Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/20/24)
One step from the throne!
Is Der Ring General about to get a YEET Down?!
King & Queen of the Ring is this Saturday in Saudi Arabia, and Main Event Jey Uso takes on GUNTHER for Raw’s side of the semifinals! Who’s about to get this work?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Sami Zayn VS Chad Gable w/ The Alpha Academy; Gable wins.
- Bron Breakker VS Kale Dixon; Bron wins, by referee stoppage.
- Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Iyo Sky VS Lyra Valkyria; Lyra wins and advances to King & Queen of the Ring.
- WWE World Tag Team Championships: The Awesome Truth VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh w/ Dominik Mysterio; The Awesome Truth wins and retains the titles.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS Maxxine Dupri & Ivy Nile VS Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai; Shayna & Zoey win and will challenge for the titles.
- King of the Ring Semifinals: Jey Uso VS GUNTHER; Gunther wins and advances to King & Queen of the Ring.
PLAY BY PLAY
Sami Zayn is here!
The WWE Intercontinental Champion has a big Triple Threat this Saturday, colossal even. But first, he has to settle things with the taskmaster of the Alpha Academy 1v1! Will Sami get even for that ambush German Suplex weeks ago? Or will Gable SHOOOOSH everyone this close to the King & Queen of the Ring event?
Sami gets a mic as the fans cheer him on. “I think that’s as good a way to kick it off as any. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Monday Night Raw! We are five days away. Five days away from King & Queen of the Ring live from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I find myself in a Triple Threat match versus Bronson Reed… and Chad Gable… for my Intercontinental Championship. And it’s funny, I was asked in an interview today, ‘Sami, why would you put your championship up in a Triple Threat? Everybody knows the champion has a disadvantage, you don’t even need to be pinned or submitted to lose your title.”
Sami tried to explain because he has two very different issues on his hands, and he wants to deal with them both at the same time. One is a very personal issue with Chad Gable, because you don’t German Suplex a man out of his wife’s arms, in his hometown, in front of his 78 year old father and expect nothing to happen! Gable’s got an ass kicking coming his way! The fans cheer that! Sami then says the other issue is with Bronson Reed. That’s not personal with Bronson. Bronson doesn’t care about Sami, his family, or Gable’s, just the championship. So the way Sami sees it, this is interesting. It is the find of the mind, body and soul.
The mind is Chad Gable, one of the most manipulative and crafty wrestlers of all time. The body is the unmatched brute force of Bronson Reed. And the soul is Sami Zayn! And if Sami’s putting his money on a fight between those, he bets on soul every single time! That soul, that heart, that passion is why Sami IS champion! It’s why he was able to beat the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time at WrestleMania. And it is why at KQOTR, Sami will walk out of there STILL Intercontinental Champion! But then speaking of, here comes Gable! The Alpha Academy follows as Gable says hold on there, Sami. Did he hear Sami call him “Manipulative?”
Gable? Manipulative? Gable’s manipulative? Did Gable manipulate Sami into beating Gunther? No, he coached Sami, and selflessly, into winning. But that’s the problem! Gable’s just too damn nice. He’s been too nice to Sami, and way too nice to the three clowns standing behind him. Take Maxxine for example! Saturday, she should be in Saudi Arabia and competing for the crown in the QOTR finals, but she’s not, is she? No, and why is that? She blew her opportunity! FAILURE! The fans boo but Gable then goes to Tozawa. Tozawa did exactly ZERO percent of the damage he was asked against Bronson Reed. FAILURE!
Which brings Gable to Otis. The fans cheer Otis on but Gable says last week, against Sami Zayn, Otis proved once again why, by far and away, he is the biggest disappointment on the planet. Sami says enough of that. We’ve heard enough out of Gable. In fact, Sami has a question. Not for Gable, but for The Academy. “How much longer are you guys gonna deal with this guy’s crap?!” The fans cheer but Gable says Sami can’t talk to them, he talks to them! Gable sees what Sami is doing! Sami said it himself, Gable’s the brains. Gable sees Sami trying to drive a wedge. But luckily for Gable, the Academy rededicated themselves to Gable and his mission to reestablish respect!
Oh, and Gable will say this. He is sick and tired of Sami talk about his heart and his soul. It’s PATHETIC! In Saudi Arabia, Gable doesn’t have to pin Sami, but he will pin Sami! The fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” but Gable ignores them. He isn’t just taking Sami’s title, he’s taking Sami’s soul. Sami says that’s all well and good, but last he checked, Saudi Arabia isn’t for another five days. And we’re here in Greensboro, North Carolina. Last Sami checked, they’re scheduled for a 1v1 match! Sami’s ready, Gable’s ready, so let’s do it here and now! The fans like that, and Gable steps up. Is Gable ready to give Sami an example of what he means?
Sami Zayn VS Chad Gable w/ The Alpha Academy!
The bell rings, the two tie up, and they go around. They end up on ropes, then in a corner. The ref counts, Gable lets off, but Sami blocks the counter punch to fire off hands! Sami whips, then LARIATS Gable down! The fans fire up and Sami storms up on Gable. Sami bumps Gable off buckles, then climbs up as Gable staggers away. Sami hits a FLYING AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and Sami stalks Gable. Sami stands Gable up to CHOP! Sami whips, Gable holds ropes, but Sami clotheslines Gable up and out! The fans fire up, The Academy helps Gable up, but he gets mad at them! Gable doesn’t want their help! The fans boo but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Gable has Sami down, and throws down crossface forearms! The fans boo but Gable snap suplexes Sami down. Gable paces, goes to the corner and climbs, then DIVING HEADBUTT FLOPS! Sami avoids disaster and the fans fire up! The Academy worries, but Sami storms up to fire hands on Gable! Sami whips, Gable reverses but Sami goes up and over to LARIAT! Sami then gets around Gable, but Gable fights with punches to the head! Gable goes to run but Sami reel shim in! Gable slips free and clinches, EXPLODER! The fans rally for Sami but Gable storms up and CHOKES Sami on ropes!
The fans boo, Gable lets off, and Maxxine is conflicted on taking a cheap shot! Gable is upset with her, but the others console her. Gable says Maxxine never listens! Gable storms up on Sami but Sami ELBOWS him away! And BOOTS him! Sami then runs up but Gable THROAT CHOPS! The fans boo but Gable drags Sami up, whips, but Sami reverses! Sami then fires off on Gable! Sami climbs up, rains down fists, and the fans count all the way to nine but Gable falls! The fans boo about not getting ten, but Sami goes out after Gable. Gable uses Maxxine as a shield! The fans boo the cowardice, but Sami slides back in.
Gable stomps Sami down! Gable CHOKES Sami on ropes, the ref counts, and Gable lets off. Now Tozawa steps up, but he’s also conflicted! The fans say “NO! NO! NO!” and Tozawa can’t do it! Gable is mad at Tozawa now! Gable tells Maxxine and Tozawa they’re just failures! Gable tells them to LEAVE! Tozawa and Maxxine leave, but Sami yanks Gable into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Gable survives and Sami is a bit surprised. Gable goes to the apron then the floor, at the feet of Otis! What’s Otis gonna do? The fans want Otis to leave Gable high and dry, we get a QR Code, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and both men are down in the ring! Sami and Gable rise, Gable waistlocks and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Then GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Sami fights the hattrick with elbows, then switches to GERMAN SUPLEX in return! And GERMAN SUPLEXES again! The fans fire up but Gable fights the hattrick now! Gable throws elbows, Sami ducks one to scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Gable hangs in there and he goes to a corner. The fans fire up with Sami as he hurries to the other end! Sami runs corner to corner, but Gable rolls and picks the leg! ANKLE LOCK! The fans boo but Sami endures!
Gable leans on the hold, Sami flails and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Gable lets go in frustration, but he drags Sami up. Gable calls to Otis and throws Sami out to him. Otis is conflicted now, just like the others before! The fans want Otis to do the right thing but he inches closer to Sami. Otis winds back, but then backs away! Gable is frustrated, he gets Sami in the ring and he asks what the hell is wrong with Otis!? Otis has never done what Gable’s asked! Gable SLAPS Otis, then grabs Sami’s title belt! Gable says this is what it takes, and he runs up on Sami! But Sami clinches for a CORNER EXPLODER!
The fans are thunderous as Sami marches to the other end! But then Otis gets up to CLOBBER Sami!! The fans boo but Gable grins! Gable runs up to waistlock and CHAOS THEORY!! Bridging cover, Gable wins!
Winner: Chad Gable, by pinfall
Otis does what Gable wanted, and now Gable has the win! But will Gable get what he wants and finally have a singles title in the WWE? Or will it be a lot harder to screw over Sami and Bronson at the same time?
Iyo Sky speaks.
“Since I arrived, I have dominated everyone in my way. I’ve been a champion of the world, but now… I’m ready for my crown! Damage CTRL took over SmackDown, and once I’m Queen, everyone on Raw will have no choice but to bow down! Especially Lyra Valkyria. Lyra, you’re soaring now, but you’ve flown too close to the sun. You’re in my domain, and you will fall, because I am the Genius of the Sky. And soon, I will be Queen of the Ring!” Will Iyo make Lyra crash and burn just like Icarus? Or will the Evil Genius have no solution to The Morrigan?
Backstage interview with The Alpha Academy.
Jackie Redmond is with Gable and the others, and she congratulates him on the win. She does have to ask about Otis’ involvement, though? Is this part of the master plan to- Whoa, what’s going on back there? Someone calls them over, and LWO has found Cruz Del Toro down, clutching his already injured arm! Adam Pearce is on the scene, tells the cameras to give them space. It’s pretty obvious who would want to hurt LWO, but then what consequences will Carlito & The Judgment Day face for it?
Bron Breakker VS Kale Dixon!
The Big Bad Booty Nephew wasn’t part of this year’s King of the Ring, but it would seem Adam Pearce convinced him to be patient. Will Bron still make quick work of this NXT prospect? Or will Kale prove he’s ready to do more than just Level Up?
The bell rings and Bron sighs. He wants more than this for competition, and this? This is just pissing him off! SPEAR!! Kale sputters and sits up in a daze, but the fans want more! Bron TOSSES Kale up and out of the ring! Bron then goes out the other side, then stalks from around the way. TURBO SPEAR!! The straps come down, the fans bark it up, but then Bron simmers down a bit. Bron drags Kale up, SMACKS him off the apron, then drags him into the ring by his hair! The ref reprimands, but Bron drags Kale around. The ref has Bron back off, checks on Kale, and he calls it! Bron wins by stoppage!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by referee stoppage
Bron isn’t satisfied with this, and the fans want more, too! So Bron runs and runs and builds up speed to SPEAR again!! Clearly Kale isn’t satisfying enough for this hungry dog! Bron scrapes Kale out of the ring, then separates the steel steps! Producers rush out to stand in his way! The fans boo but Bron drops the steps. Bron paces while the refs help Kale up. But then Bron grabs a chair! The fans are just as bloodthirsty! CON-CHAIR-TO with the steps!! Greensboro loses its mind over the savagery, and Pearce is furious! But Bron smirks at Pearce, and says to give him something better next time.
Bron leaves, a stretcher is brought out for Kale, will nothing short of golden opportunities satiate Bron’s monstrous appetite?
Raw returns from break and…
Kiana James asks Pearce if she can help. Pearce says he appreciates the offer but not right now. Kale is loaded into an ambulance, and Pearce shouts at Bron. Pearce knows Bron’s not that good at math but make this make sense! Bron grins again, and says you can’t control him. Pearce didn’t put Bron in KOTR, this is on him. Bron leaves, will this rabid dog stop at nothing until he gets what he wants?
Lyra Valkyria is at gorilla.
Becky Lynch finds her and says she’s come a long way from home for this. Lyra sacrificed a lot for this! Becky knows how good Lyra is at this, so go show her what this is all about! Lyra tells Becky, “I got this.” Becky nods and Lyra heads out, will The Morrigan get that golden ticket to Saudi Arabia?
Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Iyo Sky VS Lyra Valkyria!
The bell rings and the two tie up. They go around, Iyo puts Lyra on ropes, and the ref counts. Iyo arm-drags Lyra, runs up, but Lyra sidesteps. Iyo ducks a lariat then handsprings to show off. The fans cheer, the two reset, and they circle. Iyo kicks low, then headlocks. Lyra powers up and out, then drops, but Iyo handsprings, only for Lyra to trip her! Lyra Oklahoma Rolls, TWO! Lyra headlocks, Iyo powers up and out, but Lyra stops from hitting buckles. Lyra goes up and over, handsprings and eggs Iyo on. Iyo falls for the bait and Lyra rolls her up! TWO, and the two stand off again. Iyo swings, Lyra dodges, then goes up and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer this exchange and Lyra says it was that close. Lyra says she’s gonna be queen, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Lyra waistlocks Iyo. Iyo runs to ropes to HOTSHOT Lyra down! Lyra sputters, Iyo runs up to DRIVE- NO, Lyra avoids the drive-by dropkick! Lyra drags Iyo up, but Iyo HOTSHOTS her again! Iyo grits her teeth, storms back in, and she CLUBS away on Lyra! The fans duel, but Iyo SMACKS Lyra off the mat! Cover, TWO! Iyo keeps on Lyra with a chinlock, even digging a knee into Lyra’s back. Lyra moves around but Iyo bumps her off buckles. The fans rally as Iyo stomps a mudhole. Iyo then lets off, to dig her boots in! The ref counts, Iyo swings to DOUBLE KNEE! Lyra sputters, Iyo covers, TWO!
Lyra is still in this but Iyo stalks her. Iyo CHOKES Lyra on the ropes, taunts her, but the ref counts. Iyo lets off at 4, then waits on Lyra. Iyo brings Lyra up, waistlocks, but Lyra fights the lift. Lyra swings, Iyo ducks, and Iyo knees low! Iyo underhooks, to TIGER BACKBREAKER! Lyra writhes, Iyo pushes her to a cover, TWO! The fans rally while Iyo is frustrated. Iyo pushes Lyra down to then clamp on a straitjacket stretch! Lyra endures, even as Iyo bends her back! The fans rally, Iyo SLAMS Lyra down! Then Iyo clamps on, pushes to a cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third, TWO! Iyo tries a fourth cover, ONE!!
Lyra is not making this easy but Iyo gets mad at the ref for his counts. Iyo kicks Lyra around, taunts her, but Lyra grits her teeth. Lyra grabs the leg but Iyo SLAPS her around! Lyra blocks the kick, SLAPS back, then LEG CAPTURE GERMAN!! Iyo flops around and the fans fire up! Lyra snarls as she rises up, and then runs up on Iyo! LARIAT! LARIAT! SOBAT! KICK! HEADBUTT! KICK! ENZIGIRI! Iyo flops out of the ring and the fans fire up! Lyra builds speed and WRECKS Iyo with a dropkick! Iyo tumbles, Lyra hurries to fetch her into the ring. Lyra goes up, takes aim, CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Lyra now hooks Iyo up, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!
Iyo toughs it out, but Lyra brings her up to a fireman’s carry. But Iyo fights free! Iyo throws Lyra down by her hair! The ref reprimands but Iyo METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives but Iyo drags her back up. Iyo waistlocks but Lyra fights it. Lyra switches, Iyo reaches out, they go to ropes again. Lyra holds on this time to O’Conner Roll! TWO, but Lyra gets the legs! She turns Iyo over, for a deep SURFBOARD!! Iyo endures as Lyra lifts her up! Lyra rocks Iyo in the hammock, then rolls to a EURO CLUTCH! TWO, Iyo gets Lyra into the CROSSFACE!! Lyra endures, reaches out, rolls to a cover, TWO! Iyo lets Lyra go to SHOTEI!
Lyra goes to a corner, Iyo to the other. Iyo has a bloody nose but that just pisses her off! Iyo runs up, but is put on the apron! Iyo blocks to ROCK Lyra again! Iyo then springboards, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Lyra is on ropes, Iyo DOUBLE KNEES her in the back! Iyo steps on Lyra, goes up the corner, but Lyra YANKS her down! The fans are thunderous as Lyra reels Iyo in! TORNADO- NO, Iyo HOTSHOTS Lyra again! Iyo goes to the apron, PENALTY KICKS, then ASAI MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and the fans fire up again! The Evil Genius is in control as Raw goes back to break!
Raw returns again and Iyo throws forearms with Lyra. The fans rally up, Iyo ROCKS Lyra, and Lyra ROCKS Iyo! They keep going back and forth, but then Lyra gest the edge! Lyra windmills away then fires off kicks! But Iyo kicks the leg! Lyra blocks the next kick, but Iyo elbows free! Wheelbarrow, somersault and STOMP 182! Cover, TWO! Iyo fires up as she goes to a corner, then sees Lyra in the other. Iyo runs in, SHINKAN- NO, Lyra avoids the knee! TORNADO DDT! Lyra then drags Iyo up, fisherman and BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Lyra is frustrated, but she drags Iyo up to a fireman’s carry! But Iyo fights free again!
Iyo waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! Lyra flounders, Iyo fires up! Iyo runs corner to corner for SHINKANSEN! Lyra is put in the drop zone, Iyo goes up and up and OVER- NO, Lyra anchors a foot! Lyra drags Iyo down, CLUBS her, then climbs up after her! Lyra brings Iyo up to a fireman’s carry! But Iyo kicks and SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMBS!! But Iyo is too tired to cover! The fans are thunderous, Iyo gets Lyra back into the drop zone, and goes back up! OVER THE MOONSAULT but she has to land out! Lyra fireman’s carries, but Iyo still sunset flips! But Lyra sit son it! LYRA WINS!!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
Iyo is stunned and Greensboro erupts! Lyra Valkyria is in the Queen of the Ring tournament finals!! Will the new girl on Raw soon become Queen of the Ring?
Jackie Redmond interviews Lyra in the ring, and feels this is deja vu! Lyra has- Iyo snatches the mic to tell Lyra off in Japanese! Iyo shoves Lyra aside, then storms off. Well, emotions are running high. But this is Lyra’s moment, so could she have imagined this just three weeks ago when she was drafted/ No, not at all! She couldn’t imagine standing here today, berating a former WWE Women’s Champion! But the trick is, you don’t always know how you’re gonna get the job done, as long as you believe that you can! And she is now just ONE win away from becoming Queen of the Ring! The fans fire up, but who will it be from SmackDown that meets her in Saudi Arabia?
R-Truth talks with New Catch Republic.
He tells Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate that the “losification” can be a prognosis as well. Stick your left arm in, you take your left arm out. Stick your left arm in, then you shake it all about. The Miz walks over and asks if Truth’s ready. Yeah, he’s good. Bate has to keep Dunne from going after Truth… Bate thanks truth for the chat, hopes to see them down the line, maybe even for the titles. Truth says Pete’s a good guy. Miz says yes, but focus. Judgment Day uses numbers, and now with Carlito on their side, Awesome Truth really needs to be careful. Truth says he got that taken care of. He talked to Andre the Giant! Andre will have their back tonight.
Miz isn’t sure how to tell Truth this, but Andre passed away 30 years ago. Passed what away? Uh… Miz isn’t sure what else to say but Truth says he’s got this. Truth heads out, Miz does hope Andre will be with them in spirit. Truth asks who Miz is talking to. N-No one! Miz is gonna go get ready. And they say Truth is crazy. Will The Awesome Truth need all the help they can get knowing The Prince & The Ace are coming for their gold?
Backstage interview with Ilja Dragunov.
Kayla Braxton is with The Mad Dragon and says last week, Jey Uso defeated him in order to face Gunther here tonight. Who does Dragunov think wins the whole King of the Ring Tournament? Dragunov says that he is frustrated, but he knows there is no shame losing to The Main Event. This is the kind of fighter that sets the bar, where you really need to break yourself to beat this man. But talking about a man who broke Dragunov several times, Gunther…! Jey… Well, Ricochet steps in first. Don’t get it twisted, homeboy. Ricochet and Dragunov set the bar pretty high.
So before saying anyone else’s name, know this: Just because you got the best of Ricochet one time, does not mean that this is over. Not by a long shot. But then Bron SPEARS Ricochet!!! The King of Flight is left grounded, refs and producers rush in, is Bron about to break everyone on the roster?
Raw returns and…
Medics are checking Ricochet. Dragunov is fuming and Pearce is frustrated. Bron is #MeanerThanEvil but will someone step up to stop his rampage?
Gunther speaks.
It was before the show as Der Ring General walked down the bleachers that he said, “Well, I have to admit. Just some months ago, I made fun of Jey Uso, and I told him, ‘Simple gestures for simple people.’ And quite frankly, I was wrong. Because he turned himself into the hottest thing going on Monday Night Raw. And tonight, when Jey Uso will make his way tot he ring, all these seats will be filled with thousands of people, throwing their hands int he air, chanting his name, and filling this room with hope and delusion. Well, the bad news is, I’m in the business of taking hope away, and dragging people back down on the ground of reality.
“Because tonight. when Main Event Jey Uso takes on Der Ring General, Gunther, int the semifinals of the KOTR tournament, it’s not about who’s the more exciting act on its way to the ring. It’s about who is the better wrestler in that ring. And Jey, I’m sorry to say it, you might be the most exciting showman in this company today, but in that ring, I am superior to you. And after the final bell, all those people are going to embrace me. Already the General of this sacred ring. Soon to be the King of the Ring.” Will Gunther make good on his promise tonight? Or will Main Event Jey win another main event?
The Judgment Day is in the clubhouse.
Damian Priest walks over to his “favorite Irish lads.” Are they ready to go out there and bring those titles home? Oh yeah, they’ll bring the titles back where they belong. Right here, int he clubhouse! Priest likes it. Oy, Carlito, Priest heard what Carlito did to Cruz. Turns out that guy’s gonna be out for awhile. But Priest hopes Carlito knows that means LWO is gonna be pissed and looking for him. Carlito says yeah, he knows. So he struck first. Now he’ll lay low until the heat dies down? Oh, really? Did Priest miss the sign that says they’re the APA? They’re not Carlito’s protection. Dom says Carlito came through for the boys, though.
Yes, that’s why Carlito’s welcome here this week. He just has to keep earning his keep. Priest tells Finn & JD to do their thing and go get it. Dom & JD head out, but Finn hangs back to talk with Priest. Finn can’t help but think that it could’ve been him and Priest again. But Finn gets it. Priest is top champ, so Finn will get those belts for them. They fist bump and Finn heads out, leaving Priest alone with Carlito. Carlito asks if Priest saw the Knicks game. Tough break, huh? Priest asks what’s wrong with him. Priest leaves but Carlito asks if they’re still cool.
Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler prepare backstage.
They’re both quiet, though, until in walks Sonya Deville! Sonya says hi to Zoey, Zoey shakes her hand, and Sonya says there’s something she wants to talk with them about. Zoey is fine but Shayna says no, whatever Sonya’s selling, they’re not buying. The tag team head out, but what is Miss Deville plotting now that she’s back?
WWE World Tag Team Championships: The Awesome Truth VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh w/ Dominik Mysterio!
Whether or not Andre the Giant’s spirit will be with them, Miz & Truth have to be careful knowing The Prince & The Ace are not only dangerous on their own, but that they have Dirty Dom in their corner. Will Judgment Day have all the gold again? Or will they not be able to handle the Awesome Truth?
Raw returns and Judgment Day makes their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the Raw Tag Division stays awesome!
The teams sort out and Finn starts against Miz. They tie up, go around, Finn wrenches and wristlocks. Miz rolls, cartwheels, and wrenches back. Miz keeps Finn from JD but Finn kicks low. Finn throws Miz to the corner, fires hands, then tags JD. They both stomp away, then JD keeps on Miz. The ref counts, JD lets off to talk trash, then he whips. Miz reverses to kitchen sink knee! Miz tags Truth, the fans rally, and Miz sits JD up to BASEMENT BOOT! Truth runs to spin and LEG DROP! JD flounders to a corner, Truth asks, “WHAT’S UP?!” then does the splits! Truth runs to do the SPLASH on JD!
Truth brings JD over, tags Miz, and Miz KICKS JD down! Miz runs to KICK JD again, then KICKS again, and again and again! The fans chant “MIZ! MIZ! MIZ!” Miz goes corner to corner to A-LIST LRIAT! JD goes down, Finn runs up, but Miz BOOTS him! Miz slides under JD to sunset flip, TWO! Miz full nelsons but JD arm-drags free! Miz BOOTS JD, but Dom distracts the ref! Finn CLOBBERS Miz! Finn puts Miz in the corner for JD to RAM into! The Judgment Day soak up the heat and Finn says the titles are coming home, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn stomps Miz. Tag to JD, ARABIAN PRESS! Cover, TWO! JD argues with the ref but the count was fair. JD drags Miz to a facelock and grinds him down. The fans rally, Miz fights up, and Miz stomps JD’s feet! Miz reaches out but JD keeps him from Truth! Miz throws hands, JD still holds him back! JD whips Miz but Miz BLASTS Finn! Miz BOOTS JD, runs up, but DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! The fans fire up as JD and Miz stir! They crawl, hot tags to Finn and Truth! The fans fire up as Truth ducks ‘n’ dodges to get the SHOULDER TACKLES going! Then the SPIN OUT BOMB!
Truth raises the hand and the fans fire up! YOU CAN’T- KICK! Finn says no shuffle, but Truth drop toeholds! STF! Finn flails, JD breaks it! Miz gets in to whip but JD reverses! Miz is sent out, but Truth does the splits to dodge JD! Truth TOSSES JD, Finn rolls up Truth! TWO, but SLINGBLADE takes Truth down! Finn tags JD in, they get Truth up, and they double whip. Truth KICKS Finn, gets around JD, SPIN OUT BOMB! Miz gets Finn for a SPIN OUT BOMB! The fans fire up again as Awesome Truth say “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” They both run, DOUBLE FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! But Carlito runs out here!
Miz DECKS Carlito, then PLANCHAS onto Finn! Truth fireman’s carries JD, but JD slips free, rolls him up, TWO! Truth dodges JD to then hits the LIE DETECTOR! Cover, but Carlito gives JD the ropebreak!! The fans boo and Truth can’t believe it! JD flops out of the ring, Carlito helps him up, and Dom distracts the ref. But here comes BRAUN!! The Monster Among Men storms his way out here, Carlito swings on him, but it does nothing! Bruan TOSSES Carlito away! Braun chases JD! The fans fire up as JD runs back into the ring, and back into an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! Cover, Awesome Truth wins!!
Winners: The Awesome Truth, by pinfall (still WWE World Tag Team Champions)
Wait, could Truth have meant this giant? Braun flexes with the power of North Carolina, and he celebrates with the Awesome Truth! Will Braun be more than enough to even the odds against Judgment Day’s number games?
Becky celebrates with Lyra backstage.
The Man tells The Morrigan she’s going to the finals, she’s got this! Becky heads out, but then Lyra crosses paths with Liv Morgan. Liv congratulates Lyra, which surprises Lyra. Liv says she’s surprised Becky didn’t come out to help her like she did last week. Oh, speak of the devil. Lyra turns around, thinking Becky did come back, but then Liv SUCKER PUNCHES her! Liv laughs and runs away, will The Morrigan have her first target once she’s Queen of the Ring?
Bronson Reed finds Sami Zayn backstage.
Bronson chuckles and says Sami doesn’t need to worry about Gable’s mind games. Because that’s all they are: games. Sami, look into Bronson’s eyes! Bronson is soulless! All he cares about is business, and violence is how he makes his money. Saturday, Bronson will use his body as a weapon, and get his biggest payday yet. Bronson chuckles again then leaves. Sami turns around and Otis is there! Oh look who it is! The guy who cost Sami the match. Sami expected better out of Otis. He expects that crap from Gable but not Otis. Maybe Sami was wrong about Otis. Is Otis proud of himself? Because he shouldn’t be.
Sami turns to go but Otis stops him. Sami asks what Otis wants. Otis apologizes. Sami sighs, and he knows Otis means that, because he is a good guy. Otis is, but Gable isn’t. Otis may think Gable is his friend or something, but Sami’s been in Otis’ shoes. The sooner Otis stops listening to Gable and starts listening to the fans, the better. Sami pats Otis on the shoulder then leaves. Will Otis listen to his heart and not Gable’s words?
Becky Lynch heads to the ring!
Greensboro fires up for the WWE Women’s World Champion as she holds up the title. Becky gets the mic and she says The Man has come around to Greensboro, North Carolina! The fans fire up for that, and Becky says that in five days, she will defend her title against Liv Morgan at KQOTR. Now, she and Liv have a lot of history. They’ve fought side by side, fought in honor, in bad blood, but in those many times, Liv’s never once beat Becky. But now we’re dealing with a very different Liv. Liv is hellbent on revenge, hitting people from behind, bailing on fights, and thinks that this strategy is what it takes to beat Becky.
Well, when Becky first came- Wait, Liv interrupts now. Liv says whoa now, wow. Cut the music, please. The way Becky is gaslighting the WWE Universe is literally insane. Becky punched Liv in the face last week, Liv retaliated, and now Liv’s the bad guy? DMG CTRL attacks Becky, Liv leaves because it has nothing to do with her, and she’s scared to fight. Becky might be confused. Liv doesn’t care about the other women, she barely cares about Becky. She only cares about her purpose: The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour! Becky laughs and says that’s right! After being here for nearly ten YEARS, Liv finally figured out what she’s doing here!
Becky can’t relate to that. Becky has known her purpose since she was 15 and she first walked into a gym. She wrote a New York Times best selling book about her purpose! Becky wanted equality, to change the game, to break down barriers, break through the glass ceilings, and main event WrestleManias. After 22 years, the purpose remains the same. When she leaves this place, she wants to leave it better than she found it. But Liv? Revenge? Okay, okay. So if Liv gets it, what next? Liv says okay, Becky’s really, really delusional. It’s insane. The fact that Becky comes out here and says, “Oh~ I break barriers, I break glass ceilings!”
The fact Becky thinks that about herself, Liv is embarrassed. Becky’s the most selfish person in this entire company! Yeah, she doesn’t care about the fans! Or this place! All Becky’s ever cared about is Becky! What/ What? Can’t hear her? Here’s why! Cuz they have their heads so far up Becky’s arse right now, they can’t hear Liv! But thanks so much for not making everything about yourself, Becky. What’s next after Liv’s revenge tour? After ten LONG HARD YEARS in the WWE, Liv will finally sit where she belongs, which is at the top as your NEW Women’s World Champion! The fans boo but Becky says Liv brings them into it. These people know Liv is lying!
One thing Becky knows about the people is that you can’t fool them. They know Becky does everything for the fans! She gives her best for them! They know she always puts her body on the line for them! And them is here, Liv is here, and Becky is here! Becky is looking for a fight, so if Liv thinks she’s worthy of being a champion, then why not put money where mouth is and fight!? Liv asks if Becky wants to go! Then okay! Liv storms up to the ring, but then backs right off. Liv laughs at Becky, and wishes Becky could see how dumb she looks! Liv’s gonna do the smart thing, which is wait. Because on Saturday, they have their title match.
Then on Saturday, Liv will fight Becky, and become the NEW Women’s World Champion. #CryAboutIt. Liv leaves, but will she return stateside with the title?
The Judgment Day regroups.
Priest is disappointed. Does someone wanna explain what happened? Carlito, didn’t Priest just tell you to earn your keep? Dom brings up JD was supposed to handle Braun. JD says yeah, he warned Braun but JD was in a match this week. What’s he supposed to do? Priest has them settle down. The easy fix is JD goes to Pearce and asks for a match against Strowman. As for everyone else, real talk? Priest doesn’t even recognize the group anymore. Priest heads out, Finn sighs, and says Priest is right. The wheels are falling off, time to get back on track. Finn agrees that JD needs to talk with Pearce right now.
Finn heads out to find Priest, and JD is upset. Will The Necessary Evil end up more like a sacrificial lamb?
The New Day are in the trainer’s room.
The medic checks Xavier Woods’ knee, and says he’s good to go. The New Day is all fired up! Kofi says now they can get back to doing what they do in the tag division. In fact, Kofi’s gonna go talk to Pearce right now! Woods likes that! They shake hands, “NEW~ DAY~” and Kofi heads out. But then Kross & Scarlett walk in. So Woods is cleared? Good. They want to lend him their support, he’s been through a rough stretch. But there’s always more time to turn things around. The Final Testament has issued a veiled threat, how will The New Day respond?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Fatal 4 Way: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS Maxxine Dupri & Ivy Nile VS Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai!
Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the strongEST duo, Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair, will still have the tag titles and will still need challengers. But will it be The Queen of Spades & Hunter? The life of the party? The Alpha Queen & Diamond Pitbull? Or The Pirate Princess and #CobraKai?
Raw returns as Shayna & Zoey make their entrance together. Next are Maxxine & Ivy, and then KC Squared. In this Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are legal at a time, so we start with Ivy and Kairi. The fans rally as the two circle, but then Shayna & Zoey snatch Ivy and tag in! They mug Ivy, but KC Squared tag in off Kairi! It gets a bit chaotic now, and Dakota jumps in! She ROUNDHOUSES Zoey, but Shayna KNEES Dakota! Maxxine kicks Shayna, reels her in, but Kairi runs up to CLOBBER Maxxine into giving Shayna a DDT! Ivy kicks Kairi, suplexes, and holds her up! The fans cheer the show of strength, but then KC Squared DOUBLE SUPERKICK them both down!
The fans fire up as all the others gather outside. Kayden helps Katana go up top, for the SUPER KEG STAND! The cluster is taken down, the fans fire up, and Kayden puts Zoey in! Cover, ONE!! Kayden is a bit surprised but this is still anyone’s match as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Dakota covers Ivy, but Kayden breaks it! Dakota kicks Ivy around, drags her up, then DECKS her! The fans rally as Dakota taunts Ivy. Dakota reels Ivy in but Ivy gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Dakota gets folded up hard! The fans fire up as both women crawl, hot tags to Kairi and Maxxine! Maxxine clinches for knee after knee, then whips Kairi to ropes. Maxxine KNEES Kari down, then BOOTS! Maxxine reels Kairi in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! And a kip up so smooth, “A THANK YEW~!” Maxxine gets Kairi up, whips her to the corner, but Kayden tags in before the BULLDOG! Kayden SHOTGUNS Maxxine!
Katana BLASTS Shayna & Zoey but Maxxine TOSSES her! Maxxine kicks, Kayden blocks, then ducks the enzigiri! But Maxxine slides under! Kairi gets around, hammerlock and COMPLETE SHOT! Kayden brings Maxxine up while Katana climbs, for the AFTER PARTY!! But Dakota tags in and drags Katana right out! Kayden whips, Dakota TOSSES her, then covers, Shayna & Zoey break it! They fight with DMG CTRL and Kayden! DMG CTRL puts Shayna up top, Kayden puts Zoey on the apron! DMG CTRL climbs, they have Shayna but Zoey grabs Kayden by the hair! Kayden fights back and Katana joins in! Ivy gets in this, TOWER OF DOOM!!
The fans fire up as Kayden & Katana now get Zoey in position, for a SUPER DUPER STEINER onto Shayna!! The baddest duo tumble away, but Ivy DROPKICKS Katana! Kayden SUPERKICKS Ivy! Maxxine drags Kayden out to send her into barriers! The fans fire up and even Maxxine is impressed with her power. Maxxine hurries inside, swivels them hips, and she gets the REVERSE WORM going, for the ELBOW DROP! Cover on Dakota, TWO!! Dakota is still in this, but is now in an ANKLE LOCK!! Kairi climbs as Maxxine grapevines the leg! InSANE ELBOW!! Kairi fires up and tags in! But she gets mugged by Shayna & Zoey!
Zoey stags in, runs up, but Maxxine rolls her up! TWO!! SUPERKICK! ALLEY-OOP into the KNEE!! Cover, Zoey & Shayna win!!
Winners: Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships)
One #AlleyOOF and now Shayna & Zoey are headed after Jade & Bianca! Will The Queen of Spades & The Hunter be able to weather the strongEST storm and come away champions?
Backstage interview with Ludwig Kaiser.
Kayla is with the Impeccable German and says earlier tonight, Gunther’s confidence seems unwavering. Does Kaiser think Der Ring General is overlooking the threat posed by Jey Uso? Kaiser repeats, “Overlooking?” Der Ring General has proved several times that he is superior to anyone out there. Let’s just hope Jey takes this loss better than Sheamus did. Remember? The guy who used to love to fight, to let his fists do the talking. Last time Sheamus used his fists, it was pounding down the keyboard to complain online! Sheamus the Celtic Warrior is really just Sheamus the Keyboard Warrior.
Kaiser will tell us the truth about Sheamus! Sheamus’ career is going two ways: Either he stays home to protect his legacy; or he actually dares to come back just for Kaiser to put him down for good! Kaiser leaves, and in steps Drew McIntyre. She’s probably wondering what he’s doing here, right? So is he. Pearce decided not to use one of his biggest stars on the show tonight, but still wanted McIntyre live, after medically disqualifying him from the KOTR just so McIntyre can now watch Jey use McIntyre’s spot. And McIntyre doesn’t even get time to speaks his mind! Well screw that and screw Pearce, the people want McIntyre so he’ll give them that.
Let’s first talk the “paper champion,” Damian Priest. Priest thought he got one over on McIntyre. Nobody gets one over on McIntyre unless he lets them. He said what he needed to say, got what he wanted, and that is a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship. McIntyre is playing chess while Priest is playing with guyliner. Priest is also spreading himself too thin. It’s like Rollins all over again! LWO, tag titles, Braun, Carlito. Mate, here’s free advice: stop it and focus on the title. They’re gonna have a match soon. McIntyre beat a real champion at Mania, and he’s gonna beat Priest, too. As you were.
McIntyre heads out, but when and where will this clash happen?
Chad Gable talks with The Creed Brothers backstage.
Gable tells Julius & Brutus this story about a wild time he took someone down with a lat drop. But in walks Otis. Otis wants to talk so Gable tells the Creeds they’ll talk more later, just think about what he said. Gable says Otis, his number one guy, where’s he been? He went to apologize to Sami. Apologize? For what? Why? Oh…! Gable sees what Otis is doing. Otis was tugging at the heart strings, softening him up emotionally for Saudi. That’s why Otis is Gable’s number one! Now, Gable has the ticket, the documents, Otis can go to Saudi. They are gonna win Gable’s Intercontinental Championship together, right? Right? R-Right…
No, Otis. Gable wants to hear Otis say it. “No matter what.” Gable breathes it in and it feels good. See you on the flight. Business class! But will Gable be returning back first class with the title? We also see Sonya talking with Zoey & Shayna again. Now that Zoey & Shayna are contenders, are they more open to Sonya’s idea?
King of the Ring Semifinals: Jey Uso VS GUNTHER!
Main Event Jey speaks backstage, saying “Tonight is the night. There is no tomorrow. It’s the semifinals for the King of the Ring tournament, Main Event Jey Uso VS The Ring General, Gunther. Last time we met, Uce, I almost had you. We got unfinished business right here, Uce. Tonight, I finish the job. You gonna catch a YEET down, and I’m gonna catch a crown. It’s main event time, Uce!” Jey knocks on the garage door, it opens for him, and he walks in saying, “Y’all know what it is! Main Event Jey Uso is now in your damn city, Greensboro!” Jey makes his way from the parking lot to gorilla, and then on stage! “Dat boi look good! I stay drippin’! Yo, Uce. Please hit my music. And uh, YEET!”
The fans fire up as Jey makes his entrance, but will Jey bring this energy all the way to Jeddah? Or will Gunther make his prediction come true with his own two hands?
Raw returns, the bell rings, and the fans fire up as the two stare down. Then Jey runs up and the two tie up! They go around, Gunther puts Jey on ropes, but Jey turns things around. Gunther turns it back, they end up in a corner, and the ref counts. Gunther lets off, to CHOP! And CHOP again! Gunther won’t stop, he CHOPS again! Gunther stalks Jey, but Jey ROCKS Gunther with a forearm! And another! And another! Then an UPPERCUT! Jey goes up a corner, and the fans fire up as Jey rains down fists! Gunther shoves Jey away, but Jey counter punches! And punches again! Fans “YEET!” with each hit! Jey then pops ‘n’ locks ‘n’ bounces, puts some stank and he DECKS Gunther!
The fans fire up again as Gunther bails out. Jey gets the fans fired up more, and then he DIVES onto Gunther! Down goes Der Ring General and the fans rally behind Jey. Jey stands, but he and Gunther are both banged up from that impact. Jey drags Gunther up, puts him in the ring, and then he goes up a corner. But Gunther rises to get under the leap! Jey runs back in, but Gunther sidesteps and POSTS him! Gunther then SLAMS Jey’s bad arm against the post! Gunther goes out, hammerlocks Jey, and RAMS him into steel steps! Jey falls in a heap, Gunther talks trash and looms over him. Gunther then hauls Jey up, hammerlocks the arm, and RAMS Jey into barriers!
Gunther leaves Jey behind for a moment to refresh the count. Then Gunther hauls Jey up to POST him again! Jey slumps down, Gunther refreshes the count again, and he scoops Jey for SNAKE EYES off barriers! Jey sputters, Gunther dumps him into the timekeeper’s aera! Jey is down, Gunther stands tall, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again, Gunther grinds Jey down with an armlock, but Jey endures as the fans rally up. Jey fights to his feet, but Gunther RAMS shoulders! Jey drops to a knee, Gunther stands him up to wrench, but Jey ROCKS Gunther with a forearm! Jey ROCKS Gunther again, but Gunther UPPERCUTS the arm! Gunther then steps over to HIP DROP the arm! Jey writhes, Gunther looms over him, then goes to a corner. Gunther runs to KICK Jey in the side! Jey grits his teeth but Gunther stomps him around! Gunther clamps onto one arm and traps it to then pull on the other! Jey endures, but Gunther KNEE DROPS the arm!
The fans rally while Jey writhes, but Gunther stomps him around! Gunther drags Jey to a drop zone then goes up the corner. The fans boo, but Jey rises first! Jey UPPERCUTS Gunther, but that’s the bad arm! Gunther wobbles, Jey storms up to HEADBUTT! Jey climbs, brings Gunther up, but Gunther fires body shots in return! Gunther then has a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK up top! Jey endures, fights with his good arm, and he clinches Gunther for a fireman’s carry! SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! The fans rally with “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and Jey crawls to a corner. Jey goes up the corner, but Gunther stands!
Jey still leaps to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jey’s arm hurts too much for him to be frustrated, he and Gunther both slowly sit up. The fans rally, Jey and Gunther lock eyes as they stand. Gunther CHOPS, then he pie faces Jey. Jey grits his teeth, but Gunther CHOPS! Jey fires a forearm! And another! Gunther CHOPS and Jey falls! Jey gets right up, eggs Gunther on, so Gunther CHOPS! Jey fires a forearm! And another! And then a kick! Gunther blocks, but the DRAGON WHIP comes back around! The fans fire up and Jey huffs and puffs and aims from a corner! Jey runs up, but the superkick is blocked! CHOP!
Gunther runs, but Jey SUPERKICKS! Gunther falls, Jey covers, TWO! Gunther is still in this, he isn’t the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion for nothing! Jey rises as the fans rally up and he goes to a corner. Jey aims, runs up, SUPERKICK! Gunther flounders to a corner and the fans fire up more! Jey stomps Gunther again and again, “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey stops as the ref counts, and he grits his teeth to fight the pain. But Gunther SHOTGUNS Jey down! Gunther hauls Jey up, for the GENERAL BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives that, but Gunther has a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Jey endures, even as Gunther pulls on the arm!
Jey reaches out, the fans rally, and he rolls free! Jey ducks ‘n’ dodges, but runs into a KICK! Gunther CHOPS Jey on tthe back! Then SLEEPER! But Jey rolls back to a cover, TWO!! Gunther BOOTS Jey, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Gunther won’t stop there, he goes up top! GENERAL SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives but Gunther is right back on him! Gunther drags Jey up to short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives again and Gunther is a little surprised! Gunther stands, he eggs Jey on, and the fans rally up. Gunther brings Jey up, talks some trash, then CHOPS! Jey drops to his knees but Gunther eggs him on again!
Gunther stands Jey back up, for another CHOP! Jey falls back, but that’s not enough for Gunther. Gunther stands Jey up again, talks some more trash, but Jey SLAPS Gunther! Gunther CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Gunther fires off on Jey with CHOPS, even as the ref counts! Gunther pushes Jey down, argues with the ref, and Jey rises. Jey runs up to SPEAR Gunther into the ref!! The fans fire up and Jey hurries to the top! USO SPLASH!! But he can’t make the cover because of the bad arm! Jey crawls, the ref is still recovering, but now the count! TWO!!! Gunther is saved by the delay! The fans are all fired up!
Gunther grabs Jey, and CLUBS away on him! KEYLOCK SLEEPER!! Body scissors squeeze Jey, Jey is caught!! Jey is fading out, he’s DONE! Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by submission (advances to the finals)
Jey gave him another incredible fight, but it would seem Der Ring General keeps adding to his arsenal. Gunther now waits on Randy Orton and Tama Tonga this Friday, who joins him in the fight for the throne?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here, with some honestly surprising results tonight. An awesome match from Iyo VS Lyra, and I really did not expect Lyra to win this one. I really thought it was Iyo VS Bianca for the QOTR finals to revisit that story, but maybe WWE is over revisiting that story and is letting everyone move on. Lyra still had her part to play in the story of Becky and Liv tonight, with a good promo segment from Becky and Liv. Liv is getting there, but she’s still not as sharp of a promo talker as Becky yet. And with Liv leaving Becky wanting more, I’m pretty sure Becky wins to retain the title, despite Liv wanting her revenge tour to continue.
Very good promos from Gunther and Jey, especially with Jey getting that tracking shot for his entrance. And then just an awesome match from them in the main event, and while a part of me thought Jey would get it to signal we were getting Tama over Orton, it seems it still isn’t Jey’s time to truly shine as a singles guy. Now Orton VS Tama is up in the air, and I think star power alone is reason enough for us to get Gunther VS Orton. From there, hard to say, but it really depends on what the plan for The King is after. Kaiser, however, is just setting himself up for a Brogue by Sheamus, which will be a great match.
Great opening segment, both promo and match, from Sami and Gable. I am glad Sami’s the one to ask The Academy if they’re gonna stop following Gable, and they played up the internal conflicts perfectly for each of the members. I almost thought Otis was going to break away here by attacking Gable, which would still give Gable the win, but it seems we’ll have to wait a little longer. After seeing Otis apologize to Sami and then Gable hanging out with the Creeds, it could be this Saturday in the Triple Threat. Otis will cost Gable, allowing Sami to retain, and then Gable dumps the Academy entirely to start fresh with Julius & Brutus.
Really good Fatal 4 Way Tag, and nice surprise return by Sonya. Sounds like Sonya wants to at least manage Shayna & Zoey, and of course now she would even more because they won that match. Sonya could be a deciding factor against Bianca & Jade, but I am pretty sure Bianca & Jade will still retain. Naomi can even join back in since she still has kayfabe beef with Sonya. Good little promo with New Day to show Woods is back, and for Kross to play mind games again. AOP VS New Day perhaps? Kross could probably get to some good singles matches with Kofi and Woods, but it’d be more satisfying for it to be a tag feud.
Great little promo from Awesome Truth with New Catch Republic, and good stuff from Judgment Day. A lot is going on with Carlito feuding with LWO but wanting to stick with Judgment Day. Really good tag title match, and great appearance by Braun to turn the tide. Braun is definitely going to eat McDonagh alive next week, though. McIntyre also got a promo in to call out Priest, building this up so that the Clash at the Castle match is gonna be some great stuff. I almost hope that with Gallus back in action as we’ve seen on NXT, that they get their call-up to help McIntyre to go faction to faction with Judgment Day.
The wildest stuff was Bron Breakker bringing out that real intensity, “that dog in him” as you might say. He took a squash match win over a guy and ramped it up into a brutal beatdown, then still had aggression to spare to go after Ricochet just outta nowhere. Ricochet’s been trying to call out Dragunov but now he and Dragunov have beef with Bron. And with how Bron’s been going, is there a chance he takes the Speed Championship off Ricochet even through Ricochet just won it? A match between those two really would be fast and furious, I’m just not sure Bron’s first singles title on main roster would be a social media gimmick title.
Honestly, I was hoping he’d push the hydration station over to get a jab at Logan Paul. Maybe Bron will move up to the Intercontinental Championship and really put Sami’s own passion and intensity to the test. Same for Dragunov, he’d be an awesome opponent for Sami. At the same time, I still want to see Bronson Reed get something, he’s also been putting in solid work since coming back to WWE.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Tables, Ladders, and Chairs for the championships!
To finally settle things between The Street Profits, Motor City Machine Guns and DIY, they battle for the WWE Tag Team Championships in TLC!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Los Garza VS Fraxiom; Fraxiom wins.
- Tiffany Stratton VS Jade Cargill; Jade wins, by disqualification.
- WWE Women’s United States Championship: Chelsea Green w/ The Secret Her-vice VS Zelina Vega; Zelina wins and becomes the new WWE Women’s United States Champion.
- WWE United States Championship #1 Contender’s Match: LA Knight VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins, by disqualification, no word on contender status.
- WWE Tag Team Championships TLC Triple Threat: The Street Profits VS Motor City Machine Guns VS DIY; The Profits win and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
The final hour of SmackDown will be commercial free!
That’s right, we won’t have to miss a thing when it comes to tonight’s main event, that Triple Threat Tables, Ladders & Chairs match!
JOHN CENA is here!
Fort Worth, Texas erupts with, “JOHN CENA SUCKS~! JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” as the NEW and historic SEVENTEEN-TIME WWE Champion makes his way out to the ring! But just like on Monday, Cena wants Mark Nash to join him in the ring. The fans boo while Mark reluctantly steps into the ring with Cena. The fans now chant, “LET’S GO, CENA!” “CENA SUCKS!” Cena shakes his head in disappointment, but he gives Mark the same script as on Monday. Mark again apologizes that his announcement was still disrespectful.
Mark again redoes it, because this is the GREATEST of All Time! The Never-Seen Seventeen, gracing Fort Worth with his presence for the final time… THE LAST REAL CHAMPION, JOHN CENA! Mark exits the ring, the fans still chant, but Cena stares down a father and child in the front row. The booing returns, but then RANDY ORTON makes his entrance! Cena is stopped in his tracks while the fans cheer The Viper. Orton steps into the ring, has his time to pose, and then grabs a mic. The fans cheer on Orton, but Cena holds up the title. The fans boo and Orton smirks. Orton tells Cena, “Do you know what I found out just a couple days ago?”
In a couple months, it’ll be 25 years to the day that Orton and Cena first shook hands. 25 years. They have known each other for 25 YEARS. And this is a compliment: up until a couple months ago, Cena had not changed. He was always about hustle, loyalty and respect. It wasn’t just a catchphrase for merchandise, it was a way of life. It was Cena’s mantra for every day of his life. So Orton realized he needs to think what’s going on here. There must be a void in Cena’s life that needs fulfillment.
So Orton wracked his brain, thought about all the fans over the years. The millions and millions of kids who have looked up to Cena since day one! All the kids that Cena has motivated, that he has been a role model for. Kids accomplished goals and set more goals. Track & field, basketball, the classroom, generations upon generations looked up to Cena. Surely, that meant something to Cena. Cena has granted more wishes than anyone in the history of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. You cannot tell Orton that each and every one of those sick children didn’t leave with a piece of Cena’s heart. They can’t just be a number to him.
So… Orton figured out how to fill the void. Take it from Orton, but Cena needs to have some damn kids of his own. Imagine a bunch of square-jawed, thick-armed little Cenas running around? The world would be a better place, and Cena would be back to who he is, and who Orton knows he is. Cena needs to grow up and be a father, it’ll make him a better human being. Cena thinks on that, then smirks. Cena says, “How dare you.” The fans boo, but Cena says how dare Orton prance out here with a smile on his face under the guise of making Cena feel better, than “parent shame” him in front of the whole world!
“Congratulations, Randy Orton. You have children and you love them. Good for you.” Does Orton want to know the real reason Cena doesn’t have kids? Because he’s spent the last 25 YEARS raising yours, fans! And by the sound of it from this group tonight, Cena has done an impeccable job! Here is the REAL truth! For the last 25 years, Cena has been a better parent to the fans’ children then they could ever be! That’s right, kids! Your dad’s a loser! Oh, wow, a six year old just gave him the middle finger. How classy. THAT is why Cena doesn’t have kids. He’s been policing brats like that for a quarter of a century!
The fans boo but Cena tells that one kid, “Never bring a knife to a gun fight. Bet your loser dad didn’t teach you that one! And don’t look at me like you’re gonna do something, either.” Cena asks Orton if we’re done here, and Orton says no, they’re not. Has the Hollywood rot set so deep inside Cena’s brain that he can’t hear Orton? It doesn’t have to be one or the other. The fans are why Cena is here before us in the ring now. They’re why Cena’s in Hollywood. WWE is why Cena is in Hollywood and he is crushing it. Cena cut his teeth in the WWE, developed his work ethic in WWE, and that’s why he’s crushing it.
Without the WWE, there is no Cena in Hollywood. And without the fans, there is no WWE. No matter how you add it up, no matter what math you apply to it, these fans are the biggest reason why Cena is in this ring with Orton today. Orton says he has made a lot of mistakes throughout his life and his career, and he’s learned from them on this long journey. But Orton can go into the locker room, head held high, and he can get disrespect from his peers. Orton is furniture here, he is here to stay. Cena is now just a guest. Cena says, “We all have our perspectives. I used to believe yours. That without them, there is no WWE.”
Cena used to think that they all won together. Cena was wrong. “We” didn’t win anything, CENA did! Cena has never needed a single one of these people! They will chant in the same breath, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “Cena Sucks!” The fans chant that very thing. Cena says he called out a rando and that guy turned pale white. Imagine having that chanted at you for 25 YEARS! The fans mean NOTHING to him! Orton is just like them! They’re all hypocrites! Because once you get tired of Cena, you can put your energy into any superstar you want. But if the roles are reversed, and Cena puts his energies into anything other than this, he’s an outcast? A guest?
That is why this is dysfunctional! That’s why this doesn’t work anymore! This is NOT a functional relationship, this is manipulation! The fans manipulate the truth to make themselves feel good about how they’ve done nothing with their lives! Cena points to a fan and says, “The only thing that man has done right there is dress up to look like Jack Black! He’s 100 years old and that’s all he has to say for his life!” Cena feels criticized and labeled as an outcast and guest for simply trying to do something different.
Orton says he was so… SO stupid for thinking that for one second, in this weird bizarro world where Orton’s now a good guy and Cena’s now a bad guy, that Cena would somehow listen. But the words coming out of Orton’s mouth are not penetrating that thick ass skull of Cena’s, are they? Cody Rhodes, before his badass entrance, it says wrestling has more than one royal family. And he’s not just talking about the Rhodes, right? He’s also talking about the Orton’s! Cena wants to ruin wrestling? Wrestling gave Orton everything! Ever since he came out of his mother’s womb, wrestling has provided for Orton!
Wrestling will provide for Orton, his family, his loved ones, until Orton is six feet in the ground. Ruin wrestling? No, not over Orton’s dead body. Cena shouts, “SHUT YOUR MOUTH! You just don’t understand, do you!? I’ll explain it to you. I’ve already won 17, okay? You’ve won 14. But after I take this home with me, you are forever frozen at 14! Yes, there will be another show. You will have other matches, they will create some tinfoil title and decide a champion. And if you are lucky to ever get your hands on it, your counter starts over at one, you babbling moron!”
The fans boo but Cena says what he’s trying to do is that when he leaves here, three generations of Orton’s family is ERASED! Cena paces around Orton but the fans chant for “R K O! R K O!” Orton looks at Cena and says Cena thinks he’s the Last Real Champion, but then prove it! Put the title on the line and fight Orton here and now! The fans like the sound of that! Orton says how dare Cena say what he said to Orton after everything Orton’s been through! Cena raises his title, and says, “No. No. And just like so many times over the past 25 years, I’m doing it to save your ass.
“There should be a match. Randy Orton VS John Cena, for the Undisputed Championship! But it shouldn’t happen here. I’ve already given you (Fort Worth) a hard enough time, it’s not your fault. It’s for Randy. It should happen at Backlash, Randy. Because Backlash is in St. Louis. I know that’s hard for you to hear, but for Randy, it’s great. Because Randy is from St. Louis. It’s so you can spend the whole day with your family, Randy. Make sure you show up well-rested. Randy Orton at his best. Because I need Randy Orton at his best. Because after Backlash, when you fail, you will have no excuses.
“Take a good look, Randy. This is what the Last Real Champion looks like.” The fans boo, but Cena says, “And this is as close to this championship as you’re ever going to get. Then Cena throws it to Orton, so he can DECK Orton! The fans boo as Cena stomps away on Orton! Cena snarls as he picks the belt back up, and then he takes aim! Orton slowly stands back up, Cena runs up, but Orton ducks! R K O!! The fans fire up as Orton gets Cena again! Orton throws his jacket to the fans, then he paces around Cena. The fans cheer Orton on as he picks up the title, and he stands on the corner! The fans cheer, could this be how it looks at the end of Backlash?
Los Garza VS Fraxiom!
While Angel y Berto are still hoping to be in line for a title shot after tonight’s massive TLC main event, a new team has already joined the roster! Nathan Frazer & Axiom may have only just lost the NXT Tag Team Championships, but will they be right back on track for more gold?
SmackDown returns as Fraxiom makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Axiom starts against Berto. They circle, tie up, and Berto pulls Axiom’s mask! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Berto stops at 4. Berto whips, Axiom RANAS in return! Axiom DROPKICKS Berto, tags Frazer, then they whip. Berto reverses but Axiom reverses back, and he has the IRON OCTOPUS! Frazer builds speed, and he DROPKICKS Berto! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but he runs into the Fraxiom speed combo! Kick after kick, then an assisted DROPKICK! Angel regroups with Berto outside, but Frazer DIVES! Direct hit on Berto!
Axiom DIVES and direct hit on Angel! They keep going, Frazer FLIES to take out both Garzas! The fans fire up and Axiom goes up, up, and GOLDEN TRIANGLE MOONSAULTS! Los Garza is down again and the fans fire up again! Fraxiom puts Berto in, Frazer covers, ONE! Tag to Axiom and he brings Berto around for a headlock. Berto endures, pulls the mask, and Angel tags in. Berto powers out, Axiom dodges, but Angel opens the ropes! Axiom tumbles to apron then floor, and Los Garza soaks up the heat while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Axiom checks his neck, and Angel TAKES OFF THE PANTS! Angel soaks up the heat, then goes out to CHOP Axiom! Axiom falls over, Angel talks trash, but Axiom CHOPS back! Angel SMACKS Axiom off the apron, pushes him in the ring, then lines up a shot. Angel KICKS Axiom in the side! Then Angel sucker punches Frazer! Axiom CHOPS Angel, but Angel headlocks to snapmare and KICK Axiom! Tag to Berto, Los Garza stomp away on Axiom, but they stop as the ref counts. Berto drags Axiom up to CLUB him down, then brings him up for a clinch. Axiom headlocks, Berto powers out, and Berto scoops to BACKBREAKER!
Axiom writhes, Berto soaks up the heat, and Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref says it was fair. Berto whips Axiom hard into the Garza corner, then tags Angel. Angel drags Axiom by a leg, stands on Axiom’s face, and then pulls on the ankle. Axiom kicks free but Angel rains down fists! Angel smothers Axiom, then drags him up. Angel reels Axiom in, lifts, but Axiom slips free to fire off CHOPS! Angel slips around the kick to Gory Especial! Tag to Berto, slingshot and the GORY CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives but Berto rains down fists! Angel snapmares to have a GROUND COBRA TWIST!
Axiom endures, SmackDown returns to single picture, and the fans rally up. Axiom fights up, fires shots, but Berto ROCKS him! Berto whips Axiom, but Axiom GAMANGIRIS Angel! Axiom goes up and over, hot tag to Frazer! AX HANDLE for Berto, then Frazer BOOTS Angel! CHOP for Berto, then a whip, but Berto reverses. Frazer ducks ‘n’ dodges and just gets faster to CLOBBER Berto! Then SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up, Frazer runs again, QUEBRADA for the DDT! Then a RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this and the fans stay fired up. Frazer thinks of his options, and he brings Berto up.
Berto kicks, Frazer ducks, but the ENZIGIRI finds him! Angel sneaks a tag, Frazer ENZIGIRIS Berto! QUEBRADA into a SUPERKICK! Angel covers, TWO!! Frazer survive but Angel rains down fists! Tag to Berto and Angel puts Frazer up top. Los Garza climb up to bring Frazer up, SUPER M T Y!! Then Berto MOONSAULTS!! Cover, AXIOM BARRELS IN AND BREAKS IT! “This is Awesome!” as the teams fall back, tag to Angel! Hot tag to Axiom, and he runs up on Angel! Angel CHOPS first! Axiom ROCKS Angel! Angel and Axiom go forearm to forearm, then just fast ‘n’ furious! Angel V-TRIGGERS! Axiom PELES!
Axiom runs up, but into a HEADBUTT! Axiom falls back, Angel goes to a corner, and Angel climbs. But Axiom GAMANGIRIS! Axiom climbs, CHOPS, then brings Angel up, only for Angel to scoop! But Frazer CLUBS Angel! Frazer tags in, Axiom hits a SUPER SPANISH FLY! Frazer adds the PHOENIX SPLASH!! Cover, Fraxiom wins!
Winners: Fraxiom, by pinfall
The team that will #NeverSlowDown just hit the ground running, and they already have a massive win! Will nothing stop these two from taking over the SmackDown Tag Division?
Tiffany Stratton is here!
Fort Worth is fired up again as it is still #TiffyTime! That’s because “Pro-Wrestling Barbie” is still the WWE Women’s Champion, and she goes right to the ring. Tiff grabs a mic, and she asks, “What time is it?” “TIFFY TIME~!” That’s right! And at WrestleMania, in front of over 60 THOUSAND people, it was Tiffy Time. Tiff went toe-to-toe with one of the greatest in Charlotte Flair. And no lies, Tiff did doubt herself and the pressure got to her. But in the end, she prevailed and walked out of WrestleMania #AndStill THE WWE Women’s Champion! The fans cheer, and Tiff continues: For the longest time, she was always being called “The Next Charlotte Flair.”
“Wrong~! There may be only one Charlotte Flair, but I guarantee you there is only one Tiffany Stratton!” The fans cheer more, but wait! JADE CARGILL makes her way out here! The fans fire up again as now The Storm has come to Fort Worth. And Jade tells Tiff, “Cut it. Now I came here to give credit where it’s due, and your match with Charlotte was very impressive. But that did nothing but create a bigger target on your back. And since my business is finished with Naomi, I have nothing but time. So I think it’s time for me to remind everybody why I came here to the WWE! I think it’s time for everyone to see why I came here to be a champion.
“And I think it’s time for you to understand, just because you beat Charlotte doesn’t make you the best. Especially when you haven’t faced me.” The fans are torn, but Tiff tells Jade, “Okay. Well, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is, and let’s get a ref out right here, right now!” Jade agrees, the fans agree, and here’s a ref! Will these two tear it down on the SmackDown After WrestleMania? We find out, after the break!
Tiffany Stratton VS Jade Cargill!
SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Tiff and Jade talk a bit of smack before they tie up. The fans cheer, and Jade powers Tiff back. Tiff slips around to waistlock, but Jade switches to SLAM Tiff! Jade waistlocks again but Tiff rolls free. Tiff headlocks, Jade powers up but Tiff fights the suplex! Jade powers up and out this time, then she runs Tiff over! Jade flexes, the fans are torn, but Jade storms up to suplex! Tiff slips free, goes to a corner, then dodges Jade to roll her up! TWO, and the two stand off. Tiff says it was that close, and the fans rally up. Tiff and Jade circle, but then Tiff offers a handshake. Jade says sure, and they shake hands.
But then Tiff reels Jade in for a headlock! Jade powers up and out, drops down to then hurdle over! And arm-drag! Tiff flounders, stands up, then dodges Jade. Tiff drops down, hurdles over, but Jade blocks the hip toss to body shot! Jade fireman’s carries, but Tiff swings free to arm-drag! Jade is up, and she catches Tiff to BACKBREAKER! Tiff goes to the ropes, the fans rally up, and Jade runs in, only for Tiff to drop toehold her into ropes! Tiff runs and HIP ATTACKS! Jade flounders, Tiff runs up to TIFFY- NO, Jade sunset flips Tiff first! ONE, both women stand, and Jade hits a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up while Jade covers, TWO!
Tiff stays in this, but Jade stays on her. Jade pushes Tiff, clinches, and BODY SLAMS again! Cover, TWO! Tiff is still tougher than that, so Jade lines up a shot. But Tiff dodges the boot and rolls Jade! TWO, and now Tiff SPINEBUSTERS in return! Cover, TWO! Jade is also tougher than that, and the fans rally up. Jade goes to a corner, Tiff handsprings in, BACK ELBOW! Tiff says it’s still her time, and then she goes back for Jade. Cover. TWO! Still a little too cocky but Tiff drags Jade back up. Tiff bumps Jade off buckles, stomps away, but stops as the ref counts. Tiff handsprings again for another BACK ELBOW! Another cover, TWO!
Tiff is growing annoyed, but she is still in control, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Tiff trades shots with Jade! The fans cheer, then Tiff kicks low, KNEES hard, and fireman’s carries! ROLLING SENTON! Tiff goes up, up, and PRETTIEST MOONSAULT- Hold on, Tiff almost misses the ropes. Tiff jumps again, PRETTIEST- NO, Jade dodges! Jade comes back, Tiff kicks low, then Tiff runs. Cartwheel, but no Alabama Slam! Just a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives that sudden turnaround and Jade is shocked! “This is Awesome!” as Jade looms over Tiff. Jade drags Tiff up, choke grips, and SLAM- NO, Tiff slips free and rolls Jade up! TWO, and Tiff goes to a corner.
Jade runs in, Tiff dodges, and Jade hits buckles! Tiff handsprings one more time, but Jade catches Tiff! But Tiff victory rolls through, runs, and TIFFY STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Jade survives and now Tiff is shocked! Tiff hurries to a corner, climbs up, but Jade is right up after her! Jade brings Tiff up for a SUPERPLEX! Both women are down and the fans fire up again! Jade stirs, Tiff rolls away, and Tiff is safe on the apron. The fans rally, Jade crawls, but wait! NAOMI IS HERE! NAOMI ATTACKS JADE!!
Winner: Jade Cargill, by disqualification
The fans boo as Naomi is not letting go of her grudge! She HAMMERS away on Jade, laughs maniacally, and then SLAPS Jade! Naomi drags Jade up, and POSTS her! Naomi then drags Jade out to POST her again! Naomi CLUBS away on Jade in the corner, showing no mercy! Naomi drags Jade out of the corner one more time, to POST her a third time! Jade flops to the floor, Naomi says kiss this, and she laughs like the villain she’s become! Tiff is back and she’s mad at Naomi for ruining her match. But Naomi just takes her leave, ONLY FOR NIA JAX TO ATTACK!! The fans boo the Irresistible Force as she DRIBBLES Tiff off the mat!
Nia looms over Tiff now, and drags her to center, for the LEG DROP, brother! Nia says “One More Time! One More Time!” Then she drags Tiff to a drop zone, goes up, A-NIA-LATOR!! Nia smiles as she sits on Tiff, then gets up just to grab the title. Nia holds it up, will Tiffany finally feel the backlash of her cash-in?
Jacob Fatu is here!
Fort Worth fires back up as now the NEW WWE United States Champion heads to the ring, Solo Sikoa by his side. Jacob holds up the title, the fans fire up, and Jacob swings the belt around, almost hitting Solo. Solo nods, he understands how fired up the Samoan Werewolf is about this. Solo has the mic to say, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, show some love and respect, for your NEW United States Champion, Jacob Fatu!” The fans cheer that! Solo says at WrestleMania, the world saw what Solo already knew: Jacob Fatu is the future. Fatu is the future of this company, but let’s remind you of something: Nobody in Solo’s family wanted Fatu here, except Solo.
The Bloodline thought Fatu was trouble. They thought he was too much of a risk. But y’know who changed that? Y’know who made it all happen? It was Solo! Solo is the reason Fatu is champion! Solo brought Fatu here, brought him to the Promised Land, got him off the streets and made him a champion! Fatu is champion because of Solo! This is exactly what happens when you love your family! Fatu would not be- Fatu snatches the mic from Solo! The fans fire up as Fatu stares Solo down. Fatu tells Solo to not get it twisted. Fatu told Solo that Fatu would win the US Championship. Fatu told Solo that the US title was coming home to the family!
And Fatu told Solo that Fatu would do it with him, or without him! And that is exactly what Fatu did. So, Texas, look at your NEW US Champion! The fans fire up for Fatu, and Fatu says see? He knows that this title makes him America’s Most Wanted! Hell, this title makes Fatu a menace to society! But at the end of the day, you better get in where you fit in! He all gas, no breaks with it! YADADADA MEAN!? But then LA KNIGHT is here! The fans fire up as The Mega Star has a mic, and from the stage, he says, “LEMME TALK TO YA!” The fans cheer, and Knight says at WrestleMania, he guaranteed that Fatu would eat a BFT, and BAH GAWD, he ate a BFT!
Knight knocked Fatu on his big fat head, Fatu reached out for the ropes, and good for him, because from there, Fatu was able to capitalize and win. Knight gives credit where credit is due, cuz it can happen to anybody on any night. Anybody can get it. But you gotta understand something, Knight goes to the back, everybody back there’s saying, “Man, you had one hell of a match at WrestleMania.” “YEAH!” Knight says he doesn’t care about having “one hell of a match,” Knight cares about winning a match! And about taking the title back. What he’s saying is, he wants his rematch, and he wants it tonight!
But wait! Drew McIntyre shows up! The Scottish Terminator steps out on stage, mic in hand, and Drew tells “Dallas” that it isn’t always easy being Drew McIntyre. Personally, it is, because he’s tall, jacked, handsome, and much like Texas, he has big guns. But professionally, Drew has been screwed time and time again. World title match after world title match. WrestleMania, Drew had to get through one last roadblock, and he and Damian Priest had one of the most violent matches in the history of WrestleMania! So Priest, you aren’t here tonight, we won’t see you for a while, so Drew will “thank” you. It was a pleasure to embarrass him in front of his entire family.
Drew tells the next stop was to be challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship, but Randy Orton jumped the line! The same Randy Orton that Drew beat three weeks ago. Is this World Wrestling Entertainment? Or Nepotism Wrestling Entertainment? Speaking of which, hi, Bloodline! Knight “yawns” and asks if Drew is done yet. Drew says he’ll get to Knight in a second. Okay, then continue on. Drew says he’s been watching Cena these past few weeks. Cena ain’t the same guy, he’s a punk now. Drew wants to fight the baddest dog in the yard. He wants the baddest champion in the yard. Jacob, Drew wants to fight you!
Knight says, “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Can somebody wake me up when this mush mouth is done?” Drew says always with the jokes, huh? The only joke here was Knight’s last US title reign. Knight smirks and says, “Oh~! I would say your last title run was a joke, but I can’t remember it.” So if Drew has a problem with Orton, go talk to Orton. But right now, Drew is standing on time that belongs to Knight. Knight wants his US Championship, But if Drew wants to make claim, then why not come on in and show us? The fans cheer, Drew says okay, and he steps up! But Nick Aldis has everyone hold on a moment.
The fans boo but Aldis says we all know where this is going. Before Knight and Drew tear each other apart, here’s an alternative. They can all come backstage, put the tights and the boots on, lace ’em up, and here in Fort Worth, Texas, Aldis will give us Knight VS McIntyre 1v1, the winner is the #1 contender to the US Championship. The fans love that! Drew already heads back, and Knight warns Jacob that he’ll be coming back soon enough. But who will survive tonight to step to the Samoan Werewolf?
Backstage interview with Zelina Vega.
Byron Saxton catches La Muneca on her way to gorilla, and wants to review: Zelina beat Chelsea Green by count out two weeks ago, then beat her by pinfall just last week. If things go her way tonight, she will be the NEW Women’s US Champion. Where are her thoughts? Zelina says honestly, she’s known for having a big mouth, but tonight is one of those nights where she’s speechless. That’s how much this means to her. She’s wanted this for so long. Just like her mentor, Rey Mysterio, a former Men’s US Champion, and the late Eddie Guerrero, another former US Champion, it is time to bring some Latina Heat into the match.
And of course, just like how they do it here in Texas, you go big or you go home. Zelina ain’t going home until she has the title around her waist. Will Zelina finally add a bit more gold to her list of achievements? Or will there be no ending the Green Regime’s term?
WWE Women’s United States Championship: Chelsea Green w/ The Secret Her-vice VS Zelina Vega!
SmackDown returns as the challenger makes her entrance, followed by the champion’s. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is THE champion-in-chief!
The bell rings and Chelsea runs up, but Zelina sends her into the corner! Zelina fires hands, whips corner to corner, but Chelsea reverses. Zelina goes up, Chelsea stays back and chicken wings. Chelsea turns Zelina but Zelina waistlocks back. Chelsea switches, they go to ropes, and Zelina bucks the O’Conner! Zelina wheelbarrows, FACEBSUTER, and cover, TWO! Zelina runs up to reel Chelsea in. Chelsea fights free, goes to ropes, but Zelina runs up to slip around to the outside! Chelsea fights free but Zelina trips her up! Zelina sees Piper & Alba creeping up, but then Chelsea BOOTS Zelina down!
Zelina argues with the ref, and that lets Alba RAM Zelina into the apron! Then Piper adds a SENTON on the floor! The fans boo but Chelsea salutes, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Chelsea has Zelina up top. Cheslea SLAPS Zelina, climbs up, and then brings her up. Zelina fights the suplex and fires body shots! Chelsea ROCKS Zelina, then fireman’s carries! Zelina fights around, waistlocks, and pulls! Chelsea holds onto the ropes, but Zelina powers up to SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX! Both women are down, and the fans fire up! Zelina and Chelsea rise, the fans duel, and Zelina runs up. Zelina dodges Chelsea to LARIAT! And LARIAT again! Zelina blocks a boot, ELBOWS Chelsea, and Cheslea sits down! Zelina runs up to METEORA! Snapmare and Zelina goes up!
Zelina gives some Latina Heat, for another METEORA! Cover, TWO! Chelsea survives and Zelina is shocked! Alba argues from the apron, but Zelina DECKS her! Chelsea runs up to ENZIGIRI! Chicken wings, turnaround, but Zelina hits a BACKSTABBER! Chelsea ends up on ropes, the fans fire up as Zelina dials it up, but PIPER trips Zelina! The ref saw that! The fans boo Piper, but then the ref spots Alba creeping up on Zelina! The ref says no more shenanigans! He EJECTS the Secret Her-vice! The fans fire up as Piper & Alba throw a fit! Zelina waves bye, but Chelsea CLBOBERS Zelina! Chelsea whips, Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, ZELINA WINS!!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s United States Champion)
But now the Secret Her-vice rush back to the ring! Zelina dodges them, and she finally has her first singles title! The Green Administration is out, let’s pledge allegiance to the VEGA Administration!
Carmelo Hayes admires the Andre the Giant trophy.
Last week on WrestleMania SmackDown, it came down to H1M and Andrade, and in the end, Melo put his name down in history. The Miz is with H1M to say when it is all said and done, Melo will go down as the greatest Andre the Giant Battle Royal winner of all time! That is why Miz sacrificed himself for Melo! Because Miz has a vision for Carmelo Hayes. To commemorate this achievement, Miz got Melo something. Really? Really. Now c’mon, open it up. Melo pops the box open and inside is an Andre the Giant necklace! A big golden head on a big golden chain, and Melo tries it on. Perfect fit!
Miz says Melo earned it. Melo says yeah. This is bigger than just the win. This represents the chip that is on Melo’s shoulder. With this around Melo’s neck, he refuses to be overlooked. Yeah, cook! He refuses to be denied! Let’s go! And in the true spirit of Andre the Giant, with this around his neck, Melo is larger than life! He is the Tenth Wonder of the World! Because he is… HIM! Miz is inspired! He’s gonna go to the ring to get something off his chest. Miz lets Melo stay back here to enjoy his moment, cuz Miz is about to make his own. Miz heads to gorilla, but what exactly is The Hollywood A-Lister about to do?
SmackDown returns and Miz is in the ring.
Miz has a mic to say, “Since 2007, I’ve been an integral part of WrestleMania. But this year, at the highest grossing WrestleMania in history, I had no match, no mention, nowhere to be found. May I remind you, I main-evented WrestleMania, beating John Cena, retaining the WWE Championship, something that Cody Rhodes, your chosen hero, could not do last week. And yet he gets the cheers! The pyro, the spotlight, and I get it, I get it, he was champion, he deserves to be on WrestleMania. But when Rey Mysterio comes hobbling in to WrestleMania, does he come to a fellow legend to fill his boots?
“No, he goes to a guy who’s been here for two weeks. I’ve been here for 20 YEARS! What do I have to do? Wear a lucha mask and call myself ‘Rey?’ Then KO goes down! Orton needs an opponent! He needs an opponent! Do you guys want a guy who’s beaten Randy Orton for the WWE Championship? NO! You guys want a guy who’s an internet meme! A TikTok trend! A guy who does musical theater in a wrestling ring! I am sick of it! I am sick and tired of people showing up in the WWE, people I am a bigger star then! People that cannot lace my boots in this ring! I’m sick of them getting opportunity after opportunity!
“May I remind you, that I am the A-Lister! I am the Most Must-See WWE Superstar of all time! And may you never forget that I am the Miz! And I am…” The lights go out! Uh oh… Because ALEISTER BLACK is back in the WWE! The fans fire up as The Dark Father rises up from the shadows, and he goes right to the ring! The fans fire up more and even chant, “Welcome Back! Welcome Back!” as Aleister puts his vest aside. Miz is frustrated that his time in spotlight was taken away again, and then asks Aleister, “Who the hell do you think-” BLACK MASS!! Miz falls right over, and then Aleister sits cross-legged in the ring. Will SmackDown #FadeToBlack once again?
Backstage interview with Bianca Belair.
Byron is with The EST, and he notes her match at WrestleMania with Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley was an instant classic. One of the best matches of the entire weekend, really. Unfortunately, Bianca didn’t win the title, and she didn’t leave Las Vegas unscathed. Can she tell us about her hand? Bianca says her fingers hurt, her feelings hurt, but no, she’s just kidding. She walked into WrestleMania with a broken finger, but it was worth it. They all fought ’til the end, and things didn’t go her way, but she is so proud of what the three of them did.
To her point, it was a great outing, but things didn’t go Bianca’s way. Iyo Sky is still the Women’s World Champion. Bianca says yes, Iyo found the perfect opportunity to capitalize, and Bianca can’t blame her because Bianca would’ve done the same thing. Now, Rhea… Well, Rhea found a way to slip her way into a match that Bianca earned, so that won’t be the last time Rhea and Bianca meet. But right now, Bianca is just focused on healing so she can get back to SmackDown, her home, and well, her home is divided. Bianca knows that when she returns, she’ll settle some unfinished business. Byron wishes The EST well, but when and where will Bianca make the biggEST return?
Naomi and Nia cross paths.
Nia tells Naomi that she doesn’t care about Jade. But when it comes to Tiffany and the title, just stay out of her way. Naomi says, “So long as you proceed… with… caution!” Naomi storms off, Nia isn’t quite intimidated, but will these two clash over their grudges? Or will things end up working together for what they both want?
WWE United States Championship #1 Contender’s Match: LA Knight VS Drew McIntyre!
We just saw these two argue over who gets to fight Jacob Fatu, so now they have to fight it out with each other. Will the Mega Star go right back for the belt he just lost? Or will the Scottish Terminator be one step away from completing his WWE Grand Slam?
SmackDown is picture in picture for the entrances, then returns to single picture once McIntyre has his pyro. The bell rings and the fans fire up. Knight and Drew circle, the fans rally up a bit more, and the two tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Drew slips around to waistlock and SLAM! Knight flounders to a corner but Drew flexes. The fans cheer, Drew signals he’ll have the belt, but Knight brushes that off. The two reset and tie up again. The fans rally, Drew waistlocks, but Knight switches. Knight pushes Drew down and slaps him around! The fans cheer as Knight flexes! Drew brushes that off, and the two reset again.
Drew runs up, Knight dodges and Knight headlocks. Knight grinds but Drew power sup to back supelx! Knight lands out, pushes Drew, but Drew comes back to run Knight over! Drew slaps Knight around! Drew runs, Knight drops low, hurdle sover, and then BACK ELBOWS! The fans cheer as Knight gets around again, and he hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Knight scuffs Drew, but Drew throat chops Knight! The fans are torn, Drew CHOPS Knight, and fans “WOO~!” Knight CHOPS, Drew CHOPS, repeat! Drew ROCKS Knight, then whips him, but Knight grabs the ropes. Knight then TOSSES Drew out! Drew lands on his feet!
Drew trips Knight and drags him out, but Knight ROCKS Drew! Knight brings Drew to the desk, the fans fire up, but Drew gets away. Knight pursues Drew into the ring, and he ROCKS Drew! And ROCKS him again! Knight has Drew up but Drew HOTSHOTS Knight! Drew then runs, and he BLASTS Knight off the apron! Knight hits barriers then the floor, and Drew soaks up cheers and jeers. Drew clutches his side, still feeling that Sin City Street Fight, so he lets the ring count handle this. The fans rally and even sing, “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” Knight rolls in at 7 of 10, but Drew rains down fists! Drew then deadlifts Knight for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!
Knight stays in this but Drew grits his teeth. Drew stands Knight up, but Knight counter punches! Knight fires hands, whips, but Drew reverses. Knight goes up, but Drew KICKS Knight outta the air! Cover, TWO! Knight survives, Drew snarls as he has to catch his breath, and he storms up on Knight again. The fans rally, Drew CHOPS, and Knight staggers away. Drew stalks Knight, Knight CHOPS, but Drew CHOPS! Drew KICKS Knight, DECKS him, then stomps away! The ref counts, Drew stops, and he has Knight on the apron. Drew drags Knight up, has him against the ropes, and ROCKS him!
Knight flops back into the ring, Drew eggs him on, and the fans duel. Drew stands Knight up, reels him in, and he suplexes, only for Knight to block! Drew CLUBS away on Knight, then suplexes, only for Knight to fight that! Drew KNEES low, CLUBS Knight down, then huffs ‘n’ puffs. Drew eggs Knight on again, and Knight rises up, only for Drew to reel him in. But Knight suplexes instead! The fans fire up while both men are down! Knight and Drew rise up slowly, and Knight fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips, Drew reverses, but Knight LEAPING LARIATS! Then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS!
Drew staggers, Knight whips, but Drew reverses to scoop. Knight slips free, shoves Drew into buckles, then JUMPING NECKBREAKERS! Cover, TWO! Drew survives and the fans rally! Knight drags Drew up, but Drew GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Then the underhooks, but Knight rolls through the Future Shock! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Knight goes to a corner, and he BOOTS Drew down! Knight goes up, spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Drew survives and the fans are torn again. Knight stalks Drew, kicks and cravat, but Drew rolls Knight away!
Drew runs up, Knight puts him on the apron! Then Knight ducks a punch to HOTSHOT Drew! Knight then runs to WRECK Drew with the dropkick! The fans fire up as Knight DRIBBLES Drew off the desk! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight winds up, and he SMACKS Drew off the desk again! The fans cheer as Knight puts Drew in the ring, but then SOLO SIKOA is here! The ref is busy with Drew, SAMOAN SPIKE for Knight!! Solo puts Knight in the ring, and Drew is confused. Drew says screw it, and he aims from the corner! “THREE! TWO! ONE!” But then DAMIAN PRIEST drags Drew out!!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by disqualification
Priest fires off on Drew and the fans fire up! Priest THROWS Drew over barriers! Then he drags Drew back to ringside to ROCK Drew! Drew slumps against the desk, Priest choke grips! SOUTH OF HEAVEN through the desk!! The fans are thunderous as The Punisher just dealt out street justice to Drew McIntyre! But what does this mean for the #1 contender’s status? Knight tells Priest that Preist might’ve just cost him! But then JACOB FATU DIVES from the ring!! The fans are thunderous again, and Jacob POSTS Priest! Knight is up, but Jacob brings him around to RAM into steel steps!
Fatu puts Knight back in the ring, then he puts Priest in the ring, and he has a target in each corner! HIP ATTACK for Knight! SPLASH for Priest! Knight is in the drop zone, Fatu goes up, up, and BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Then a HIP ATTACK for Priest!! Fort Worth is fired up, and Priest goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER for Priest!! The Samoan Werewolf just slaughtered two men at once, will no one even be able to face him for the title?
John Cena crosses paths with R-Truth!
They’re backstage, and Truth is glad Cena won the title. He’s been rooting for his hero since the beginning! If Cena needs Truth at any time for anything, just call. Cena doesn’t even respond, he just walks away. And then Jimmy Uso steps in. He shakes hands with Truth, and he asks when John Cena became so whack. Truth says there’s two sides to every story, Uce. That’s a REAL world champion. When Truth grows up, he’s gonna be just like Cena. But… You’re already grown up, Truth! Will Truth learn the truth about Cena on his own?
WWE Tag Team Championships TLC Triple Threat: The Street Profits VS Motor City Machine Guns VS DIY!
After months of back and forth between these three teams, and a few others here on SmackDown, it is time to finally put this one to rest. With tables, ladders, chairs, and no holding back, who will finally prove they are THE team on SmackDown?
The introductions are made, the belts are already high overhead, so it’s time to see who rises up and claims them as their own!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as all six men look up. But then DIY goes after MCMG! The Profits go after DIY, but DIY CLAW the eyes! Ciampa stomps Ford, Gargano stomps Dawkins, then they go out to fetch themselves a ladder! The fans want tables, but MCMG DROPKICK that ladder into DIY! The fans fire up, then the Profits and MCMG brawl! Shelley has Ford, Sabin HEADBUTTS Dawkins, and MCMG climb up to rain down fists! But DIY stop MCMG, they brawl some more, but Sabin & Shelley turn things around on Ciampa & Gargano. MCMG then crisscross to ELBOW the Profits, ROCK DIY, and repeat!
Ciampa swings, but into an atomic drop! Dropkick and Last Chancery, DREAM SEQUENCE! The fans fire up and MCMG set things up. Shelley holds the ropes open and Sabin DIVES into a chair!! Gargano then SMACKS Shelley in the leg! Gargano uses offense as defense, and then Ciampa JAMS Ford up with a chair! But Dawkins POUNCES Ciampa over the desk! Gargano runs up, Dawkins picks him up, and he POSTS Gargano! Dawkins fires up, the fans fire up with him, and Dawkins fetches a ladder. Dawkins puts the ladder in, he’s all alone, and he hurries to set the ladder up. Dawkins climbs, but Sabin is in!
Sabin hops on for a SLEEPER, but Dawkins still climbs! The fans fire up, Dawkins fires elbows, but Shelley trips Dawkins up! Dawkins has a leg stuck int he rungs, and Shelley CLUBS away on it! Then DRAPING DRAGON SCRWE in the ladder rungs! Dawkins falls in a heap, and now MCMG take ownership of the ladder. Gargano is back, only for MCMG to mug him! They SMACK Gargano off rungs! Ciampa is back, MCMG mugs him now, and they stomp him down in the corner. MCMG drag Ciampa up, and they SMACK Ciampa off rungs! MCMG keeps the ladder standing and the fans rally up.
Ford is back, but now MCMG mugs him! They whip, Ford ducks the ladder, but the ladder is sent into Ford! Dawkins is back to DECK Shelley and DECK Sabin! Dawkins folds up the ladder, puts it aside, and he CYCLONE SPLASHES Shelley! CYCLONE SPLASH for Sabin! Dawkins goes up, up, but MCMG trip him up! MCMG have Dawkins in the Tree of Woe, and they stand on the groin! The Curse of Greatness is feeling really bad right now, but MCMG grab themselves a chair. The fans cheer as Sabin sets the chair in place, for Shelley’s FULL METAL DROPKICK! MCMG then see Ford coming, and Shelley JAMS him up!
But Ford blocks the chair shot! Only for Sabin to FULL METAL MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up again, and MCMG fetch the ladder. They set that in front of Dawkins’ face, but Gargano drags Shelley out of the ring! Gargano SMACKS Shelley off the apron! Ciampa does the same to Sabin, and then DIY YANKS the ladder into Dawkins’ face! DIY and MCMG brawl on the outside gain, but Ford FLIES over the corner! Direct hit on DIY and MCMG, and the fans are going nuts! All six men are down and writhing, but Ford manages to rise up. Ford hobbles around, finds himself a ladder, and he puts that in the ring.
Fort Worth still wants tables, but Ford sets his ladder up because he wants the prize! Ford climbs, but Ciampa is in! Ciampa grabs at a foot, Ford kicks free, so Ciampa climbs the other side! Ciampa keeps Ford from grabbing belts, but Ford does the same. Gargano is setting up another ladder right behind them! Gargano climbs while Ciampa and Ford brawl. The belts are so close, but neither Ford nor Gargano can get a good grip! Gargano figures screw it, FLYING FLATLINER off the ladder! Ciampa grabs the belts! But Dawkins drags Ciampa down! Dawkins DECKS Ciampa! Dawkins now sets the ladders side-by-side before he climbs.
DIY returns, and Ciampa grabs at Dawkins while Gargano climbs the second ladder. Gargano CLUBS Dawkins, goes up, but then Dawkins scoops Gargano! The fans fire up for the SUPER BIG ENDING!! Shoutout to Big E, but then Ciampa tosses one of the ladders. Ciampa focuses on one, but Sabin hurries to stop him! Sabin has an arm through the rungs! Dawkins is back, and he SHOVES the ladder over! Ciampa ends up crotched on the rope! Sabin is managing to cling to the ropes, but Shelley is there to fire hands on Dawkins! Shelley TOSSES Dawkins out, then he and Sabin reset the ladder. But Ciampa is back!
Ciampa SMACKS Shelley with a chair! And he SMACKS Sabin with a chair! Gargano returns with a chair of his own! Ciampa puts a chair around Shelley’s neck! Gargano aims, and he hits a HOMERUN!! Shelley sputters and falls away, Ciampa keeps Sabin down, and Gargano shoves the ladder over. But the ladder’s so tall, it bounces off the ropes to stand back up! Gargano tries again and the ladder finally stays on the ropes. Ciampa then suplexes Sabin, FULL METAL BRAINBUSTER!! Dawkins is back, but Gargano JAMS him up! And SMACKS him down! Ciampa SMACKS Dawkins again! Gargano JAMS Dawkins again and again!
The fans boo but DIY sit their chairs side-by-side. Gargano says hold on. And he flips them around! It’s a wedge! The fans freak out as DIY DOUBLE- NO, Dawkins fights the suplexes! Ford drags Ciampa out of the ring! Gargano DECKS Dawkins, DECKS Ford, but then Dawkins ROCKS Gargano! SILENCER on the chair wedge!! Gargano writhes and the fans go nuts again! The Profits then have the ladder to themselves. But then they say, “GET THE TABLES!!” The fans fire up for the Dudley shoutout, and the Profits find a table! They put that in the ring, Ford moves the ladder aside, and Forth Worth cheers for “TABLES! TABLES!”
Ciampa YANKS Dawkins down, but Ford SUPERKICKS Ciampa! Dawkins has Ciampa in the Electric Chair, and Ford takes aim! Ford builds speed, and FLIES! BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY onto everyone!! All six men are down, and the fans lose their minds all over again! “This is Awesome!” as all six men slowly rise, and Dawkins ROCKS Sabin! Ford borrows a fan’s prosthetic leg! Ford CLUBS Gargano with it! He gives it back to the fan and the crowd is loving this! Ford then sets up a ladder bridge between ring and barrier. The front row sits back a bit, but Ciampa CLUBS Ford! Ciampa SMACKS Ford off the bridge!
Shelley SMACKS Gargano off a table, Ciampa storms up to CLUB Shelley, and then DIY mugs Shelley. Sabin and Dawkins brawl on the other end, and Sabin JAMS Dawkins with a chair. Sabin puts Dawkins on a table and rains down hands! Wait, Ciampa is bringing a table of his own around the way, and he SMACKS Ford off the edge of it! Gargano and Shelley brawl, but Ciampa finally has his table set up on the ramp side. Shelley SMACKS Gargano off steel steps, then SMACKS him off there again! Ford turns things around on Ciampa to put him on a table! Sabin goes up, FROG SPLASH on Dawkins through the table!!
Ford sees that, but then he looks at Ciampa on that table. Ford says bet, and he builds speed to FLY! SWANTON BOMB on Ciampa through the table!! The fans are thunderous as now Gargano and Shelley are the only ones not in some kind of wreckage! “This is Awesome!” as Ford crawls away from Ciampa. Sabin leaves Dawkins behind, but Gargano is in with Ford. Ford is up top but Gargano fires hands! Ford GAMANGIRIS in return! Then Ford goes back up, but Ciampa rises! Ciampa drags Ford down, but Ford SUPERKICKS! Ford runs up, but into a BOOT! And then another BOOT! Ciampa reels Ford in and looks to the bridge!
Ciampa fireman’s carries, AIR RAID CRASH down through the ladder bridge!! Fort Worth loses their minds all over again as Ciampa shouts for Gargano to climb! Gargano sets the ladder up, climbs, but Shelley anchors a leg! Gargano fights Shelley, but Sabin is climbing in from the other side. Gargano ROCKS Sabin, DECKS Shelley, and repeat! Sabin wobbles, Gargano lines up his shot. ONE FINAL- NO, Sabin stops the DDT! He SHOVES Gargano into the post, then MCMG give Gargano a DOUBLE BOOT SANDWICH at the corner! Sabin drags Gargano closer to the table, then stands on it…?! Shelley goes up, SKULL & BONES through the table!!!
The fans are going nuts all over again as MCMG risks it all just for this match! “This is Awesome!” as all six men are down somewhere around ringside. But Ciampa slowly rises! He slaps himself to fire back up, and he climbs the ladder! Ciampa is within reach of those belts, gets his hands on the bracket, and- WAIT! MCMG is folding up that ladder! Ciampa is now pulling a Jeff Hardy by dangling from the belts! MCMG grab chairs, Ciampa is a pinata for the beating! Ciampa’s legs are the only real targets, though, so that’s not enough. MCMG get a table under Ciampa, but they don’t see Dawkins climbing the ladder!
MCMG pull at Ciampa’s legs, but Dawkins takes aim! Well, if Ciampa is Jeff Hardy, then Dawkins is about to go Rated R! Dawkins FLYING SPEARS Ciampa off the belts and down through a table!!!! Everyone is losing their minds, including MCMG! MCMG clears the wreckage, and fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” But someone has to win these belts, and now MCMG sets the ladder back underneath them. Shelley climbs, but Gargano JAMS Sabin up! And then he CHUCKS the chair at Shelley! MCMG is down, Gargano climbs up, and the fans boo. Gargano reaches the top, paws at the belts, but Sabin hurries up after him!
Gargano and Sabin brawl up top, they touch the belts, then throw more hands! The fans cheer Sabin and boo Gargano as the shots keep going. Sabin gets the edge, he SMACKS Gargano off rungs, and Gargano falls! But Ford SPRINGBOARDS to the ladder!! Ford DECKS Sabin, grabs the belts, but Gargano drags him back down! Gargano traps Ford’s legs in the rung! SUPERKICK! Ford is stuck and Gargano literally climbs over him! Gargano reaches up, but Sabin is back again! Sabin fires hands, Gargano fires back, and Ford gets free!? Ford climbs from the side of the ladder! Ford fires hands on each of them!
Ford SMACKS Gargano, SMACKS Sabin, and they both fall! Ford is back up top, and he has the belts off the hook! PROFITS WIN!!
Winners: The Street Profits (still WWE Tag Team Champions)
Fort Worth cheers as The Profits are still up! They wanted the smoke, they got the smoke, and they walked through the fire to still be forged in gold! Will anyone ever bring them down from the heights they’ve reached?
My Thoughts:
An awesome SmackDown After Mania, with a great pivot towards the Backlash build, since they’ve gotta get on that with it only two weeks away. Very good promo from Cena and Orton to open tonight, though framing this as “Cena should settle down and become a family man” is a bit odd. Cena did do a good job roasting that kid and his dad, though. It was obviously going to be Cena VS Orton in St. Louis, so they just made it official. Orton standing tall twice in one week already indicates that Orton is not winning. There is going to be much more drama in this, with Cena trying to run out the clock, so to speak. Also, good to finally see R-Truth and John Cena interact, and I hope we get more of this as time goes on.
Awesome match from Los Garza VS Fraxiom to make Fraxiom’s call up official. Great win for Fraxiom, but I’m very curious to see if the team sticks together much longer. They love playing up the dysfunction, and the first promo segment from them likely keeps that going, but they’re still a great team so they could go for the tag titles before a break-up happens. Aleister Black’s return being knocking out Miz was a decent move, especially after Miz got done ranting about how he feels overshadowed. Also, Miz giving Melo that goofy Andre the Giant necklace is a bit much, but whatever, Melo surely will have a good run from here on out.
Good promo from Tiffany and Jade to give us their “impromptu” match, but it makes so much sense for Naomi to go after Jade and Nia to go after Tiff. We’re definitely getting a rematch of Naomi VS Jade, and obviously Tiff VS Nia is on the table, but I wonder if we get a “Can they coexist?” type tag match as part of the build. We might even end up with something bigger given Jade and Naomi also deserve something title wise. Especially when sadly, Bianca Belair can’t do anything with Jade and Naomi given that bad hand. But she did hint that no matter what, she’s staying on SmackDown, which makes sense because duh, her husband Montez is here.
Very good match but great moment for Zelina to win the Women’s US Championship. Zelina herself has been deserving something like this, it’s partly why she is the inaugural Queen of the Ring, and now she has even more validation of her hard work and ability. Great stuff in the Men’s US Championship story, with Fatu putting Solo in his place but then Knight and McIntyre stepping up. Great contender’s match, even with Solo going after Knight and Priest going after Drew. I feel like we’re getting a Fatal 4 Way here, but maybe that’s too much for Fatu’s first defense. Either way, I’m liking that Drew could be getting himself that Grand Slam with this US Championship.
And what an amazing main event. In many ways, these tag titles should’ve been on the WrestleMania card somewhere, perhaps swapping places with the World Tag Team Championships. There’s probably something about how Mania having all those sponsors, The War Raiders felt more Clash of Clans coded than the three teams in this match. And maybe there’s something about the “star power factor,” aka Logan Paul gets a spot because he’s Logan Paul, barf.
But at the same time, I think the Mania snub motivated these six guys to really go above and beyond. Them recreating THE famous spot from Dudley Boyz VS Hardy Boyz VS Edge & Christian was awesome. Kudos to Dawkins being Edge in that moment. Ford did a lot of great stuff himself, and him finishing it off was also great, I really hope we get more great stuff from the Profits and the whole SmackDown Tag Division.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.24.25
We get another chapter of Hardy Compound shenanigans! NEMETH BROTHERS! WE KNEW YOU’D COME!
Oh boy, the best thing to come from the TNA product has been on WWE programs for the last month or so. Can we start getting some non-garbage episodes that make sense with wrestling that isn’t useless or atrocious? And Trey Miguel is the first person out…so my faith is dwindling.
I hate these early stages of the Delirious Dreamer combination. This crap makes me miss Tigre Uno, Dixie Carter, hell even the Claire Lynch angle was so disgustingly cringe it was car crash entertaining. You know, like Jersey Shore. So let’s see if something can stop sucking.
.@NicTNemeth has a strange run-in with Willow The Wisp…
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/ZTlWqchIaY pic.twitter.com/oATIF574yn
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 25, 2025
Ratings:
- Trey Miguel & Ace Austin vs Moose & JDC w/Alisha: JDC wins after interference – ** 1/4
- Jacy Jayne w/ Fatal Influence vs Rosemary: Jacy wins via Rolling Punch – **
- Cinematic Hardy Compound: Kaiba Boys vs Hardy Boyz: 15/7, 10/10, 100/100, Hardy thing ever!
- Tessa Blanchard vs Missa Kate: Tessa wins via Buzzsaw DDT – **
- Joe Hendry & Elijah vs Ethan Page & Kaz: Elijah wins via Highwayman’s Farewell – ** 3/4
Results:
Trey Miguel & Ace Austin vs Moose & JDC w/Alisha
JDC and Trey start it’s just chain wrestling, nothing worth notating. The big early spot is slow and dumb, Trey goes for a Springboard Moonsault while in the Arm Wringer to turn it into a slow Arm Drag followed by a slow Dropkick. Throws JDC into the face corner, and Moose is late to the help spot so Trey has to beckon for him to come forward for a Tandem Drop Toe Hold causing Moose to Headbutt JDC in the groin. Double Dropkick sends Moose to the floor, but he doesn’t sell it long so he plucks Trey off the apron, smashes him and JDC tags out as we go to commercial. Jesus Christ this is cornball trope start and no one is looking good in the first 5 minutes. Am I possibly a little a jaded? Well of course, the shows have sucked for weeks and you start with bog standard “make fun of the heel” team start and its slow and unengaging. Maybe Dreamer should ask Trips if TNA talent can use the PC to learn psychology or…something interesting.
We come back and the heels are still magically in control with JDC locking in a Hammerlock Suplex into a Keylock. Tag to Moose and Trey is sooo banged up apparently an Arm Wringer throws him to the mat like a bitch. Starting off the show so damn slow is not really a good luck to keep people watching the show. It’s only like 8:20 and I want to go to sleep. Moose of course gets cocky taking his time to do a Jacknife Powerbomb so of course Trey counters, Ace gets the hot tag and guess what? Ace starts laying out both guys with quick strikes, Tijeras, Kicks, Click Click Boom, his corner dodge into the Mochizuki Triangle Kick but Moose kicks out. *sigh*
Ace decides to tag Trey back in, but their version of Poetry in Motion gets caught by Moose and Moose Powerbombs Trey into Ace. System tandem offense, Dropkick from JDC, Uranage from Moose, Down and Dirty from Dango but Ace breaks up the pin. Ace assists Trey with the Knee Slide Tornado DDT to take out Moose, they look for a finish but Lish distracts the ref, Dango kicks Trey in the dick, Brian Myers interferes and JDC wins the match.
Yawn…basic bullshit is not really driving attention.
Next is a video package for Masha and Tessa with Masha talking…who can’t cut a promo in English and Dreamer of course inserts himself for a fake “do it for your trainer” add. Oh Christ, this is like Rocky IV from Wish, but the Russian is the babyface. I hate every second of this and welcome the commercial break.
While I think this promo goes on entirely too long, you can decide if it sucks or not:
.@Santana_Proud reflects ahead of #TNARebellion, where his war with @MustafaAli_X reaches its boiling point in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/ZTlWqchalq pic.twitter.com/zeSr7tQQVT
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 25, 2025
Jacy Jayne w/ Fatal Influence vs Rosemary
Start isn’t really a thing since Rosemary feigns the Mist so Jacy runs away, when she does get back in Rosemary clocks her, beats on her in the corner, Upside Down and then gorgeous Fallon and the pack tactics give Jacy enough of a distraction to PK kick Rosemary and take control. Rosemary gets out of a Headlock with biting, then bits Jacy on the face and follows it up with a Shotgun Dropkick. Jacy tries to Reverse the Irish Whip but Rosemary kicks off the buckle, turns and connects with a Flying Forearm. Rosemary gets a little distracted, eats a V-Trigger but zombie rises from the dead and Face Buster into a Spicolli Driver attempt, but Jazmyn gets involved, Rosemary drops Jazmyn and when she turns around Jacy connects with her Rolling Punch for the finish.
Fatal Influence attack Rosemary and Mirror Match Xias come to make the save.
.@milanmiracle is ON THE CASE! @Jazmyn_nyx_wwe, @FallonHenleyWWE and @jacyjaynewwe vs. @XiaBrookside, @TheLeiYingLee and @WeAreRosemary at #TNARebellion!?
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/ZTlWqchIaY pic.twitter.com/eTAQNOgiO8
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 25, 2025
Cinematic Hardy Compound: Kaiba Boys vs Hardy Boyz
Willow the Wisp sighting early, he drops the umbrella and starts dancing to Kendrick’s They Not Like Us, then Jeff shows up and attacks Nic, they brawl in a pickup truck. Seto Nic Ziggler hits the Superkick, but Jeff turns it around, they get on top of the cab and Jeff wants to Powerbomb Nic through conveniently placed tables, but Back Body Drop sends Jeff crashing. Nic goes into the truck and finds a tag team title. Is that the idea? First person to find the titles like an RPG quest?
Matt Pearl Harbors Mokuba near a fountain as it cuts to Nic walking through the house at the arcade, and he finds their title case and he thinks it’s booby trapped so he does the heist thing of replacing the title with an exercise weight. Matt has a PREMONITION!!! THe Kaibas have the titles! And Ryan turns things around for a moment until he eats gate and gets Speared into the pool with Reby playing piano looking like a snack. Ryan is teleported into the house for Maxel the Great with Senor Benjamin as the ticket taker and most of the Hardy kids sitting in the theater. It’s an old 1920s Silent Film with Maxel beating up Ryan and the kids keep saying he sucks. He gets showered in roses, Benjamin is crying the kids rejoice and cut back to Ryan floating in the pool. Dr Wolfie is diagnosing Ryan on the couch and they have a fantastic conversation. Wolfie blames the Matt Hardy fans for Booing Wolfie. Wolfie asks if Ryan if he ever hugged his parents and Ryan starts crying and Wolfie goes “That’ll be 500 dollars for the emotional damage”.
Gothic Baby Shadow Realms Ryan into his Emo Phase with Simple Plan playing. Then he has a roast battle with Bardie. Ryan is getting pelted with eggs while Matt is drowning him in the pool. Nic saves his Little Brother from drowning in the pool (been there). Maxel attacks, Nic Pie Faces the kid, Ryan ambushes Matt with a title shot and then BROTHER NERO! We’re just missing Itchweed to complete the essences of Jeff.
Nemeths see Jeff stalking them and they bail. So we may get a return to the Broken Brothers.
.@ryrynemnem is working some things out with Dr. Wolfie.
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/ZTlWqchIaY pic.twitter.com/ydPCkpfP6l
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 25, 2025
That was glorious and the fact it’s used as a set up for a real match instead of a replacement for a real match makes it actually better.
Tessa Blanchard vs Missa Kate
Tessa doesn’t take her serious after a quick flurry so Kate lands a Tilt-a-Whirl Gourdbuster before Tessa turns things around and lays in offense. Dropkick, Springboard Elbows, Teardrop Suplex, and Tessa calms down a little after taking complete control again. Tessa keeps Kate in the corner and lays in Forearms, Kicks, goes for a Splash but Kate finally dodges and slams Tessa face first into a Buckle. Tessa hits the Cutter, goes to the top, MAGNUM, Buzzsaw DDT just because.
Masha attacks Tessa after the match and hits the Russian Death Device and puts her in a Fujiwara Armbar until Tessa gets away and bails to the floor while Masha holds the ring.
Joe Hendry & Elijah vs Ethan Page & Kaz
This whole match is stupid. Hendry had no tape at Mania, went against “doctor’s orders” to defend the title at Rebellion this Sunday anyway…so they put him in a worthless tag match when they didn’t want him active? Delirious and Dreamer need to be shot in the head. It won’t hit anything.
Elijah and Kaz start this match, Kaz looks dumb and gets dogwalked and then Rope Walked because heels aren’t allowed to be competent against “fan favorites” until at least 3 minutes into a match. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Back from the commercial break, Hendry and Elijah Double Clothesline Kaz and he’ll prolly slip something in a minute or so. Elijah does 10 Count Punches dropping Kaz, into the ropes, Kaz hops over him but Elijah throws him towards Page. Weird…but okay. Ethan calls for Hendry, and they lock up causing Hendry to wince at the arm that isn’t Kayfabed well, but Hendry hits the ropes, Shoulder Tackle into Hip Toss with “bad” arm, now Stalling Suplex that is just dropped immediately because of “arm”. Tags out quickly to Elijah and Ethan gets Manhattan Dropped and Big Booted into Saturday. Kaz takes a cheap shot when Elijah hits the ropes, so Ethan pounces and the heels finally have some momentum. Double Team on Elijah into a Rude Awakening from Kaz for two.
Ethan tries to keep Elijah isolated, Elijah gets the boot up, but he cuts off Elijah from the tag, Ethan tags in Kaz and a Slingshot Leg Drop gets another two. Elijah fights out of the corner, knocks down Ethan, counter wrestling from Kaz and Elijah before a Jumping Knee Lift levels Kaz. Elijah looks for the tag but Ethan picks Hendry off the apron and throws him into the steps. Heels doing the dogpile thing. Ethan throws Elijah into a corner, Up and Over but Ethan catches him just to get kicked away. Joe drags himself to the corner, simultaneous tags, Lariats into Sack of Shit for both heels. Attitude Adjustment on Kaz for only two. Hendry is overselling the injury no one cares enough about to write logically. So good for him that he’s doing their job, it’s just creative that isn’t. Kaz catches Hendry in Fade to Black but Hendry gets out, Scoop Slam into the Springboard Leg Drop but Hendry kicks out. Kaz wants the Chicken Wing on the bad arm, but Ethan tags himself in causing infighting, Avalanche Tandem Superplex but Elijah shoves Ethan into the pinfall to break it. Elijah and Ethan throw hands, Crossroads from Elijah, Backstabber from Kaz, Rope Run Cutter from Hendry on Kaz, Spin and pose, Standing Ovation attempt but the arm gives, Elijah tags in, Ethan refuses to tag Kaz, Highwayman’s Farewell from Elijah.
Overall Score: 6.4/10
All of the points are for Fallon Henley existing, Lei Ying Lee and the Hardy Compound match. Without the Hardy match the show was like a 2. Bad logic, bad booking, heels are too samey with everyone being a dweeb that has to get beat on for 3-5 minutes before they can remember they can wrestle. Sean Waltman is also an interesting wrinkle in the System and Rascalz thing, but the first hour of this show was useless. If people continued to watch for the Hardy match, that was the only thing that may have entertained new eyes because of WrestleMania.
Rebellion is Sunday and next Thursday starts at 10 Eastern…ugh. If TNA doesn’t get off the west coast or work days, I won’t review any of this positively. First World problems, fully aware. But come on now, especially with the shit writing from the last month or so, this show isn’t worth staying up if they TNA personally paid people to review it. It would be totally different if the content was entertaining.
You know what, just give the Hardy’s the book. I’d rather insanity than forgetting to write in logic to a kayfabe injury and because things are pre-taped the WM appearance makes no sense and sudden over selling makes less sense. This isn’t booking into a corner this is booking into a Short Bus with a flat tire.
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