses again! Dakota dodges, runs around the world, and BOOTS Becky down! Dakota stomps Becky, drags her up, and clamps on a chinlock! Becky endures as Dakota squeezes tight, and the fans rally up. Becky fights up, arm-drags free, but then Dakota blocks a boot! Becky ENZIGIRIS! Dakota goes to a corner, Becky runs up but only gets buckles. Dakota tries going Around the World again but Becky dodges! JUMP KICK! Both women are down and the fans fire up as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Dakota drags Becky up to a fireman’s carry. Becky slips free, waistlocks, and O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Dakota has the roll-up, TWO! Becky stands, Dakota kicks and TOSSES her to the apron! Dakota puts Becky in ropes to JUMP STOMP her down! Cover, TWO! Becky survives and Dakota is furious! Dakota rises, tells Becky to get up, and then Dakota runs in, but Becky BOOTS back! Dakota ROCKS Becky, runs again, but Becky runs! Dakota sees that and ROCKS Becky again! But Becky runs up, into an ELBOW! Dakota whips, Becky reverses, and now Dakota’s on the apron! But Dakota RAMS into Becky!
Dakota drags Becky into ropes, but Becky avoids the stomp! She gets Dakota in the ropes to ROCK, UPPERCUT and SOBAT! Becky goes up the corner, GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Dakota stays in this and DMG CTRL is relieved. The fans rally up as Becky and Dakota stir. Becky slaps herself to get that fire back, and she storms up on Dakota. Clinch and- NO, Dakota slips free, shoves and BOOTS in the corner! Becky falls, Dakota covers, TWO!! Becky survives and Dakota is losing her mind! Dakota goes back to the corner, climbs up, but Becky trips her up first! Becky now climbs and the fans rally!
Dakota CLUBS Becky, Becky hits back! They brawl up top, Becky CLUBS away and then brings Dakota up! The fans fire up for the SUPERPLEX! And then ARMBAR! Dakota flails, fights around, stacks, TWO! Becky pops Dakota into a cradle, TWO! Dakota high stacks, ONE!! DISARM-HER! DMG CTRL ATTACKS!!
Winner: Becky Lynch, by disqualification
The fans boo as Iyo & Kairi beat Becky down, but here comes Lyra! Lyra did say she’d have Becky’s back so here she is! ENZIGIRI for Dakota! ENZIGIRI for Kairi! Iyo and Lyra stare down, but Iyo swings first! Lyra ducks, Becky CLOBBERS Iyo! The fans fire up as the Irish lasses kick some asses, but then Liv runs in to POST Becky!! Liv runs away, but this blindside only proves Becky right! Will Liv do whatever she has to in order to get that Women’s World Championship? Will Becky do what she must to put Liv in her place?
Backstage interview with Ilja Dragunov.
Jackie is now with The Mad Dragon and says last week, he kicked off the tournament with a thrilling victory over Ricochet. Tonight is a quarterfinal match with Main Event Jey in the main event, what is Ilja’s mindset going in? Dragunov says some believe it is a dream, or destiny, to be here. To be in this spot, to feel a moment like this. But for Dragunov, it is not enough just to be here. He is here to make an impact night in and night out, and it starts with him becoming The Czar of the Ring! Last week, he and Ricochet pushed themselves to the absolute limits! And when it was time to strike, Dragunov took it!
Dragunov promises to bring the same fight to the Main Event, Jey Uso, tonight! And Dragunov knows Jey is ready for a battle. But what is waiting on the other side is a different kind of animal. One only a few have beaten. But Dragunov is more than a different kind of animal. He is a different kind of DRAGON! Dragunov beat Gunther! And so Dragunov and Gunther have a long history together. But one thing is for sure, it is NOT over! And wait, Gunther steps in! Gunther smirks a bit as he looks Dragunov over. Gunther leaves, will he end up with an even better look in the semifinals?
WWE World Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: New Catch Republic VS Authors of Pain VS The Creed Brothers VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh!
Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne, Akam & Rezar, Julius & Brutus, The Prince & The Irish Ace. This is a star-studded match to be sure, but only one team can make it through! Who defies the odds to head for The Awesome Truth?
Raw returns and speaking of The Awesome Truth, they’re ringside to watch this in person! New Catch Republic make their entrance now, followed by The Creeds, and that leaves The Final Testament to make theirs last but certainly not least. For this Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are legal at a time, so The Big Strong Boi steps to Finn. They circle, feel things out, and Finn kicks low! Finn CLUBS Bate, bumps him off buckles, then ROCKS him. Tag to JD, he stomps Bate a few times, then snapmares. Bate is up but JD trips him. JD stomps Bate in the stomach, but Bate reaches up to twist and headscissor hold JD!
Bate handstand walks his way to the corner, tag to The Bruiserweight, and Bate RANAS! NCR double whip JD, then double back drop! The fans fire up, Dunne keeps JD from Finn and bends the fingers! JD suffers, the fans fire up, and Dunne isolates that arm to STOMP it! JD writhes but Dunne brings him up to wrench. JD ROCKS Dunne, Julius tags in! Julis tags Brutus, they KNEE JD back and forth! Then they DOUBLE GUTBUSTER! The Creeds double whip JD, but JD holds ropes to BOOT them both away! Akam CLOBBERS JD, then Rezar CLOBBERS The Creeds! Akam BLASTS Finn, Rezar SPINEBUSTERS Bate! Akam scoops and SLAMS Dunne onto Bate!
The fans boo but the AOP just shout at everyone. AOP get JD up to DOUBLE HIP TOSS him out onto everyone else! The fans boo but the Authors of Pain are all fired up as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn fires off hands on Brutus in the corner. The fans boo but Finn soaks up the heat. Tag to JD, JD stomps Brutus down, then he tags Finn back in. The Judgment Day gets Brutus up but then they sucker punch NCR! The fans boo again but JD & Finn turn around, into DOUBLE LARIATS from Brutus! The fans rally as Brutus crawls for his corner, Finn goes to the other wat. Hot tag to Julius, Finn runs up into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Julius kips up to OVERHEAD SUPLEX JD! Julius kips up to DROPKICK Akam, and he DECKS Rezar! JD & Finn mug Julius, double whip, but Juilus reverse sto reel them in! DOUBLE NORTHERN LIGHTS!
Julius kips up, the fans fire up, and Awesome Truth are in awe as Julius STANDING SHOOTING STARS! JD hurries over but Juilus oves, the ax handle hits Finn! Julius TOSSES JD out, but Finn rolls Julius up! TWO, and Finn aims form a corner! SLINGBLADE! Finn aims again, to SHOTGUN Julius down! Finn hurries up top but that’s the AOP corner! NCR CLOBBER Finn first, fight off AOP, but then Dunne ASAI MOONSAULTS Akam, Bate ASAI MOONSAULTS Rezar! Julius gets Finn for a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Julius hurries to get Finn up. Tag to Brutus, and Julius Electric Chair Lifts!
JD saves Finn and shoves Julius into Brutus! AOP get in to attack Judgment Day! “This is Awesome!” as we get a SUPER COLLIDER!! Bate & Dunne DOUBLE GAMANGIRI Akam! Then they DOUBLE FOREARM Rezar! Akam returns, grabs both of them and he SHOVES NCR up and out! Akam gets Brutus up but Brutus lifts Akam! SAIDO!! The fans fire up with Brutus and he goes up a corner. Bate tags in before the BRUTUS BALL!! Brutus takes out the AOP and Dunne, but Bate aims at Akam! REBOUNDER, and fireman’s carry!! For an AIRPLANE SPIN!! Around and around and around we go, and the fans fire up for the THROW!
But Finn gets Bate for a roll-up! TWO!! Bate says Bop up, BANG! Dunne tags in, NCR get Finn for a DOUBLE TYLER DRIVER!! Cover, JD breaks it!! The fans boo but Bate builds speed to DIVE and take out JDÂ into the desk! Dunne hurries after JD, to rain down fists of fury! The fans are thunderous, but then CARLITO attacks Dunne! BACKSTABBERÂ on the desk!! Caribbean Cool helps out his amigos, and JD HEADBUTTS Bate! JD puts Dunne in, Finn goes up top! COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Judgment Day wins!!
Winners: Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the World Tag Team Championships)
Finn grins at Miz & Truth, because here we go again! Finn also nods to Carlito for the assist, is Carlito going to win the Judgment Day over the way JD once did? Will it be even better when Finn & JD bring the tag titles back to the Judgment Day?
Ricochet finds Ilja Dragunov backstage.
The One and Only says he just wants to show respect for the match last week. That was one hell of a fight. And the next time this happens, Ricochet promises the outcome will be different. But as far as tonight goes, he wishes Dragunov good luck, and to go get the crown. Will the Czar do just that? Or will we all hail #KingYEET?
Judgment Day regroups backstage.
Priest talks Dom’s new facial hair with him, but then gets serious. Are Dom and Rhea good? Yeah, why does he ask? But then Finn & JD step in, celebrating with Carlito! Big assist to have the #1 contendership, they’re getting those tag titles! But Priest doesn’t look happy, and Carlito says he gest it. He’s not wanted. But then Priest tells Carlito that what happened out there… was cool. He said it! Priest then tells Carlito that he brought up Rey Mysterio. The boys will have his back, but Carlito can handle his business, right? Of course! Good. Because the crew doesn’t roll with cowards. Don’t let them down, amigo.
Priest heads out, Carlito says no one’s scared of Rey. But they all celebrate winning Priest over, will Caribbean Cool bring down the King of Lucha Libre?
King of the Ring Quarterfinals: Jey Uso VS Ilja Dragunov!
Raw returns and Dragunov makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” as Jey circles with Dragunov. They tie up, go around, and Jey puts Dragunov in a corner. Dragunov turns it around, but lets off slowly. The fans chant for “UCE! OH!” but Jey ducks the backhand! Dragunov blocks a haymaker to CHOP! And CHOP! Jey shoves, kicks, but Dragunov blocks! And he ducks the Dragon Whip! Jey stagger sup, into a SPINNING CHOP! The fans rally but Dragunov says he will be the CZAR of the Ring! Jey goes to a corner, Dragunov runs up to KNEE him down! Dragunov then pushes Jey down, goes up, and KING KONG KNEE DROPS!
Dragunov fires up, fans are torn, and Dragunov goes up a corner. But Jey gets up to UPPERCUT first! Dragunov tumbles to the apron then the floor, and Jey builds speed! Jey DIVES and Dragunov hits the desk! Both men fall and the fans fire up! A standing count starts, but fans chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” as Jey gets Dragunov up. Jey fireman’s carries, but Dragunov slips free and JUMP KICKS! Jey falls, Dragunov refreshes the count, and he fires up again! The fans are torn but they like him clearing off the desk! Dragunov brings Jey up to CHOP him onto the desk! Dragunov then positions Jey just right, and goes up the barriers!
The fans fire up as Dragunov aims, to H-BOMB only desk! Jey avoids disaster and Dragunov clutches his hand! Jey slides into the ring but slides right back out, to SPEAR Dragunov over the desk!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down and Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Dragunov has Jey caught with a COBRA TWIST! Jey endures, pries at the hold, and the fans rally up. Jey hip tosses free! Both men are down and the fans rally again. Jey rises and he aims at Dragunov. Jey runs up to ROCK him with a haymaker! Dragunov wobbles, but he comes back to ROCK Jey! Jey ROCKS Dragunov, “YEET!” Dragunov drops to a knee, but he rises to CHOP! Jey UPPERCUTS, “YEET!” Jey shoves Dragunov, Dragunov CHOPS back! Dragunov fires boxing elbows, then winds up, but Jey counter punches! And again! And again! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks ‘n’ puts stank on it to DECK Dragunov!
The fans fire up, Jey kicks but Dragunov blocks! The DRAGON WHIP hits this time! Dragunov falls, Jey has the fans fire up with a “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey runs corner to corner, but Dragunov BOOTS him down! Dragunov stalks Jey, Jey rises, and Dragunov waistlocks! GERMAN SUPLEX! Dragunov holds on and says Jey’s not going anywhere! Dragunov hauls Jey up, to GERMAN SUPLEX again! Dragunov still holds on, but Jey fights with elbows! Jey arm-drags free, and mule kicks! Then UPERCUTS! But Dragunov springs up to PELE! Dragunov runs, CONSTANTINE SPECIAL! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives and Dragunov is stunned!
The fans rally, “This is Awesome!” as both men rise. Dragunov shakes his head, he storms up on Jey in a corner, and he CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” as Dragunov MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Dragunov then scrapes his boot on Jey’s face! And again! Dragunov runs side to side, to BOOT WASH! Dragunov snarls and he drags Jey back up. Dragunov waistlocks, but Jey fights the hold! Jey switches, shoves, CONSTANTINE- BOOT! Jey then SUPERKICKS! SUPERKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Dragunov survives but Jey keeps cool. Jey’s ear is bleeding from where the earring is, but he doesn’t let it bother him.
Jey aims from a corner, runs up, but into a KNEE! Dragunov runs up to KNEE Jey down! Dragunov then drags Jey up, reels him in, and POWERBOMBS! Dragunov goes to a corner, takes aim, and H-BOMBS!! Cover, TWO!! Dragunov couldn’t keep Jey down from the pain in his hand, but now he reloads! “UN! BE! SIEG! BAR!!” TORPEDO MOS- SPEAR!! Jey hurries up top to USO SPLASH!! Cover, JEY WINS!!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Dragunov brought out the intensity, and Jey managed to match it! And that means Jey will be facing Gunther in the semifinals in Greensboro! And speaking of, Gunther makes his way out here! He gives a look to Dragunov, then steps into the ring with Jey. The fans fire up as Jey and Gunther have a stare down! Will Der Ring General catch this YEET down? Or will nothing stop Gunther from heading for the crown?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for Raw, and they really gave each of these quarterfinal matches the room to breathe and really get going. Great use of recording the superstar arrivals to add to story this time, with Iyo getting at Shayna for Shayna to then get at her right before the match. Great promo segment from Lyra, Liv and Becky, really good match from Lyra VS Zoey. Really good match from Becky VS Dakota, but it was a little sloppy in the middle. Perhaps just simple miscommunication. Those two haven’t faced off much, they just needed to get a rhythm. Good move having Becky win by DQ, and then good move of Liv getting back at Becky for the punch. Iyo VS Lyra next week is going to be awesome, Becky VS Liv is going to be wild stuff for KQOTR.
The King of the Ring matches were also great. Kofi & Woods had a really good promo going into Kofi’s match with Gunther, which was awesome. Gunther winning out made sense, though, given who was on the other side of the bracket. Great promo from Kaiser running down Sheamus, and you can bet Sheamus comes back to Brogue Kaiser in the face. Good promo from Jey to call out Gunther and Dragunov, good promo from Dragunov, and great little bit of Gunther during Dragunov’s segment. Awesome main event match, and while Gunther VS Dragunov would’ve been awesome, it’ll still be awesome later on so let’s get the awesome rematch of Gunther VS Jey now. That match could really go either way, SmackDown’s bracket will also go a long way to figuring this out.
And we still got great non-tournament content going towards KQOTR. Great promo from McIntyre to call out Punk, because I just knew he’d spin Punk calling him out around like that. Great stuff from Priest, too, as McIntyre again gets the truth thrown in his face and can’t reply in the moment. Great stuff with Judgment Day wanting to have Carlito join up and all that, and I did not think Carlito would make a move to earn his place so soon. That Fatal 4 Tag was awesome stuff, but it made a lot of sense for JD & Finn to win their shot at the tag titles. I hope Awesome Truth find a way to retain, they’ve been too fun as a team to lose these belts already.
Good little promo from Braun with The Creeds and JD. Braun being the “Monster” is sure being a nice guy right now, but he’ll definitely pulverize JD at some point. All this Wyatt 6 teasing, I wonder if Braun’s being a nice guy all to “swerve” us and reveal he’s one of the masterminds behind what’s coming. And really good stuff with the Intercontinental Championship story. Gable keeps taking his anger all out on The Academy, and that is the real reason they’ve been failing. I almost thought Gable slapping Otis was gonna be the last straw, but perhaps The Academy standing up to Gable is why he loses at KQOTR. It’ll definitely be a great moment as the fans are definitely behind Otis on this. Otis has been doing good stuff for a long time, he deserves to have something.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Will this become King of the YEET?
Though he lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Jey Uso has a chance to be King of the Ring, if he can beat Sheamus, Rusev and Bronson Reed!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Queen of the Ring Tournament Fatal 4 Way: Stephanie Vaquer VS Raquel Rodriguez VS Ivy Nile VS Asuka;Â Asuka wins and advances to the next round.
- Liv Morgan VS Kairi Sane; wins.
- King of the Ring Tournament Fatal 4 Way: Sheamus VS Rusev VS Bronson Reed VS Jey Uso; wins and advances to the next round.
PLAY BY PLAY
Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio are here!
Green Bay is a bit torn as the Bonnie & Clyde of WWE go to the ring together, proudly wearing their belts. And Liv seems extra proud of herself after insulting and then knocking out Nikki Bella last week. Liv grabs the mic to say, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Monday Night Morgan~! And please make some noise for the most gorgeous man in WWE. He is the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, Dominik Mysterio~!” The fans make noise, but it isn’t all positive. Dom has the mic and thanks Liv, but tonight is not about him. Tonight is all about Liv! The fans boo again but Liv thanks Dom for that.
Liv says respect is the thing she is out here to talk about. Everyone needs reminding that this is LIV’s division! And when you talk about her division, you talk about HER! See, Nikki Bella had to learn that the hard way, and now she’s home all beat up, watching Liv on her TV, which is where she should be! Wanna know what was worse than that? The fact that Iyo Sky claimed Nikki paved the way for them all. What a joke. No one paved the way for Liv, and especially not Nikki! Liv paved her own way, and she became the history-making, record-breaking, FOUR-TIME WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion!
The fans boo a bit more but Liv asks the fans if they know what that makes her. What it makes her is the greatest WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion of ALL~ TIME! So she is not asking for respect anymore, she’s demanding it! Just like she is demanding for a rematch she never got over the Women’s World Championship. So Iyo, they can do this the easy way or the hard way. Well, here comes Iyo! The fans cheer the Genius as she holds up the Women’s World Championship and goes to the ring. Iyo grabs herself a mic while the fans cheer her on. Iyo tells Liv, “Do everyone a favor, and shut your mouth!”
The fans cheer and Liv is upset, but Iyo says all Liv does is whine and show disrespect. Iyo rants in Japanese a second and the fans appreciate that. But Iyo says Liv disrespected Nikki Bella, and she disrespected Iyo! If Liv wants to fight, then Iyo is right here! The fans cheer that and Liv says okay, okay. She does wanna fight her, but only for the title. But if Iyo is scared because Liv has beaten her more than any other woman in the WWE, then Iyo can just hand the title over, Liv doesn’t mind. Liv smiles and Iyo sneers. Iyo is not handing Liv anything. If Liv wants it, she has to earn it. Liv can’t just steal it like she stole Dirty Dom from Rhea!
Dom says hold on, hold on! The fans boo Dom but Dom says let’s just make this easy for Liv and give her what she wants! Like Dom does every single day! Liv tells Iyo to listen to Dom, he’s smart. Just shine the belt up and hand it over, thanks. Oh, Liv wants it? Yes, she wants it. Iyo says alright, she can have it. Catch! Liv catches the belt, and then she gets a DROPKICK! And a BUZZSAW! Dom is upset but then Iyo ROUNDHOUSES him! The fans fire up as Iyo holds up her title while Dom & Liv run away! Liv still has to face Kairi Sane later tonight in a rematch of their own, will the Pirate Princess just add insult to injury?
Queen of the Ring Tournament Fatal 4 Way: Stephanie Vaquer VS Raquel Rodriguez VS Ivy Nile VS Asuka!
The final Fatal 4 Way for the Queen of the Ring is here, with Alexa Bliss awaiting the winner! But will it be La Primera making big moves in her “rookie year” on Raw? Will Big Mami Cool make up for Liv falling short? Will this tournament soon be American Made? Or will the Empress of Tomorrow have a massive return?
Raw returns and Raquel gets ready backstage. Liv finds her and tells her to win, no matter what. Raquel says got it, then she makes her entrance. Ivy is already in the ring, so that leaves Asuka to make her entrance for the first time in just over a year! The fans fire up to see her back, from classic theme to the face paint. The bell rings, Raquel rushes Asuka and Ivy is after Vaquer! They brawl, and then Ivy and Raquel whip! Vaquer reverses, Asuka CLOBBERS Ivy, and then the two work together against towering Raquel! KICK after KICK, then DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! The fans fire up and chant, “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!”
Asuka and Vaquer tie up, Vaquer ducks a kick to shove, then follow. Vaquer dodges a lariat, sweeps to cover, ONE! Asuka sweeps to cover, ONE! The two standoff and the fans cheer. But Ivy CLOBBERS Vaquer! Raquel puts Asuka in a corner, but Ivy tries to roll Raquel up! Raquel YANKS Ivy up to PUSH her away! Asuka headscissors, but Raquel uses that to POWERBOMB Asuka onto Ivy & Vaquer! Ricky Desperado stands tall while the fans boo, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Vaquer ROCKS Ivy! Vaquer fires more hands, then runs, itl-ow-rhils and rolls Ivy up, TWO! Ivyh swings, but Vaquer spins her and snap suplexes her! But Raquel is up, only for Vaquer to serv eher SOLE FOOD! Asuka is back, Vaquer dodges to mule kick! Vaquer runs and METEORAS Raquel in a corner! Vaquer runs up, blocks Asuka’s boot, and DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS her! Asuka writhes but she goes to a corner. Ivy runs up, but into a BIG back suplex! Vaquer grins as she wraps on the headscissors! The fans fire up for the DEVIL’S KISSES! AH AH AH AH, but then Raquel KICKS Vaquer in the side!
Raquel drags Vaquer up, suplexes, but Vaquer slips free! Vaquer wrenches, snapmares, and now she puts Raquel in the headscissor! DEVIL’S KISSES, but Raquel Electric Chair Lifts! The fans fire up for that feat of strength, but Asuka runs in! Raquel BOOTS Asuka, but Vaquer RANAS Raquel to the apron! And she holds on, for DEVIL’S KISSES on the apron!! AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH, YEEEEAH~! The fans fire up and Vaquer smiles. Raquel flounders around, Vaquer climbs and springboards, CROSSBODY! Asuka is in to clinch, chicken wing, but Vaquer fights the rest of the Asuka Lock!
The two fight for control, Vaquer pulls hair but can’t get a grip. Vaquer RAMS Asuka into a corner, Ivy RIDER KICKS Vaquer down! Ivy then fires off on Asuka! Ivy whips Asuka, Asuka KICKS back! Ivy staggers, Asuka runs up, but Ivy dodge! HIP ATTACK for Raquel! Ivy cradles Asuka, TWO! Ivy waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Asuka stays in this and Ivy is surprised! Ivy says she was that close, and talks trash on Asuka while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again and Vaquer has Asuka up top. Ivy joins in, Asuka blocks the suplex, but then Raquel joins in! Raquel Electric Chair Lifts both Vaquer and Ivy, and Asuka MISSILE DROPKICKS them all down! The fans fire up as Asuka rises! Asuka KICKS Vaquer, KICKS Ivy, and repeat! Asuka SUPERKICKS Vaquer, then spins to BUZZSAW Ivy! Raquel runs up, Asuka bobs ‘n’ weaves, fires off palm strike after palm strike, and then a SOBAT! And a front KICK! CODE BREAKER! Raquel staggers, Asuka fires up and the fans are with her! Asuka runs up and SOBATS! ROUNDHOUSE for Ivy! Asuka waistlocks, Ivy takes a swing, but gets a POP-UP KNEE for it!
Asuka covers, but Vaquer breaks it! The fans fire up as these two meet again. Vaquer and Asuka smile as they circle. Vaquer dodges a shot to fire of fa flurry! Vaquer whips, Asuka reverses, and Vaquer RAMS Asuka! Asuka fire sup, so the shots keep going! The fans fire up with Asuka, but Vaquer fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Vaquer runs, Asuka UPPERCUTS her at the ropes! Asuka grins, runs, but Vaquer KNEES her low! Vaquer whips just to reel Asuka in, snap suplex! Vaquer goes to a corner, takes aim, but Asuka runs up! Vaaquer goes up and over, DROPKICKS Asuka, then shakes out her own leg.
Vaquer underhooks, lifts, and TIGER BUSTER! Cover, Ivy drags Vaquer away! Ivy TOSSES Vaquer, scoops Asuka, SWINGING POWERSLAM! Cover, Vaquer breaks it up! Vaquer underhooks Ivy now, but Ivy wrenche sout. Vaquer JAWBREAKERS and ROUNDHOUSES! But Raquel BOOTS Vaquer! Raquel drags Vaquer up, “This is Awesome!” TEXANA BOMB!! Cover, RHEA DRAGS RAQUEL OUT! The fans go nuts for Mami as she waves hi. Rhea BOOTS Raquel, then hits a RIPTIDEÂ to the floor!! Rhea then tosses Raquel back in for someone, anyone! Asuka runs up with the HIP ATTACK! Cover, Asuka wins!
Winner: Asuka, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
The #EmpressImpact certainly made an impact, but so did Rhea! Will Rhea and Raquel have to run back their own classic feud to put this to rest? Cathy Kelley interviews Asuka in the ring to congratulate her on this huge return win. How is Asuka feeling? Asuka smiles and the fans cheer, and Asuka says, “The fire didn’t die! It’s still alive! I will be the Queen of the Ring! No one is ready for Asuka!!” The fans cheer that! And will this big win help Asuka turn this into The Empress of the Ring? Or will Alexa Bliss “welcome” Asuka back by eliminating her from the tournament?
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Who makes NJPWÂ their dominion?
NJPW returns to Osaka-Jo Hall, and Hirooki Goto defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shingo Takagi! Will the Fierce Warrior slay the Rampaging Dragon?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima VS Daiki Nagai & Masatora Yasuda; Kato & Murashima win.
- 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS House of Torture & “Don Fale”; The House of Torture wins.
- El Phantasmo & Shota Umino VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa; ZSJ & Oiwa win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Yuya Uemura; Tanahashi wins.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: YOH & Master Wato VS SHO &
Yoshinobu KanemaruDouki; Sho & Douki win and become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan VS Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii; Taichi & Ishii win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Boltin Oleg; Oleg wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
- Dog Collar Chain Deathmatch: David Finlay VS EVIL; Evil wins.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS Gabe Kidd; Gabe wins and becomes the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Shingo Takagi; Goto wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS House of Torture & ???
While their leaders will battle in a Dog Collar Chain Deathmatch later tonight, Chase Owens, Clark Connors, “Drilla” Moloney & Taiji Ishimori will wage war with Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, Sanada, and the newest member of the House. But will it not matter who Evil recruited? Or could new blood be just the thing to turn the tide?
Sanada walks out in a very odd body suit. It’s like he wants to walk out here in a leopard speedo but not really. Also, he’s now the “Cold Blooded Snake,” so clearly he is still evolving. But then, who is this mystery partner? Wait, is that Bad Luck Fale?! A founding member of Bullet Club has now betrayed Bullet Club!? And now he’s “Don Fale?!” Then is this the dawn of a new era in NJPW?
The brawl is on as Taiji, Connors & Drilla rush Sanada, Ren & Yujiro, but Chase wants to know why Fale, why? Chase and Fale were tag partners and friends! But Fale grabs Chase by the neck! Connors rushes in and CLUBS Fale, but Fale BODY BLOWS Connors! Drilla attacks Fale, but Fale BODY BLOWS and BODY BLOWS, and then TOSSES Drilla! Taiji fires off but Fale BODY BLOWS him, too! The bell rings to finally put this on record as Fale steps on Taiji in the corner! The fans rally, Fale drags Taiji to the ropes, and Fale stands on Taiji for the Bullet Club Massage! Or, perhaps the House of Torture Massage now!
Tag to Yujiro and he drops a leg, brother! And then another leg! Cover, TWO! Yujiro CHOKES Taiji as a cover, the ref reprimands, and Yujiro stops at 4. Tag to Ren and he BLASTS the Bullet Club corner! Ren bumps Taiji off buckles, SCRAPES Taiji’s face off the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. The fans rally for Taiji while Ren TOSSES him! Ren distracts the ref, which lets Fale whip Taiji hard into the railing! Yujiro drags Taiji up to put in the ring and Ren covers, TWO! Taiji stays in this, Drilla glares at Ren, but the ref has Drilla back down. Taiji fires hands on Ren, but Ren CHOKES Taiji! Ren puts Taiji in the corner, but stops as the ref counts 4.
Tag to Yujiro and Sanada distracts the ref. Ren snapmares Taiji and holds him open! But as Yujiro lines up the shot, Taiji UP KICKS Ren! Yujiro kicks low, whips, but Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! The fans rally, hot tag to Connors! Connors CLOBBERS Ren, CLOBBERS Yujiro, KICKS ropes to jam up Sanada, and the fans fire up! Connors runs to ELBOW Ren in one corner, then runs to ELBOW Yujiro in the other! Connors reels Ren in and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Connors and they bark it up. Connors aims at Yujiro, but Fale drags him out!
Fale whips Connors into railing! Chase gets in Fale’s face but the ref has them both back down. Drilla pushes Fale, so Fale whips Drilla into railing! Wait, Connors has Wheel-san! Connors CLOBBERS Fale with Wheel-san! The fans fire up and Connors hurries back into the ring. Connors whips Yujiro to SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Tokyo Pimp toughs it out but Connors vows to end it! Connors drags Yujiro up, but Yujiro BITES Connors’ hand! The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but then Connors ROCKS Yujiro! Connors runs up, but Yujiro FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS Connors! And then he BOOTS Connors!
Yujiro runs, but Connors goes the other way! JEEP FLIPPER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yujiro and Connors crawl, hot tags to Sanada and Drilla! GORE OUTTA NOWHERE! The fans fire up as Drilla shows off his dancing pecs and drags Sanada up. DRILLA- NO, Sanada slips free! Drilla HEADBUTTS, Sanada drops, but Drilla blocks the sneaky low blow! Drilla whips and SPINEBUSTERS! The fans fire up and bark with Drilla, then he drags Sanada back up. Gut wrench and DRILLA- NO, Sanada BOOTSÂ the ref! Sanada then slips free, reels Drilla in, and MAGIC SCREW! The fans rally but the House goes after Bullet Club on the outside!
Sanada grabs his guitar! The fans boo as this Cold Blooded Snake steps inside. Chase stops Sanada! He takes the guitar, gives it to Drilla, then sets Sanada up. Drilla takes aim, but then Chase LOW BLOWS Drilla?!? The fans don’t understand! Why did the Crown Jewel do that?! NO WAIT, he’s joining the House, too!?? SMASH HIT from Sanada to Drilla!! It wasn’t just Fale as Mr. X, there was a MOLE inside the club! Sanada covers Drilla, the House wins!!
Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall
Taiji asks why, Chase, why, but he just gets a LOW BLOW for it!! The old guard of Bullet Club is leaving them all behind to join up with Evil! Then is there nothing to stop this from being a HOT boy summer?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Yuya Uemura!
The Ace Final Road continues to make connections, and that leads to his first and last 1v1 match with the Heat Storm. Will Tanahashi continue to ride high on his retirement tour? Or will Yuya only get hotter with the summer?
The bell rings and the fans rally for Tanahashi already. Tanahashi and Yuya circle, feel things out, and tie up. Tanahashi waistlocks, Yuya switches, and repeat. Tanahashi trips Yuya but Yuya switches. Tanahashi switches, Yuya switches, repeat, and then the two separate. The fans applaud this opening exchange, and the two reset. They circle, tie up, and Yuya wrenches to hammerlock then headlock, then he spins through to hammerlock, headlock, and hit the takeover! Tanahashi headscissors, Yuya kips free, but now Tanahashi hits a headlock takeover. Yuya headscissors. Tanahashi kips free, and Yuya headlocks.
Tanahashi fires body shots, powers out, but Yuya slides under! Yuya arm-drags! Tanahashi arm-drags, and he has the armlock! The fans rally, Yuya tries to headscissors but Tanahashi fights that off. Yuya rises up, Tanahashi grinds the arm, but Yuya wrenches and SAYANAGIS! Yuya then steps over to SNAP LOCK the arm! The fans rally while Yuya runs, and he basement DROPKICKS the arm! Tanahashi clutches the elbow and the fans rally more, but Yuya drags him up. Yuya wrenches the arm, wrenches again, then snapmares for Short Arm Scissors! Tanahashi endures, even as Yuya puts on the pressure.
Tanahashi turns, clasps hands, and he kicks his way over. Tanahashi reaches out but Yuya turns him back to keep on the scissors! The fans rally as Tanahashi continues to endure, and Tanahashi fights to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Yuya lets go, and the fans applaud. Yuya brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi fires forearms. Yuya wrenches the arm! Tanahashi fires more forearms, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Yuya stands Tanahashi up. Yuya wrenches and whips, but Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS! And then he ELBOWS Yuya, whips him to ropes, and BACKDROPS him!
The fans fire up and Tanahashi storms over to Yuya. Tanahashi drags Yuya up to scoop and SLAM into the drop zone! The fans cheer as Tanahashi goes up the corner, SUNSET SENTON! A rough landing but Tanahashi stands back up. The fans rally and Tanahashi waits on Yuya. Yuya slowly rises, Tanahashi builds speed, but Yuya dodges the slingblade! Tanahashi blocks a kick, and waves bye before he DRAGON SCREWS the leg! Tanahashi resets and runs again, SLING- NO, Yuya slips through to trap the arms! Tanahashi kicks at Yuya’s legs, whips, but uses that to reel Yuya in for a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!
The fans fire up with Tanahashi and he tries once again. SLINGBLADE! Down goes Yuya and Tanahashi covers, TWO! Yuya stays in this and the fans rally up. Tanahashi hurries up the corner, aims, but Yuya stands. Tanahashi hits a HIGH FLY- NO, Yuya dodges the High Fly Attack, and now he goes up top! FROG- NO, Tanahashi dodges the Frog Splash Attack! The fans fire up while both men writhe. Yuya clutches his arm, the same arm that he injured all those months ago, and the fans rally. Tanahashi crawls his way over, drags Yuya up, and he fires a forearm! Yuya comes back with a forearm of his own!
The two stand, Yuya fires up, and the fans fire up with him! The forearms go back and forth, the fans cheering both men! Tanahashi eggs Yuya on, so Yuya fires a flurry! Tanahashi fires a strike fest! Yuya goes to a corner, Tanahashi storms up and whips corner to corner. Yuya goes up and over, then arm-drags! And ARMBAR! Tanahashi clasps hands and the fans rally! Tanahashi fights around, but Yuya pulls on the arm! Yuya CLUBS Tanahashi’s grip and has the ARMBAR! Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK, but Yuya drags him up into a cording hold! Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS, then DRAGON SUPLEXES!
The fans fire up with Tanahashi builds speed. But Yuya catches him for a RANA! Then ARMBAR! Tanahashi stacks the cover, TANAHASHI WINS!!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
Yuya doesn’t realize it as he goes for a cover of his own, but he missed the kick-out by a thin margin! Tanahashi shows Yuya respect with how close that was. But is this really the only time Yuya gets to test himself against one of the best ever? Or will Tanahashi’s Final Road bring them back around before the year is over?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: YOH & Master Wato VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
Direct Drive & The Way of the Grandmaster surprised a lot of people taking these titles off of the Ichiban Sweet Boys, but now some familiar foes come around to take these titles from them. We saw the House of Torture add new members, will they be adding new gold as well? Or can Yoh & Wato keep it fresh like Ziploc?
Wait, Sho grabs a mic. And he talks trash about how in Best of the Super Juniors, Wato lost in a “terrible effort” against Kanemaru, and yet he managed to hurt Kanemaru in the process! Sho also talks trash on Osaka, too, saying Kanemaru is above competing here in Wato’s hometown. The fans boo but Sho says these two don’t even have the right to call themselves proper champions! But don’t worry, Sho has a replacement for Kanemaru! Wait, really? Sho drops the mic and the House has yet another new member! It’s… DOUKI?! What?! Back from injury, and yet he’s turned to the dark side! Will Japones Del Mal make things very, very bad for Yoh & Wato?
Oh, of course Sho & Kanemaru still have to attack from behind! The shock of this return was the perfect distraction! Sho TOSSES Yoh out, Kanemaru kicks Wato out for Douki to RAM into the railing! Douki stomps Wato, drags him around, and then SMASHES the knee off the floor! Sho talks more trash but Douki puts Wato in the ring. The bell sounds so this is finally a match!
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: YOH & Master Wato VS SHO & Douki!
The fans boo as Douki and Sho stomp away on Wato, and the ref reprimands. One in, one out! Douki & Sho say hold on, and they stand Wato up to double whip. Wato grabs ropes, and he BOOTS Sho, ELBOWS Douki, and RAN- NO, Sho stops the rana and Douki basement DROPKICKS! Then they SMASH both knees off the mat! Yoh rushes in and fires off on Douki & Sho! Yoh CLUBS Douki, but Sho BODY BLOWS Yoh! Sho & Douki whip Yoh into bare buckles! Kanemaru still does his part in bringing out the House Special! And then Douki distracts the ref so Sho can hold Yoh open! Kanemaru climbs up, and that bad arm isn’t even hurt! Kanemaru uses it to DICK CHOP!
The fans boo as the House gets away with stooping even lower than usual! Douki brings Wato up but Wato fires body shots. Douki TOSSES Wato out, and he distracts the ref so Kanemaru can SMASH Wato’s knee on the floor! Then Sho SMASHES Wato’s knee off the floor! Then they DOUBLE SMASH the knees off the floor! The fans boo as Sho & Kanemaru mug Wato, then Sho drags Wato to his feet. The ref reprimands, Sho puts Wato in, and Douki DDTS a foot! And then Douki turns Wato over for the HALF CRAB! Wato endures, reaches out, and Sho keeps Yoh down on the outside! Wato crawls forward, but Douki drags him back!
Douki sits deep on the leg and the fans rally harder! Wato endures, pushes up, and he reaches out again! ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Douki holds! The ref counts and Douki lets go at 4. Douki kicks Wato and taunts him. Wato grits his teeth but Douki stomps him. Wato rises up to throw body shots and chops but Douki laughs them off. Wato fires a forearm but Douki kicks low! Douki clamps onto a leg but Wato CLUBS away on him! Douki kicks the bad leg, runs, but Wato manages a scoop and BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Wato crawls, but so does Douki, and Sho tags in first!
Sho BLASTS Yoh from the corner, then he drags Wato back. Douki KICKS Wato’s bad leg! The ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Douki watches Wato go to the corner. Douki runs in, Wato dodges, and he BOOTS Sho! Wato sends Douki into Sho, then he DOUBLE BULLDOGS! The fans fire up while all three are down! Wato crawls, hot tag to Yoh! The fans fire up as Yoh rallies on Sho & Douki with forearm after forearm! Yoh whips Sho into the bare buckles! Then he whips Douki into the bare buckles! Then Yoh PLANCHAS onto Kanemaru! Yoh then whips Kanemaru into railing! Yoh roars and the fans fire up with him!
Yoh goes up a corner, takes aim, and he CANNONBALLS into Sho! Cover, TWO! Yoh drags Sho up, brings him in, but Sho bends fingers! Yoh ROCKS Sho, turns him, but Sho still bends fingers! The ref reprimands but Sho whips. Yoh avoids hitting bare buckles, then he dodges Sho. Sho avoids hitting buckles but Yoh kicks low. Yoh runs but Sho uses the ref as a shield! Then he SPEARS Yoh down! Both Sho and Yoh are down but Sho crawls over, tag to Douki! Douki runs up on Yoh to LARIAT in a corner! Douki scoops and SLAMS Yoh, then runs to DOUBLE STOMP! Then Douki WRECKS Wato with a dropkick!
Douki goes outside and SMASHES Wato’s knee off the floor! The fans boo Douki as he swaggers around the way. Douki aims at Yoh, DAY- NO, Yoh ducks the Daybreak to UPPERCUT! Yoh runs, but Sho trips him up! The ref reprimands but Sho holds Yoh up. Douki runs, but Wato trips him up! The fans cheer and Yoh breaks free. Yoh sets up for WATO IN MOTION! Down goes Sho, and then Wato runs to BOOT Douki down! Wato fires up and the fans cheer as he FLIES! Down goes Douki at the ramp! Wato hobbles but he fires up even more! The fans cheer their hometown hero and he puts Douki back in the ring.
Yoh tags Wato in and then brings Douki up! FALCON ARROW! Kanemaru distracts the ref, Sho RAMS Yoh into the ref! Kanemaru SHOVES Wato down, Sho sends Yoh into bare buckles! The fans boo as now Kanemaru gets his whiskey bottle and Sho gets his Torture Tool! They aim at Wato & Yoh, but Wato & Yoh dodge! Kanemaru & Sho avoid colliding, but they take DOUBLE SUPERKICKS instead! Wato & Yoh aim at Douki, the fans rally up, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! The fans fire up as Wato helps the ref back to his feet. Yoh suplexes Douki, but Douki slips free, and he shoves Yoh into the ref! Sho LOW BLOWS Yoh!
WHISKEY MIST for Wato! The fans boo but Sho has the Torture Tool! Sho CLOBBERS Yoh with it! The fans boo and Wato hobbles up, but Sho spins him around for Douki’s #DeathPipe! HOMERUN to the legs!! The fans boo but Sho laughs as he brings Wato around. Sho puts Wato on the ropes, holds the bad leg out, and Douki goes up! FLYING DEATH PIPE STRIKE!! Wato writhes, the fans boo more, but there’s nothing to stop Douki from putting Wato in the PARADISE FIGURE FOUR!! Sho keeps Yoh back, Wato TAPS, the House wins!!
Winners: Sho & Douki, by submission (NEWÂ IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions)
The Young Lions try to stop Douki from inflicting more damage, but Sho & Kanemaru TOSS them all out! The House mugs Wato, adding insult to injury! Douki beats Wato down with the pipe! Yoh tries to go after him but Sho CHOKES him with the wrench! Douki then CLOBBERS Yoh! Sho is now a DOUBLE champion, and Douki holds gold after his first match back! How much more will the House stack the deck?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan VS Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii!
The United Empire has gone through changes, and they are calling for NJPW to do the same. But is the future here with the younger generation? Or will the Holy Emperor & Stone Pitbull prove old dogs can still learn new tricks?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if past or future is our present!
The teams sort out and Taichi starts against Callum. The bell rings, the two run up, and Taichi BOOTS! Callum BOOTS back, and Taichi eggs him on! Callum fires a forearm, Taichi fires a ridge hand chop, and repeat! They go back and forth, then they add KICKS to the mix! Callum fires a flurry, whips, but Taichi reverses. Callum BOOTS Taichi, Taichi SOBATS and ROUND KICKS! Callum falls but kips up to DROPKCIK! Taichi is up and the two tie up! They scrap, end up in the Empire’s corner, and Khan tags in. The Empire mugs Taichi, Mongolian Chop to a PENALTY KICK! Ishii storms in but Callum BOOTS him!
Khan grabs Ishii’s leg and THROWS him down! Callum DOUBLE STOMPS Ishii, then Callum rains down forearms on Taichi! The ref reprimands so Callum stops and steps outside. Khan drags Taichi up and KNEES him low! And KNEES him again! Khan MONKEY FLIPS Taichi, then fireman’s carries for the SLAM! Khan stands Taichi up again for a SAYANAGI! Cocky cover, TWO! The fans rally as Khan drags Taichi up, his tearaway pants already starting to tear away. Khan CLUBS Taichi into the corner, then hops up to sit on his throne! The fans applaud, the ref reprimands, and Khan hops down,
Khan brings Taichi around to Mongolian Chop him down! Cover, TWO! Ishii coaches Taichi up while the fans rally, but Khan gives Taichi mocking kicks. Khan then BLASTS Ishii off the apron! Khan mockingly asks Taichi what’s wrong, then slaps him around. Taichi fires RIDGE HAND after RIDGE HAND! Khan winds up but Taichi CHOPS him first! Taichi reaches out but Khan keeps him from the corner. Khan UPPERCUTS and whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down, but Taichi manages to tag Ishii! Ishii ROCKS Khan, then dodges Callum to send that BOOT into Khan!
Ishii whips Callum into Khan at the corner, then runs up. Callum dodges so Ishii LARIATS Khan! Callum returns but Ishii dodges, so Callum forearm SMASHES Khan! Ishii RUNS Callum over, then suplexes Khan high and hard! The fans fire up and Ishii looms over Khan. Ishii drags Khan up to CHOP! And CHOP again! Khan staggers but he shakes his head. Khan blocks the next chop to wrench, ELBOW BREAKER, and then KNEE the arm! Mongolian Chop to the arm! Ishii CHOPS, though a bit double-edged. Ishii runs, but into a SAYANAGI! Khan holds that bad arm out for Callum to PENALTY KICK into the ARMBAR!!
Ishii endures and the fans rally up! Ishii kicks around, fights his way over, and manages the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Khan lets go, and Khan tags Callum. The Empire double whip just to YANK Ishii’s bad arm, CLUB it, BOOT Ishii, then KNEE him down! Cover, TWO! Ishii toughs it out but Khan drags him back up for a waistlock. Callum runs, but Ishii BOOTS him away! Ishii ELBOWS Khan, then ducks so Callum’s ROUNDHOUSEÂ hits Khan! Ishii then GERMAN SUPLEXES Callum! Callum tumbles away and the fans rally up! Ishii crawls, hot tag to Taichi! The fans fire up and Taichi runs corner to corner.
Taichi BOOTS Callum, and the fans rally behind him. Taichi runs, Callum avoids the Ax Bomber, swats the return, then BODY BLOWS! Callum KICKS Taichi to a corner, but Taichi comes back to AX BOMBER! The fans fire up, and OFF COME THE PANTS! Taichi aims at Callum, winds up, but Callum ducks the buzzsaw to roll Taichi up! TWO, and Callum ducks a backhand! Taichi avoids the spin kick! Taichi reels Callum in for a DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up! Taichi feeds off that energy and takes aim. Callum rises, but Khan rushes in! Khan stops the Tensho Jujihou to THROW Taichi down!
Ishii runs in, Khan blocks the lariat and runs to LARIAT Ishii! Khan picks Taichi up and RAMS him into a corner! Khan then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan climbs up the corner and he drags Taichi up to join him! Taichi fights with ridge hands! Khan falls, but Callum DROPKICKS Taichi to the floor! The fans fire up and Khan brings out the Monster Rage! Khan PLANCHAS Ishii down!? Callum builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit on Taichi and Callum rolls through! The fans fire up while all four men are down on the outside! Callum rises first and he puts Taichi in the ring. Callum climbs the corner and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!!
Taichi survives and the fans fire up! Khan keeps Ishii on the outside while Callum rises up. The fans rally more and Callum roars! Callum brings Taichi up, BLOODY- NO, Taichi slips out and back suplexes! Callum lands out, and feeds Taichi to a KNEE from Khan! Callum ROCKS Taichi, then coordinates with Khan. ROLLING ELBOW IRON RIGHT COMBO!! Callum then drags Taichi up, hooks up the legs, FIREBOLT!! Cover, ISHII BREAKS IT! The fans fire up, and then Khan CLOBBERS Ishii! Khan throws up the crown, then he fireman’s carries Taichi! Callum says crowns up, runs the ropes, but Ishii CLOBBERS him!
The fans fire up as Taichi slips free of Khan, shoves him at Ishii, and Ishii LARIATS! Ishii blocks Callum’s boot to HEADBUTT! DOUBLE GIRI COMBO!! The fans are thunderous as Taichi stands Callum up! Alabama Lift, but Khan has a SLEEPER on Ishii! Callum fights free, kicks off Ishii, and TORNADO DDTS Taichi! Khan GERMAN SUPLEXES Ishii away! The fans rally up while Callum watches Taichi runs. Callum runs in, V-TRIGGER! Callum runs again, but into a FOREARM! Callum V-TRIGGERS again! Taichi roars and runs in, but into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous while Callum is furious!
Callum shakes his head, mostly to shake out the doubt. The fans rally even harder for Taichi as Callum runs. Springboard and OSC- TENSHO JUJIHOU!! Alabama Lift, Ishii ROCKS Callum into the BLACK MEPHISTO BRAINBUSTER!!! Khan returns but into a TENSHO JUJIHOU!!! Taichi roars because he’s not done with Callum! BLACK MEPHISTO!!! Cover, TAICHI & ISHII WIN!!!
Winners: Taichi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The United Empire could not conquer the past, and now Taichi & Ishii reign! This perhaps makes up for how Douki betrayed Just4Guys to make them Just3Guys, but perhaps they can just join Hontai now? As for the Empire, what are they to do after losing what little gold they had?
NJPW announces the participants in G1 Climax 35!
Naturally, Hirooki Goto is in, but will he still be world champion? Joining him in A Block will be: Boltin Oleg; Yuya Uemura; Yota Tsuji; David Finlay; Evil; Sanada; and Hiroshi Tanahashi in his FINAL G1! B Block has: El Phantasmo; Shota Umino; Shingo Takagi; Zack Sabre Jr; Great-O-Khan; Gabe Kidd; Ren Narita; and Konosuke Takeshita to represent AEW & DDT Pro! The remaining spots are up for grabs as part of play-in matches during the New Japan Soul tour! Two on June 23, the other two on July 4th, who will be lucky enough to be chosen for this opportunity?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS Boltin Oleg!
The Alpha of AEW is back, and though he is planning for a big summer, he has a big title defense to start it off! Will Konosuke keep this title going into G1 Season? Or will he be put behind BARS?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if things NEVER change!
The bell rings and the two run up to tie up! Konosuke headlocks, Oleg powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Oleg rebounds to RAM Konosuke, Konosuke rebounds to RAM Oleg, then Konosuke BOOTS Oleg! Konosuke whips, Oleg reverses, but Konosuke RAMS Oleg! Oleg rebounds to CLOBBER Konosuke! The fans fire up with Oleg and he runs at Konosuke in the corner! SPLASH! Oleg keeps moving, but Konosuke meets him with a JUMP KNEE! The fans duel while Oleg bails out. Konosuke builds speed and FLIES! Down goes Oleg at the ramp and the fans fire up! Konosuke rises and the fans cheer him on.
Konosuke drags Oleg up and into the ring. Konosuke brings Oleg to the apron, but Oleg blocks the suplex! Konosuke powers through to FALCON ARROW Oleg into the ring! The fans rally and Konosuke climbs up. He gets the fans fired up, and then SUPER SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Oleg is still in this and the fans applaud. Konosuke paces around while Oleg rises. Konosuke brings Oleg around as the fans rally for “BO-RU-TIN!” Oleg fights the back suplex and throws elbows. Konosuke keeps Oleg from running and ROCKS him in the back! Konosuke shoves Oleg to the ropes and ROCKS him in the back again!
Konosuke whips, Oleg reverses but Konosuke TAKESHITA LINES into a fireman’s carry! The fans fire up and Konosuke panics! Oleg F5s Konosuke to the outside!! The fans fire up as Konosuke crashes down! Oleg crawls to the apron and then storms up on Konosuke at the ramp. Oleg ROCKS Konosuke, but Konosuke hits back! Oleg ROCKS Konosuke again, and they go further up the ramp. Konosuke ROCKS Oleg in return, but then Oleg ROCKS Konosuke again! They’re up on stage now, and the ALPHA ELBOW knocks Oleg down! The fans fire up while Oleg sputters and rises again. Konosuke uses the full length of the stage for a running start!
Oleg meets Konosuke for DOUBLE LARIATS! Oleg CHOPS, then he gut wrenches! The fans fire up for the Shake, Rattle and THROW down the ramp! Konosuke tumbles all the way from the D to the N in “DOMINION!” The fans fire up for Oleg as he hobbles after Konosuke. The ref finally starts a ring count, as is his discretion, and Oleg rolls into the ring at 7 of 20. Konosuke stands at 10, hobbles his way over, and rolls in at 14. The fans applaud as this continues, and then Oleg runs up, jumps up, and VADER BOMBS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Oleg drags Konosuke up. Oleg runs, but Konosuke ROCKS him!
Oleg swings, but into a cording hold! ALPHA ELBOW! Konosuke hauls Oleg up for BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! But right into a BOSTON CRAB! Konosuke sits deep on the hold, wanting to take Oleg down with a “Young Lion” hold! The fans rally for Oleg and he fights around! Oleg reaches out, powers up, and almost throws Konosuke off! Oleg pushes forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Oleg is freed. But Konosuke runs and LARIATS Oleg down! Konosuke vows to end this now, and he reels Oleg in. But Oleg blocks the suplex! Konosuke tries, but Oleg lifts him first! But Oleg’s back gives out!
Konosuke waistlocks for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Konosuke grows frustrated but the fans still rally behind Oleg. Konosuke goes to the corner and climbs up. Konosuke fires up and the fans cheer. Konosuke reaches the top, but Oleg ROCKS him first! Oleg climbs up after Konosuke now! Konosuke fires body shots, then LARIATS Oleg off the corner! But Oleg rises!? And he ROCKS Konosuke again! The fans fire up as Oleg climbs up, and he drags Konosuke onto his shoulders for the fireman’s carry! SUPER DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives and now Oleg grows frustrated!
The fans rally as Oleg tries another fireman’s carry! Konosuke flails and slips down to have a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Oleg endures as Konosuke squeezes tight, but the fans rally up! Oleg gets a second wind, Konosuke CLUBS away on him, but Oleg BACKDROPS free! Both men rise, and they DOUBLE LARIAT! Oleg ROCKS Konosuke, Konosuke ALPHA ELBOWS Oleg!! Konosuke drags Oleg up, but Oleg fireman’s carries through! The fans fire up as Oleg hits a POINT-BLANK KAMIKAZE!! Cover, TWO?!? Konosuke survives and the fans fire up! Konosuke and Oleg both catch their breath before they rise again.
Konosuke ROCKS Oleg, Oleg ROCKS Konosuke, repeat! The forearms keep going back and forth and the fans rally up! Oleg gets the edge, but then Konosuke ALPHA ELBOWS again! Konosuke pulls off his elbow pad, winds up again, but Oleg DECKS Konosuke!! Oleg roars, the fans fire up, and Oleg runs! Konosuke dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Konosuke runs, but Oleg LARIATS through!! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives and the fans fire up again! Oleg rises, he fireman’s carries Konosuke, but Konosuke slips down to waistlock! Full nelson, and DRAGON SUPLEX!! But Oleg stirs!? Konosuke hurries to ALPHA ELBOWÂ again!!
Oleg falls in a heap but Konosuke isn’t done! He vows to end this, and he stands Oleg up, but Oleg SHOTGUNS! Konosuke ruses, POWER- NO, Oleg stops the knee attack and fireman’s carries! KAMIKAZE!!! Cover, OLEG WINS!!
Winner: Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Champion)
His first singles championship, and it comes off the incredibly accomplished Konosuke Takeshita! Oleg shows The Alpha respect, but this title is now going to be with Oleg for the G1! Will Oleg be the one to define the NEVER fighting spirit?
Dog Collar Chain Deathmatch: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS EVIL w/ The House of Torture!
If tonight has shown us anything, it’s that the Dog Pound Cage Match barely settled anything! The War Dogs may be THE Bullet Club now, but the House of Torture has been making moves in the shadows. But can The Rebel still put the King of Darkness down? Or will we have to admit that Everything is Evil?
Well, given this is a No Disqualification match, Evil is putting all the cards on the table by having all nine of his henchmen at ringside! Finlay makes his entrance, and it seems he only has Gedo with him. To be fair, his dogs got beat up in the 8 Man Tag, and Gabe Kidd has to focus on his own goal of the Global Heavyweight Championship. Wait, Finlay has Gedo go to the back? Evil chuckles, surely Finlay doesn’t think he can win 1v10. Wait, the rest of the dogs are still here! Connors, Drilla & Taiji walk with Finlay, but they’re still outnumbered 2:1. Even so, five War Dogs step up to the stacked deck of 10.
Finlay has the chain, and he has his boys throw up the Too Sweet. Osaka barks for the War Dogs as Finlay puts his collar on. Evil has his boys put one out, and he smirks as he picks up his collar. Evil puts it on, the factions stay outside, and the bell rings. The fans rally as Finlay and Evil gather up slack, and they circle as they get closer. The tug-o-war gets tenser, but Evil lets some slack go so the distance stays the same. The two feel things out using the slack as a weapon. Evil takes swipes, and then he stands on the chain! Finlay uses that trick against Evil and trips him up! Finlay rains down fists, but Evil scrambles out of the ring!
Finlay quickly reminds Evil that they’re stuck together by reeling him back in! Finlay CLUBS away on Evil, the fans and the War Dogs fire up, and then Finlay throat chops Evil in the corner! And throat chops again! Finlay climbs up to rain down fists, then he wraps the chain around the post! Finlay CHOKES Evil, then RAMS him! Finlay wraps the chain around the post again and he pulls! Payback for when Evil did this in the dog pound! Finlay stomps Evil, CHOKES him, but Evil refuses to give up. Finlay fires point-blank LARIATS again and again and again, all the way to TEN! The fans cheer while Evil sputters.
Finlay lets Evil out of the corner, gathers up some slack, and he LASHES Evil on the back! Finlay then TOSSES Evil over the top rope, and HANGS him! The warring factions keep each other at bay, and then Finlay lets Evil drop to the floor! Finlay takes his time going outside, but Evil YANKS the chain and FLINGS Finlay into railing! The Rebel crashes down and the ref checks him. Evil has the ref check him, but this is a distraction! The House swarms Finlay! The War Dogs rush in, but again, this is a 2:1 ratio, the House beats up on the War Dogs! Evil drags Finlay into the crowd! The fans fire up but they clear out of the way as Evil PUNCHES Finlay!
Evil CHOKES Finlay with the chain! The ref reprimands but there’s nothing more he can do. The factions brawl more at ringside, and oh look, the blue buckle pad is gone! The House Special is waiting while Evil BOWLS Finlay into chairs! The fans clear out a bit more as Evil looms over Finlay. Evil ROCKS Finlay, talks trash, then drags him back to ringside. Evil throws more headlock punches, then he stands on Finlay’s head! The ref reprimands, Evil steps off, and Evil drags Finlay up. Finlay is busted open, but Evil GAGS Finlay with the chain! Finlay flails, fans have to move aside, and Evil CHOKES Finlay on the railing!
The fans boo Evil and rally for Finlay, but Evil brings Finlay back to the ring. The House has thoroughly beat down the War Dogs, and Evil GAGS Finlay again! Finlay can only suffer as Evil wraps the chain around his head a bit more, then BOOTS him down! Evil drags Finlay up, then SMACKS him off bare buckles! The fans boo and the War Dogs coach Finlay on. Evil tells them to shut up, and then he puts Finlay in a Tree of Woe! The bare buckles make that hurt more. Evil’s collar comes undone, and he “complains” to the ref! That’s all a distraction so Dick and the House can CHOKE Finlay using the chain!
The fans boo, the ref does reprimand about the chain detaching from Evil’s collar, but Evil claims it was totally by accident. Finlay is freed from the Tree, the ref grabs the chain, and he reattaches it for Evil. Finlay coughs and sputters while Gedo protests, this has to be because of something Evil did to the chain. Evil whips Finlay hard into more bare buckles, because the House undid one of the neutral corners! And then the same on the other neutral corner! Evil laughs at Finlay but Gedo and the dogs coach Finlay up. Evil whips Finlay back into the House corner and Finlay falls in a heap. Evil says the ref should just call it.
Finlay refuses to let Evil win like that, so Evil whips him at the red corner! Finlay avoids hitting those bare buckles, then he dodges Evil! Evil avoids hitting the bare buckles, but Finlay YANKS the chain and LOW BLOWS Evil! Finlay storms up on Evil, and now Evil is sent into bare buckles! The King of Darkness tastes some of his own medicine! Finlay gathers up the slack and LASHES Evil again and again! Ren, Yujiro & Sanada get on the apron, but Finlay BLASTS them all down! Finlay then stands Evil up to CHAIN PUNCH! The fans fire up and Evil looms over Evil. Finlay drags Evil up, reels him in, and POWERBOMBS him out onto the House!
The fans fire up as The King of Darkness is used to wipe out about seven of his pawns! Finlay goes outside again, and he wraps up his fist again. Finlay says no more games, and he punches away on Evil’s forehead! The fans bark, Finlay shouts, “WAR DOGS~!” and the fans cheer! Finlay fetches Evil, whips him hard into railing, then laces through a corner. Finlay reels Evil in with the chain and has him against the corner! Finlay then runs around Evil to wrap him up! Evil is trapped, and Finlay fires away with HAYMAKERS! Finlay BITES Evil’s forehead, then spits out that awful taste. Finlay unwraps Evil by running around the other way, only for Evil to YANK Finlay into POST!
Finlay is in a daze, and Evil brings out chairs! Evil has Dick distract the ref. No Disqualification or not, Evil wants to escalate things! He puts the chair around Finlay’s head, and then YANKS him into the POST!! Finlay falls in a heap while the fans boo Evil! The ref checks on Finlay, and somehow Finlay is still able to continue. Evil drags Finlay up with the chain, reels him into the ring, and Evil LASHES Finlay now! Finlay writhes but Evil LASHES him again! Finlay flounders but Evil LASHES him again! The fans rally for Finlay but Evil drags him up, to LARIAT! Finlay staggers around, Evil LARIATS again! Finlay leans on Evil, then slumps down.
The fans rally for Finlay but Evil wraps his arm in chain. Evil winds up and stands Finlay for the CHAIN LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives and the fans fire up! Evil brings Finlay back up, fireman’s carries, and DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay is still in this and the War Dogs rally the fans! Evil is annoyed but he vows to end this now. Evil drags Finlay up, reels him in, EVERY- NO, Finlay slips free and suplexes! INTO OBLIVION!! The fans fire up as Finlay turns this around! Both men are down, but Finlay uses the chain to bring Evil over. Finlay reels Evil in, lifts, and BUCKLE BOMBS!! Evil falls in a heap from hitting off bare steel!
Finlay shows no mercy, and he POWERBOMBS again! Finlay wobbles but then leans against the ropes. Evil sputters, the House is worried, but Finlay is on Evil again! POWERBOMB!! Finlay staggers, but even the War Dogs want more! Finlay storms over to Evil, uses the chain to CHOKE him, then turns around. But Evil reels the ref in and CHOKES him! Evil and the ref fall, and Finlay realizes what happened. Finlay says that won’t spare Evil, and he KNEES Evil down! Finlay says Evil wanted this, now he’s gonna pay! Finlay stands Evil up to KNEE him down again! The fans cheer Finlay on as he drags Evil back up.
Finlay reels Evil in for another KNEE! Finlay slashes his throat and vows to end this! The fans fire up and bark with Finlay. Finlay wraps his knee with the chain, but Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER! Gedo gets in and uses the chain to CHOKE Dick! Sanada CLUBS Gedo! Connors CLUBS Sanada! Sho hits Connors with the Torture Tool! Drilla kicks Sho low and reels him in, DRILLA- NO, Ren uses the PUSHUP BAR! Taiji fires off hands on Ren, but Yujiro uses the PIMP CANE! Finlay CLOBBERS everybody, but Chase is in! Finlay SMACKS that traitor, then goes after Ren! WHISKEY MIST! DEATH PIPE!! Chase gives Finlay a C-TRIGGER!!
The fans boo as all these traitors help Evil! They even bring in a table! They CHUCK the table right at Finlay’s head! Then they set it up near a corner, and Fale climbs up!?! Finlay is put on the table, and Fale DIVING SPLASHES through the table!! The fans boo as Finlay is completely wrecked! Evil makes sure the collar is back on as if nothing happened. Evil calls for the ref, then he wraps the chain around Finlay’s neck! Evil CHOKES Finlay, a new ref comes in as a replacement, and Evil uses the chain to help with the SCORPION DEATHLOCK!! Finlay endures as Evil bends him back and pulls on the chain!!
The fans boo but Finlay can only endure! Bloody forehead, bloody back, and he’s PASSING OUT!! EVIL WINS!!
Winner: Evil, by submission
The King of Darkness let The Rebel have the name, “Bullet Club,” because clearly he wants what matters more: POWER! The House of Torture is a force of nature at ten men strong, will no one stop them from taking over NJPW?
As for Finlay, the medical team is brought in, and they bring a backboard and stretcher. Will their boss dog ever be able to bark again?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji VS Gabe Kidd!
When these two battled last, it went to a time limit draw, and obviously everyone was left wanting more. But will sixty minutes be enough this time around? Or will the Gene Blast and Mad Man fight forever?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and these two finally run it back!
Gabe surprisingly shows respect by offering a handshake. Yota accepts and the fans cheer. The bell rings and the two slowly circle. The fans duel, with plenty of “YOTA!” and “GABU!” Gabe then SMACKS Yota, SAIDOS, and Yota tumbles out! “I’m a Mad Man, y’know!” Gabe runs and FLIES! Down goes Yota and the fans fire up! Gabe goes back to Yota, drags him up and into the ring, and the fans cheer. But then Yota BLASTS Gabe off the apron! Yota runs to FOSBURY FLOP! Direct hit and the fans fire up again! Both men are down from bringing out the big moves early, and a ring count begins. Both men stir at 8, and Yota rises at 10 of 20.
Yota brings Gabe up at 13 but Gabe fights the scoop! Yota fights the driver, we pass 15! And then 17! Yota fights the suplex, both men hear 19 and they LEAP in! The fans cheer as these two avoid a rather quick draw. The two then tie up, Gabe headlocks, and Yota powers up and out. Gabe RUNS Yota over, then things speed up. Yota bypasses then HIP TOSSES Gabe, and adds a basement DROPKICK! The fans rally while Gabe goes to ropes. Yota storms up but Gabe CHOPS! Gabe fires forearms and UPPERCUTS! Gabe whips, Yota reverses and hit a KITCHEN SINK KNEE! Gabe sputters but Yota brings him up for a scoop and SLAM!
Yota runs, and he SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! Gabe shakes his head, he’s tougher than that, but Yota stays calm. Yota storms over to Gabe, stands him up, and CHOPS him back down! Gabe huffs ‘n’ puffs and rises up, but Yota fires a forearm. Gabe fires back, they trade shots, but then Yota BODY BLOWS! Gabe falls in a heap and sputters again. Yota brings Gabe back up, then runs to RUN Gabe over! The fans cheer and Yota pushes Gabe to a cover, TWO! Gabe shakes his head and the fans applaud but Yota grins. Yota brings Gabe up, ROCKS him, and has him in a corner. Gabe eggs Yota on so Yota CHOPS him!
Yota stands Gabe up, RAMS into him again and again, but Red Shoes reprimands. Yota snapmares Gabe, then wraps on body scissors! Gabe endures the squeeze, fights off the chinlock, and he eggs Yota on again. Yota fires a forearm, Gabe SLAPS, and repeat! Yota SLAPS Gabe now! Gabe sputters and Yota turns scissors into a top mount so he can CHOP Gabe! Gabe snarls and grabs at Yota, but Yota CHOPS him again! Yota paces, then he scuffs Gabe. Gabe sits up with a scowl, but Yota scuffs him again. Gabe gets in Yota’s face, so Yota fires forearms. Gabe tells Yota off but Yota fires a flurry! Then he DECKS Gabe!
Yota smiles and paces while Gabe slowly sits back up. Gabe shakes out the stars, but Yota fires even more forearms. Gabe powers Yota to the ropes! Yota HAMMERS Gabe, but Gabe SHOVES Yota up and out! Yota tumbles to the floor but is otherwise okay, so a ring count begins. The fans rally, Gabe sits cross-legged, but Yota is still down at 10 of 20. Yota stands at 13, rolls in at 15, and Gabe says F YOU! LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Yota survives and the fans cheer but Gabe is annoyed. Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe stands Yota up. Gabe winds up to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP as he has Yota against ropes! Gabe then LARIATS and CROSSBODIES!
Yota tumbles away and Gabe snarls. Gabe runs in at the corner and LARIATS! Then he clinches to EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Gabe shakes his head and paces around Yota. Gabe runs, but Yota ducks the lariat to COMPLETE SHOT, then deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! Gabe tumbles to a corner, the fans rally up, and Yota growls. Yota runs corner to corner to V-TRIGGER! Gabe falls, Yota grins, and Yota goes up, up, and MARLOWE- NO, Gabe dodges! Gabe runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Gabe is still in this but Yota stays focused. The fans rally and duel as Yota brings Gabe up.
Yota reels Gabe in, suplexes, but Gabe blocks! They fight for suplex control now, and Gabe fires a body shot! Gabe then hangs Yota out to dry and BOOTS him! Gabe goes up the corner now, and he GUILLOTINE SENTONS! Not the best hit and Gabe may have taken as much damage as Yota on that. Gabe crawls over to bring Yota up, and he SAIDOS! Cover, TWO! Yota is still in this and the fans cheer. Both men are down but Gabe sits up. Gabe shakes his head, he doesn’t care about that. He eggs Yota on and dares him to bring the fight! Gabe SLAPS Yota, then eggs him on more. Yota CHOPS in return and the fans fire up!
Yota eggs Gabe on, then catches him for the BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER and STOMP! The fans fire up as the Gene Combination hits! Yota watches Gabe bails out, so Yota builds speed again! Yota DIVES and down goes Gabe! But Gabe’s right up to BOOT Yota! Gabe runs up, but Yota pops him up! Gabe mule kicks, then goes up, up, and ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and then Gabe inverted suplexes into a gut wrench! TOMBSTONE on the floor!! Gabe and Yota are both down while the fans fire up! Gabe rises and the fans cheer him on! Gabe puts Yota in the ring, hauls him up, and suplexes for the BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer as Yota stays in this, but Gabe frowns. Gabe grabs Yota’s legs and GIANT SWINGS him! Gabe borrows from his new friends in the Death Riders, and then he turns Yota over for a BOSTON CRAB! Gabe wants to use that Young Lion hold to humiliate Yota! The fans rally as Yota endures and powers up! Yota storms his way forward, but Gabe drags him back and sits deep! The fans rally more as Yota powers up again! Yota grits his teeth and fights forward, but Gabe sits deeper! Yota still manages the ROPEBREAK! Gabe lets go in frustration, and he stomps and kicks Yota at the ropes. Red Shoes reprimands but Gabe eggs Yota on.
Gabe tells Yota that this is NJPW, so get up! Yota rises, and he fires a forearm. Gabe shakes his head so Yota fires more shots. Gabe says they’re still not good enough, and he CHOPS in return! Yota sputters, the fans rally, and Gabe waits on Yota. Yota rises to fire a forearm, Gabe CHOPS again, and Yota staggers back. Yota storms up to fire a forearm, but Gabe gives that back. The forearms go back and forth, speed up even, and the fans rally. Yota fires a flurry, then a CHOP! Gabe felt that one! Gabe still comes back and fakes a chop to JAB! Red Shoes reprimands about closed fists but Gabe kicks and CHOPS Yota!
Yota stands to HEADBUTT! Gabe falls right over! Yota waits on Gabe, winds up, but Gabe catches him to a nelson! Yota breaks it but ends up in a COBRA TWIST! The fans fire up, Yota reaches out, but Gabe rolls Yota up! TWO, and Gabe SMACKS Yota! Gabe reels Yota in, but Yota Alabama Lifts! DEADEYE! Yota then reels Gabe in, lifts, and hits a PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and Yota grows frustrated but the fans love it! Yota runs to CURB STOMP Gabe, then he goes up the corner! The fans fire up for the MARLOWE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and the fans cheer again. Yota roars and the fans duel again!
Yota aims from a corner as Gabe rises. GENE- KNEE!!! Gabe roars, KICKS Yota in the face, then reels him in! LEG TRAP PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yota survives and no one can believe it! The fans rally up again and Gabe roars! Gabe brings his kneepad down and takes aim at Yota! O- NO!! Yota pops Gabe up for a KNEE of his own! And then a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and the fans rally up again. Yota goes to a corner, Gabe stands, GENE- LARIAT!! Gabe counters again, and then he hauls Yota up! Yota fights the driver, wrenches, but Gabe SMACKS him! Yota V-TRIGGERS!
Gabe rebounds, Yota dodges, but then Gabe rebounds again, COMEBACKER!! The fans are thunderous and Gabe aims from the corner! O- GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Now Gabe survives and the fans are electric! Yota roars and he reloads! Gabe stands, into the GENE- NO! Gabe facelocks, PARADIGM SHIFT?!?! And then the LEG TRAP DRIVER!!!! Cover, GABE WINS!!!
Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
The Mad Man used The Maniac’s move and made himself a champion! Gabe has been saying he wants to restore the feeling of Strong Style in NJPW, but did he prove he can also be elite?
After being presented the belt, Gabe grabs the mic. “Tsuji, wait, wait, wait.” Gabe hobbles over to his rival and the fans applaud. Gabe tells Yota that NJPW in the 1990s, it was Hashimota and Mutoh. In the 2000s, it was Tanahashi and Nakamura. And then the late 2010s, it was Okada and Omega. But now, with 2025, it will be them, Tsuji and Kidd!! Gabe wants Tsuji to understand, he will see him again later. Gabe then asks if anyone minds that he speaks English. No, let’s be real. It is very public what happened to him, the struggles he has been through. “Getting sectioned in a side checker hospital, not wanting to live anymore…”
But none of that matters now, because he is now the GLOBAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! The fans cheer Gabe on as he holds up the belt. Gabe revels in that praise, and then says that he wants challengers now! Who is it gonna be? OI! HIROSHI TANAHASHI! Get out here, ya bastard! The fans cheer Tanahashi on, and Gabe says hurry up, get out here. Here comes The Ace! The fans cheer as Tanahashi makes his way back out here, and Gabe holds the ropes open for the President. The fans applaud, and now they’re face to face in the ring. Gabe says this is Tanahashi’s Final Road. Then let’s go, President! They’ll fight one last time!
The fans cheer that idea! Will Tanahashi and Gabe light it up even before entering the G1? Will the Mad Man regret gambling with The Ace?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto w/ YOSHI-HASHI VS Shingo Takagi!
The dream finally came true earlier this year at the New Beginning in Osaka as the Goto Revolution dethroned Zack Sabre Jr. Goto was handed the banner of Hontai by Hiroshi Tanahashi, and then Goto overcame ZSJ again in their rematch. But now, this former ungovernable has come back to regain former glory! Will this become the Takagi Revolution? Or will the Fierce Warrior slay this Rampaging Dragon?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who makes this their Dominion!
The bell rings and the fans fire up already. The dueling is strong between “GO-TO-O!” and “TA-KA-GI!” The two feel things out, knuckle lock, then clinch, only to separate. They go again, then separate, and the fans continue to rally. The two tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, and Takagi powers Goto to the ropes. Goto turns things around on Takagi, lets off slowly, and pats Takagi on the shoulders. Takagi rushes Goto and kicks low! Takagi CLUBS Goto, clamps on a headlock, but Goto poewrs up and out. GOto headlocks inr eturn, but now Takagi powers up and out. They RAM shoulders and Takagi just brushes it off.
Takagi runs to RAM Goto, but Goto grits his teeth. Goto and Takagi egg each other on, then Goto runs. Goto RAMS Takagi, Takagi rebounds and RAMS Goto! Goto rebounds and RAMS Takagi again, and both men stand their ground. The fans rally as Goto fires a forearm and Takagi fires a CHOP, then repeat! They both throw forearms now, but then Goto knees low, snapmares, and KICKS Takagi in the back! Takagi stands to CHOP! The fans fire up and Takagi whips. Goto reverses, Takagi blocks the hip toss, and Takagi THROWS Goto down. Goto avoids the senton and he hits a takeover. Takagi headscissors, Goto kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff.
Goto and Takagi reset while the fans rally. They approach, and Takagi offers a handshake? Goto is wary, but Takagi promises a clean fight. Goto accepts the handshake, but then Takagi KNEES low! Goto fights the pump handle, dragon sleepers, but Takagi arm-drags free. Takagi bypasses Goto, but Goto counters a hip toss with a hip toss! Goto then RUNS Takagi over! Takagi bails out and goes to the crowd. Takagi dares Goto to come get him, but Goto tells Takagi to get in the ring. Takagi stretches out his arms and legs, then steps back to the apron. Red Shoes has Goto stay back, but then Takagi steps in and Goto attacks!
Goto CLUBS away on Takagi in the corner, then he whips Takagi to ropes. Goto ELBOWS Takagi down, then ELBOW DROPS! Takagi sputters, Goto drops an ELBOWS on the back! Cover, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Goto brings Takagi up. Goto digs his knee into Takagi’s back as part of the chinlock. Takagi endures, but Goto ELBOWS him in the head! Red Shoes reprimands but Goto stomps Takagi around. Goto and Takagi trade forearms but Goto stomps Takagi in the corner. Goto whips corner to corner, runs in and LARIATS! The fans fire up with Goto and he headlocks, but Takagi fights off the bulldog!
Goto fires knees, but Takagi shoves Goto away! Goto comes back, but into the ELBOW! Takagi goes up and reels Goto in, TORNADO DDT! Takagi then runs up and LARIATS Goto up and out of the ring! The fans cheer, then they duel while Goto is down on the outside. Takagi goes out to fetch Goto, and he brings Goto around the way to whip hard into railing! Yoshi-Hashi has to stay back as Takagi storms over that way. Takagi brings Goto around to SMACK him off the apron! Takagi then fireman’s carries for a SNAKE EYES off the apron! Takagi doesn’t stop, he brings Goto to the ramp! Snap suplex onto the ramp! Right on the N and I!
Goto writhes, clutching his leg, and Red Shoes has Takagi stay back. Takagi waits, and Goto is okay to continue. Takagi stomps Goto, drags him up, and Takagi brings Goto to the ring. Takagi then drops an ELBOW of his own! And a SENTON! The fans applaud and rally up again. Takagi brings Goto up, puts him on the ropes, and KNEES him low! And KNEES him again! Takagi backs off as Red Shoes reprimands, and then Takagi whips to KNEE Goto again! Takagi runs to RUN Goto over! The fans fire up and Takagi flexes. Takagi drags Goto back up, reels him in, and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO!
Takagi looks to the camera, but then says not yet. Takagi wraps on the body scissors! Goto fights around as he endures the squeeze. Takagi clamps on a chinlock, Goto still fights, so Takagi shifts to make it part COBRA TWIST! The fans rally as Goto still endures and still fights around! Goto kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, but Takagi holds on! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, so Goto lets go at 3. Takagi stands while the fans rally. Takagi kicks Goto around, then stands him up. Goto fires CHOP after CHOP, but Takagi RIDGE HAND CHOPS, and RIDGE HAND CHOPS, then DOUBLE CHOPS!
Takagi has Goto in the corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs in, but blocks a boot! Takagi LARIATS through and the fans fire up! Takagi stands Goto up to JAB, CHOP, and repeat! The fans rally with every JAB, then Takagi CHOPS! Takagi then whips Goto back the other way, but Goto reverses. Goto runs up but into BOOTS! Takagi runs, Goto follows and LARIATS! The fans cheer while both men are down. Goto rises as the fans rally and duel again. Goto storms over to Takagi in the corner, fires forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in and MURAMASA to the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Takagi stays in this and the fans cheer.
The dueling continues as “GO-TO-O!” rises and storms over to “TA-KA-GI!” Goto scoops, Takagi slips free to the apron, but Goto ELBOWS Takagi. Goto runs up but Takagi RAMS him! Takagi looks to the floor and nods. Takagi brings Goto up but Goto DECKS him! Takagi goes to the floor and leans on the railing. Goto rolls out to go after him, but Takagi RAMS Goto into the apron! Takagi has media clear out, and he whips Goto. Goto stops from hitting railing, then he picks Takagi up! Goto has Takagi on the railing, for a DRAPING SHOTO to the floor! The fans fire up and Red Shoes checks both men. They’re both able to continue, and Goto rolls into the ring first.
The ring count is climbing, Takagi is still down at 7 of 20. Takagi stirs, rises up, and he uses the railing to stand at 11. But then he falls back! Takagi rises again at 15, and he slides in at 17! The fans applaud, and Goto storms his way over. Goto stomps Takagi, brings him up, but Takagi fires a forearm! Goto fires back, but then Takagi CHOPS! Goto ROCKS Takagi, Takagi HEADBUTTS Goto, repeat! Takagi then runs, but Goto catches him to URA GTR! Goto runs and LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Takagi stays in this and Goto snarls. The fans rally and Goto brings Takagi up. Takagi fights the fireman’s carry and CLUBS away on him!
Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, and YUKON LARIATS! The fans fire up while Goto is down! Takagi drags Goto back up while the fans rally, but Goto takes a swing! Takagi catches him, spins him, and hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Takagi then runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Goto stays in this and the fans applaud. Takagi shouts to Osaka and says, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as Takagi stands Goto up and pump handles. Goto fires elbows and gets free, to then fire forearms! Goto runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! And SAIDO! Goto stands?! But Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- NO, Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI!
The fans fire up again while both men are down! The dueling begins again and is strong as ever. Goto stands first, he runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Takagi drops to his knees while Goto staggers back, and the fans rally up again. Takagi and Goto DOUBLE LARIAT again! Goto roars, runs, but Takagi swats a lariat to BLINDSIDE LARIAT, then PUMPING BOMBER! Takagi hauls Goto up to POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO! Goto stays in this and the fans fire up. Both men slowly rise up, and Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in, Takagi runs corner to corner and LARIATS! The fans fire up while Goto sputters.
Takagi roars, the fans fire up more, and Takagi puts Goto up top. Takagi climbs up but Goto fires body shots! Goto shoves Takagi down but Takagi fires ridge hands! Takagi climbs up again, but Goto fires forearms! Takagi HEADBUTTS, Goto HEADBUTTS, and they keep going back and forth! Goto then pushes Takagi down so he can climb up, SUPER KAI TEN!! High stack cover, TWO!! Takagi survives that super sunset bomb and the fans are thunderously dueling! Goto fireman’s carries, G TÂ W!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives again and the fans rally up more. Goto roars and drags Takagi into a dragon sleeper!
But Takagi spins it around! Takagi squeezes tight, but Goto drops down! Takagi holds on, but Goto fires hands from below! Goto is free, runs up, but Takagi puts him in the ropes! Takagi hits the DRAPING GTR! And then he pump handles to hit MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?! Goto survives and the fans are thunderous again! Takagi drags Goto up, runs, and PUMPING BOMBER! The fans are thunderous as Takagi stands Goto up, pump handles and torture racks, BURNING DRAGON!! Cover, TWO!??! Goto survives and the fans are electric! Takagi is beside himself but the fans continue to duel between them!
Takagi rises and he goes over to Goto. Takagi pump handles again but Goto fires elbow after elbow! Takagi POINT-BLANK LARIATS! The fans fire up while both men stay up, and Takagi LARIATS again! Goto drops to a knee, but Takagi brings him back up. Goto fires forearms! Takagi fires boxing elbows! Goto HEADBUTTSÂ into a FOREARM! But then Goto and Takagi DOUBLE HEADBUTT! Goto fires up, but Takagi JABS! And HEADBUTTS! And POINT-BLANK- NO, Goto catches Takagi to facelock! Takagi fights the suplex, and then he suplexes! But Goto fights that and suplexes, SHOTEN KAI!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous!
Goto and Takagi stir, the fans rally as hard as they possibly can, and Goto rises first. Goto goes to a corner, roars, and he powers up! Takagi sits up, into the BUZZSAW! But then he springs up!? But Goto LARIATS Takagi back down!! Osaka is erupting as Goto dragon sleepers! But Takagi fires hands! So Goto grabs the arm, only for Takagi to somersault clutch! TWO, and SLIDING D!! Both men are down again, and the fans duel as hard as they can! Takagi roars, and then he drags Goto back up! Takagi pump handles, torture racks, but Goto slips down! G T R!!! Goto has to crawl to the cover! TWO?!?!?
The fans are electric as Takagi survives! Goto is almost foaming at the mouth, but he brings Takagi up for HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! And yet Takagi rises!? Takagi says he’s not done yet, but Goto HEADBUTTS him! And then URA SWING into G T R!!! Cover, GOTO WINS!!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The Fierce Warrior reveals he is still growing and evolving as he busts out a brand new take on his classic finisher! The Rampaging Dragon has been slain, but can he rise back up in the heat of the G1?
As for Goto, Hashi helps put the belt back around his waist, and Goto shows Takagi respect by holding out his hand. Takagi stands up, applauds Goto, and then shakes his hand. The fans applaud, will these two run it back soon enough? As Takagi makes his leave, Goto grabs the mic. The fans cheer Goto on, and he says, “The Goto Revolution is all about the will of a veteran.” The fans cheer, and Goto says that in a sense, Takagi is part of that revolution. Goto tells Takagi not to give up. “You’ll find yourself a nice wife. You have to create your own future.” The fans chuckle but they do applaud Goto supporting Takagi both professionally and personally.
Goto says, “As for me, it is my mission to create the future for NJPW!” The fans applaud, and Goto adds, “The Goto Revolution is far from over. Please keep following me until the very end!” The fans applaud again and Goto says they will close with Goto’s G’s. “Let’s go, Osaka-Jo!” The fans cheer, and Goto says, “The G in IWGP stands for Goto!” With that, Goto puts down the mic and the streamers fly! If the Goto Revolution is keeping the G in IWGP, will the Fierce Warrior also make the G1 into the Goto 1?
My Thoughts:
A great night for NJPW, a very packed show, even though I skipped ELP & Shota VS ZSJ & Oiwa. Bullet Club and House of Torture sure had a big night tonight, with “Don Fale” defecting from Bullet Club and apparently bringing Chase Owens with him, and Douki replacing Kanemaru to not only have a shocking return but to take those titles off Yoh & Wato. And then all of this factors into that dog collar match to help Evil win, showing the House of Torture is the new big bad faction everyone has to worry about.
Tanahashi VS Uemura was very good, and a part of me figured Tanahashi would win to stay strong as he goes into the second half of his final year. Oleg VS Konosuke was great stuff, especially for Oleg to win the NEVER Openweight title. Konosuke is still going to be in the G1 but I wonder if after that, Konosuke focuses more on AEW related story, especially since things will sort out between the Continental & International Championships. Yota VS Gabe was great, but that flying senton was perhaps a spot Gabe hadn’t practiced, he really overshot it. Gabe winning was still the right move after how strong he’s been going and is becoming NJPW’s favorite anti-hero. Gabe VS Tanahashi will be great stuff, but I would think Gabe retains the title.
And the main event was awesome, both guys still very popular and still going strong. Goto retaining made sense, there’s still a lot he can do as champion. He will definitely be tested in the G1, with every match being the other guy giving their best against him. But I don’t expect Goto to win the whole thing, or maybe even A Block, with quite a few top names in there. Tanahashi might make a good push, it could be between him and Goto since this is Tanahashi’s last G1.
My Score: 9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
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