Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (9/16/24)
Grudges galore in Oregon!

Will Dirty Dom get punished in Portland?
While Finn Balor & JD McDonagh defend the WWE World Tag Team Championships, Dominik Mysterio has to fend off Damian Priest 1v1! Will this be the night Judgment Day falls?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Sheamus VS Pete Dunne; Dunne wins.
- Natalya w/ Lyra Valkyria & Zelina Vega VS Zoey Stark w/ Pure Fusion Collective; Natty wins.
- WWE World Tag Team Championships: Finn Balor & JD McDonagh VS The New Day; Finn & JD win and retain the titles.
- Braun Strowman VS Bronson Reed; No Contest.
- Bianca Belair w/ Jade Cargill VS Kairi Sane w/ Iyo Sky; changed to…
- Bianca Belair w/ Jade Cargill VS Iyo Sky w/ Kairi Sane; Iyo wins.
- Damian Priest w/ Rhea Ripley VS Dominik Mysterio w/ The Judgment Day; Priest wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
CM Punk arrives backstage.
The Second City Saint parks his car, heads from parking lot to hallway to gorilla, because he is here to talk business and Bad Blood! The fans sing along with Cult of Personality as Punk steps out on stage. He doesn’t even say it’s clobberin’ time, that’s how serious this is! Punk goes right to the ring, takes a moment before stepping in, and then grabs a mic. The fans chant his name, cheer him on, and Punk tells Portland, “I am at the point in my career where sometimes people ask me how many matches do I have left in these old bones. And depending on how you feel about me, the answer is either wildly disappointing, or it makes you tremendously happy.
“Because the answer is, way more than you think!” The fans cheer that, so they’re the latter. Punk says when he came back to the WWE, he said he did not come here to make friends. That didn’t mean he came here to make a mortal enemy, but that is exactly what happened. So much so, that the only way to end this between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre is in Hell in a Cell! Punk feels a little naive thinking he thought this was over just because he touched four turnbuckles in Berlin. But McIntyre was naive for thinking this was over just because he jumped Punk in Chicago, and tried to drag Punk’s wife and dog into this.
Punk says that we can all agree, it should’ve stopped the second time McIntyre sent Punk to the hospital two weeks ago. But Punk is just too damn stubborn. Fans cheer that! Punk says McIntyre’s fatal mistake in all this is not getting the job done. “But now things are drastically different.” People can ask Punk how many Hell in a Cell matches does he have left. The honest answer? Zero. Punk’s sisters asked him not to do this. His wife has asked him not to do this. Maybe even the angel on Punk’s shoulder has begged him not to do this. So armed with all of that information, please allow Punk to tell you WHY he is going to do this!
The fans fire up for that! Punk says that the last time he was in Portland, he say there and told McIntyre, “If you push me far enough, I can become the devil himself.” And now the devil is here. The devil in Punk’s heart tells him that the only way this ends is IN Hell in a Cell. The same heart McIntyre promised he would make stop beating. McIntyre, Punk won’t promise he’s gonna kill McIntyre, because Punk won’t make promises he can’t 100% deliver on. But here is a promise: Punk will make McIntyre bleed. And McIntyre will have to kill Punk, because Punk is prepared for his heart to stop beating. He is prepared for this to be over with.
Punk had a great career, and if this is the end, then so be it. Punk is prepared for this to be the end of him. If McIntyre is prepared for this to be the end of McIntyre, then see you in Hell! Punk drops the mic and heads out. Will the Scottish Terminator be ready to go to such lengths with the man he hates so much?
Backstage interview with Sheamus.
Cathy Kelley is with The Celtic warrior, and says we have seen things escalate between him and Pete Dunne. Take us through how he feels heading into the match? Well, Miss Kelley, Sheamus taught Dunne too well. Dunne hit Sheamus where it hurt. And no, he doesn’t mean smashing his hand with a shillelagh. Or when he used it to crack Sheamus in the back. He means Dunne taking Sheamus’ from him. The one mountain he has left to climb in the WWE, the Intercontinental Championship, to become the WWE’s first ULTIMATE Grand Slam Champion. But now, Miss Kelley, it is time to inflict pain on a former protege.
The fellas here asked Sheamus not to call him Butch. Dunne hates that! He despises being called Butch. Especially if you say Butch over and over again. But tonight, Dunne, you become Sheamus’ butch. So one question left: Portland, are ya ready for a banger!? Sheamus heads out, but will he be able to put down Dunne for what he’s done? Or will the Bruiserweight be standing tall at the end of Fight Night?
Sheamus VS Pete Dunne!
Raw returns and Dunne makes his entrance. The bell rings and Dunne runs up! Sheamus dodges, fires hands, but Dunne hits back! The fans cheer the brawl, and Sheamus CLUBS away at the ropes! Sheamus lets off, but Dunne ROCKS him! And CHOPS him! And ROCKS him again! Dunne KICKS Sheamus, runs, but Sheamus clinches to IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Sheamus drags Dunne up, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him in the back! Sheamus whips Dunne up and out of the ring! Then he drags Dunne up onto the apron! The fans fire up, for BEATS- NO, Dunne catches the arm! Dunne bends the arm, to ELBOW BREAKER!
Sheamus staggers away, Dunne runs up, but Sheamus catches him! SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Dunne writhes, Sheamus stalks him to a corner, and Sheamus stomps a mudhole into Dunne. The fans rally, but Dunne gets up to GAMANGIRI! Sheamus sputters, Dunne wrenches and bends the arm! Fans taunt Dunne with “BUTCH! BUTCH!” but Dunne isolates Sheamus’ arm. Dunne STOMPS the arm, and Sheamus writhes his way out of the ring. The fans boo but Dunne snarls. Dunne PLANCHAS, and down goes Sheamus! Sheamus crawls to steel steps, Dunne stands on Sheamus’ hand! The fans boo but Dunne STOMPS, only for Sheamus to dodge!
Sheamus ROCKS Dunne, Alabama Lifts, and ALABAMA SLAMS on the desk! The fans are thunderous for Sheamus while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Sheamus has Dunne up top as he throws hands. Sheamus then climbs, fireman’s carries, but Dunne shifts to SUNSET- NO, Sheamus holds ropes to stop the bomb! But Dunne brings Sheamus off the ropes, RUNNING POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives and Dunne is frustrated, but the fans rally up. They also taunt Dunne with “BUTCH! BUTCH! BUTCH!” Dunne aims at Sheamus, and Sheamus dares him to do it! Dunne DECKS Sheamus with a forearm! Dunne gives some ground ‘n’ pound while fans boo, but then Dunne STOMPS Sheamus in the face! But Sheamus just sits up and eggs Dunne on!
Dunne storms back up, stands Sheamus up, and swings! But Sheamus catches the hand to a cording hold! Dunne fires headbutts, but Sheamus says Dunne is just a B*TCH! LARIAT! And another LARIAT! And then a LARIAT in the corner! Sheamus scoops to POWERSLAM! The fans fire up and Sheamus goes to a corner. Sheamus climbs, brings his kneepads down, and KING KONG KNEE DROPS!! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives and the fans can’t believe it! Sheamus snarls and he storms back up on Dunne. Sheamus reels Dunne in, lifts, but Dunne slips fere of the crucifix! ENZIGIRI! Sheamus falls, Dunne STOMPS hands!
Dunne BOOTS Sheamus down, then he goes to a corner! Dunne climbs, but Sheamus UPPERCUTS first! Sheamus climbs, but Dunne has a SLEEPER! Sheamus still drags Dunne onto his shoulders, SUPER POWERSLAM!! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives and Sheamus is stunned! Dunne goes to the apron, but Sheamus pursues. The fans fire up as Sheamus drags Dunne up. Dunne bends fingers! But Sheamus slips free to have Dunne up! BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN! Sheamus goes past TEN to SEVENTEEN! Dunne flops over on the apron and the fans fire up again! But wait, Dunne grabs the shillelagh!
Sheamus grabs at Dunne, Dunne kicks him! Dunne runs up, into the KNEE CAP! Sheamus snatches the shillelagh now! The ref says no but the fans are cheering for it! Dunne hurries out, the ref takes the shillelagh, and Dunne brings out a CRICKET BAT!! He hits Sheamus hard, that’s six! Then a BOOT!! Cover, Dunne wins!!
Winner: Pete Dunne, by pinfall
And that’s 1-2-3! The Bruiserweight used a bat, then a bootleg Brogue, and he just smirks as he comes away the winner. Will this be how things end between the former Brawling Brutes? Or will Sheamus only come back for another banger?
Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest are backstage.
The Terror Twins walk ‘n’ talk say Judgment Day brought tonight upon themselves. Jey Uso walks over and says what up. He fist bumps Priest, and smiles at Rhea. Jey knows Priest has a match with Dominik. Jey knows Priest won’t ask for Jey’s help, Jey knows how Priest gets down. But hey, Jey’s still gonna have eyes on that match, okay? Priest says fair enough. Now in steps Xavier Woods. He says hey to Jey, and then tells Priest that while they haven’t seen eye to eye, there’s a lot of history, but there’s also beef between Terror Twins and Judgment Day. Woods & Kofi have their tag title shot against Judgment Day to become THIRTEEN-TIME champions.
And just as Priest wanted to go it alone for the world title, New Day want to go it alone to prove they still have what it takes. That’s all he’s asking. Everyone else stays back here so New Day can handle business. Priest says that’s fair. But just do one thing for them: kick ass and take those titles. Woods says oh yeah! Also, Woods likes this dynamic of Jey and Rhea more than Dom. YEET! Woods and Jey each head out, Rhea sneaks a YEET, but will all things go their way? Or will Judgment Day always find a way to screw everyone else over?
The Miz talks with Braun Strowman backstage.
The Miz says there he is! How’s he feeling ahead of the big match with Bronson Reed? Braun says he’s still banged up from what’s been going on, but he’ll make no excuses. Miz says good luck out there. Braun thanks Miz for that. Miz turns to leave, but then asks what Braun meant about how Miz is no match for Bronson. Braun says that wasn’t an insult, don’t get him wrong. Braun respects Miz. Miz says sure, he gets it. He has won every title there is, beaten every superstar there is. Braun says he knows, he’s seen Miz’s career. Just what Braun means is that it takes a monster to beat a monster, y’know?
Miz says yeah, he gets it. He’s no monster. Braun’s got this, so go get him! Braun says yessir. Miz heads out, will Auszilla have to watch out for this #OneBigSOB?
Natalya w/ Lyra Valkyria & Zelina Vega VS Zoey Stark w/ Pure Fusion Collective!
It was a great comeback for the Queen of Harts last week with Raw in Calgary, and now she is going to take on The Sin City Hunter 1v1! Will Natty still have the hot hand? Or will Zoey score one for the PFC?
The bell rings and Zoey storms up. They tie up, Natty rolls Zoey up, TWO! Zoey is already frustrated as she resets with Natty. They tie up, Zoey puts Natty on ropes, then pie faces as she lets off. Natty storms up but Zoey shoves her! Natty headlocks, Zoey powers out, but Natty goes up and over. Natty keeps moving, rolls over the dropdown, but Zoey whips. Natty ducks ‘n’ dodges, stops short of the hip toss to BODY SHOT! Then Natty arm-drags into a lateral press, TWO! Natty trips Zoey, but Zoey scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Natty lets go while Sonya protests. Natty tells Sonya to back off, but then Zoey HOTSHOTS! And GAMANGIRIS!
Zoey then aims, to springboard and MISSILE DROPKICK! Natty bails out, PFC soaks up the heat, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Natty is in the corner. Zoey runs up to LARIAT, forearm, and CLUB her down! Zoey snapmares Natty, then goes to the apron. Zoey springboards again, but Natty blocks the kick! Natty GERMAN SUPELXES and the fans fire up! Natty runs up, DISCUS LARIAT! Zoey sputters, PFC is upset, but Natty fires off hands in the corner! The fans cheer, the ref backs Natty off, but Zoey runs up. Natty counter punches! Natty whips, but Zoey kicks! Natty blocks and she throws Zoey down! BOOT! Cover, TWO! Zoey survives but Zelina & Lyra coach Natty up. Natty whips Zoey, Zoey reverses, and then runs in.
Natty dodges, Zoey hits buckles! Natty hits the slingshot back suplex but Zoey arm-drags free! Natty comes back, Zoey ducks the discus, and fireman’s carries! ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! And then basement SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Natty survives and Zoey is frustrated! Zoey rains down fists, then lets off to drag Natty up. The fans rally for Natty, Z 3- NO, Natty blocks the knee! Natty trips Zoey, but Zoey fights the Sharpshooter! Natty jackknife bridges! TWO, Zoey sunset flips! TWO, Natty has the prawn hold! TWO! Zoey sunsets, Natty rolls through, and then steps through! Zoey KICKS Natty, O’Conner Rolls, TWO!!
Natty escapes in time, rolls Zoey up deep, Natty wins!!
Winner: Natalya, by pinfall
Natty gets away with Lyra & Zelina while Zoey is pissed! PFC calm Zoey down, they’ll just have to work on a better plan next time. Will PFC still run WWE?
Backstage interview with Rhea Ripley.
Cathy is now with Mami, and says it wouldn’t be Raw without her. Cathy brings up that at Bad Blood, Rhea will face Liv Morgan for the WWE Women’s World Championship. How is the leg? Finn Balor says he can take this from here. Hi, Rhea. He’s been meaning to catch up with her. But whatever this is with him and Damian, he just hasn’t had the chance. Well, now’s his chance, so get to it. Oh, okay. Here goes. Finn really feels like Rhea… is just as bad as Damian! Rhea said they were family, acted like she cared, but in reality, she only ever cared about herself! Finn is sick and tired of Rhea blaming him for what’s going on here!
Finn says Rhea & Damian are the ones in the wrong! They’re why Finn didn’t become World Heavyweight Champion, they’re why neither of them are champions now! They are the reason why everything that’s happened the last three months did happen! Rhea says okay, what they’re not gonna do is lie to her face and rewrite history to hide Finn’s ego problems. Because they WERE a family! All Rhea tried to do was make opportunities for everyone, and keep you boys from fighting every single bloody week! Because she LOVED her family. But if Finn wanna make them the bad guys in this story, then so be it.
At Bad Blood, Finn, Liv, Dom and the “other two bozos” will see how bad the Terror Twins can truly be. Okay, then. One more thing, and Finn wanted to be the one to say this. When Liv started making moves on Dom and Dom was trying to resist, Finn was the devil on Dom’s shoulder! Finn told Dom to forget Rhea and go for Liv! It was FINN! Rhea is seething, but Jey steps in. Is there a problem here? Finn says no problems. Just two friends catching up. But uh, Jey might wanna focus on the Intercontinental Championship. He’s a bit out of his league over here. Finn leaves, Rhea thanks Jey for that. But Finn does have a point.
Oh, what? That Rhea’s outta Jey’s league? N-No…! The Intercontinental Championship should be his focus. Jey ain’t worried. He’s on his way to the ring right now. Main Event Jey is on his way, what will he have to say to Bron Breakker? We’ll find out, after the break.
Jey Uso heads to the ring!
Raw returns as Portland bounces and YEETs with the #1 contender to the Intercontinental Championship. Jey gets himself a mic and says, “Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaay~!” The fans fire up for that! Jey says he has his match with Bron Breakker, “YEET!” His soon to be first Intercontinental Championship reign, “YEET!” He wanted it when he first came to Raw, “YEET!” When he left The Bloodline! “YEET!” Now he don’t need no help, Uce. He can finally be on his own, get his first singles championship, and finally be Main Event Jey UUUUSO~! The fans cheer that! But then here comes Bron Breakker!
The fans are torn between booing and barking as Bron goes to the ring, big leather jacket on and big belt on his shoulder. The champ gets a mic to ask, “We got any dogs barking in Portland?” Fans do bark, and Bron says he already told Jey to stay away. And yet here he is with this relentless pursuit of the Intercontinental Championship. So inspiring! What Jey is doing, trying to prove himself to the world and his family that he doesn’t need his family’s help to succeed. Bron did his homework since last week. 14 YEARS, Jey ahs been here. That’s a long time. There is no doubt Je y is a star, a big star! One of the biggest in WWE!
The fans love you, they love going “YEET!” and they love “Main Event Jey.” But what’s funny is, Bron’s done more as a singles superstar in just six MONTHS than Jey’s entire career. And here’s the kicker! Bron did it without his dad, without his uncle, or even the family name! He did it on his own, and you wanna know why? Because this belt is his family! This belt is what he fights for, and this belt fights for him. Bron is a dog, it’s what he does. The fans are torn, but Bron says next Monday, when he and Jey fight for the title, Bron exposes Jey. Jey is nothing without his family. The fans boo, and Jey stares Bron down now.
The fans are torn between “YEET!” and barking, but Jey takes off the sunglasses. Jey says he sees it. He sees it in Bron. Bron has that dog in him. Jey promises not to take Bron lightly. But like Bron said, how long he been here? Six months? Jey has been on this roster for 14 years, winning championships while Bron was in diapers, boy! Hey hey! Next week, we throw hands! Next week, for the Intercontinental Championship, Jey dog walks Bron’s ass! We’ll see what Bron is made of, and how long this lasts. Because it might end up short and sweet, like his NFL career. Fans go nuts for that one! Bron glares at Jey, but he backs up.
Bron turns to leave, but then he DECKS Jey!! The fans either boo or bark as Bron throws off his jacket. He drags Jey up, talks trash, and then builds up speed! JEY SPEARS FIRST!! The fans go nuts while Bron scrambles away! The fans bounce and “YEET!” Will Jey finally have a belt all his own?
Bianca Belair prepares backstage.
Jade Cargill is with her, but then in storms Iyo Sky! She’s all fired up and angry, saying how dare Bianca challenge Kairi Sane to a match while Kairi has a bad eye! You think that’s a fair fight? COWARD! Jade says she knows Iyo ain’t talking to Bianca like this. Bianca says she didn’t challenge nobody, she was booked for this fight. Facts! But since she and Kairi have this match, Bianca doesn’t back down from a fight. But if Iyo is ten toes down for Kairi, and if Kairi isn’t 100%, then how about they make it Iyo instead? Iyo says challenge accepted! Card subject to change indeed, but is the Evil Genius simply laying a trap for the champ?
WWE World Tag Team Championships: Finn Balor & JD McDonagh VS The New Day!
The Prince just revealed he’s the homewrecking mastermind behind The Judgment Day becoming #StreetTrash. But will he and the Irish Ace make sure their reign doesn’t fall apart? Or will even a stacked deck not keep Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods from once again becoming W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~?
Raw returns as Judgment Day makes their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if New Day gets lucky 13!
The teams sort out and the fans taunt McDonagh with “JD SUCKS! JD SUCKS!” Even so, JD starts against Kofi. They circle, feel things out, but JD kicks low! JD CLUBS Kofi, whips him corner to corner, but Kofi goes up and up to FLYING RANA! Kofi gets up to forearm SMASH in the corner, then he snapmares JD. Tag to Woods and the Speed Blitz starts up! KICK, SLIDING LARIAT, and IMPLODER SPLASH! Woods adds the FIST DROP! Cover, TWO! Woods stays on JD to keep him form Finn. Scoop and SLAM, then tag to Kofi. Kofi hops up onto Woods for an ELECTRIC CHAIR MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!
Finn runs in but Kofi mule kicks! Woods adds a kick to the legs, then New Day DOUBLE BULLDOG! JD & Finn regroup, but they get DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! New Day is standing tall and Portland fires up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Kofi fires hands on Finn! Finn holds the wristlock, then he whips Kofi away. Kofi ROCKS JD, but Finn CHOPS Kofi. Finn whips, Kofi reveres to hook Finn up, SOS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Finn and Kofi crawl, reach out, hot tags to JD and Woods! The fans fire up as Woods rallies on Judgment Day! Woods whips JD, JD reverses but Woods ducks ‘n’ dodges to slide ‘n’ ROLLING ELBOW! The fans fire up again and Woods aims. Woods goes corner to corner to forearm SMASH! Woods climbs, rains down fists, and the fans count to nine. Finn storms up, Woods gives him the tenth!
But then JD BOOTS Woods! JD back suplexes, Woods slips out and tilt-o-whirls to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Woods kips up, Finn runs in! Woods mule kicks Finn, then Kofi springboards to AX HANDLE! Woods DROPKCISK Finn out, and Kofi FLIES! Down goes Finn, but JD kicks Woods! JD reels Woods in, lifts, but Woods escapes the bomb! Woods gets JD up, LIGER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! JD survives and Woods can’t believe it! And here comes Carlito, Dom & Liv! But then here comes LWO! The LWO didn’t promise to stay out of this, and they take the fight to Dom & Carlito! The fans fire up as this group brawl sit out! But JD rolls up Wood’s! TWO!!
Woods SUPERKICKS JD down! Woods goes up a corner, but so does Kofi! Kofi aims and SUPER TRUST FALLS onto the cluster! Woods tightrope walks, LIMIT BREAKER!! But the ref is too busy with the others! Woods & Kofi would’ve won twice over!! Liv argues with the ref, but Woods storms out to tell the ref to pay attention to what matters! Woods goes to the ring, the fans tell the ref he sucks, and Woods gets JD up. But Finn tags in before the O’Conner! Finn goes up, JD pops Woods into a SLEEPER! COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Judgment Day wins!!
Winners: Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, by pinfall
Kofi realizes what happened, and he rushes into the ring! JD & Finn get away with the belts, just as Judgment Day wanted! Kofi apologizes to Woods but Woods says why!? Every time! Every time!! Kofi asks what that means, but could Woods be thinking, that Karrion Kross was right all along?
The Wyatt Sick6 have a message.
“Even now, the words of The Red grow stronger. Whispers like a thousand voices, screaming in silence. Guiding the knife, until our hands are one in the same. You speak, we follow.” QR code to scan. What could this all mean?
Backstage interview with The New Day.
Cathy Kelley catches up with Kofi after what we saw, but Kofi says he can’t. He has to find Woods. Kofi does find Woods, arguing with LWO! Kofi wants Woods to calm down, Kofi told LWO to be ready. What?! Yeah, Kofi thanks LWO for trying, and the LWO head out. Woods says they cost them the titles! Kofi says Woods knows Finn Balor beat down Rey Mysterio real bad last week. This was so LWO could have New Day’s back with the numbers game, since we know that’s what Judgment Day was gonna do. What did Woods think was gonna happen otherwise? Oh, so now New Day needs help? When they’ve never needed it before?
Kofi says yeah, they never needed it before, because they had Big E! But now, it is just Kofi & Woods. Oh, there it is. “Just” them, huh? They don’t have Big E so they’re not good enough anymore? No, that’s not what Kofi said. Then is Woods not good enough? Tell him, Kofi! Why did LWO know the plan for their tag team match and not Woods?! Kofi has been leaving Woods in the dark, Woods doesn’t know what’s going on anymore! Woods storms off, do we know what’s going on with Woods anymore?
Bronson Reed speaks.
“I’d like to tell you all a story. A story about a monster. You see, I’ve had opportunity here taken away from me time after time. I was deemed too dangerous, a hazard to the roster. So I had enough. I had to show them how dangerous I really am. And I took out Seth Freakin’ Rollins! I took out R-Truth! I took out The Miz, and I took out Braun Strowman. And then, I got COVID, and they give my opportunity to Braun Strowman? But I’m not gonna cry about it. Instead, I’m gonna do something about it. I’m going to finish the job with you, Braun.
“And the story won’t be about Braun Strowman the monster. The story will be about Braun Strowman the victim. The victim to WWE’s TRUE monster… ME. Big Bronson Reed!” Will there be no stopping the Colossal Aussie now? Or can the Monster of All Monsters put a stop to the Tsunami?
Braun Strowman VS Bronson Reed!
Raw returns and “BRAAAUN” makes his entrance! Bad arms, bad ribs, and a bad mood! Braun slides into the ring, Bronson runs up, but Braun dodges! Bronson hits buckles so hard, the top rope pops loose!! The ref almost gets taken out by the buckle itself! Braun choke grips Bronson, to CHOKE SLAM him down! The fans fire up with Braun, but this isn’t a match yet! Braun BOOTS Bronson out of the ring, the fans are thunderous, and Braun says time to get on the tracks! The Strowman Express comes around the corner, but Bronson THROWS A FAN at him!? The fans go nuts as Bronson grins and leaves Braun behind.
Bronson roars, but Braun is right back up! Braun CLOBBERS Bronson through barriers!! The fare are thunderous as the timekeeper’s area is gone! The ref calls for medics while he checks these two behemoths down in the wreckage. Bronson rises up, but so does Braun! Braun goes to the ring, “This is Awesome!” as he stands tall. Bronson is leaving, so much for making Braun a victim. Braun eggs Bronson on, the fans boo, but producers want Bronson to keep going. But wait, here comes Braun! Braun CLOBBERS Bronson into a road case!! The fans are thunderous again but now security ushers Braun outta here. But Bronson comes back for more!
Braun and Bronson brawl, and they go back stage. Bronson is sent into more road case, and even the wall! Braun TOSSES security guards, then TIPS a golfcart!! A camera goes out, but Bronson is up! Bronson LEAPS onto Braun, TSUNAMI DOWN THROUGH TABLES!!! Bronson rises again, but Braun does, too! Braun TACKLES Bronson through a wall!!! Crates fall from above as these two are weakening the structural integrity of backstage! Fans are losing their minds even more now, and only now does either monster stay down! Will these two literally bring down the house the next time they battle?
Raw returns and…
Medics finally dig Braun and Bronson out of the wreckage and check on both men. Braun is conscious but dazed, and Bronson is stirring. We go to Adam Pearce now, he is on the phone, and wants to stay posted on both men’s condition. He thanks the person on the other end, then ends the call. But then Ludwig Kaiser steps in. Kaiser says he just wants to know if Pearce has found an adequate next challenger for Gunther yet. Does Kaiser really want to have this conversation right now? Pearce is in the middle of another Bronson Reed based catastrophe, as we all saw. Oh, but is that really more important than the World Heavyweight Champion?
Pearce says he’s already told the champion, he is working on finding someone since Gunther doesn’t wanna face Sami Zayn, who by the way, has made a compelling case for the match. Kaiser says, “Sami? Sami Zayn?” Yes, Sami Zayn! Kaiser asked for an adequate opponent, and Pearce throws Sami at him? Wait, Sami’s going to the ring at this very moment! Pearce says he approved this time for Sami to talk. If Gunther has a problem, then he should come talk to Pearce himself. Kaiser frowns but leaves, and now we cut to the ring.
Sami goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and the fans sing along with the music. Sami smiles and waves and the fans cheer. Sami then says, “Well, I know I’m standing in the middle of the ring, in the middle of a red hot crowd here in Portland, Oregon. But all week, I have been locked in the memory of standing in this ring last week in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.” The fans cheer that. Sami says last week, he meant everything. Bret was Sami’s hero growing up, it was a very emotional moment. But more than anything, last week was very motivational.
Sami listened to Bret say what it meant for him to be a champion. A true Canadian champion. To have that work ethic. And all Sami can keep thinking is that he wants that to be him! Sami needs it to be him! Sami needs to become THE World Heavyweight Champion! The fans cheer that! Sami needs to be the guy who defends the title week in, week out, against everyone who comes his way. That is the type of champion all the fans deserve! The fans cheer that, too! Sami says “unfortunately, our current World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther, has repeatedly declined every single time I have challenged him for a World Championship opportunity.”
Sami says Gunther claims it is because Sami is not on Gunther’s level. Here’s the thing, though: Sami doesn’t believe that! The fans cheer, and Sami says Gunther doesn’t believe it either. Sami thinks that he is in Gunther’s head. Sami thinks Gunther remembers what happened at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. And Gunther knows if we see Sami VS Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship, that if Sami beat Gunther before, he can beat Gunther again! And more than anything, Gunther is just scared. But wait! Kaiser makes his way out to the ring now. Kaiser ask Sami, “What’re you doing here?”
The fans boo but Kaiser says out of everyone here, why Sami? What is Sami doing in the middle of this ring asking for a World Heavyweight Championship match against Gunther? And, uh, what is this nonsense about Gunther being scared of Sami? Scared of Sami? Why would he? “Gunther is most definitely the most dominant force in the WWE right now. And if anything, he is trying to protect you, Sami! He is trying to save you. Save you from the worst embarrassment of your entire life!” The fans boo but Kaiser says if we’re talking WrestleMania, then let’s talk WrestleMania.
WrestleMania 40 was undoubtedly the greatest night of Sami’s career. For the first and only time, Kaiser saw Sami’s whole family looking up to him instead of looking down on him. So here is some advice. “Miracles never happen twice. So Sami, take it, run with it, and enjoy it. Because this is NEVER, EVER… going to happen again.” The fans boo more, but Sami tells Kaiser, he finds it very strange that he’s out here talking for Gunther. Gunther doesn’t need Kaiser to speak for him. In fact, Gunther doesn’t need Kaiser for anything. But what Sami thinks is, he doesn’t think Kaiser needs Gunther, either.
Sami is out here talking about his desire to prove himself, and he sees Kaiser has that, too. Kaiser is like anyone of us. It is why Kaiser turned on his former tag partner, Giovanni Vinci, and broke up Imperium. He wants to stand on his own two feet, showing exactly what it is he is capable of! He’s just like anyone else here! The fans applaud that. But does Kaiser think he wins respect coming out here as Gunther’s mouthpiece? If Kaiser wants to talk to Sami, fine. But Kaiser doesn’t need to speak for Gunther. Kaiser should at least have the balls to speak for himself. The fans cheer that! But now here comes Gunther!
Der Ring General has the belt around his waist, and a mic already in hand. Gunther joins the others in the ring, and he tells Sami he will answer that challenge in a bit. But first… Gunther asks Kaiser if there’s anything he needs to tell Gunther. Just say it right now. Kaiser glances between Gunther and Sami, then looks down at his feet. Kaiser says there IS something he wants to get off his chest! The fans cheer, but then Kaiser CLOBBERS Sami! So much for standing up for himself! Gunther grins as Kaiser drags Sami up, into the SIDEWINDER! The fans boo more as Imperium stands over Sami, then Kaiser sits Sami up.
Gunther tells Sami that regarding his challenge for the title, the answer is, and will remain, NO. Kaiser pushes Sami down while fans boo, and Imperium hugs it out. But Sami sit sup, and he grabs at Kaiser’s leg. Gunther says go ahead, and Kaiser brings Sami back up. Kaiser clinches again, but Sami slips free this time! GERMAN SUPLEX on the Impeccable German! Gunther is stunned, as Sami now hits a HELLUVA KICK!! Kaiser falls, the fans fire up with Sami, and Der Ring General looks foolish. But what will it take to convince Gunther to face the only man to have pinned him this entire year?
Backstage interview with Damian Priest.
Cathy Kelley is now with The Punisher, and knows he has had a lot on his plate. In two weeks, Priest faces Finn at Bad Blood, but tonight, in the main event, he takes on Dominik Mysterio. Are there any hesitations in facing someone that was once family? Priest repeats, “Hesitations? I don’t-” But in steps Liv, laughing to herself. Liv asks Cathy to please get out of her face. Thank you~! Liv says it is so sad. A former world champion doesn’t even realize he’s already a has-been. But it wasn’t hard for Judgment Day to choose between Priest & Rhea VS Dom & Liv. If only they could hear what the boys have to say about them now.
Priest & Rhea, just two lonely, pathetic, desperate losers, hanging on to the only time in their lives when they were on top. HAHA! It is embarrassing, isn’t it? Priest says he can’t believe someone in Judgment Day actually has a set. Liv should protect that. Because when Rhea gets her hands on Liv, she shoves them down Liv’s throat. And why is Liv over here? Go find Dom and give him a kiss goodbye. Because when Priest gets his hands on Dom, he’s putting Liv’s little scumbag boyfriend down. And that’s just him getting started. Bye, sucia! Priest leaves, will he be leaving Portland with Dom’s head?
Bianca Belair w/ Jade Cargill VS Iyo Sky w/ Kairi Sane!
The StrongEST Duo held onto the championship belts against The Unholy Union, but they’ve still got some scores to settle with Damage CTRL. Kairi may be The Pirate Princess but she can’t fight with just one good eye, so it is The Evil Genius stepping up. Will Iyo use this as a trap game to get one over on the champs? Or will Bianca prove she’s the readiEST for whatever Iyo’s got planned?
Raw returns as DMG CTRL make their entrance. The bell rings, Iyo and Bianca tie up, and Bianca headlocks for a takeover. Iyo headscissors, Bianca kips free, and roles reverse as Iyo hits the headlock takeover. Bianca headscissors, Iyo bridges then pops free. Iyo runs up, Bianca trips to cover, ONE! Iyo tries but Bianca avoids the sweep! Bianca kicks but Iyo deflects to roll her up, TWO! Iyo gets around the lariat but Bianca stops the tilt-o-whirl! Bianca whips, but dropkicks cancel out! They both kip up and the fans fire up! Iyo and Bianca go again, and Iyo waistlocks. Bianca switches, Iyo switches, repeat. Bianca lifts, Iyo slips free!
Iyo ducks ‘n’ dodges then handsprings! Bianca gets clear, the fans fire up, and things keep moving! Bianca handsprings, says kiss this, and Iyo runs in. Bianca bypasses and pops Iyo up, but then blocks a rana! Bianca swings Iyo up but Iyo sunset flips! TWO! Bianca and Iyo get up again, Iyo kicks low! And CHOPS Bianca to a corner! Iyo whips corner to corner, runs up, but Bianca goes up and over. Bianca handsprings, goes up and up, and says kiss this again! Iyo runs in, Bianca goes up and over! Bianca wrenches and reels Iyo in to suplex! Bianca holds Iyo up, marches around, then SLAMS her down!
The fans fire up, and Bianca kips up! Bianca runs to handspring again, but Iyo avoids the moonsault! Iyo runs up, uses ropes, springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG! Bianca manages to roll through, and we have another standoff! The fans cheer as Iyo and Bianca each wag a finger at the other, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Iyo grinds Bianca down with a headlock. Bianca fights up as the fans rally, and Bianca lifts Iyo up to then THROW her away! Iyo goes to a corner, runs back in, but Bianca ducks the kick to roll her up! TWO, and Bianca bypasses Iyo to then follow and run her over! Then run her over again! And then DROPKICK! Bianca kips up yet again, and the fans fire up! Iyo is in a corner, Bianca runs up to RAM her! Bianca climbs, the fans cheer, and Bianca rains down fists! The fans count along, Bianca goes to TEN, then past that, only for Iyo to grab a leg! Bianca kicks Iyo away, backflips away, but Iyo dodges to SHOTEI! SHOTEI again!
Iyo DROPKICKS Bianca now, and Kairi cheers. The fans also fire up, and Iyo goes corner to corner on the SHINKANSEN! Direct hit with the knees, and Iyo brings Bianca up. Iyo underhooks while fans duel, but Bianca Alabama Lifts! Bianca backdrops Iyo, but Iyo lands on her feet! Iyo runs up again, but Bianca scoops her for a GUTBUSTER! Iyo sputters, Bianca slaps her leg back into working, and the fans rally again. Bianca runs up, Iyo slips out and sends Bianca into buckles! Iyo goes up, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!! Bianca stays in this and Kairi is frustrated for Iyo. The fans rally and duel while Iyo and Bianca catch their breath.
Jade and Kairi coach their teammates, and the two stir. Bianca sits up with a scowl, and she CLUBS Iyo! Iyo hits back with a forearm! The fans rally as the forearms go back and forth! The two rise to their feet to fire more shots! Bianca gest the edge, CLUBs away, but Iyo shoves her away. Iyo runs up, tilt-o-whirls, to sunset flip! TWO! Bianca is in a corner, Iyo runs in, but Bianca ALLEY-OOPS her into buckles! Then SPINEBUSTER! Handspring and MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Iyo survives, both Bianca and Jade stunned! Kairi coaches Iyo, and she goes to a corner. Bianca stomps Iyo, then puts her up top.
Bianca gorilla presses Iyo, the fans fire up, but Iyo slips free! Iyo shoves to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Bianca survives that and now Iyo and Kairi are stunned! Bianca goes to the apron, “This is Awesome!” as she ROCKS Iyo back! Bianca brings Iyo up, but Iyo fights the suplex! Iyo HOTSHOTS Bianca down! Bianca goes to the desk, and Iyo builds speed! Iyo DIVES and takes Bianca down! The fans are thunderous and Iyo rises. Iyo stalks Bianca to steel steps, brings her up, but Bianca suplexes first! Bianca holds Iyo up as she climbs the steps! The fans are thunderous again as Bianca TOSSES Iyo into the ring!
Bianca goes up a corner while Iyo is down! 450 SPLASH, onto knees!! Iyo saves herself, then she puts Bianca in the drop zone! Iyo goes up and up, but Bianca hurries to get her first! Torture rack! KISS OF- NO, Iyo lands out to cradle counter! IYO WINS!!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall
Iyo snatches victory from the jaws of defeat, and the StrongEST Duo cannot believe it! Will DMG CTRL be able to circle back to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships?
Rhea & Priest regroup backstage.
Rhea hopes Priest will absolutely brutalize Dom tonight. Priest says he’ll rip that kid apart. Tonight, they tear the lame ass Judgment Day apart. They fist bump and Priest is ready. But will Dirty Dom finally receive his punishment? Or will there just be another stacked deck waiting in the main event?
Team American Made speaks.
Chad Gable says, “Well, here we are! After months of living in my own personal Hell, being stalked, mocked, abandoned, tortured, and you all that’d be the end of Chad Gable. But I’m still standing.” Brutus Creed says that is why all the “pencil-necked geeks” will never be on the level of greatness that they’re all on! HAHA~! Julius says no more loony bin inmates and weirdos trading in boots for grip socks. Do you hear them? You can’t kill Chad Gable! You can’t kill the American spirit! And you can’t kill American Made! Ivy Nile says they’re done with those “5150 freaks.” It is time to bring respect and honor back to this ring
They don’t quit, they don’t surrender, and they don’t run from history, they MAKE history! When and where will the Raw Tag Division be American Made?
Backstage interview with Ludwig Kaiser.
Cathy Kelley is with an upset Impeccable German, still checking his teeth. Given that conversation out there in the ring, it seemed for a moment that what Sami was saying resonated with Kaiser. Kaiser says none of that matters. The only thing that does matter is that he talked with Pearce, and next week, Kaiser will expose Sami in front of the entire world! Who does Sami think he is? Sami is standing in that ring, questioning Kaiser’s loyalty to Gunther, bringing up the past. Sami wants to talk about past loyalties? Let’s talk about Sami’s past!
Let’s talk about the man that Sami called his very best friend, Kevin Owens! And that whenever either one of them had more success than the other, they would pounce on each other, turn on each other, because that is who Sami is! Kaiser will show that to the entire world, that Sami is nothing but a sad, bitter man jealous of his best friend and what he was. Because what Kevin was is what Sami will never, ever be: a world champion! Kaiser says they’re done here, but what will happen when he and Sami are done with each other next Monday night?
Jey Uso encounters Ilja Dragunov backstage.
The Mad Dragon tells Main Event Jey that everything he wants to say is congratulations on the Fatal 4 Way win, and best of luck in the match next week. Aw sure, Uce. YEET. They fist bump and Ilja says yeet to Jey, too. But then as Jey leaves, in step Judgment Day. They see him being friendly with Jey there. And Ilja has been full of praise for Damian & Rhea. Finn knows Ilja’s new around here, so he’ll let it slide. But here’s some advice: Think a little more about who you choose as your friend. Oh, “friend” is such a strong word. But Ilja does respect Rhea, and Priest, and Jey. That’s more than he can say for any of the Judgment Day.
JD wants to throw hands but Finn has him stand down. Finn tells Ilja this is a friendly reminder. But next time, the message won’t be delivered so nicely. They’re gonna go, to take care of one of Ilja’s “friends.” The “Street Trash” head out, but are they barking up the wrong tree with The Mad Dragon? Will it not matter after Priest wipes the floor with Dirty Dom?
Damian Priest w/ Rhea Ripley VS Dominik Mysterio w/ The Judgment Day!
Raw returns and The Terror Twins make their entrance. The bell rings and Priest CLOBBERS Dom! The fans fire up as Priest TOSSES Dom to a corner, ROCKS him with right hand after right hand, then he glares at Judgment Day. Priest whips Dom corner to corner hard, then picks him up with both hands! The fans fire up for the TOSS! Dom wants mercy, but Priest just knuckle locks and twists the wrist! Dom endures, Priest runs him over! Then runs him over again! Rhea enjoys what she sees as Priest wrenches Dom, whips him to ropes, then LEG LARIATS him down! Cover, ONE!! Dom is showing toughness but Priest shows no mercy!
Priest SLAPS Dom, drags him up, then reels him in. Priest glares right at Finn, back suplexes, but Dom lands out! Dom dropkicks the legs out! Dom KICKS and KICKS and then CLUBS away! Dom whips, but Priest blocks! Priest glares at Dom, whips him, then FLAPJACKS him hard! The fans fire up, Rhea laughs, and Priest stalks Dom to a corner. Priest stomps a mudhole in, but the ref has him back off. Liv coaches Dom up but the fans chant “DOM, YOU SUCK!” Priest puts Dom on ropes to CHOKE him, and stares Liv down! Liv shouts, the ref counts, and Priest lets off. Priest tells Finn this is coming for him, too!
Priest drags Dom up again, but Dom fires body shots! Those just annoy Priest! Priest DECKS Dom with a right hand! Rhea says night-night! Priest says this is done, and he hauls Dom up. But then Finn gets on the apron. Priest backs Finn off, but Dom bails out. The fans boo but Dom is safe for now. Priest goes back for Dom, stepping onto the apron. Priest backs Carlito off, scoops Dom, and hits SNAKE EYES off the apron! Priest again backs Carlito off, then drags Dom up. Priest SMACKS Dom off the desk! The fans fire up, but the ref starts a count. The ref also tells Judgment Day to stay away, and Priest ROCKS Dom!
Dom slumps against the apron, and Priest DECKS Carlito for getting too close! Priest puts Dom in, glares at JD, but then the ref is busy with Dom and Finn POSTS Priest! Dom then DIVES, and he sends Priest over the desk! The fans boo but Judgment Day celebrates this small triumph, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Dom has Priest back in the ring. Dom tries to suplex, but Priest lifts Dom instead! Dom slips free, shoves Priest to a corner, but Priest ELBOWS back! Dom goes to the other corner, Priest runs in, but only gets buckles! Dom reels Priest in, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Priest is still in this and Rhea coaches him up. Dom taunts Rhea with some Latino Heat, then he soaks up the heat from Portland. Dom taunts Rhea, but Rhea uses Dom’s shirt to floss, and we’re not talking teeth or the dance move. Dom fires hands on Priest, then wags his finger at the fans. Dom ROCKS Priest again and again and again!
Dom winds up to CHOP! The fans “WOO~!” but Priest is just getting pissed! Dom is scared as Priest stands up tall! Priest DECKS Dom, DECKS him again, then KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! ROLLING ELBOW! Dom rebounds into a HAYMAKER! The fans fire up again as Priest sees Dom go to a corner. Priest runs in, BIG back elbow! Then a clinch for the FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Priest powers up, and the fans cheer more. Dom rises, but Finn gets on the apron again! Priest runs Finn off, but Dom rolls Priest up! TWO, and Dom comes back, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Priest reels Dom in, for the BROKEN ARROW!
Priest drags Dom to a cover, but Liv gives Dom the ROPEBREAK! The fans boo but Liv has a sinister smile. Wait, REHA SPEARS Liv up and over the desk! Wade Barrett gets wiped out, too! Carlito, Finn & JD are in shock, but then Priest runs to CLOBBER JD and DECK Carlito! Priest stares Finn down, Dom DIVES, but Priest catches him! Priest THRWOS Dom into Finn! SUPERKICK for Carlito! The fans are thunderous as Priest follows Dom into the ring. Dom SUPERKICKS back! And DROPKICKS Priest onto ropes! Dom dials it up, 619! Priest flops back, the fans boo, but Dom goes up! FROG SPLASH- NO, Priest moves!
Dom staggers up, Priest LARIATS him inside-out!! The straps come down, the fans are thunderous again, and Priest aims at Dom. Choke grip, SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest wins!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall
But Judgment Day swarms Priest! The fans boo as “The Street Trash” mug Priest, and Finn wants them to keep going! But Rhea’s up and she drags Dom outta the ring! But Liv YANKS Rhea down, and sends Rhea into steel steps! Judgment Day mugs the Terror Twins all over again, but here comes UUUSO~! Jey runs right to the ring, but Judgment Day is standing their ground this time! But then BRON BREAKKER SPEARS JEY!! The Badass mocks the “Yeet!” and the mugging of Priest & Rhea continues! Finn goes up top as JD sets up Priest, and Liv stalks Rhea. ObLIVion!! And then COUP DE GRACE!!
But wait, that’s not enough for Finn! He goes back up, another COUP DE GRACE!! That’s still not enough as JD rains down fists, then Finn climbs up again! COUP DE GRACE!!! Portland boos but there’s nothing that can be done now! Judgment Day stands tall, will they soon rule all?
My Thoughts:
An awesome episode of Raw, and with a lot of story intermingling this time. But first, a great opening promo from CM Punk to put more heat behind the coming Hell in a Cell with Drew McIntyre. With the series being 1-1, that match could go either way, but it still feels like this is going to end up Punk’s win, with Punk heading for the World Heavyweight Championship after that. And speaking of, great promo from Sami with Kaiser and Gunther. I like the tease of Kaiser standing up to Gunther, though I’m not sure Imperium fully disbands just yet. But between Sami VS Kaiser and Sami just not going away, Gunther has to be giving Sami that match.
Though, with Bad Blood already stacked seeing Punk VS McIntyre in Hell in a Cell, and then Cody & Roman VS Solo & Fatu, I oddly don’t see Gunther giving Sami the match at Bad Blood. Sami has ended up a big part of Crown Jewel and other Saudi Arabia specials. Maybe they stretch this build out so that the title match is there, and that show is made even bigger by having Sami’s big moment where he finally becomes a world champion. Just imagine the crowd reaction for that one.
We definitely got a banger out of Sheamus VS Dunne, and fans definitely like calling Dunne “Butch” now, cuz it’s to make fun of him. But interesting factoid given by commentary that Portland was where The Brawling Brutes beat Imperium in the Donnybrook Six Man Tag. They didn’t time out the story to make tonight’s match a Donnybrook, but after Dunne cheated to win, I feel like we could get Sheamus VS Dunne in a Donnybrook for the go-home episode to Bad Blood. For one, imagine how big that week is, with NXT also having their CW debut on that Tuesday. Starting off with an epic No Disqualification style blowoff match would be great stuff.
Very good match from Natty VS Zoey, and I’m rather surprised PFC didn’t try and cheat something. But great win for Natty, and it being a quick pin makes sure to keep the feud alive. We already has a standard Six Woman Tag, so maybe after singles matches of like Shayna VS Zelina and Sonya VS Lyra, we get a ramped up Six Woman Tag with like Tornado Rules to enhance the chaos and physicality. Who knows who wins out in the end, but they gotta build more contenders to both the Women’s World and Women’s Tag Team titles.
Granted, we got an awesome 1v1 of Bianca VS Iyo. The change was certainly with real reason, as Kairi’s eye really was damaged and they probably just want to take it slowly and carefully. But at the same time, there have been moments when Kairi and Bianca have faced off in the ring that the rhythm just isn’t there, so this could’ve also been an audible called so we could get such an awesome match, not an awkward one. StrongEST Duo VS DMG CTRL for the titles surely happens within the next few weeks. They again might add it to the go-home episode of Raw to really build up that night.
Good video promos from The Wyatt Sick6 and Team American Made. I suppose those teams are going to move on since they had the awesome Mixed Street Fight last week. Not sure what feuds come next, but there was also the Easter egg of the Wyatt symbol on SmackDown last Friday. Do they go there to punish someone for the wrongs of their past? And good promo with The Miz and Braun Strowman ahead of what ended up not being a match at all between Braun and Bronson. Honestly, that whole brawl was incredible, best stuff of the whole night just on the pure thrill ride of them smashing stuff apart. They should definitely do something like a “Last Monster Standing” match to settle this, with the winner (Bronson, I would think) set up as contender to a title.
And that brings us to all the great story mingling tonight. The one promo of Jey, Rhea, Priest and Woods helped set the table for it, where they were all trying to be respectful of boundaries. But then clever use of the beef LWO has with Judgment Day to “screw up” the tag title match. That loss for New Day also feeds the story as built up in their feud with Kross, and it was only right that they bring up Big E’s absence. If Big E can get on TV, it would really add to this story. Not sure it’ll stop the implosion of New Day, but it is a story beat we need to see.
Kudos to Finn and Judgment Day wearing the Street Trash merch, still trying to get that going. WWE really should’ve made that shirt sooner, as in when Priest was still in the group and Gunther called him that, but better late than never. Good promo from Jey and Bron Breakker to add hype to the Intercontinental Championship match, and good promo of Jey and Dragunov, showing that there’s at least one more ally for fighting Judgment Day. Good promos from Finn with Rhea and Jey, as well as Liv with Priest. Finn and Liv are the real masterminds of this Street Trash Judgment Day, but it was also good that only Finn’s digs were doing damage.
And of course, great main event of Priest VS Dom, thought it was of course more like Priest VS Street Trash Judgment Day. Great stuff with Rhea tackling Liv over the desk, and of course Priest got the win. Likewise, Judgment Day of course had to jump Priest & Rhea as sore losers. That cued up Jey, only for Bron to take him out. The math on Bron VS Jey is muddied a bit now, but I think a lot of fans would love to see Jey finally have his singles title moment. In fact, it’d be great for it to happen on Raw instead of a PLE because it’d be a sign that we can expect surprises on TV again. As for the Terror Twins, I stand by what I said last week where there has to be a trade. If Rhea wins against Liv, Finn probably cheats Priest, extending that feud a bit longer.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/19/25)
Parting is such sweet sorrow…

There are more goodbyes than just The Ace’s Final Road.
NJPW already knows Hiroshi Tanahashi will retire with this year, but his final match with Jeff Cobb will also be Jeff Cobb’s farewell to NJPW! Will The Ace never tire out? Or will he take a Tour of the Islands?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 8 Man Tag: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask VS Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai; Tenza, Kojima, Nagata & Tiger Mask win.
- 8 Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, YOH & Master Wato VS TMDK; Yano, Oleg, Yoh & Wato win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Jeff Cobb; Tanahashi wins.
- Six Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Callum Newman, Templario & Jakob Austin Young; Goto, Desperado & Taguchi win.
- 10 Man Elimination Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, Taichi, Taka Michinoku & YOSHI-HASHI; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Jeff Cobb!
The Ace’s Final Road continues on, but it would seem the Imperial Unit has hit the end of his run in NJPW. Will the President give Cobb a proper sendoff? Or is there one last Tour of the Islands planned?
The bell rings and the fans rally up for “COBBU! COBBU!” Tanahashi nods, and Cobb is emotional hearing that. Cobb and Tanahashi circle, tie up, and Tanahashi waistlocks. But Cobb’s a bit too big to lift even for The Ace. Cobb walks over to the ROPEBREAK, and Tanahashi lets go. The fans applaud and the two reset. They tie up, Tanahashi wrenches and wristlocks, but Cobb powers through, wrenches and wristlocks in return, then hammerlocks to headlock. Tanahashi puts Cobb on the ropes, the ref counts, and Tanahashi lets go cleanly again. The fans applaud the continued sportsmanship, and the two reset again.
Cobb runs up, and he SLINGBLADES?! Cover, TWO!! The “Cobby Cat” strikes again but Tanahashi survives his own move. Cobb whips Tanahashi, Tanahashi grabs ropes, but Cobb runs up. Tanahashi BOOTS Cobb, runs up, but Cobb scoops! Cobb SLAMS Tanahashi, and then air guitars before the GACHIMUCHI- NO, Tanahashi avoids the moonsault! Then Tanahashi sets up, to MOONSAULT!? But Cobb moves so Tanahashi belly flops on the floor! The fans fire up while both men are pulling out all the stops. Cobb steps on Tanahashi, pretends he didn’t see Tanahashi there, and then brings Tanahashi up.
Cobb ROCKS Tanahashi with a forearm, then headlocks. Cobb brings Tanahashi to the ropes to show everyone as he messes with Tanahashi’s hair. Cobb then CLUBS Tanahashi, brings him around, and suplexes. Cobb holds Tanahashi up, the fans cheer as Cobb marches around with him, and then Cobb pops Tanahashi for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi stays in this but Cobb stays on him with a GROUND COBRA! Cobb uses Tanahashi as the guitar, then CLUBS him in the ribs and chest! Cobb eggs Tanahashi on, and Tanahashi growls and rises up. Tanahashi fires body shots and forearms, but Cobb just HEADBUTTS back!
Tanahashi staggers away to a corner, and Cobb runs up, only for Tanahashi to dodge! Tanahashi dropkicks Cobb’s legs! Tanahashi then grabs one, and Cobb asks for mercy! Cobb apologizes, but Tanahashi says bye-bye! DRAGON SCREW! The fans cheer while Cobb clutches his leg. Tanahashi storms up on Cobb to fire more fast hands! Tanahashi then says, “MY POWER!” And he SCOOP SLAMS Cobb! The fans fire up as Tanahashi climbs the corner. Tanahashi hits the SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Cobb is tougher than that but Tanahashi gets moving. But Cobb ROCKS Tanahashi! Cobb winds up, he runs, but Tanahashi dodges the slingblade!
Tanahashi waistlocks, Cobb switches, but Tanahashi throws elbows. Cobb picks Tanahashi up to SLAM him down, and FALLING HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi stays in this, but the GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT hits! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives the double impact, but Cobb looms over him. Cobb drags Tanahashi up, fires his own fast hand combo, then scoops to SLAM Tanahashi! Cobb grins as he looks to the corner. The fans fire up as Cobb hops up, air guitar and the pose, SUNSET FLOP as Tanahashi moves! Tanahashi runs, but Cobb grabs tights! Cobb reels Tanahashi in, but Tanahashi elbows free!
Cobb SHOTEIS! Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Tanahashi hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up as Tanahashi goes up the corner! But Cobb stands! Tanahashi HIGH FLY ATTACKS, but Cobb catches him! Cobb pops Tanahashi up, shifts around, and ATHLETIC- SLINGBLADE?!? Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi rises, the fans fire up, and Tanahashi runs to SLING- NO, Cobb gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Tanahashi rises again! SLING- NO, Cobb scoops Tanahashi, but then pops him around again! TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cobb roars, but he’s not done!! Cobb ripcords Tanahashi for the RIPCORD- CRADLE COUNTER!! TANAHASHI WINS!!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
Cobb got cocky and it to cost him! Tanahashi still tells Cobb he’s proud of him and of Cobb’s time here in NJPW. The two shake hands and hug it out while the fans cheer. Tanahashi’s Final Road rolls on, and The United Empire is here to say farewell to their friend. Cobb is handed a mic, and Chris Charleton is there to interpret. Cobb says he was not expecting to lose tonight. But first and foremost, he wants to thank the people that don’t even get seen by the fans. The NJPW staff, the music team, the NJPW World techs, the boys ‘n’ girls in the back, and all the wrestlers Cobb calls “family.” The fans applaud and Cobb says Chris’s Japanese is good.
Cobb takes a moment before he says he had a speech ready, but he’s kinda blanking out from the pressure. Online, there has been an outpouring of love, #ThankYouCobb. But really, he should be thanking each and every one of the fans. Cobb gets emotional again while Chris translates for him. Cobb knows it’s a bit of a crappy situation, but he wants Callum Newman to know, he’s got the ball, so run with it. Cobb lets Chris translate now, and then Cobb wraps by thanking the Empire members here, from Khan, to Templario, to “Jakob Change Your Name,” to Akira and to Callum.
And lastly, Cobb says this is not goodbye, but more see you later. Thank you, NJPW. Thank you, fans. Domo arigato gozaimasu! The fans cheer for Cobb one more time, and he bows deeply to them all. When and where will we see Cobb in the ring, any ring, again?
10 Man Elimination Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, Taichi, Taka Michinoku & YOSHI-HASHI!
Well, not only is The Ace on his Final Road, but it would seem Tetsuya Naito and Bushi are on their own way out of NJPW. Then will they and their amigos start their Road to Wrestling Dontaku with a celebration? Or will the Heat Storm, Roughneck, Holy Emperor, Blue Playmaker and Headhunter make this anything but tranquilo?
The teams sort out and there’s a lot of entrance attire to put aside. Once Naito is done putting the pants away, LIJ fist bumps while Just4Guys/Hontai shake hands. Yuya steps up against Naito and the fans fire up already. Naito and Yuya stare down while the fans cheer “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” Naito and Yuya step up, but then Naito tags to Bushi. The fans cheer Bushi on now, he circles with Yuya, but then Bushi tags out to Yota. The fans rally as Yuya and Yota feel things out, giving us a taste of their IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship match. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and Yuya wrenches Yota to a wristlock.
Yota slips around, full nelsons, but Yuya breaks that to hammerlock. Yota reaches back to facelock, then he wrenches again. Yuya rolls, wrenches, and arm-drags Yota down. But Yota headscissors! Yuya kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff. Yota and Yuya reset, tie up, and Yota headlocks. Yuya powers up and out, drops down, then hurdles over to arm-drag again! The fans cheer as Yuya has the armlock. Yota fights up, fights around, but Yuya brings him over and Taka tags in. Taka kicks Yota, CLUBS him, then stomps him. Taka knees low, runs, but Yota dropkicks a leg out! LIJ rushes in and BLASTS Hontai! Then they bring Taka to the ropes!
Hontai rushes in to save Taka! The fans fire up as everyone fights at the ropes, and Taka lands safe on the apron! Taka scurries around the way and back into the ring! The fans cheer, but then Takagi & Yota split the wishbone! Hiromu tags in, he brings Taka up and CHOPS! Hiromu whips corner to corner, runs up and LARIATS! Hiromu snapmares and runs to basement dropkick! The fans fire up and Hiromu brings Naito in. They double whip to TENDEDERO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Hiromu bumps Taka off buckles, then he tags Takagi. Takagi RAMS into Taka again and again, but Taka fires body shots.
Takagi HEADBUTTS Taka down, then suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi sits Taka up, runs to BLAST Shota, and the fans cheer! Takagi drags Taka up to HEADBUTT the arm, then wrench it. Tag to Bushi and he CLUBS the arm. Bushi CLUBS Taka down, stomps him, then has the legs. Bushi stands on Taka’s groin! Red Shoes reprimands, Bushi steps off at 4, then stomps Taka around. Tag to Naito and the fans rally as he brings Taka up. Naito cravats Taka, then Hiromu sits in the ropes. Hiromu claims Hontai is up to something, Red Shoes looks over, and Naito SMACKS Taka off Hiromu’s boots!
Taichi protests, but Naito throws hands on Taka. Taka tries to hit back but there’s not much there. Naito CLUBS Taka, but Taka fires a flurry! Naito just ROCKS Taka! Naito runs, but Taka goes the other way to BOOT Naito down! The fans rally up, hot tag to Taichi! Taichi runs at Naito in the corner and BOOTS him! Yota gets in, kicks Taichi then whips, but Taichi BOOTS Yota! Takagi runs up, Taichi dodges to wrench and HOOK KICK! Hiromu gets up but Taichi BLASTS him! Bushi backs off, but Naito CLUBS Taichi. Naito whips, but Taichi reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up while Naito crawls.
Taichi paces, waits on Naito to sit up, but Naito ducks the buzzsaw! Naito shoves Taichi, Bushi trips him up! Bushi tags in and stomps Taichi around. Bushi ROCKS Taichi, whips, but Taichi grabs ropes. Bushi runs up again but Taichi BOOTS him down! Taichi tags Hashi and Hashi drags Bushi up. Hashi ROCKS and CLUBS Bushi, whips him, but Bushi reveres. Hashi dodges to ELBOW Bushi, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! LIJ blasts Hontai’s corner again! Hashi rolls out under the bottom rope, Bushi BLASTS him off the apron, then Bushi builds speed. But Hashi gets back in to CLOBBER Bushi!
Hashi drags Bushi up, hooks a leg, but Bushi fights free! Hashi blocks a kick, ducks the enzigiri, but the REWIND HEEL hits! Bushi runs in from the corner, but Hashi stops the Code Breaker! Taka joins in, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives, but Hashi clamps on the BUTTERFLY LOCK! Bushi endures, fights around, and Naito gets on the apron, only for Taichi to BOOT him down! Taichi intercepts Hiromu, and Bushi TAPS! Hashi ELIMINATES Bushi! Takagi CLOBBERS Hashi, then drops ELBOW after ELBOW! Takagi SENTONS but misses as Hashi moves! Shota storms in and stomps Takagi!
Shota drags Takagi up to UPPERCUT, and Hashi CHOPS! Hashi & Shota double whip, then Hashi runs up, only to be put on the apron! Takagi CLOBBERS Shota, then runs up on Hashi! Hashi RAMS Takagi, they trade forearms, but then Takagi HOTSHOTS Hashi! Hashi holds onto the ropes, then ROCKS Takagi! Takagi staggers, Shota runs up, but Takagi throws him into Hashi! Hashi falls to the floor, Takagi ELIMINATES Hashi! The teams are even again after that friendly fire, and Takagi rolls Shota! TWO, and things speed up! Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, and YUKON LARIATS! The fans fire up while Takagi fires up, “TOKI GA KITA!”
The fans rally as Takagi runs up, but he blocks a boot to then LARIAT! JAB, CHOP, repeat, then Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, and CHOPS! Takagi brings Shota up, suplexes, but Shota fights it so Takagi hits the TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Shota stays in this but Takagi stays focused. The fans join in with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi storms up on Shota. Takagi pump handles but Shota fights the lift. Shota switches, Takagi fires elbows, but Shota ducks! Shota wrenches and SWINGING NECKBREAKERS! The fans are torn but Shota drags Takagi up. Shota CHOPS Takagi in the corner, CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS!
Shota reels Takagi in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Shota clamps on an STF! Takagi endures, fights around, and he drags Shota along towards the ropes! ROPEBREAK, the fans cheer, and Shota lets go. Shota brings Takagi up, but Takagi denies the tornado DDT! Shota fires forearms to ROCK Takagi again and again, but Takagi just headbutts the buckles to fire up! The fans fire up and Shota fires another forearm, only for Takagi to fire back! Shota headbutts the buckles to fire up! The forearms start flying again, but then Takagi fires boxing elbows! Takagi ROCKS Shota, but Shota fires boxing elbows now!
Shota ROCKS Takagi, then runs, but Takagi follows! LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi runs, Shota follows, LARIAT at the ropes! Shota runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Shota roars, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- SHOTA LARIATS! But Takagi’s up to PUMPING BOMBER! Shota is in a daze but he manages to stand, and he swats a lariat to ENZIGIRI! Takagi rebounds to SLIDING LARIAT! Shota staggers back up, but Takagi whips him. Shota reverses and reels Takagi in, TORNADO DDT! But Takagi’s right up, and he PUMPING BOMBERS Shota and himself up and out! DOULBE ELIMINATION!!
The fans go nuts as we go to 3v3 now. Yuya and Yota step back in and the fans rally. Yota grins, runs up, but Yuya dodges to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Yuya whips, Yota reverses, but Yuya goes up and over. Yuya arm-drags, then DROPKICKS! Yuya roars and the fans fire up again! Yuya reels Yota in but Yota fights the saido. Yuya still hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Yuya drags Yota back up, clinches, but Yota fires elbow after elbow to get free. Then he SUPER- NO, Yuya blocks! Yuya swings, but into the BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! But he avoids the stomp! Yuya CHOPS then runs, but Yota SUPERKICKS himdown!
LIJ BLASTS Hontai’s corner again, and Yota looms over Yuya. Yota drags Yuya up, bumps him off buckles, then hoists him up top. Yota CHOPS, then he fires up before climbing up. The fans rally up, and Yuya fires forearms! Yota falls back, stands up, and he avoids Yuya’s leap! Yuya comes back, into the GENE TRIGGER! Yota TOSSES Yuya, but Yuya lands on the apron! Hiromu lets Yota know that, so Yota goes up the corner! Yota aims for an APRON MARLOWE- NO, Yuya dodges! Yuya CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Yota ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya fires up! Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS!
Yota SLAPS Yuya! And then swings, but into the cording hold! Yuya grabs the other arm but Yota resists! Yota HEADBUTTS again and again, then DOUBLE HEADBUTTS hit! Both men fall, another DOUBLE ELIMINATION!! Now it’s just TakaTaichi VS Naito & Hiromu! The fans rally up as the four stare down. Hiromu runs up, but into TENDEDERO! Naito dodges but then Taichi BOOTS him down! TakaTaichi double whip to DOUBLE BOOT! Taka has Hiromu but Hiromu fires forearms! Taka pokes Hiromu in the eyes! Taka whips Hiromu to a corner, but Hiromu blocks the shining wizard!
Hiromu runs, RANA, but Taka SHOVES it down! JUST FACELOCK!! Taka CLUBS away on Hiromu, but Naito stomps Taka down! Taichi runs up but Naito kicks him and throws him out! Naito kicks Taka, he and Hiromu double whip, but Taka redirects! And redirects! But then Naito & Hiromu undo Tendedero to let Taka pass! Taka comes back, ducks Tendedero, and he waistlocks Naito. Naito switches, shoves Taka at Hiromu and Hiromu wrenches. Pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL! Cover, Hiromu ELIMINATES Taka! And that leaves it 2v1, Hiromu & Naito against Taichi! Taichi paces as he considers his options.
Taichi rushes in, but into TENDEDERO! Naito & Hiromu double whip Taichi to a corner, and Hiromu runs to LARIAT! Naito ROCKS Taichi, ENZIGIRIS, and Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Hiromu gives Naito the boost for the TOR- Well, no, the tornado fails but the DDT still hits! Hiromu brings Taichi up, suplexes, but Taichi fights it! Taichi suplexes, but Hiromu fights it! They end up by the ropes! Hiromu is on the apron, Naito runs up, but Taichi dodges and Naito BLASTS Hiromu! Hiromu falls and is ELIMINATED! Friendly fire in return for before, and the fans fire up as it is Taichi and Naito 1v1!
Taichi and Naito reset, and the fans cheer for “NA-I-TO!” as hard as they can. Naito fires a forearm, but Taichi fires back! Naito fires another, so Taichi fires back! Naito and Taichi both smirk as the shots keep going back and forth! Taichi then KCIKS, but Naito still throws forearms! KICK, forearm, repeat, but then Naito ROCKS Taichi again and again! Naito SLAPS Taichi! Taichi SOBATS! Naito fires the heavy elbow, but Taichi URAKENS! Naito runs, Taichi BOOTS him down, then Taichi drags Naito back up, just so he can AX- NO, Naito lifts Taichi, but Taichi fights off the atomic drop! Taichi shoves Naito to then AX BOMBER! Cover, TWO!
Naito survives but Taichi runs, and SLIDING AX BOMBERS! Taichi fires up, the fans are torn, but Taichi suplexes! Naito fights free to kick low! Naito uses the ropes to TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up and Naito drags Taichi up. Naito fires those heavy elbows again and again! Naito has Taichi down in the corner, then climbs up. Naito reels Taichi in, but Taichi sneaks the pants off! GAMANGIRI! Naito falls off the corner, but he holds onto the ropes! Naito dangles off the apron but his feet do not touch the floor! Taichi fires shots, Naito ROCKS him in return! Taichi runs up, Naito slides under! Naito DUMPS Taichi over!
Taichi is on the apron but Naito fires a flurry! HOTSHOT! Taichi wobbles, but he ROCKS Naito! Naito ROCKS Taichi, HOTSHOTS again, then ROLLING KICKS! Taichi falls, LIJ WINS!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by ring out
It came down to the leaders as the last men, but the Uncontrollable Charisma found a way to win for the team! LIJ regroups and Naito is given the mic. “Buenas tardes, Korakuen Hall!” The fans cheer, and Naito says, “First and foremost… Bushi, why don’t you say something to the fans?” The fans applaud and Bushi takes a quick drink of water before he takes up the mic. “Now that I have this time, I’ll say this. As previously announced by NJPW, my departure was a decision made after a lot of thought. I have no regrets.” The fans applaud that, and Bushi continues, “My feelings haven’t changed since I spoke here 10 years ago. It’s been a deeply fulfilling experience.”
The fans applaud that, too, and Bushi says, “This Dontaku tour is only getting started. When I step into this ring, I’ll show my gratitude in my own way. Thank you.” The fans applaud again, and Bushi hands the mic back to Naito. Naito also notes that the Road to Wrestling Dontaku has just begun. He and Bushi will be leaving NJPW after May 4th. “Whether Bushi and I will compete in this ring again or not, you already know, don’t you? Yes, the answer is of course, TRANQUILO! Assen na yo!” The fans applaud Naito being Naito even now. Naito then asks if they want to do the roll call, and the fans cheer!
Naito notes they haven’t had one at all this year, so this will be the first roll call of 2025. Are you ready? The fans cheer, so Naito says that the only way to close out tonight in Korakuen Hall is naturally with… “Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRRRNABLEEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!!” The fans cheer the first LIJ roll call of 2025, but will we get more of them before May 4th? Will we get one on May 4th?
My Thoughts:
A great night to kick off the Road to Wrestling Dontaku, though of course it had to be on one of the busiest weekends of the year. Great goodbye match for Cobb with Tanahashi. It was a big awkward because while Tanahashi is still going to retire this year, Cobb was leaving, and so Cobb leaving NJPW trumps Tanahashi retiring, meaning Cobb had to lose. It’s the unwritten tradition of pro-wrestling. Very good farewell promo from Cobb, too, and I can’t wait to see where he goes next. Word is, it isn’t AEW, and perhaps the WWE rumors have still been true all along, they just leaked out way too soon.
And then very good 10 Man Elimination Tag in the main event, and it works out that LIJ won. Naito & Bushi needed a chance to address the fans about their own departure from NJPW, and so giving them the win so they can do a main event promo was fitting. In my estimation, I don’t see Naito going to any other company, even if it’s another Japanese based company. He’s done plenty in his career, he’s pushed his body pretty hard, so he needs to enjoy retirement, or at least make a lateral movement to be working with Young Lions in the NJPW Dojo as a teacher. Bushi, could probably keep going a little longer, or he could also call it a day on the other hand, only Bushi really knows how his body feels.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE WrestleMania 41 Results & Report! (4/20/25)
This is more than just a gamble!

Will this be a historic finale to WrestleMania?
John Cena has said he is retiring after 2025, but he wants to take the Undisputed WWE Championship with him! Will his 17th be everyone’s last reign? Or can Cody Rhodes save the future?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat: Iyo Sky VS Bianca Belair VS Rhea Ripley; Iyo wins and retains the title.
- Sin City Street Fight: Damian Priest VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4 Way: Bron Breakker VS Penta VS Finn Balor VS Dominik Mysterio; Dom wins and becomes the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.
- Open Challenge: Randy Orton VS Joe Hendry; Orton wins.
- AJ Styles VS Logan Paul; Logan wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Lyra Valkyria & Becky Lynch; Lyra & Becky win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS John Cena; Cena wins and becomes the new Undisputed WWE Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the WrestleMania Night 2 Countdown Show!
Once again, join Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Wade Barrett, Big E and more in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action set for the big finale!
Ava Max sings the United States of America National Anthem.
Stephanie McMahon is in the ring!
The Billion Dollar Queen of WWE is here and says, “The last time WrestleMania was in Las Vegas was WrestleMania 9 at Caesar’s Palace, and I was 16 years old. Here we are today, at Allegiant Stadium for WrestleMania 41, and my middle daughter is 16 years old. WWE has always been a part of my life, which includes all of you. You are a part of my family because WWE IS family. And I am so incredibly proud to say, welcome home. And welcome to NIGHT TWO of WrestleMania!” The pyro goes off and the fans cheer! Will Mania hit the jackpot all over again with this finale?
WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat: Iyo Sky VS Bianca Belair VS Rhea Ripley!
The Evil Genius won this title off of The Eradicator, but perhaps only because The EST, who had won the Elimination Chamber match, ended up a bit of a distraction. After weeks of these three all getting after each other verbally and physically, it finally comes down to the three of them having it out once and for all. Who opens Night 2 with a victory that defies the odds?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who wins the title, and the respect that comes with it!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the three stare down. Bianca and Rhea talk trash on each other again, and Iyo steps up, not wanting to be ignored again. Iyo stops the double pie faces! And she SHOTEIS Rhea! Bianca shove Iyo at Rhea, Rhea ROCKS Iyo! Bianca ROCKS Rhea! Iyo RAN- NO, Bianca brings Iyo up, throws her at Rhea, but Iyo RANAS Rhea! Iyo ducks ‘n’ dodges Bianca, Bianca avoids the handspring, but the SHOTGUN hits! But then Rhea DROPKICKS Iyo! Iyo bails out, Bianca is in a corner, and Rhea stares down her rival. They tie up, Rhea waistlocks, and Rhea SLAMS Bianca down.
Bianca fights up, switches, and SLAMS Rhea! Rhea fights up, fights the lift, and elbows free! Bianca runs up to DROPKICK Rhea to a corner! Bianca kips up, the fans are torn, but Bianca says kiss this. Bianca RAMS into Rhea, then climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count along, but Iyo returns! Bianca backflips, Iyo runs into Rhea! Bianca RAMS them both! Bianca climbs up and starts again! The fans count and Bianca goes all the way to TEN, then keeps going! But Iyo gets free and grabs the braid! Bianca uses that to whip Iyo to the corner. Rhea shoves Bianca, Iyo dodges! Bianca BOOTS Rhea, Iyo goes up, DOUBLE BLOCKBUSTER!
Iyo double high stacks, TWO! DOUBLE SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Iyo runs at Bianca, only to be put on the apron. Bianca SMACKS Iyo off the buckles! But Rhea BOOTS Bianca out! Rhea goes to the apron, runs and CANNONBALLS Bianca down! The fans fire up but then Iyo goes up! ASAI MOONSAULT and down goes Rhea! The fans fire up with Iyo and she puts Rhea in. Iyo wheelbarrows, victory rolls, STOMP 182! Cover, TWO! Rhea stays in this but Iyo runs, only to dodge Bianca! Bianca LARIATS Rhea up and out, talks more trash, but Iyo sunset flips Bianca! TWO! Bianca gets up to CLOBBER Iyo!
The fans are torn and Bianca is annoyed. Bianca runs, but she handsprings over Iyo’s drop down. Bianca again says kiss this, then she wrenches Iyo to snap suplex! Roll through, snap suplex! Roll through again, and stalling suplex! Bianca hits her own Three Amigas and then swaggers. Bianca runs, handsprings, but Rhea trips her up! Rhea drags Bianca out to CLUB away! Iyo goes to the apron, and she leaps, FLYING RAN- NO! Bianca stops Iyo, and SWINGS her into the barriers! Then swings her at Rhea! Rhea catches Iyo, the two decide to THROW Iyo into the barriers! Rhea then kicks Bianca, puts her in the ring, and gets around to kick low.
Rhea reels Bianca in, suplexes, but Bianca slips free. Bianca waistlocks, Rhea ELBOWS free, but Iyo leaps in! Rhea dodges, comes back and kicks low. Rhea gets Iyo up, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto Bianca! A shoutout to both Priest and Hall, then a cover on Iyo, TWO! Rhea is annoyed but she hauls Iyo up. Iyo fights the lift, victory rolls, but Rhea trips her up! Rhea has the legs, ties them up, and has Iyo in the PRISM TRAP! But Bianca grabs Rhea! Torture rack and KISS OF- NO, Rhea lands out to arm-drag! They both run Bianca dodges the boot, but then they both return! DOUBLE FACEBUSTERS take both women down!
The fans are thunderous as all three women are on the mat, and they all go to corners. “This is Awesome!” as Iyo rises first. SHINKANSEN for Rhea! SHINKANSEN for Bianca! Another for Rhea! Iyo drags Rhea to the drop zone, then goes up, up, and OVER THE- NO, Rhea goes up to stop Iyo! Bianca runs up to CLUB Rhea! Bianca has Rhea, Rhea has Iyo, DOUBLE SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! The fans are thunderous again as all three women are down! Bianca finds Rhea and drags her up. Rhea breaks free to ROCK Bianca, but Bianca ROCKS her back! Bianca slips around, shoves, but Rhea ducks ‘n’ dodges. Bianca hurdles, but then Rhea BOOTS her!
Iyo springboards to MISSILE DROPKCIK Rhea! Kip up and a handspring, the fans are going nuts for the Evil Genius! But Bianca POUNCES Iyo!! The fans boo but all three women are down again. Bianca crawls to the apron, climbs a corner, and goes up to 450 SPLASH on Iyo! Cover, but Rhea BOOTS Bianca away! Rhea pump handles, RIPTIDE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Bianca survives, proving she’s the toughEST, and that absolutely shocks Rhea! Rhea pleads with the ref, but no, the count was two. Rhea storms over to Iyo, drags her up and pump handles her now! RIP- DDT!! Iyo turns things around just in time! And then SHIN- EDDY GORDO KICK!
Iyo flops against the ropes, Rhea goes up the corner, and Rhea drags Iyo up the corner! Rhea pump handles again, for a SUPER RIP- ARM-DRAG!! Iyo roars and goes up! The fans fire up for the OVER THE MOONSAULT into BOOTS! And then the torture rack! KISS OF DEATH!!! Cover, RHEA BREAKS IT!! The fans are electric while all three women are down again! Bianca is freaking out, and she storms up on Rhea. Rhea sits up, Bianca SLAPS her, and then talks trash! Bianca shouts she works harder and deserves this more than Rhea! But Rhea SLAPS Bianca! Bianca DECKS Rhea! Bianca storms up, but Rhea BOOTS her!
Rhea gives the trash talk back, then DUMPS Bianca out! Rhea ROCKS Bianca, SMACKS her off the apron, then goes up the corner. The fans fire up and Rhea drags Bianca up the corner! Bianca fights back with body shots, but Rhea CLUBS Bianca! They brawl with big shots, then Rhea HEADBUTTS Bianca! Bianca falls to the floor, but Iyo SHORYUKENS! Iyo goes up to get Rhea, SUPER POISON- NO!! Rhea blocks with just one hand on the ropes! Rhea SWINGS Iyo into the post!! But Bianca torture racks Rhea!! KISS OF- RHEA LANDS OUT! The brawl is on again with big haymakers! And a HEADBUTT! And a RIP- NO, Bianca slips free!
Bianca WHIPLASHES with the braid!!! Then KISS OF DEATH!!! Cover, OVER THE MOONSAULT!!! Iyo covers Bianca, IYO WINS!!!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s World Champion)
The Evil Genius snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and maybe now the others will respect her! Who will be next to put Iyo to the test as a champion?
Sin City Street Fight: Damian Priest VS Drew McIntyre!
The Archer of Infamy has had enough of the Scottish Terminator blaming him for all his shortcomings since last WrestleMania. Now, they throw the rulebook out the window and fight like there’s no tomorrow. Will Priest send McIntyre South of Heaven? Or will McIntyre be guilty as sin in Sin City?
Fittingly, Drew McIntyre comes out as “Doomslayer,” from Doom: The Dark Ages. But just as fittingly, Priest has THE Kerry King of Slayer here to play his theme song live. Priest puts his new jacket aside, and Drew attacks! The bell rings, the fans fire up, and Drew fires off on Priest at the ropes. Priest shoves Drew, then dodges to LARIAT Drew up and out! Drew stagger sup, Priest FLYING ELBOWS off the apron! Priest then ROCKS Drew with a right! Drew staggers away, Priest SMACKS him off barriers, and Drew staggers away again. Priest SUPERKICKS Drew, then RAMS him into barriers! But Drew ROCKS Priest!
Drew reels Priest in and suplexes him to the LED ramp! The fans rally up while Drew leaves Priest behind. Drew pulls the steel steps apart, brings the base steps into the ring, then goes back for the other piece. But Priest CHUCKS it into Drew’s head! The fans fire up as Drew falls! Priest drags Drew up, and whips him hard into barriers! Drew falls behind the Hydration Station, but Priest brings out a TABLE! Vegas cheers as Priest puts that table in the ring. Drew returns to ROCK Priest! Drew SMACKS Priest off steel steps! And then off the English desk! Drew then POSTS Priest, goes back for more steel steps, and pulls those apart.
Drew has the smaller piece and he RAMS Priest! And RAMS him again! And then SLAMS it down on Priest’s back! Drew drops the steps, the fans fire up, and the ref checks on Priest. Priest sits up but Drew brings the steps back over, to SMASH Priest again! Drew borrows a fan’s phone? That’s his brother! Drew uses the phone to take a selfie and post it! Just like last year! Drew runs up to KICK Priest down, then pushes Priest in the ring. Drew goes looking under the ring, and he brings out a chair! Drew JAMS Priest in the ear! Drew then brings out TWO TABLES! Drew sets one up at ringside, then sets the other one up next to it.
Drew smiles as he pats the tables. Drew goes to the apron, but Priest ROCKS him! Drew wobbles, Priest ROCKS him again! Priest winds up, but Drew GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS first! Drew runs and he LARIATS Priest up and out the other side! Drew thinks about it now, and he builds speed! Drew FLIES and down goes Priest! The fans fire up and Drew stands tall. Drew drags Priest back up, puts him back in the ring, then storms in. Drew soaks up the cheers and the jeers, then he goes to a corner. Priest flounders, Drew has the countdown! “THREE! TWO!” CHAIR TO THE FACE!! But Drew rebounds and CLAYMORES anyway!! Cover, TWO?!?
Priest survives, but it’s just as surprising that Drew didn’t fall from that chairshot. Drew grabs that very chair Priest threw, and he takes aim. Drew SMACKS Priest on the back! And SMACKS him again! Drew then puts the chair around Priest’s head! The ref says don’t do this, but that’s all the ref can do as Drew takes aim! Drew runs up, but Priest grabs Drew first! CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Drew survives because Priest couldn’t do the sit-out! Priest crawls back and stands back up. Priest grabs another chair, takes aim, and he SMACKS Drew on the back! Drew writhes, but Priest sits him up, just to SMACK him down again!
Drew writhes and Priest paces. The fans rally, Priest takes aim again, and he SMACKS Drew down! Drew writhes while Priest goes to a corner. Priest rips away the padding on the crossbars, and then wedges the chair in. But Drew hits a SPINEBUSTER! Drew grabs that table Priest brought out, and now Drew stands it up. Drew drags Priest up, puts him on the top rope, and then CHOPS! Drew climbs up, fireman’s carries, and then tucks, but Priest slips free! Priest CLUBS Drew, and now he looks to the table! Crucifix lift, RAZOR’S EDGE through the table!! Cover, TWO!?! Drew survives and Priest is shocked!
Priest drags himself up, goes to the base steps, and he brings those around. Priest brings down the straps and the fans fire up. Priest waits on Drew as Drew hobbles around. Priest clamps on with the grip, but Drew CLAWS Priest’s eyes! Drew goes up the steps, reels Priest in, FULL METAL FUTURE SHOCK!!! Cover, TWO!??! Priest survives and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as both men writhe and crawl. Drew seethes, and he watches Priest rise up. Priest glares at Drew, but Drew SLAPS Priest! Priest SLAPS back, and now the haymakers start flying! It is fast ‘n’ furious and the fans are loving it!
Drew CHOPS! CHOPS! And CHOPS! Priest CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Drew HEADBUTTS, Priest LARIATS! Drew is down and the fans fire up! Priest drags Drew up by his hair, but Drew pushes Priest away. Priest comes back, knuckle locks, and he goes up the corner. The fans fire up as Priest goes Old School, but Drew SHOVES HIM OFF! PRIEST FALLS THROUGH THE TABLES ON THE OUTSIDE!!! The fans are losing their minds over that crash landing, and Drew manages to smile. Drew hobbles his way over while Priest flounders in the wreckage. Drew drags Priest up and into the ring, and pushes him against the chair Priest put in the corner!
Drew hobbles corner to corner, runs back in, FULL METAL CLAYMORE!!!! Cover, DREW WINS!!!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
Doom McIntyre just slayed the Archer of Infamy! Drew tells the ref to stop caring about Priest, and he makes the ref raise his hand in victory! Will Drew finally get over this grudge and go back for gold?
WWE Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4 Way: Bron Breakker VS Penta VS Finn Balor VS Dominik Mysterio!
The Badass Booty Nephew has been a dominate champion, and he’s had the dogs barking all over the world. But with this title comes a target, and now he’s in the biggest title defense he’s had yet! Will Bron make the most of the Steiner Math he worked out the other day? Will that 129.2% be trumped by #CeroMiedo? Or will this title soon belong to the Judgment Day?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the numbers spell disaster at WrestleMania!
The bell rings and the fans fire up as Bron runs up! Dom dodges, but then Penta storms up. Bron DECKS Penta, stomps him, but Finn & Dom go after Bron! The fans boo as the Judgment Day boys mug Bron, then TOSS him out. Finn & Dom soak up the heat, but Penta GAMANGIRIS Finn! Penta goes up to CROSSBODY Dom! Penta then baits Finn in and RANAS him out! Dom runs up but Penta TOSSES him! Penta then builds speed and FLIES! Down goes both Finn & Dom and the fans fire up! But Bron LEAPS in from outta nowhere! Down goes Penta! The fans bark for Bron as he stands tall. Bron puts Penta in the ring, then builds speed, but Penta SUPERKICKS!
Penta shouts, “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta runs, springboards, but into a POWERSLAM! Bron catches Finn, military presses him, and BREAKKER SLAMS him! Dom is back, but Bron SPEARS Dom! Cover, Finn breaks it! Finn does it more for his own chances, but now he regrets it as Bron storms up. Bron RAMS Finn into the corner again and again. Penta runs up, Bron ELBOWS him back, and then Bron RAMS Penta into the corner again and again. Finn runs up to SLINGBLADE! Penta SLING-DOGS Finn! Penta GAMANGIRIS Dom, sits him down, and then Penta drop toeholds Finn into Dom! Penta goes up, headstand and DROPKICK!
The fans fire up as Penta covers Finn, TWO! Penta traps one arm, grabs the other, and he makes Finn SACRIFICE! Penta pump handles Finn, lifts, but Bron waistlocks Penta! GERMAN SUPLEX HALF NELSON SUPLEX COMBO!! Bron kips up and Vegas barks even louder! Bron aims from a corner, runs in, but Penta dodges! Bron POSTS himself! Dom rushes in to THROW Penta down by his mask! Slingshot SENTON! Dom stomps a mudhole into Bron! Dom runs side to side and DROPKICKS Bron out! The fans are torn for Dom as he hits a suplex! Uno Amigo! Dom drags Penta up, DOS AMIGO! Then some Latino Heat, but Penta blocks!
Finn CLUBS Penta, he and Dom work together to DOUBLE SUPLEX! Carlito cheers his guys on as Finn & Dom mug Bron. They reel Bron in, but Bron fights the double suplex to DOUBLE SUPLEX them! Bron kips up, brings down the straps, and he catches Finn to OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Then an OVERHEAD for Dom! Bron LARIATS Finn in the corner, then he hoists Finn up top. Bron LARIATS Dom back down, then he goes up after Finn, SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives and the fans fire up! Bron seethes as he rises up, and “This is Awesome!” as Bron goes back to a corner. Bron takes aim again, but Finn KICKS him first!
Penta SUPERKICKS Bron! Dom DROPKICKS Penta! Finn LARIATS Bron out of the ring! And now Dom aims at Finn! The fans wanna see it, and Dom DROPKICKS Finn onto ropes! Dom dials it up, but Finn blocks the 619! Dom apologizes, but Finn KICKS the leg out, and stomps a mudhole into Dom! Penta hooks Finn up, PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, BRON BREAKS IT! The fans fire up as now Bron and Penta stare down. They rise up and fire shots back and forth! The fans rally, and Penta CHOPS! Bron JUMP KNEES! Penta SUPERKICKS! Penta roars, runs, but has to dodge Bron! Carlito DUMPS Bron out!
The fans boo but Dom rolls Penta up, TWO!! Penta escapes, SUPERKICKS, then mule kicks! Penta runs, and hits a DESTROYER!! Cover, CARILTO DRAGS PENTA OUT! The fans boo but Carlito SMACKS Penta off the desk! Carlito clears the desk, tells Pat and Maggle and Wade to back off, then he drags Penta up. but Bron is on the other desk!? Bron jumps off the Spanish desk to SPEAR Carlito through the English desk!! The fans go nuts as Bron and Carlito are down in the wreckage! Penta leaves that mess behind and Bron manages to get in the ring. Bron powers up again, and he runs at Penta, SPEAR!!! But Dom slides in!
Dom DROPKICKS Bron onto ropes! Dom redials, 619 connects!! Dom goes up the corner, but Finn trips Dom up! The Prince aims at Bron while the fans boo, and Finn SLINGBLADES! Then he takes aim, SHOTGUN! Bron is down in the drop zone! Finn climbs and takes aim, COUP DE GRACE!!! Cover, but Dom FROG SPLASHES onto it all!! Cover on Finn, DOM WINS!!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall (NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Lie, cheat and steal, Dom learned a lot from Uncle Eddie! And now just like Uncle Eddie, he checks off the Intercontinental Championship! But what does this mean for Judgment Day?
Open Challenge: Randy Orton VS ???
The Viper wanted to settle scores with The Prizefighter, but Kevin Owens needed major neck surgery, and now we don’t even know if Kevin will ever return to the ring. In the meantime, Orton still wants a match for his 20th, so he put it out there that anyone can step to him. Orton grabs a mic and he tells the fans, “Tonight marks my 20th WrestleMania! Ladies and gents, I said that I would be here at WrestleMania 41 ready to go. The only question now is, who is gonna come through that curtain? I’ll tell you one thing, whoever it is, they’re gonna get their WrestleMania Moment, and it’s gonna be courtesy of the three most dangerous letters in all of sports entertainment: R K O!”
Orton throws down the mic, paces inside the ring, and who answers the call? “Say his name and he appears… I believe in Joe Hendry!” That’s right! The TNA World Heavyweight Champion is making his WrestleMania debut, and everyone sings along with his song like they did with Voices! Orton isn’t quite sure what to make of this, but the fans are loving it! The bell rings, the fans chant “WE BELIEVE! WE BELIEVE!” as Orton and Hendry step up. Then R K- NO, Hendry rolls Orton up! TWO, and then Hendry… TURNS! Hendry smiles and Orton is again unsure what to do with that. The two reset and circle again.
Orton kicks Hendry low, then runs, but Hendry blows past him to CLOBBER Orton! The fans fire up and Hendry brings Orton up. But Orton kicks low! Orton takes a swing, Hendry dodges and hits a NECKBREAKER! Then Hendry gets the fans to join in on We Will Rock You! Hendry grabs Orton by the neck, but Orton sees he’s taller. Orton pokes Hendry in the eye! And then LARIAT! LARIAT! Dodge and SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up and Orton brings Hendry up again. Orton puts Hendry in the ropes, drags him out, and DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up and Orton smirks, because Orton hears those voices in his head!
Orton watches Hendry rise up, but Hendry powers out of the RKO! Hendry scoops Orton to FALL AWAY SLAM! Hendry kips up, the fans fire up, and Hendry… TURNS! The fans cheer that big smile, RKO OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, Orton wins!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall
The Viper strikes, the Viper wins, and that’s a great way to cap off 20 years! But Orton does show Hendry respect by helping him stand back up. The fans cheer, Orton tells Hendry that all these people believe in him, and Hendry thanks Orton. Orton raises Hendry’s hand in respect, the fans cheer more, and then Orton RKOS!! Thanks for coming, Hendry! And then Orton… TURNS! Orton does his pose and the fans cheer. Will Orton only hit a new level of excellence on the other side of 20 years?
AJ Styles VS Logan Paul!
The Phenomenal One is just the newest of a long list of people that don’t like The Maverick. It isn’t Logan’s ability in the ring, it’s the fact Logan Paul is brash, obnoxious, and just downright arrogant, and that’s being nice. But will Styles use his own talent and ability to finally humble Logan? Or will Logan go from annoying to insufferable in the blink of an eye?
Logan of course vlogs his entrance with a selfie video, soaking up all the heat as he goes. Then things go multiscreen just so we can see Logan from all angles. One Logan Paul is bad enough, but imagine nine of him… Finally, Styles makes his entrance, and he knows he only needs to be the one and only. The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally for Styles, he and Logan tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Styles powers Logan back, put shim in a corner, but the ref counts. Logan turns things around, the ref counts more, and Logan lets off to talk trash. Logan shoves Styles, eggs Styles on, but Styles just laughs that off.
The fans rally as Styles and Logan circle. They tie up, Styles slips around and headlocks. Logan fires body shots, then powers his way to a headlock. Styles endures, lifts, and puts Logan on ropes. Styles powers out, hurdles, then drops down. Logan stops himself, Styles runs up, but Logan puts him on the apron. Styles RAMS Logan, slides in and whips, but Logan reverses, only for Styles to run him over! Styles talks smack, runs, but now Logan hurdles. Styles DROPKICKS Logan down! Styles covers, ONE, but Styles goes to the outside. Styles drags Logan out, slaps him around, but Logan kicks Styles away.
Styles bumps into the desk, Logan PLANCHAS, but Styles catches him in the apron skirt! Styles goes all Fit Finlay on Logan Paul! Styles then CHOPS Logan, the fans “WOO~!” and Styles throws up the Too Sweet. The fans cheer, and Styles goes back to SLIDING KNEE Logan from the apron! Logan falls down, Styles steps inside, and the ring count climbs. The fans cheer Styles while he waits on Logan. Logan crawls around on the floor, Styles goes out the side, but Logan RAMS Styles into barriers! Logan brings Styles around to UPPERCUT! Logan whips Styles, Styles reverses and Logan hits barriers hard! The fans fire up while Styles stands tall.
Styles stalks Logan, drags him up, and SMACKS him off the apron. The fans rally behind Styles while he pushes Logan into the ring. Styles goes to the apron, but Logan avoids the shoulder to KICK Styles, POST him, and then whip him into the other POST! Styles falls to the floor and Logan slaps some sense into himself. Logan wants the count to get going but we’re only at 3 of 10. Styles rises at 5, but Logan PLANCHAS! Direct hit this time and Logan fires up! The fans boo even harder, but Logan stalks Styles around the way. Logan SMACKS Styles off the Spanish desk, mockingly says, “AJ Who!?” And he SMACKS Styles off the apron.
Logan refreshes the ring count, then goes to his Hydration Station. Logan grabs his camera and taunts Styles. Logan lets the drone fly, and Logan uses the apron skirt to CHOKE Styles! We have a birds eye view as Logan HOTSHOTS Styles, and then goes up the corner! Logan watches his drone, then hits the #PAULFROMGRACE! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives that splash and the fans cheer. Logan reels Styles in, whips him to a corner, then whips corner to corner hard! Styles falls back, Logan paces, and the fans boo. Logan reels Styles in, hoists him up, OVER BOMB! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Styles survives but Logan just smiles.
Logan brings out the Hogan “I can’t hear you,” and fans boo more. Logan whips Styles, BOOTS him down, and then hits the pose. LOGAN LEG DROP, BROTHER! Cover, ONE!! Styles survives and Logan is annoyed. Logan winds up, he JABS, JABS, and JABS! But Styles RAMS Logan into the corner! Styles fires haymakers and the fans fire up! Styles stops as the ref counts, then runs up. Logan ELBOWS Styles, QUEBRADA! Cover, TWO!! The fans rally, Logan drags Styles up, and Logan fires body shots and UPPERCUTS! Logan UPPERCUTS again and again until Styles falls! The fans boo while Logan flexes. Logan then goes back to the corner and climbs up.
Logan soaks up more heat, then goes back for Styles. Logan drags Styles up, whips him to a corner, but Styles stops short! Styles is getting fired up as Logan doesn’t even realize it! Logan turns around, into a LARIAT! LARIAT! PHENOMENAL BLITZ! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! SLIDING FOREARM! Styles runs and LARIATS in the corner! Styles suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Logan is tougher than that, and he sits up smirking though a bit dazed. Styles reels Logan back in, but Logan slips free of the Clash! Logan kicks low, back suplex, but Styles lands out! Logan runs up, but Styles BOOTS him!
Styles goes out, springboards in, but Logan catches Styles to a fireman’s carry! Logan roars, ROLLING SENTONS, then LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives, even as Logan gets impressive air. The fans rally up, Logan brings Styles to a corner and puts him up top. Logan climbs up, talks trash, but Styles fires elbows! Logan staggers back, but he returns to CLUB Styles! Styles ELBOWS Logan again, rolls off Logan’s back, and lifts him up! Logan grabs ropes, and he kicks while upside-down! Styles KICKS Logan while he’s upside-down! Logan flips to the apron, and he SMACKS Styles off buckles! Styles staggers away and Logan takes aim!
Logan slingshots, BUCKSHOT! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives because Logan isn’t about that #CowboySh*t. Even so, Logan fires hands on Styles in the corner! Logan winds up, runs up, ONE LUCKY- NO, Styles ducks the punch, slips under Logan and torture racks! TOWER HACKER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Logan survives, even as Styles busts out a classic. The fans still rally for Styles and he goes to a corner. Styles steps outside, takes aim, and he springboards to 450 SPLASH onto knees!! Logan drags Styles up, reels him in, and he calls for Styles’ move?! STYLES CLASH!!! But Styles rolls through the cover to have Logan up! STYLES CLASH!!!
Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! But wait! Logan’s friend, Jeff, sneaks over the barriers! And he’s got the brass knuckles! The fans boo but WAIT! KARRION KROSS IS HERE! Kross has Jeff’s arm, and he snatches the knuckles away. Styles drags Jeff and THROWS him! Kross nods to Styles, and holds up the knuckle dusters… Kross promises he isn’t gonna do anything, he just wants Styles to use the knuckles to take out Logan. Logan puts them on, to DECK Kross! Styles then goes back to the apron, he ROCKS Logan with a forearm, and then springboards! Logan ducks the forearm, to hit ONE LUCKY RIGHT!!
Logan lifts Styles for the PAUL-VERIZER!!! Cover, LOGAN WINS!!!
Winner: Logan Paul, by pinfall
Styles did things the right way, but he also took his eye off the ball. Logan picks up the fumble and runs it all the way back to the house to win it all. Will WWE soon belong to Logan Paul?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Lyra Valkyria & ???
This was meant to be the Judgment Day’s leading ladies against The Morrigan & The Role Model. However, someone, or a couple someones, took Bayley out of action with a backstage attack. Bayley doesn’t know who, Liv & Raquel swear it wasn’t them, but the bottom line is that Lyra needs back-up. Who stepped up to have their WrestleMania Moment? IT’S THE MAN, BECKY LYNCH!! Does that mean it’s time to kick some major lass here in Las Vegas?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if teaming with one Horsewoman is as good as another!
The teams sort out and the fans fire up as Becky steps to Liv. They circle, but then Liv tags out to Raquel. Big Mami Cool says Becks is gonna regret coming back. Becky ROCKS Raquel, chases after Liv, but Raquel grabs Becky’s hair! Raquel scoops, Becky slips free, and she has a SLEEPER! Raquel fights up with Becky as a backpack. Lyra tags in before Raquel THROWS Becky down! Becky ROCKS Raquel, Lyra SOBATS, KICKS, and then Becky SOBATS! Lyra RAMS Raquel, runs, but handsprings through the hip toss to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Lyra runs, springboard arm-drag! The fans fire up for Lyra, “WOO~! WOO~!”
Lyra builds speed and WRECKS Raquel with a dropkick! Lyra then drags Raquel up, puts her back in the ring, and she climbs a corner. Liv runs up, Lyra BOOTS her, but Becky protesting only distracts the ref so Liv can get back up. Liv SHOVES Lyra down for Raquel to BOOT her down! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives, Becky coaches her up, but Raquel drags Lyra away. Raquel runs up to ELBOW Lyra, tags Liv, and Liv stomps away on Lyra! Tag back to Raquel, and Raquel drags Lyra up to fire ELBOWS! The ref reprimands and counts, but Raquel brings Lyra up. Tag to Liv, Raquel RAMS Lyra back in and Liv stomps Lyra some more.
Liv shrieks at the ref for counting, then snap suplexes Lyra! Una Amiga a la Dom, then Dos Amigas! Liv drags Lyra up for THREE AMIGAS! Liv gives some heat, then DECKS Becky! ENZIGIRI for Lyra! Cover, TWO! Becky storms in but the ref stops her, and that lets Liv & Raquel mug Lyra! Tag to Raquel, she drags Lyra up and suplexes to then SLINGSHOT JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO! Raquel drags Lyra up, tags Liv, and they mug Lyra more. Liv drags Lyra up to snap suplex again, then tags Raquel. Raquel SLAMS Lyra down, then grabs at legs, but Lyra kicks her away. Lyra crawls, Raquel grabs legs again! But Lyra avoids th eelbow drop!
Lyra crawls, Liv rushes in to drag Lyra back! Lyra ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up as Lyra crawls, but Liv YANKS Becky down! The fans boo but now Liv regrets that. Becky chases Liv, they go inside, and Raquel BOOTS Becky! Raquel TOSSES Becky, then goes back for Lyra. Raquel reels Lyra in for a scoop and SWINGING SLAM! Cover, TWO! Tag to Liv and The Judgment Day drags Lyra up. They double whip, but Lyra KICKS Liv! Lyra then BOOTS Raquel from the corner, ELBOWS Liv, and dodges Raquel! Raquel POSTS herself, hot tag to Becky! Liv is scared and the fans are fired up! Becky LARIATS again and again, then dodges to FLYING FOREARM!
The fans fire up but Raquel returns! Becky dodges her to then ENZIGIRI! Raquel goes to a corner, Becky runs to forearm! Becky runs and forearms Liv! Then back to Raquel, but she puts Becky on the apron! Becky DECKS Raquel, goes up, and MOLLY-GO-ROUND! Then she catches Liv, BECKSPLODER! The fans are all fired up and Becky builds speed to WRECK Liv on the outside! Becky then aims to FLYING FOREARM! Becky puts Liv back in the ring, kicks her low, reels her in, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX, into the ARMBAR! Liv rolls to stack, TWO! Becky turns Liv over, DISARM HER!!! Liv flails, kicks, but Raquel is in!
Raquel BOOTS Becky down, then she BOOTS Lyra! Raquel runs up but Becky DUMPS her out! Liv runs up, OBLIVION!! Cover, LYRA BREAKS IT! The fans fire up as Lyra drags Liv up. Lyra whips, Liv grabs ropes and KICKS in return! Liv runs now, but Lyra dodges Oblivion to DIVE onto Raquel! TORNADO DDT to the floor! Liv WRECKS Lyra with a dropkick! Becky clinches, MANHANDLE SLAM!! Cover, the lasses win!!
Winners: Lyra Valkyria & Becky Lynch, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Talk about a turn of fortunes! Bayley went down, Becky stepped up, and with Becky’s help, Lyra is now a DOUBLE CHAMPION! But now Lyra & Becky are going to visit NXT this Tuesday to defend these belts against Tatum Paxley & Gigi Dolin! Will it be quite the homecoming for The Morrigan & The Man?
Stone Cold Steve Austin is here!
Vegas goes nuts as the glass shatters, and The Texas Rattlesnake rides out on a four-wheeler! He goes down the ramp, goes around the ring a couple times, but then rams into the barrier! Whoops! Maybe Austin had a couple Steveweisers before coming out. Austin grabs a mic to say, “If you’re havin’ a great time at WrestleMania, gimme a ‘Hell Yeah!'” “HELL YEAH!” Austin says, “Some o’ ya heard me, some o’ ya didn’t. If you’re having a great time at WrestleMania, gimme a ‘Hell Yeah!'” “HELL YEAH!!” Austin says he is out here to announce tonight’s attendance. It is officially 63,226! And Austin’s been in a lot of buildings just like this, and it just feels like way more than 63,226!
The fans cheer, and Austin demands a recount! Sometimes when you want a job done right, you gotta do it yourself. Everyone sit down and stay still so he can count. Austin actually starts counting! And every time, we get “WHAT?” Wait, are we gonna get 63,000 what’s?! Austin says nah, enough of that BS. 63,226 tonight, so the weekend total is 124,693 “solid ass cats!” Austin hopes everyone makes it home safely, and hopes everyone comes back for next year’s WrestleMania. “And that’s the bottom line, cuz Stone Cold said so!” The pyro goes off, and now Austin gets to have some Steveweisers! The fans cheer the beer bath, and Austin reloads for even more!
Austin goes back out to apologize to the fans behind the spot in the barriers he hit, then he chooses to walk back up the ramp. When and where will we see Stone Cold again?
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS John Cena!
It’s the moment of truth. The Rock wanted The American Nightmare to “sell his soul” so he could be living the easy life as The Final Boss’s Champion. Cody rejected the offer in the most direct way possible, only for the sixteen-time world champion to show his true colors. And now, seven weeks later, after both verbal battles and physical confrontations, these two will finally put it to the test: Will Cody Rhodes do the “right thing?” Or will he do what it takes to win? The Last Time is Now, but will it also be Cena’s SEVENTEENTH time as world champion?
For Cena’s entrance, his tron is boiled down to just black and white, and his name up in lights. His final WrestleMania, and Cena won’t give the fans the satisfaction of a flashy, over the top spectacle of an entrance. As for Cody’s entrance, there’s a lot of smoke, and then there are Motocross dirt bike riders going across the stage! Then, as they stop and stand in line, and as the smoke clears, Cody Rhodes is there, a brand new skull helmet on his head. It opens up like Ironman’s helmet! The fans sing along with Cody’s song, “WHOA~ OH~!” The pyro goes off and Cody continues down the ramp, looking out at the sea of people here in Las Vegas.
Cody stands on the corner for the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro, then he gets a hug and kiss from wife, daughter, and mother. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and time to learn the difference between the first and the last!
The fans are already thunderous with their dueling, “LET’S GO, CENA!” “CENA SUCKS!” The bell rings, the fans fire up more, and the two circle. Cena and Cody take a moment to hear all of that energy from the WWE Universe. The two then tie up, go around, and Cody headlocks. Cena endures as Cody grinds the hold, then he powers up and out. Cody runs Cena over! Cena bails out, the fans are torn, and Cody asks if this is supposed to be #BigMatchJohn. Cena cools off while the fans continue to duel. Cena steps back into the ring, Cody eggs him on, and the two reset. Cena seems just annoyed by the fans at this point.
Cody and Cena tie up. Cody headlocks, then shifts, and hammerlocks. Cena goes to the ropes, the ref counts the break, and Cody lets go. Cena steps outside in a huff, and he wants Cody to back off. Cody backs up, Cena steps back in, and the fans just get fired up again. Cody and Cena tie up. Cody waistlocks, Cena ELBOWS free, then he headlocks. Cena hits a headlock takeover, as if to show he can wrestle. Cody headscissors, and he holds Cena down with the squeeze. Cena powers free, but Cody DROPKICKS him! Cena bails out again and is just frustrated now. Cody builds speed and DIVES! No more escaping the action for Cena!
Cody puts Cena in, storms up, but Cena DECKS Cody! Cena then headlocks, but Cody powers him to a corner. The ref reprimands and counts, but Cena sucker punches Cody! The fans are torn as Cena stomps away on Cody! Cena bumps Cody off buckles, then whips him to ropes. Cena BOOTS Cody down, a rare thing for Cena even when he was in his prime. Cena does a mocking bow, then he DECKS Cody again! Cena stomps Cody, drags him up and reels him in, but the fans seem to be fighting about something of their own. Cody pops free to fire hands! Cena stomps Cody’s foot! Cena then KNEES Cody in the head!
Cena seethes while Cody crawls to a corner. Cena stalks Cody, drags him up, and Cena whips corner to corner. Cody hits buckles hard, then falls to the mat. Cody crawls under the bottom rope, but Cena grabs the legs! ROPE GUILLOTINE! Cena talks trash on Cody while he tumbles to the floor, then Cena goes out after Cody. Cena puts Cody in the ring, stalks him again, and runs up to BOOT Cody down! Cena then takes aim, runs up, and LARIATS! And then he LARIATS again! Cover, ONE!! Cody shows he’s tougher than that, but Cena clamps on a chinlock. Cody endures as Cena squeezes tight.
The fans rally as Cody fights the hold, but Cena leans on him. Cody fights up, stands, and he fires body shots! Cena lets go, and Cody ROCKS him with haymakers! Cody backs Cena down, has him on the ropes then whips, only for Cena to reverse, scoop, and SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Cena goes to a corner, hops up, and waits on Cody to stand. Cena leaps to AX HANDLE! Cena brings out more classic pro-wrestling moves, and he bumps Cody off buckles! Cena hops up again, to AX HANDLE again! Cena climbs up again, Cody stands back up, and Cena AX- NO, Cody kicks low! Cody ROCKS Cena with more rights!
Cena pokes Cody in the eyes! And then Cena CLUBS and HAMMERS away on Cody! Cover, TWO! Cody stays in this, even as Cena resorts to some new lows. But Cena grins as he literally kicks Cody’s butt! Cena hears the fans duel even harder as he stands Cody up. Cena whips, Cody reverses, then Cody runs up, but into a BOOT! Cena goes up, to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Cody survives as Cena turns it up a notch. Cena taunts the fans, taunts Cody, and then runs to get the SHOULDER TACKLES going! Now Cena brings out his classic move, but then he stops with just one. Cena dares Cody to get up, and then he runs to SHOULDER TACKLE again!
Cena grins as he’s basically toying with Cody now. Cody staggers up, Cena reels Cody in, and hits the SPIN OUT BOMB! The fans know what’s next in the “five moves of doom,” and Cena knows we know. Cena shakes out his hand, holds it up, and says- EYE POKE from Cody! Cena staggers, runs up on Cody anyway, but Cody goes up and over to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans are torn as Cody powers up! DISASTER KICK! Cody pounds the mat, the fans rally and duel, and Cody runs to springboard and CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Cena survives but Cody stays focused. Cody waits on Cena, to JAB! JAB! JAB!
Cody flips, flops, flies, but Cena drop toeholds! Cody fights off the STF, but Cena fireman’s carries! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! Cover, TWO!?! Cody survives, and Cena is actually amused! Cena decides to get back on track, and he tells the fans that “You Can’t See Me!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Then fireman’s carry, but Cody sunset flips! TWO! Cody is up, he counter punches Cena! Cody whips, Cena reverses, but Cody goes up and out, then ROCKS Cena! Cody goes up, up, but Cena hits the ropes! That trips Cody up onto his crossroads! Cena climbs, and he fireman’s carries Cody for a SUPER A A!!! Cover, TWO?!?!
Cody survives the Avalanche Attitude Adjustment, aka the Triple A, and Cena is honestly surprised. Cena decides to pull out all the stops and he climbs up the corner. Cody rises, Cena aims, SUPER FAM- POWERBOMB!! High stack, TWO!! Cody’s counter did not finish this, but he and Cena both rise up. Cody looms over Cena, then he runs to go up the corner! SUPER CODY CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!!! Cena survives and now Cody is rather surprised! Cody huffs ‘n’ puffs and rises up. The fans are torn as Cody shouts for Cena to get up. Cena rises, Cody dragon sleepers! But Cena wrenches free, fireman’s carry, A A!!! And then the S T F U!!
Cody endures, crawls, drags Cena with him, reaches out, but Cena drags Cody back! S T F U!! Cody endures again, crawls again, drags Cena along again, and reaches out again, only for Cena to drag him back again! And even further! But Cody turns over and BOOTS Cena, into the ref!! Cena fireman’s carries, Cody slips free to dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!!! But no ref to count this cover! Cody would’ve won twice over! Maybe even three times over! Cody realizes what happened, and he goes to check the ref while Cena crawls away. Cena rips a buckle pad away! The fans can’t believe he’s going this far! Cena goes back for Cody, but Cody ROCKS Cena!
Cody ROCKS Cena again and again, backing Cena down, But then Cena sends Cody into the bare steel! And then back in again! Fireman’s carry, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Cody survives and no one can believe this! Cena is beside himself, not sure what Cody is made of! WAIT! Is that Travis Scott?! Time to FE!N with the (honorary) Hardcore Champion! Cena grins as The Rock’s other guy makes his way out here! Scott is taking his time but Cena is happy to see him. Cena helps Scott to the apron, raises his hand in victory already, and then says one minute. Cena goes to fetch Cody, and Scott wants to take a shot!
The fans boo, but Cody elbows free! Cody chases Scott off, then he catches Cena! CROSS RHODES!! Cover, but Scott YANKS the ref out!! Cody is furious because the fix is in! Cody says he still owes Scott a receipt, and Scott says bet! Scott storms into the ring, talks some smack, and Cody dares Scott to take a shot. Scott tries, but Cody blocks it! CROSS RHODES for Travis Scott!! Cody pushes Scott out of the ring, but he’s a lot of deadweight. But wait! Cena has Cody’s belt! Cena winds up, BELT- NO, Cody blocks it! Cody says not today! They tug-o-war over the belt, Cody takes the belt away, and now Cena wants mercy!?
Cena wants Cody to remember: Is he going to do what’s right? Or is he going to do what it takes? Cody does hesitate, unsure which is which, and Cena LOW BLOWS him!! The fans are going nuts but Cena picks the belt back up. Cody rises to his feet, only to take the BELT SHOT!! Just like Elimination Chamber! Cena shouts to the ref, drags Cody to a cover, and the ref is in! The count begins, and CENA WINS!!!
Winner: John Cena, by pinfall (NEW Undisputed WWE Champion)
And there is history made! Cena did everything he had to, and even needed help from The Rock, but Cena now stands alone as THE historic 17-time WWE Champion! Scott celebrates with Cena, holding their belts high overhead. The pyro goes off as the number 17 is big and bright on the tron. The GOAT is truly THE GOAT, and Cody is living a nightmare. Will The Final Boss be pleased with what his champions did here tonight? Will Cena hold onto this title until he retires at the end of this year? Or can someone, anyone, prevent further tragedy on this twisted farewell tour?
My Thoughts:
Another great night for WrestleMania 41, especially when it had to follow that first great night. Opening with the Women’s World Championship is a good parallel to the World Heavyweight Championship opening yesterday, and that Triple Threat was awesome. All three women are obviously incredible, but they looked even more incredible than that in the match. I’m a little surprised Iyo won instead of Bianca, but that was a great sequence to give Iyo the win. Perhaps Bianca and Rhea split off to have their own feud on the road to Backlash, and who knows who Iyo faces in the meantime, but this is good stuff.
Priest VS McIntyre was an awesome Street Fight, though I’m surprised they didn’t go into the crowd. Maybe that’s for the better, we got that last night with Punk and Rollins in the Triple Threat. But as I figured, Drew wins because he kinda needs it most. Not sure where he goes from here, given where the championships have all ended up, but maybe Face-Heel dynamics won’t matter to Drew. And speaking of championships, great Fatal 4 Intercontinental Championship match. Of course Dom and Finn end up going after each other, but it is a touch surprising Dom turned on Finn. Granted, Finn was throwing that passive aggressive shade, so this is more like Dom standing up to Finn. Great sequence to finish and Dom winning is awesome stuff for him. I would think Dom VS Finn is an obvious feud going towards Backlash and another title match.
Joe Hendry being Randy Orton’s opponent was oddly not on the radar given all the speculation of Aleister Black, Rusev, and a few other possibilities, but it’s great for Hendry to make a WrestleMania debut. I did not think the match would be so quick, but when this is an obvious substitute for the planned Orton VS Kevin match, it does make some sense. Great win for Orton in that way, and of course he RKO’d Hendry a second time just for fun. Backlash being in St. Louis, it should be a given that Orton headlines that, maybe even for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
AJ Styles VS Logan Paul was good, but could’ve been better. Given both guys are so athletic, I’m surprised we didn’t try to make this more about who can fly higher, but it seemed to be more about combining the tech with the high spots. Well, that and testing if Styles can still bust out that aggression. Kross showing up to tempt Styles and Styles resisting was a fine beat, but a bit disappointing that that had to cost Styles for Logan to win. I fear that with Jey Uso as a new Face champion, Logan as the obvious Heel will challenge him for the next stretch.
Great women’s tag title match, and it makes a lot of sense for Becky to be the new tag partner. As I said yesterday, there’s great story for how NXT is going to go, with Lyra being friend to both Tatum and Becky and Tatum can be jealous of Becky. As for Liv & Raquel, they might want a rematch, they might have to deal with Bayley thinking it was them in the attack, who knows. This can also add to the Judgment Day story where Dom is now the only champion in the group, and he has to do his best to lead the group through encouraging Liv & Raquel.
That Stone Cold Steve Austin moment was fun, but then really awkward when he hit the barrier. I can kinda tell he maybe underestimated that turn in front of the desk. He was having fun, saying hey to commentary, and that essentially distracted him and caused the crash. Hopefully the fans there were okay. Seems rather silly they did that much just so Austin could announce the numbers for tonight and then give a “total” that isn’t accurate. Because duh, I would think the majority of the 61,461 or whatever it was came back for night two. So at best, they added another 2,000 people from last night.
And of course, the main event. As a match goes, it was purposefully not good, because of Cena’s line from weeks ago, how he’s going to “ruin wrestling.” I did like that Cena kinda tried to wrestle to stick it to the haters, but then he just resorted to a very Hulk Hogan “big muscular brawler” style. Travis Scott showing up is fitting, but a little disappointing The Rock didn’t make an appearance of any kind. But maybe that’s because fans wanted/expected that, and Cena’s also been about denying fans what they want… But ironically, plenty of fans wanted him to win 17 just for the intrigue, and here we are. Cody’s moment of hesitation costs him, Cena is champion again, and tomorrow night’s Raw is going to be a lot of fun.
My Score: 9.3/10
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