Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (7/15/24)
Tensions are running high!
Can Scrap Daddy make it official?
Adam Pearce is welcoming Drew McIntyre back to Raw, in hopes of resolving the Scottish Terminator’s issues with CM Punk. Will all go well? Or will it all go to hell?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Sheamus VS Bronson Reed; Sheamus wins.
- Zelina Vega VS Sonya Deville w/ Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark; Sonya wins.
- Damian Priest VS Braun Strowman; Priest wins.
- Kayden Carter & Katana Chance w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark w/ Sonya Deville; Shayna & Zoey win.
- Jey Uso VS Dominik Mysterio; Jey wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn VS Ilja Dragunov; Dragunov wins by disqualification, Sami retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Rhea Ripley is here!
That is to say, Mami’s home~! Dayton, Ohio fires up as we follow her into gorilla and onto the stage. Rhea goes to the ring, gets a mic, and smiles as the fans chant for “MAMI! MAMI!” Rhea tells Monday Night Raw, “Mami’s home.” The fans cheer that, and Rhea says it has been exactly three months since she’s last been here. And that is all because of one person. The fans boo, knowing just who that is: Liv Morgan. Rhea says she has seen Liv running around with something of hers, and no, it’s not Dominik Mysterio. Rhea will handle that later. But Liv’s been walking around with something Rhea never lost: The WWE Women’s World Championship.
Liv thinks she took Rhea out? But no, she just pissed Rhea off. What Rhea wants Liv to do is walk out here to be in front of Rhea, so Rhea can rip you apart! But instead of Liv, it’s Dirty Dom that walks out! And he even has a black rose in hand! Dom wants to talk to Mami but the fans boo. Dom still goes to the ring, and now he asks “Mamacita” to listen. The fans boo more so he tells them to shut up! Dom steps into the ring, but Rhea won’t even look at him. But then Liv is on the tron! She says hi, and wants to apologize for her voice. She had a very long weekend in Mexico, and well, she’s quite the screamer.
But Rhea, is your shoulder okay? Liv wasn’t sure when they’d ever see her again. Liv’s shoulder is fine, even with carrying the title. Liv tells Rhea that by now, Rhea knows Liv meant it when she said she wanted to take everything from Rhea. That includes Dom, but Liv does have to admit that at first, she didn’t see what Rhea saw in him. Liv was doing this just to hurt Rhea. But then… Liv got to spend time with Dom, got to look into his eyes, to kiss him, and… It all became very, very real to her. More real than what Dom & Rhea have ever had. And since Rhea’s been gone, Liv’s had Dom all to herself. So while Mami might be home, Liv is finally on top.
The fans are torn and Dom still tries to apologize. The fans boo, he tells them to stop, but Rhea tells Liv that the thing is… She knew Liv would be too scared to come face her. Because Liv knows that when she gets in Rhea’s ring, the revenge tour ends. And Rhea has waited three months for this, she thinks she can wait a little longer. That is why Rhea puts out this challenge. SUMMERSLAM: Rhea VS Liv for RHEA’S Women’s World Championship! The fans love that! Liv says she always knew the endgame was that match. So she won’t run. But she does think Rhea should know, this is not the same Liv that Rhea knew.
And just like Liv helped Dom finally beat his deadbeat dad, something Rhea couldn’t do, Liv will finally beat Rhea, too. Challenge accepted. Oh, and Daddy Dom~… Liv hopes to see you there, too. Bye~! Dom says it’s not like that. The fans cheer for Rhea as she paces. Rhea tells Liv that she knows Liv is still listening, so she’ll say this loud and clear: “SummerSlam, I not only end your revenge tour. I not only end your title reign. I’m gonna end your career. Watch me.” Rhea blows a kiss back to Liv, will her brutality be on a whole new level?
Dom and Rhea return backstage.
He keeps trying to explain but she keeps tuning him out. Dom follows her back to the clubhouse, and when she steps inside, there are a LOT of black roses. The hell is this? He’s just trying to make it up to her. She slams the door in his face! Dom sighs, turns around, and there’s Damian Priest. Priest asks if everything’s good. Dom thinks so, but probably not. Rhea opens the door to THROW the flowers at him, and even hands him a silver donkey to him. AKA he just got his ass handed to him. This is going to be a bit more complicated than Dom thought, and Priest tries not to laugh. Did Dom ruin the one good thing he had going?
Sheamus VS Bronson Reed!
The Celtic Warrior warned the Colossal Aussie not to push his luck, but then Bronson tried to bully the Bruiserweight last week. Sheamus made the save for Pete Dunne, but will he be able to even the score? Or will he be washed away by the Tsunami?
Raw returns and Bronson makes his entrance. The bell rings and the forearms start flying! The fans rally up as Sheamus gets the edge. Sheamus whips, Bronson reverses then runs in, but into a BOOT! Sheamus keeps moving and he RAMS Bronson! Bronson stays up, Sheamus runs but Bronson CLOBBERS him! Bronson paces while Sheamus rises, and then Bronson snapmares Sheamus down. Bronson runs to SENTON! Sheamus rises, Bronson is on him but Sheamus fires body shots and UPPERCUTS! Sheamus mule kicks, front kicks, then fireman’s carries! But Bronson is too big! Bronson CLUBS Sheamus, then HEADBUTTS him!
Sheamus goes to a corner, Bronson CHOPS him! Bronson fires more forearms but Sheamus hits back! Bronson ROCKS Sheamus, Sheamus ROCKS Bronson! Sheamus fires more shots, then runs to CLOBBER Bronson outta the ring! Bronson staggers back up, Sheamus KNEES him in the ropes! Sheamus has Bronson on ropes, the fans fire up, but Bronson HEADBUTTS and fires hands! The fans boo but Bronson snapmares Sheamus out to the floor! Sheamus stands, into a FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! Then Bronson TOSSES Sheamus over the desk! Sheamus is down and Bronson leaves him behind to refresh the ring count.
Bronson goes back to Sheamus but Sheamus SMACKS him off the desk! Sheamus climbs up to give Bronson BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN! Sheamus goes all the way to TEN, lets off to hug Pat McAfee, and the fans fire up as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Bronson rains down fists in a corner! But Sheamus just eggs Bronson on! Sheamus then fires haymakers in return, and short arm LARIATS! Bronson stays up, so Sheamus LARIATS again! And again! Bronson drops to a knee, but he just growls. Bronson shakes his head, Sheamus LARIATS him down! The fans fire up and Sheamus rises again. Sheamus fireman’s carries, and he manages to lift that 330 pounder! WHITE NOISE! Cover, TWO!! Bronson survives but Sheamus goes to a corner. Sheamus climbs up, but Bronson rises. Sheamus leaps, Bronson dodges. Sheamus comes back but into a pop-up, SITOUT BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Sheamus survives but Bronson drags him over. Bronson puts Sheamus in the drop zone, then goes up top! COLOSSAL MOONSAULT FLOPS! Bronson stands, into the KNEE CAP! Cover, Sheamus wins!
Winner: Sheamus, by pinfall
The Fella got a fight here to be sure! Will this help him make his way up towards a championship match? Wait, Bronson rises and he is aiming at Sheamus! But then in runs Pete Dunne with a GAMANGIRI! Down goes Bronson, and Sheamus is thankful. Sheamus wants to shake hands, but Dunne leaves him hanging. Dunne goes to leave, but then he CLOBBERS Sheamus from behind! Dunne evened things with Sheamus in more ways than one, and he just shrugs. But then Bronson goes up top! TSUNAMI!! Auszilla still takes his frustrations out, but will there be more scores to settle now?
Judgment Day hangs out in the clubhouse.
Well, everyone but Dom. Rhea is happy to be back and she appreciates Priest keeping things together. He has a lot on his plate tonight. There’s the face to face with Gunther, but also a 1v1 match with Braun Strowman! Does he need help out there? No, no, Gunther will just tell Priest what’s what with SummerSlam, and Braun should’ve been handled a long time ago. Rhea respects that. But question: Why is Carlito here? Oh, right, long story there. Dom walks in and asks if he can just talk with Rhea. Priest says say less. Like, literally. Priest moves aside and Dom says he knows he screwed up but he’s been trying to reach her all week. Please hear him out.
Rhea is picking petals off the rose while she smirks. All week, huh? What about the last three MONTHS? Or was he too busy playing around with his little girlfriend? Rhea throws what’s left of the flower at him then storms off. Carlito steps in and says, “She’s mad, huh?” Dom just stares at Carlito, but he’s not wrong. So what can Dom do, if anything, to make this right?
Ilja Dragunov talks with Sami Zayn backstage.
The Mad Dragon just wants to say he appreciates this title opportunity. This is not why he helped out last week against Bron Breakker. Sami knows, Ilja doesn’t need to say anything about it. This isn’t because Ilja helped, Sami asked for this match. Sami has been watching Ilja for awhile now, and Ilja is good. Better than good. Ilja is special. When Sami watches Ilja, it reminds him a little of himself. He sees Ilja in that fight, deep in it, he gets all messed up and red, it is ugly. Because that’s how it looks to fight for his life, and that is what you’re supposed to do! You’re supposed to fight like your life depends on it.
That is the kind of person Sami wants to face in that ring. That is the kind of person who deserves a chance at this title. Ilja has his chance, but one thing. Tonight, Ilja better bring his absolute best. Ilja says Sami better do the same. The two have an understanding, but who will walk away from this one as THE Intercontinental Champion?
Gunther speaks.
“It was never my dream to be here. Dreams are a waste of time. But when I arrived in WWE, that’s all I saw: Everybody chasing some dream, wanting to be like the heroes they grew up watching. No originality. Titles were insignificant. WWE needed to witness true dominance. I put the burden on my shoulders, as champion. It was easy to wipe the mat with challengers and shatter the dreams of so many as I swept through NXT UK and NXT. Not because of their lack of skill, but because of their reliance on emotions. When I realized I outgrew NXT, I came to SmackDown with the vision of saving one of the most illustrious prizes in this sport’s history, the Intercontinental Championship.
“And with ease, I took my prize. And within two years, I became the greatest and longest reigning Intercontinental Champion of all time. For two years, the very best in WWE lined up and said they would beat me, they would humble me, and they would take everything from me. And for two years, every single one of them fell at the hands of Der Ring General. And when my record breaking came to an end, I returned for a new prize: The King of the Ring. Taken by Gunther with ease. Wherever I look in WWE, I still saw mediocrity. I still saw a sickening lack of prestige. A pinnacle that should be so much more.
“At SummerSlam, the prestige of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship will change forever.” Gunther issues this promise, but what more will he have to say when he and Priest are face to face later tonight?
Backstage interview with Zelina Vega.
Jackie Redmond is with La Muneca and says the WEW Universe is going crazy over the return of Rhea Ripley. But what is Zelina’s perspective on her chase for the title? Zelina has no love for Liv or Rhea. When that love triangle gets sorted out, best believe she’ll be at the front of the line. Because we know that if not for Dom, Zelina would be Women’s World Champion right now. But then in steps Sonya Deville and her new pals, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark. And Sonya finds it funny that Zelina thinks she’s the front of the line with these three here. The line doesn’t go through Liv or Rhea anymore, it goes through them.
Zelina couldn’t hear anything past Sonya’s big forehead. But the scare tactics the three stooges are doing doesn’t do anything for Zelina. Nothing will stand in her way of that title. Not Liv, not Dom and his mustache, not Shayna and her mustache, or Sonya’s big forehead. If they wanna do this tonight, let’s do this tonight. Sonya says see you out there. Will Zelina prove she IS the front of the line? Or will Sonya put Zelina on the sidelines to get that much closer to the championship?
Zelina Vega VS Sonya Deville w/ Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark!
Raw returns and Sonya makes her entrance, The Queen of Spades & Hunter by her side. The bell rings and the fans rally, The two tie up, Sonya fires knee after knee then puts Zelina in a corner. Sonya brushes herself off, takes a swing, but Zelina dodges to fire hands! Sonya blocks a whip to whip Zelina, but Zelina goes up and over, only to get caught! Sonya smirks but Zelina swings through to DDT! The fans fire up and Zelina SHOTGUNS Sonya to ropes! Zelina dials it up, 619! Zoey distracts the ref, Shayna YANKS Zelina down! Shayna bends Zelina’s arm, then BOOTS it! The fans boo but Sonya drags Zelina up! DEVILLE’S ADVOCATE! Cover, Sonya wins!
Winner: Sonya Deville, by pinfall
And now the trio mugs Zelina for having attitude! But here come Lyra Valkyria & KC Squared! The Morrigan and the party girls were on the other end of a beating last week, they won’t let another person suffer! Sonya, Shayna & Zoey stand down, but will these hunters soon become the hunted?
Dom finds Priest backstage.
Dom asks why Priest didn’t warn him about Mami last week. Warn him? Priest was telling Dom but Dom was fooling around with Liv. Priest gave Dom advice, so it’s not Priest’s fault that Dom has been lying about stuff. Jey Uso walks in. Is it true? Is it true? What’s true? That Mami is single ‘n’ ready to mingle! Jey is tryin’ ta hoooooller~! Well… Maybe! Go for it! YEET! Dom says hey man, no yeet! And keep the “guepas” to yourself, Priest! Jey tells Dom that if he does see Mami, tell her Jey said hi~! YEET. Jey leaves, Priest says Dom’s been to prison. Dom can’t let people talk to him like that! Go show Jey who Mami belongs to.
Y-yeah! Dom’s gonna go take care of business right now. Dom hurries off and Priest chuckles. Is Priest just setting Dom up to fail now? As for Priest himself, he heads to gorilla for that face to face with Gunther. Will El Campeon have a response to Der King of the Ring?
Adam Pearce talks with referees.
He wants the officials to be on their guard. There is the meeting with Drew McIntyre tonight, the refs will be there, so- Chad Gable interrupts. Gable says he has figured it out! He has cracked the code! Uncle Howdy is none other than… Bo Dallas! Pearce says yeah, obviously. But Gable knows Pearce had a meeting with Bo last week, so Gable wants the details, and to know what disciplinary actions are being taken! Pearce says that was a private conversation, that is privileged information. Oh, that’s nice. But BO and his crew have been after Gable for weeks! What is Pearce going to do about it?
Pearce tells Gable that Bo will be here tonight. If Gable wants to have a conversation, go talk with him. Gable says that’s just great. Gable has to handle everything all on his own like always. Pearce just victim blames Gable! Gable is gonna call Bo out and handle things Gable’s way. Gable storms off, Pearce sighs and shakes his head. Is Gable literally asking for trouble?
Damian Priest heads to the ring.
The fans fire up as El Campeon makes his way out, world championship in hand. Priest steps inside, gets a mic, and says, “Dayton, Ohio! ALL RISE for El Campeon!” The fans cheer, and Priest says he is out here for a match with Braun Strowman, but he also wants this face-to-face right now! So Gunther, get on out here! The music plays, and Der Ring General makes his way out to the ring now. Gunther gets himself a mic as he stands in the ring with Priest. Gunther smiles and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, the World Heavyweight Champion.” The fans cheer, and Gunther says, “Look at you. Still so confident. Still carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
Week to week, Priest carries Monday Night Raw and still lives out the childhood dream of being World Heavyweight Champion. Honestly, good for him. While Gunther was away, he paid close attention to Priest. His honest assessment, he will share with Priest now. Priest is not living up to expectations. Priest’s reign has been… Nothing! No prestige, no contributions. But Gunther understands. They are not cut from the same cloth. Gunther is here in good spirits, he wants to do Priest a favor. Gunther will lift that weight off Priest’s shoulders and spare him the embarrassment of losing at SummerSlam.
Priest can just hand Gunther the title now, and they can both move on. Priest says he wishes it was SummerSlam right now, so he could knock that stupid smirk off Gunther’s face. We heard that video, Gunther saying this was never his dream. Well, while Gunther was handed everything in Europe, Priest was literally fighting for his life on the streets. He fought for 20 YEARS just to get here, let alone be world champion. So hey, if this isn’t Gunther’s dream and he’s just here for paychecks, then they don’t need Gunther here. Priest knows Gunther is good, but who gives a damn? Priest EARNED this, and Gunther is the last person taking the title from him.
Gunther nods and says he recognizes Priest’s hardships. Gunther won’t question the street credibility. But let’s be honest: Being on the street is a choice. C’mon! Don’t blame Gunther that Priest’s parents taught him that he is not worth it to provide a good life. Gunther’s parents gave him everything. His greatness was recognized his whole life. So while Priest was fighting for his life, Gunther got calls from the WWE begging him to show up here! And the reason they were was to avoid the people like Priest to get in a position where they could be world champion. And once again, it will be on Gunther! Who if not Gunther that takes on the challenge, the responsibility, to restore the honor and prestige of this great sport and that World Heavyweight Championship?
There is one thing Gunther doesn’t understand, though. Why aren’t there more people who love Priest to death? He’s just like them! Whatever he achieves in life, he was and always will be street trash. The fans boo and Priest scowls. Trash, huh? For somebody who seems to have so much clarity, it is crazy that Gunther can’t see what’s coming right at him. Gunther doesn’t even see why he lost at WrestleMania. It is the same reason he’ll lose at SummerSlam: he has no heart! He doesn’t know what it is to fight for everything he has! Gunther, at SummerSlam, Priest will remain El Campeon. And for the first time in Gunther’s life, he’ll fight from the bottom because he has nothing.
And then, maybe, the world finds out if Gunther is something more than just a boring, conceited, privileged. scumbag. The champion and challenger get in each other’s faces, they start shoving, but here comes BRAUN! Gunther grins as now Priest has to worry about #OneBigSOB! Will the Monster of All Monsters prove he’s more than just a problem for El Campeon? Or will Priest show that heart and fighting spirit he’ll use to shut down Gunther?
Jey Uso talks with Adam Pearce.
Jey and Pearce are chuckling over Dom getting a big head, but hey, if Jey’s up to it, the match can be made. Jey shakes Pearce’s hand, YEET. Jey heads out but in steps Bron Breakker. Bron asks Pearce what he’s doing. He’s giving Ilja a title match? What business is that of Bron’s? Well, Sami Zayn and that title are his business. But he lost at Money in the Bank! Sami then comes with Pearce with respect, something Bron can learn from, and Sami asked for a match. What does Bron have to say about that? Bron says he doesn’t care about respect. But congrats, Pearce made a match that Bron will now go destroy.
Oh really? Well Pearce knew he’d say that, so he won’t get to. There’s one hot head on the shelf as it is, Bron doesn’t need to go joining McIntyre on suspension. Pearce has security come in and Bron says fine, he knows the way out. Bron leaves, but Pearce still has his guys watch Bron. Will the Big Bad Booty Nephew just have to wait his turn when it comes to the Intercontinental Championship?
Damian Priest VS Braun Strowman!
Raw returns and the bell rings. The two circle and the fans rally up. The two tie up, and Braun SHOVES Priest to a corner. Braun flexes, the fans cheer, but Priest frowns. Priest and Braun reset, approach, and Priest KICKS a leg. Braun walks that off, grabs at Priest, but Priest dodges to KICK again. Braun is getting annoyed, and he manages to corner Priest. Priest slips away to KICK and KICK and fires off forearms. Priest whips but Braun blocks! Braun reels Pries tin, Priest dodges to ROUNDHOUSE! Braun staggers, Priest runs corner to corner, and he leaps, into Braun’s arms! Priest fights free and fires forearms!
Braun snarls, but Priest KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! ROLLING- NO, Braun grabs Priest with both hands! Braun TOSSES Priest across the way! Priest stagger sup, Braun PUPERCUTS him! The fans rally up as Braun HEADBUTTS, then whips corner to corner. Priest bounces off buckles and Braun runs him over! Braun LARIATS Priest up and out! The fans fire up and Braun gets on the tracks! The Strowman Express gets moving, but Priest sends him into the barriers! Braun goes up and over barriers into the timekeeper’s area and he’s clutching his leg! Priest snarls, but this fight isn’t over, even though Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Braun is in the ring, but Priest KICKS him in the leg! Braun hobbles up to both feet, but Priest ROCKS him with a forearm! Braun wobbles, Priest ROCKS him again. Priest winds up and runs in, but Braun LARITS! And LARIATS again! Braun manages to run up to SPLASH in a corner, and he CLUBS Priest in the chest! Cover, TWO! Priest is still in this but Braun slaps his bad leg into moving. The fans rally up, both men rise, and Braun waits on Priest. Priest stands, Braun clamps onto his neck! Priest grabs Braun’s neck! The two fight for control, and Braun powers Priest’s hand away!
Braun lifts but Priest slips free to KICK the bad leg! Braun crawls, sits up, but into a BUZZSAW! Priest winds up to SPIN KICK! Braun still rises, so Priest SPIN KICKS again! Priest runs, but Braun scoops him! But the bad leg gives out! Braun goes to a corner, Priest runs in to ELBOW Braun in the back! Braun hobbles, Priest clamps on, SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest wins!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall
The Punisher brings down the Monster of All Monsters, and yet Gunther saunters his way back out here. The two stare down, Priest dares Gunther to do something. Gunther steps back inside, to SLAP Priest! Priest DECKS Gunther! Priest stomps away, fires off hands in a corner, but Gunther shoves back to CHOP! Priest runs up to LARIAT! Gunther bails out but Priest wants more! Gunther is upset, but is he seeing just what Priest is talking about? Or will all that heart only get Priest hurt?
The (former) Alpha Academy talks backstage.
Maxxine Dupri tells Akira Tozawa & Otis that she talked with “him,” and said that since he’s their friend, they can do something for him. But then in steps Gable. He says it sounds like they came around! Great to hear! Now then, with all that behind them, they can get to business. What? Tozawa isn’t sure what Gable’s talking about. Gable says it is simple: he’s figured out that Uncle Howdy is Bo Dallas. Well, yeah, everyone knew that. Y-yeah, cuz Gable’s been telling everyone. But the plan for tonight is, Gable is calling Bo out, and he’ll have his crew by his side! Right? Just like Maxxine was saying!
Oh, uh, sorry, no, Maxxine wasn’t talking about Gable. In steps Xavier Woods. He is the friend they were talking about. With no Kofi Kingston around, the Academy wants to help Woods against The Final Testament. Aw hecc yeah! They all high-five and Gable gets mad! They’ll help Gable and not Woods? Are they serious? Yes. Very serious. Gable storms off, Woods says something is wrong with that guy. But hey, Final Testament took Kofi out, so next week, Woods & The Academy will make them pay! Everyone is on the same page here, but will they be able to cancel the apocalypse? Or will Kross & The Authors of Pain just make the Academy collateral damage?
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark w/ Sonya Deville!
We saw KC Squared thwart The Queen of Spades & Hunter from hurting Zelina Vega, and now they’ll have it out in a match of their own! Will Dayton be partying with Kayden & Katana tonight? Or will Shayna & Zoey be a couple of buzzkills?
Raw returns and Shayna & Zoey make their entrance, with Sonya backing them up. The teams sort out and Sonya starts against Kayden. They circle, tie up, and Shayna puts Kayden in a corner. The ref counts, Shayna lets off, but then she sucker punches Kayden! The fans boo but Shayna says this is too easy. But then Kayden spins and SLAPS Shayna! Shayna swings, misses, and Kayden wheelbarrows. Shayna stops that, stops the arm-drag, and then isolates the arm! But Kayden rolls free to trip Shayna up! Kayden KICKS Shayna, tags Katana, then they kick, kick and mule kick! Shayna blocks one, but then Kayden SUPERKICKS!
Zoey protests but then DOUBLE SUPERKICKS take Shayna down! Cover, TWO! Katana brings Shayna up, Shayna shoves her back. Katana returns to RAN- NO, Shayna stops that! Shayna pops Katana up, Zoey tags in, but Katana victory rolls. Zoey SUPERKICKS Katana down! Cover, TWO! Zoey clamps onto Katana with a cravat and grinds her down. Raw goes picture in picture to plug Twisters, in theaters this Friday, and Katana fights up. Raw returns to single picture as Katana fires body shots, but Zoey scoops. Katana slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl, but Zoey stops that! Zoey brings Katana up, fireman’s carries, but Katana arm-drags free!
Katana runs corner to corner, Zoey shoves her away! Katana comes back again, Zoey pops her up but Kayden is there to send Katana back in. Katana goes up and up and CROSSBODIES! Zoey rolls through! Zoey swings, but Katana arm-drags again! And she DROPKICKS Zoey to the corner! Tag to Kayden and she sets up, MONKEY FLIP CANNONBALL COMBO! The fans cheer, Kayden covers, TWO! Kayden drags Zoey up, TOSSES her out, and Zoey staggers up. Shayna runs in, Kayden TOSSES her, too! Tag to Katana and she goes up, to SUPER KEG STAND onto both Zoey & Shayna! Dayton fires up while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Shayna keeps Kayden from Katana to fireman’s carry. Kayden shifts around, sunset flips, but avoids a stomp! She trips Shayna to then BASEMENT KICK her! Sonya is upset but Lyra and the fans rally up. Shayna and Kayden crawl, hot tag to Zoey! Zoey drags Kayden back, but Kayden hops up! Kayden reaches, but Zoey YANKS her back. Zoey goes for the legs again but Kayden BOOTS her! Hot tag to Katana! Katana trips Zoey, BULLDOGS her, then runs to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! The fans fire up and Katana fires off in the corner! Katana fires up, runs corner to corner, A-LIST LARIAT!
Katana pushes Zoey down to ROLLING AX KICK! Cover, TWO! Sonya is stressed as Katana drags Zoey up. Zoey snapmares free to KNEE her down! Tag to Shayna and Shayna goes corner to corner, to KNEE Katana, too! Cover, TWO! Sonya is upset with the ref but Shayna drags Katana up. Shayna underhooks to BUTTERFLY SUPLEX into an ARMBAR! Katana clasps hands, stacks Shayna, stomps away on her, and is free! Katana fires up to STANDING MOONSAULT KNEE DROP! Shayna sputters while Katana tags Kayden. Kayden sets up, Katana runs up, WHEELBARROW SUPLEX SPLASH! Cover, TWO!
Shayna survives but Kayden drags her over. Tag back to Katana and Katana goes up another corner. But Sonya gets on the apron! So Lyra YANKS Sonya down! Zoey BOOTS Lyra! Kayden KNEES Zoey and drags her out, for Katana to DOUBLE STOMP! Shayna DECKS Kayden! Katana trips Shayna to jackknife bridge, TWO! Zoey tags in, Shayna grabs Katana by her hair! Zoey with the MISSILE DROPKCIK! Then the ALLEY-OOF!! Cover, Shayna & Zoey win!
Winners: Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark, by pinfall
Sonya nods and celebrates with her team. Will this trio be the ones taking control of Monday Night Raw?
The Judgment Day talk in the clubhouse.
JD McDonagh says there’s flower petals everywhere. But Finn Balor says forget about that. They wanna address the elephant in the room. They admit, Liv did help them get the WWE World Tag Team Championships, so- Rhea says yeah, yeah. No worries there. Liv played her games, it didn’t work. In the end, the tag titles are back where they belong. And now Rhea will get her title back where it belongs. Finn & JD agree, and Dom walks in. He says Jey was talking out of line, so Dom got a match made. Dom will teach Jey a lesson that nobody talks about Mami like that. What? What is he doing?
Is Dom stupid? Why is he picking a fight with Jey? Uh, well, Dom could cancel it then. No, that’d make Dom a coward. Okay, well, Dom just wants to show everyone that she is still Dom’s Mami and that she belongs to him. Uh oh, that wasn’t how to say it. Rhea storms out, and the guys can’t help but chuckle. Carlito says not cool. Dom just can’t win, can he? But can he at least not be embarrassed taking on Main Event Jey?
Drew McIntyre walks in backstage.
And he’s… smiling? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Guess we’ll find out during his meeting with Adam Pearce, after the break it.
Raw returns, and Adam Pearce is in the ring.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please join me at this time in welcoming The Scottish Warrior, Drew McIntyre!” The fans are torn as McIntyre makes his way out to the ring. The fans chant “CM PUNK!” at McIntyre but Pearce says he allowed McIntyre to be here but they won’t waste any time. Pearce thinks we are on the verge of something special with McIntyre, and that CM Punk VS Drew McIntyre can be special. Pearce wants the match, and he’s pretty sure the fans want it. And Pearce knows that Punk is at home like Pearce requested so Punk can get medically cleared for this match. So the only question is: How bad does McIntyre want this match?
McIntyre says he wants this more than anything in the world. Pearce says that’s good. So let’s leave emotion and pettiness and irrational, unprofessional behavior behind… Look at him when he’s talking to you. But if McIntyre can do all that, Pearce is ready to do business. McIntyre says he is ready to do business, too. Pearce was doing what he had to, and that was suspend McIntyre for what he did. McIntyre had to sit at home and watch Punk talking, knowing McIntyre should’ve been there. That is on McIntyre. McIntyre wants this match more than anything, and Punk surely wants this more than anything.
But it is not their opinions that matter. The only opinions that matter are those of the WWE Universe. The fans cheer that! So let’s double check. Is everyone ready for McIntyre VS Punk at SummerSlam? The fans cheer even louder! Well, they also chant “CM PUNK! CM PUNK!” McIntyre says they’re ready. Pearce has the power, so make it official. Pearce would love nothing more. But there is one more thing Pearce needs McIntyre to do. Anything! Oh, anything? Then the refs from that MITB incident step into the ring. Pearce knows what happened that night as uncalled for. The refs did not deserve what happened.
So all McIntyre has to do is apologize to these two men for what he did. McIntyre takes a breath. Why would he apologize? Pearce says the refs put their bodies on the line every time they step into the ring, so they deserve respect. All McIntyre has to do is- McIntyre says this is embarrassing. Yeah, Pearce did what he had to do, so let’s let bygones be bygones, water under the bridge. Pearce says he isn’t being unreasonable. These refs got hurt. McIntyre just has to look them in the eye, acknowledge what happened, and apologize. Nothing more. McIntyre mulls it over a moment, and he steps forward while fans chant, “Say You’re Sorry!”
McIntyre looks at the refs, then the crowd. McIntyre swallows and says, “No.” Why should he apologize when all any ref has ever done is screw him over?! And PEARCE! This has all happened under Pearce’s watch! McIntyre lost at WrestleMania, at Clash at the Castle, and MITB! All under Pearce’s watch! Is Pearce grabbing Punk from behind? Sending referees after him? NO! That’s just McIntyre! Pearce deserved that elbow. PEARCE should be the one apologizing! So many fans chant Punk’s name after what he’s done to McIntyre, and they should be apologizing! SETH ROLLINS thinks he can skip the line to get at Punk first!?
McIntyre would never accept an apology from Punk, he wants Punk’s head on a SPIKE. Pearce tells McIntyre to stop. If he won’t accept and own what he did, then Pearce will! McIntyre is STILL suspended! McIntyre slowly turns around and glares at Pearce. McIntyre steps forward, a ref moves in, but that ref goes flying! And then the other! McIntyre shouts at Pearce, but here comes Rollins! The fans fire up as The Visionary runs into the ring, and he fires hands on McIntyre! Rollins dodges to SUPERKICK! Then CURB- NO, McIntyre bails out before then! Rollins throws off the leather jacket and dares McIntyre to get back in here!
Security shows up to escort McIntyre out of here while fans sing “WHOA~ OHH~ OHHH~!” McIntyre fumes but he warns everyone that he’s not done. McIntyre storms off, but will he ever get over things? Will he ever get over himself?
The Wyatt Sick6 hijacked the Pat McAfee Show… again!
Pat was just talking with MLB experts when the lights flickered, and Sister Abigail dropped off a package. Another week, another VHS! That VHS has been brought here to Raw, so time to see this week’s message.
It’s Erick Rowan! Uncle Howdy/Bo Dallas asks, “How have you been?” Rowan won’t lie, the last few years have been… very hard. Rowan used to have a family. They were unstoppable. Inseparable. They always had each other’s backs. And then one day, it just went poof, and the whole world changed. Rowan is emotional already as he says, “I lost a brother. The person in this world who believed in me more than anybody else, just gone.” It knocked him on his ass. “But in those situations, you get up, and you wipe the dust off you, and you just keep moving. Because that’s what you gotta do. Life goes on.”
But just when Rowan thought he had everything going… Another brother… Rowan starts to cry here as he says that brother was gone, too. No more family, no more will to go on, nothing. Rowan fell down a well and couldn’t get out. He didn’t want to get out. Why would he? He was catatonic, numb to the world. Who was gonna miss him, huh? He’s “Just Rowan.” But then how did that make him feel? A sheep mask is handed to him. Rowan remembers those times. It gives him hope. When he was at his lowest, and “he” reached out to him, Rowan accepted that hand. Rowan knew he needed help. So he got up, had a purpose in life, and a purpose to help those like him.
This sheep mask reminds him of that beacon of hope. Rowan is Ramblin’ Rabbit! “We’re gonna take our broken hearts, and make some beautiful art.” The piano plays and the tape stops there. Will Rowan “help” others in the darkness?
Jey Uso VS Dominik Mysterio!
Main Event Jey just wanted to “holler” at Rhea, and Dommy got upset. But did Dom not just stick his foot in his mouth but really step in it tonight? Or can he somehow, someway, make it up to Mami?
Raw returns and Jey makes his entrance. The fans bounce with Jey, as do Pat and Cole with their new foam YEET hands! But then Dom SUCKER PUNCHES Jey! The fans boo as Dom stomps away on Jey! The ref reprimands, backs Dom off, and Jey stands up. The bell rings, Dom runs up but Jey ROCKS him in return! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey whips, but Dom reveres and DROPKICKS! Dom says, “That’s MY Mami!” Dom rains down fists on Jey while saying to never talk about HIS Mami like that! The fans boo but Dom soaks up that heat. Dom drags Jey up, ROCKS him, and has Jey on ropes. Dom CHOKES Jey, the ref counts, and Dom lets off.
Jey sputters, Dom stalks him, and then Dom stomps Jey. Dom keeps going on about “She’s MY Mami!” Dom RAMS Jey into the corner, RAMS him again, then lets off. Dom says NO YEET, then snapmares Jey into a chinlock. Dom fires clubbing crossface forearms, and says Mami belongs to him! The fans rally for Jey as he endures and fights up. Jey fires body shots, but Dom kicks low! Dom snap suplexes, Uno Amigo! Dom drags Jey up, Dos Amigos! Dom rises up again, gives some Latino Heat, THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Dom snarls as he waits on Jey. Jey rises, but Dom DROPKICKS him onto ropes!
Dom dials it up, 619 misses as Jey ducks! Jey then DUMPS Dom out, and the fans fire up as Jey builds speed! Jey DIVES into a haymaker! Dom takes Jey down and then brings him around, to POST him! Jey falls and Dom flexes while Dayton boos, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Dom has Jey down, for a slingshot SENTON! Cover, TWO! Dom is annoyed and he drags Jey up. The fans rally for Jey but Dom gives more Latino Heat. But Jey slips out of the suplex to ROCK Dom! And again, and again! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks ‘n’ puts some stank on the “YEET!” Then he mule kicks, throws the shirt off and UPPERCUTS! Dom staggers up, blocks a kick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! The fans fire up again and Jey says “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey runs in to HIP ATTACK! Jey drags Dom into a drop zone, goes up the corner, but wait, LIV is here! Liv drags Dom to safety!
The fans boo and Dom says leave him alone, Liv! Stop making this worse! But then Jey WRECKS Dom with a dropkick, and Dom falls right onto Liv! Just like a few weeks ago! Liv is happy, and she flips things around to be on top! Even Jey can’t take his eyes off this! But here comes RHEA! Liv freaks out and runs away! Rhea is again mad with Dom but she’s more focused on Liv. Liv gets into the crowd and goes up the bleachers! Dom tries to apologize but Rhea tells Dom to just finish this fight. Dom hurries into the ring, but Jey SPEARS him down! Then Jey puts Dom in the drop zone, goes up top, and USO SPLASHES! Cover, Jey wins!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall
Rhea rolls her eyes in disappointment. Jey waves to Mami and says call him. Rhea just leaves, not even waiting for Dom. Will Dom keep on losing what he had with Rhea? Will Jey win his way towards a championship opportunity?
Dom returns backstage.
He is obviously sore from losing, but the Priest walks over. Priest tells Dom that that was rough. Speaking of which… Rhea steps back in. Rhea tells “Dom Dom” that she doesn’t belong to anyone. She is not Dom’s. Dom is hers. Rhea gives Dom a rose, so maybe Dom still has something good. But will he be able to keep it with Liv still coming around?
Chad Gable heads to the ring!
“Master” Gable mistakenly thinks he figured out the Wyatt Sick6 puzzle, but Bo Dallas showed himself to be Uncle Howdy. And even after feeling first hand how dangerous the Wyatts have become, he wants to call Bo/Uncle Howdy out? Will Gable only get himself hurt all over again? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and the fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” Gable says, “Ladies and gentlemen, in yet another display of my seemingly endless intellect, I have solved what will go down as the greatest mystery, well, ever in the WWE. I’m here to announce the true identity of Uncle Howdy is none other than Bo Dallas!” The fans boo but Gable knows, they were surely thinking of anyone but Bo. But Bo, after everything you and those FREAKS have put Gable through over the past month, Gable is calling you out! Get in this ring so they can settle this problem. And don’t make him wait. Gable does wait a little longer and he shouts for Bo to show up.
And so Bo shows up! The fans cheer as Bo walks out, no music, no pomp and circumstance, but then he’s BLINDSIDED by Julius & Brutus Creed! The Creed Brothers throw Bo around, this was all a set up by Gable! Brutus POUNCES Bo into barriers! The fans boo but Julius drags Bo up, to POST him! Bo writhes, the fans boo more, but the Creeds feed Bo to Gable. Gable looms over Bo, the Creeds join him, and Gable raises their hands in victory. But Bo… is laughing? Gable is confused as to why, but he KICKS Bo in the side! The Creeds drag Bo up and Gable throws off his jacket. Gable rolls up his sleeves so he can fire forearms!
The fans boo but Bo still laughs it off! Gable ROCKS Bo with a haymaker! But Bo laughs through the pain! Gable tells the Creeds to stand Bo up. They mug Bo, then fireman’s carry for the KNEE DEATH VALLEY COMBO! The fans boo while Gable stands over Bo. Bo still manages a smile, even as Gable waistlocks and GERMAN SUPLEXES Bo away! Bo flounders into a corner, Gable says problem handled. The fans boo more as Gable’s new team stands tall. Wait, is Bo still laughing? Bo says “Yeah yeah yeah yeah~” like another Wyatt Family member we’ve lost. Gable asks what’s so funny! Bo says, “There you are.” Gable is freaked out, but Bo sees the truth.
And then the lights start turning off! The fans tell Gable he messed up now! The fireflies come out, and the piano starts playing…! Gable & The Creeds are on guard as the fog starts rolling in. From the stage is that familiar eerie light. And from that light, out steps Sister Abigail, Ramblin’ Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard & Huskus the Pig boy. Abigail has the lantern, and she leads the way. The fans are losing their minds as the Wyatt Sick6 approach the ring. They get up on the apron, Gable cowers behind the Creeds, then Gable gets out of the ring! Julius & Brutus are surprised, but then they follow Gable.
Bo rises up from the corner, to kneel at the center of the ring. The fans cheer as his family stands with him. Bo laughs and then looks to the skies. They’re here, but what will they do next?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn VS Ilja Dragunov!
The Great Liberator told The Mad Dragon that he earned this championship match with his passion and fury. But will Sami be able to survive that passion and fury when facing it head-on? Or will we soon have an #UNBESIEGBAR Intercontinental Champion?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can truly fight like their lives depends on it!
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Dragunov waistlocks. Sami wrenches free, Dragunov wrenches in return. Sami rolls, wrenches again, and then cording holds. Dragunov goes to a corner, the ref calls the break, and Sami lets off, to CHOP! Dragunov scowls but Sami eggs him on. Dragunov runs up, they tie up, and Sami waistlocks. Dragunov headlocks, Sami fights around and ends up in a corner. The ref calls the break, so Dragunov lets off, to CHOP! Dragunov returns the favor and eggs Sami on now. Sami nods and resets with Dragunov. They start firing forearms back and forth and the fans fire up!
Dragunov ROCKS Sami, ROCKS him again, then DECKS him! Sami gest up, Dragunov runs in but Sami TOSSES Dragunov out. Sami goes to the apron, mule kicks, then ARABIAN PRESS SAULTS! Down goes Dragunov and the fans fire up with Sami! The champion stands tall and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Sami UPPERCUTS Dragunov. Dragunov stumbles to a corner, the fans rally, and Sami stands Dragunov up. Sami CHOPS, but Dragunov fires boxing elbows. Sami kicks low, whips, but Dragunov tiger feints, CONSTANTINE SPECIAL! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Sami rises, but Dragunov follows. Dragunov CHOPS in the corner! And CHOPS again! Sami sits down, Dragunov goes side to side, BOOT WASH! Dragunov drags Sami up, reels him in, but Sami slips out of the bomb to fire off forearms! Sami whips, Dragunov reverses but Sami goes up and over! Dragunov turns around into a LARIAT from Sami!
The fans fire up and Sami brings Dragunov up. Dragunov headlocks to fight the Blue Thunder, so Sami CLUBS him! Sami tries again, but Dragunov fights with elbows! The fans rally, Dragunov KNEES Sami low. Sami still swings, but Dragunov dodges to CONSTANTINE- NO, Sami gets under to BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dragunov just raises that shoulder up in time and Sami can’t believe it! The fans rally, Sami drags Dragunov up, but Dragunov BOOTS him! And BOOTS again! And BOOTS again! Sami staggers, Dragunov waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! Sami tumbles, Dragunov rises!
Dragunov runs up but Sami BOOTS him! Dragunov roars and returns, into a clinch! CORNER EXPLODER! The fans fire up as Sami goes corner to corner. Sami runs in, but into a BOOT from Dragunov! Dragunov covers, TWO!! Sami survives that counter but Dragunov drags him back up. Dragunov reels Sami in, to POWERBOMB! Dragunov powers up and the fans fire up, for the H-BOMB FOREARM into a BOOT! Sami crawls to cover, TWO!! Dragunov survives and the fans fire up again. Sami rises, Dayton rallies, and Sami fires a forearm. Dragunov springs up to ENZIGIRI! Dragunov runs to KNEE Sami, and Sami tumbles out of the ring!
Dragunov goes to the apron, powers up, and H-BOMB FOREARMS to the floor!! Sami sputters and the fans fire up while the ref starts the ring count. Dragunov drags Sami up and in, hurries up a corner, and fans duel as he takes aim! COAST2COAST! Dragunov roars as he rises again! SUPER SENTON onto knees! Ghost pin, TWO!! Dragunov escapes that trap and Sami is in disbelief. Sami storms over to drag Dragunov up at the ropes. Sami fires hands, but Dragunov HEADBUTTS back! Sami staggers, only to return with a HELLUVA KICK! Dragunov falls to the floor and fans fire up again! The ring count starts, but Sami goes out after Dragunov.
“This is Awesome!” as Sami drags Dragunov up. But here comes Bron! He storms down the ramp, picks up speed, and he runs in to SPEAR Dragunov!!
Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by disqualification (Sami retains the title)
The fans are torn between booing and barking, but Sami fires hands on Bron! Sami SMACKS Bron off the desk again and again, puts Bron in the ring, only for Bron to catch him! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Bron rips up his shirt, throws it to the fans, and then builds speed to SPEAR Sami down!! Bron smirks, having done what he told Pearce. Bron destroyed this main event, what must be done to put an end to this rebellion?
My Thoughts:
A great episode of Raw here with so much good story. For one, Drew McIntyre being just as petty as CM Punk was an interesting detail. But him losing his mind with rage again was a good way to bring Rollins out here, and I feel like my idea for a Triple Threat is coming true. Then after a great match between Sheamus VS Bronson, Dunne making the save only to turn on Sheamus was pretty wild. Tyler Bate is out with injury for the rest of the year so I suppose Dunne going Heel on his own wouldn’t be so out of the question. Though at the same time, Dunne would have to voice his reasons for doing this, so maybe he’ll be more of a Tweener?
Good stuff in the Women’s Division, but I feel kinda bad for Zelina being fed to Sonya so easily. It did technically set up the tag match for tonight, which was more solid as a match. Sonya’s trio sweeping gets them going, and while we can get a Six Woman Tag of Lyra & KC Squared VS Sonya, Shayna & Zoey, I’m sure Damage CTRL returns to make for an even bigger Six Woman Tag at some point. Plus there’s #TheBig3, Jade, Bianca & Naomi on SmackDown, and the potential of Blair Davenport joining Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn. Getting faction warfare in the RawDown Women’s Division could be a lot of fun.
Great stuff with the Judgment Day being the throughline on the night. Rhea VS Liv being made for SummerSlam was a given, but we got great stuff with Dom struggling to make this right. Dom being possessive of Rhea against Jey, Liv getting involved, and Dom still losing to Jey was all great stuff. Though, I’m a touch disappointed that Rhea essentially forgave Dom with the reminder that “she owns him.” I thought this would’ve gone at least one more week, but hey, there’s only two weeks until SummerSlam so why waste time? I still feel like Finn & JD are the members that side with Liv in a plot twist where Liv retains the title.
Thinking about it, though, Priest didn’t really help Dom by giving him that phrasing of “Rhea belongs to Dom.” Really good promo video from Gunther, and really good promo between Priest and Gunther in the ring, but I’m a little surprised we’re doing this as a clash of economic classes. Gunther acting superior because this is business and competition, not a dream, works for me, but then him talking down to Priest as “street trash” just doesn’t fit anything Gunther’s been about. Yes, he talks about prestige and honor, and I suppose that is to stem from how someone behaves and how someone behaves has to do with upbringing, but it just seemed odd.
Really good stuff in the Intercontinental Championship story. Sami and Dragunov had a good promo before having an awesome main event, but yeah of course Bron was going to get in there and “ruin” that. That itself could be a Triple Threat, Sami VS Dragunov VS Bron for the Intercontinental Championship, for SummerSlam. Now, I fully expect Pearce to want to punish Bron but I think Sami and Dragunov will each say give them this match so they can all settle this at once. Though, that’d make for what? Six championship matches? Priest VS Gunther, Cody VS Solo, Bayley VS Nia, Rhea VS Liv, and you know we’ll be getting LA Knight VS Logan Paul for the US title.
The HHH Era has been all about PLEs with less matches, more quality, but at the same time, they’ve gotten through PLEs in under three hours, so they have room for more. Plus, this is SummerSlam, “The Biggest Party of the Summer.” I heard they’ll have Jellyroll performing live now, but even then, six matches and all of them being major title stories, that’s just fine for SummerSlam, they can give us that and we’ll all be fine. I just don’t want there to be this talk of “Well now we need Raw and SmackDown exclusive PLEs so we can have time for more.” That’s too much to me. But that subject can be an opinion article on its own somewhere.
Great stuff in the Wyatt Sick6 story. For one, incorporating Pat McAfee’s show again was a nice touch. And hearing from Erick Rowan, that was a powerful promo. And with it, this now becomes not just a tribute to Bray, but also to Luke Harper/Brodie Lee. Gable had good interactions with Pearce and his former “Academy.” Also nice plug that Woods, Otis & Tozawa will face Kross & AOP, that’ll be a fun match. I actually really liked that Gable arrogantly thought he figured something out when it was revealed to us already. Julius & Brutus joining Gable in beating down Bo was a good detail, as was Bo laughing the whole time. And that detail writes itself: the physical pain was nothing compared to the loss of his brother. And also, there’s our Six Man Tag, it’s just a question of which three from the Wyatt Sick6.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Is Orange Cassidy coldblooded? Or just in control?
Before their AEW World Championship match at Full Gear, Jon Moxley puts Wheeler Yuta in Orange Cassidy’s way! Will Cassidy destroy The Decoder before going for The Maniac?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 8 Man Tag: Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, Ricochet & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS The Don Callis Family; The Don Callis Family wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Hikaru Shida; Kris wins.
- 2v1 Handicap: Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Joe Keys & Cheeseburger; Lashley wins.
- Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli; Claudio wins.
- Orange Cassidy VS Wheeler Yuta w/ The Death Riders; Cassidy wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
8 Man Tag: Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, Ricochet & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS The Don Callis Family!
This All-Star 8 Man is going to make for a massive match! The Aerial Assassin, Dunk Zilla, The One & Only and the man the family foolishly forgot are now teamed together against Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage & Lance Archer! Will Ospreay lead this team to victory ahead of the grudge matches at Full Gear? Or will Callis’ Alpha, Aussie Arrow, Machine & Murderhawk Monster make sure #EverybodyDies?
Well forget sorting out, Ospreay leads his team in attacking the Callis Family right on the ramp! The fans fire up as Hobbs is after Archer, Davis is after Cage, and of course Ricochet is after Konosuke while Ospreay is after Kyle! Hobbs smacks Archer off railing, Kyle CLUBS Ospreay on the back, but Ospreay kicks low. Ospreay sends Kyle into railing, rips the tearaway pants right off him, and then LASHES him with them! Davis sends Cage into railing while Ospreay uses those pants to SLING Kyle into more railing! Davis CLUBS away on Cage, Ospreay blows snot on Kyle’s pants, and Davis sends Cage into more railing.
Kyle turns things around to send Ospreay into railing! Konosuke helps Cage against Davis but Hobbs still throws hands on Archer. Kyle CLUBS Ospreay, CLUBS Ricochet, but Konosuke puts Davis in the ring. The bell rings and this is finally a match. Konosuke headlocks Davis but Davis fires body shots. Davis powers up and out, but Konosuke RAMS him! The fans fire up as Davis stays up. Davis runs to RAM Konosuke! Konosuke stays up and the fans rally. Konosuke runs to RAM Davis, but Davis runs. Konosuke bypasses, leaps, but Davis catches him for a TOSS! And a SENTON! The fans fire up with Davis, and Ricochet reaches out.
Davis tags Ricochet in , then holds the way open, for Ricochet to FOSBURY FLOP onto Konosuke! But Cage CLOBBERS Davis! Cage then RAMS Ricochet into the apron, POSTS him, but Ospreay PENALTY KICKS Cage! The fans fire up as Ospreay goes up, but Kyle UPPERCUTS him! The fans boo as Kyle goes up, CLUBS away on Ospreay, and Ospreay falls to the floor. But now Hobbs is up! Kyle says wait! Then he fires hands! Hobbs just CHOPS Kyle! Hobbs climbs up to get Kyle, but Archer CLUBS Hobbs! Archer drags Hobbs down, throws hands, then puts Hobbs in between steps and post! Hobbs fights back, but Cage sends Ospreay into the steps!
The fans boo as Hobbs’ leg is crushed between steps and post! Archer puts Ricochet in the ring while a medic checks Hobbs. Archer brings Ricochet up but Ricochet slips free to fire off fast strikes! Hobbs is being helped to the back and Ospreay is concerned that this is now 4v3. Ricochet still fires strikes on Archer, but Archer grabs Ricochet by the neck! CHOKE- NO, Ricochet RANAS Archer first! Archer tumbles, stands up, and Ricochet springboards, but Archer CLOBBERS Him out of the sky! Archer BLASTS Davis, then catches Ospreay out of the air! Archer TOSSES Ospreay away and fans boo. But Ricochet springboards back in!
Archer catches Ricochet, and he CHOKE SLAMS Ricochet out onto Ospreay and Davis! The fans boo as the Don Callis Family is in control, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cage & Kyle flex to soak up the heat, then Archer goes out after Ospreay and the rest. Konosuke fetches Ricochet into the ring, waistlocks, and then brings him away from the corner. Archer beats up on Ospreay while Konosuke fires knees into Ricochet. Ricochet tumbles to ropes but Konosuke is on him. Davis fires hands on Archer, then sends him into railing! Davis fires more hands, but Konosuke CHOKES Ricochet at the ropes! The ref counts, Konosuke steps off and tags Kyle. Kyle stays between Ricochet and his corner. Kyle taunts Ricochet, stomps him around, then whips him to ropes. Kyle ELBOWS Ricochet down, then stalks him to a corner.
Kyle stomps away on Ricochet while Archer intimidates commentary. Kyle shouts at the camera while the ref counts, and Kyle steps off of Ricochet’s neck. Kyle bumps Ricochet off buckles, tags Cage, and Cage stands Ricochet up. Cage CHOPS Ricochet, then whips him to ropes for an ELBOW! Cage flexes while he taunts Ospreay & Davis. Cage drags Ricochet up but Ricochet RAMS him! And RAMS him! And fires forearms! Cage ROCKS Ricochet, then runs, but into a tiger wall kick and ENZIGIRI! Konosuke tags in and storms after Ricochet. Konosuke stomps Ricochet, then rains down fists! The ref reprimands while Dynamite returns to single picture.
Konosuke argues with the ref while Ospreay rallies the fans. Konosuke stays between Ricochet and his team, but Ricochet SLAPS Konosuke! Konosuke ROCKS Ricochet for it! Ricochet fires forearms and an UPPERCUT! Konosuke keeps Ricochet from his corner, reels Ricochet in, but Ricochet victory rolls! TWO, and Ricochet ducks a chop to handspring BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ricochet and Konosuke crawl, hot tags to Kyle and Ospreay! The fans fire up as these two fire fists and forearms! Kyle kicks and whips but Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Kyle!
Ospreay whips, Kyle reverses, Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Kyle staggers, Konosuke tags back in! Ospreay dodges Konosuke to BLAST Cage & Archer! Ospreay fires fists on Konosuke, but Konosuke CLAWS Ospreay’s face! Konosuke runs, but Davis intercepts with a fireman’s carry! AUSSIE DENTAL PLAN! Or maybe in this case, just a United Empire Dental Plan! But in any case, Davis scoops Konosuke, for the LAWN DART CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives but the fans fire up. Ospreay & Davis bring Konosuke up, double pump handle, but the #MurderMachines make the save!
Archer puts Davis in a corner, Cage ducks Ospreay’s haymaker to waistlock. Archer runs up, BOOT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! Davis fires hands on Archer but Cage waistlocks, ripcords, and ROCKS Davis! Then fireman’s carry into the ASSISTED NECKBREAKER! The fans boo but the Murder Machines DOUBLE RIPCORD Ospreay up for Konosuke’s BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives and shocks everyone! Archer argues with the ref but the count was fair. Konosuke tags Kyle while fans rally up behind Ospreay. Kyle smirks as he stalks Ospreay. Kyle BOOTS Ricochet off the apron for good measure!
Kyle tells Ospreay that this is how he wants it, right? All about Ospreay! Kyle stomps away on Ospreay in the corner, then digs his boots in! The ref counts but wait! Here comes Hobbs! Hobbs hobbles but Kyle hurries to send Ospreay to the Callis corner. Tag to Konosuke and then Kyle slides out. Kyle runs up on Hobbs, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up as Hobbs makes his way to the corner. Ospreay fights free of the corner but Konosuke holds him back! Ospreay fires forearms, reaches out, repeat! The fans rally as hard as they can, but Konosuke reels Ospreay in! Konosuke hits a back suplex, but Ospreay lands out!
Ospreay dodges Konosuke, hot tag to Hobbs! The Powerhouse powers up to rally on Konosuke! The fans fire up as Hobbs TOSSES Kyle, but the Murder Machines attack! They reel Hobbs in, but Hobbs fights the double suplex! The fans fire up but the Murder Machines double whip. Hobbs DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up as Hobbs has targets in all corners! SPLASH for Konosuke! SPLASH for Cage! SPLASH for Kyle! SPLASH for Archer! The fans are thunderous and Hobbs brings the straps down. Archer kicks low, then runs, but Hobbs dodges, to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up again, and Hobbs tags Davis!
Davis runs up to BOOT Konosuke, BOOT him again, but Konosuke just fires up! Ospreay CANNONBALLS onto Kyle while Konosuke fires hands! Konosuke spins, but Davis DECKS him! Davis roars, stands Konosuke up, but Konosuke backdrops back! POWER- NO, Davis stops the knee to ENZIGIRI! Davis gut wrenches Konosuke, for a PILEDRIVER!! Cover, KYLE BREAKS IT! The fans boo but now Aussie Open is face to face! Kyle pie faces Davis, talks trash, but Davis glares at him. Kyle SLAPS Davis, so Davis TACKLES Kyle! Davis throws hands, Kyle gets up, and Davis runs up! Kyle dodges and Konosuke DECKS Davis!
Ricochet springboards, FLYING LARIAT on Konosuke! But Cage POP-UP POWERBOMBS Ricochet! Hobbs SPINEBUSTERS Cage! Archer CHOKE SLAMS Hobbs! Ospreay hits the PIP PIP CHEERIO FOREARM on Archer! Ospreay dares Kyle to man up and fight him! Kyle snarls, gets in, and they fire forearms again! Kyle swings, Ospreay catches him, but Kyle breaks the full nelson with an elbow! Ospreay HOOK KICKS Kyle! Ospreay runs, Kyle dodges, but then Ospreay slips through the lariat! Kyle slips through the bomb, hoists Ospreay up, but Ospreay slips free! Kyle ducks the hook kick to SUPERKICK! Kyle runs, into the SPANISH FLY!!
The fans are thunderous as Ospreay takes aim from a corner! Kyle rises, so does Davis, and Ospreay runs up, Kyle uses Davis as a shield from the HIDDEN BLADE!! Ospreay freaks out, Kyle SUPERKICKS Ospreay out of the ring! Then Kyle DIVES onto Ospreay! Konosuke brings down his kneepad, aims at Davis, POWER DRIVE KNEE!!! Cover, Don Callis Family wins!!
Winners: The Don Callis Family, by pinfall
The Alpha stands tall over Davis as friendly fire takes out Ospreay’s team. But what happens when things divide into 1v1 matches? Will Konosuke still be International Champion after he and Ricochet go #OuttaThisWorld? Will Kyle prove that he IS The Protostar after tearing down Will Ospreay?
Jon Moxley & The Death Riders speak.
“Despite recent discoveries that Orange Cassidy is a snake, coldblooded, uncaring, unmoving, a serpent lurking in the darkest corners of the battlefield, my objective remains the same, my job on Saturday night remains the same. You may be this borderline sociopath, you may be a great guy just like everybody thinks. I don’t care if you’re a great guy. I don’t care what kind of person you are. When the bell rings on Saturday night, and the AEW World Championship hangs in the balance, you are a threat to my people. And I will destroy you.
“There’s so much more going on behind Orange Cassidy’s eyes than any of us could’ve imagined. You may make it to Full Gear with your mind in tact, but your body… For that matter, Darby Allin’s body… Still up for grabs.” Claudio jumps in, speaking in German about what he’ll do to Darby. Then in English, he says, “Tonight, I’m gonna end you.” Moxley pats Claudio on the shoulder. Will The Maniac’s top henchmen do his dirty work for him when they dismantle Cassidy & Darby? Or will it just be fuel on the fire for Freshly Squeezed & The Relentless One? Speaking of…
Darby Allin speaks.
“Claudio, I’m gonna keep this really short. Let’s not forget you’re the one who put the chair around Bryan’s neck and pulled the trigger on his career. Every single one of you Death Riders will have your day. And Claudio, today’s your day.” Will Moxley’s men be dealt with in brutal fashion before he suffers the same?
The Hurt Syndicate arrive.
Renee Paquette waits in the parking lot as an SUV pulls up, and she welcomes Montel Vontavious Porter, Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley to the show. She heard MVP has a surprise in store, what’s he got planned? MVP says yes, there is a special treat for the AEW audience, and that is this announcement: The All Mighty Bobby Lashley will be in action here tonight on Dynamite in Reading, Pennsylvania, prior to his PPV debut on Saturday! Renee asks if MVP is at all concerned to put Lashley in a match- OH NO, Swerve attacks!! Swerve knocks Lashley over, then laughs as he gets away!
Shelton helps Lashley up but that ambush might’ve been with Swerve’s own silver chain. Will Lashley elect not to compete tonight after all? Or is he about to make an example out of whatever poor soul is put in front of him?
Adam Cole is here!
Reading fires up as the Panama City Playboy makes his way to the ring. They join in with the “BOOM!” and “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” Cole grabs a mic to ask, “Who’s ready for Storytime with Adam Cole, Baybay?” Reading sure is ready! Cole wishes so so badly that he could get his hands on MJF this Saturday, but he’s not. MJF did everything in his power to make sure he and Cole didn’t fight on Saturday, and he succeeded. But do you know who else succeeded last week? Roderick Strong did! The fans cheer as Cole says he and Roddy have the exact same goal: Give MJF the ass whooping of a lifetime! And that is exactly what happens at Full Gear!
The fans cheer, and wait, Kyle O’Reilly makes his way out here. The longtime friend of Cole & Roddy makes his way out here, and already has a mic. Kyle isn’t sure if Cole remembers, but 14 years ago, right here in Reading, PA, Cole and Kyle had their second match ever against each other. They’ve come a long way. Being associated with Cole has given Kyle some incredible highs, and some serious lows. And through those lows, Kyle knows Cole better than anyone. Which makes Kyle the only one willing to tell Cole the truth. The truth is, this crusade against MJF has got to end before someone gets hurt.
This obsession, Cole needs to wash his hands of it. His ankle has already been reconstructed, what’s next? Cole has friends willing to take a bullet for him, Kyle included, but Cole has got to stop having his friends fight his battles. Roddy barely makes it out alive last week, and now he wants to fight MJF! He wants to END MJF, all because of Cole. Kyle just doesn’t have a good feeling about any of this. Cole asks Kyle what he’s trying to say here. Kyle doesn’t think Roddy can handle MJF? Kyle asks Cole if he really thinks MJF isn’t already three steps ahead. MJF hasn’t been here for weeks but he’s pulling all the strings.
Cole should know that dealing with MJF is like playing with fire, and Kyle doesn’t wanna see his friends get burned. Cole needs to realize why so many of his friends are willing to go to war for him, and it’s because he is a great leader, an elite pro-wrestler, and a great friend, who doesn’t wanna see his friends get hurt. At least, so Kyle thinks. But Cole has to face facts: MJF is more of an evil bastard than Cole will ever be, and that is a good thing. Kyle drops his mic and walks away. Cole drops his mic, and has a lot to think about. Does Kyle have a point? Can Cole just let Roddy handle MJF and then move on?
Orange Cassidy speaks.
“A little later tonight, I’m gonna make an example out of you, Wheeler Yuta. And I’m gonna show everybody exactly what I’m gonna do this Saturday to you, Jon Moxley. And that’s walk down to that ring and beat you, alone.” But The Conglomeration steps in. Mark Briscoe has Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii with him as he asks Cassidy, “What sense does that make, man?” Moxley said himself, there’s five Death Riders, one Cassidy. Conglomeration has his back, they are here for him. Cassidy says no, no one else needs to get hurt. Get hurt? What’s Cassidy talking about? The Conglomeration are ready to scrap!
PLEASE!! Cassidy is asking them… They don’t have to believe him or even understand him. But just promises him they’ll stay back here. If Cassidy insists, then so be it. Cassidy says there you have it, Jon. Five of you, one of him. Do what you’re gonna do. Because at Full Gear, Moxley’s gonna need all the help he can get. Cassidy is himself wanting the best for his friends, but will that work out for the betterment of AEW? Or is he just playing into Moxley’s hands?
Kris Statlander VS Hikaru Shida!
The #BornAgainKristen bodied the bullies that are Mercedes Mone & Kamille the last time she saw them, but she still needs to tune up for Full Gear. However, taking on the THREE-TIME AEW Women’s World Champion might be more than just a workout. Win, lose or draw, will the Shining Samurai get Kris ready for The CEO?
The bell rings, Kris and Shida shake hands and the fans applaud. The two circle, tie up, and Kris wrenches to a wristlock. Shida handsprings and wrenches back, then hammerlocks. Kris reaches back, hits a headlock takeover, but Shida headscissors. Kris kips free and the fans cheer while the two reset. Shida and Kris circle again while the fans fire up. The two tie up, Shida wrenches and hammerlocks, then CLUBS Kris on the back. Shida CLUBS Kris again, then waistlocks. Kris fights the lift with elbows, then switches. Kris SLAMS Shida, then flips her over. Shida kips up to arm-drag Kris! Kris ends up in a corner, and Shida runs up to KNEE her!
Shida climbs up and the fans cheer as she rains down fists! But Kris stops Shida at 5 and carries her out of the corner! Shida slips free, Kris blocks a lariat to SWEEP the leg! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Shida is tough and she goes to ropes, but Kris whips her to a corner. Kris runs up but into a RANA! Kris cartwheels through! Then she CLOBBERS Shida! The fans fire up while Kris flexes. Kris drags Shida into a motorcycle stretch but Shida endures. The fans rally up and Shida fights to her feet. Shida arm-drags Kris down, and wraps her in a straitjacket stretch! Kris fights up with a bridge, but Shida hops on!
The fans rally while Kris RAMS Shida into a corner! Shida holds onto the straitjacket and pulls! The ref counts, Shida lets go at 4, and then MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kris tumbles and the fans duel as Shida fires up! Shida goes outside, drags Kris to the apron, and CLUBS her! Shida runs to KNEE LIFT! Kris flops to the floor and fans cheer while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Shida brings Kris up again, and whips her into railing hard! Kris writhes, Shida drags her up, and then Shida whips Kris into more railing! Kris writhes again and Shida refreshes the ring count. Shida sits Kris in a corner to rain down fists! The fans fire up but the ref reprimands, so Shida stops. Shida brings Kris around, pushes her into the ring, and then stalks her. Shida stomps Kris around, brings her up, and snap suplexes! Kris writhes but Shida brings her up again. Shida then snap suplexes Kris into a corner! Shida drags Kris to a cover, TWO! Kris stays in this but Shida stays on her with a chinlock stretch!
Kris endures being bent back, and she reaches out with her free arm. Shida pulls back more but Kris rises up! Shida is again a backpack, but then she slips down. Kris fires body shots, slips around and lifts for a BIG back suplex! Kris huffs ‘n’ puffs as she rises up, but then Shida dodges the sliding forearm! Ghost pin! TWO, and Kris has a cradle! TWO! Shida ROCKS Kris, but Kris PELES! Shida staggers, but she comes back to ENZIGIRI! Both women are down and the fans fire up! The ref checks both women and they’re okay to continue, so a standing count begins. Shida and Kris stir at about 4 of 10, then rise up at 6.
Kris grabs Shida, but Shida fires a forearm! Dynamite returns to single picture as the shots go back and forth. Shida fires a flurry, then whips Kris to ropes. Kris ducks ‘n’ dodges, then dodges a knee! SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up with Kris as she whips Shida to a corner. Kris runs up to UPPERCUT, then she goes side to side for a KNEE LIFT! Shida ends up in ropes but Kris reels her in. Fisherman BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Shida survives and the fans fire up again! Kris hoists Shida up, gut wrenches, but Shida slips free! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Shida eggs Kris on, then dodges her to fire forearms! Kris just shakes her head!
Shida fires more shots, but Kris fireman’s carries! But Shida slips free, straitjacket roll-up! TWO!! KNEE STRIKE! And then short arm LARIAT! Shida takes aim, but she starts to doubt the Katana! Shida runs up but Kris dodges the boot to then scoop and INVERTED SLAM! Then Kris aims, DISCUS- NO, Shida backslides her! TWO!! Shida reels Kris in, suplexes, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO?!? Kris survives and Shida is shocked! Shida brings Kris up but Kris fires body shots and forearms! Shida ROCKS Kris, but Kris wrenches to kick! Kris runs, but into the JUMP KNEE! Shida hurries to suplex, but Kris turns it around!
Shida slips out of Kris’ suplex to slip around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Shida roars, aims, KATA- NO, Kris gut wrenches! Tuck and STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! Cover, Kris wins!!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Shida gave Kris a powerful match, but clearly Shida has to iron out her own crisis of confidence. Kris still shows Shida respect by helping her up. But wait, here comes Mercedes Mone & Kamille! The fans boo The CEO & Brickhouse but Mone has a mic. “Readiiiiing~! Say hello to your C E O!” The fans boo instead. Mone asks Kamille if she wants to hear a fun fact about Pennsylvania. The 76ers have had yet another terrible season! Embarrassing~! But shoutouts to Mone’s Celtics for another incredible victory. The fans boo Boston but Mone says another person with an incredible win was Kris Statlander. Mone is rarely impressed by her competition.
Does anyone else want to hear another fun fact? “NO!!” Well, Mone has held the TBS Championship longer than Kris! So at Full Gear, Mone will NOT lose, because she is The CEO, the greatest TBS Champion of all time! And she will NEVER lose this title! Fans tell The CEO to STFU, but Mone tells Kamille go get the job done! She is so pissed off! GO! NOW! Kamille walks up the steps past Mone, but with only one good arm! Mone says hurry up, but Kamille looks at both Shida and Kris. Kamille takes as swing, but Kris blocks to ROCK her! Shida QUESTION MARK KICKS Kamille! Then Kris & Shida TOSS The Brickhouse!
Shida goes out after Kamille, but then Mone goes after Kris! Mone goes for the backstabber, but Kris holds onto ropes! Mone is almost stuck up there, but Kris pops her around! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! The fans fire up as Kris stands tall over The CEO! Will Kris once again become the Face of TBS? Or will Mone find a way to win even without her insurance policy?
The Hurt Syndicate has a cameraman with them.
MVP says hold on, he and Shelton have found Swerve. They go after the man in the big fur jacket, but that’s not Swerve! Swerve gave his jacket to the guy, but MVP & Shelton still beat this guy up for helping Swerve. MVP says they’ll find Swerve later, Lashley has his match up next. And it’ll be a 2-on-1 Handicap?! The All Mighty really IS mad, what poor duo is about to be destroyed?
AEW hears from Jay White and Hangman Adam Page.
“Hangman. You and I are on that same path to that same destination, trying to grasp at that same prize. 2024 still has some time left for The Switchblade to share the spotlight with Hangman once more!” But the Blackhat Cowboy asks White if he knows “Who the hell I am?! I am the Hangman! I am THE man! They named this whole godforsaken PPV after ME!” White says when he makes Hangman TAP, it will be a public declaration! But Hangman says White can’t make him tap, even if his life depended on it! These two vicious gunslingers will write one more chapter in their storied rivalry, but who comes out riding off into the sunset?
2v1 Handicap: Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Joe Keys & Cheeseburger!
The All Mighty thought he’d have an easy night getting in a little warm-up, but The Realest quickly reminded him why he’s the most dangerous man in AEW! Lashley’s now doubling down to make a point, will there be nothing left of Keys & Cheese after tonight?
The bell rings and while the fans rally for Cheeseburger, he and Keys each argue the other should start. Lashley runs up and TOSSES Burger across the ring! Keys runs away, Lashley runs to RAM into Burger! Lashley brings Burger up, Keys runs in, but Lashley catches him for a COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Lashley drags Keys up and TOSSES him out! Lashley then turns to look at Burger in the corner. The fans rally for Burger, but Lashley CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but MVP & Shelton high-five Lashley. Lashley drags Burger up to gut wrench, Canadian Rack, and DOMINATOR! Keys runs in to break the cover!
The fans cheer Keys as he fires hands, but Lashley just gets angrier! Keys short arm LARIATS, but Lashley stays up! Keys runs, into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Lashley storms around, then aims at Keys. Keys staggers into the SPEAR! Lashley isn’t done there, and he clamps on the HURT LOCK! Keys can’t open that lock, he is OUT! Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission
MVP & Shelton join Lashley in the ring to celebrate, but then “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” The fans fire up, and here comes Prince Nana with a chair! Nana eggs the Hurt Syndicate on so Shelton storms out after Nana. MVP watches the rest of ringside for Swerve, but Swerve slides out from under the ring! The fans fire up as Swerve slips in to CHAIN PUNCH Lashley!! MVP gets on the apron but Swerve DECKS MVP with a chain punch! And then Shelton eats a chain punch! The fans are thunderous as Swerve aims, and hits a HOUSE CALL on Lashley! Swerve hurries to the top rope, and he gives Lashley a KILL STOMP!!
The fans are thunderous as Swerve stands over Lashley! MVP & Shelton get up and get in, but Swerve escapes, chain draped on his neck! Will AEW then, now and forever be whose house? “SWERVE’S HOUSE!”
Backstage interview with Mariah May & Mina Shirakawa.
Renee is now with the AEW Women’s World Champion and her best friend, the Rev-Pro Undisputed British Women’s Champion. They are planning their Championship Champagne Celebration for Full Gear, BUT Friday Night Rampage will feature the two of them teaming up for the first time in just over a year. Mariah says no champion deserves a celebration more than her. Her rise to the top was meteoric, and her reign will be historic. She takes ish and makes it shine, any time and any show, against anyone. In Mariah’s division, you hold this title, or you die.
Mina says yes, Mariah has been working so hard. She came back to tell her she is so very proud. And Mina will give Mariah a celebration she’ll never forget! Mariah says the “H Cup Angel” (Mina) and the “Woman from Hell” (Mariah herself) are going to make Rampage into Glampage. Everyone wants Mina, but Mina wants Mariah. And then… They’ll dance! These two shimmy and shake their way out, will they finally be toasting their victories at Full Gear?
Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli w/ The Death Riders!
The Relentless One told The Swiss Superman that revenge was coming, and here is Darby’s chance! Will Darby avenge Bryan Danielson? Or will he just be the next to fall?
The bell rings and Darby stares Claudio down. Darby takes some deep breaths then circles with Claudio. Darby slips around to waistlock but Claudio flings him off, only for Darby to roll to his feet. They circle again, and the fans rally behind Darby. Darby and Claudio feel things out, tie up, and Darby headlocks. Claudio lifts Darby but Darby thrashes the hold. Claudio throws Darby off, runs up, but Darby uses that to get around and springboard arm-drag! The fans fire up while Claudio bails out, and Darby taunts Claudio with some drop steps. Claudio snarls, but then Darby fakes him out with a slingshot!
Claudio is annoyed and takes a swing but Darby slingshots up and over! Darby taunts Claudio again while the fans rally up. Claudio cools off before he storms up the steel steps. Claudio pops Darby up but Darby keeps from hitting buckles! Darby ELBOWS Claudio away, goes up, then leaps, but Claudio catches him! Claudio SLAMS Darby down, flips him back to his feet, but Darby slips around to waistlock. O’Conner Roll, TWO! Darby springboards to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Claudio bails out but the fans fire up. Darby goes up a corner, and he SUPER COFFIN SPLASHES into a waistlock! Claudio swings and THROWS Darby away!
Darby staggers to his feet but Claudio runs up, to POUNCE Darby into railing! Darby writhes against the railing, but Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT Darby up and over! Fans freak out as Darby hits the floor! Claudio leaves Darby behind while the ring count climbs, but Darby drags himself up at 7. Claudio goes back out after Darby to suplex! Claudio holds Darby up while he marches up the steps! The fans fire up for this feat of strength and balance, and then Claudio TOSSES Darby back into the ring! Darby writhes again while Claudio steps back in. Claudio stalks Darby, talks some trash, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Claudio looms over Darby, then deadlift gut wrenches for a GUTBUSTER! And then another GUTBUSTER! And then another GUTBUSTER! Darby writhes while Claudio stands over him again. Claudio watches Darby crawl towards a corner and stalks him. Claudio drags Darby up, brings him around, and ROCKS Darby with a forearm! Darby pushes Claudio, then CHOPS! Claudio DECKS Darby! Darby tumbles out of the ring! The ref wants Claudio to stay back while Darby drags himself up. Darby is back in before the count starts, but then Claudio DOUBLE STOMPS him! Claudio kicks Darby around, then clamps on with a neck wrench!
Darby endures, fights up, but Claudio powers him down. Darby BITES Claudio’s hand! The ref reprimands but Darby fires off forearms on Claudio. Claudio HIP TOSSES Darby up and out of the ring! Darby hits the floor and flounders around while the ref reprimands Claudio. Claudio again waits on Darby, and then he DOUBLE STOMPS Darby the moment he’s in! The ref counts as Claudio stands on Darby at the ropes. Claudio steps off at 4, brings him around, and clamps on an armlock and chinbar. Darby endures, fights around, and manages to fireman’s carry Claudio! But Claudio rains down elbows! HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL even!
Claudio clamps on with a double wristlock and he grinds Darby down. Darby still endures and the fans rally up again. Darby fights around and Dynamite returns to single picture. Darby fires body shots but Claudio knees low! Claudio then HIP TOSSES Darby into a corner! Darby tumbles out of the ring but Claudio pursues! Claudio SWINGS Darby into railing! Then Claudio fireman’s carries, to TOSS Darby back in the ring! Claudio storms in while Darby flounders away. Darby flops back out of the ring but Claudio pursues him again. Darby trips Claudio up and traps him in the apron skirt! Darby then fires forearms, and BITES Claudio’s ear!
The fans fire up but Claudio shoves Darby away. Darby slides into the ring then DIVES onto Claudio! And then runs to DIVE again! Down goes Claudio and the fans fire up! Darby crawls over to bring Claudio up and into the ring. The fans fire up as Darby climbs up a corner, though slowly given all the damage to his back. That lets Claudio trip Darby up! Darby is stuck up top, and Claudio climbs up after him. Claudio gut wrenches for a SUPER GUT WRENCH PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio can’t believe it! The fans fire up but Claudio calls for the swing! Claudio grabs the legs, but Darby twists to a victory roll! TWO!!
Claudio escapes and runs up, but Darby ducks ‘n’ dodges, roll and- WHOA, Claudio has to fight to stay up, and then he deadlifts Darby! Darby pops through to CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Darby and Claudio crawl for ropes. Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT again and again and again! The ref backs Claudio off, but then Claudio fires off body shots! Darby flops over but Claudio has the legs. Claudio FLIPS Darby up and over the ropes, but Darby lands on the apron! Claudio BOOTS Darby down! The ref wants Claudio to hold on but Claudio goes out after Darby.
Claudio drags Darby by his legs, then SWINGS him around! Into steel steps!! The fans lose their minds, the ref reprimands Claudio, but Claudio doesn’t care. The fans tell Claudio he is sick, but Claudio TOSSES Darby over the announce desk!! Schiavone, Excalibur & Matt Menard narrowly avoid becoming collateral damage! But Claudio clears the desk and brings Darby up. Claudio puts Darby on the desk, then stands over him. The ref reprimands but Claudio just ignores him. Claudio drags Darby up, and gorilla presses him! SUPER DUPER TOSS onto the timekeeper’s table!! The fans lose their minds as Darby is down but that table’s somehow still standing!
The ref checks on Darby but Claudio storms right over! The ref tells Claudio to stop so they go to the ring. Claudio lets the ring count start, and yet Darby somehow stirs at 4 of 10! The fans rally as hard as they can and Darby crawls his way over! Darby is still far away at 7! But then he powers up and LEAPS in at 9!! But Claudio LARIATS Darby inside-out!! Cover, Claudio wins!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall
Darby truly is relentless, with durability like no other, but it just wasn’t enough against the strength and brutality of Claudio! Will no one stop The Death Riders from running roughshod over AEW?
Backstage interview with Private Party.
Renee is with Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy and brings up that at Full Gear, the AEW World Tag Team Championships are on the line in a Fatal 4 Way. Private Party takes on The Acclaimed, The Outrunners and The Kings of the Black Throne. In such a match, the champs do NOT have to be pinned or submitted to lose their titles, so what is their strategy? Brother Zay says they obviously can’t tell her that, the other teams are watching. But it seems like the odds are against them. Fortunately, the odds have been against them their whole lives, their whole careers, just like against The Young Bucks.
But look what happened: Private Party defied the odds, beat The Bucks, and are your AEW World Tag Team Champions. That is the same thing that happens on Saturday. They leave Newark, New Jersey still your tag team champions. Because there ain’t no party like a Private Party, that’s a flex. Oh, speaking of! It’s AJ & Big Justice! They’re fired up to be here, but Justice wants to know what that face Zay made was last week. Oh, right, this one, with the chin scratching. And AJ says they’ve got a BIG announcement coming up after this! Maybe some double chunk chocolate cookies? BOOM!!
A green Porsche Taycan pulls up to the middle of nowhere.
And out steps MJF. The Wolf of Wrestling tells the hobo to “go get it” as he throws spare change off to the side like birdseed. MVP then sits back and tells Roderick Strong, “You’ve been through so much. The kid who grew up trailer park trash with two abusive alcoholic parents. For crying out loud! Your own mother shot your father right in front of you. That’s traumatizing. And as you know, Roddy, trauma is the result of an overwhelming sense of danger, powerlessness and fear. However, healing is a result of feeling safe, empowered and supported. That’s why you’d do anything for Cole. He makes you feel all those positive things that you lacked.
“It’s why I was no different than you. It’s why I trusted him. Unfortunately, the difference between you and I: Cole for me was a mirage of what I wanted him to be. A fraud, a liar. And whilst Cole is a fraud, I do actually believe deep down, in his narcissistic, sociopathic, frail, feeble frame, is a man who cares about Roderick Strong. This is precisely why upon further contemplation, I am happy you won, Roddy. Because I want Adam Cole to watch a person he cares about suffer! And because of your White trash upbringing, you aren’t intelligent enough to realize that you don’t have a prayer. And I’m sending you back to where you belong. To your grimy little trailer park.
“And after the match, you’ll be in so much physical anguish, you’ll wish your mother hadn’t shot your father, but instead shot you.” As if this scumbag couldn’t stoop any lower, he brings up Roddy’s past to hurt him. But will Roddy make sure MJF’s future is the one full of pain and suffering?
Backstage interview with AJ & Big Justice.
Renee is with the Costco Tiktok sensations and says that in the Full Gear Zero Hour, we will see #BigBoomAJ take on QT Marshall in a match 20 YEARS in the making. AJ says it may have been 20 years in the making for QT, this all started for AJ when QT threw the double chunk chocolate cookies down! Renee says AJ has not been in the ring in those 20 years, is he concerned about how his body will hold up? AJ isn’t worried about that, because he just has one strategy, and that’s the strategy they use each and every day. That strategy is to bring the BOOM~! But hey, there’s another special announcement.
Because when AJ rings QT’s bell, and he Power-Booms QT right in the middle of that ring, there is only one guy they want ringing the bell: Big Justice’s best friend, THE RIZZLER! Time to bring the BOOM~! Will QT be sleeping on the mat for The Rizzler? Will he be skibidi? Fanum Tax? Why are those even words?
Tony Schiavone is on stage.
And he welcomes out The Undisputed Kingdom! The fans cheer as Roderick Strong makes his way out, accompanied by Matt Taven & Mike Bennett. Schiavone brings up Roddy VS MJF at Full Gear, and we just heard all that disgusting stuff MJF had to say. Roddy’s response is that to be honest, he has not slept a wink since last week. IT is finally happening! Roddy feels like a kid on Christmas morning. He finally gets his hands on “MAAAAAX~!” The fans echo that, and Roddy says if MJF was here tonight, and not hiding out there, Roddy would ask him: Is Roddy supposed to be ashamed of his childhood?
Is Roddy supposed to be ashamed of his parents? You don’t think Roddy’s heard that stuff before? His whole LIFE, that is what people brought up! His mom’s an addict, his dad’s an addict, mom shot dad. Good job, Max, you made Roddy feel like he was in elementary school again. And people may look at Roddy’s past and feel sorry for him, but Roddy asks us not to. Because looking at MJF, Roddy feels sorry for him. Understand this, Max. With Roddy’s life, he learned that to get the most out of life, you have to earn it. If you wanna break the cycle, you have to earn it. And that is what Roddy’s done ever since he was a kid!
And now looking at MJF, he’s been spoon-fed everything. And when something doesn’t go his way or something happens and he doesn’t like it, MJF throws a temper tantrum like a baby until that changes. So Roddy wants MJF to do something for him: Look in the mirror and think about all the things that MJF has done to people. The manipulating, the backstabbing, the using. MJF needs to realize, when the bell rings at Full Gear, MJF will pay for all those sins. With every chop, with every punch, with every elbow, with every backbreaker! And when it is all over, Roddy walks to his hotel room for the best night of sleep in his life because he earned it.
Especially because Roddy will know he has broken MJF’s back, and left him humbled! Roddy is all fired up, and the fans are with him! Will MJF finally get what’s coming to him? Or will he give Roddy nightmares for the rest of his life?
AEW shares footage taken from last Saturday night.
First, a recap video of Daniel Garcia thwarting Jack Perry’s attempts to abduct and torture Matthew Menard, as well as the joyride they took in the Scapegoat bus, with Perry as the hood ornament. And now, they have Perry strapped into a chair, the bus headlights as the only source of light. Menard is behind the camera as he asks Perry how he’s feeling. How’d that work out for him, huh? Garcia splashes Perry with water to wake him up, and says “Let’s have a conversation. I’m all ears.” Perry chuckles and says Garcia thinks he’s so much better than him. Look at where they are! Garcia shouts back that he doesn’t wanna be here!
Garcia just wants to wrestle, but AEW is full of savages! Perry tried to take Daddy Magic’s life! And those in power just sit back and watch, pretending that nothing’s going on. So what do they do? Gotta take the power back, right? Perry counters with, “Everybody’s got a code. Everybody cares about right and wrong until it costs them something. Until they have to SACRIFICE!” Garcia gets in Perry’s face, grabs him by the mouth, and says Perry’s always going on about sacrifice but Perry has no idea what Garcia’s had to go through! Perry has NO idea what Garcia’s had to sacrifice to be here!
Garcia knows where Perry wants him to go, but Garcia promises that he’s never gonna go there. Perry smirks, then SPITS in Garcia’s face. Garcia wipes that off his face and says bet. Garcia’s got something for Perry, so just wait right there. Garcia goes to the bus while Perry mockingly asks what he’s gonna do. Menard tells shut up, Jack! Life must be so hard for him! What’s Jack got to be sad about?! Garcia comes back and he has a crowbar! Perry dares him to go ahead. Garcia raises the bar, but he SMASHES up the bus! Garcia throws the crowbar away and Perry laughs. Is that it? Garcia tells Menard they’ll get out of here. What? Where’s Garcia going?
Perry says yeah, walk away. Menard tells Perry that Garcia’s gonna whoop his ass! Just wait! Menard leaves, Perry shouts into the night, but will The Face of TNT soon be the one sacrificed for the greater good?
Renee Paquette presides over the ROH World Championship contract signing.
She welcomes us backstage to the signing for this match, which will happen next week, Dynamite: Thanksgiving Eve, in Chicago. The challenger, Tomohiro Ishii, is on her left, and the champion, Chris Jericho, is on her right. Jericho, as champion, you have the honors to sign first. Jericho smiles and waves as he says, “Hi, guys.” But Renee, you should know better. A champion of Jericho’s caliber does not just sign a contract thrust at his face randomly. He has a whole legal team that needs to approve this contract. Renee says it was sent to said legal team last week. Oh, really? What about today? The now! Jericho lives in the now!
Jericho says he’ll get this checked by his legal eagles one more time. But for now, wait here. Choto matte kudesai. Jericho steps around the corner and then down the hall. He smiles at his own picture on the wall. What a good looking guy. But wait, Ishii has followed Jericho to the hall. Jericho is a bit worried as he keeps moving. Jericho tries to block Ishii’s path but a trash can isn’t enough. Jericho tells staffers that Ishii wants to talk to them. They step in the way but Ishii pushes them aside. Jericho moves faster, pushes more people in the way, but Ishii pushes them aside. Was that RJ City?
Jericho goes up some stairs but Ishii follows. Ishii’s even gaining ground! Jericho goes through a doorway and ends up in the concourse! Fans cheer as Jericho and Ishii keep up their cat ‘n’ mouse game. Jericho decides to go into the stands! Ishii follows, and they head down the bleachers towards ringside! Jericho hurries over railing but so does Ishii. They go into the ring, and now Jericho tells Ishii to stop following him! Jericho wants a mic, a mic is brought, and Jericho says hey, listen, Ishii. Jericho would sign this contract, but he doesn’t have a pen. Ishii has a pen! Oh. Ishii clicks it for Jericho, and pushes it into him.
Jericho takes the pen, looks at the contract again, and still hesitates. Jericho signs his part, and then hands things over to Ishii. But then BRYAN KEITH & BIG BILL ATTACK! It was all a massive set-up! Bad Apple & Redwood beat down Stone Pitbull, and then sit him up! Jericho has the pen ready, but here comes The Conglomeration! Mark Briscoe & Rocky Romero rush in, and Mark TACKLES Jericho! Rocky fires off on Bill while Mark CHOKES Jericho! Keith saves Jericho from Mark but Mark fires hands on Keith! The fans fire up, but then Bill SKYSCRAPER- NO, Mark UPPERCUTS Bill first! Rocky adds on!
The fans fire up as The Conglomeration pinballs Bill, and then Ishii CLOBBERS him! Bill tumbles out, but Rocky DIVES! Bill is sent into railing! Keith stands up, into a kick and underhooks! JAY DRILLER! Jericho stands up, Ishii has him, and hits a BRAINBUSTER!! Conglomeration stands tall over The Learning Tree and his Branches, and now Ishii signs his part! The match is now official, and Ishii is looking to take a bite out of Jericho! Will The Conglomeration have the ROH World Championship to be thankful for this year?
Backstage interview with Jamie Hayter.
Renee is with the former AEW Women’s World Champion and notes that last time, we were going to hear from her, only for her to be interrupted by Julia Hart. What is Hayter’s reaction to that? Well, yeah, she isn’t angry, but she is baffled why Julia chose to interrupt Hayter. They’ve never really spoken or interacted, or even wrestled each other. Hayter is just curious as to why Julia felt it was okay to do that. Granted, Julia can do whatever she wants, Hayter moves to the beat of her own drum just as much as Julia. But… if Julia wants to have a chat-
Uh oh, something is happening to the video! Brody King’s message echoes, “It’s time to come home.” Julia Hart walks through the woods. Brody says The House is her foundation. She has seen her rebirth. Now it is time to rebuild. She has woken up stronger, more determined, and more dangerous than ever. Julia aims her arrow to shoot down a target: her past self. Her obstacles are just bull’s eyes. She is the Princess of the Black Throne, and the Keeper of Secrets. She is Julia Hart, and her heart grows harder. She hits her mark, but will she find Hayter Hits Hard?
Orange Cassidy VS Wheeler Yuta!
Freshly Squeezed has been accused of being coldblooded and uncaring, but he got pretty heated as he told The Conglomeration to keep themselves safe tonight. He goes 1v1 with The Decoder, a young man who was once Cassidy’s student, and who left him behind to join the then Blackpool Combat Club. If anyone is uncaring, it is Yuta with how he would then follow Jon Moxley’s lead in the destruction of Bryan Danielson and Chuck Taylor. Who will be the more ferocious fighter tonight, this close to Full Gear?
The bell rings and Yuta SHOTGUNS Cassidy! Yuta follows Cassidy to a corner to CHOP, then ROCK, then CHOP again! Yuta whips corner to corner but Cassidy goes up and out. Cassidy bumps Yuta off buckles, climbs up top, but has to leap over. Yuta comes back but Cassidy catches him to a backslide! TWO, but Cassidy reels Yuta in for a cradle! TWO! Yuta pulls on an ear! But Cassidy arm-drags and wrangles Yuta into the SEATBELT! TWO!! Yuta escapes and the fans fire up as these two stand off. Yuta huffs ‘n’ puffs, but Cassidy shows he wants a grapple. They feel things out, knuckle lock, but Cassidy blocks a kick!
Cassidy reels Yuta in for a headlock, but Yuta powers up and out. Cassidy ducks ‘n’ rolls, tilt-o-whirls, but Yuta suplexes! Into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Yuta tumbles out and fans fire up! Cassidy builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Yuta and the fans fire up again! Cassidy brings Yuta up, whips, but Yuta reverses to reel Cassidy in! Cassidy fights the suplex, but then Yuta fights a suplex. Yuta suplexes, to RAILING BRAINBUSTER!! Cassidy writhes and fans are stunned! Yuta stomps Cassidy, then leaves him behind for the ring count. Cassidy crawls into the ring, Yuta exposes a crossbar, and then he GRINDS Cassidy’s face into the steel!
The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Yuta steps off at 4. Cassidy seethes as he rises up, but Yuta has him at the corner. Cassidy kicks Yuta’s legs out and Yuta falls onto a turnbuckle! Yuta falls back, Cassidy climbs, but Yuta grabs Cassidy first! Yuta drags Cassidy down but Cassidy fires hands. Yuta squeezes the facelock tight, then hits an APRON DDT! The fans boo Yuta while Cassidy writhes, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cassidy clutches his neck while Yuta waits in the ring. A ring count starts and Yuta eggs Cassidy on. Cassidy reaches up as the count reaches 5 of 10, but he doesn’t sit up until 6. Cassidy hobbles up, stumbles and falls, but springs back to life! He slides in at 9! Only for Yuta to be right on him! Yuta reels Cassidy in, but Cassidy turns that into BEACH BREAK! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives but Cassidy is too sore to be frustrated. They both sit up, and Yuta crawls his way over to a corner. Cassidy rises, checks his neck, then runs up, but into an ELBOW! Yuta goes up, but Cassidy JUMP FOREARMS! Cassidy positions Yuta just right before he climbs the corner.
Yuta resists but Cassidy still brings Yuta up. Yuta continues to fight the suplex, throws body shots, then shoves Cassidy down. Cassidy rolls back to his feet, runs back up the corner, but Yuta again fights the suplex! Cassidy fires hands, but Yuta fires back! They brawl up top, Cassidy HEADBUTTS Yuta! But Yuta HEADBUTTS back! They both wobble, but then Cassidy BITES Yuta! The ref reprimands, but Cassidy CLAWS Yuta’s back! This is very Moxley of him to do! And then Cassidy hits the SUPERPLEX! Both men are down and the ref checks. They’re both okay to continue, so a standing count begins!
Cassidy sits up, spots Yuta, and heads that way. Yuta sits up, they fire forearms as they stand! Dynamite returns to single picture as these shots go back and forth. The fans fire up for Cassidy but boo Yuta as the shots go faster and faster! Yuta BITES Cassidy’s forehead! Yuta spits then runs, but Cassidy dodges! BODY BLOW! SUPERKICK! Yuta sits down, Cassidy runs, PENALTY KICK! Cassidy slashes his throat, hauls Yuta up, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives but Cassidy seethes. Cassidy rains down fists on Yuta! The ref reprimands about closed fists and hair pulling, but Cassidy doesn’t stop until the ref counts 4.
Cassidy stands, and he throws off the elbow pad! Cassidy aims at Yuta, runs up, but Yuta ducks the punch! GERMAN SUPLEX! Yuta runs to CHOP in the corner! And then a wrench and PAIN THRILLER! The fans boo while Yuta seethes and stands over Cassidy. Yuta sits Cassidy up, for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! But Cassidy blocks one! And bends fingers, to then SNAP them! The fans fire up as Cassidy SNAPS finger after finger! Yuta swings, Cassidy BOOTS him, then serves up SOLE FOOD! Scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Cassidy is busting out all his best friends’ best moves, but he hasn’t gotten it done!
Cassidy aims, loads up, and ORANGE- NO, Yuta ducks! Orange fights the suplex, switches to O’Conner Roll! TWO, Yuta dodges Cassidy, scoops him, and CROSS LEG TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO?!? Cassidy survives and Yuta is furious! The fans are thunderous, but Yuta rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Cassidy grits his teeth but he’s almost a ragdoll! Yuta lets off to then hook the arms, CATTLE MUTILATION!! Cassidy endures as Yuta thrashes him around! Cassidy powers up as the fans rally, and he kicks around to the ROPEBREAK!! Yuta holds on, the ref counts, and Yuta finally lets go at 4!
The ref reprimands Yuta, but Yuta pushes past the ref to go outside the ring. Yuta grabs a chair! Yuta storms into the ring while the fans boo, and the ref says don’t do it! Cassidy dodges the chair shot! Victory roll, CASSIDY WINS!!
Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall
Yuta is in disbelief! Cassidy beat him with a technical move! Yuta snarls but the ref keeps him back. Cassidy did what he promised in beating Yuta, but then he stares his former student down. Is Cassidy going to offer a handshake? WAIT, PAC ATTACKS! The Bastard BOOTS Cassidy down so we’ll never know what Cassidy was going to do! The fans boo more but Pac & Yuta stand on Cassidy. The rest of the Death Riders appear, and Marina Shafir has duct tape! The AEW World Trios Champions stomp away on Cassidy, like vultures picking the bones. Moxley steps into the ring while Marina hands the tape over to Pac.
Claudio puts Cassidy’s hands in his pockets, and then Pac tapes them in! Cassidy is physically bound, and Moxley paces around. Cassidy is pushed around by all the Death Riders, then Moxley DECKS him! Claudio hauls Cassidy back up, the Death Riders keep bullying him, and then Moxley SLAPS Cassidy down! But the bullying continues as they stand Cassidy up. Cassidy “kicks” Moxley! Defiant to the end! But Moxley DECKS him again! Moxley paces around more, then stomps Cassidy right on the face! Moxley leads The Death Riders away, and The Conglomeration finally comes out here.
Mark has scissors to cut Cassidy loose, and the fans boo as The Death Riders still retreat. Cassidy tries to stand up, but he has to use ropes to do it. Even so, Cassidy stands on his own two feet. Moxley eggs on the fans while Cassidy puts his sunglasses on. And then hands up, and then into the pockets! Try as they might, The Death Riders could not break the Freshly Squeezed fighting spirit! Will Cassidy finally become AEW World Champion? Or will Moxley find a way to break Cassidy at Full Gear?
My Thoughts:
A great go-home Dynamite here, though it felt like it contracted Go Home Syndrome. A lot of recap and other promos, but good promos all the same. Good follow-up from last week with Hayter and Hart, that will probably really get going after Full Gear. Good promo from Mariah & Mina to hype up their celebration segment for Full Gear, and with Toni Storm’s announcement of her retirement, you can bet Toni is anything but retired! Toni Storm most assuredly will return very soon, maybe even to ruin the celebration and spark another feud. I still want us to get to Mariah VS Mina but maybe Storm moves things back so that Mariah VS Mina happens in 2025.
Good promo from Private Party to also have AJ & Big Justice show up. The promos didn’t really add much to any of the matches, though. I’m very sure AJ does hit the BOOM on QT to win, and then Private Party finds a way to survive the Fatal 4. Great stuff with Perry, Garcia and Menard, that was another very action movie kind of promo, maybe even like that grittier Batman movie. But with Garcia not sinking to the same lows as Perry, that will be why Garcia loses. Honestly, why not just have Perry blatantly get himself disqualified? What great heat for Perry while keeping Garcia strong in not becoming TNT Champion.
Great promos in this MJF story. I appreciate Cole throwing his support behind Roddy was good, as well as Kyle O’Reilly wanting Cole to just leave it at this. MJF of course insults Roddy over his past while also trashing Cole at the same time, but great response from Roddy. Also I’m not a car guy so it took me a little too long to Google out what car MJF was driving. Anyway, given all these promos, I am very confident MJF wins at Full Gear and then Cole still wants after MJF, only for Kyle to have to fight Cole to make him stop. Then we’ll maybe get Cole VS MJF at Worlds End, or even some time in 2025.
Very good stuff with The Hurt Syndicate, even with them getting jumped by Swerve. Poor Cheeseburger, that’s one fan favorite that got fed to Bobby Lashley. But Swerve getting the better of the Hurt Syndicate again and again tonight, all the more reason Lashley wins at Full Gear. Very good promo vignette from White and Hangman to hype up their grudge match, which still feels it could go either way since they’re tied on the year. And Jericho and Ishii had perhaps simultaneously the most clever and most ridiculous contract signing segment ever. And of course Jericho worked out some sort of trap, only for it to go badly for him and his team. But with that, that means Ishii is losing next week, as I figured he would.
Awesome opening match with the 8 Man, and I liked that they had Hobbs do the “fighting through the pain” angle in the match. Also, great bit with Kyle Fletcher sending Davis into harm’s way so that the Callis Family can get the better of Ospreay’s team. I thought the Faces were going to win here, but the math now says Ospreay finds a way to beat Kyle, and maybe Ricochet takes the International Championship from Konosuke Takeshita. The Continental Classic is coming, and they could easily use that round robin to get Konosuke back to a feud with Kazuchika Okada and they battle for the Continental Championship at Worlds End like we should’ve gotten at WrestleDream.
Awesome match from Kris VS Shida, and I appreciate the crisis of confidence for Shida. Kris gets a great win to go into Full Gear, and then Kris and Shida get the better of Mone & Kamille, so all the more reason Mone finds a way to survive. As for Kamille, I feel like she should ditch Mone for being treated like crap by Mone, and maybe we can get a feud of Mone VS Kamille going into 2025. And of course, plenty of promos from Death Riders and “Team AEW” members. Moxley just kinda went on and on about stuff he’s already said in reference to Cassidy, but I did like Claudio going bilingual in talking trash on Darby.
Awesome matches from those stories, of course. Darby really got thrown around but he continues to show that toughness. Claudio getting the win mostly keeps Darby back so that Darby can build towards a world title match at Worlds End. Cassidy VS Yuta was great stuff, too, with great back and forth of Cassidy wanting to end it quick, having to grit it out with Yuta, and then Cassidy still finding a way to end it with a quick pin. And they did a good job muddying the math. Cassidy wins the match, but the Death Riders beat him down, only for Cassidy to literally stand tall at the end of the show. I still don’t see him taking the world title from Moxley, though, with Darby still in the wings, but this could end up Cassidy’s best match yet.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Will this be the mightiest Tag League yet?
It’s time for NJPW World Tag League 2024, and this year already looks mighty good as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Zack Sabre Jr, is in the A Block! Will he and Ryohei Oiwa make everyone #JustTapOut?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Shoma Kato VS Masatora Yasuda; Kato wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Katsuya Murashima VS Taiji Ishimori & The Filip Brothers; Taiji & The Filip Brothers win.
- Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Tiger Mask VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, Douki & Taka Michinoku VS The United Empire; Taichi, Douki & Taka win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Cobb & Callum win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi; Takagi & Tsuji win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens; Bishamon wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA; ZSJ & Oiwa win.
PLAY BY PLAY
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!
The Roughneck is bringing Everyone’s Kokeshi along for the ride, but this league might already be too much to handle. Can Honma help Shota bring about his Paradigm Shift? Or will they just get conquered by the United Empire?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against The Imperial Unit. The bell rings and Shota runs up to RAM Cobb! And RAM! And RAM! Cobb stays up so Shota kicks low. Shota runs to RAM Cobb, but Cobb rebounds to CLOBBER Shota! The fans cheer while Cobb stalks Shota. Cobb brings Shota up to whip him to a corner. Shota comes back to RAM Cobb! Cobb stays up, so Shota clinches! Cobb fights free with elbows, but Shota dodges a lariat to RAM Cobb! Cobb falls over! The fans fire up with Shota, and he brings Cobb up again. Callum runs in so Shota shoves Cobb aside to catch Callum. Shota shoves Callum at Honma for a shoulder tackle!
The fans fire up as Shota keeps moving and he SOMERSAULT SENTONS Callum! Shota then sets up so he and Honma can tabletop Cobb! Cobb sits up into Shota’s SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Shota tags Honma. The fans rally behind Honma as he CLUBS Cobb. Honma reels Cobb in, but Cobb suplexes first! Cobb SLAMS Honma down, then calls for Callum. Callum rises but Cobb says hold on. The “Cobby Cat” mocks Honma by bopping himself on the head. Cobb then runs to FALLING KOKESHI FLOP! Honma winds up and runs, but Callum is in the way! Cobb runs up, Honma dodges the lariat but Callum tags in.
Cobb dodges Honma, then shoves him at Callum. They pinball Honma around, and Callum BOOTS Honma while Cobb BLASTS Shota! Then Callum & Cobb coordinate to HIGH LOW with a shoulder tackle and leg sweep! The fans cheer and Cobb says You Can’t See Him! Callum stomps Honma, then KICKS him in the back. Honma gets mad but Callum scuffs him again and again. Honma rises, CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Callum CHOPS and pretends that hurt his hand. Callum CLUBS Honma down but the fans rally up. Honma rises to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Callum kicks low, reels him in, but Honma fights the suplex!
Honma catches Callum’s lariat to spin and DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Callum and Honma crawl, but Honma hot tags Shota! Shota rallies on Callum with big elbows! Shota whips, Callum reverses, but SHota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Callum! Cobb runs up, but Shota arm-drags him, then dropkicks the legs out! Cobb bails, Shota fires up, and the fans rally again. Shota whips Callum corner to corner, runs up on him, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Callum in for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t let that slow him down!
Shota waits on Callum, then runs, but Callum avoids Ignition to hook Shota! Shota fights the backslide so Callum whips him to a corner. Callum runs up but Shota dodges! Shota runs up but Callum goes up and over! Callum keeps moving, but Shota ROCKS him, UPPERCUTS him, and runs! Callum follows to ROCK Shota at the ropes! Callum runs, but then stops to fake out Shota’s dropkick! Shota sits up, but he ducks the Penalty Kick! Shota rolls Callum but Callum rolls through. Shota ROCKS Callum, then spins, but Callum dodges the rolling elbow! DREAMCAST KICK! Shota drops to his knees and the fans fire up!
Callum and Shota crawl, hot tag to Cobb! Cobb runs up to waistlock Shota for a deadlift! Shota fights with elbows, goes to run, but Cobb reels him in for a forearm to the back! Cobb runs, but Shota DROPKICKS him! The fans fire up again and Shota heads for his corner. Hot tag to Honma! The fans rally as Honma CHOPS Cobb, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Honma puts Cobb in a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs up. Honma ELBOWS Cobb and hits a BULLDOG! The fans fire up as Honma shows Cobb how it’s done! FALLING KOKESHI- NO! Now Honma FLOPS as Cobb moves! Callum runs up to SHOTGUN Shota off the apron!
The fans fire up as Cobb RAMS Honma into the corner! Callum runs up to forearm SMASH! Callum drops down and Cobb LEAPS over to ELBOW Honma! Callum comes back and Cobb pops him up to the apron! ENZIGIRI, then fireman’s carry! Callum climbs, DOUBLE STOMP ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! PENALTY KICK and GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, Shota breaks it! The fans fire up and Shota TOSSES Callum! Cobb kicks Shota, whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Shota shouts to Honma and the fans fire up again. Honma rises and he storms up on Cobb. Honma & Shota double whip corner to corner!
Honma runs up to LARIAT! Honma feeds Cobb to Shota’s UPPERCUT! Honma LARIATS, Shota clinches, EXPLODER!! The fans cheer and Honma runs, SLIDING KOKESHI! Shota keeps moving, IGNITION! Honma covers, Callum breaks it! Shota stomps Callum out of the ring and leaves the rest to Honma. Honma drags Cobb up, but Cobb fights the suplex! Cobb ROCKS Honma, whips him, but Honma grabs ropes! Honma BOOTS Cobb, and Shota joins in! DOUBLE RUNNING KOKESHI! And then they DOUBLE FALLING KOKESHI! Cover, TWO!! Cobb survives but Shota goes after Callum! CANNONBALL to the floor!
The fans fire up again as Honma climbs! FLYING- NO, Cobb catches Honma! SPINEBUSTER, and FALLING HAMMER! Cover, TWO!! Honma survives and the fans fire up again! But then Cobb reels Honma in, for a TOUR OF THE ISLAND!! Cover, United Empire wins!
Winners: Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shota & Honma earn 0)
A powerful showing from “The Kokeshi Brothers,” but they could not bring down Callum & Cobb. With the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships already on Great-O-Khan & Henare, will The United Empire completely dominate the NJPW Heavyweight Tag Division?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Alex Zayne & ???
Los Ingobernables de Japon’s heavy formation is in this block, ready to rampage like twin dragons. If only The Sauce could’ve brought his own monster back. Who will be the substitute for Lance Archer? And can he help heat things up?
Zayne makes his entrance before anyone else, and asks to speak on the mic. A mic is given, and Zayne says, “Kon’nichiwa.” The fans applaud, and Zayne explains that when he was contacted this year for WTL, he was also informed that Lance Archer could not make it. Zayne knew he had to do one thing: find the most “delicious” tag partner he could find. And that man is… RYUSUKE TAGUCHI!? The fans can’t believe the Funky Weapon is joining Zayne in this tournament! And he wears a green version of Zayne’s gear! Are things about to get really spicy now?
The teams sort out, and Takagi is in disbelief. LIJ fist bumps and the fans applaud. Taguchi and Zayne bow, “Itadakimasu,” and Zayne starts against Yota. They circle, tie up, and Yota powers Zayne back. But Zayne powers Yota back! Yota powers up to power Zayne onto the ropes, but Zayne turns things around. The ref counts, Zayne lets off slowly with a pat on the shoulders, but Yota plays with Zayne’s hair. Zayne smirks and Yota grins as the two reset. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Yota headlocks, but Zayne powers up and out. Yota RAMS Zayne but neither man falls. Fans cheer as Yota grins and Zayne plays with his own hair.
Things speed up suddenly, and Zayne sidesteps. Yota bucks the O’Conner Roll, then gets around Zayne. Zayne ELBOWS Yota away to a corner. Zayne runs up to BACK ELBOW and go to the apron in one go! Then he slingshots to RANA! Yota has a rough tumble, but he stands back up. Zayne runs up again, dodges the lariat and waistlocks, only to bring Yota back and run. Yota sidesteps Zayne then drops down, only for Zayne to IMPLODER KNEE DROP! The fans fire up but Zayne keeps moving, STANDING MARIPOSA! The fans cheer more while Zayne grins at Takagi. Zayne brings Yota up, tags Taguchi, and they double whip.
“Funky Sauce” misdirects Yota to hit a BULLDOG then basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Taguchi stomps Yota. Taguchi brings Yota up, kicks low, then whips. Yota reverses but Taguchi RANAS! A little slippery, but then Zayne BLASTS Takagi off the apron! Funky Sauce takes aim, Taguchi PLANCHAS but flops as Yota moves! Zayne is on the apron but Takagi YANKS Zayne down! The fans rally but Takagi hauls Zayne up to whip him into railing! Yota drags Taguchi up and puts him in the ring. Takagi gets the fans fired up, then he stands Taguchi up. LIJ double whip Taguchi to then DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE!
The fans cheer and then Takagi SENTONS! Yota SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! Taguchi stays in this but Yota tags Takagi. The fans rally and duel while Takagi stands Taguchi up. Takagi bumps Taguchi off buckles, RAMS into him again and again, then digs his shoulder in. The ref counts, Takagi steps back, and he snapmares Taguchi down. Tag to Yota and Yota drags Taguchi up. Yota snapmares Taguchi to ROCK him in the back! Taguchi falls back, Yota tags Takagi, and LIJ drags Taguchi up. They DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! Taguchi hobbles in pain, falls to his knees, and Takagi BLASTS Zayne off the apron!
Takagi gets annoyed with this Funky Sauce, but Taguchi fires off CHOPS! Taguchi runs, but Takagi easily dodges the hip attack! Takagi then suplexes Taguchi high and hard! Cover, TWO! Taguchi survives and the fans fire up. Takagi hears the fans dueling as he stomps Taguchi. Takagi KNEES Taguchi against the ropes again and again, then whips, for another KNEE! Takagi runs, but into a SOMERSAULT HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taguchi and Takagi crawl, hot tag to Zayne! Zayne jumps in and DECKS Takagi, then he BLASTS Yota! Zayne swats a lariat to fire elbow after ELBOW!
Takagi blocks the superkick to CLUB the leg! Yota joins in, LIJ whips Zayne, but Zayne KICKS Takagi, mule kicks Yota, and runs, DOUBLE SOMERSAULT KICKS! The fans fire up and Zayne runs at Takagi. Takagi ELBOWS Zayne, BOOTS him, then goes up. Zayne returns to JUMPING STEINERS! The fans fire up while Zayne covers, TWO! Takagi stays in this but Zayne brings him right up. Zayne goes to scoop but Takagi fights it! Zayne CHOPS, scoops, and BAJA- NO, Takagi slips free! SLIDING- NO, Zayne dodges! Zayne mule kicks, runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up!
Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally behind him, and he crawls, hot tag to Yota! Yota fires up and the fans are with him. Yota brings Zayne around to whip, but Zayne stops himself. Zayne dodges Yota, Yota dodges Zayne, and both men kick low! Yota comes back to BOOT! The fans cheer and Yota brings Zayne up again. Yota fireman’s carries but Zayne fights free. Yota ROCKS Zayne first! Yota tries another fireman’s carry but Zayne sunset flips it! TWO, and both men stand! Zayne rolls Yota, BASEMENT ENZIGIRI! Zayne hurries to hot tag Taguchi! Taguchi HIP ATTACKS in a corner! Taguchi goes corner to corner, for another HIP ATTACK!
Taguchi keeps moving, but Yota runs up! Taguchi dropkicks Yota’s legs out! The fans fire up and Taguchi keeps going! Another dropkick to legs, then a LEG SWEEP! Taguchi rolls Yota into the OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Zayne BOOTS Takagi off the apron! Yota scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi lets go but he brings Yota back up. Taguchi traps Yota and Zayne runs in to ELBOW! Zayne then sets up and Taguchi runs, SHOTGUN IN MOTION! Taguchi then brings Yota out to GOURD BUSTER! The fans fire up as Zayne climbs! But Yota KICKS Taguchi away, then GAMANGIRIS Zayne off the corner!
Taguchi kicks Yota, runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Takagi slides in, and he finds the camera, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has come, and they join in on a chant of “OI! OI! OI!” LIJ whips Taguchi to a corner, then Yota runs in to ELBOW! Takagi whips Yota back in to SPLASH! Takagi adds a LARIAT, then feeds Taguchi to a BOOT! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! SUPERKICK! Taguchi is down, Yota covers, TWO! Taguchi stays in this and the fans fire up. Takagi stands Taguchi up and throws him to Yota for a POWERBOMB! Cover, Zayne breaks it! Takagi drags Zayne up, LIJ mugs him, but he fights back with CHOPS!
The fans fire up but Yota spins Zayne around to facelock, and Takagi wheelbarrows. Yota helps Takagi swing Taguchi down, then up for a BOOSTED WHEELBARROW GERMAN!! The fans fire up and Takagi leaves it to Yota. Yota takes aim and the fans rally. Taguchi rises, Yota runs in, GENE- LEG DROP!? And then La Magistrol! TWO!! Yota escapes in time, but Taguchi spins him to a backslide! TWO!! Yota escapes again! But Taguchi ENZIGIRIS! Taguchi fires up and the fans are with him! But Takagi LARIATS! GENE TRIGGER! PUMPING BOMBER!! And now Yota loads up, for the GENE BLASTER!! Cover, LIJ wins!
Winners: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Zayne & Taguchi earn 0)
The Funky Sauce was hot, but they’re the ones that got burned! Will they be able to spice things up in the second round? Will Takagi & Tsuji keep the tag league tranquilo?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens!
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi once again clash with The Fang & The Jewel, both sides hungry for gold. Will it be Lights Out in the opening round? Or will someone just #Go2Sleep?
The teams sort out but then Bullet Club just attacks! Chase is after Goto and Kenta is after Hashi, and they put each man in corners. The bell rings to get this on record as Kenta TOSSES Hashi. Chase CHOKES Goto in the corner, then stands on him! The ref reprimands and Chase lets off to bring Goto up. Chase ROCKS Goto, whips him, and Kenta POSTS Hashi! Chase hits a big hip toss then covers, TWO! The fans rally up while Chase stomps Goto’s leg. Chase scrapes his sole off Goto’s face, and Kenta whips Hashi again. Hashi reverses and Kenta hits railing in front of English commentary! Chase ROCKS Goto, CHOPS him, then whips.
Goto grabs ropes to stop, then he BOOTS Chase! Hashi returns and Bishamon DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Then ZENMAI! Kenta returns but Bishamon kicks him first. “Se no!” Bishamon BEATS Kenta like a drum! The fans cheer and Bishamon flexes. Goto then goes back to Chase to stomp and CLUB him down. Goto kicks Chase, Chase shoves Goto and ROCKS him with a forearm! Goto knees Chase low, runs, but Chase TOSSES Goto out! Goto hurries back up, he counter punches Chase, and then counter punches Kenta! Chase slips out to YANK Goto down and THROW him into railing! Kenta intercepts Hashi with a kick!
Kenta whips Hashi away into railing while Chase sends Goto into other railing! The ref reprimands but Chase brings Goto through the gate. Chase has fans move out of the way, but then brings Goto back to ringside. Chase grins as he trolls the fans and pushes Goto into the ring. Kenta CLUBS away on Hashi before leaving him behind. Chase pulls on Goto’s arms then TWEAKS Goto’s neck! Not a twist, but equally painful. Chase tags Kenta while the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Kenta pushes Goto into the corner, Goto hits Chase, but Kenta RAMS Goto! The ref reprimands and counts as Kenta RAMS Goto more!
Kenta sits Goto down, and digs his boot in! The ref counts, Kenta stops at 4, and he tags Chase back in. They stomp Goto more, then Chase headlocks for a sucker punch! Cover, TWO! Chase drags Goto up and he bumps Goto off Kenta’s boot. Tag to Kenta and Bullet Club double whips. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down then Kenta covers, TWO! Kenta covers again, TWO! Kenta argues with the ref but the count was fair. Kenta drops an elbow, drops another elbow, then covers, TWO! Kenta gets mad at Hashi for no reason, but the fans rally up for Goto. Kenta CLUBS Goto, but Goto fires CHOPS in return!
Kenta knees low, whips Goto to a corner, but Goto reverses. Goto runs up but into a BOOT! Kenta runs but Goto follows! Goto avoids Chase’s cheap shot to LARIAT Kenta! The fans fire up while Goto and Kenta are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi! The fans fire up as Hahsi BLASTS Chase! Kenta kicks Hashi low then whips him to a corner. Kenta runs up but Hashi CHOPS in return! And mule kicks! And turns Kenta for a NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Hashi watches Kenta. Hashi waits on Kenta to rise, then runs up to CHOP! Hashi hoists Kenta up to hang him out to dry! The fans fire up as Hashi runs, and he DROPKCISK Kenta down! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer Hashi on as he brings Kenta up. Hashi reels Kenta in, lifts, but Kenta fights with fists! Kenta slips free of the bomb, then slips around Hashi to spin and- NO, Hashi suplexes first! But Kenta slips free again, and he spins Hashi around, to SPIKE DDT! Hashi is stood up on his head before falling over, and Kenta tags in Chase. Chase brings Hashi up and fireman’s carries. Hashi fights free of that, but Chase slips around to half nelson, lift, and SWINGING FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives but Chase says time to end this! Chase takes aim, C- NO, Hashi dodges the trigger! Chase knees low, runs, but Hashi dropkicks the legs!
The fans fire up whiel both men are down! Chase clutches his leg while Hashi crawls. Hot tag to Goto! Goto runs at Chase to LARIAT in the corner! Goto whips corner to corner, runs up again, but Chase BOOTS him! But Goto comes back! Only for Chase to BUCKLE SHOT and STO, then SENTON! Kenta steps in and Bullet Club drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms and CHOPS! Kenta SOBATS! Chase KICKS! Kenta ROUNDHOUSES! Goto sits up into the “I HATE YOU!” PENALTY KICK! Cover, but Hashi breaks it! Kenta TOSSES Hashi then goes out after him. Chase drags Goto up and reels him in.
Chase tucks the arms but Goto fights the lift! Goto wrenches out but Chase ROCKS him first! Chase runs, Goto follows, but Chase ENZIGIRIS! Goto stays up, but the C-TRIGGER hits! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives but Chase hurries up! C-TRIGGER POINT BLANK!! And then the tuck for the PACKAGE PILE- NO, Hashi hits a BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up, Kenta BOOTS Hashi! Goto fireman’s carries Kenta but Kenta slips free! Kenta shoves Goto into Hashi, then waistlocks Goto. Goto fights the lift, and then ducks, HIDDEN GAP SUPERKICK for Kenta! The fans fire up as Bishamon regroups.
Hashi drags Chase up, whips him to Goto, but Chase BOOTS Goto! Chase swings on Hashi but Hashi ducks the lariat. Hashi powers Chase to ropes, Goto BLINDSIDE LARIATS, and then Hashi rolls Chase. Goto drags Chase up, Hashi has the legs! Chase BOOTS Hashi away! Chase then slips around to dragon sleeper, to steal G T- NO, Goto drops down to victory roll! Chase stands up, into a SUPERKICK! Goto drags Chase around while Hashi BLASTS Kenta! Dragon sleeper and SHOTO!! Cover, Bishamon wins!!
Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Kenta & Chase earn 0)
Another classic in this storied rivalry, worthy of the titles themselves! Will this first win be the win that leads the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter back to the titles? Can Kenta & Chase borrow a page from Bishamon and #GetBackUp in the next round?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA!
TMDK has a team in each block, doubling their chances of taking this league. But perhaps burying the lead is the fact that THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is joining in the fun! Will The Front Man & The Mullet rock this league right from the start? Or will the Mad Man and the turncoat Cold Skull get this tournament #WarReady?
The teams sort out but Oiwa gets in Gabe’s face. Gabe pushes Oiwa, they start, and they tie up at the bell. The fans rally as Oiwa and Gabe are in a deadlock. They go around at center, then Oiwa digs his heels in to push Gabe back. Gabe turns things around to put Oiwa on ropes, but Red Shoes calls the break. Gable lets off, to then CHOP! Gabe scoops and SLAMS Oiwa, then he goes for legs. Oiwa UPKICKS Gabe, then stands up to scoop and SLAM Gabe! Gabe UPKICKS back, both men get up and go face to face. Then they go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as Oiwa gets the edge, but Gabe CHOPS!
Gabe headlocks. Oiwa powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Gabe eggs OIwa on and he runs to RAM Gabe! They both run now, and they RAM shoulders again, and again, and again! Gabe CHOPS then runs, but Oiwa CLOBBERS Gabe! The fans fire up while Gabe bails out. Oiwa eggs Gabe on and Gabe snarls. Gabe shakes the railing in frustration, then he paces around the outside. Gabe cools off, slides in, but then tags Sanada. Sanada steps in slowly, so Oiwa tags in ZSJ. The two rivals circle and the afns rally behind “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” ZSJ and Sanada feel things out, knuclke lock, and ZSJ rolls to wrench.
Sanada is already frustrated so he kicks ZSJ low! Sanada TOSSES ZSJ out and then Gabe goes after Oiwa! Gabe CHOPS away on Oiwa while Sanada sends ZSJ into railing! And then more railing! Gabe does the same to Oiwa, and Sanada storms up on ZSJ. Sanada CLAWS ZSJ’s back, a definite attitude change showing. Gabe Too Sweets with Taiji Ishimori on commentary while Sanada pushes ZSJ into the ring. Sanada whips ZSJ to a corner, but ZSJ goes up, under, around, and RAMS into Sanada! ZSJ snapmares, Sanada handsprings through, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS him down! Tag to Oiwa and he BLASTS Gabe!
Oiwa goes back to Sanada and stands him up. Oiwa wrenches an arm, YANKS it, then wrenches to YANK it again. Oiwa tags ZSJ and ZSJ brings Sanada around to wrench, step over, and wrangle into a mounted armbar! Sanada endures as ZSJ bends the fingers and isolates the arm, to STOMP it! The fans cheer, ZSJ tags Oiwa, and Oiwa CLUBS Sanada’s arm. Oiwa headlocks for a takeover, then isolates the arm in an short arm scissor! The fans rally while Sanada endures and kicks around. Sanada reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it, Oiwa lets Sanada go, but then Oiwa brings Sanada up.
Oiwa whips, Sanada reverses, and Gabe trips Oiwa up! Sanda BLASTS ZSJ while Oiwa drags Oiwa out of the ring! Now things spill out into the crowd! Gabe CHOPS Oiwa, then SMACKS him off empty chairs! Sanada BOWLS ZSJ into chairs! Not quite a strike, so Sanada JAMS ZSJ up with a chair! That picks up the spare, and we can hear Gabe’s CHOPS on Oiwa echo out. Gabe stomps Oiwa while Sanada CHOKES ZSJ with a chair! Red Shoes reprimands the War Dogs, but Gabe POSTS Oiwa! Gabe says War Dogs run this, but Red Shoes starts a ring count. Gabe flexes on Oiwa, then drags him up at 7 of 20.
Gabe puts Oiwa in at 10 and Sanada covers, TWO! Oiwa stays in this and the fans rally behind him. Sanada is annoyed but he brings Oiwa up. Sanada CLUBS Oiwa, then bumps him off Gabe’s boot. Oiwa sputters while Sanada tags Gabe in. Gabe drags Oiwa up, mockingly asks where Zack-senpai went, then he UPPERCUTS Oiwa down. Gabe TOSSES Oiwa out, and he BLASTS ZSJ off the apron! Sanada whips Oiwa into railing! Gabe lifts ZSJ bu tZSJ wrenches free to KIMURA! Gabe powers through, to BITE ZSJ on the forehead! Sanada sends Oiwa into more railing, Gabe sends ZSJ through railing and into chairs!
Sanada BOWLS Oiwa into chairs now, there is the strike! Sanada continues to show his new edge as he JAMS Oiwa up with a chair. Red Shoes reprimands so Sanada brings Oiwa back to ringside. Sanada puts Oiwa in for Gabe and Gabe pushes Oiwa to a cover. Red Shoes says no, all the shenanigans were not right. Gabe gets in Red Shoes’ face about that, but Red Shoes stands his ground. Gabe storms around while the fans rally behind Oiwa. Gabe drags Oiwa up, to CHOP! Oiwa wobbles but he rises up. Oiwa CHOPS, and CHOPS, and fires forearms! Gabe DECKS Oiwa with just one! The fans still rally for Oiwa but Gabe stands on Oiwa’s face!
Gabe soaks up the heat, scuffs Oiwa and stomps him around. Oiwa sits up, Gabe runs, but Oiwa reels him in! Gabe fights the waistlock, runs, but into a SNAP GERMAN! The fans fire up while both men are down! Oiwa and Gabe crawl, hot tags to ZSJ and Sanada! The fans fire up as ZSJ dodges Sanada, full nelsons, then spins him to a headlock. Sanada powers out but ZSJ catches him to a COBRA TWIST! Sanada powers out to HIP TOSS, but ZJS UP KICKS! Sanada avoids the Penalty Kick, blocks the boot, but ZSJ steps through the dragon screw to NECK TWIST! And basment DROPKICK! The fans fire up and we’ve only hit 10 minutes!
ZSJ drags Sanada up, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Sanada blocks the next to spin and suplex, but ZSJ says no to the Magic Screw! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Sanada escapes but ZSJ stays focused. ZSJ stands Sanada up to scoop, but Sanada slips free. ZSJ fights the waistlock, runs, but into a dropkick to the legs! Sanada then DROPKICKS ZSJ down! Sanada fireman’s carries but ZSJ slips free, to have the IRON OCTOPUS! The fans rally while Sanada endures, and Sanada powers out to have a leg! DROPPING DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ clutches the leg and Sanada takes aim! SHINING-
NO, ZSJ ducks, but Sanada catches him to a backslide! ZSJ rolls through to NECK TWIST! Tag to Oiwa and Oiwa BLASTS Gabe off the apron! Oiwa goes back to Sanada and brings him up. Oiwa whips Sanada to ropes, ELBOWS Him down, then ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Sanada! Oiwa deadlift GUT RWENCH PLEXES! Cover, Gabe breaks it! Gabe CHOPS away on ZSJ and Oiwa, but ZSJ blocks! Oiwa DOUBLE CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ & Oiwa DOUBLE DROPKICK Gabe down! The fans fire up with Oiwa and he clamps onto Sanada with a SLEEPER! Sanada endures and fights up, but Oiwa thrashes him around!
Sanada still fights to his feet, slips around the back, and shoves Oiwa to ropes. Gabe trips Oiwa up! Oiwa kicks at Gabe but Sanada kicks ropes to jam Oiwa up! Sanada suplexes Oiwa into the MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down but the fans rally up again. Sanada crawls over, tag to Gabe, and Gabe storms right up on Oiwa. Gabe UPPERCUTS Oiwa right down! Gabe then puts Oiwa in a corner to fire off forearm after forearm! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, but Gabe digs his boots in while talking trash. Gabe shoves Red Shoes aside so he can keep stomping away on Oiwa! The fans rally and Red Shoes backs Gabe off.
Gabe seethes but the fans continue to rally for Oiwa. Oiwa grits his teeth as he sits up, but Gabe ROCKS him with another shot! Oiwa still looks up defiantly at Gabe, so Gabe fires shots! Gabe says Oiwa’s not worthy of being his NJPW Strong Openweight Challenger. Gabe says Oiwa’s just some “weak ass kohai!” Gabe SPITS on Oiwa, but Oiwa gets in Gabe’s face! Gabe fires slapping strikes, blocks a shot, then SLAPS Oiwa again! Oiwa spins to DOUBLE CHOP Gsbe down! Sanada runs up and kicks low! Sanada whips, Oiwa reverses, but Sanada reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Sanada!
Gabe runs up, ZSJ BOOTS him first! Gabe runs back in, slips out of the scoop, and he scoops ZSJ for EMERALD FLOWSON!! But Oiwa spins Gabe! Gabe avoids The Grip, runs, but into a LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa is frustrated but the fans rally behind him. Oiwa hauls Gabe up, ANACONDA PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives again but Oiwa roars! Oiwa drags Gabe up, reels him in, but Gabe fights the gut wrench! Gabe CLUBS Oiwa on the back, then he gut wrenches! Oiwa fights back, wrenches out, and he blocks a lariat to spin. Gabe HAYMAKERS, and SAIDOS!! Gabe crawls his way to the cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Oiwa survives! Gabe snarls and he drags Oiwa up. Gabe says this is the end. But Oiwa fights the suplex! Oiwa suplexes, but Gabe fights it! Oiwa still tries, but Gabe slips out to waistlock. Sanada DROPKCIKS Oiwa, Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe & Sanada work together to DOUBLE SUPLEX! Gabe suplexes again, BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, ZSJ BREAKS IT! Sanada TOSSES ZSJ out and tells Gabe to finish this! ZSJ RAMS Sanada, they brawl outside, and Gabe slashes his throat. Gabe drags Oiwa up, reels him in, but Oia slips through the gut wrench to backslide! TWO, and Gabe UPPERCUTS!
Gabe runs, but ZSJ is back! He BOOTS Gabe but Gabe SLAPS ZSJ! ZSJ KICKS the haymaker away to then ROUNDHOUSE Gabe! Sanada’s in to dragon sleeper! ZSJ arm-drags free, but Sanada comes back to SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ scoops first! ZACK DRIVER!! ZSJ and Sanada flop out of the ring, leaving Oiwa and Gabe to rise up. They run at each other, to DOUBLE LARIAT! neither man falls, they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Gabe UPPERCUTS! Oiwa PALM STRIKES! Gabe PALM STRIKES, CHOPS, JABS, rebounds, into a roll-up! Hig stack, TMDK WINS!!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall
Gabe is in shock! He gets right in Red Shoes’ face but Red Shoes says it was a fair count! Gabe then goes after Oiwa to CLOBBER him! The fans boo and Young Lions rush in, but Gabe eggs Oiwa on! So Oiwa obliges and they brawl among the fans! The Young Lions rush in to separate the two, but Gabe gets loose to CLOBBER Oiwa! They scrap, ZSJ joins in, and he pulls the two apart. Gabe kicks a chair in frustration, then goes into retreat. Wait, Oiwa chases Gabe to the ramp and beats him down! Young Lions again scramble in to stop this, but it just heads to the back! Sanada shrugs it off, will the #ColdWarDogs just have to try harder in the next round?
As for the winners, well, they’re no longer ringside so there won’t be any in-ring closing words. Backstage interviews begin, Gabe promises Oiwa will be put in the ground! Will the Mad Man show The Mullet what it takes to be NJPW Strong? As for ZSJ, he gathers himself, and tells NJPW Media that he doesn’t know where The Mullet went. Actually, no, he has an idea: The Mullet must be smashing the s*it outta Gabe. “Roy The Mullet” is the next NJPW Strong Openweight Champion! Oiwa will hit Gabe so hard, his legs will turn into trombones! As for ZSJ, there is something rare happening in this year’s WTL, isn’t it?
Yes, it’s that the IWGP World EFFIN’ Heavyweight Champion is involved, as this should be! The first time the world champion’s been in this tournament in roughly a decade! ZSJ said he was gonna be a different kind of world champion for NJPW, and that he promises to take NJPW back to the top! Now obviously, a conflict of interests, as this tournament is Shane Haste’s & Mikey Nicholls’ to win, but ZSJ won’t give the boys an easy ride. ZSJ is dreaming~ of an all TMDK World Tag League finals! Then who knows, maybe Zack & Roy get the job done.
But ZSJ knows the Tokyo Dome is coming soon. And Shota Umino wants to be ZSJ’s challenger. ZSJ says he will be keeping his eyes wide open for Shota. ZSJ says he’ll have a DOUBLE main event in the Tokyo Dome, it’s in the bag. What about you, Shota? The Front Man heads out, having put the pressure on his challenger, but will all of NJPW soon belong to TMDK?
Here are the A Block standings!
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 1-0, 2 points
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 1-0, 2 points
Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 1-0, 2 points
Bishamon: 1-0, 2 points
Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 0-1, 0 points
Kenta & Chase Owens: 0-1, 0 points
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 0-1, 0 points
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great start to World Tag League 2024, with just A Block opening things tonight. I will say those tune-up matches were interesting. Even though David Finlay is the Global Champion, it’s Taiji Ishimori that has apparently become Bullet Club’s international ambassador. Taiji brought Robbie X into the group, now he teamed with The Filip Brothers, Tome & Stevie, who knows who else Bone Soldier will recruit. Taiji’s team beating Tanahashi’s team, House of Torture cheating and beating Tanahashi’s friends, this is all putting the pressure on The Ace, meaning The Ace will win out at WrestleKingdom 19.
Shota Umino teaming with Tomoaki Honma, I wonder if this is to hold Shota back somehow. He is apparently still heading for WrestleKingdom and a world title match with ZSJ, so it’s not like Shota needs to win WTL, but I guess NJPW just wants Shota to give the fans a good time alongside a fan favorite like Honma. Also, Callum & Cobb have a fun new shirt for their team-up. I figured Zayne would need to improvise now that #MonsterSauce is no longer happening, and Taguchi was a great surprise choice. But #FunkySauce making its debut against a team as strong as Takagi & Tsuji was a shame because of course LIJ was winning that. Maybe Zayne & Taguchi can pull off a spoiler victory later on, but I don’t see Funky Sauce going that strong.
Bishamon VS Kenta & Chase really was an awesome match, and it is so surprising how Chase has grown in just the past couple years. Great win for Goto & Hashi, though, as they’re clearly the solid utility choices in the tag division. And what an awesome main event, with Sanada bringing out the most Heel stuff he’s done perhaps ever. A bit jarring really, but that’s just kinda old fashioned Heel turns for ya. Great win for TMDK, though, and definitely an unorthodox way of closing by having Oiwa and Gabe brawl all over ringside and into the back.
While ZSJ says it is big for the world champ to be in this tournament, which I do agree with on some level, it also makes some of the A Block action seem secondary. Gabe and Oiwa having their grudge was kinda the main motivator behind this match, and then it’ll be similar when Shota & Honma VS ZSJ & Oiwa happens. There is the added drama of, “What if someone pins ZSJ? Will they get a world title match before WK19?” Maybe Shota solidifies his WK title match by being the one that pins ZSJ in their match, but it all just feels like more flash than substance. No one else is going to pin ZSJ, Oiwa probably takes whatever losses their team will take, so A Block’s story suffers for it.
My Score: 8.9/10
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