Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (7/29/24)
Time to lay down the law!
He is a Visionary, he is a Revolutionary, he is the Special Guest Referee!
Before SummerSlam sees the grudge match of McIntyre VS Punk, Seth Rollins is going to give his official referee instructions tonight on Raw! Will they respect his authority?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- The Creed Brothers w/ Chad Gable VS Otis & Akira Tozawa w/ Maxxine Dupri; The Creed Brothers win.
- Sheamus VS Bronson Reed; Bronson wins.
- Carlito VS Jey Uso; Jey wins.
- Xavier Woods VS Karrion Kross w/ The Final Testament; Kross wins.
- Dominik Mysterio VS Sami Zayn; Sami wins, by disqualification.
- Six Woman Tag: Lyra Valkyria, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark; Sonya, Shayna & Zoey win.
- Finn Balor VS GUNTHER; Gunther wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Seth Rollins is here!
St. Paul, Minnesota fires up as The Visionary struts his way out in a very unique referee uniform. Are those puffy shoulders? Well, either way, Rollins goes to the ring while fans sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins tells St. Paul, “Welcome to Monday… Night… Rollins!” St. Paul cheers, and Rollins says he is our host for this evening’s events. Oh, St. Paul, HAHAHAHA! “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins says he is a Visionary, he is a Revolutionary, and he is Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins! The fans cheer, and Rollins says SummerSlam is just FIVE days away. Five days from the highly anticipated contest of Drew McIntyre VS CM Punk.
“And we are here tonight to lay out some rules and regulations for that contest. So without further ado, St. Paul, let’s bring out these two morons. How ’bout it? HAHAHAHA!” First is the Second City Saint, the Best in the World, CM Punk! Punk goes to stage left and high-fives the front row. Punk then goes to stage right and gets up on the road cases so he can see the fans over there. Punk blows a kiss, hops down, and finally tells us, “It’s CLOBBERIN’ time!” Punk goes down the ramp, high-fiving fans as he goes, and even high-fives the front row all along ringside. Then he steps into the ring with referee Rollins.
And now the Scottish Terminator makes his entrance! The fans boo as McIntyre takes his time walking down the ramp and into the ring. Punk keeps his eyes on McIntyre while they both get mics. St. Paul chants for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Rollins says alright, alright, alright. There is a lot of tension here, and we’re talking rules and regulations, but we gotta get something out of the way first. This comes directly from Adam Pearce, and he says these two are NOT to even lay a finger on one another or the match for SummerSlam is off. One step further, if they touch Rollins at all, the match for SummerSlam is off.
Punk goes out of the ring to sit at commentary but Rollins tells him hey! McIntyre says he has self-control, Punk doesn’t need to be a coward. Punk isn’t scared of McIntyre or Rollins. Punk is worried about what he’ll do himself, so he’ll just be calm, cool and collected over here. Rollins say she knows Punk likes calling the shots, acting like he’s in charge, getting his way, but that is not how this is going to work, and it is not how SummerSlam will work. Rollins didn’t have to be the ref, but he volunteered since these two idiots scared off every other official back there. But hey, Rollins can go back there, take off the ref shirt, hand it to Pearce, and the whole thing’s off!
The fans boo, they want to see the match. Rollins tells Punk that he does want to see these two fight! The fans cheer that! Rollins knows McIntyre wants it, and he knows St. Paul wants it! So if Punk wants this fight, he better get his ass back in Rollins’ ring. Oh there he is, the boot-licking office boy! Punk is sure Rollins loves that he can lord this over him so enjoy it while he can. McIntyre says Rollins shouldn’t listen to Punk. Just listen to McIntyre. They don’t always like each other, but their relationship is a professional rivalry. Sometimes McIntyre’s an arse, sometimes it’s Rollins. But they just want what is best for the future of the WWE.
But Punk is not what is best! Rollins said it himself, Punk is a cancer! “Corporate Man Punk” is poisoning the minds of NXT after all the hard work of the true workhorses. And Punk is gonna screw it all up. Remember that on Saturday, Punk is the real enemy. Rollins says McIntyre is an idiot, has said a lot wrong in his life, but if there’s one thing he’s right about, is that if anyone hates Punk as much as McIntyre, it is Rollins. The thing McIntyre is overlooking is that if there’s anyone that hates McIntyre as much as Punk, it’s also Rollins. So if these two wouldn’t mind shutting up, he will get to the rules for what will be a violent masterpiece at SummerSlam!
The fans cheer, and Rollins says there is only one rule for this match. There is only one regulation! McIntyre and Punk will listen to EVERYTHING Rollins has to say! He calls the shots, he is the boss, he is the law. He counts to three when he wants. They tap out when he says they tapped out. If there’s a ring count to be done, who knows? There might not be a count, there might be a 10 count, there might be a 20 count, there might be a MILLION count! Disqualifications? Eh. Referee’s discretion. The bottom line is, if either of them get out of line, they’ve got a problem with Rollins or his rules, he’s not someone they can push around.
No, Rollins is a spiteful little bastard, and he will put their heads in the dirt! Punk says this is a hat on a hat. The way Rollins dresses, he probably likes that. Hopefully, Rollins officiates better than he dresses. Punk doesn’t believe a word of this, he thinks Rollins will be biased. If he does call it down the line, fine. If Rollins screws Punk, fine, Punk will deal with that Saturday. But one think Punk doesn’t want Rollins to do, hating each of them equally, then don’t help Punk. Punk has never needed Rollins’ help, doesn’t want it, and will never listen to Rollins.
McIntyre says Punk is worried about the wrong guy right now. Worry more about the 6’5″, 280 pound man he’s screwed over and over again! The fans cheer that! McIntyre says he hates Punk, can’t stand him, he’s like a Charles Manson type who has poisoned even the fans! They chant Punk’s name at McIntyre even at the supermarket! McIntyre has spent 7 MONTHS saying what he’s had to say. McIntyre just wanted to rough Punk up a bit at the Royal Rumble, and ended up injuring him. That was for seven months without even trying. Punk screwed McIntyre at WrestleMania, then in Scotland.
So what’s happening on Saturday? Right now, McIntyre is chill. The real enemy is the bell. When it sounds, McIntyre will violently assault Punk. McIntyre will blacken both eyes, break his jaw, and McIntyre says Rollins will have to find compassion in his soul because McIntyre isn’t stopping until Punk’s heart does. In Cleveland, that’s a stadium. McIntyre will make so much money doing something he’d do for free. Punk smirks while the fans still cheer him on. Punk says for 10 YEARS, he was absent from WWE, and the fans chanted his name. They sing Rollins’ song, they chant Punk’s name, McIntyre is the third wheel here!
The one positive from “Punk Derangement Syndrome” is that they are in his orbit. They breathe the air that Punk produces. Hopefully, McIntyre enjoyed the last 7 months. Because hurting Punk was the best thing to happen to McIntyre, but it was also the worst thing to happen to him. For all McIntyre’s accomplishments, for how big and tall he is, for how mean and strong he is, he’s STUPID, and he dumbs himself out of positions! Punk may be an enemy, but not his worst. McIntyre is his own worst enemy! And he’ll just dumb himself out of this again. Punk isn’t as big, as tall, or as fast, but he has MORE HEART!
You know what else Punk has? Punk also has the people! What does McIntyre got? McIntyre shows off the bracelet. The very one he stole from Punk. And Punk storms right up to McIntyre, but he can’t touch him. McIntyre tells Punk he has no idea what’s coming on Saturday. But could that be the same for McIntyre?
Someone trashed the Judgment Day clubhouse!
JD McDonagh says this is worse than R-Truth and jelly rolls. Carlito says they broke the PS5! Dominik asks who did this, but Rhea says duh! Read the literal writing on the wall! Liv Morgan is pissed! But hey, they can rebuild all this. But Liv can’t undo the damage Rhea’s gonna do, especially after this. Carlito asks if they are getting a new PS5. Dom says not the time. Dom and Carlito leave and Rhea asks why Carlito’s still coming around. JD says Carlito does leave a certain smell, and Rhea tells him she will end him if he jokes around. But will there be no laughing when Mami finally gets her hands on Liv?
Raw returns and…
Judgment Day is still cleaning up the mess. Dom found one black rose not all smashed. Damian Priest walks in and figures it was Liv who did this. Priest then tells Finn that while they talked before, Priest still feels he should be out there when Finn faces Gunther. Finn says no, Priest needs to focus on SummerSlam. Gunther didn’t just insult Priest last week, he insulted everyone in The Judgment Day. While they fix up the clubhouse, Finn will take care of Gunther, alone. They can also take care of Sami & Jey, right? Priest says they already took care of Sami & Jey. They’re going backwards, dealing with issues they don’t need to.
Rhea says she’s been saying the same. Well, okay, then let the others handle it. JD will handle it right now! Priest says fine, go ahead. Dom says it should be Carlito and Sami. Carlito says way ahead of you. He’ll go talk with Adam Pearce. Caribbean Cool heads out, but will he be able to take down the Intercontinental Champion?
The Creed Brothers w/ Chad Gable VS Otis & Akira Tozawa w/ Maxxine Dupri!
Julius & Brutus rather surprisingly replaced the tree trunk and the Stamina Monster in “Master Gable’s” Alpha Academy, but now they’ll have it out in the ring! Will Gable’s new students make an example out of the old? Or will Otis & Tozawa prove they no longer need Gable’s drama?
We return to the ring as Gable leads The Creeds to the ring for their entrance. The teams sort out and Otis starts against Julius. The bell rings and Julius runs up to ROCK Otis! Julius fires off, puts Otis in the corner, but Otis fights back! Julius CLUBS Otis, Brutus tags in, and the brothers mug Otis. The fans rally for Otis but Brutus tags Julius back in. They double whip but Otis breaks the double clothesline to CLOBBER both Creeds! Brutus tumbles out, Otis tags Tozawa. Tozawa climbs, Otis ROCKET LAUNCHES him at Julius! Cover, TWO! Maxxine cheers Tozawa, but Julius suplexes Tozawa while sitting down!
Julius tags Brutus, and Julius GUT WRENCH SLAMS Brutus onto Tozawa! Cover, TWO! Brutus drags Tozawa, suplexes, but Tozawa kicks free! Tozawa SOBATS, spins, slides under, then SCREW KICKS! The fans fire up, Tozawa runs in, but Brutus puts him outside! Tozawa GAMANGIRIS, goes up and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Brutus tumbles out. Tozawa builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and down goes Brutus! Tozawa hurries to put Brutus back in! Tozawa climbs, but Julius drags Brutus out! Tozawa drops down, but Brutus gets in to LARIAT! The fans boo, Gable fist bumps The Creeds, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Brutus hoist Tozawa up. Tozawa fights the fireman’s carry, but Brutus keeps him from the corner Brutus whips, but Tozawa SATELLITE DDTS! The fans are thunderous as Otis rises up! Hot tags to Julius and Otis! #FreeOtis rallies on Julius with LARIAT after LARIAT! Then he rolls past Julius to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Otis ELBOWS Julius in a corner, then POSTS him! Otis says “SUCK IT!” then he revs up the- NO, Gable gets on the apron! Otis swipes at Gable, Julius runs up, but Otis catches him! POWERSLAM, and off comes the shirt! Free souvenir for a fan, and then the CATERPILLAR ELBOW hits!
Otis isn’t done, he goes up the corner! But Brutus CLUBS him first! Brutus climbs, the fans boo, but Otis TOSSES Brutus away! Gable gets up but Otis DECKS him! The Creeds mug Otis and go up top together! The fans boo but they hit a DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! Cover, The Creeds win!
Winners: The Creed Brothers, by pinfall
Gable’s new number one guys come through for him, but now they sit Otis up! Gable gets in Otis’ face and says GABLE is the only reason Otis was ever anything! Tozawa gets in, Brutus DECKS him! Gable has an ANKLE LOCK on Otis! Maxxine JUMPS on Gable! Gable shrugs Maxxine off, and says Maxxine should’ve also listened. But then Maxxine SLAPS Gable! The fans fire up and Maxxine stands her ground! Gable storms up on her, but then the lights start turning off! Maxxine gets the boys outta there, because the fireflies are out! The piano starts playing and Gable’s group is on the defensive!
The fog rolls in, the light shines, and here come the Wyatt Sick6! Ramblin’ Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard, Huskus the Pig Boy, they all storm down to ringside. They get up on the apron, they stare Gable & The Creeds down, and the fans fire up again! Masks off, and reveal! It’s Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy! Gable turns around, NIKKI CROSSBODY! Down goes Gable, and then Gacy & Lumis DOUBLE CHOKE SLAM the Creeds! Lumis runs, gets a boost from Gacy, POP-UP BOMB SENTON COMBO! The fans are losing their minds as now Rowan has a go! DOUBLE CROSSBODY from the Wyatt OG!
And then, as Gable stumbles his way up the ramp, trying to run away, “There you are~!” Uncle Howdy, or rather Bo Dallas, stands in his way! Gable runs away through the backside of the stage, and Bo laughs into the night. They’re here, who have they to fear?
Carlito returns to the clubhouse.
So did he get the match? Yes, it is official. When is Carlito’s match with Sami then? What? No, the match is Dom VS Sami. What?! No, Carlito was supposed to handle Sami! Oh, Carlito thought Dom… Oops. Rhea says fine, Dom can handle Sami. And now that Carlito is free, he can take Jey, right? Carlito says he’d have to oil up but- Rhea says this is Carlito’s mess, time to clean it up. Carlito sighs and says he’ll go back to Pearce. Rhea says good. And Carlito has to handle Jey alone. Carlito sighs again then leaves. Is Carlito ever gonna catch a break?
Sheamus VS Bronson Reed!
The Celtic Warrior already had a run-in with the Colossal Aussie, but clearly the fighting is far from over! Will Sheamus be able to deliver another banger against Big Bad Bronson? Or will this be when he’s washed away by a Tsunami?
The bell rings and the fans rally for the big meaty men! They RAM and RAM then fire haymakers back and forth! Sheamus gets the edge, whips corner to corner, but Bronson reverses. Bronson runs in, Sheamus dodges and Bronson hits buckles! Sheamus jumps on for a SLEEPER! Bronson RAMS him into buckles, then ROCKS him! And CHOPS him! And CHOPS again! Sheamus dodges the next chop to body shot and UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT! Sheamus reels Bronson in but Bronson HEADBUTTS! Bronson whips, Sheamus KICKS then runs, to LARIAT Bronson up and out! The fans fire up with The Fella!
Sheamus goes out to then climb up! SUPER FLYING LARIAT takes down Bronson! The Fella is even more fired up, and then he runs up, but Bronson SAMOAN DROPS him onto the desk! Bronson roars, the fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Sheamus fights up while in a chinlock. Sheamus fires body shots then UPPERCUTS! Sheamus runs, but Bronson LARIATS him down! Bronson looms over Sheamus, talks trash on him, then stands him up. Bronson says Sheamus ain’t got it anymore. But Sheamus gets mad! Sheamus blocks Bronson’s lariat to LARIAT, LARIAT, and LARIAT again! Sheamus winds up, short arm LARIAT! Bronson drops to a knee, but now Bronson roars! Fireman’s carry, but Sheamus slips free! Sheamus KNEES Bronson down! Cover, TWO! Bronson stays in this but Sheamus stays on him, with a fireman’s carry!
Bronson fights that off, then shoves Sheamus to a corner. Bronson runs in but into a BOOT! Sheamus skins the cat to the top rope! Sheamus then aims to FLYING- NO, Bronson dodges the lariat to fireman’s carry! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives and the fans fire up! Bronson snarls, thinks on what he has to do, and he drags Sheamus to a drop zone. Bronson climbs, the fans rally for Sheamus, and Sheamus rises! Sheamus fires haymakers on Bronson! Sheamus climbs, brings Bronson up, and that feat of strength alone is wild! But now, SUPER WHITE NOISE!! Cover, TWO?!?
The fans cannot believe it! Bronson survives that landing, and both men are down! Bronson rolls away, Sheamus pushes himself up. Sheamus sees Bronson on the apron, and Sheamus storms up on him! Sheamus clamps on for BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN! Sheamus goes all the way to TEN, then goes past that for SIXTEEN before the ref backs him off! Bronson flounders, gets stuck in ropes, but the ref manages to free that leg. Sheamus powers up, but here comes Pete Dunne! SHILLELAGH SHOT?!?! The ref missed it all but the fans saw it! The fans boo but Bronson grins as he goes to the corner!
Bronson climbs, Dunne is hiding, and the TSUNAMI hits!! Cover, Bronson wins!
Winner: Bronson Reed, by pinfall
The Bruiserweight gives Bronson the assist, then just shrugs. Dunne’s starting trouble wherever he’s going, will it all catch up to him soon enough?
Damian Priest speaks.
“There’s been a lot of talk about my past. How I was raised, how I lived on the street. And all this talk is coming from the one guy who has no understand, has no idea of what that’s like. Here’s a guy, Gunther, who grew up with ‘Here you go’s.'” You want the best training? Here you go. A group of people to tell you how great you are? Here you go. But what Gunther doesn’t have is what could never be handed to him: heart. Gunther says Priest is street trash? That translates to him being a Puerto Rican badass, so yes, he is! To Priest, Gunther is just some feat of European ingenuity. AKA, Gunther’s an a-hole!
The WWE ring is about salvation, for people to forget about their past. But this Saturday, it becomes the streets, and Gunther’s ass is gonna get mugged. Priest will rob Gunther of this idea that he can take the world title from Priest. Priest lived to fight for everything he got, and now he’s willing to die for everything he has. Is Gunther? Welcome to Priest’s neighborhood, “General.” El Campeon is ready to bring out The Punisher, will the King of the Ring survive?
Bron Breakker speaks.
“I don’t care to talk down on Sami Zayn. Hell, I don’t even dislike Sami Zayn. He’s at the top of his game, at the top of his profession: stand-up comedy. See, at Money in the Bank, I didn’t take him seriously. I thought I was fighting a stand-up comic, I put my hands behind my back. I didn’t take him seriously, and y’know what? That’s on me. Rookie mistake. But it made me realize the difference between me and Sami Zayn. See, Sami Zayn has already accepted the fact that he’s going to lose at SummerSlam. There’s nowhere for Sami to run any longer, because he’s preparing for a life after WWE. Preparing for a life after Bron Breakker.
“Sami Zayn and Friends? Hahaha… You’ve seen it. They promote it every single week here on Monday Night Raw. And while you, Sami, tell jokes for your preparation, I’ve been in the gym, hungry, training, like a dog. Redefining the words effort, attitude, and toughness. And it’ll be on full display this Saturday at SummerSlam, when the joke is on you, and the Intercontinental Championship will be on me.” Cleveland is all about the Dog Pound, will Bron leave Sami black ‘n’ blue in the home of the Browns?
Carlito VS Jey Uso!
Finn Balor says there’s a mess to be cleaned up, so Caribbean Cool has to do his part. Will he spit in the face of Main Event Jey? Or will Jey just YEET Carlito right back to the clubhouse?
Raw returns and Carlito makes his entrance. The bell rings and Carlito runs up on Jey! Jey dodges to SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Carlito is still in this but also in a daze. The fans rally while Jey bails out. Fans “YEET!” with Jey and he builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Carlito, the fans “YEET!” more and Jey drags Carlito up. Jey puts Carlito in the ring, brings him back up, and ROCKS him with a right hand. Jey fires more hands, the fans “YEET!” and Carlito sits down. Jey lets off to “YEET!” Jey storms back up but Carlito POSTS him! Jey flops to the apron, Carlito drags him up and onto ropes, for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER!
Jey flounders, Carlito soaks up the heat, then covers, TWO! Jey is still in this, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Carlito has Jey down with a motorcycle stretch. Jey fights up, stomps Carlito’s foot, then mule kicks! And UPPERCUTS! Jey runs, but into a fireman’s carry! T K O! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Jey goes to a corner, and Carlito frowns. Carlito runs in corner to corner, but Jey dodges the splash! Jey ROCKS Carlito again and again, “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks ‘n’ puts some stank on the HAYMAKER! Carlito staggers, into a kick! Carlito blocks, spins Jey, but the DRAGON WHIP hits! Carlito flops to a corner, Jey throws off the armband, then says “UCE! SO! UCE! SO!” Jey runs in, Carlito puts him on the apron!
Jey GAMANGIRIS Carlito, goes up, and leaps, but Carlito dodges! Jey keeps moving, but Carlito SPINEBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! Carlito rains down fists on Jey, but lets off while the fans boo. Carlito goes to a corner, and he grabs his green apple! The fans are torn as Carlito takes a big bite. Carlito chews it up, but Jey rolls Carlito up! TWO!! Jey dodges Carlito, then SPEARS! The apples go flying, Jey covers, Jey wins!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall
Carlito just makes more of a mess with those chunks of apple everywhere! But will Dom at least do better against Sami? Or will this problem the Judgment Day has only grow bigger and bigger?
Backstage interview with Zelina Vega.
Jackie Redmond is with La Muneca, and notes that Zelina won big over Zoey Stark, despite the bad arm. Jackie has to ask, how is the arm? Zelina feels better now. But she was lucky to have Lyra, Katana & Kayden backing her up. But at the same time, “Team Forehead” had to stack the deck against Zelina. Zelina needed that, though. What was done to Zelina created her, and reminded her of just who the hell she is. Zelina Vega is a threat in this division, and they know it. But then Shayna, Zoey & Sonya walk over. A threat, huh? Well, it took three women to beat Zoey so… Where are they now?
Sonya says let’s se who is a threat. But Zelina fires first! That only gets her mugged, and then Shayna grabs the bad arm! Shayna BOOTS the arm against the wall! Producers and refs hurry over, did Shayna just reinjure Zelina’s arm back to zero percent? Will The Morrigan & KC Squared make Sonya’s squad pay for it?
Raw returns as Zelina is checked by medical.
Lyra, Kayden & Katana are also there, and they promise they’ll get payback. Will Zelina be out of action much longer this time?
Backstage interview with The Miz.
Cathy Kelley is with The Hollywood A-Lister, and he has a very special announcement regarding SummerSlam. The Miz says that’s right! Live from Cleveland, SummerSlam will be hosted by The Miz! That’s right, he is hosting in his house of Cleveland, Ohio! R-Truth walks in and asks what’s up. WWE brought back In Your House? That’s what’s up! No, Miz is just saying Cleveland is “his house,” it’s just a saying. Doesn’t Miz live in LA, though? Yes, but he grew up in Cleveland. Then how is he going to host SummerSlam in his house, in Cleveland? No, he just is hosting SummerSlam. Whachu talkin’ bout, Miz?
Miz is in Cleveland, hosting SummerSlam, simple as that. Okay, then he has to have party favors, hors d’oeuvres, and Truth will bring ice. No, Miz isn’t doing any of that. Then he’s a bad host. Miz isn’t a bad host! Truth says he’s got this, #SayLess. So no hors d’oeuvres? NO! There are not hors d’oeuvres. Who even wants hors d’oeuvres? Truth and Cathy do. Okay fine, Miz will bring hors d’oeuvres. Is Miz going to be in over his head trying to host SummerSlam in his hometown?
Xavier Woods VS Karrion Kross w/ The Final Testament!
The New Day has been through quite a lot, but Woods is still standing! Will he use all that Power of Positivity to hold it down? Or will Doomsday make him #FallAndPray?
But as Kross steps in the ring, he also grabs a mic. Kross says he has something he wants to address. Kross was just notified that Kofi Kingston reinjured his shoulder during the Japan tour, and that’s why he’s not here tonight. Does anyone really believe that? Kross thinks Kofi’s skipping town because one: the whole world isn’t revolving around him anymore, it’s revolving around Woods, and Kofi can’t stand that; and two: no one wants to be in the hellhole of Minnesota. The fans boo but Kross says he’ll give Woods a way out of this beating. Just a couple things. One: Woods needs to join The Final Testament! And two: Tell the kids at home that the Power of Positivity was always a lie.
The fans boo but Kross says one more thing, it is important to Kross. Woods needs to tell Kofi that he should’ve retired after losing the WWE Championship after just six seconds. Woods DECKS Kross! The bell rings and Woods rains down fists! Kross pushes free, Woods runs up to LARIAT Kross up and out! Woods builds speed, and he WRECKS Kross with a dropkick! The fans fire up with Woods as he storms up on Kross, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Kross has Woods down with a SLEEPER! The fans rally, Woods fights up and fires body shots! Woods CLUBS Kross, CLUBs him more, but Kross knees low! Kross whips Woods to a corner, runs in, and LARIATS, ELBOWS and ROLLING ELBOWS! Kross says Woods is dead! Kross brings Woods up for an EXPLODER! Woods flounders, Kross soaks up the heat, and then he covers, TWO! Kross says Woods should’ve just joined him. He says New Day is dead, and Woods is the worst King of the Ring ever! Kross is trying to help Woods, “you piece of trash!” But Woods fires haymakers and CHOPS!
Woods CHOPS, JABS, and repeat! The fans fire up as Woods just keep son firing shots! Woods whips, Kross reverses but Woods ducks ‘n’ dodges to slide and ROLLING ELBOW! The fans fire up, Woods runs in at the corner, forearm SMASH! Woods then brings Kross out, but Kross wrenches and fireman’s carries! Woods slips free, O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Woods ends up in ropes, Akam gets a cheap shot! The fans boo but Kross pump handles for a scoop, only for Woods to slip free! SUPERKICK! Kross staggers, swings, but Woods dodges to DIVE onto Akam! Woods gets payback, then he baits Rezar in! Rezar runs up, but is sent into POST!
Woods hurries back up, he GAMANGIRIS Kross down! Woods goes up, and MACHO- FLOPS! Kross laughs as he avoids the elbow. Then FINAL PRAYER! Cover, Kross wins!
Winner: Karrion Kross, by pinfall
Scarlett celebrates with Kross, and the rest of The Final Testament steps inside. They all stand over Woods, but will they ever convince him to stand with them?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Jackie is with the Great Liberator, noting that while he’s moments away from facing Dominik Mysterio, he is also just days away from defending the Intercontinental Championship against Bron Breakker. What is his reaction to Bron’s comments from earlier tonight? Sami says it’s funny Bron thinks Sami is going to lose this match just because he’s got a comedy show the night before. But if Sami remembers correctly, he did that in Toronto and he still beat Bron. Bron even said it himself that Bron lost because he took it as a forgone conclusion that he was just gonna destroy Sami and get the title, just like that. Bron underestimated Sami.
And clearly, Bron isn’t doing that anymore. Sami knows Bron will take every chance to jump him from behind. Even last week, when Sami finally gets a moment, shares a moment with his Uce, his dawg, Jey Uso. Reunited in the ring, and yet again, a cheap shot from Bron. So spear after spear, fine. Bron’s young and hungry, that’s fine. But this time around, Sami’s attitude is different, too. This isn’t about teaching the young guy about respect, or teaching him some lesson. This is about kicking his ass at SummerSlam! And as far as Judgment Day goes, Sami will handle business right now. Sami heads out, will he be rolling into his next defense?
Liv Morgan speaks.
“Do you know how it feels to have your heart ripped out? It takes your breath away. It feels like you can barely even breathe. I would’ve done anything for you, Dominik. I put you on a pedestal. I treated you like the man I thought that you were. But you’re not a man.” Liv burns the pictures of them together (mostly just screenshots from Monday Night Raw). Liv says Dom is just Rhea’s little b*tch. She wants to take back every tear that she wasted on Dom, but she can’t. So all she can do now is make his and Rhea’s lives a living hell. At SummerSlam, Liv will complete her revenge tour when she beats Rhea and leaves Dom with whatever’s left of Mami.
Meanwhile, Liv will be standing in the ring, with her arm raised as she hears those three little words: “Women’s World Champion. Watch me.” Hell hath now fury like a woman scorned, is Dom going to regret choosing Rhea’s side?
Dominik Mysterio VS Sami Zayn!
Raw returns and Dom makes his entrance alone. The bell rings and the two step forward. Dom sidesteps the tie-up to soak up heat on the corner. The ref has Sami stay back, Dom hops down, and the two feel things out. Dom kicks low, wrenches to wristlock, but Sami spins and wrenches to WRING Dom out! Sami clamps onto the arm, drags Dom up, but Dom powers Sami to a corner. Dom throws hands, stomps away, but Sami hits back with haymakers! Sami whips, Dom holds ropes then bails out. The fans boo but Dom wants a timeout. There are no timeouts, and Sami chases Dom! They go around the ring, into the ring, then Sami hurdles to TOSS Dom out!
The fans fire up as Sami mule kicks from the apron. Then Sami ARABIAN PRESS SAULTS! Down goes Dom and the fans fire up while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and the fans rally, but Dom stomps away on Sami! The fans chant “DOM, YOU SUCK!” but he CLUBS away on Sami. Dom wraps on a chinlock, leans on the hold, but Sami fights up. The fans rally, Sami RAMS Dom into a corner, then RAMS him again and again. Sami is free of the chinock, btu Dom elbows him back. Dom then hops up to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Sami goes to ropes, but Dom fires hands. Sami shakes his head, Dom throws body shots then another haymaker. Dom whips, Sami goes up and over, then LARIATS! The fans fire up as Sami goes to a corner.
Dom rises up, runs in, but into an ELBOW! Sami goes up, FALLING AX HANDLE! The fans fire up again and Sami waits on Dom. Dom swings, into a BLUE THUNDER- NO, Dom fights that with elbows! Dom suplexes, Uno Amigo! Dom drags Sami up to suplex again, Dos Amigos! The fans boo but Dom brings Sami up again, THREE AMIGOS! Dom then goes to a corner, climbs up, and FROG SPL- NO, Sami moves! Dom rolls through, runs back up, but into a CORNER EXPLODER! Sami goes to the far corner and the fans fire up! But wait, here comes Carlito & JD McDonagh! Sami has them stay back, but DOm rolls Sami uP! TWO!!
Sami escapes but Dom CLUBS him! Dom reels Sami in, but Sami back drops free before any amigos! Carlito gets up, Sami DECKS him! JD gets up, Sami DECKS him, too! Dom DROPKICKS Sami onto ropes! Dom dials it up, but Sami LARIATS first! The call disconnected, and Sami hits the BLUE THUDNER BOMB! Cover, JD & Carlito attack!!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by disqualification
The fans boo but Judgment Day mugs Sami! They stomp away on Sami at the ropes, but here comes Jey! Jey baits Carlito in, DUMPS him out, then he runs to SPEAR JD! The fans fire up, Dom runs up, but Jey TOSSES him! Jey builds speed and he FLIES! Down goes Judgment Day! Sami rises, nods, but then BRON CLOBBERS SAMI! The fans boo but the Big Bad Booty Nephew is doing just as Sami knew he would! Bron builds speed, but Sami BOOTS him first!! Sami and Bron goes to corners, Bron runs up, into a CORNER EXPLODER! Sami storms to the other corner and takes aim! But Bron bails out!
The fans boo but Sami dares Bron to get back in! Bron snarls, storms in, but then Sami BOOTS him back out! Sami stands tall in St. Paul, but will he pull off another underdog victory in Cleveland?
The Wyatt Sick6 share another video.
This week’s “session” has Dexter Lumis in the chair. “A man just looking for mercy. They built their empire next to the sea, and laughed as they watched you drown. But there’s freedom in sinking. Look at what you’ve become! Tell me, brother… Tell me. What should they do when the buzzards start circling? What should they do?” Lumis looks at the camera, and says “RUN!” Will there be no mercy for those Lumis and the Wyatts now target?
Chad Gable & The Creeds talk with Adam Pearce.
Gable says once again, he is doing everyone’s jobs. He figured out the identities of the other members of the Wyatt 6. Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan. Pearce says he knows that, they’re all still under WWE contract. Oh, okay, so then they can compete? Generally, that’s how that works. What is Gable’s point? His point is that next week, on Raw, he and the Creeds VS “those three freaks” in a Six Man Tag. Pearce hopes they’re sure that’s what they want. It is. Make it happen. Then consider it official. Gable & The Creeds head out, and Pearce says, “Be careful what you wish for.” The Wyatts may be disturbing, but is Gable the one that’s crazy wanting this fight?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“Liv Morgan. You wanna burn and break things that don’t belong to you. You so badly, so badly wanna be the victim in your little revenge tour fantasy. But that’s all it is: a fantasy. The reality is, that this Saturday at SummerSlam, your little revenge tour, it comes to an end. There’s no more running, there’s no more hiding, there’s no more manipulating. You thought that I was brutal the last time I attacked your shoulder? But that’s what happened after I warned you multiple times to stay out of my business. Now, now you’ve not only taken three months of my career by injuring my shoulder, touché by the way, but you’ve taken my championship.
“You’ve tried to manipulate my family, MY Latino Heat. You so badly want me to be the demon in your little fantasy dream. But at SummerSlam, it’s time that I get MY revenge.” Mami has spoken, will she demolish what is left of Liv’s broken heart?
Six Woman Tag: Lyra Valkyria, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark!
Lyra’s learning how to let loose thanks to the party girls, but this isn’t about having fun. The Morrigan & KC Squared want to humble the newest bullies on the block. But will they avenge Zelina Vega? Or will Deville and her dangerous new crew ruin everyone’s good time?
Raw returns and Sonya’s squad makes their entrance. The trios sort out, Sonya starts against Lyra, and the two tie up. They go around, Sonya pulls hair but the ref reprimands. Lyra chinbars, but so does Sonya. Lyra powers Sonya into a headlock, but Sonya powers up and out. Lyra slides under to RAM Sonya, then she reels Sonya in, Sonya wrenches out, then ROCKS Lyra! Sonya KNEES Lyra, whips her to the corner, then tags Shayna. They mug Lyra, then Zoey tags in. Shayna wrenches to hold Lyra up, and Zoey MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Zoey drags Lyra up, scoops but Lyra slips free.
Lyra sends Zoey into buckles, then wrenches to WRING her out! Lyra clamp onto the arm, brings Zoey over, and tags in Katana. Katana tags Kayden, Lyra sends Zoey into the corner, then sends Kayden. Kayden SPLASHES, then she and Lyra set up so Katana can run up, PARTY IN MOTION! Zoey flops out of the ring, Katana helps Kayden go up and out to the apron! Lyra tags in, Kayden dodges Zoey to SUPERKICK! Then Lyra runs to WRECK Zoey with a dropkick! The fans cheer as Lyra, Kayden & Katana are vibing, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Lyra fights out of a chinlock. But Sonya RAMS her into the corner! Sonya fires hands, tags in Shayna, and they mug Lyra. Shayna stomps away, Sonya tags back in. Sonya drags Lyra up to fire body shots again and again, then lets off as the ref counts. Sonya runs up but Lyra BOOTS her! Lyra ELBOWS Shayna, ELBOWS Zoey, then goes up and over Sonya as she returns! Lyra hurries but Sonya grabs her legs! Sonya drags Lyra back, Lyra BOOTS her away, hot tag to Kayden! Kayden runs up dodges Shayna, and DECKS Kayden! ROUNDHOUSE for Sonya, leg trip for Shayna! BUZZSAW!
Kayden CLOBBERS Shayna again and again, and the fans fire up! Kayden brings Shayna up for fast hands but Shayna shoves her back. Kayden runs back up to ROCK Shayna! Kayden whips Shayna, Shayna reverses, but Kayden wheelbarrows. Victory roll, and SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Kayden storms up on Shayna. Kayden springboard LEG DROPS! Cover, TWO! Kayden runs side to side, but Shayna dodges! Shayna KNEES Kayden down, and she tags in Zoey! Zoey reels Kayden in, ALLEY- RANA! Kayden then baits Shayna and TOSSES her! Zoey SUPERKICKS but Katana tags in! Kayden ELBOWS Zoey while Katana tags Lyra.
Kayden gives Katana a lift, then a TOSS, CODE BREAKER! Lyra is there to gut wrench and POWERBOMB! Cover, Shayna breaks it! Sonya adds a KNEE! Zoey covers, Kayden SUPERKICKS her! Katana jumps in, KC Squared TOSS Shayna & Sonya! They drag Lyra to safety, then Kayden tags in. Kayden drags Zoey up, tags Katana back in. Katana goes up, but Sonya trips Kayden! No After Party yet, and Shayna gets on the apron. Katana BOOTS her away, but then Zoey gets up! Zoey grabs at Katana, but Katana turns toss into victory roll! TWO!! Zoey KNEES Katana, then drags her up! Z 360!! Cover, Deville’s crew wins!
Winners: Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark, by pinfall
A dangerous trios indeed, but wait! Damage CTRL is back! The Japan tour has reinvigorated them, and now Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane & Dakota Kai storm the ring! DMG CTRL dodges Deville and her team, to then BOOT, DROPKICK and DECK them all! The fans fire up, and Iyo goes up top! ARIHARA MOONSAULT onto them all!! Iyo then joins Kairi & Dakota in the ring to stand tall. Just who runs Raw? Perhaps these trios will have to fight it out and find out!
Gunther speaks.
Sometime before the show, Der Ring General went to the empty bleachers to say, “Last week, I offered Damian Priest the easy way out for the second time in a row. And his reaction was a reaction of a weak man. A reaction of a man who doesn’t have control over his own emotions. But that’s okay. Damian Priest doesn’t have to pretend anymore, because I exposed him for what he is: an emotional wannabe that abuses this great business as a cure for his childhood trauma.” Gunther says as far as tonight, Finn Balor is someone he used to look up to. Finn used to be one of the greatest pro-wrestlers in the world. And he still is, as he is World Tag Team Champion.
But let’s be honest. They both know Finn was destined for much greater things. But ever since he decided to surround himself with “those Judgment Day weirdos,” Finn became just like them: street trash. It will be Gunther’s pleasure tonight to find out how much of that old Finn Balor is still left. And as for Priest, know this: Gunther will never forgive Priest for abusing this great sport to cover up his pathetic existence. After SummerSlam, Priest and the rest of the world will forever remember the day when Der Ring General “saved this great sport and the World Heavyweight Championship.”
Backstage interview with Damage CTRL.
Cathy catches Iyo, Kairi & Dakota as they return backstage, and brings up that quick brawl out there with “the group that claims to be in control of Raw” while they were away. Iyo gets upset and says in Japanese that DMG CTRL are the ones who run Raw! Kairi adds her own comments in Japanese, and that WWE belongs to DMG CTRL. Dakota says the only reason Sonya and them have been “running the place” is because DMG CTRL was gone. Now that they’re back, it is time to reestablish a certain order of things. In fact, how about this? Dakota calls out Sonya for a match next week! Let’s see how long that little social club lasts after Dakota cuts the head off the snake.
DMG CTRL heads out, is #CobraKai going to leave Deville snakebit when Raw rolls into Baltimore?
Judgment Day regroups in the clubhouse.
Between Carlito and Dom each taking a loss, Rhea says, “What did you expect?” Carlito wants to point out that he was left alone out there but then they helped Dom. Rhea says she said this was gonna happen. JD says they can’t let Jey & Sami walk all over them. Finn says hold on, Rhea is right. They got themselves into this mess together. Let’s wait until after SummerSlam to get out of the mess together. Rhea says yeah, time to focus. And she’ll just put it out there… If Finn does need help with Gunther, they’ve got him. Just say the word.
Finn asks how many times they gotta go over this. At SummerSlam, Rhea is going it alone against Liv, and Priest is going it alone against Gunther. So tonight, he’s gotta step up and go it alone. Unless they don’t think he’s good enough. No, it’s not like that. Their problem is Gunther. They don’t trust that Gunther won’t try something stupid. But as his brother in arms, Priest knows Finn can handle Gunther. Go out there and show him who Finn Balor is. Finn says as Priest’s brother, he’ll soften up Gunther for Priest on Saturday.
They fist bump, JD helps Finn prepare, and the team is confident. But will the Prince be able to put a dent in the King of the Ring? Or will he be made into an example?
Finn Balor VS GUNTHER!
Raw returns and the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and Gunther hits a headlock takeover. Finn headscissors, Gunther kips free but Finn goes for the headlock. Gunther blocks the takeover, lifts Finn, but Finn hits a flying takeover! Gunther scrambles up, powers up but can’t power out as Finn holds tight. Gunther puts Finn in a corner, the ref counts, and Finn lets go. Gunther swings, misses, and Finn CHOPS! Gunther snarls, so Finn CHOPS! Gunther eggs him on so Finn CHOPS! Gunther CHOPS and Finn falls! Gunther hauls Finn up, but Finn fights the bomb! Finn powers up and back drops! Gunther sunset flips, but Finn rolls through to basement dropkicks!
Finn fires up, the fans are with him, and he runs to KICK Gunther in the side! Finn then stomps at the ropes, the ref counts, and Finn stops at 4. Gunther stands, Finn runs back in but into a BOOT! The fans boo but Gunther paces around while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Gunther looms over Finn. Gunther brings Finn up to scoop and SLAM! Finn grits his teeth while writhing, and Gunther says he’s gong to become champion. But Finn CHOPS, and CHOPS and CHOPS! But Gunther CHOPS Finn down again! Gunther hauls Finn up to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Finn stays in this but Gunther stays on him with a CHOP! Gunther turns Finn over into a BOSTON CRAB! Finn endures, the fans rally, and Finn fights his way over! Finn has the ROPEBREAK! Gunther lets go quickly, and he drags Finn up into a corner. Gunther CLUBS Finn, then puts him up top.
Gunther SLAPS Finn on the back, but Finn throws elbows! Gunther CHOPS Finn on the back, then climbs up behind him! Gunther brings Finn up for a SUPER- CROSSBODY! Finn turns things around in time and both men are down! The fans fire up while Gunther sputters. Gunther slowly rises, as does Finn. They both stand, and Finn BOOTS Gunther! Finn ducks a chop to CHOP back! Finn fires forearms and body shots, but Gunther scoops! Finn slips free, into the EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Finn aims from a corner. Gunther rises, but he dodge the slingblade to have a SLEEPER!
Finn endures, Gunther drags him back up but Finn arm-drags free! Gunther CHOPS! SLEEPER!! Finn flails, fans rally, and Gunn leans on the hold! Finn fades, Gunther spins him around and POWER- SATELLITE DDT! Finn turns things around, runs and LARIATS, but Gunther stays up! Finn keeps moving, Gunther LARIATS back! Cover, TWO! Finn survives but both men are down. The fans rally up more as the two men stir. Finn and Gunther slowly rise, but Gunther stands first. Gunther kicks Finn, Finn CHOPS! Gunther CHOPS! Finn staggers, but he SLAPS! Gunther CHOPS, Finn SLAPS, back and forth!
The shots keep going, Finn CHOPS, Gunther UPPERCUTS! Gunther reels Finn in to POWER- NO, Finn slips free, duck sunder and comes back, SLINGBLADE! Gunther falls and Finn takes aim! The fans fire up as Finn runs in, but into a SLEEPER! REAR NAKED- NO, Finn rolls out of the body scissors to DOUBLE STOMP! Finn trips Gunther, and DOUBLE STOMPS again! Gunther sputters, Finn hurries to DOUBLE STOMP again! Finn aims from a corner, runs in, SHOTGUN! Gunther hits buckles then falls! Finn hurries up the corner while fans fire up! COUP DE- NO, Gunther moves! SLEEPER!! Finn flails but Gunther squeezes tight!
Finn is fading, but he finds a second wind! So Gunther reels him in and lifts, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Finn survives so it’s back to the SLEEPER!! Finn flails, reaches out, but he’s fading again! Gunther leans on the hold, Finn gets a third wind! The fans rally as Finn rises up, and he pries at Gunther’s arms! Finn ELBOW BREAKERS one, but Gunther just clamps on with the other! Finn is back down, the ref checks him! Finn is OUT, Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by submission
The King of the Ring got a fight out of The Prince, but then he CLAMPS THE SLEEPER BACK ON!! Gunther wants to humiliate and hurt Finn as a message to Priest! But here comes El Campeon! The fans fire up as Priest runs in, and he fires off hands on Gunther! They brawl, the fans fire up, and Priest DECKS Gunther! Gunther bails out but Priest pursues to fire off more hands! Gunther RAMS Priest into barriers, Priest pushes him back and ROCKS him with haymaker after haymaker! They go around ringside, Priest CHUCKS Gunther over the desk! The fans are thunderous as Priest rains down fists on the desk!
Gunther can only guard as Priest stomps at him! Gunther staggers, Priest LEAPS onto him! Priest stomps away against the barriers, this is that street mugging he promised! He throws Gunther into the Prime hydration station! Gunther and cart tumble, Gunther tries to get away, but Priest HAMMERS him on the barriers! The Punisher is giving Gunther what he deserves already, but will Gunther still get what he wants at SummerSlam?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw as the go-home for SummerSlam here, but with quite a bit more prepared for next week’s aftermath episode. Great tag match of Otis & Tozawa VS The Creeds, with Gable of course cheating to help the now Heel Creeds. At the same time, great appearance by Wyatt Sick6, great team combo from Lumis and Gacy, and I again enjoyed Gable being arrogant, thinking he figured out some secret that the Wyatts gave up willingly. As I figured, a Six Man Tag is happening and it’ll be next week, not at SummerSlam. That is fine, as being a kickoff show match doesn’t seem big enough for the in-ring return of Gacy, Lumis & Rowan.
Good match from Kross with Woods but of course Final Testament had to interfere. I want the blowoff, the match that determines if Woods joins Final Testament or stops them, to be a pure 1v1 match but that probably isn’t happening, given they might want to give Kofi a triumphant return. Though, perhaps such a return ends up exactly why Woods joins Kross, because on some level, it proves Kross is right. I do feel like it’d be the more intriguing story if, after all this time, New Day stopped being a team. Woods doesn’t even have to join Kross, he just has to see he doesn’t need Kofi anymore.
While Sonya’s group hurting Zelina seems a bit unnecessary, we got a very good Six Woman Tag. Good win for Sonya’s group which really needs a name, but also great return for DMG CTRL, with a look that hearkens back to Lucha Underground’s Black Lotus Triad, aka the one-off of Iyo & Kairi teaming with Mayu Iwatani to beat up on Pentagon Jr. Dakota VS Sonya will be good stuff, and really, should be Dakota’s win so DMG CTRL’s return is even stronger. Then we can do other singles matches, some tag matches, and of course the eventual Six Woman Tag. Though I wonder if Lyra & KC Squared get involved for a triple trios thing.
Sheamus VS Bronson was a great rematch, but I was just wondering when Dunne would show up. I didn’t think he’d use a shillelagh, though. Great win for Bronson, he could use this to go after whoever wins the Intercontinental Championship after SummerSlam. As for Dunne, he and Sheamus might end up having a Donnybrook match. It’ll hearken back to when The Brawling Brutes were a thing, it’d help bring out Dunne’s motivations in this feud, and it’d just be a lot of fun seeing them go all out, smashing up a tiny bar or some wood barrels.
As for SummerSlam build, a very good though rather long opening promo segment. Rollins didn’t go as crazy with his ref outfit as I was expecting, but the leather pants, zebra stripe boots and puffy shoulder shirt is still good stuff. And I do like that his rules will be very lax, bordering on No Holds Barred because he just wants to see McIntyre and Punk beat each other to a pulp. Now, it’d be rather cliche if like, Punk upsets Rollins somehow and Rollins screws him out of this, but it would be fitting of the story. Punk warned Rollins, that felt like foreshadowing, and what a great way to transition feuds than for Punk to want after Rollins now.
Judgment Day was of course a great throughline on the night. Liv bashing up the clubhouse, and the PS5, while also having her promo with the trash can fire, was good stuff. Rhea’s response was also good, can’t wait to see how their title match goes down. Very good promos from Priest and Gunther to call each other out, and it is intriguing how Finn seems to be the one insisting on “Stand on your own, handle the business,” even though they in no way had to have Carlito lose to Jey or Dom lose to Sami. I’m still hoping to see that Judgment Day Civil War type break-up, Finn bringing JD & Carlito with him to join Liv, so that the real business they need to handle is, “Who is better Judgment Day?”
Sami and Jey got great momentum off those matches, but we also got a good promo from Sami and Bron. Bron going after Sami but being run off, that go-home math has to mean Sami loses. I’m still a little surprised Sami won at MITB, so I think this is when Bron wins. Bron’s promo does have a point about “life after Bron,” because Sami and Jey could move over to go after the tag titles since this thing with Judgment Day is heating up. And then, if Survivor Series brings back Brand VS Brand, Sami & Jey are champs on Raw but Bloodline’s Tama & Jacob Fatu are champs on SmackDown… It isn’t quite a WarGames of Bloodline Civil War, but it’d be pretty good all the same.
My Score: 8.8/10
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El Phantasmo defeated cancer, and he won the NJPW World Television Championship! But will this feel good story take a Tour of the Island?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima VS Masatora Yasuda; Murashima wins.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Daiki Nagai; Tanahashi wins.
- Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato VS The United Empire; Shota, Taguchi & Wato win.
- Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma; Naito & Hiromu win.
- Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Clark Connors; Sanada & Connors win, by disqualification.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Bullet Club wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & El Desperado VS TMDK; Goto, Hashi, Yoh, Ishii & Desperado win.
- NJPW World Television Championship: El Phantasmo VS Jeff Cobb; ELP wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
10 Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & El Desperado VS TMDK!
We saw The Fierce Warrior and Front Man lead teams before in a Six Man Tag, but now we raise the bar! Will Chaos plus Despy defeat The Mighty? Or will Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out, and we get tense stare downs. ZSJ and Goto, Oiwa and Hashi, Fujita and Despy, Eagles and Yoh, Hartley and Ishii. The ref tells everyone to settle down, and eventually it’s Despy and Fujita starting off. The bell rings and the fans rally. Chants “FU-JI-TA!” and “DE-SU-PEY!” are fairly even, and the two circle. They feel things out, Fujita goes for a leg but Despy facelocks to counter. Fujita spins to use his leg guard but Despy gets around to go for the headlock again. Fujita waistlocks, Despy wrenches an arm, but Fujita slips away. The fans cheer as the two reset. They circle, tie up, and Despy wrenches an arm.
Fujita fires elbows, wrenches back, but Despy slips around to wrench and hammerlock. Fujita wrenches out to hammerlock in return, and they switch the hammerlock onto each other again and again. Despy wrangles Fujita with a top wristlock and grinds him down. Fujita fights up, Despy cording holds, but Fujita whips him, to then wrench and wrangle in return! Fujita STOMPS Despy’s arm and the fans cheer. Despy storms up on Fujita, then CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, but Despy doesn’t flinch! The CHOPS go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans fire up as they just keep going! Despy starts to feel that stinging, but then he YANKS Fujita’s arm!
Despy drags Fujita up, CHOPS him again, then brings him over to the corner. Tag to Yoh, but Fujita fires forearms on Despy! Yoh CLUBS Fujita, Despy stomps Fujita down, then Yoh stomps Fujita. Yoh drags Fujita up, kicks him low, then fires a forearm. Eagles sneaks a tag and Fujita whips Yoh away! Trip, KICK, SENTON, and basement DROPKICK! Fujita then BLASTS the Chaos corner! Eagles drags Yoh by a leg, steps through, but Yoh fights his way to a ROPEBREAK! Eagles drags Yoh back, Yoh scrambles to another ROPEBREAK! Eagles drags Yoh back again, but Yoh scrambles to yet another ROPEBREAK!
The ref counts, Eagles finally lets go, and he follows Yoh to the center. Eagles CHOPS Yoh to a corner, then runs in, only for Yoh to put him on the apron! Eagles ROCKS Yoh first, then springboards, but Yoh dodges! Yoh then drop toeholds Eagles, and basement DROPKICKS him! The fans cheer while Eagles scrambles away. Eagles tags Oiwa, so Yoh tags Hashi. Mighty Mullet and Headhunter RAM, and RAM, and then Oiwa runs, but Hashi dodges to BLOCKBUSTER! Goto & Ishii BLAST ZSJ & Hartley! Then Bishamon whips Oiwa to a corner! Goto LARIATS, then feeds Oiwa to DOUBLE SHOULDERS from Hashi & Ishii!
Goto sits Oiwa up for a CHAOS TRIPLE KICK! Cover, TWO! Hashi brings Oiwa up, but Oiwa CHOPS! Oiwa fires a forearm, Hashi CHOPS, and the fans fire up! Hashi brings Oiwa up but Oiwa CHOPS! Hashi CHOPS, Oiwa CHOPS, repeat! The fans fire up as the CHOPS go back and forth! Oiwa runs, but into a CHOP! And then DOUBLE CHOP! Hashi runs, but Oiwa RUNS Hashi over! The fans fire up and Oiwa tags in #BigJag! Hartley CHOPS Hashi! And then he suplexes Hashi high and hard! Then BIG ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives but Hartley BLASTS the Chaos corner! Then Hartley plays defense while TMDK swarms Hashi!
ZSJ and Oiwa have Hashi’s arms, Fujita & Eagles have Hashi’s legs! Then they rotate! And rotate! And rotate again! The ref reprimands and counts them all, and all five TMDK members put their hands up, even though Hartley wasn’t doing anything. But then Hartley SENTONS onto Hashi! The fans cheer, Hartley covers, but Yoh & Despy break it! TMDK throws Yoh & Despy back out, then Hartley tags ZSJ. The fans cheer as ZSJ brings Hashi up in a cravat. Hashi endures the neck wrench, throws body shots, then a CHOP! ZSJ eggs Hashi on, then blocks a chop to JAB low! ZSJ facelocks Hashi, but Hashi powers out with a suplex!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Hashi and ZSJ crawl, hot tag to Goto! The Fierce Warrior runs ZSJ over, intercepts Goto, and snap suplexes him onto ZSJ! Goto then BLASTS Hartley & Fujita! Goto brings ZSJ up, fires forearms, then whips him to a corner. ZSJ reverses, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! ZSJ keeps moving but Goto LARIATS ZSJ in the corner! The fans fire up with Goto, but ZSJ stops the hip toss to THROW Goto down! And NECK TWIST! ZSJ then runs to PENALTY- NO, Goto blocks the kick! Goto ROCKS ZSJ, but ZSJ fires up! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, but Goto fires up!
Goto fires a forearm, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, repeat! The forearms fly, Goto ROCKS ZSJ again and again! But ZSJ UPPERCUTS right back! ZSJ runs, but Goto follows, only for ZSJ to wrangle him! FUJIWARA ARMBAR! TMDK BLASTS the Chaos corner! Goto endures, ZSJ shifts, DISARMER! Goto still endures, so ZSJ shifts to trap that arm and grab the other! CLARKY CAT! Goto endures, reaches out, but ZSJ pulls that arm way back! Goto still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ZSJ lets go in frustration. ZSJ drags Goto up, reels him in, ZACK- NO, Goto slips out, but ZSJ elbows him away.
ZSJ runs up but Goto dodges to schoolboy with some stank on it! Cover, TWO! ZSJ escapes, but Goto fireman’s carries! Goto feints Ushigoroshi to have the dragon sleeper! G T- NO, ZSJ drops down to victory roll and EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!! Goto escapes but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Goto rises to LARIAT!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! ZSj and Goto crawl, hot tags to Hartley and Ishii! The big meaty men DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! Ishii ducks a lariat to LARIAT back! Hartley DROPKICKS Ishii!! Hartley SPLASHES in the corner, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO!
Hartley reels Ishii in but Despy LOCO MONOS! Fujita runs up, Despy dodges, but then Fujita dodges Despy! Despy blocks a kick, knees low, then sends Fujita at the corner. Eagles puts Fujita on the apron, BOOTS Despy, then Fujita MISSILE DORPKICKS Despy! Fujita runs, into Yoh’s SUPERKICK! Eagles SOBATS and ASAI- NO, Yoh slips free! But Eagles avoids the elbow to ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PELE! But Yoh says I’LL BE BACK, SUPERKICK!! Yoh aims, but Hartley stops the plancha! Yoh elbows free, but Hartley CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up as Hartley now has Ishii! Fireman’s carry, but Ishii fights free!
Ishii waistlocks, but Hartley is too big to German Suplex! Hartley elbows free, then sends Ishii to Oiwa. Ishii ROCKS Oiwa first! Then Ishii dodges to send Hartley into Oiwa! The fans fire up as Ishii feeds Hartley to Hashi’s SUPERKICK! Then Ishii GERMAN SUPLEXES Hartley!! The fans are thunderous, and Hashi dodges Oiwa to feed him to Ishii’s forearm! Hashi mule kicks, then he and Ishii whip Oiwa, but Oiwa DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans are thunderous as now Oiwa hauls Ishii up, THE- NO, Ishii swats the Grip, dodges again, but Oiwa DROPKICKS Ishii down! Oiwa hauls Ishii up, for the DAIGO SHIKI SAIDO!
Oiwa sets Ishii up for Hartley, BIG JAG DEATH VALLEY!! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous again! Hartley hauls Ishii up, reels him in, BIG JAG BOMB!! Cover, GOTO BREAKS IT! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto, UPPERCUTS again, and again! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses, USHIGOROSHI! Hartley is up, he DOUBLE LARIATS with Goto! Goto HEADBUTTS Hartley, Ishii HEADBUTTS Hartley, then Ishii LARIATS Hartley down! High stack, TWO!! Hartley survives but Ishii hauls him up. No way! Ishii suplexes Hartley!? BRAINBUSTER!!! Cover, CHAOS WINS!
Winners: Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Yoh & El Desperado, by pinfall
That was definitely a mighty battle, and while The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Hartley sure fell hard! Eagles still goes after Yoh on the outside, their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship battle still to come. The Young Lions separate them, but will Yoh & Rocky Romero revise who is on top? And what about Fujita and El Desperado? They battle tomorrow for THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, will the Rogue Luchador still be the Best of the Super Juniors?
NJPW World Television Championship: El Phantasmo VS Jeff Cobb!
The Headbanga fought cancer, and won. He fought three opponents in one match, and won! But now, he and the Imperial Unit are going to go 1v1, can ELP still win? Or will his “season” be over already?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s the real main character of NJPW World!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans rally up as Cobb and ELP step up. ELP and Cobb shake hands and the fans cheer. The two tie up, Cobb headlocks, but ELP powers up and out, only for Cobb to run him over! Cobb runs but ELP stays low, then ELP DROPKICKS Cobb! Cobb staggers to a corner while ELP kips up. The fans cheer and ELP goes to Cobb, but Cobb POUNCES him away! Cobb throws hands to put ELP in a corner, then he RAMS into him! Cobb then TOSSES ELP across the ring! Jado coaches ELP up and ELP stands. Cobb runs in, ELP goes up and over, then dodges to springboard, but Cobb catches him!
Cobb pops ELP up into a suplex, then THROWS him away! Cobb flexes and the fans cheer, but Jado still coaches ELP. Cobb drags ELP up, HEADBUTTS him to the corner, then whips corner to corner. ELP goes up and over, then spins to CHOP! ELP knuckle locks Cobb, CHOPS again, then goes up, up, jumps around, and FLYING- NO! Cobb stops the rana to then bring ELP up. ELP fires hands, and he manages to RANA Cobb out of the ring! ELP skins the cat, the fans cheer, and ELP builds speed. ELP DIVES, and he sends Cobb into railing! The fans cheer and ELP DUMPS Cobb into the front row! The fans step aside while ELP brings Cobb back up.
ELP ROCKS Cobb, Cobb ends up taking a seat, so ELP goes up the corner! The fans fire up already as ELP spells it out! “E! L! P!” SUPER ARIHARA MOONSAULT but no Cobb!? Cobb let the Young Lions take that hit for him! ELP crawls and Cobb drags him up from the chairs. Cobb brings ELP around to and tosses him to the orange seats! Cobb stalks ELP up the bleachers, brings him up, and he suplexes!? The fans freak out, but then Cobb carries ELP as he marches up the steps! The fans cheer, but ELP manages to slip free! ELP shoves Cobb into the side of the stairwell! ELP then uses Cobb as a step to get onto the ledge!
The fans freak out already as ELP takes aim, “E! L! P!” SUPER CROSSBODY! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Both men are down and Red Shoes wants them to get to the ring. However, the time hits five minutes, this is already working in ELP’s favor. ELP and Cobb stand, and ELP fires a forearm! Cobb staggers away, ELP follows, and ELP CHOPS! Cobb staggers away again, and ELP struts over to CHOP again! Cobb stumbles down the stairs, ELP pursues, and we return to the ground floor. ELP uses a fan’s ELP towel to blind Cobb, and ELP CHOPS him! ELP gives the towel a kiss before giving it back to the fan.
But Cobb fires body shots! Cobb POSTS ELP, then brings him around to APRON BACK SUPLEX! ELP writhes but Cobb slips into the ring. Cobb storms over, drags ELP up from the apron, and Jado already doesn’t like where this is going. Cobb deadlifts ELP for the stalling- NO, ELP slips free again! And he gets under, to carry Cobb out for a POWERBOMB! The fans fire up and ELP high stacks, TWO! Cobb survives that but the fans rally for ELP. Time is still ticking away, but ELP tunes up the band! ELP aims as Cobb rises up, SUDDEN- NO, Cobb blocks the kick and reels ELP in! FALL AWAY SLAM!
ELP flounders to a corner and Cobb flounders to the other. Both men drag themselves up, and Cobb runs in, LEAPING BACK ELBOW! Cobb huffs ‘n’ puffs but he clearly has a bloody nose. Cobb wipes the blood away, but ELP kicks from below! Cobb grabs the legs and he YANKS ELP right up into an ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO! ELP stays in this and the fans cheer. Cobb hauls ELP back up, whips him to ropes, but ELP grabs ropes to stop! ELP BOOTS back, runs up, but Cobb catches him! ELP BELL CLAPS free, then ROCKS Cobb! Cobb DOUBLE CHOPS, ELP mule kicks, front KICKS, then ENZIGIRIS!
The fans fire up and ELP throws off the elbow pads! ELP winds up and LARIATS! LARIAT! And LARIAT! ELP runs, but Cobb dodges to come back and LARIAT! Cobb hits so hard, he tumbles to the apron! ELP sputters while Cobb rises up. The fans rally for ELP, but Cobb climbs the ropes!? “JEFF! COB-BU!” THUNDER FLOP!! ELP rolls Cobb up, TWO! Cobb is still in this but ELP steps over, LA MAGIST- NO, Cobb smothers it to a cover, TWO!! ELP escapes, then hooks Cobb, but Cobb fights the backslide! Cobb switches the hooks to FLIP ELP! Cobb HEADBUTTS ELP, ELP staggers and rebounds, and Cobb SUPERKICKS!
ELP leans against ropes, Cobb reels him in, TOUR OF THE- CRUCIFIX TAKEDOWN! TWO!! Cobb escapes again! SUDDEN DEATH!! ELP covers, ONE?!? Cobb survives so ELP tunes up again! Cobb staggers up, into SUDDEN DEATH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cobb survives again and ELP is stunned! Jado and the fans continue to rally for ELP and ELP vows to finish this! Three minute warning as ELP hooks Cobb up, but Cobb wrenches free! TOUR OF- DDT!! ELP hits a shocking counter, then goes to the apron! ELP climbs up, Cobb rises, CROSSBODY! Then he goes up the ropes again, THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, ELP WINS!!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (still NJPW World Television Champion)
Cobb put a powerful fight worthy of a former champion like him. But in the end, he couldn’t “cancel” the Headbanga Show. ELP shows Cobb respect by helping him stand, but Cobb doesn’t want it! Cobb snatches the title, so that he can give it to ELP himself. Cobb shows ELP respect in return, but will Cobb be moving on to another title scene?
As for ELP, after catching his breath a bit, he grabs the mic to tell Korakuen Hall, “Daisuki desu! <I really like you~!>” The fans cheer that! ELP grabs a second mic so “Papa Jado” can also speak. Is he feeling good? Jado says yeah, he’s feeling good! ELP asks Korakuen if they feel good, and the fans cheer that they do. “Sugoi. <Amazing.>” ELP apologizes, he knows little Japanese. But ELP knows Jado knows a lot of Japanese! Maybe Jado can translate? Jado says yeah, it’s all good! The fans applaud, and ELP says it has been a long time since he was in the main event of NJPW! And yes, Jado translates.
The fans cheer, and ELP says he won’t use this time to put himself over. Jado hesitates, he isn’t sure how “put myself over” would translate… Jado just goes with, “Good luck with that.” ELP says he doesn’t want fans to cheer him, he wants fans to cheer for all the guys in the back who drove the bus for 9.5 HOURS to get here from Morioka. Jado translates that, and the fans do cheer. ELP wants fans to cheer for the cameramen who film this all day, while ELP only has to wrestle 15 minutes. The fans cheer already, and Jado still isn’t sure how to translate. ELP simplifies it to: I love the cameramen who work so hard. Jado can do that.
ELP wants cheers for Milano Collection AT and Hiroshi Tanahashi on commentary. They do way more work than him, so cheer them. The fans do cheer, but Jado’s translation is more about teasing Milano & Tanahashi than praising. ELP also points to the timekeeper, and English commentary’s Walker Stewart, who is doing this for like, the 12 English speaking fans who watch this live! The fans do cheer, and ELP says F Clark Connors, the guest commentator. ELP thanks the referees and office staff who help set up the ring and tear it down every show, and Jado translates. ELP says there are a lot of people who deserve more love than him.
So for everyone who isn’t a wrestler, but who makes NJPW run on a daily basis, make some noise! The fans cheer, and ELP says hold on, this is for the Osaka fans. ELP isn’t on the New Beginning show, but he will do an autograph signing there because of all the love they showed when he had his little cancer thing back then. “Osaka, see you soon.” The fans cheer, and ELP tells Korakuen, “I am the Headbanga! I am the NJPW World TV Champion! And I am… E! L! P!” The fans join in on that! Will The Headbanga Show continue to be the people’s show?
My Thoughts:
A great continuation of Road to New Beginning, though about as much filler as before, too. I do appreciate that Tanahashi is doing this series of “Final Road Connection” matches. With these Young Lions still in that phase of their career, Tanahashi will never get to wrestle them when they’re established stars, so this is nice of him as a veteran, an icon, a legend, to be giving back and paying it forward. Good stuff in the other matches, too, and Sanada finding another way to get Taichi disqualified is actually hilarious. Sanada is really leaning into being a sneaky, underhanded Heel, I feel like his blowoff with Taichi should be No Disqualifications just so he can’t frame Taichi.
The 10 Man Tag was good stuff, and with TMDK having won last time in the main event, it made sense for Goto’s team to win this time. It was also mostly to build momentum for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match tomorrow, and the tag title match for New Beginning in Osaka. Desperado VS Fujita is going to be great, but I don’t know if Fujita & Eagles really become a Junior Heavyweight Two Man Power Trip. The NJPW World TV Championship was a great main event, and that was a great win for ELP. ELP also gave a great promo where he showed love and appreciation for all the NJPW non-wrestler and production staff. Naturally he has a new lease on life, he’s learning to be grateful for everything, so this was a great way to show that.
My Score: 8.7/10
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Turning the corner on the Road to WrestleMania!
Charlotte Flair and Jey Uso are headed to WrestleMania 41, but will they choose the champions they’re after tonight on Raw? Or will they wait it out?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser; Penta wins.
- The New Day VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee; The New Day wins.
- Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Liv Morgan VS Iyo Sky; Liv wins, by disqualification, and advances to Elimination Chamber.
- Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: CM Punk VS Sami Zayn; Punk wins and advances to Elimination Chamber.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is here!
And the winner of the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble is in the pavilion as he asks the production truck to hit his music! Uh, YEET! Cleveland is all fired up as Jey makes his way out through the crowd, and it’s time to YEET in The Land! Jey high-fives as he makes it to ground level, then high-fives with Pat McAfee and Michael Cole before going to the ring. The fans continue to bounce as Jey stands on the corner, then he goes to the other corner! Jey then grabs a mic, but the fans still wanna “YEET!” The fans now chant, “One More Time! One More Time!” Jey says sure why not! Jey gets on the corner and everyone YEETS again!
Jey goes back to the mic, and the fans chant, “You Deserve It!” Jey soaks it all in, then takes a breath before taking off the sunglasses. The fans then chant for “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey goes to speak, but the positive energy is overwhelming. Cleveland continues to “YEET!” and Jey says, “Thank you guys for that. To be honest, I don’t even know what to say.” The fans say “YEET!” and Jey says besides that. Jey wants to rap at ya. Jey came in the game, like almost 15 years ago. Nah, he tried to make a good living with his twin brother to become pro-wrestlers. As far as carrying their family legacy, they did that, and that was cool.
Fast forward, pandemic, Jey goes with his family, The Bloodline. That was fire. They did cool chapters in his career. Jey was so scared, not confident in himself, to try and do this as a singles star. He didn’t have it, bruh. He didn’t. But coming out here tonight, Jey’s got it now! The fans cheer that! They again chant, “You Deserve It!” and Jey takes a breath. Jey says he worked, and worked, really hard, just to get to this spot. He worked hard to get in this position. But look. Jey’s got it. Jey has it because of every single fan. From his heart, from his family, thank you everyone! Every week with him! Jey gets teared up and the fans cheer more.
Jey says because of the fans, he is the 2025 Royal Rumble winner! EY EY! YEET!! And now, bruh, Jey is going to WrestleMania, the main event, and it’s just him, Uce! But wait! Gunther is here! Der Ring General, the World Heavyweight Champion, makes his way to the ring to stand across from Jey, a very familiar sight. The fans boo and Jey is frustrated, but Gunther tells Jey he’d offer congratulations here. But for what? In reality, Gunther is disappointed. Because honestly, this possible match up here, it doesn’t appeal to Gunther. Let’s be honest, Jey! Jey can’t even lace Gunther’s boots!
Gunther is the World Heavyweight Champion, he learned box office, and he learned how to make the fans all believe he’s barely holding on, when in reality, he is always in control! And y’know what? This time, Gunther refuses to do this with Jey again. Gunther asks if Jey even knows what it means to hold this world title. It means Gunther is in the process of building a legacy for himself. And quite honestly, beating Jey at Mania doesn’t add a thing to his legacy. Now, Jey, don’t give him that look. See Gunther’s expectations. Beating Roman, Cena, CM Punk, that would’ve added something to Gunther’s legacy.
So Jey, the situation here is clear. Jey has everything to gain and Gunther has everything to lose. So if Jey chooses Gunther, that forces Gunther into a position where he has to give himself something to gain. Gunther wants Jey to understand: If Jey chooses Gunther, every week is going to be Hell, With WrestleMania being the most horrible display of violence this business has ever seen! Gunther will hurt Jey. Gunther will put Jey down like a diseased dog! The fans boo, but Gunther says the good thing is, Jey has options. Gunther’s advice is to consider them. Gunther goes to leave but Jey says hold up, hold up.
Is Gunther not tired yet? Jey is. Cleveland, are you tired? YEET! Everyone telling Jey what he can and can’t be. YEET! Tag team guy. YEET! Not supposed to be in the main event. YEET! Not supposed to win the Royal Rumble! YEET! But Gunther, Jey is going to Friday Night SmackDown, holla at Cody, but he promises this: Whoever Jey chooses, he walks into WrestleMania as the 2025 Royal Rumble winner, and he guarantees us he walks out as Main Event Jey Uso, and as a champion! YEET! Jey hits the mic drop, but then who will he choose to main event with in Las Vegas?
WWE shares John Cena’s words from the Royal Rumble Post-Show.
John Cena announces now that he will compete in the Elimination Chamber. Because after 23 years of loyal service, that opportunity is earned. he is going in to win, and he is going to main event his final WrestleMania and win that 17th championship. Not for him, but to someday shake the hand of the person who wins 18. That is one spot already filled, who will win their way into the other five?
PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser!
The Man with No Fear made the Impeccable German the man with a lot of embarrassment after only lasting six seconds in the Royal Rumble. Kaiser might hate Penta more than he does Sheamus now, but will he get his Royal Rumble revenge? Or will Kaiser learn how dangerous #CeroMiedo really is?
The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s eyes through the mask, puts him in the corner, then UPPERCUTS him down! Kaiser stomps away on Penta, but the ref counts. Kaiser backs off, but then stands Penta up to whip. Penta KICKS Kaiser in return, then ducks ‘n’ dodges! Tilt-o-whirl RANA and Kaiser tumbles to a corner. The fans cheer, Penta runs up, GAMANGIRI! Penta sits Kaiser down, headstands, but Kaiser gets up to GAMANGIRI in return! Penta falls in a heap but Kaiser kicks him around. Kaiser shouts, “You wanna embarrass me?!” Kaiser pushes Penta around, then SPITS on him!
Kaiser stands Penta up to whip, but Penta reverses, and it’s a replay from the Rumble! The fans fire up and Kaiser is furious! Kaiser storms back up, but Penta blocks a shot to SOBAT! Penta then triangle jumps, but Kaiser UPPERCUTS first! Kaiser drags Penta up, fireman’s carries, and APRON KAISER ROLL! Penta falls to the floor, Kaiser dares Penta to embarrass him now, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Penta CHOPS Kaiser! And CHOPS again! Penta whips, Kaiser reverses, but Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl, only for Kaiser to SLAM him down! Sliding LARIAT! Kaiser rains down forearms on the back of Penta’s head! The fans boo but Kaiser drags Penta to his feet, short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Penta, but Kaiser PENALTY KICKS! Penta stays up and the fans rally more. Penta eggs Kaiser on, so Kaiser KICKS! Kaiser mocks Cero Miedo, but Penta shakes his head. The fans boo Kaiser, Penta eggs Kaiser on! “Listen! CERO! MIEDO!” Kaiser runs, but Penta CHOPS him down!
Penta CHOPS again, and again, and again! Penta whips, kaiser reverses, but Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Kaiser sputters his way to a corner, but Penta runs up to GAMANGIRI! Penta sits Kaiser down, handstands, and he hits the SWINGING DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kaiser stays in this, Penta is a bit frustrated, and the forearms go back and forth. Then Penta CHOPS! Kaiser CHOPS! Penta CHOPS again! Kaiser CHOPS again! They go CHOP for CHOP, then Kaiser knees low. Kaiser CLUBS Penta on the neck, then brings him up to the ropes. But Penta DUMPS Kaiser to the floor!
Penta builds speed and he FLIES! Down goes Kaiser at the ramp and the fans fire up! Kaiser gets in the ring first, but Penta goes to the apron at 5 of 10. Penta climbs a corner, Kaiser turns around, into the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Penta is frustrated again but Kaiser CHOPS! So Penta CHOPS! The CHOPS go back and forth again, then Kaiser CLUBS Penta! Penta SUPERKICKS, and SUPERKICKS, then whips! Penta drops down, then jumps up, but Kaiser has him! KAISER ROLL again! Cover, TWO! Kaiser is furious but the fans fire up! Kaiser paces around, storms up on Penta, clinch and SIDE- NO, Penta slips free!
Penta half nelsons, Kaiser has the ropes, and then Kaiser elbows Penta! Kaiser uses ropes to roll Penta, but Penta slips through to trap the arm! FOR THE SACRIFICE!! Kaiser clutches his arm, but Penta clinches! PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Another big win on Raw and the Penta Era is undefeated! Jackie Redmond interviews Penta in the ring, congratulating him on the win streak. Penta said this is his era, so what can the WWE expect next? Penta thanks Jackie, but then Pete Dunne interrupts! The fans boo as The Bruiserweight makes his way out, but then Kaiser attacks Penta from behind! The fans boo as Kaiser is a sore loser, just like Dunne! Kaiser clinches Penta for the SIDEWINDER! The ref reprimands but the damage has been done! Will Kaiser and Dunne actually become an alliance over their disdain for the new kid on the block?
Judgment Day talks backstage.
While none of them won the Rumble, Liv is excited to get in on the Elimination Chamber. But then Finn Balor barges in, and wants to get this right. He’s gone for two weeks, recovering from that brutal Street Fight, and everything just falls to pieces. Not only did Dominik steal Finn’s tag title rematch, Dom stole Finn’s partner, JD McDonagh. And in the process, Dom got JD hurt! In the future, if Dom wants to call the shots, maybe he needs a babysitter. Dom says, “Is that so?” and Finn says yes it is. Liv & Raquel step in, and Liv says that’s not true! Dom had to step in or another team was going to get the title match. And The War Raiders hurt JD, not Dom.
Liv knows things are looking grim, but after tonight, she’ll qualify to be in the Elimination Chamber, and Liv & Raquel are promised a tag team title match! All thanks to Daddy Dom. Wow, so Dom does all this for Liv and nothing for Finn? Liv says no, Dom got Finn a Chamber qualifier, too. That was Dom? Yeah, cuz they’re family. And they will listen to Finn from now on. But Liv has to get ready for her match with Iyo, so she’s gotta go. Liv nuzzles noses with Dom before heading out, Raquel at her side. Dom says he told you so. Carlito asks what Dom got him. Dom got Carlito the apples. Will Finn make the most of Dom’s gifted qualifier? Will Judgment Day still (not) be okay?
Charlotte Flair is here!
The Land cheers as The Queen, the 2025 Women’s Rumble winner, the first-ever TWO TIME Women’s Rumble winner, is here! But much like Jey, she has a choice to make. Will Charlotte choose the champion she’s after? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Charlotte has a mic. “Hi, Cleveland.” The fans are a little torn now, but Charlotte says here’s the thing. A year and a half ago, the booing would’ve bothered her. But she actually missed the fans. No, really, it has been a year and two months. She missed the booing and the cheering. Last year sucked! Actually, up until last year, she really thought she was unbreakable, but last year broke her mentally and emotionally. There was even a point last year, she didn’t know if her knee was ever going to be better. She didn’t know if she’d make it to Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, or even WrestleMania! They just don’t get it!
The fans continue to be torn, and Charlotte says she’ll embrace the boos, because she still loves all the fans. And do they know why she still loves them all? Because whether they’re wooing or booing, love to hate her, hate to love her, it doesn’t change the fact that she is the GREATEST WWE Superstar in the history of this industry! So boo her now. Or is that not what they wanted? Did they not want her saying how hard last year was for her? Because it broke her, yet she still fought every single day to get back here. This is what she loves, this is her passion, this is what she wants to be the very best at!
So when she was able to walk that aisle again and punch her ticket to WrestleMania, she knew she was- RHEA RIPLEY is here! Charlotte smiles and the fans cheer as the Women’s World Champion makes her way out. Mami grabs a mic to then stand face to face with The Queen. Charlotte says she was trying to have a moment with Cleveland, but hello, Mami. Rhea says okay, but this is her show. And now we seem to have the possibility of these two once again. Rhea says when you go to war with someone, that is when you earn their respect the most. So Rhea does respect Charlotte.
So then please, please pick Rhea. Because the last time they faced off at WrestleMania, Rhea beat Charlotte. Charlotte says that is a good point, and makes no excuses, but there was the first time they fought, and Charlotte beat Rhea. The fans didn’t like that, huh? Rhea says it’s fine, because it’s true. But then, Charlotte might not understand. Back then, Rhea was just a kid. Charlotte is aware, but she came out here just to get things started. Rhea’s jumping the gun. Rhea wants an answer, but Charlotte has nothing but time. Charlotte is going to NXT tomorrow night to see if Giulia “inspires” her. Then she goes to SmackDown to see if Tiffany Stratton “inspires” her.
Because Charlotte needs, wants, to be inspired. But Rhea came out here, jumped the gun, got impatient. That showed Charlotte that Rhea is still just a kid. So on that note, see you next week. But then Rhea steps in Charlotte’s way. Charlotte saying Rhea is still a kid shows she doesn’t respect Rhea the way Rhea respects Charlotte. So please, pick Rhea, so that Rhea can beat that respect into her! The fans like the sound of that! Did the Queen’s gambit pay off? Or will she take a different course of action?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Jackie Redmond is now with the Underdog from the Underground, and notes that while the Rumble was rather rough with him being eliminated by good friend, Jey Uso, he does have an Elimination Chamber qualifier tonight against CM Punk. Hard to believe these two have never been 1v1 before, but how is he feeling about it? Sami says yeah, it was difficult. He really thought this was his year to win the Rumble, he had the most momentum he’s had, but it happens. And he can still punch his ticket to WrestleMania through the Elimination Chamber, but that means getting through CM Punk. That is the only thing on his mind.
Well, the other big question is Kevin Owens’ status. Has Sami had a chance to talk with Kevin since Saturday and that brutal ladder match? Sami sees someone else and apologizes to Jackie, he has to go talk to them. Sami walks over to Jey Uso! Jey tells Sami that he wasn’t aiming for him that night, but sorry for kicking him in the face. Sami says stop! They hug it out and Sami is so proud of Jey! Jey did it when no one else thought he could. This is Jey’s moment. So it doesn’t matter if it’s Gunther or Cody, this is Jey’s time, so go out there and do it! Jey thanks Sami for that, they do their handshake, and Jey wishes Sami luck against Punk.
They hug it out again, Jey heads out, but Karrion Kross steps in. That was a very touching moment. Kross wants to ask, though: What is it like to watch everyone else live out Sami’s dreams? Sami says maybe he wasn’t clear. He is getting real sick seeing Kross. If Kross keeps coming up, they’re gonna have a problem. What? No, Kross isn’t here to be a problem. But he could be, at any given time. Kross heads out, will Sami be able to watch his back while trying to move forward?
Rhea Ripley returns backstage.
But then, Mami crosses paths with Iyo Sky. The Evil Genius says maybe she sees Rhea at WrestleMania. Rhea says maybe. Rhea continues on, only for Liv to attack Iyo! Rhea runs back up to run Liv off, but then Raquel CLOBBERS Rhea! The Judgment Day laid the trap and it worked out! Liv mockingly says she’ll see Iyo later, but has she only added fuel to the fire?
The New Day VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods finally have a new theme song to go with their new bad attitudes, but they look to settle the score with the King of Lucha & The Boy Wonder! Will Kofi & Woods prove New Day doesn’t suck? Or will we be calling the 619 here in The Land?
Raw returns and the LWO makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Lee starts against Woods. They circle, tie up, and go around. Lee headlocks but Woods pulls on the mask! The ref reprimands, but Kofi tags in. Woods powers out, Kofi trips Lee, and Woods fist drops! Kofi slingshot stomps! Kofi whips Lee to a corner, then runs in, but Lee dodges! Kofi hits buckles, but he puts Lee on the apron! Lee RAMS, bumps and ROUNDHOUSES Kofi away! Lee goes up and CROSSBODIES! Lee builds speed, ducks ‘n’ dodges then RANAS Kofi! Kofi goes to a corner, Lee runs in, and he JUMP KICKS! Leg sweep! COMBINACION CABRON! Cover, TWO!
Lee keeps on Kofi and he tags in Rey. LWO double whips Kofi, mule kicks, front kicks, then dropkicks the legs! Rey basement DROPKICKS then covers, TWO! Rey brings Kofi up, but Kofi powers Rey to the corner! Tag to Woods, New Day mugs Rey! The fans boo but Woods kicks Rey down. Woods stands on Rey in the corner! The fans boo but Woods soaks up the heat. Woods hops down to “apologize,” then he whips corner to corner. Woods runs up, but into an ELBOW! Rey goes up to FLYING RANA! Woods flounders, Rey RAMS him into the corner, then Rey rains down fists! The fans count to nine, Lee tags in, and SUPERKICK for ten! Cover, TWO!
Woods stays in this but Lee stays on Woods. But then Woods FLAPJACKS Lee! Tag to Kofi and he KICKS Lee to a corner! Kofi fires off, then hoists Lee up top. Kofi ROCKS Lee, climbs up, and he rains down fists! The fans boo, but Kofi goes to the very top. But Lee slips down to trip Kofi up! Lee KICKS Kofi, then runs corner to corner, DROPKICK! Lee then goes out to the apron, but LOGAN PAUL is here? Well, okay, he is Cleveland’s own, but he also wants to mess with Rey, his future opponent for an Elimination Chamber spot. But this distraction lets Kofi sit up to THROW Lee down, and then Woods SHOVES Rey into barriers!
The fans boo while Logan grins and asks what happened. Logan laughs at Rey’s pain while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Woods has Lee down with a chinlock. Lee endures, fights up, and Logan watches from ringside as Lee fires body shots. Woods CLUBS Lee, shoves and mule kicks him, then tags Kofi. Woods whips Lee for Kofi to drop toehold! Woods goes out to trap Lee on the ropes, and Kofi APRON SENTONS! While Logan argues with a fan, Kofi puts Lee in the ring and goes up the corner, AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO! Lee toughs it out but Kofi rains down fists! Kofi and the ref argue, then Kofi puts Lee in the ropes. Kofi runs side to side to knee lift! Tag to Woods, and he goes up the ropes to GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMP!
Woods soaks up the heat, then struts around before he flexes. The fans boo but Woods drags Lee up. Lee breaks free to ROCK Woods! Woods ROCKS Lee! Woods whips Lee, Lee slips through the lariat to lift and SITOUT POWERBOMB! The fans fire up while both men are down! Lee and Woods crawl, reach out, hot tags to Kofi and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey rallies on Kofi with LARIAT after LARIAT! Rey whips, Kofi reverses, but Rey tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Kofi ends up in a corner, Rey ROCKS him with a forearm! Rey then whips corner to corner, runs up, but Kofi slips out to SWING KICK!
Kofi goes up, up and leaps, but Rey dodges! Rey RANAS Kofi onto ropes! The fans fire up and Rey dials in, but Woods gets Kofi outta there! The fans boo, but Rey SEATED SENTONS Kofi instead! Only for Logan to get up in Rey’s face. The fans boo, Logan pats Rey on the head, but Rey SHOVES Logan down! The fans fire up, Rey ROCKS and POSTS Kofi! Woods kicks, Rey blocks, and Rey SLINGS the leg into the POST! Then Lee gives Woods a FLYING RANA to the floor! Rey puts Kofi in, but Kofi distracts the ref for Logan to YANK Rey out! Logan TOSSES Rey back in, and Kofi hits TROUBLE IN PARADISE! Cover, New Day wins!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall
When you’re on the same wavelength as Logan Paul, you know that’s a bad thing! But New Day doesn’t care, they still won. Will they use this to get back to the WWE World Tag Team Championships? Will Logan be smiling when he and Rey fight next week for a spot in the Elimination Chamber?
Medical update on Roman Reigns.
They explain that they can really only share what The Tribal Chief is willing to disclose. They therefore cannot share what injuries Roman sustained when Seth Rollins attacked him after they both lost the Royal Rumble match. However, it would seem Roman Reigns will be out for the “foreseeable future.” Is Roman going to miss out on his first WrestleMania in years?
Backstage interview with CM Punk.
Cathy Kelley is with the Second City Saint and brings up how he didn’t get the win he wanted in the Royal Rumble, either. The good news is, he can go on to Elimination Chamber, after a match with Sami Zayn. Punk says the real good news is that while he didn’t win the Rumble, neither did Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. But yes, his course of action is facing Sami in a qualifier. Apologies in advance for Sami’s fans, but it won’t be Sami winning tonight. Punk has goals he has set, he needs WrestleMania, and maybe he put too much pressure on himself before. But this time, the pressure will be on everyone else. Punk excuses himself to go get ready, will he have his WrestleMania moment after all?
Iyo Sky heads to gorilla.
She’s still sore and upset from Liv’s ambush earlier, but we can also see Pure Fusion Collective watching. If Liv doesn’t put Iyo down, will Sonya, Shayna & Stark finish the job?
Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez VS Iyo Sky!
Raw returns with Iyo already in the ring, trying to work out her left shoulder from Liv’s attack. And speaking of, Liv now makes her entrance, Raquel naturally by her side. The bell rings and Liv runs away from an angry Iyo! Iyo still grabs at Liv in the ropes, but Liv uses that to trip Iyo! Iyo still ROCKS Liv, bumps her off barriers, then THROWS her into more barriers! Iyo SMACKS Liv off the apron again and again, then shoves her in. Iyo hurries in now, blocks a kick, and CLUBS the leg! Iyo fires forearms, Liv shoves her away, but then Iyo FLAPJACKS Liv! Iyo runs to basement DROPKICK! Cover, ONE!
Iyo is annoyed, but she drags Liv up by her hair. Iyo whips Liv to a corner, runs in, but Liv STOMPS her down! Cover, TWO! Iyo stays in this but Raquel coaches Liv. Liv CLUBS away on Iyo, talks trash that she’s going to the Chamber, then Liv whips Iyo to a corner. Liv runs in for a back body block, then she SHINING WIZARDS! Snapmare, basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Iyo stays in this but Liv stays on her with a clinch. Iyo fires body shots, but Liv shoves her away. Iyo returns, Liv ROCKS Iyo! And KICKS Iyo! Liv runs, Iyo dodges, but Liv avoids the handspring, only for Iyo to SHOTGUN Liv down!
Iyo kips up, the fans fire up, but then Liv TOSSES Iyo out! The fans rally, Liv runs, but Iyo slides in and ROCKS Liv first! Iyo runs, but Liv follows, only for Iyo to SHOTEI! Liv falls out of the ring and the fans fire up! Iyo builds speed, then DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up with Iyo while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Iyo snapmares Liv, but Liv gets up to BOOT Iyo down! Liv grins, then brings Iyo up to reel her in. Liv suplexes, then brings Iyo back up, that’s Una Amiga! Another suplex, Dos Amigas! Then THREE AMIGAS! Raquel cheers and Liv gives some Latina Heat. The fans boo but Liv runs, only for Iyo to duck the enzigiri! Iyo KNEES Liv down! The fans fire up while Liv sputters. Liv crawls away but Iyo roars as she rises up! The fans fire up with Iyo, and she SHOTEIS! SHOTEIS! And then DROPKICKS! Iyo hauls Liv up, whips her, but Liv reverses. Iyo slips out to the apron, blocks Liv’s punch and HOTSHOTS the arm!
Iyo climbs, the fans cheer, and Iyo MISSILE DROPKICKS Liv! The fans fire up with another kip up from Iyo! Iyo waits on Liv, then runs in, wheelbarrow and STOMP 182! Liv sputters, Iyo pushes her to a cover, TWO! Liv toughs it out and Iyo grows frustrated. Liv crawls to a corner, Iyo says all aboard! SHINKAN- NO, Liv dodges, then hits a BACKSTABBER! Iyo tumbles, Liv lines up a shot! But Iyo stops Oblivion to have the CROSSFACE! Liv fights free, but Iyo BUZZSAWS her down! Iyo steps on Liv as she goes to the corner. Iyo goes up, up, but Raquel is on the apron! The ref reprimands but Liv SHOVES Iyo down!
The fans boo but Liv RAMS Iyo, then runs up, SLINGSHOT SUNSET FLIP, but Iyo holds on! Iyo STOMPS Liv! Liv sputters, Iyo lines up a shot, but then Liv YANKS her down! Liv swings, Iyo dodges, and Iyo GERMAN SUPLEXES Liv to the floor! Liv is dazed, Iyo goes back to the ring, and then Iyo goes up, up, and ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and the fans fire up again! Iyo drags Liv back into the ring, goes up the corner again, and Liv stands. Iyo MISSILE- CODE BREAKER!! Liv covers, TWO!!! Iyo survives and Cleveland is thunderous! Raquel is furious and Liv is despairing! Liv hurries to put Iyo in a corner, then runs up, but Iyo dodges!
“This is Awesome!” as Iyo has the waistlock. Liv elbows free, then goes up, but Iyo GAMANGIRIS! Iyo roars, climbs, and brings Liv up. SUPER STEINER Liv flounders to the far side, and Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN!! Then Iyo puts Liv in the drop zone to go up, up, but Raquel is there again! The ref backs Raquel off, Iyo resets, OVER THE MOON0 KNEES! Liv hurries, but Iyo dodges! Liv clings to ropes, but Iyo still GERMAN SUPLEXES!! Liv flops over, Iyo can’t make the cover, but RHEA rushes out here to CLOBBER Raquel!! The fans fire up as Mami gets the better of Big Mami Cool with a HEADBUTT!
Rhea stomps away, Liv grabs Rhea! Rhea SLAPS Liv, the ref sees that!!
Winner: Liv Morgan, by disqualification (advances to the Elimination Chamber)
Rhea realizes in trying to help Iyo, she only helped Liv! Liv & Raquel run away, having the last laugh! Will Liv find a way to get back to the championship? Iyo asks Rhea what happened, and Rhea apologizes for how it went down. Iyo pushes past Rhea, Rhea defends it was an accident, but will Iyo just have to look for another Road to WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with The War Raiders.
Cathy Kelley is with Erik & Ivar, the WWE World Tag Team Champions, and congratulates them on retaining their titles. But she does have to ask, what is next for them? Ivar says he never thought he’d say this, but last week, JD McDonagh actually won some respect from them. Erik says that no one on this planet knows what it takes to fight through injuries like the War Raiders. But then Chad Gable walks in, leading Team American Made, and he says he’s heard enough from the two of them. Just listen to themselves! They hurt JD McDude and just run away clinging to their belts. The Creed Brothers are real championship material, and they’ll wrestle circles around them.
Erik says he’ll just let Gable assume what he wants. But what will Julius & Brutus do when this becomes a fight? Ivar says if Gable’s boys want these titles, they better be ready to go to war. Erik & Ivar head out, and Gable says he must let his boys do this alone. He is going on a quest to conquer the dark arts of lucha libre. When he returns, he wants to see Ivy with the Intercontinental Championship, the Creeds with tag team gold, and American Made flourishing. Don’t disappoint him. Gable puts on sunglasses, and says, “I’ll be back.” Gable heads out, Julius asks if he really just quoted the Terminator, but Ivy has him let that go. But just who is Gable going to learn lucha libre from?
Backstage interview with Adam Pearce.
Cathy is with the Raw General Manager and brings up the rumblings that there’s a massive announcement tonight. Pearce says “massive” is an understatement. And while the Transfer Window has closed with Royal Rumble weekend, Pearce managed to make one more deal. Welcome to the Monday Night Raw roster, the PHENOMENAL AJ Styles! That IS big! But in steps Bron Breakker. Bron says Styles is on the roster now. Yes, and he’ll be here next week. Then do Bron a favor and keep that guy away from him. In fact, let’s talk about Bron. Who is next for him? Because it doesn’t seem to matter.
Pearce says Bron knows he respects Bron and that title. Then let’s go talk business about how much it matters to him. And now, please. Pearce excuses himself and Bron, they go off to talk business, so who will be next for the Badass Intercontinental Champion?
Seth Rollins is here!
The Land fires up for The Visionary as he looks like a cross between The Undertaker and Neo from The Matrix. Rollins was eliminated from the Royal Rumble alongside Roman Reigns by CM Punk, then took his anger out on them both. But what will he have to say as we continue down the Road to WrestleMania? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Rollins has a mic to tell Cleveland, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~! I am a Visionary. I am a Revolutionary! I am SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! And oh, baby, Cleveland, I’ve got a lot to talk about tonight. Some of it, you guys are gonna love. Some of it, you’re gonna hate. But I gotta get it off my chest.” Firstly: Jey Uso. He won the Royal Rumble, punched his ticket to WrestleMania. It stings for Rollins, but he is happy for Jey, he is proud of Jey, and he loves to see good things happen for good people. He loves seeing people getting what they deserve. That brings Rollins… to CM Punk.
Rollins says yeah, the Punk fans won’t like this. Punk LOST the Royal Rumble, his future for WrestleMania is up in the air, and Rollins loves to see it! That scumbag piece of trash embarrassment getting embarrassed by getting dumped out by that idiot, Logan Paul! Third: Roman Reigns. The fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Rollins says they really won’t like this. OTC LOST the Royal Rumble, and he may not even make it to WrestleMania at all. Now, you guys have been getting the vague updates about “out indefinitely,” untold injuries. Roman is hurt. Roman won’t admit it, Heyman won’t admit it, WEW won’t admit it, but Rollins will, because Rollins is the one who hurt Roman!
And yeah, he told you that you wouldn’t like it! Blame him all you want, but Rollins wasn’t wrong. For the past four years, Roman has done nothing but hurt everyone close to him. Friends, family, and he wouldn’t done the same to Rollins if he had the chance. The truth is, Roman and Heyman just love talk about the limited schedule, so Rollins just did Roman a favor. Now, he saved the best for last: himself. Rollins LOST the Royal Rumble… And that hurts. But luckily for him, that is the past, and there is a future that lies ahead. There are many different paths to WrestleMania, and his will go through Elimination Chamber.
Now, he has a qualifying match in a couple weeks against his old rival, Finn Balor. Rollins will handle that later. But there is someone else in a qualifier tonight that needs to handle business, and that man is Sami Zayn! The fans cheer Sami, and Rollins knows Sami is having his match real soon. But if Sami could come out here a few minutes early, Rollins wants to tell him some things, so Sami Zayn, c’mon down! Sami does make his way to the ring, and the fans cheer and sing along with the song. Sami joins Rollins in the ring, then Rollins starts a “Sami! Sami!” chant. Rollins says Sami is his guy! They go back a long ways, a LONG ways.
Rollins knows Sami will be at his best, he always ins. But it has been a tough month, especially between them. But the past is the past, the future is ahead of them, and it could be Elimination Chamber, it could be WrestleMania, but the immediate future is CM Punk. Now, the world knows Rollins hates Punk, that is a fact and Rollins isn’t afraid to admit it. These two are very different people, they handle problems differently. But what Rollins knows is that Sami hates Punk, too. And Sami puts on a good face, he did at WarGames, but tonight is not the night for that. Tonight is for the fight of his life!
Rollins knows Sami doesn’t like Punk! And after what Punk said weeks ago, that thing about Sami not being on Punk’s level, saying that to Sami’s face, that delusional narcissist, saying Sami isn’t on Punk’s level? No, this is SAMI ZAYN! Sami is a WrestleMania main eventer! He is a good man, and that is something Punk will never bee. So yeah, Sami isn’t on Punk’s level, he is levels above! So tonight is Sami’s night. Rollins wants the absolute best out of Sami to keep Punk out of the Elimination Chamber! People like Sami deserve to be in that match, and people like Punk, who don’t care about the fans, or about this company, do not!
Tonight, Sami, is your night! Put Punk’s WrestleMania dream in the dirt for good! Then he and Rollins can fight in that chamber! LET’S GO!! Rollins is fired up, will that help spark something in Sami Zayn? Wait, here comes Punk! Rollins turns around slowly to scowl at Punk, then he throws off his duster! Refs rush in to stop this, but Punk and Rollins get a couple shots in on each other! Rollins moves on for now, will Sami get rid of Punk for both their sakes? Or will Punk keep his Mania dream alive a little longer?
Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: CM Punk VS Sami Zayn!
Raw returns and the bell rings on this main event. The fans fire up already as the two circle. Punk headlocks and grinds the hold, but Sami powers up and out. Punk runs Sami over, covers him, ONE! Punk says if there’s levels to this, show him what level you’re on, Sami! Sami and Punk reset, tie up, and Sami headlocks to grind the hold. Punk endures, fights up and powers out, only for Sami to run him over! Cover, ONE! Sami headlocks for the takeover, the fans duel as Punk headscissors, but Sami kips free. Punk hits the headlock takeover now, and he grinds the hold. Sami fights around, finds the ROPEBREAK, and Punk lets go.
Punk looms over Sami, so Sami shoves Punk, then SLAPS him! The fans rally as the two reset, tie up, and then Sami just pie faces Punk! Punk hits back, they clinch and end up on ropes. The ref counts, Punk and Sami go along ropes, and fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” Punk RAMS Sami, CHOPS him, but Sami CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! And again! The fans “WOO~” then Sami fires a forearm. The fans rally more as Sami whips corner to corner. Punk reverses to RAM Sami, then he wrenches the arm. Sami fights but Punk still hits the ELBOW BREAKER! Punk keeps the wristlock, and he stands Sami up to RAM his shoulder again.
Punk wrenches to RAM Sami yet again, then wrenches Sami to CHOP! Sami sits down and shakes out the arm. Sami goes to a corner but Punk’s on him with a CHOP! The fans “WOO~” again, and then Punk wraps the bad arm around ropes! The ref counts, Punk lets off at 4, and Punk brings Sami up. Sami fires a forearm, a CHOP, and repeat! Punk kicks low, then whips Sami to ropes. Sami goes up and over, LARIATS Punk down, and the fans fire up! Punk goes to a corner, Sami CHOPS him again! And CHOPS again! Sami bumps Punk off buckles, then Sami climbs up. Sami rains down fists, the fans count along, and Sami goes past ten to get to about TWENTY!
Punk sits down in the corner while the fans fire up. Sami hops down to then bring Punk up. Sami wrenches, whips, but Punk comes back to LARIAT! Punk then DECKS Sami, wrenches Sami, and hits a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! The fans are torn as Punk stands over Sami again. Punk goes up the corner, Cleveland gets louder, and Punk says hail to the king! But Sami ROCKS Punk first! Sami goes up to CLUB away on Punk, then hoists him up for a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both men writhe and The Land fires up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Sami ROCKS Punk, but Punk wrenches and ELBOW BREAKERS! Punk hammerlocks the arm and RAMS Sami into buckles! Punk knuckle locks to wrench the arm, but Sami fires CHOP after CHOP! Sami goes up, up, and TORNADO DDTS! Sami has to drag Punk from the corner, but he can’t turn Punk over with the bad arm. The fans rally up, Sami shakes out the arm, and Sami drags Punk to his feet. Sami waistlocks Punk, but Punk fights the lift! Punk throws down elbows, then fireman’s carries. Sami fights free, ducks a shot, and hits a BLUE- NO, Punk fights free and ROUNDHOUSES!
Sami goes to a corner, Punk runs in, and he RAMS Sami in! Then SHINING WIZARDS! Then BULL- BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Punk survives and Sami is stunned! “This is Awesome!” as Sami rises up. Sami drags Punk up, but Punk breaks free! ARMBAR DDT! Sami clutches the elbow as he goes to a corner. Punk runs in, but Sami dodges, Punk POSTS himself! Sami goes to the far side, the fans fire up, and Punk turns around, HELLUVA- NO, Punk rolls Sami up, TWO!! Sami escapes, but Punk hits a headlock takeover! ANACONDA VICE!! Sami flails, reaches out, and the fans rally harder!
Sami kicks around, moves around, and now the “SAMI! SAMI!” is louder than the “C M PUNK!” Sami fights and fights, and finally has the ROPEBREAK! Punk lets go in frustration, but then he stomps Sami’s arm. Punk looks to the WrestleMania sign, and the fans duel as hard as they can. SHINING WIZARD in the corner! SHINING WIZARD again! Punk headlocks Sami, tells him to look at the WrestleMania sign, and says that’s for him! Punk runs, Sami follows! HELLUVA- NO, Punk dodges in time! Sami falls back, Punk says night-night! Fireman’s carry, GO TO- NO, Sami snatches Punk to a cradle! TWO?!?!
Even Punk has to check, and is relieved to find he is safe, if only barely. Punk ROCKS Sami with a haymaker, then ROCKS him again! Punk points to the sign, fires another shot, then another shot! Sami fires back! Sami fires forearm after forearm, but Punk hits back! They ROCK each other, then ROCK each other again! Sami runs up, into a fireman’s carry! Sami slips free, catches Punk, CORNER EXPLODER!! The fans are thunderous as Sami goes to the far corner! Punk rises, Sami runs in, but into a fireman’s carry! GO TO SLEEP!! Cover, Punk wins!!
Winner: CM Punk, by pinfall (advances to the Elimination Chamber)
Sami tried so hard, but maybe he went too hard, because Punk used that to his advantage! John Cena and CM Punk will be in the dreaded Elimination Chamber, both fighting for one more opportunity to go to WrestleMania. However, Punk does go back to Sami to show him respect. Sami does take the handshake, but then KEVIN OWENS ATTACKS THEM BOTH!? Kevin is somehow still walking after what happened at WrestleMania, and he reels Sami in!! PACKAGE PILEDRIVER!!! Kevin sits back, blackeye and battered ribs, and even wearing a Sami Zayn Forever shirt, but why did he do this?!
My Thoughts:
A great episode to follow the Royal Rumble and quickly shift towards Elimination Chamber. John Cena just taking a spot in that match is fairly fitting. For one, he’s not gonna wrestle to qualify for it, this is his last year and so why waste one of his appearances on Netflix? We then got great intertwining of stories in the qualifiers tonight. Then Judgment Day had a good promo to show their growing dysfunction. Dom doing his best to make amends is good, it really paints Finn as the troublesome element in this group. And when they said Finn has a qualifier, I could just feel it was going to be Seth Rollins, because that is just an awesome match anyway.
Speaking of Rollins, they apparently used what he did to Roman to write Roman off through Elimination Chamber. Like Cena, Roman’s not wrestling to qualify for that, and he can come back on the other side to set up something Rollins, maybe even with Punk. Punk had a good promo, and Rollins had a really good one, all to hype up Punk VS Sami. Kross and Sami also had a good promo, and between what Kross said and what Rollins said, that could explain Sami being so gung-ho by the end. Punk of course wins, though, that adds star power to the Chamber match. But I did NOT think Kevin would attack like he did, that was wild. Kevin VS Sami one more time?
We got parallel promos from Jey and Charlotte, in that Raw’s world champions confronted them to tease matches. Jey was definitely feeling real emotions, that’s why his promo was a bit hesitant at first. But then when it became kayfabe with Gunther, he was able to smooth it out. Though, that also felt the same as their other promos, with Jey getting the last word. Charlotte may have also been dealing with her own real emotions, given how the fans really were booing her that hard. But she played it off well, and she had good stuff with Rhea. I do appreciate Charlotte teases going to even NXT, since she did do that before when it was her and Rhea the first time around.
Liv & Raquel of course attacked Iyo ahead of Iyo VS Liv, and in kayfabe, Rhea may have been a bonus for them. Rhea going after Raquel only to cost Iyo was some clever stuff. There’s a lot of time between now and WrestleMania, I could see them give us Rhea VS Iyo as a title match at Elimination Chamber or something. It’d be a way for Rhea to make things up to Iyo, but also it teases that things could change for WrestleMania. And even though Charlotte namedropped Giulia and Tiffany, they literally pointed out how Rhea and Charlotte are tied for title matches at WrestleMania, so this year would be a great tiebreaker between them.
Very good tag team match from New Day VS Rey & Lee, but I should’ve figured Logan Paul would show up tonight given he’s from Cleveland. Logan helping the New Day win works given New Day kinda does need a win, and then Logan VS Rey for next week has some extra heat now. I have a bad feeling Logan wins that so he can get in the Chamber, mix it up with Cena, Punk, and whoever else. Good promo from War Raiders with American Made to start on a tag title story there, but also to start on Gable’s lucha libre “dark arts” training. Penta VS Kaiser was a great match, and a great win for Penta, but Dunne and Kaiser as a duo seems really odd.
AJ Styles joining Raw is great stuff, and good stuff from Bron talking with Pearce. I feel like Styles will end up challenging Bron for the Intercontinental Championship at some point, though. At the same time, I hope we get a huge match, where we can get a lot of big names in the match at the same time. Hell, intertwine stories here and make it Bron, Styles, Penta, Kaiser, Dunne, and… Sheamus! Sheamus can surely win a Six Pack Challenge to finally get that title, right? Right?
My Score: 8.8/10
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Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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