Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Power Struggle Results & Report! (11/4/24)
Is NJPW going to be Mighty?

If The Mighty Don’t Kneel, then will they stand atop the mountain?
TMDK is all over this card, from Zack Sabre Jr. defending his world title to the Super Junior Tag League finals! Will TMDK win the Power Struggle?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Tiger Mask, Capitan Suicida & Shoma Kato VS YOH, Ninja Mack & The DKC; Yoh, Mack & DKC win.
- 10 Man Tag: Intergalactic Jet Setters, VeloCities & Katsuya Murashima VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Ryusuke Taguchi, Dragon Dia, Tori Yano & Tomoaki Honma; LIJ wins.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Boltin Oleg VS EVIL & Ren Narita; Evil & Ren win.
- Shota Umino VS SANADA; Shota wins.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholas VS Great-O-Khan & HENARE; Khan & Henare win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- 2024 Super Junior Tag League Finals: Ichiban Sweet Boys VS Catch 2/2; Ichiban Sweet Boys win and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships at WrestleKingdom 19.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: DOUKI VS Master Wato; Douki wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: David Finlay VS Taichi; Finlay wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Shingo Takagi; ZSJ wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
After Hiroshi Tanahashi & Boltin VS EVIL & Ren Narita…
As you might guess, The House of Torture had to cheat to win this one, with Yoshinobu Kanemaru tipping Oleg over so Ren could roll him up. But another obvious move, The House of Torture starts beating up on The Ace & BARS afterward! The fans boo but nothing can stop them from stomping away! Then Yujiro & Kanemaru sit Tanahashi up while Evil grabs a mic. Evil tells Tanahashi that if he really thinks he has another year left as a wrestler, he’s wrong! Tanahashi’s career will end THIS January! Be grateful that Evil will be the one to end him at WrestleKingdom! The fans boo more but then Dick hands Evil a pair of scissors!
Evil says he’s gonna cut away what makes Tanahashi Tanahashi, but then Jado runs in for the save! Jado gets mugged now and fans boo more. Kanemaru CHOKES Jado, and Evil still drags Tanahashi up. Evil TOSSES Tanahashi out, then drags him up the ramp! The fans boo but the mugging continues! The scissors have disappeared, but Boltin runs at Ren! Ren LOW BLOWS Boltin, and hits him with DOUBLE CROSSER!! The Ace is being kidnapped while The Souled Out Son of Strong Style holds his NJPW World Television Championship over Oleg. But wait! TMDK’s Mullet Man, Ryohei Oiwa, is here!
Ryohei gets the mic to tell Ren that their match is already finished. Ryohei hates the way the House does business, so HE will be the one to take this title off this punk! Ren laughs at Ryohei, and basically says he’d like to see him try. But then here comes Jeff Cobb! The Imperial Unit quit literally shoves Ryohei aside to get in Ren’s face! Triple Threat or not, we all know Ren took the low road to win that belt! The fans fire up as Cobb eggs Ren on, but Ryohei fires a forearm on Cobb! Cobb hits back! Then he kicks Ren, whips him, but Ren runs away! Ryohei and Cobb argue, they each want after Ren first!
Ren just laughs and leaves while the other two start shoving. Will Ren have the last laugh as these two fight it out for the title shot?
Shota Umino VS SANADA!
While Shingo Takagi is getting his shot tonight, and while Cold Skull already had his shot at Royal Quest 4 last week, The Roughneck still wants his turn. Will he earn it by taking down a former world champion? Or will Sanada prove it’s still too early for Shota’s Paradigm Shift?
The bell rings and Shota CLOBBERS Sanada! And CLOBBERS him again! Shota whips, Sanada reverses, but Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER him again! Fans fire up with Shota and he storms up on Sanada. Shota whips Sanada corner to corner, then runs in, and UPPERCUTS! Shota then FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota shows respect to Kobayashi-san. Shota then drags Sanada up, clinches, but Sanada fights it. Sanada fires elbows and Shota backs away to ropes. Sanada storms up, whips Shota, but Shota reverses, only for Sanada to grab ropes! Shota’s dropkick misses!
Sanada runs to a corner! ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada lands out as Shota moves. Shota runs up but into a fireman’s carry. Shota slips free to waistlock but Sanada switches. Shota elbows free, runs, but Sanada dropkicks the legs! Then he DROPKICKS Shota down! The fans fire up for Sanada while Shota bails out. Sanada takes his time walking over, to then PLANCHA, but Shota moves! Shota comes back to SHOTGUN! The fans rally and Shota drags Sanada back up. Shota reels Sanada in, but Sanada blocks the suplex! They fight for control as the fans rally, and Shota still lifts Sanada! But Sanada fights it back down!
Sanada suplexes Shota to the apron, MAGIC SCREW to the floor! The fans fire up while the ref checks Shota. Shota is still in this, though he clutches an arm, and Sanada walks over to him. Sanada drags Shota up, then brings him through the gate! And into the crowd! Fans barely have time before Sanada THROWS Shota into chairs! Sanada then drags Shota up, and whips him back in! Sanada picks up the spare and the ref reprimands. Sanada moves chairs aside then drags Shota up to his feet. Dragon sleeper! Sanada squeezes the air out of Shota but the ref reprimands again. Sanada lets Shota go, then leaves him behind.
The fans rally again as the ring count starts. Sanada waits in the ring as we reach 7 of 20. Shota crawls at 10 of 20, but is still only at the railing by 15. Shota hobbles the rest of the way and rolls in at 18! The fans applaud, but then Sanada is on Shota with a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Shota stays in this and the fans cheer, but Sanada clamps on a chinlock. Sanada grinds Shota down but Shota endures the squeeze. Sanada shifts to have a knee dig into Shota’s back! Shota still endures, but Sanada thrashes him around a bit. The fans rally as Shota continues to fight, and Shota scoots forward. Shota kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer and Sanada lets go slowly. Sanada paces while Shota sputters. Sanada comes back to stomp Shota! Shota growls and shakes his head. Sanada throws a punch, but Shota just grits his teeth. Sanada fires another punch, and another, but Shota feeds off that! Sanada eggs Shota on, so Shota fires a forearm! And another forearm! Sanada sways but then Shota ROCKS him again! Sanada dropkicks the legs! Shota hobbles away and the fans continue to rally. Sanada runs up, whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down. Shota rises and gets the fans rallying even more!
Sanada rises and Shota runs up, slingshot APRON DDT! The fans fire up while the ref checks Sanada. Sanada is still in this so Shota brings him back up. Shota puts Sanada in and the fans rally up. Shota climbs a corner, takes aim, and he goes COAST2COAST to hit Sanada! Shota then hurries to EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Sanada stays in this, and Shota keeps his cool. Shota waits on Sanada, then he runs to IGNITION! Cover, TWO! Sanada survives but the fans fire up with Shota. Shota goes to a corner, fires the fans up more, and he takes aim. BLAZE- NO, Sanada ducks! But then Shota avoids the Shining Wizard!
Shota ROCKS Sanada, then ROLLING- NO, Sanada spins Shota through to put on ropes! MAGIC SCREW! Shota is down and the fans fire up while Sanada catches his breath. Sanada drags Shota into the dragon sleeper! But Shota fights free, arm-drags, and then runs corner to corner. Sanada BOOTS him away! Sanada QUEBRADA, then dragon sleeper! Shota flails but Sanada drops back into the SKULL END! The fans rally as Shota endures, but the body scissors are in tight! Shota reaches out but he’s fading! Sanada lets Shota go to then climb up! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! And then a clinch! DEAD- NO, Shota slips around! Backslide!
Sanada rolls through so Shota reels him in! ELEVATED DEATH RIDER! Shota can’t make the cover, he’s still catching his breath! The fans rally up while both men are down! Sanada and Shota slowly sit up, and they head for each other. They go forehead to forehead as they stand up, and then Shota UPPERCUTS! Sanada UPPERCUTS in return! The fans rally as Shota shakes that off, and he comes back to UPPERCUT! Sanada shakes that off, and he UPPERCUTS! The fans continue to duel while Sanada eggs Shota on. Shota winds up, to UPPERCUT! Sanada UPPERCUTS! They UPPERCUT again and again, back and forth!
The fans rally more, and Sanada gets the edge! He UPPERCUTS again, and again, and again! Shota wobbles, Sanada eggs him on, and the fans fire up! Shota winds up to ROCKS Sanada with a forearm! ROLLING ELBOW! ENZIGIRI! Sanada rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Shota pops up to BLAZE BLADE! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Shota rises and roars, and he brings Sanada up. Shota pump handles, half nelsons, and scoops, to POWERSLAM! Then he hurries to bring Sanada up into underhooks. But Sanada slips out, O’Conner Roll BRIDGE! TWO!! Fans fire up as Shota escapes in time!
Sanada SHINING WIZARDS! The fans fire up even more as Sanada rises. Sanada brings Shota up, clinches, but Shota slips free again! Shota underhooks, but Sanada wrenches! DEAD- NO, Shota rolls Sanada, but Sanada rolls through, into the DEATH RIDER!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall
Some might call it an upset, others might just be upset about it, but the Roughneck found a way to win! At the same time, Shota does show respect to Sanada by offering a hand. Sanada declines and simply makes his exit. But is this win proof enough that Shota is ready for the next level? Or is it simply one step on a long journey ahead?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholas VS Great-O-Khan & HENARE!
It isn’t just Ryohei and Cobb fighting it out, TMDK and the United Empire is fighting for these titles! Will Hysterical Haste & Mad Mikey still be dual tag team champions? Or will The Dominator & Face of Fury conquer The Mighty?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is THE tag team in NJPW!
Tensions rise as the teams sort out as Henare and Mikey want after each other. But for now, it is Shane and Khan that start. The fans rally with the bell as Shane and Khan circle. They feel things out, even test the water with kicks, then Khan goes for a leg. Khan trips Shane, sits him up, then runs to run Shane over! Khan poses, then sucker punches Mikey! Khan drags Shane up to a SLEEPER, and while the ref is busy keeping Mikey back, Henare steps in! Henare uses Shane as a punching bag, then Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Henare KICKS Shane, Khan SPLASHES down! Cover, ONE!! Shane toughs it out but Khan clamps onto an arm.
Khan has the double wristlock, and he brings Shane over. Henare tags in and Henare KICKS Shane’s legs. Shane hobbles, Henare BLASTS Mikey, then Henare CLOBBERS Shane! The fans cheer while Henare kicks Shane around. Henare eggs Shane on and Shane stands to KICK! And KICK! And BOOT! Henare growls, Shane fires forearms. Henare winds up to BODY BLOW! Shane falls to his knees, but Henare fireman’s carries to WASTELAND SLAM, and SENTON! Cover, TWO! Henare keeps his eyes on Mikey, but then goes back to Shane. Shane UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Henare eggs him on so Shane BOOTS! And BOOTS!
Shane kicks but Henare HEADBUTTS the foot! Henare runs, but Shane DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up, hot tag to Mikey! Mikey fires forearms on Henare, then BLASTS Khan! Henare storms up but the forearms start flying! Mikey gets the edge, SLAPS Henare, then runs. They RAM shoulders, but neither man falls! Henare returns the forearms and SLAP! Henare runs, they RAM shoulders again, and then Mikey CHOPS! Henare snarls and the fans fire up. Henare winds up to KICK! Mikey stays up, and he comes back to CHOP! Henare comes back to KICK! Mikey still CHOPS! Henare headbutts buckles to fire up!
The fans rally as the KICK and the CHOP go back and forth again and again! Mikey ROCKS Henare, reels him in, and has a COBRA TWIST! Henare powers out but Mikey HEADBUTTS! Mikey learns that was a mistake, Henare’s head is too hard! In fact, Mikey busted himself open from that shot! Mikey wobbles and falls to his knees in a daze while Henare growls. The fans fire up as Mikey rises, but Henare runs up! Mikey SPINEBUSTERS first! And then he sits Henare up, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, Khan breaks it! Khan stomps Mikey but Mikey fires forearms! Mikey fireman’s carries but Khan slips free. Khan ducks an elbow, but Mikey hits a DDT!
Henare returns, but Mikey gets around him. Henare switches, and he catches Mikey’s elbow! Henare goes for the full nelson but Mikey fights back! Mikey ELBOWS free, then he gets Henare with the DDT! But Henare is right up! Mikey isn’t sure what to make of it, but he still runs in! But Henare scoops for a BESERKER BOMB! But Mikey’s right up!? SLIDING LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Mikey and Henare stir, and then crawl for their corners, hot tags to Shane and Khan! Shane LARITS, but Khan stays up! Khan BOOTS but Shane stays up! Shane swings, into a SAYANAGI!
Khan drags Shane back up, and hits a fireman’s carry takeover! The fans rally as Khan keeps wrist control, then reels Shane in for a MONKEY FLIP! And then ARMBAR! Shane scrambles to clasp hands but Khan brings him back down! ARMBAR! Shane flails, reaches out, fights around, but Khan pulls on the arm! Shane still finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Khan lets go at 4. Khan scuffs Shane around, drags him up, but Shane UPPERCUTS! But that’s the bad arm…! Khan eggs Shane on, and Shane UPPERCUTS! And RAMS Khan! The fans rally as Shane shakes out the bad arm.
Shane UPPERCUTS again and again and again! Shane runs, but into a clinch! ELBOW BREAKER! Khan hauls Shane up to RAM him into a corner! Khan then bumps Shane off buckles, and he hops up, onto his- NO, Shane slips free to SHORYUKEN! Shane climbs up after Khan, but Khan resists the suplex! The fans rally, Khan BODY BLOWS, and Shane hops down! Mikey UPPERCUTS Khan, then gives Shane a boost! SUPERPLEX POWERBOMB! Mikey drags Shane onto the cover, TWO! Khan stays in this and the fans rally up. Shane crawls over, tag to Mikey, and Mikey sends Shane at the corner to LARIAT!
Mikey runs up to LARIAT Khan, then feeds Khan to Shane’s LARIAT! Shane also BLASTS Henare off the apron while Mikey SLIDING LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Khan survives all the lariats but TMDK drags him up. Mikey scoops, Shane runs up, TANKBUSTER! Cover, HENARE BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but TMDK goes after Henare now. Henare CHOPS Shane, ROCKS Mikey, repeat! But TMDK SLAP, SLAP, and SLAP! Henare roars, runs up, but into the URENAGE POWERBOMB COMBO! Khan PANCAKE PLEXES Mikey! Shane breaks the cover! Khan Mongolian Chops Shane! IRON CLAW for Mikey!
Shane Mongolian Chops Khan! So Khan IRON CLAWS Shane! Khan squeezes TMDK, but TMDK fights free! URENAGE BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives and the fans fire up! The fans rally, Shane climbs up, and Mikey brings Khan up. Scoop and- NO, Khan slips free! Khan shoves Mikey into Shane and Shane falls to the floor! Mikey comes back, into Henare’s fireman’s carry! Khan runs up, IMPERIAL DROP!! Cover, UNITED EMPIRE WINS!!
Winners: Great-O-Khan & Henare, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they do drop! And in this case, they just dropped the belts! The Monster Rage is now in victory as The Face of Fury & Dominator are on top! Khan is a DOUBLE CHAMPION at that! Will NJPW soon belong to The United Empire?
Kenny Omega is here!
The fans cheer as The Best Bout Machine has returned to Osaka and to NJPW! Omega waves to fans, high-fives a few, then goes to the ring. Omega is then handed the mic so that he may speak. The fans chant “KE-NI-Y! KE-NI-Y!” Omega says in Japanese, “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to be here or not, but well, NJPW made an announcement, so if that’s the case, I had to show up.” The fans cheer that! Omega says recently, he met with Hiroshi Tanahashi, it was a very good talk. Tanahashi had an interesting comment that if Kenny Omega is “back,” then he should take on one of NJPW’s young stars. And Omega replied, “Not a bad idea.”
But that said, there was also another idea. To be honest, Omega is still a little far off, still a bit ill, but he is getting better. So in just a little bit, Omega WILL be able to wrestle again. The fans like the sound of that! Omega says he is still a full-time member of AEW, but… If he may return, and when he does, he’d love to first return to a NJPW ring! The fans love that idea! So while Omega can’t say when and where that will be, but maybe… January 5th? The fans cheer, and Omega asks they please understand, he hoped he could say that.
If he may, he quickly translates for the English speaking fans that the goal is to return in NJPW for a brand new star and really test himself at WrestleDynasty on January 5th! Because NJPW still IS the King of Sports, it still IS the best pro-wrestling on the planet, and it still IS one of his favorite places because it is his home! So… Until we meet again. He must bid us adieu. So goodbye, MWAH, and goodnight, BANG! The fans cheer hearing that again, and surely we will all see Omega wrestling again. Who will it be that tests Omega at the very first WrestleDynasty?
2024 Super Junior Tag League Finals: Ichiban Sweet Boys VS Catch 2/2!
We just saw a heavyweight battle of TMDK VS United Empire, but now it’s time for a speed blitz! Will Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita conquer the Super Junior Tag League? Or will TJP & Francesco Akira go back to back in the league?
The teams sort out and the fans already clap for “CATCH! 2/2! CATCH! 2/2!” But then Robbie starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” The fans cheer and then Akira steps up to Fujita. The bell rings, the two run up and dropkicks cancel out! Akira headlocks, Fujita powers out, but Akira runs Fujita over! Things keep moving, Akira rolls over the dropdown then bypasses Fujita, but Fujita RANAS! Robbie hurries to BLAST TJP! The Sweet Boys double whip Akira to trip, KICK and SOMERSAULT SENTON!
Akira sits up into a basement dropkick from Robbie! Akira bails out, TJP is there, but Robbie gets them both! Fujita climbs, and SUPER CANNONBALLS! The fans fire up as the Japanese Young Punk wipes out Catch 2/2 and even Jakob Austin Young! Fujita puts Akira back in, then wrenches to whip him into a corner. Fujita runs up to CHOP! The fans cheer, and Fujita snapmares to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! TJP runs in but Fujita knees him low. Robbie hops in, TMDK double whips, but TJP KNEES the lariats! TJP blocks a kick from Robbie, gives it to Fujita, then fires off fast hands on Fujita! TJP SOBATS Fujita, but Robbie kicks TJP after all.
Robbie whips, TJP goes up and over, then TJP gives Akira the boost for the SHOTGUN! Robbie tumbles out, and Catch 2/2 double whip Fujita. They DOUBLE HIP TOSS, ELBOW DROP, and BASEMENT BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up and TJP rallies the fans, “CATCH! 2/2!” TJP WRECKS TMDK with the dropkick, then holds the ropes down for Akira to FLY! TMDK falls again and the fans fire up more! Akira brings Fujita up and into the ring, then snapmares him down. Akira tags TJP, and then he runs. Akira hops up, “Take a picture! Take a picture!” And then BACK SUPLEX SPLASH! Cover, TWO!
TJP keeps the fans fired up, and he steps through on Fujita’s legs! TJP has the deathlock, but then Robbie runs up! TJP catches him for a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally, and then TJP sets Robbie up so Akira can RANA! Then TJP drops into the MUTA LOCK! Fujita endures, so TJP focuses on the legs. Fujita pulls TJP’s hair but the ref reprimands. Fujita legs go, and TJP stands up to shift around, and BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Fujita flails and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while TJP lets go. TJP keeps the “CATCH! 2/2!” going, and then he whips Fujita corner to corner. TJP runs in, to BACK ELBOW!
TJP sits Fujita down and he scrubs Fujita’s face! Fans rally up, and TJP goes side to side to BOOT WASH! The fans cheer and chant, “MOIKAI! MOIKAI!” So TJP obliges with more scrubbing! TJP runs, but Fujita gets up! TJP avoids the lariat to SOBAT! TJP runs again, but into a GAMANGIRI! Both men down and the fans fire up again! Fujita and TJP crawl, hot tags to Akira and Robbie! Robbie ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Then he WHEEL KICKS and kips up! Fans fire up as Robbie keeps moving, GAMANGIRI! Akira flops to a corner and Robbie runs in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Robbie rolls back, comes back, but into a BOOT!
Robbie tries again but gets an ELBOW! So Robbie basement 619s! Akira sits down, and Robbie METEORAS! The fans fire up and Robbie drags Akira to a cover. TWO, and the fans cheer again. Robbie has Akira in a drop zone so he goes up top. WARP- NO, Akira moves so Robbie rolls through. Akira dodges Robbie’s kick to ENZIGIRI! Robbie drops to his knees but Akira storms over. Akira chicken wings, but Robbie fights towards ropes! Akira has the arms, TIGER- NO, Robbie fights the suplex with elbows! Akira CHOPS, whips, but Fujita tags in! Robbie wheelbarrows Akira so Fujita can CHOP! Then they double wrench to MAXXY BOMB! Cover, TJP breaks it!
Robbie TOSSES TJP, and he drags Akira up. Robbie scoops Akira but Akira slips free! Akira shoves Robbie into Fujita, then he POISON-RANAS! Akira blocks Fujita’s kick, slips under, and SIT-OUT POWERBOMBS! Everyone is down and the fans fire up! Akira fires himself up and he reels Fujita in! Fujita wrenches free, pops Akira up, but Akira fights with elbows! So Fujita CHOPS! Fujita runs up, but Akira puts him up top! TJP tags in, Fujita is in the Tree of Woe! Akira runs to BASEMENT DROPKICK! Then TJP adds WOE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Fujita survives and the fans fire up again!
Catch 2/2 reset and they drag Fujita up. TJP has the dragon sleeper while Akira climbs, but Fujita wrenches free! Fujita shoves TJP into Akira and Akira falls! Fujita runs back in, TJP goes up and over! TORNADO- NO, Fujita fights the DDT off! Robbie is back, TMDK whips, but TJP reverses, only for TMDK to break both grips! ENZIGIRI HEEL KICK COMBO! TJP sputters and Robbie runs, to DIVE onto Akira! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up! Fujita whips TJP to pop him up into the HIGH ANGLE GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! TJP survives, but Fujita holds on! The fans rally as Fujita spins TJP around!
Fujita slashes his throat, but TJP suplexes instead! FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives and the fans fire up again. The rallying is now for “FU-JI-TA! FU-JI-TA!” as he and TJP stir. TJP grabs at Fujita first, brings him up, and fires a forearm! Fujita fires one in return! TJP fires another, Fujita fires another, then TJP fires a flurry! Fujita fires up to CHOP! Fujita runs, but TJP LARIATS! Down goes Fujita, but Robbie TOSSES TJP! TJP goes Spider-Man, then lures Robbie in. Robbie gets stuck in the ropes and gets a DROPKICK SANDWICH! The fans fire up again and Akira ASAI MOONSAULTS! Down goes Robbie!
The fans fire up as Akira hurries back in, and Catch 2/2 sets up! Fujita sits up, into TWO BY- NO, Fujita sends TJP into Akira, then O’Conner BRIDGE! TWO!! Akira whips Fujita, into the ALLEY OOP! The fans are thunderous as Akira climbs and TJP Electric Chair Lifts Fujita! But Robbie jumps in! He SUPER STEINERS Akira away! Fujita slips down to waistlock TJP! TJP RAMS Fujita into a corner, but Fujita holds on! TJP fights the lift but Fujita CLUBS away! TJP still RAMS Fujita into a corner! Robbie tags in, springboard MISSILE DROPKICK to the leg! Fujita then QUEBRADAS Akira down! The fans fire up, but then TJP cradles Robbie! TWO!!
Robbie ROUNDHOUSES TJP, and Fujita joins in! POP-UP DDT!! Cover, TWO!!! TJP survives and the fans are thunderous again! TMDK calls for the end! Scoop and SWEET BUSTER!! Cover, AKIRA BREAKS IT!! The fans are thunderous while Fujita kicks Akira out! TMDK reset and the fans rally up. Robbie sends Fujita in, but TJP puts Fujita out! Robbie runs up, TJP dodges and Fujita takes the knees! TJP Electric Chair Lifts Robbie! Akira is right up top, LEANING TOWER CUTTER!! Cover, FUJITA BREAKS IT!! The fans are electric as this one continues! TJP TOSSES Fujita, then he and Akira set up in corners!
The fans rally, “CATCH! 2/2!” Robbie sits up, but then ducks! TJP dosidos with Akira, and they set up side-by-side! But then Fujita trips Akira up! TJP tilt-o-whirls but Robbie has him in position! SWEET- NO, Akira HALF ‘N’ HALF SUPLEXES Fujita! TJP slips out, waistlocks, but Robbie ducks, Akira’s SUPERKICK hits TJP! Robbie SUPERKICKS Akira! Robbie roars, but TJP trips him! But Robbie cradles TJP! TWO!!! The fans are going wild as Robbie scrambles to ropes. Akira returns, but Robbie TOSSES him back out! TJP SUPERKICKS Robbie! TJP runs, but Robbie wrenches him into the backpack! TJP wrenches out to dragon sleeper!
Robbie drops, but TJP sits on him for a cover!! TWO!??! Robbie escapes, SCHOOLBOY BRIDGE! Fujita anchors Akira, TMDK WINS!!
Winners: Ichiban Sweet Boys, by pinfall (2024 Super Junior Tag League Champions)
Robbie is stunned and even emotional as he and Fujita pull it off! No two in a row for Catch 2/2, and they’re just as emotional over that. The trophies are presented to Robbie & Fujita, and they stand together to hold them up high! Then as is tradition for TMDK, they sit on the apron together to show off their prize. Robbie says they didn’t stop working all year, this is that work paying off! But then TMDK steps back inside the ring, and Robbie offers a handshake to his old friend. TJP accepts it and the fans cheer. Akira and Fujita are also able to shake hands, and the fans cheer. But Catch 2/2 lets TMDK know, they’ll be back for another round.
Oh, Robbie gets the mic to say something. “Osaka… everyone here… WE WON~!” Robbie then encourages Fujita to say something, as do the fans. Fujita says that it is absolutely 100% established that the TMDK Era has arrived. And it is because his teammate is the man known as Robbie Eagles that they pulled this off. Because they won Super Junior Tag League, that means they will challenge Kushida & Kevin Knight for the titles. That’ll be later, but they wanna talk to the Intergalactic Jet Setters now! TMDK waits, and here they come! The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions make their way out, and they applaud the league winners.
The fans also applaud, and now champions join challengers in the ring. Kushida has the mic to say in English, “Congratulations.” Knight says it in Japanese, “Omedeto.” Kushida says they accept the challenge! BUT… Where is Catch 2/2? Why? Well, Catch 2/2 did beat the Jet Setters. Knight asks why he’s bringing that up now. Well, Catch 2/2 return, having heard their names. Kushida now says okay, good. Kushida asks when will it be? Knight says WrestleKingdom! TMDK says okay, they’ll wait their turn. Catch 2/2 and Jet Setters can settle their Tag League beef, and then- THE WAR DOGS ATTACK!? WITH CHAIRS!!
The fans freak out as Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney beat up TMDK, Catch 2/2 and the Jet Setters! Connors says it’s a War Dog party, baby! The fans boo but Connors & Drilla laugh it up. Drilla takes a seat, grabs the mic, and he says, “Hold on a sec, okay, okay. Lemme get this right, Clark.” TMDK beat Catch 2/2, but Catch 2/2 beat Jet Setters, but then TMDK also beat Jet Setters, but THE WAR DOGS have chewed up and spat out every tag team in the Junior Heavyweight Division! The fans are torn on that point. Drilla says congrats on the great fight, it was cute. But it ain’t no party like a War Dog party!
And it ain’t no WrestleKingdom without The War Dogs! The fans boo as the former champs stake their claim to a rematch. Then who is it that will start 2025 with the gold?
BREAKING NEWS!
It would seem the War Dogs are warring on multiple fronts! While the Super Junior Tag League final was happening, Gabe Kidd went after Kenny Omega backstage! We knew he was a Mad Man, but does this mean he’s #WarReady for WrestleDynasty?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: DOUKI VS Master Wato!
After years of struggling and ridicule, Japones Del Mal is finally getting some respect on his name as he’s made it through some top tier contenders! But after facing ridicule of his own, and even coming back from injury, The Way of the Grandmaster wants some of that! Will Wato take this title and the respect that comes with it? Or will there be no stopping the era of Douki?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see whose hardships were worth it all!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two stare down as the energy builds. Wato and Douki step forward, then tie up. They’re in a deadlock at center, but Wato’s height becomes leverage. Wato has Douki on ropes, Douki turns it around, repeat. Douki still puts Wato on ropes, but he lets off slowly. But Wato shoves Douki! The forearms start flying back and forth! Neither man backs down, and they even speed up! Douki ROCKS Wato, fires more shots, but Wato fires them in return! Douki CHOPS and the fans fire up! Douki CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Wato SOBATS! Wato whips, but Douki reverses!
Douki drops then hurdles. Douki drops again but Wato leaps over. Wato bypasses Douki, dodges him, then RANAS! Douki bails out, fans fire up, and Wato builds speed. Douki moves so Wato slows down. The fans cheer and Douki runs back in, but Wato scoops! Wato SLAMS and JUMP ELBOW DROPS! Cover, ONE! Wato clamps onto Douki with a chinlock, and also digs his knee in. Douki fights around, fights forward, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Wato slowly lets go, but then Wato stomps Douki. Douki fires a body shot, but Wato CHOPS! Wato whips corner to corner, then runs in, but into a BOOT!
Wato comes back but Douki puts him on the apron. Douki swings but Wato blocks the shot to ROCK Douki! Wato slingshots, but Douki DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up as Douki builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit into railing, right in front of English commentary! The fans fire up and Wato writhes, but Douki brings Wato back up. Douki puts Wato on the railing, then goes to the apron! The fans rally up as Douki DIVING STOMPS Wato off the railing! Wato writhes and Douki leaves him behind. The count begins, and Wato is still down at 5 of 20. Douki paces while the count reaches 10 of 20, and Wato rolls in.
Fans cheer while Douki drags Wato up, and Douki CLUBS Wato on the neck. Douki brings Wato around again, to CLUB him on the neck! Douki then turns Wato for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Douki clamps on with a chinlock and he digs a knee into Wato now. Wato fights around, but Douki drags him back! Douki puts on a headscissor squeeze! The fans rally, Wato fights, but Douki pushes up to put on more pressure! Wato moves around, but Douki traps an arm! Wato kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Douki lets go of Wato. Douki taunts Wato a bit, scuffs him around, but Wato rises.
Wato CHOPS, SLAPS, then SLAPS again! Wato fires more CHOPS but Douki CHOPS Wato off his feet! Douki whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Wato BOOTS him! Wato dodges Douki, then reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Wato grits his teeth, and he has fans behind him. Douki also rises, and Wato runs up to CLOBBER Douki! And CLOBBER him again! Wato whips, Douki reverses, but Wato ELBOWS Douki down! Then he DROPKICKS Douki out of the ring! The fans fire up and Wato builds speed. Wato FLIES! Down goes Douki at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, but Wato has to catch his breath. The ring count starts, and Wato sits up at 4 of 20. Wato stands at 8 and he fires Osaka up. Wato goes to Douki at 11 of 20, drags him up, and throws him in at 15. The fans applaud and Wato aims from the corner. Wato watches Douki rise, then he springboards in to FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Douki stays in this and the fans rally more, but Wato hooks Douki up! Douki fights the Mouse Trap so Wato sunset flips! TWO, into VENDIVAL! Douki flails, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Wato lets Douki go, and Douki goes to the apron.
Wato storms over and he brings Douki up. But Douki RAMS into him! DAY- NO, Wato stops Daybreak to DECK Douki! Douki flops back to the apron and Wato brings him back up. Wato suplexes but Douki fights! Douki HOTSHOTS Wato, then slingshots to arm-drag! Wato bails out and Douki WRECKS him with a dropkick! The fans fire up and Douki hurries to the apron. Douki climbs up a corner, but Wato springs up after him! Wato drags Douki down in a waistlock, but Douki holds ropes! Douki fires elbows to fight free, but then Wato KICKS him! And APRON- NO! Douki grabs ropes again!
Douki spins things around on Wato, APRON DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Wato is dazed from the impact, but Douki resets up top! Douki still wants to DOUKI BOMB SENTON!! Direct hit and the fans fire up again! Both men are down, so the ring count starts on them both now. Douki drags himself up at 8 of 20 and he fires up! The fans are with Douki as he drags Wato up and in at 13! Douki then goes up a corner, and he takes aim, to DIVING DOUBLE STOMP! Cover, TWO! But Douki drags Wato into ITALIAN STRETCH #32! Wato flails around, reaches out, and manages the ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer as Wato survives by a literal foot. Douki only lets go at the ref’s count, and then he fires himself back up. The fans rally as Douki wheelbarrows Wato into SUPLEX- NO, Wato fights the full nelson! Douki ENZIGIRIS! Douki runs up but is put on the apron. Douki RAMS Wato, slingshots, DAY- NO! Wato again stops Daybreak, to pop Douki around and T T D!! Cover, but Wato himself can’t keep it! Wato hurries back to the cover, TWO!! Douki survives the Tenzan Tombstone Driver and the fans rally again. Wato flounders to a corner and drags himself up. The fans duel and Wato takes aim, to KICK! And KICK! And KICK!
Douki stands up, blocks a kick, but Wato dodges a haymaker! Wato tilt-o-whirls, then hooks Douki up! MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Douki escapes the trap and the fans fire up again! Wato roars, and he drags Douki back up. Wato waistlocks but Douki fights the suplex with elbows. Douki goes to run, Wato reels him in, but Douki uses the British Escape. Douki kicks low but then Wato ducks the enzigiri! Wato waistlocks to HIGH- NO, Douki victory rolls! TWO, but into a wheelbarrow! SUPLEX- NO, Wato swings around to sunset flip! TWO, into VENDIVAL!! Douki flails but he endures the hold!
The fans rally and duel as Douki shifts around. Douki kicks and moves towards ropes, but then Wato rolls him away into a cradle, then VENDIVAL!! Wato thrashes Douki but Douki endures! Douki kicks, fights, rocks the boat, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Wato lets go more in disbelief than frustration. Wato then drags Douki up, wrenches, and reels him into the fireman’s carry. WASTELAND SLAM, and Wato goes to the corner! The fans rally as Wato climbs, for the DIVING- NO, Douki avoids the stomps, then catches Wato, SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down again.
Douki and Wato stir, then crawl. They find each other and grab at the other’s hair. The ref reprimands but Wato fires a forearm. Douki shakes his head, then fires a forearm back! Wato fires another forearm, but Douki fires back! They rise, the forearms keep going, and the fans rally up more. Wato and Douki start picking up speed with their forearms, but then Douki wobbles! Wato ROCKS Douki, ROCKS him again, and Douki drops to a knee! Wato fires more shots to put Douki on the mat! The ref checks, could this be a knockout? Douki is still conscious so Wato stands Douki up. Douki ducks the roundhouse to HELL STAB!
Douki ROCKS Wato, spins, but Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Wato BOOTS Douki at ropes, then runs, but into a LARIAT! Both men are down, but then Douki fires back up! The fans are with Douki and he runs, into a scoop and torture rack! Wato hits a RACK CUTTER! The fans fire up with Wato now and he KICKS! KICKS! KICKS! Wato KICKS from all sides, then BUZZSAWS! Douki flops over, Wato covers, ONE?!? Douki is hitting that new gear he unlocked against Taiji and Sho, but then the DREAMCAST KICK hits! The fans fire up and Wato TSUTENKAKU GERMANS! Bridging cover, TWO!?!? Wato cannot believe it!
The fans fire up but Wato drags Douki up. Wato roars, the fans are with him, and he half nelsons, into MOUSE- NO, Douki slips free! And he drags Wato down into ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Wato stays up but Douki pulls on the arms! Wato endures, fights around, and he drags Douki with him, but Douki rolls Wato away from ropes! But then Wato jackknifes! But Douki rolls through, to get ITALIAN STRETCH 32 back! The fans rally harder as Wato continues to fight! But then Douki rolls him away from ropes again! Only for Wato to stand up with Douki in a cradle! Wato powers Douki into T T- NO, Douki flips it around, IMPALER!
ITALIAN STRETCH 32!!! The fans are thunderous, but Wato is fading! Wato flops over and the ref checks! Wato IS OUT, Douki wins!!
Winner: Douki, by submission (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
Wato fought as hard as he could, but he could not endure. How much harder must he fight to become the Grandmaster?
As for Douki, he stands tall, only for EL DESPERADO to appear! The fans all cheer to see The Rogue Luchador and this year’s Best of the Super Juniors winner to make his way out. Desperado wears a Headbanga shirt to show his love to El Phantasmo, who is now fighting cancer. But right now, Desperado and Douki are once again face to face. Desperado has the mic to say that Junior Heavyweight wrestling is pretty damn great! So that is why he is proud of this division, he LOVES Junior Heavyweight wrestling! And that is why Desperado wants to challenge Douki for Tokyo Dome. The fans love the sound of that!
Desperado then says that there are a lot of people who will have something to say about that, a few complaints, and while the fans should be happy, Desperado knows that this is really about him and Douki. Desperado wants Douki to show him personally what these last six months have given Douki. Desperado has been watching, but everyone should know that watching it and feeling it are two very different things. The fans fire up for that! So Desperado wants Douki to show him every bit of it! After all their ups and downs, Desperado wants Douki to give every single thing that he loves about wrestling.
Desperado hands the mic to Douki, and Douki tells Desperado that they were brothers in Suzuki-Gun, but right now, Douki is champion. And as such, Douki has beaten some of the best here. But if it’s Desperado, Douki will gladly stand across the ring from him one more time to have the best possible match! Douki will show the world the very best in Junior Heavyweight wrestling! The mic goes back to Desperado, and he smiles as he says Hiromu must hate this. Hiromu is on commentary, but he says go ahead, Desperado. Then maybe after Desperado beats Douki, Desperado and Hiromu can go another round.
Desperado smiles at his old amigo, and tells him see ya later. Another big battle has been put together for WrestleKingdom, but Douki has one more thing to say. He is the winner here, so HE should have his song playing! The fans cheer that, and Douki’s theme does play. Will Japones Del Mal have a very good start to the New Year? Or will Desperado remind us that he is the Best of the Super Juniors?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS Taichi w/ Taka Michinoku!
The King of Savages crossed the line when he called out the injured Yuya Uemura, then acted like Yuya was the coward. Can The Holy Emperor bring the Rebel to justice? Or will the War Dogs continue to do what they want to who they want?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly reigns!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. “Let’s Go, Taichi!” greatly drowns out the “Let’s Go, Finlay!” but that doesn’t bother Finlay at all. Finlay circles around Taichi, then the two tie up. They go around, and Finlay puts Taichi on ropes. The ref counts the break, and Finlay slowly lets off. Finlay pats Taichi on the head, the ref has him back off, but Taichi fixes his hair. Finlay fires forearms but Taichi just eggs him on! Taichi leans into the shots, so Finlay SPITS at him! Taichi DECKS Finlay! The fans fire up as Finlay flounders away, clutching his jaw! Taichi waits on Finlay to get up, then he runs up to BOOT him!
The fans cheer and Taichi snapmares Finlay, to KICK him in the back! Finlay writhes more, but then Taichi KICKS him again. And again! Finlay writhes, Taichi kicks him again, and Gedo starts to worry. Finlay sits up, and Taichi KICKS him again! The fans cheer while Finlay flounders. Taichi brings Finlay up but Finlay fights the saido! Finlay grabs ropes, Gedo wants the break, but Taichi pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Gedo protests, but Taichi LCUBS Finlay! And CLUBS him again! Finlay ROCKS Taichi, runs, but into a BACKDROP! Finlay writhes from the crash landing and the fans fire up.
Taichi storms over but Finlay fireman’s carries! HOTSHOT SNAKE EYES! Finlay then rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Finlay shows he has open palms now. Finlay rains down those strikes and now Taka has reason to protest. The fans rally but Finlay SPITS at them! The fans boo Finlay, so he flips them off now. Finlay pushes Taichi out, they go to commentary, and Finlay RAMS Taichi in! Finlay taunts Hiromu, then RAMS Taichi in again! Finlay says one more, then he slaps stuff off the desk! Finlay drags Taichi up again, for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Taichi flops to the floor and Finlay says this is too easy.
Finlay paces, Gedo likes what he sees, and Finlay asks if Taichi wants to quit. Gedo talks trash with Taka while Finlay puts Taichi back in. Finlay digs his elbow into Taichi’s face! The ref reprimands, Finlay stops, and he claims it was a cover. Finlay drags Taichi up and whips him hard into a corner! Taichi falls, and Finlay does pushups just to show off. Finlay says this is just too easy, and he drags Taichi back up. But Taichi KICKS Finlay in the leg! And then ROCKS him! Finlay comes back but Taichi just fires more shots! Taichi runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him! Only for Taichi to DANGEROUS SAIDO Finlay up and out!!
The fans are just as shocked as Finlay falls against railing! The ref checks on Finlay, and he’s somehow okay to continue. The fans rally that much harder for Taichi as he goes out to fetch Finlay. Gedo is upset, the ref says Taichi shouldn’t, btu Taichi still whips Finlay hard into railing! And then hard into more railing! Finlay staggers and hobbles away in a hurry, but Taichi is on him again. Taichi whips Finlay hard into more railing! Finlay falls in a heap, but Taichi grabs a chair! The ref stops Taichi here, so Taichi lets him have the chair. Taichi drags Finlay up, the ref wants this in the ring, but Taichi POSTS Finlay instead!
Taichi stalks Finlay while Gedo protests, but Taichi still puts Finlay in the ring. The fans applaud, and Taichi stalks Finlay. Taichi scuffs Finlay, kicks him around, but Finlay grits his teeth. Finlay fires a forearm, but Taichi scowls. Taichi eggs Finlay on so Finlay fires more shots. Taichi wrenches to DANGEROUS HOOK KICK! Cover, TWO! Finlay stays in this but Taka says keep on him. Gedo tells Finlay to get up but Taichi looms over him. Finlay ducks the buzzsaw, and he IRISH- NO, Taichi arm-drags Finlay away! Finlay runs back in, but Taichi BOOTS him! Finlay ROCKS Taichi with a forearm, but Taichi ENZIGIRIS!
Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Taichi rises and the fans rally behind him. And OFF COME THE PANTS! The fans fire up as Taichi takes aim and powers up. TENSHO- NO, Finlay dodges the superkick to clinch and IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Taichi writhes but Finlay’s own back keeps him from making the cover. Finlay grits his teeth and Gedo says to finish this! Finlay grins as he crawls over to Taichi. Finlay pushes Taichi to the apron, then goes out after him. But Taichi ridge hand chops! Finlay fires a forearm! Taichi BOOTS Finlay, Finlay ROCKS Taichi! The fans rally as the brawl continues!
Finlay fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Finlay reels Taichi in, but Taichi fights the lift! Taichi lifts Finlay, but Finlay scrambles in and around, to then POST Taichi! Taichi falls to the floor and Gedo applauds. Finlay grins and taunts Taichi. Finlay flips off Osaka and insults it but the fans boo. Finlay drags Taichi up, fireman’s carries, and he runs to LAWN DART Taichi into the post! The ref checks Taichi as Taichi clutches his arm. Finlay Too Sweets with Gedo, but the ring count begins. Finlay backs Taka off before he drags Taichi up. The count is 10 of 20 but Finlay shoves Taichi back into the ring. Cover, TWO!!
The fans cheer as Taichi manages to stays in this, but Finlay jokes he just wants more punishment. Finlay suplexes and THROWS Taichi! Finlay flexes then flips everyone off, then he goes back to Taichi. Finlay CLUBS Taichi with a crossface forearm! And another! Finlay says the fans are calling Taichi’s name but Finlay doesn’t need that. Cocky cover, TWO! Finlay says okay, and he drags Taichi up. Canadian Rack, CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Taichi survives and Finlay says his bad, he did a bad cover. The fans rally but Finlay asks how many bombs Gedo wants to see. Gedo says six or seven is good.
Finlay gets Taichi up, but Taichi RANAS! Taichi then dodges Finlay to DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Finlay is down and sputtering and the fans fire up again! Taichi and Finlay stir and the fans rally behind Taichi. Taichi goes to a corner, he runs in at Finlay, and he BOOTS! But Finlay blocks! Finlay backs Taichi down, fires a forearm, but Taichi KICKS! Forearm, KICK, repeat, then Taichi SOBATS! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS! Taichi RIDGE HANDS, BLINDSIDE AX BOMBERS, and GAMANGIRIS! Then AX BOMBER!! Taichi brings Finlay up, DANGEROUS SAIDO BRIDGE! TWO!! Finlay survives but the fans are thunderous for Taichi!
Finlay clutches his head while Gedo shouts for him to get up! Taichi rises, the fans are with him, and he reels Finlay in. Finlay grabs a leg to stop the lift, but Taichi gives him Kawada Kicks! Then a PUNT!! Taichi reels Finlay in, hauls him up, but Finlay slips free! INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!! Taichi survives and Gedo is furious! Finlay doesn’t bother being shocked, he just hauls Taichi up to POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives again and Finlay is frustrated now. So much for being easy work! Finlay slashes his throat and vows to end this, but the fans boo. Finlay hauls Taichi up, but Taichi RIDGE HANDS
Taichi reels Finlay in, but Finlay powers up to Alabama Lift, and steals BLACK MEPHISTO!!! Cover, TWO!!! Taichi survives his own move, but Finlay won’t let him rest. The fans are thunderous for Taichi but Finlay shakes his head. Finlay suplexes, for OVER- NO, Taichi blocks the leg! Body scissors, GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Finlay escapes, but Taichi scoops him! EMERALD FLOWSION!!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans are thunderous again as Finlay survives! Gedo panics as he tells Finlay to get up! Taichi and Finlay stir, and Sanada has appeared ringside for more support from Just5Guys! The fans rally and Taichi goes to a corner.
Taichi roars and takes aim! Finlay rises, into TENSHO- NO, Finlay rolls Taichi up, holding tights! TWO!! Taichi escapes, but Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS! And ROLLING- ROUNDHOUSE from Taichi! TENSHO- NO, Finlay blocks the kick again! And he reels Taichi in, for a BUCKLE BOMB!! But Taichi’s up to TENSHO JUJIHO!!! The fans are thunderous as Taichi roars! Taichi reels Finlay in, but now Gedo is on the apron! Taka grabs Gedo and drags him down! Taichi brings Finlay up, BLACK MEPHISTO!!!! Cover, WHO yanks the ref out?!? SANADA did?!? WHY?!?! Why did The Cold Skull just betray The Holy Emperor?!?
Taichi is most confused of all, but is this Sanada being petty over how he couldn’t beat Finlay? Even Gedo isn’t sure what this is about! But he doesn’t really care, he kinda likes that his guy’s not dead yet. But then Sanada unzips his jacket, to reveal a WAR DOGS SHIRT?!? Who convinced Sanada to turn?!? And now Finlay has the shillelagh! Finlay CLOBBERS Taichi!!! Sanada puts the ref back in and Finlay grins. Finlay says this is for Sanada. OVERKILL!!! Cover, Finlay wins!!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
No one can understand why Sanada would join Finlay of all people, but it’s too late to do anything about it now. Taka gets in to confront Sanada, but Gedo CLUBS Taka! And Sanada LOW BLOWS Taka to boot! Sanada says no hard feelings, Taichi. He helps Taichi up, but Taichi still can’t understand why. And then DEADFALL!!! Sanada continues to add insult to injury! Sanada revels in the fans telling him to go away, but wait, Douki is here now! Douki is just as upset over this, but he can’t stand against Sanada and Finlay alone. The fans boo more as Sanada hands Finlay this win on a silver platter.
Finlay grabs a mic to say, “And STILL~ IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, yours truly, The Rebel, Boss Dog, Savage King, David Finlay! I want you to get a good look at this face. This is the face of a man that didn’t cry, that didn’t complain, that didn’t bitch online, moan, whine, what have you. I observed, I waited, I watched, I schemed, and I put together the most savage, ruthless, violent brotherhood this company has ever seen.” Fans boo but he tells them to shut up. Now, Finlay did warn Taichi that there was a wolf in the pack, but Taichi’s thick skull didn’t pick up the wisdom Finlay was putting down.
The thing about the War Dogs, the entrance fee is bodies or gold, and main man Sanada will bring plenty of both now. But let’s be honest. Tonight’s title match only happened because Yuya was too scared to face Finlay. That’s fine, there is still a man who thinks he is better than Finlay. Yota Tsuji! It’s one thing to have one win over Finlay, but nobody gets two and gets away with it. See, Finlay’s been watching Yota a long, long, long time, and he’s tired of waiting. Get your fat ass out here so he can handle some business! Oh, there he is! Yota makes his way out here, and Finlay says to hurry up, we don’t have all night.
Yota goes to the ring at the same pace anyway, and Finlay says any day now. Yota grins as he steps into the ring with Finlay, and Finlay promises he won’t hurt Yota. We all know it is Tokyo Dome Season, and with Finlay as the most valuable champion, he gets to call the shots. So how about this? Finlay VS Tsuji for Finlay’s Global Heavyweight Championship at WrestleKingdom? The fans do like the sound of that. Yota picks up the mic to say, “Oi, Finlay! Good to see you didn’t run away. And in the G1 Climax, you lost to me, twice. So now you want revenge, huh? I accept your challenge! January 4th, Tokyo Dome, for this title. The question is, are you ready?”
Finlay holds up his belt as he gets in Tsuji’s face. Tsuji still grins, and will he have an even bigger smile after hitting the Rebel with a Gene Blast?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Shingo Takagi!
From using his G1 Climax Right to Challenge at the Ryogoku Kokugikan to defending this title the week after, The Front Man is certainly leading the way for TMDK! But now he runs into the Rampaging Dragon who NEVER backs down from a fight! It is Champion VS Champion but with only one title on the line. Will Takagi soon become a Two Belt Dragon? Or will ZSJ make him #JustTapOut?
The introductions are made, the top belt is raised, and we see who survives the Power Struggle!
The bell rings and the fans rally up already as the two stare down. The chants of “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” and “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” echo out, perhaps leaning in Takagi’s favor. The two feel things out, circle, then clinch. They fight for control, and Takagi has the facelock. Takagi brings ZSJ down, floats to a waistlock, but ZSJ wrenches out to then flip Takagi over. Takagi keeps an arm up but ZSJ keeps moving around. ZSJ wants an arm but Takagi goes for a leg. ZSJ turns that around on Takagi but Takagi slips away, and the fans cheer as the two reset. They feel things out again, then clinch. They knuckle lock, and Takagi powers ZSJ right down!
ZSJ fights up to go shoulder to shoulder with Takagi, but Takagi powers ZSJ down again! It’s a cover, ONE as an arm comes up! Takagi pushes that arm down, ONE as the other arm comes up! Takagi puts that back down, ONE as ZSJ bridges up! ZSJ then kips up, rolls, and he reverses the pressure of the knuckle locks. Takagi fights up, puts ZSJ in a corner, and Red Shoes calls the break. Takagi and ZSJ slowly let go, but ZSJ avoids a chop! ZSJ cravats Takagi, but Takagi arm-drags free! ZSJ runs up, Takagi dodges to waistlock. ZSJ switches, half nelsons, then snapmares, but Takagi kicks him away! ZSJ avoids a sliding lariat, but Takagi avoids the Penalty Kick!
The two back up and the fans cheer the standoff. Takagi and ZSJ take a moment to reset, then feel things out again. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, but ZSJ chinbars. ZSJ then wrenches an arm, steps over, and adds the cravat. ZSJ then shifts to a headlock, but Takagi fights up. Takagi powers up and out, but ZSJ RAMS him! Neither man falls, and the fans cheer. ZSJ runs, and he RAMS Takagi, but still Takagi stands! Takagi eggs ZSJ on, and ZSJ runs to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds, but ZSJ slips around to COBRA TWIST! But Takagi powers up and out with a hip toss! Then Takagi runs to RUN ZSJ over!
The fans fire up and Takagi stalks ZSJ. Takagi brings ZSJ up, bumps him off buckles, then RAMS into him! And RAMS in again! And again! ZSJ sits down, but Takagi stands ZSJ up to CHOP! Takagi then brings ZSJ around to whip and KNEE at the ropes! ZSJ falls, clutching his stomach and ribs, but Takagi follows him tot he apron. Takagi goes to fireman’s carry but ZSJ holds ropes. ZSJ then BOOTS, BOOTS, and runs up, but into a fireman’s carry! ZSJ slips out to SLEEPER over the ropes! Takagi ELBOW BREAKERS! But then ZSJ catches Takagi’s shoulder ram into a NECK TWIST! The fans rally up while Takagi falls back.
Takagi bails out the side and Red Shoes checks with him. Takagi is okay to continue, so ZSJ walks over. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Takagi, and UPPERCUTS him again! And again! Takagi leans on the railing in front of English commentary but ZSJ snapmares, NECK TWIST! The fans rally again while ZSJ leaves Takagi behind. Red Shoes checks Takagi again, but Takagi is still okay to continue. The ring count starts, and Takagi is still down at 8 of 20. Takagi drags himself up with railing to stand at 11, and he sees both NEVER Openweight and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the timekeeper’s table.
Takagi hurries into the ring with that motivation and the fans applaud. ZSJ has Takagi in a cravat and leg hook to really wrench the neck. Takagi endures, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK. ZSJ lets go, but then brings Takagi up to UPPERCUT! The fans rally and duel as ZSJ UPPERCUTS again! And again! Takagi headbutts buckles to fire up! Takagi gets in ZSJ’s face, so ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Takagi scoops to SLAM and SENTON FLOP as ZSJ moves! ZSJ gets Takagi for another NECK TWIST! ZSJ fires up and the fans fire up, too! ZSJ paces, then he wraps Takagi up in a neck lock. ZSJ also wants an arm but Takagi resists, so ZSJ CRANKS the neck lock!
Takagi scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and the fans rally up again. Takagi rises, but ZSJ scuffs him. Takagi JABS! JABS! And JABS! Then CHOP! Then CHOP again! ZSJ blocks a chop, but Takagi powers out. ZSJ RAMS and cravats but Takagi shoves ZSJ down! ZSJ sits up, into a BLINDSLIDE SLIDING LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! The fans still rally stronger for “TA-KA-GI!” then “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” Both men rise, and ZSJ RAMS Takagi! Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, but ZSJ jumps on for a GUILLOTINE! But Takagi powers up to THROW ZSJ away! Then he SENTONS! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up while both men are down. Takagi calls to Osaka, and says it- NO, ZSJ grabs his hand to isolate and STOMP the arm! It is not Takagi’s time just yet! ZSJ looms over Takagi, steps on the bad hand, then wrenches the arm. ELBOW BREAKER! Wrench, and ELBOW BREAKER! Then wrench and- NO, Takagi grabs ZSJ in a SLEEPER! ZSJ slips that around to a SLEEPER, but Takagi hits a BACKPACK SENTON! Takagi drags ZSJ up, turns his uppercut into a backslide, but ZSJ rolls through! Takagi catches ZSJ, STOMP the hands and NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as Takagi gives ZSJ a taste of his own medicine!
Takagi realizes it’s here! “TOKI GA KITA! <The time has come!>” The fans fire up for Takagi as he runs up on ZSJ! Takagi blocks a boot to LARIAT! And then he hits a BIG suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Takagi rises again, and he drags ZSJ up. ZSJ fights the back suplex and throws down elbows. Takagi shoves ZSJ to a corner, then Gory Especial! But ZSJ reaches back to a SLEEPER! Then he shifts to IRON OCTO- NO, Takagi powers up! But ZSJ just shifts for an IRON OCTOPUS all the same! Takagi endures, fights up, and fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! ZSJ sits up, into SLIDING- NO, ZSJ catches Takagi’s arm!
ZSJ shifts around, he wants both arms! Takagi kicks around but he’s still in CLARKY CAT! Takagi endures, fights over, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration but he clamps back onto an arm. ZSJ grinds the shoulder, then STOMPS it! Takagi clutches the arm but ZSJ needs to catch his breath. ZSJ then stomps away on Takagi. Takagi rises up, ZSJ runs in, but Takagi blocks a boot! Takagi puts the leg in the ropes, to then DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans rally back up. Takagi shakes out the bad arm, brings ZSJ up, and fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT!
Takagi runs, but ZSJ boots him! Takagi LARIATS anyway! But that’s the bad arm! ZSJ BOOTS Takagi! Takagi LARIATS! Even still, Takagi has power behind it! ZSJ comes back, Takagi blocks the boot to CLUB the leg! But ZSJ blocks the lariat to UPPERCUTR the arm again and again! ZSJ runs but Takagi follows, LEFT ARM LARIAT and SAIDO! ZSJ is up and gets around, SNAP GERMAN! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- ZSJ blocks to PELE the arm! Takagi spins, but ZSJ BOOTS the lariat! Takagi spins back around, YUKON feint and DD- NO, ZSJ slips free! PENALTY KICK! But Takagi’s right up, to PUMPING BOMBER!!
Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Takagi rises up and the fans join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi runs at ZSJ to LARIAT in the corner! ZSJ SLAPS Takagi! And UPPERCUTS! UPPERCUTS! UPPERCUTS! ZSJ runs, into a SLEEPER! ZSJ sits down, but Takagi chicken wings him! ZSJ fights around but Takagi hits a TIGER SUPLEX! And PUMPING BOMBER!! The fans are fired up again and Takagi roars! Takagi drags ZSJ up, pump handles, but ZSJ pries free to have both arms! CLARKY CAT! Takagi turns over but ends up in a modified TRIANGLE HOLD! Takagi endures, fights around, but into a proper TRIANGLE HOLD!
ZSJ squeezes tight, the fans rally and duel, and Takagi powers up! Deadlift, fireman’s carry, and now Takagi goes up the corner?! ZSJ fires elbows, but Takagi still hits STAY DREAM!! Both men are down from that rough landing but the fans fire up again! Takagi rises and he brings ZSJ around again. Takagi wrenches, ducks a kick, and pump handles! MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans rally again! Ryohei coaches ZSJ, the fans rally more, and Takagi rises. Takagi brings ZSJ up to the pump handle and torture rack. ZSJ slips free, trips Takagi, but Takagi fights off the Japanese Bridge!
Takagi has a SLEEPER, but ZSJ rolls and has the legs! ZSJ STOMPS the legs! A very American Dragon move that keeps this Rampaging Dragon down! The fans rally again as Takagi goes to ropes and ZSJ clutches his side. ZSJ goes to ropes on the other end, and then heads for Takagi. Takagi rises, ZSJ rolls to get a leg. ZSJ ducks an enzigiri, and has the ANKLE LOCK! Takagi rolls free, ROKCS ZSJ, then SWATS ZSJ’s kick! But ZSJ catches Takagi to a scoop, ZACK DRIVER!! Both men are down as ZSJ cannot make the cover! The fans rally up even harder, and now the “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” is ahead of “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!”
ZSJ sits up, then heads over to Takagi. ZSJ tries another scoop but Takagi fights it. ZSJ powers through, but Takagi slips around! Dragon sleeper becomes facelock, for the TAKAGI TWIST! Both men are down again and the fans continue to rally! Takagi rises, he stands ZSJ up, and he fires boxing elbows! Takagi stops but ZSJ falls forward! ZSJ slowly sits up, but Takagi stands him up. ZSJ SLAPS! And SLAPS! And RAPID FIRE PALM STRIKES! Takagi JABS! And HEADBUTTS! And SLIDING FOREARMS! Then another American Dragon move, the HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Takagi drags ZSJ into a REAR NAKED CHOKE!!
ZSJ endures, reaches out, but Takagi has those body scissors in deep! ZSJ works to pry those open, then works on the sleeper, but Takagi has a tight grip on both! TMDK coaches ZSJ but he’s turning red! Fans rally and duel as hard as they ever have, but ZSJ manages to roll and roll and roll into the ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets ZSJ go and Red Shoes checks on ZSJ. ZSJ sits up in a bit of a daze, but he tells Red Shoes that he’s not done. The fans fire up and Takagi brings ZSJ up for RIDGE HANDS! Takagi goes to fireman’s carry, but ZSJ wants an arm! ZSJ slips free, shoves Takagi, then goes up and around to TORNADO DDT!
ZSJ scoops Takagi for a SABRE DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!! But ZSJ has the KNEEBAR!! Takagi flails as ZSJ shifts the grip around for a HEEL HOOK on top of it!! The fans rally and duel again as Takagi reaches around. Red Shoes checks with Takagi but Takagi bites a finger to ignore the leg pain! But then ZSJ makes it an INVERTED FIGURE FOUR!! Takagi flails, rolls around, and finds the ROPEBREAK!! ZSJ lets go in frustration while the fans fire up again! Takagi crawls but ZSJ stands. The fans rally up more as Takagi still tries to chase ZSJ. ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Takagi! Takagi stays up and shakes his head.
ZSJ KICKS, and KICKS, and KICKS, but Takagi block! DRAGON- NO, ZSJ slips free, to NECK TWIST! Takagi still rises, and he scoops, MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Then the pump handle! ZSJ kicks and kicks, only for Takagi to SNAP LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! But Takagi’s leg slows him down, and ZSJ rolls away from the cover!! The fans are rallying as hard as they can as both men stir. Takagi brings ZSJ up, to LARIAT! But there was almost nothing to it! Takagi LARIATS again, but still not enough! Takagi LARIATS, ZSJ BOOTS, Takagi rebounds to PUMPING BOMBER!!! The fans are thunderous as Takagi rises!
Takagi hobbles over, pump handles again, but the bad leg gives up! ZSJ has the SLEEPER, then a GERMAN SUPLEX! Then a PENALTY KICK! Cover, ONE?!?! How does Takagi have that much left?! The fans are thunderously dueling, and both men run up to LARIAT! Takagi ducks the roundhouse but ZSJ KICKS the leg! And dropkicks the bad leg! And then fisherman for the SABRE DRIVER REMIX!!! Cover, ZSJ WINS!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
Another instant classic from The Front Man! And that’s taking nothing away from the NEVER Openweight Champion and a former world champion in his own right. But if Takagi can put up this level of a match challenging for a belt, will no one ever take the gold Takagi has already?
As for ZSJ, he grabs a mic quickly to tell Takagi, “Damn that hurt. But also, thank you.” The fans cheer that, and Takagi says he’ll get him next time. ZSJ continues with saying that he is tired, that match was long. But hey, it’s nothing, he’s not even warm. Well, okay, he is a bit warm. But uh, why waste time? Who’s his next challenger? Who’s next? Oh, that takes him back. “Da re desu ka?” But please, come on out. They’re short on time. Fans are torn as Shota Umino appears! They were okay with him winning over Sanada, especially in retrospect, but Shota for the world title…? ZSJ says hey, it’s okay, it’s okay.
ZSJ tells Shota it’s alright, come to the ring. But, make it quick. The fans continue to boo as Shota grabs a mic. Shota tells ZSJ, “Amazing. What a fantastic, hot blooded match. Nice work.” ZSJ thanks Shota as Shota bows in respect. Shota then tells Zack in English that he wants to face him again. Shota wants to be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Shota wants to challenge ZSJ! The fans boo, but ZSJ teases that he doesn’t understand English, please say that in Japanese. The fans have a good laugh, and Shota says okay. Since he is the challenger, he won’t call the shots. Anywhere, anytime, that’s fine by Shota. He leaves it up to the champion, please and thank you.
The fans do cheer that, and ZSJ tells “Shota-kun” that anytime and anywhere is fine by him, too. “Ganbate ne. <Do your best.>” Shota replies in English, “Thank you, d*ckhead.” ZSJ gives back, “Yarimasho <Let’s do it>, d*ckhead.” The two then shake hands after their strange show of respect, and the fans are still iffy on this. When and where will Shota look to bring about his Paradigm Shift?
Shota then takes his leave, and ZSJ admits he can’t do much more in Japanese, everything hurts so much already. ZSJ does say he had “three dreams” for this year. First: win the G1. Check. Second: win the IWGP World title. Check. Third: main event in the Tokyo Dome! The fans love the sound of that! ZSJ then thanks the fans here in Osaka, drops the mic, and the fans cheer as the streamers fly! Wait, the music cuts off? Why? BECAUSE RICOCHET’S MUSIC STARTS! The One & Only is here?! AND COMING IN FROM THE CROWD! ZSJ turns around in time for the springboard FLYING LARIAT!!
The fans are going nuts for Ricochet as he takes out the champ! Ricochet grabs the mic to tell, “Osaka! Hisashiburi yo! Choto matte, choto matte.” Ricochet then goes to ZSJ, and says that he never really got to formally congratulate ZSJ on winning the G1 Climax, then going on to winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. So before anything else, Ricochet will say, congrats. The fans applaud, and Ricochet says in the world of wrestling, it is widely known that he who holds the IWGP World title is regarded as one of the best wrestlers on this planet. And it is also known that he who holds that title holds all the power here in NJPW.
And Ricochet wants that. He wants that power. So what better way to prove to everybody, to himself, that this fire inside burns brighter than ever before, by taking that title from ZSJ and proving he is still the EFFIN MAN around here!? So Ricochet challenges ZSJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for WRESTLEDYNASTY!! But before that, here’s a little parting gift. Ricochet takes off his jacket, loads up the finger gun, and he says bang! But then Shota runs out here! The fans are torn about Shota being the hero here, but Ricochet says they’ll sort this out soon enough. Shota picks ZSJ up, but ZSJ attacks Shota!
ZSJ TOSSES Shota, dares Ricochet to get back in here, but then Shota gets ZSJ! DEATH RIDER!! The fans boo Shota and Ricochet equally, but Ricochet smirks. Shota picks up the world title, and he tells ZSJ to NOT look past him! ZSJ is NOT the best wrestler yet! The fans boo, but the walls are already closing in on ZSJ. Will ZSJ’s dream of having the main event in the Tokyo Dome soon become a nightmare?
My Thoughts:
An awesome event for NJPW, especially to finish up the Super Junior Tag League. Though, there were a lot of interesting moves, maybe even confusing, when it comes to what’s next. I was genuinely surprised to see Khan & Henare win the Heavyweight Tag titles, but how great for Khan to be a double champion. And it seems TMDK and United Empire will be feuding as factions since both Ryohei and Cobb want the NJPW World TV Championship. A match between them would be great, but I feel like another Triple Threat is the better option. It’s how Narita won the title, and it’d be great if that’s how he loses it. It’s mostly because I don’t see Ryohei overcoming Cobb 1v1.
The SJTL final itself was awesome, and what a great finish. But then I wasn’t really sure what to make of the move after. I get the logic of Catch 2/2 beating Jet Setters and being owed a title match, and I get the logic of War Dogs wanting the rematch they never got. I also get they’re trying to add some intrigue as to who gets the WrestleKingdom match, but it should really be TMDK and only TMDK. Doing a Fatal 4 Way undercuts TMDK winning tonight because then the other teams just get in on the title match. At the same time, there’s little time before World Tag League takes over, so unless Fighting Spirit Unleashed and New Japan Road have tag titles matches, WK will end up having a Fatal 4.
While I didn’t cover the match, Evil & Narita of course cheated to win, but of course Evil wants to face Tanahashi for WrestleKingdom this year. That means we have a full two months to build. And if we go by the scissors, does Evil want a Hair VS Hair match? Something about that makes sense given Tanahashi’s hair is almost as iconic as anything else. But since Tanahashi is going to continue until WrestleKingdom 20, he has to be winning one way or another. And if it IS Hair VS Hair, seeing Evil shaved as his punishment for all the cheating he’s done would be amazing. Great match from Shota VS Sanada. Shota beating Sanada was expected as he’s moving up the ladder, whether fans like it or not.
Seeing Kenny Omega return was great, and great to hear that he’s just two months away from returning. The first ever WrestleDynasty got big just off that. And since Gabe Kidd attacked him backstage, tada, there’s the match. Gabe is a great choice for Omega’s first match back, and Gabe will look great regardless of the outcome. And since WrestleDynasty is the huge crossover event, Omega can easily segue into something AEW related. After all, The Young Bucks will be there, too.
Great match from Douki VS Wato, and Wato looked about the best he’s ever looked. But in the end, Douki retains and that’s just fine. And then Desperado returning to challenge Douki, that is going to be a great rematch that could go either way. But after this point, things get weird. Taichi VS Finlay was awesome, and they really made Taichi look great, but something about that was foreshadowing enough for Finlay surviving this match. What I don’t understand is Sanada being the guy. Was Sanada losing to Shota “the last straw” or something? Was there tension in Just5Guys? Maybe there was backstage promo stuff I missed, but Sanada joining the War Dogs seems too out there.
ZSJ VS Takagi was an awesome match so it was a good palate cleanser, because then things got weird again. I figured ZSJ was winning, no problems there. But then as the fans are souring on Shota, he steps up to be the challenger. Shota tries to get back some of that attitude he had when he was with Moxley, but it didn’t really land with the crowd tonight. And then Ricochet shows up and basically lets out his Heel side on ZSJ. Yes, it makes sense that NJPW and AEW both realized this was the time to make a dream match like ZSJ VS Ricochet for WrestleDynasty, but looking at the big picture, it gets confusing.
Face Ricochet is feuding with Konosuke Takeshita over the AEW International Championship, but now Heel Ricochet wants the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. I would think that Ricochet VS Takeshita happens at Full Gear, and maybe, just maybe, Ricochet wins the International Championship. Then Ricochet can bring that belt to WrestleDynasty. Not even to do a Winner Takes All but to raise the star power like how ZSJ VS Takagi was Champion VS Champion here tonight. Because trust me, just like Takagi here tonight, Ricochet will put on a classic with ZSJ only to lose.
My Score: 9/10
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It’s a truly star-studded Raw!
Ahead of their WrestleMania 41 Night 1 Main Event, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, CM Punk & Paul Heyman are all here on Monday Night Raw!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bayley w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez; Bayley wins.
- Rey Mysterio w/ The LWO VS Julius Creed w/ Team American Made; Rey wins.
- AJ Styles VS Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux; Styles wins.
- PENTA VS Finn Balor; Finn wins, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
Gunther is here!
Sacramento boos Der Ring General as he storms to the ring. Michael Cole was going to interview the World Heavyweight Champion later tonight, but it seems Gunther wants to get to it. Gunther and Cole meet in the ring, Cole says two weeks ago, he left Jimmy Uso bloodied in this ring. That caused Jey Uso to march out here last week- Gunther cuts Cole off to says that last week, Jey walked out here, looked Gunther in the eyes, and claimed he’s not afraid anymore. The fans boo as Gunther says this week, he is here to look us all in the eyes to tell us that Jey Uso is full of crap! Cole understands the fans are upset, but speaking of that, it seems Gunther is also upset.
We saw last year at WrestleMania, when… The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and Gunther says screw the questions! Screw Jey Uso! Screw everything Jey stands for! And screw everybody who stands with Jey! The fans boo more, and Gunther says ever since he stepped for in the WWE, he is the greatest gift this company has ever received! For 80% of his time in the WWE, he has been a champion! And now, he is the GREATEST World Heavyweight Champion of all time! The fans boo more, but Gunther says he refuses to let somebody like Jey Uso ruin that for him. The fans “YEET!” more and he says fine, do it as much as you want!
Gunther tells Jey to puff his chest out, walk into WrestleMania with the most confidence he’s ever had, because it won’t matter! In the end, the bell has to ring! And when that happens, Jey still can’t lace Gunther’s boots! Gunther will put Jey down for a FOURTRH time! These last two weeks, Gunther has been accused, told he went too far, that he lost control. Jey, trust one thing: In 37 years of LIFE, Gunther has never lost control! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” Gunther says two weeks ago, when he took a bath in Jimmy’s blood, Gunther was in full control, and he LOVED it!
And Jey, go pray to the Lord, thank Him for how Gunther was in control, or else he would’ve drowned them both in Jimmy’s blood! Gunther looks forward to next week, calling his mother and telling her how much he enjoyed beating the living hell out of Jey, and is STILL World Heavyweight Champion! Gunther storms off, having done his part for tonight. Will nothing and no one stop Der Ring General from destroying Jey?
Bianca Belair speaks.
“I’ll be the first to admit that lately, I’ve been in my head. Everything that’s happened with Jade and Naomi, it really messed me up. And now, this whole situation with Iyo and Rhea has brought out a different version of me. But different isn’t wrong. My Road to WrestleMania has filled with nothing but blood, sweat and tears. Not no complaining, no whining, no excuses. No, just straight facts. I’ve been doing nothing but standing up for myself and speaking the truth, something that anybody would do. Something I would hope people are teaching their kids to do. And you don’t have to like the truth, but you can’t deny it.
“Just like I can’t deny now it’s a Triple Threat. Yeah, I’ve been through a lot. But I’m still the best. So I’ma use the bit of everything that I’ve been through to be the Bianca I know I can be. I’m the Bianca that won Elimination Chamber, I’m the Bianca that’s never been pinned at WrestleMania, and I’m the strongest, the fastest, the roughest, the toughest, the quickest, the greatest, the best Bianca that you have ever seen. So it doesn’t matter if it’s a Triple Threat, because there’s nothing that Rhea or Iyo can do to stop me from getting my flowers and walking out of WrestleMania as champion. Because you cannot spell WrestleMania without E S T.”
Bayley w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez!
The Role Model and the Morrigan ran the table on Friday Night SmackDown’s tag team gauntlet, and now they’re going to WrestleMania! Will they have even more momentum going into that WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match? Or will the leading ladies of Judgment Day refuse to give up the spotlight even now?
Raw returns and Bayley has made her entrance, Lyra by her side. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and Bayley circles with Liv. They approach, and Liv SLAPS Bayley! Liv laughs, but Bayley smirks. Liv apologizes, then runs away! Bayley chases Liv around the outside, but then they slip into the ring. Liv stomps away on Bayley, the fans are torn but the ref counts. Liv stops at 4, and Liv bumps Bayley off buckles. Liv stomps a mudhole, but again stops at 4. Liv then stomps another mudhole in, and shouts, “OKAAAY~!” as she lets off. The fans are torn, Liv stands Bayley up, but Bayley fires forearms! The fans fire up, Liv swings, but into a fireman’s carry!
Liv fights free, ducks ‘n’ dodges Bayley, but Bayley hits a THESZ PRESS! The fans fire up and Bayley hits a NECK SNAPPER, then a SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Bayley stomps Liv around, glares at Raquel, but Liv kicks from below. Bayley rains down fists on Liv, the fans rally behind her, and Bayley whips. Liv reverses, then avoids the up ‘n’ over to DROPKICK Bayley! Liv runs corner to corner, and BACK BODY BLOCKS! Liv rolls, but Bayley follows to LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Bayley looms over Liv. Bayley glares at Raquel, then bumps Liv off buckles. Bayley ELBOWS Liv, then ELBOWS her again.
Bayley brings Liv around, the fans cheer her on as she bumps Liv off buckles. The fans duel, Bayley brings Liv in and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Liv is tougher than that but Bayley stays on her. Bayley brings Liv over but Liv stops the buckle bump to give a buckle bump! Liv runs up, but Bayley ELBOWS her! Bayley goes up to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Then she gest around to SAIDO! Liv bails out, Raquel checks on her, but Bayley smiles. Bayley aims, builds speed, and DIVES, but into a forearm! Liv drags Bayley out to snap suplex to the floor! That’s just Una Amiga as Liv gets Bayley up again! Dos Amigas to the floor!
Liv drags Bayley up again, but Bayley stops that to wrench and KNEE low! Bayley RAMS Liv into steel steps! The fans fire up, Bayley runs up, but Liv dodges! Bayley hits steps, then Liv STMOPS Bayley’s hands! Liv drags Bayley up, THREE AMIGAS to the floor, from OFF the steps! Liv gives some Latina Heat while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Liv has Bayley in the ring. Liv grinds Bayley down with a chinlock but the fans rally up. Bayley fights to her feet, then JAWBREAKERS free! Liv staggers, comes back, but Bayley blocks to fire forearms! Bayley fires forearm after forearm, but Liv KICKS in return! Liv kicks again, but Bayley KNEES her down! Liv flounders, Bayley runs up, but Liv dodges! Bayley is sent into the buckles! The ref checks Bayley and she’s still in this, so Liv basement ENZIGIRIS! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Liv gives her cheap hammer fists. Bayley hits back but Liv stomps her down.
Liv goes up the corner, waits on Bayley to rise, and FLYING- NO, Bayley grabs Liv’s legs! Liv fights the turnover, pops Bayley into the sunset flip, TWO! Bayley runs up, Liv ducks the knee to roll her up, TWO! KNEE!! Liv flounders around again, Bayley runs in, SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMB! The fans fire up as Bayley drags Liv to a cover, TWO! Liv stays in this but Lyra coaches Bayley. Raquel coaches Liv while Liv crawls away. The fans duel and Liv stands. Bayley grabs a leg but Liv kicks at her! Liv BOOTS Bayley away, but Bayley comes back and slides out! But Liv gets her for a CODE BREAKER! Bayley flops down, and Liv snarls as she rises up.
Liv aims and MISSILE DROPKICKS to the floor! A little double-edged given that landing, but Liv hurries to get Bayley up and into the ring. Liv crawls to the cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Lyra is relieved. Liv snarls again and waits on Bayley. Bayley goes to the ropes, Liv runs up, OBLIV- NO, Bayley puts her on the apron! Bayley ROCKS Liv, has her in the ropes, but Liv denies the hotshot! GAMANGIRI! Liv storms in, gets moving, she goes up, up, and FLYING- STUNNER! Bayley turns things around on Liv, and hits a BAYLEY2BELLY!! Bayley crawls to the cover, Raquel gives Liv the ROPEBREAK!
The fans boo, they all saw Raquel do it! Lyra goes after Raquel, Raquel fights her off and BOOTS her down! The fans boo, but Bayley DECKS Raquel, and hits the HOTSHOT in the ropes! The fans fire up but Liv hits Bayley with a BACKSTABBER!! And then OBLIV- NO, Lyra anchors Bayley’s feet! Bayley jackknife bridges, AND WINS!
Winner: Bayley, by pinfall
A huge bit of teamwork leads to a huge win over one-half of the tag champions! Liv is livid, will she and Raquel get their revenge at WrestleMania?
Paul Heyman waits backstage.
And like usual, he’s waiting on The Tribal Chief. Will Roman Reigns even bother with The Wise Man knowing he’ll be in CM Punk’s corner at WrestleMania?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“Bianca, I can see right through you. You said you were just out there to watch, and then you said you were just out there to call it down the middle. But I can see your true intentions now: You thrive on playing with my emotions, winding me up like I’m some sort of toy to you so you can get what you want and make it seem like I’m the bad guy. The thing that you failed to understand is that when I lose something that I love, I wills top at nothing to get it back. And Iyo, I never had to give you a championship match. But watching you pout and moan, it really pulled on the heartstrings that I had left. So I pulled a page out of your book, and I got what I wanted, too.
“So Iyo, I advise you to cherish every single moment you have with the Women’s World Championship. And Bianca, I can’t wait to make you feel what it’s like when I’m the bad guy. Because at WrestleMania 41, I get back what belongs to me.”
Rey Mysterio w/ The LWO VS Julius Creed w/ Team American Made!
Before going up against the supposed greatest luchador of a generation, El Grande Americano, the King of Lucha will take on one of the Creed Brothers. But is this going to be far more than just a tune-up? Or will Rey speed-dial the 619 here in Sacramento?
Raw returns and American Made has made their entrance. The bell rings, Rey and Julius circle, then Rey waistlocks. Julius backs Rey into a corner, the ref counts, and Rey lets go. Julius elbows Rey down! The fans boo but Julius pushes Rey around. Julius wrenches Rey, wristlocks, but Rey endures. Julius uses a straight arm lever to lift Rey! Then he drops Rey, grinds the arm down, but Rey fires forearms! Rey uses the ropes to flip through, then he KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Julius wrenches, hammerlocks, but Rey reaches back! Rey jumps up, FLYING-MARE! Julius runs back up to CLOBBER Rey!
Julius talks trash, American Made soaks up the heat, and Julius whips Rey. Rey reverses, then blows past to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! The fans fire up as Julius tumbles to a corner! Rey fires up, but Julius comes back to CLOBBER him again! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rey but Julius clamps on a chinlock. Rey endures, the fans rally up more, and Rey fights up. Rey throws body shots, runs, but Julius kitchen sink knees him down! Julius stands Rey up, whisp him to ropes, but Rey KICKS back! Rey dropkicks the legs and Julius ends up on ropes! Rey dials it up, but Julius dumps Rey out! Rey RAMS into Julius, ROCKS him, then climbs up!
The fans fire up, but Brutus distracts the ref! This lets Gable trip Rey up! The fans boo but Julius is right up top! So now Wilde distracts, and that lets Dragon Lee trip Julius! Turnabout is fair play, but now both teams are protesting! So the ref EJECTS everybody! Things will truly be 1v1, after the break!
Raw returns again and Julius has a neck wrench on Rey. Julius whips Rey hard to a corner, runs up, but Rey ELBOWS him! And BOOTS him! Rey goes up, up, but Julius Electric Chair Lifts! Rey fires hands, then spins to MYSTERIO RANA! Both men fall out of the ring pretty hard, but Rey gets back inside! Rey WRECKS Julius with a dropkick, the fans fire up, and Rey builds speed to SLIDING- NO, Julius stuffs Rey into a deadlift suplex! Julius marches with Rey, and then goes up the steel steps! Julius has Rey at the ropes, but Rey fights free! Julius BOOTS Rey back! Julius runs up, Rey moves, Julius POSTS himself!
The fans fire up while Julius flops into the ring. Rey hurries back up, climbs the corner, and FLYING RANAS! Julius ends up in a corner, Julius climbs up again, and he rains down fists! The fans count all the way to TEN! Rey fires up, the fans are with him, and Rey whips Julius corner to corner. Julius springs right up, goes over, but then Rey QUEBRADAS! But Julius catches him! Rey swings through to DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as Rey rises, and he brings Julius around. Julius blocks the whip, shakes his head, and he whips Rey. Rey slides under, comes back, but Julius KNEES Rey down!
Julius brings down the straps, runs up, but Rey DUMPS Julius out tot he floor! Wait, El Grande Americano is here! Rey runs up, grabs him by his mask, but then Julius rolls Rey up! TWO!! Julius gets up, swings, but Rey shoves Julius into El Grande! Rey dropkicks Julius onto the ropes! Dial it up, 619!! Slingshot, DROP THE DIME! Cover, Rey wins!
Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall
But then El Grande CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo, the LWO returns, but Julius holds them off! Grande CLOBBERS Cruz, but Dragon Lee fires off forearms! Dragon Lee whips, but Grande FLYING HEADBUTTS! The fans boo, but now Grande goes up top! DIVING HEADBUTT onto Rey! “UH GRACIAS~!” That mask is definitely loaded like last week, but will Rey be able to overcome that tactic and win for the honor of true lucha libre?
The War Raiders speak.
Ivar says, “Xavier, Kofi, you run your mouths about how the New Day is the greatest tag team of all time.” Erik says, “The fact of the matter is, the War Raiders have blazed a path of world domination for more than a decade. We’ve won gold on multiple continents.” “And last week, we had you beat, dead to rights.” The New Day took the cowardly way out because they knew they couldn’t beat the Raiders. The New Day says this is about the titles, but it has gotten much more personal. Kofi & Woods took this to a whole new level. They didn’t come for these titles, they came for Erik’s neck! They tried to put Erik on the shelf! They tried to end his career!
So at WrestleMania, this won’t be a match! It’ll barely be a fight! This is WAR!
The New Day is backstage.
They’re busy playing the Clash of Clans WWE crossover game, not that they’re in it. But Jackie Redmond walks over to talk with them. The New Day says that is rude, they’re busy playing a game. This lack of respect is audacious. Jackie does apologize, but she brings up the War Raiders saying that this match at Mania is now a war. War? New Day’s been in war from how they’ve been treated this whole time! The whole time! But the warpath stops when they take back what belongs to them, and that’s their WWE World Tag Team Championships! The entire world will see that ya bois, the NEW DAY~, are the best team on the face of Planet Earth!
Last week was just a taste of what they’re willing to do to get those titles back. And after Mania, Erik will wish they took his head off so that he and Ivar wouldn’t have to catch the beating they’re getting this weekend. At WrestleMania, every irrelevant and immature member of the WWE Universe will have no choice but to drop to their knees and THANK GOD for the New Day! Woods & Kofi head out, but will they survive this WrestleMania weekend?
AJ Styles VS Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux!
Before taking on The Maverick, Logan Paul, at WrestleMania, the Phenomenal One is going to prove to Mr. & Mrs. Doomsday that this AJ Styles IS the AJ Styles that can get the job done! Does that mean Raw is going to be Too Sweet? Or will Kross be disappointed?
Raw returns as Kross makes his entrance, his femme fatale by his side. Kross is really taking this mirroring stuff to another level, wearing tights very similar to what Styles would wear. Kross still wants Styles to understand, Styles has to be like the Styles of the past in order to finally humble Logan Paul and save professional wrestling. Styles gets mad, but Kross shoves him! Styles RAMS Kross into the corner, RAMS him again and again, but lets off as the ref counts. Styles storms back up, whips corner to corner, but Kross reverses. Kross runs up, but Styles BOOTS him away. Kross comes back to BOOT Styles down!
The fans boo but Kross stomps Styles around. Kross talks trash, but Styles KICKS Kross! And CHOPS! Kross YANKS Styles into ropes, then CHOKES him! The ref counts, Kross says it doesn’t have to be this way, but he lets off as the ref pulls him back. Scarlett CLAWS at Styles’ face in the distraction! The fans boo but Kross stomps Styles. Kross drags Styles up, but Styles JAWBREAKERS back! Styles runs up, but into a SAIDO! The fans boo, Kross stalks Styles to a corner, then he stomps away. Kross whips corner to corner hard, and Styles clutches his ribs as he falls. Kross laughs at Styles’ pain, then stomps him more.
Kross drags Styles up, but Styles DRPOKICKS Kross down! The fans cheer, Kross bails out, and Styles slides to DROPKICK! Kross hits barriers, then Styles PLANCHAS! Kross moves, Styles lands safe on the apron, but Kross sweeps the legs! Kross then whips Styles hard into barriers! Styles almost falls onto that guy cosplaying the Prime bottle. Kross whips Styles hard into more barriers, and Styles falls into the timekeeper’s area! Scarlett kisses Kross’ hand while he soaks up heat, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns Kross has a chinlock. Styles fights up, fires body shots, but Kross KNEES low! Kross scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER! Kross scoops again, but Styles slips free! Styles goes for a leg but Kross stifles that and shoves Styles to a cover, TWO! Kross drags Styles up, reels him in, but Styles fights the bomb! Kross stops the rana, fireman’s carries, FINAL PRAYER! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives but Kross asks if Styles is sandbagging. Kross looms over Styles, the fans rally up, and Kross smirks as Styles rises. Kross swings, but Styles counter punches! And counter punches! And CHOPS, CHOPS, KICKS!
Styles KICKS Kross again, then whips. Kross hobbles then falls over, clutching his knee! The fans boo, thinking this is an act. Scarlett checks Kross as he clutches the ankle. Styles asks the ref about this, but then Kross sucker punches Styles! It WAS an act, and the fans boo that Kross got away with it! Kross shimmies and shuffles, then taunts Styles. Styles runs up to CLOBBER Kross! Styles fires off the PHENOMENAL BLITZ! SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up, Styles runs in at the corner to LARIAT Kross! Fireman’s carry, but Kross slips free! Kick and DDT! Kross vows to end it, and the fans boo as Kross throws off his elbow pad.
Styles rises as Kross winds the hands of time. KROSS- NO, Styles ducks the hammer and fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Kross hobbles, Styles runs up, but Kross puts him on the apron! Styles HOTSHOTS Kross, then DECKS him! The fans fire up, Kross rises, PHENOMENAL FOREARM! Cover, Styles wins!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
Kross put Styles to the test, and that was definitely Styles acing that test! But then Logan Paul appears! Sacramento boos Logan as he walks out with mic in hand. Logan asks what’s up with the hostility. Chill, he’s here to congratulate Styles. No, seriously, good win! He did it! In front of Sacramento, “a bunch of people who weren’t cool enough to live in Los Angeles, or work smart enough to live in San Francisco.” But Styles showed these “generic California losers” why Styles VS Logan is gonna cook! But hey, why not show them why it’ll make money? Here is what Styles is up against. Please enjoy this piece of cinema.
Logan has his own hype video package, “I accomplish more in one weekend than you all will in your entire lives. I didn’t join the WWE to take part, I joined to take over.” Styles grabs a mic to say that’s a cute video, smartass. But let’s start Mania earlier! Get your ass to the ring right now! The fans fire up for that! Logan says okay, and he steps closer. But Kross runs up on Styles! Styles ROCKS Kross, ROCKS Logan, repeat! Styles DECKS Logan, ROCKS him again, btu Kross scoops! Styles slips free, REVERSE DDT! Styles snarls at Kross, but Logan is up! ONE LUCKY RIGHT!! Then the PAUL-VERIZER!! The Maverick is feeling so “humble,” but will he be humbled at Mania?
Paul Heyman is still waiting…
Will he be waiting all night at this rate?
Jey Uso is here!
The fans fire up as Main Event Jey pops right through the curtain to walk down the bleachers. Sacramento bounces for him and they “YEET!” along with the song, but Jey is once again very serious. Jey goes to the ground level, but then stands on the desk for everyone to see him. Jey grabs the mic while the bouncing continues, and the fans cheer as the song dies down. Jey takes a breath, fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and chant “One More Time! One More Time!” Jey says okay, and the song starts up again! The bouncing starts up again, and then Jey paces as he waits for the music to die down.
“Aight, check it. I said what I had to say to Gunther last week.” “YEET!” “But I really wanted to come out here and holler at y’all.” “YEET!” Jey says what up, Sac Town! Mama out here somewhere in the crowd. But everyone keeps on asking Jey, “Jey, where your mind at?” Is he crashing out? HELL YEAH he’s crashing out! But he’s locked in! Locked in for him! For his family! And for y’all! Check it out, though. Listen to Gunther out here talking. Y’know what that made Jey feel like? He mad. Nah nah nah… Gunther’s afraid! Yeah, Gunther’s afraid! Afraid that Jey will whoop that ass in front of 60 THOUSAND and the world! See you Saturday, Uce!
Jey says one time for the one time… Hey, Uce, please, PLEASE hit his music! UH UH, YEET!! The fans fire up as the bouncing starts up yet again! Jey has all the confidence, all the fire, all the momentum. But will he have it all when it’s all said and done in Las Vegas?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
Cathy Kelley is with the Badass WWE Intercontinental Champion and brings up this Sunday, the Fatal 4 Way that stacks the odds against him. How is he handling what could be the biggest defense of his career? Bron says obviously, this is the biggest match of his career. And- JUDGMENT DAY ATTACKS! Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & Carlito mug Bron! They stomp him around, then THROW him onto a road case! They still rain down fists, and Finn says the dog’s bark is worse than his bite! They CHUCK Bron into more road cases! Adam Pearce and producers storm in and stop The Judgment Day, but will Bron be alright in just 6 days?
As for Finn, he has a match to get to! Will The Prince be ready for #CeroMiedo?
PENTA VS Finn Balor!
Raw returns and Finn makes his entrance, only for Penta to DROPKICK him off the apron! Penta then FLIES and takes Finn down! Penta strikes first since Finn did that to Bron, and the fans love it! Penta puts Finn in the ring, then storms in after him. The bell rings, the fans fire up as Penta runs up, but Finn puts him on the apron. Penta GAMANGIRIS, then goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Finn kicks Penta low, then brings Penta around. Penta WRINGS free, then traps that arm! But Finn trips Penta! Penta BOOTS Finn away, then pump handles! Finn pops free, dragon sleepers, but Penta drops to KICK from below!
Penta runs up to ENZIGIRI in the corner, then he headstands and SWINGING DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Finn stays in this, the fans cheer for “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta nods and storms up on Finn to KICK the leg out! Finn flounders, stands back up, but Penta KICKS the leg again! Penta stalks Finn, and KICKS Finn’s leg out again! The fans fire up while Finn flounders around more. Penta has Finn on the ropes, hushes the fans, and he CHOPS! Finn is stinging as he staggers away, and the fans fire up as they want even more of that! Penta whips, Finn reverses, but Penta sunset flips. Finn rolls through to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!
Finn keeps Penta down with an ELBOW, then a chinlock. Finn grinds Penta down, Penta endures, and the fans rally. Penta fights up, but Finn yanks the mask! Finn has Penta down, and he soaks up the heat. Finn drags Penta, then jumps stomps! Finn soaks up more heat, jump stomps again, then argues with the ref. Finn taunts Sacramento, stomps Penta again and again and again! The ref counts, Finn stops, but he soaks up more heat. Finn goes back to Penta and says “Just Too Sweet!” They go to the apron, and Penta scoops! Finn slips free, and APRON EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Both men are down on the outside while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn has Penta up top! And then the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Penta stays in this and the fans fire up! Finn grows frustrated, but he clamps onto an arm for a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! The fans rally up, Penta fights to his feet, and Penta fires hands. Penta arm-drags free, then ducks ‘n ‘dodges, for a RANA! Finn flounders up, Penta LARIATS! And LARIATS! The fans fire up again as Penta then SUPERKICKS Finn! Finn wobbles, Penta whips, but Finn reverses, only for Penta to go up and over! BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Finn survives and Penta is frustrated, but the fans fire back up.
Penta stalks Finn, the fans sing, “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~! MIEDO~!” Penta has Finn in the corner, he puts Finn up top, and then he CHOPS! Penta calls his shot and the fans cheer that. Penta climbs up and he goes to the very top! But Finn fires body shots! Penta hops down to the apron and CHOPS again! Then he jumps up to FLYING RANA! Finn staggers back up, Penta BOOTS him! Penta then runs to SLING-DOG! Penta keeps moving, but Finn SLINGBLADES! The fans rally, both men stand, and Finn aims from a corner! SHOT- NO, scoop and BACKBREAKER! Penta has the arm, traps it, and then pulls on the other! “CERO! MIEDO!” SACRIFICE!!
The fans fire up while Finn writhes! Penta stalks Finn, clamps onto him again, “This is Awesome!” as the PENTA- NO, Finn victory rolls the driver! TWO!! DOUBLE LARITS collide! Penta fires body shots, a SOBAT, a KICK, then a SUPERKICK! Finn flops down, but Penta goes to a corner. But then Carlito & Dom rush out here! Penta glares at them, they back off, but Finn rolls Penta up! TWO!! Penta escapes, Finn ducks ‘n’ dodges, SLINGBLADE! Finn aims, SHOTGUN! Penta hits buckles, then ends up in the drop zone, but HERE COMES BRON! You can’t keep a good dog down! Carlito fears for his life after last week…!
Carlito runs away, so Bron runs in and CLOBBERS Finn!! But that lets Finn win!
Winner: Finn Balor, by disqualification
Bron keeps beating up on Finn, so Dom runs in and TACKLES Bron! Carlito joins in now that they have the advantage! They mug Bron 2v1, but Bron fights back! Bron dodges, and he DOUBLE SPEARS!! Sacramento barks for Bron as he aims at Penta! Bron roars, runs up, but Penta KICKS first! And mule kicks! And SUPERKICKS! And then tilt-o-whirl RANA! Bron tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up! Penta builds speed to go up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODY! Penta wipes out Bron, Dom & Carlito, but where’d Finn go? Finn is already up the ramp! The Prince got handed the win tonight, but will Penta take it all with his #CeroMiedo?
Iyo Sky speaks.
“This message is for Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. You keep forgetting that I’M the Women’s World Champion. You push me out of the way of your petty squabbles like I mean nothing. But I’m the whole reason you’re fighting in the first place, aren’t I? Because I have the one thing you both want: The Women’s World Championship! So, I’m done being ignored. I’m done being forgotten. Because you have to go through ME to get this title, and I’m not afraid to take you both on to defend it. I’ve beaten both of you before, and I’ll beat you again! At WrestleMania, you will never forget the name Iyo Sky, Women’s World Champion.”
Paul Heyman is still waiting, but CM Punk joins him!
Punk sits down with a coffee and says he’s never seen The Wise Man so stressed. Look in his eyes, what do you see? The Cult of Personality? No, a real friend. A friend who would never do anything to put Heyman in harm’s way. But then a car is pulling up. It’s ROMAN! Roman sees Punk and Heyman being buddy-buddy, and he storms off! Heyman tries to catch up to his Tribal Chief, but Roman won’t even look at him. Will this favor cause the break-up of Roman and Heyman?
Roman goes to the ring!
The fans cheer and put the ones up as The OTC makes his entrance, Wise Man trailing behind. What will happen with Roman, Heyman, Punk, and Seth Rollins, all in the building this close to WrestleMania? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns rather quickly, and Roman is now in the ring. He raises his finger up for the pyro and the fans cheer. Heyman has the mic while the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Heyman tentatively holds it out for Roman, but Roman doesn’t take it! Roman gets a mic for himself, leaving Heyman a bit dismayed, but the cheering continues. Roman tells, “Sacramento…! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer and put up the ones as they cheer on “O T C! O T C!” Roman says, “The whole world can feel that. The whole world can hear that you love and acknowledge your Tribal Chief. And now the whole world understands that you would never betray your Tribal Chief.
“But not everybody’s like you. Some people would betray me. Sacramento, you got any guesses on who that might be?” Obviously it’s Heyman that Roman is referring to, but Roman asks The Wise Man, “How could you betray me?” The fans tell Heyman he messed up. Roman says Heyman can’t hear that well, say it louder. The fans get louder with it, and Heyman is a bit surly about that. Heyman goes to talk, but he reconsiders. Roman still asks him why, and Heyman is at a loss for words. The fans boo, but some do chant for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Roman smirks as Heyman finally says, “My Tribal Chief… It was not a betrayal. I paid back a favor that I owed.”
Roman doesn’t seem to like that answer, but he still smirks. Sacramento, maybe Roman’s a little confused here, but the way favors work is, you usually pay it back yourself, correct? The fans say yes. Roman says it feels the only one getting screwed here is him! And if there’s one thing about Roman Reigns, if there’s one thing about The Tribal Chief, it’s that he’d never ask for a favor. No, Roman takes what he wants! So Roman doesn’t owe a favor, because he never asked for any help, for anyone to join him at WarGames, so how is he supposed to cover the tab for Heyman’s dumbass favor? But now, “BURN IT DOWN!”
Seth Rollins makes his way out, and Roman is no longer in any good mood as the fans sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins struts out in a leather vest and black pants that both have a lot of pockets. Rollins steps into the ring, grabs himself a mic, and the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins tells Sacramento, “Let’s give it up for Your Tribal Chief! Because after over a decade, you’re finally getting it, man! You’re finally putting the pieces together all by yourself! You’re almost there, you’re just missing one little piece, and it’s a real shame it’s too little, it’s too late, cuz I still gotta end you at WrestleMania.”
Rollins says it is for the same reason that it always has been: It’s the right thing to do! This Triple Threat at WrestleMania is the BIGGEST, most IMPORTANT one in the history of Mania, of the WWE, of professional wrestling! Because the winner of this match will define the future of this industry. And it can’t be Roman, it can’t be Punk. Because this business is filled with people like Roman, people who show up when it is convenient, expecting everyone else to do all the work. That’s how this business dies! Roman finally sees it can’t be Punk, either.
This business is filled with too many “little Punks” running around who wanna pick up their ball and go home when it gets tough, only to come back and leech off the profits of other people’s success, and that’s how this business dies! The fans chant for Punk but Rollins says okay, they want this business to die? Rollins doesn’t! If there are more people in this business like Rollins, who always sacrifices physical and mental well-being to do what is best for business, then the business not only lives, but it thrives! There can be only one, and it’s gotta be Rollins.
As for that one little piece that Roman hasn’t quite figured out… “Favors don’t happen by chance, Roman. Favors are a choice. I chose not to put Paul Heyman in the hospital last week, and now Paul Heyman can choose whether or not he pays that debt to me. But your Wise Man, he is dishonorable as they come, he is a scumbag, and I expect nothing from him.” The fans boo and Heyman frowns, but Rollins says Heyman is not in CM Punk’s corner by chance. Heyman has made a choice. It isn’t just a betrayal, Roman. What Roman needs to ask himself, what that final piece is, Heyman isn’t just returning a favor, he’s choosing. So why is Heyman choosing Punk over Roman?
Heyman tells Roman he’s not doing that, but Roman seems to be thinking Rollins has a point. Roman tells The Wise Man that Rollins is right, Heyman made his choice. But Roman has made his. LARIAT FOR ROLLINS! The fans fire up as Roman then POSTS Rollins! Rollins flops out of the ring, Heyman is very pleased, and he says he acknowledges his Tribal Chief! Roman nods, but then he PIE FACES Heyman!? Heyman is stunned, but here comes CM Punk! The fans fire up as Punk runs down to the ring, and he dodges Roman to fire hands! The fans fire up as they brawl, and then Punk LARIATS Roman up and out!
The fans are torn as Punk helps Heyman up. Heyman is distraught, but Roman is back! SPEAR for Punk!! Roman HAMMERS away on Punk! Roman shouts at Punk, HEADBUTTS him, but then Rollins returns! And with a chair! SMACK to the back of Roman Reigns, just like the night it all started! Sacramento is all fired up, and Rollins hits a CURB STOMP on Punk! And then CURB STOMP on Roman! Heyman is freaking out as both his guys are down! Rollins stares Heyman down, is Rollins’ favor going to come into play after all?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw, especially for the go-home to WrestleMania. Great promo from Gunther with how he “doesn’t wait” for the proper interview with Michael Cole, and very good response promo from Jey. Gunther definitely sounds a bit on edge, and considering he might lose two WrestleManias in a row as the start of his WrestleMania career, I suppose I would be, too. And very good promos from Bianca, Rhea & Iyo to hype up their match, though I can’t say that changes anything for the go-home math. Iyo stood tall last time, so there’s a chance Rhea or Bianca take the other out to get the win. Rhea and Bianca talking about who’s the bad guy in this, could we see Bianca go Heel?
Good promo from War Raiders and New Day, but unless they add a stipulation, I don’t necessarily see this being “a war” of a match. Well, maybe they can break something like ringside barriers. But I feel like New Day is going to win so that this Heel turn has actual results. Very good match from Bayley VS Liv, but Bayley winning here surely indicates Liv & Raquel retain. Rey VS Julius was really good, but the LWO and American Made all being ejected, that of course meant El Grande Americano would show up. Rey wins here, but then El Grande stands tall, so I would think Rey wins at Mania to expose Grande as Gable.
Very good match from Styles VS Kross, and naturally Styles won. That along with Logan & Kross getting the better of Styles after, this has to mean Styles wins at Mania. I don’t think it’s possible to get anything Bullet Club related, but WWE works with TNA pretty closely now so maybe they can use one of Styles’ themes from TNA to really bring us back to “the Styles that can beat Logan Paul.” Very good stuff with the Men’s Intercontinental Championship build, with Bron being jumped by Judgment Day, then Judgment Day trying to cost Penta, only for Bron to actually cost Penta and give Finn the win. Penta standing tall now sadly might cross him off, but I personally do think Dom pinning Finn or Finn pinning Dom is the better route going forward.
And of course, great stuff with the Punk-Rollins-Reigns story. Heyman finding himself stuck between Roman and Punk, with Roman starting to distance himself from Heyman, that’s also very good stuff going forward. Rollins stands tall again, so not sure if that means he takes the loss or is just not in the decision. No matter who wins, Heyman no longer being Roman’s manager is the best move. Roman needs to do things on his own again, and Heyman can reunite with Punk and perhaps help Punk towards a title. Punk did say that he’d be coming for THE WWE Championship at some point, Heyman by his side for that like 10 years ago would be something.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The Top Guys explain themselves!
After failing to take the AEW World Trios Championships, FTR turned on the Rated R Superstar! Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler now tell us WHY!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Jamie Hayter VS Billie Starkz; Jamie wins and advances.
- The Gates of Agony VS Smash ‘n’ Burn; The Gates win.
- Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Blake Christian w/ Lee Johnson; Bowens wins.
- 2v1 Handicap: Megan Bayne w/ Penelope Ford VS LMK & Kelly Madan; Megan wins.
- Kevin Knight VS AR Fox; Knight wins.
- FTR VS 2Point0; FTR wins.
- 2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Athena VS Harley Cameron; Athena wins and advances.
- 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Konosuke Takeshita VS Brody King; Takeshita wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!
While Pac goes down with an Achilles injury, The Death Riders will still defend their AEW World Trios Championships using some Freebird Rules! Jon Moxley steps in, will he, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta keep the reign of terror going? Or can The Opps free the trios titles from their death grip?
FTR is here!
Speaking of those titles, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler are here after failing to win the AEW World Trios Championships, and then brutalizing The Rated R Superstar! Adam Copeland had to be stretchered out of the arena in Philadelphia on Sunday, and FTR gets booed by Springfield, Massachusetts here tonight. Cash has a mic to say, “What happened Sunday, that wasn’t an easy decision for me. And despite what you might think, it was not premeditated. Adam Copeland has been one of my best friends, he has been my mentor, for 15 YEARS, before I even really knew Dax Harwood!”
The fans boo but Cash says the more Dax talked, the more sense he made. The more sense it made, the more it pissed Cash off, because he wanted Dax to be wrong. But Cash could feel it, he could feel that he was wrong. The more he watched the moves Cope made backstage, the more he moved against FTR’s careers, the more Cash understood that Cope only cared about Cope. Cope held FTR down! He held them down to lift himself up! So in Philly, when Cash saw Dax sitting here, Cope laying here, in that moment… It just clicked. Cash knew what had to happen, and that he’d have to be the one to do it!
The fans boo more but Cash says Cope may have trained him as a young man, but that’s all Cope ever saw! That helpless kid! And Cash is not that anymore. Cope did not respect Cash as a man! And if you disrespect him, you have to pay. FTR are living legends! They will be treated as such! Dax says he knows that it is the “cool” thing to do, so you feel like you’re somebody, you feel like you’re involved. It’s cool to boo FTR when they talk, that’s “cool” in 2025. The fans didn’t reach their dreams, so now they make their own. But just let Dax say this one thing and then they can do this charade.
“Last week, I saw a sign in the crowd that said, ‘Why, FTR, Why?’ And as cliche as that is, I though to myself, ‘Well, why not?’ Instead of asking us why, you should be thanking us! You should be thanking us because we gave Adam Copeland everything he wanted. Adam Copeland was begging for relevancy in 2025 at the expense of the ABSOLUTE BEST TAG TEAM IN THIS WORLD, and we gave it to him!” The fans chant, “You Sold Out!” and Dax asks back, “How did I sell out, you idiots? I didn’t make any money off of this.” But over the last week, Dax has been wracking his brain on what to say over what he could say to the fans and be justified.
And then it clicked! Dax doesn’t care if anyone agrees with FTR! What FTR did was right. The fans boo, but Dax says even though FTR doesn’t own anyone an explanation, let’s have fun here. They’ll run down the list. For four MONTHS, they waited. Four months, nothing to do, they were irrelevant for four months. The only thing planned for them was to be Cope’s new Edgeheads. They put FTR’s career on hold so Cope could chase his glory days and win one more world title, holding on to a sliver of hope that he might still be the man. Dax tells Adam, “We’ve won ten world titles across seven worldwide brands, and YOU want us to take a backseat to you!?
“You’re selfish! Too damn selfish to see where the issue is! And I wanted nothing more, I wanted nothing more than Adam Copeland to end his career side-by-side with FTR and ride off into the sunset. But just like every wrestler in Adam Copeland’s position, you’re TOO DAMN SELFISH!” The fans boo, Dax tells them they paid money to see him so sit down and shut up. Just work out even once, buddy! Dax understands there are a lot of people in the back not happy with FTR. And that there are some people out here not happy with them. Tony Schiavone, come on over here. The fans boo, but Dax promises Schiavone that he just wants to talk.
Nigel isn’t so sure, but Schiavone says he has things he needs to say, too. The fans are torn, but Schiavone goes to the ring. Dax tells Schiavone to be careful now, don’t fall getting in. But this week on Dynamite, Schiavone had some choice words for FTR. Funny that they were hundreds of miles away at the time. But now, face to face, would Schiavone like to say something? Schiavone says yes, and he says that they were wrong to do that to Cope. The fans cheer, Schiavone points out that when FTR arrived, the fans all loved FTR. FTR revived tag team wrestling. But in one fell swoop, they turned their backs on the man who helped them in their career.
Dax stops Schiavone there, laughing that off. So there was one other thing Schiavone said, and he doesn’t quite remember. Dax is pretty sure it had to do with Dax’s family? Yes… Schiavone says Dax’s daughter, a wonderful young lady, Straight A student… How did she feel on Monday when her friends told her that her dad turned on one of his best friends? Dax paces, and then he drags Schiavone into position! The fans boo, but Nigel stands up! FTR sees that, and the fans cheer as Nigel storms off commentary! Nigel gets in the ring to get Schiavone to safety, and he also told Schiavone he knew this would happen.
FTR warns Nigel now, but here comes Daniel Garcia! He steps to them, but FTR SHOVES him down! Then they realize what they did, and they apologize. They don’t have anything against Garcia, they’re sorry. They help Garcia stand up, then they hug Garcia…? The fans boo, and Garcia has no idea what to make of this. FTR leaves, Schiavone & Nigel go back to commentary, and Garcia makes sure Schiavone is okay. The fans cheer Garcia, Schiavone says he had to say what he said. Will the Top Guys be the absolute worst from now on?
Toni Storm speaks.
“Megan Bayne is a monster. That woman has so much thigh meat, I thought I was being mugged on Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, I don’t need to tell you that this whore you all adore, this slut you can’t rebut, this tramp is still the champ! But enough of this gay banter. The Owen Hart Cup has begun, and the winner goes on to All In: Texas for a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship. Ladies, good luck. But this is a timeless cafe, and I’m gonna bake up the biggest batch of slop tarts you’ve ever seen! Billie Starkz, you Johnny Come Lately, milk-breathed, knobby kneed little brat. I will make a woman out of you.
“Harley Cameron. Call me Jim Henson, because I will wear you on my wrist and make you sing Rainbow Connection.” Schiavone? Toni says that’s the wrong slide, next! “Mercedes Money, our CEO. What an unfortunate nickname. I will drain your 401K and put you so deep into recession, you’ll have to drink my bath water. Kris Statlander. My God, what a woman! Athena. You may be the ROH Forever Champion, but you’ll last about two minutes with me. And Jamie Hayter, take my advice: No money has ever been made from dressing like you’re in a different era.
“And as for me, I could sit at home and watch this entire tournament eating veal parmesana, but that’s not the kind of woman I am, yet. Nevertheless, at Double or Nothing, I will be there, I will be watching, I will be sweating, and I will always be… TIMELESS~!” The champion has put all of her contenders on notice, but who will even make it out of the first round of this star-studded tournament?
2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Jamie Hayter VS Billie Starkz!
Well, speaking of those challengers, we have two here to finally kick off the action! Hayter and Billie went a round already, but will it be a repeat performance? Or will this be a Starkz contrast from last time?
The bell rings and the fans rally. Jamie rushes Billie but Billie dodges the boot. Jamie ducks Billie’s heel kick, then shoves Billie to ropes. Billie ducks, whips, but Jamie ducks ‘n’ dodges. Billie sees the lariat coming and backs off! Jamie smirks and the fans cheer. Billie comes back, offers a handshake, but Jamie isn’t so sure. Jamie accepts, but Billie whips! Jamie ducks ‘n’ dodges, Billie drops down then HEEL KICKS! Jamie goes down in a heap, seems it isn’t just Hayter who hits hard! Jamie goes to the apron, Billie storms up, but Billie bobs ‘n’ weaves to then sweep the legs! Billie SUPERKICKS Jamie, then runs, and DIVES into a forearm!
The fans fire up and Jamie brushes off the biceps. Jamie whips Billie hard into railing, then drags her up to whip her into more- NO, Billie goes up, but Jamie catches her to TOSS her over! Billie is in the timekeeper’s area while the fans fire up! Jamie refreshes the ring count, fetches Billie, but Billie HOTSHOTS her off railing! Billie then climbs onto the railing, and the fans fire up as Billie SWANTON BOMBS Jamie on the floor! The fans fire up and Billie hurries to put Jamie in the ring. Billie then climbs the corner and the fans rally up again. Jamie anchors a foot, Billie CLUBS Jamie, but Jamie CLUBS Billie.
Jamie climbs up after Billie, but Billie SHOVES her down! Billie adjusts, DIVING- NO, Jamie dodges the stomp! Billie blocks the kick, to KNEE her! Billie suplexes, Jamie lands out to whip! Billie bounces off buckles, and into a SPIENBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Billie is tougher than that but Jamie stomps her around. Jamie bumps Billie off buckles, digs her boots in, then hits a snap suplex! Billie writhes, Jamie covers, ONE!! Jamie kneels on Billie’s head, then steps off. Billie flounders, Jamie drags her up, but Billie fires hands! Jamie throws Billie by her hair! The ref reprimands but the fans cheer while Billie goes to the apron.
Jamie kicks Billie to the floor, then mockingly counts really fast, but Collision goes picture in picture.
Jamie applauds, but the ref says his count isn’t even close to over. Jamie goes out to fetch Billie, then SMACKS Her off the apron! Jamie puts Billie in the ring, then clamps on a chinlock. Billie endures as Jamie grinds her down. Billie fights up, fires body shots, but Jamie CLUBS her down. Jamie drags Billie up, bumps her off buckles again and again and again, and again and again and again, and again and again and again! Jamie finally stops as the ref counts 4, and Billie is in a daze. Jamie whips Billie corner to corner hard, then storms up to fire forearms. Jamie ROCKS Billie and she sits down. Jamie digs her boots in, but the ref counts.
Jamie steps off, then drags Billie up. Jamie whips Billie corner to corner again, then runs up, but Billie BOOTS her away! Billie HEEL- NO, Jamie blocks that kick! Jamie steps over to power Billie down into the HALF CRAB! Collision returns to single picture as Billie endures! Billie powers up, reaches out, and the fans rally as she fights forward! Billie rolls and sends Jamie into buckles! Billie hobbles, runs back in, but Jamie dodges! Billie ELBOWS Jamie, BOOTS her, then goes up, but Jamie stops the boot! Billie rebounds to ENZIGIRI! Billie sweeps the legs and deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!
The fans fire up as Jamie stays in this, and Billie slaps herself to focus again. Billie snarls, drags Jamie up, and Billie suplexes. Jamie fights it, fires knees, then gets free, Jamie blocks a lariat, but Billie ducks the other! DRAGON SUPLEX! Billie then shifts to have a CHINBAR HALF NELSON COMBO! Jamie endures as Billie even bends her against a knee! Jamie fights up, snapmares free, and KNEES Billie down! Cover, TWO! Jamie drags Billie up, whips her, and fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Billie sputters, Jamie runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Billie survives and Jamie is shocked!
The fans rally up while Jamie throws off her wristbands. Jamie says time to end it! Jamie stands Billie up, fires forearm after forearm, and Billie flops over. The fans fire up, Jamie kisses the bicep, and she stands Billie up. SPRINGBOARD HAYT- NO, Billie ducks and backslides! ONE!! Billie suplexes, GHOSTBUSTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Jamie survives and Billie is beside herself! The fans rally up and Billie goes back to the corner. Billie climbs, aims, and SWANTON BOMBS!! Cover, TWO!! Hayter survives again and Billie is shocked! The fans rally even harder, and Billie looks to the trophy. Billie stalks Jamie to the apron, then stomps her down.
Billie goes out to bring Jamie up, and she CLUBS her! Billie ROCKS Jamie, reels her in, but Jamie fights the lift! Jamie lifts Billie, Billie fights that! Jamie HEADBUTTS Billie, and Billie holds onto the ropes. Jamie reels Billie in, SUPLEX TO THE FLOOR! Springfield goes nuts while both women are down! The ref checks and both women are somehow still in this. The ring starts, “This is Awesome!” as both women stir at 4 of 10. Jamie rises up at 7, Billie at 8, and both women spring in at 9! The fans fire up as this continues! Billie and Jamie rise up again, and Jamie ROCKS Billie! Billie comes back to ROCK Jamie!
Jamie comes back to ROCK Billie, but Billie fires a flurry! Billie winds up, but Jamie SUPERKICKS! And ENZIGIRIS! Jamie whips, clinches, but Billie stuffs it! Jamie powers through to HATE BREAKER!! And then HAYTERADE!! Cover, Jamie wins!
Winner: Jamie Hayter, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Billie put on another incredible fight, but it was still not enough to reach that next level! Hayter Hits Hard, but will she have to hit even harder going up against Kris Statlander?
The Death Riders speak.
Claudio Castagnoli says, “When we started this war, we fully expected casualties. But we do not mourn, because only in death does duty end. Now, we’re not gonna hide. We’re still gonna be front and center! So Joe, yes, we’re gonna accept that challenge!” Claudio rants in German, then says at Spring Breakthru, it’s on. They do not concede territory! Marina Shafir holds up Pac’s belt, and Moxley says, “What a learning experience this will be for generational punk ass play wrestlers who don’t wanna show up to work. There’s plenty of money, championships, glory, victory, and it’s all on the frontline.
“If you want it, that’s where you gotta be. You gotta step in, step up, put yourself in harm’s way. Samoa Joe, Shibata-san, you guys know that. What’re you teaching sweet young Hook? Hook… Don’t worry. Relax. It’s the biggest match of your life. But trust me… Chicks dig scars.” Wheeler Yuta smirks, and shows his scar. Will the Death Riders find The Opps are in fact lacking?
The Gates of Agony VS Smash ‘n’ Burn!
Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona have been dominating for a long time, but they’re still waiting on their opportunity. Will this be
The teams sort out, Kaun starts against Juni Underwood, and KNEES him, to then BACKBREAKER, and RUNNING SUPLEX! Kaun puts Juni in the corner. Tag to Liona, and Liona puts Juni in a corner for point-blank LARIATS! Liona goes all the way to TEN, then short arm LARIATS Juni inside-out! Then he TOSSES Ricky Pryce into the ring just because! Liona runs up to CLOBBER Ricky! Tag to Kaun, the Gates get Juni up to OPEN THE GATES onto Ricky! Cover, Gates win!
Winners: The Gates of Agony, by pinfall
Kaun applauds his opponents, and Liona laughs. “We hurt people, too!” Is that a not so subtle message sent to the AEW World Tag Team Champions?
Backstage interview with FTR.
Lexy Nair finds Cash & Dax on their way out and asks for a moment. After what they did to Cope- Wait, 2Point0 barges in! Matt Menard & Angelo Parker excuse Lexy, and they say FTR must think they’re pretty slick. They’ve got the wool pulled over Danny’s eyes. But 2Point0 sees through the BS, and they’ll be damned if they let FTR put Garcia in the same position as Cope. FTR try to speak but Menard says no, it’s their time to talk. A year and a half, Menard has been waiting for this. A YEAR AND A HALF, and FTR finally exposed themselves! FTR thinks they can do this to Garcia? Dax tries to speak but Menard tells him to shut his gaddamn mouth!
This is 2Point0’s time! Understand that they won’t sit by and see what happened to Cope happen to Garcia! FTR asks if they want to fight. Yeah, they do! Okay, FTR will fight 2Point0 tonight, with Garcia ringside. Garcia is a grown man, he can make his own decisions. #TopGuysOut. Cash & Dax go back to the locker room, will they take out Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ange?
Anthony Bowens w/ Billy Gunn VS Blake Christian w/ Lee Johnson!
The 5 Tool Player made his return at Dynasty, and he added on to Platinum Max’s losing streak. But will Bowens finally prove himself worthy of gold all his own? Or will the Vanilla Babyface get all heat for ruining things?
The bell rings and the fans fire up for Bowens. Bowens and Blake circle, tie up, and Bowens waistlocks. Bowens SLAMS Blake down, facelocks, but Blake fights up. Blake wrenches out, wristlocks, but Bowens slips through to wrench and hammerlock. Bowens spins and snapmares Blake, then ghost pins, TWO! Bowens reminds Blake he’s in here with the Five Tool Player! Blake slaps that hand away, and says he only needs one. Blake runs up, Bowens dodges, Blake goes up and DROPKICKS Bowens in the back! Blake struts, then whips, but Bowens reverses. Blake ducks a lariat, FACEBUSTERS Bowens, and SLAPS him!
The fans boo but Blake “tastes” the ice cream. But Bowens CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Bowens whips, Blake reverses, but Bowens hurdles to slips around and BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Bowens has the fans throw up the scissor fingers, and Bowens scissor fingers with Billy while Collision goes picture in picture.
Bowens watches Blake rise up, then takes aim to ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, but Blake avoids the superkick! Bowens is annoyed, but he goes out the side to run in around the way. Blake slips back inside, Bowens goes to the apron, and Bowens blocks a kick! Blake ENZIGIRS, then APRON SPEARS! Blake takes another taste, then builds speed to FOSBURY TOPE! Blake lounges on the floor, tells Billy to back off, but Billy tells him to SUCK IT. Blake drags Bowens into the ring, then brings him up to wrench and WRING out the arm! Blake drags Bowens back up, but Bowens ROCKS Blake! And CHOPS! And ROCKS him again!
Bowens ROCKS Blake in the corner, and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns and Blake RAMS shoulders with Bowens. Blake eggs Bowens on, wrenches the arm, and RAMS shoulders again! Blake kicks at Bowens mockingly while Big Shotty taunts the fans. Blake wrenches, Bowens whips, then Bowens runs past. Blake dodges Bowens, Bowens redirects and mule kicks! Front kicks! FAMOUSER! The fans fire up and Bowens aims at Blake. Blake stands, Bowens wrenches and torture racks! Swing and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Blake survives the “Grand Slam” but the fans rally up. Bowens waits on Blake, reels him in, fireman’s carry, but Blake fights with elbows! Blake is on the apron, and he CLAWS Bowens’ eyes!
Blake TOSSES Bowens out, then runs along the apron, DAREDEVIL DIVE! The fans boo but Blake puts Bowens in. Blake steps in, but Bowens KICKS him in the ropes! DRAPING SIDEWINDER! Cover, Lee gives Blake the ROPEBREAK! The fans boo and Daddy Ass is pissed! He says Lee did that! Bowens glares at Lee, but Blake waistlocks! Bowens switches, rolls Blake, TWO! Bowens kicks low, whips Blake, but Blake rolls off Bowens’ back! Blake shoves Bowens, SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Bowens is still in this, but Blake runs to handspring and NEURALIZER KICK! Blake fires up but the fans boo more.
Blake goes up a corner, takes aim, 450 DOUBLE STOMP!! Cover, TWO!! Bowens survives and the fans fire up! Blake is frustrated, but he drags Bowens up. The fans rally for Bowens as Blake kicks at Bowens. Blake talks trash, but Bowens CHOPS him! Blake storms up, but into ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS- NO, Blake blocks the superkick to whip Bowens to ropes. Bowens reverses that, Blake tiger feints through, STUNNER! Bowens flounders, Blake brings Bowens in, and he tells Billy to SUCK IT! Blake runs, Bowens dodges! Blake handsprings, into the SUPERKICK! Lee gets on the apron, Bowens DECKS him!
The fans fire up, Billy DECKS Lee! Bowens aims at Blake, ROLLING ELBOW!! Cover, Bowens wins!
Winner: Anthony Bowens, by pinfall
The “Molly Whop” is just as it sounds, Bowens put the beating on the Vanilla Babyface! Bowens has a mic and he wants Springfield to make some noise! The fans cheer, and Bowens says, “This has been a long time coming, and it’s time to level up. Because what you see before you is AEW’s Five Tool Player! The perfect combination of power, athleticism, intelligence, the look, and the it factor. And I am the Pride of Professional Wrestling, baby! And I don’t need a government trademark to prove I’m the best. I’m gonna prove it to you every single week, right here! So the last question is: Who will step up to the plate next and get their ass Molly Whopped by THE Five Tool Player?!”
Mic drop from Bowens, will he use all his tools and all this momentum to hit homerun after homerun?
2v1 Handicap: Megan Bayne w/ Penelope Ford VS LMK & Kelly Madan!
The Megasus may not be AEW Women’s World Champion, but he will not stop after one failure. And now, to satisfy her anger, she’s taking on two opponents at once! Will everyone bow down, no matter who they are or how many there are?
The bell rings, Madan starts for her team, and she runs up, only for Megan to RAM her into a corner! And RAM her again and again and again! Megan CHOPS Madan, throws her down, then runs up to SHOTGUN her down! Madan scrambles away, LMK tags in, and LMK goes up! CROSSBODY, but Megan catches her! Megan FALL AWAY SLAMS LMK, and Little Mean Kathleen staggers around. Megan SPLASHES Madan, SPLASHES LMK, then sends LMK into Madan! DOUBLE SPLASH! Megan scoops LMK, CLOBBERS Madan, then SLAMS LMK! The fans fire up as Megan hauls Madan up, fireman’s carries, FATE’S DESCENT onto LMK! Cover, Megan wins!
Winner: Megan Bayne, by pinfall
The female titan didn’t even break a sweat, but she may have broken both opponents. She sits them up, shouts, “BOW DOWN!” and then SLAMS them both back down! Will no one stop Megan from rising back to title contention?
Kevin Knight VS AR Fox!
The Jet didn’t win in his Owen Hart Cup match, and he came up short on the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships in Chicago just last night, but he did win his part of $400,000 on Dynamite. Will Knight still be feeling fly after facing a veteran high-flyer? Or will Knight take over the Whole Fox’n Show?
The bell rings and Knight runs up! Fox dodges the boot, Knight dodges a boot, then Knight CHOPS! Knight whips, BACKDROP, but Fox lands out to roll Knight up! TWO, Knight Oklahoma Rolls, TWO! Fox tilt-o-whirls and waistlocks, Knight switches, Fox bucks the O’Conner! Knight sunset flips, TWO! Knight kicks low, runs, but then fakes out Fox’s dropkick! SLIDING SHOULDER TACKLE! UFO SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fox stays in this but Knight stays cool. Knight brings Fox up to ROCK him in the back! Knight kicks low, but Fox fires body shots. Knight fires a forearm, but Fox fires back! Knight UPPERCUTS, then wrenches.
Knight whips, Fox grabs ropes, and Fox TOSSES Knight! Fox ROCKS Knight, but Knight throws Fox down! Fox kips up to PELE! The fans fire up, Fox builds speed, and he SLINGSHOT STOMPS Knight on the apron! The fans fire up as Fox then goes up the corner, MOONSAULT onto Knight! Another direct hit and the fans fire up while Collision goes picture in picture.
Fox looms over Knight, stomps him, then drags Knight up. Fox whips Knight hard into barriers! Then Fox brings Knight around, to SMACK him off the barriers! The fans cheer, Fox refreshes the ring count, but Knight CHOPS in return! Fox is stinging, but Knight CHPOS him again! Knight whips, Fox reverses, and Knight tumbles into the ring. Fox KICKS him, then hurries to cover, TWO! Knight stays in this but Fox sits him up, for a basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Knight stays cool but Fox pushes him around. Knight fires body shots, then forearms. Fox kicks low, suplexes, ANARCHY! Knight flounders around while Fox snarls.
Fox rolls to have a cover, TWO! Knight has a ghost pin, TWO! Fox CLOBBERS Knight, then CLUBS him down. Knight goes to a corner, Fox CHOPS him, and then Fox snapmares Knight. Fox runs to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Fox clamps onto Knight with a chinlock, but Knight endures. The fans rally up and Knight fights around. Fox holds tight, but Knight stands up. Fox wrangles Knight back to the mat! Knight endures again, fights around, and Collision returns to single picture. Knight stands to JAWBREAKER free! Fox snarls, comes back, but Knight UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS!
Fox KNEES low, runs, but Knight DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up and Knight kips up! Fox goes to a corner, Knight runs up, and LARIATS! Knight UPPERCUTS, stomps, repeat! The ref counts, Knight stomps a mudhole then digs his boot in. Knight lets off, whips corner to corner, but Fox reverses. Knight reverses back, SKY2HIGH! Cover, TWO! Fox survives and Knight is a bit surprised, but he waits on Fox. Fox rises, the fans rally, and Knight somersaults, but Fox denies him the DDT! Knight BOOTS from the corner, Fox returns, so Knight ELBOWS him! Knight goes up, but so does Fox! LOW MEIN PAIN!
Fox goes right up, 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives and Fox is shocked! The fans fire up and Fox drags Knight up. “This is Awesome!” as Fox crisscrosses Knight’s arms. Fox reels Knight in, but Knight rolls Fox up! TWO!! Fox escapes, but Knight DROPKICKS him again! Fox staggers, but he BOOTS back! Fox goes up, but Knight goes to the UPPER ROOM! Somersault, SATELLITE DDT! The fans fire up and Knight goes to the corner! Fox staggers, Knight springboards, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Knight wins!
Winner: Kevin Knight, by pinfall
The Jet Liner takes Knight to the winner’s circle! But with Best of the Super Juniors around the corner, will Knight be #The1ULookUp2?
The Gates of Agony speak.
Bishop Kaun applauds, and he says, “That was impressive, wasn’t it? We’re back. And we’re not even hurt. But we don’t mind being hurt.” Toa Liona says, “We don’t.” Kaun says they actually love being hurt! Hurt Syndicate! You hurt people? This Wednesday on Dynamite, the Gates would love to see you try. Hurt Syndicate hurts people? The Gates of Agony BREAK people! See you in Boston! Will Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin still be standing when Kaun & Liona #OpenTheGates?
FTR VS 2Point0!
Dax & Cash want to still be Daniel Garcia’s friends, but Menard & Parker have been Garcia’s friends this whole time. Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ange have always felt something was off, will they finally take the Top Guys out?
Speaking of Garcia, he makes his way out, as invited by FTR. He still seems to be upset and unsure given FTR lashing out earlier, but he’s still ringside. The teams sort out and Dax BLASTS Parker off the apron! Dax beats up on Menard and then Cash runs up to CLOBBER Parker! The fans boo as Cash sends Parker into railing! And apron! And railing again! And then more railing! Cash stands over Parker, Dax stands over Menard, and Garcia can only watch. Parker gets up to CHOP Cash, Cash hits back! Menard’s already busted open as Dax beats on him! Cash CHOPS Parker, Menard wobbles, but Dax ROCKS Menard!
Cash CHOKES Parker against railing, Dax DECKS Menard, and the fans boo. Dax sits Menard up, and again Garcia can only watch this as Dax hammers away on Menard’s head. Cash then sends Parker into the steel steps! Dax puts Menard in a corner, tells Garcia that this isn’t personal, 2Point0 signed up for this. The fans rally for “DADDY MAGIC!” but Dax throws more fists! Menard is a bloody mess as Dax punches away! The ref backs Dax off, Menard stands like a zombie, and he ROCKS Dax! And ROCKS him again! Menard ROCKS Dax again and again and again in the corner! The fans love it, but Cash storms in to go after Menard!
Cash pulls hair, but Menard DECKS him, too! Menard flounders, Dax LARIATS him down! Parker storms in but Dax has him up! SHATTER MACHINE!! Dax tags Cash, and now they get Menard up. MIND BREAKER!! But they’re not done?! Garcia says c’mon already! FTR still gets Menard up for another MIND BREAKER!! They won’t stop, they get Menard back up! Garcia gets on the apron, he wants the ref to step in already! FTR apologize and they set Menard down. Cover, FTR wins!
Winners: FTR, by pinfall
Garcia is still furious, and he storms into the ring. He checks on Menard, then he gets in Dax’s face! Dax & Cash want Garcia to calm down. They did hear him out in the end there. Garcia says it shouldn’t have taken that! FTR leaves, Garcia helps Menard stand, but then FTR returns! They CLOBBER Garcia! They beat Garcia down while the fans boo! FTR get Garcia up, MIND BREAKER!!! And then they get him back up!? MIND BREAKER!!! The ref shouts at them to stop, the fans boo as hard as they can, but FTR hauls Garcia up again! Security rushes in to stop this! Dax DECKS the ref!! That’s another fine right there!
The fans boo, security try to stop FTR, but FTR gets Garcia up again! BUT WAIT! The Undisputed Kingdom rush in! The paragons of wrestling will not let this injustice continue! They run FTR off, but FTR says they should watch their backs now. Who else will FTR violently disrespect as they demand we respect them?
2025 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Athena VS Harley Cameron!
The LONGEST REIGNING champion in ROH history, and yes that is champion bar none, male or female, is finally getting her shot at history here in AEW. She could very well become a new Double Champion should she win all the way to Double or Nothing and then All In: Texas. But she must first get past one wild Aussie! Will Athena #FeelTheWrath of Harley Cameron? Or will the Fallen Goddess, the Minion Overlord, the American Joshi, simply add Harley’s name to the long, long list of fallen opponents?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Athena and Harley circle, feel things out, then tie up. Athena powers Harley to the corner, but she lets off quickly. Harley storms up, Athena shoves her back, then Athena pats Harley on the head. Athena soaks up heat, but Harley headlocks. Athena powers up and out, drops down, but Harley drop toeholds! Harley pats Athena on the head! The fans cheer and Athena says okay, that’s fair. Athena then runs up to roll Harley up, TWO! Harley trips Athena, jackknife bridges, TWO! Athena sunset flips, TWO! Harley high stacks, TWO and Athena sunset flips again, TWO! The fans fire up as the two stand off!
Harley and Athena reset, Athena applauds for Harley, then headlocks! Harley endures the grind, powers out to headlock in return, and now Athena endures. Athena powers up and out to send Harley tot he corner. Athena runs in, Harley slips out to the apron, and Harley blocks a shot to ROUNDHOUSE! Athena staggers, Harley brings her into the ropes to CLUB her! And CHOKE her! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Harley stops at 4. Harley waistlocks, but Athena fights the lift! Athena runs to the post to HOTSHOT Harley! Then APRON BACK SUPLEX! Athena then wheelbarrows Harley to GERMAN SUPLEX to the floor!
The fans fire up and Athena smiles. The ref checks Harley, she’s okay to continue, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Athena stomps Harley, drags her up, and sends her into steel steps! Harley sputters, Athena refreshes the ring count, and she CLUBS Harley. Harley staggers away, Athena stands her up and ROCKS her! Athena CLUBS away on Harley, pushes her into the ring, and then storms up, but into a cradle! TWO!! Athena escapes, BOOTS Harley down, and scowls. Athena stalks Harley, drags her up, and KNEES her in the side! Athena stalks Harley some more, KNEES her in the side, and then has Harley in the corner. Athena RAMS into Harley, RAMS into her again, then RAMS again! Athena pushes Harley along the ropes but the ref reprimands.
Athena ROCKS Harley, but Harley ROCKS Athena! Athena brings Harley up but Harley ROCKS her again! Athena clamps on a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Then she suplexes high and hard! Athena kips up, fires up, and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns as Athena has Harley in a Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch! Harley endures, pries at the facelock portion, but Athena thrashes Harley. Harley pops free to a cover, TWO! Athena knees low, whips, but Harley reverses to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! The fans fire up, Harley brings Athena up, but Athena shoves her away. SOBAT! LEG SWEEP! Athena runs, and SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Harley survives and Athena grows frustrated. Athena stalks Harley to ropes, KICKS her in the side, then brings her up to scoop and carry her! Athena puts Harley in the Tree of Woe, then KICKS! KICKS! And KICKS!
The ref counts, Athena backs off, and Athena cheers herself on. Athena runs, but Harley sits up over the sweep! Harley KICKS from upside-down, then wrenches to NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up, Harley runs up, and LARIATS! ENZIGIRI! Harley brings Athena up to BULLDOG HOTSHOT, and then Harley fires off on Athena in the ropes! The fans fire up, the ref counts, Harley shots “FEEL THE WRATH!” AX KICK! Athena falls back, Harley storms in and goes up the corner. Harley aims, leaps, CROSSBODY! Athena rolls through to scoop Harley! The fans fire up as Athena pops Harley up, but Harley fights! Harley RANAS!
Athena rises to SUPERKICK! The fans are torn, Athena springboards, but into a HAYMAKER!! Harley has Athena now, pump handle and SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Athena survives but Harley won’t give up! “This is Awesome!” as Harley and Athena both slowly rise. Harley fires up, brings Athena around, dragon sleeper for HER FINISHING- NO, Athena cartwheels free! Athena reels Harley in, Canadian Rack, but Harley slips free! Harley tilt-o-whirls and rolls Athena up, TWO!! Harley wrenches again, SOLE FOOD! Harley runs, but Athena pops her up, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO, deadlift POWERBOMB!
Athena reels Harley back in, ATAXIA KNEE STRIKE!! Athena then climbs, Harley rises, O FACE!!! Cover, Athena wins!
Winner: Athena, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Athena stays undefeated in any and all kinds of matches, and she holds up her ROH Women’s World Championship, as well as her spinner belt variant. But now she runs into Mercedes Mone, their battle set for Boston and the Dynamite edition of Spring Breakthru! Will Mone win in her hometown to head for Double or Nothing? Or will Athena derail the Money Train and be that much closer to a match in her hometown of Arlington, Texas?
Mercedes Mone speaks.
“Springfieeeeeld~! Sorry the Money Train skipped your pathetic town. But then next stop for me in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament is in my hometown of Boston. That’s right, it was a little over a year ago where I made my AEW debut in the City of Champions. It was in that very moment that I had the biggest dream of holding all the championship gold! And now the Money Train is only two stops away from All In: Texas. And Athena, you are just a speedbump on my track to success. The Forever ROH Champion, Athena, you are one of the very best of all time, and you proved that tonight against Harley Cameron.
“But you’re competing against me, Four Belts Mone, the greatest TBS Champion of all time. So this Wednesday at Dynamite, I am going to show you why Money Changes Everything. And the best woman will win, and that woman is me, darling.” Mone is ready, but will she put her money where her mouth is against the Fallen Goddess?
2025 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Opening Round: Konosuke Takeshita VS Brody King w/ Julia Hart!
Just last night for NJPW Windy City Riot, The Alpha just went toe-to-toe with The Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, as part of the Ace Final Road series. And as big as that moment was, this could be even bigger! Konosuke wants to fulfill Don Callis’ prophecy of a “Proto-shita” finals at Double or Nothing, will he be one step closer to realizing that dream match? Or will the King of Death end The Alpha right here and now?
The bell rings and the fans fire up already. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, and Brody powers Konosuke to a corner. The ref counts, Brody lets off slowly, but Konosuke avoids the chop! Konosuke headlocks, Brody powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Neither man falls and the fans fire up! Brody swings, Konosuke dodges to come back and ROCK Brody! Brody comes back, runs through the CHOP, then RAMS Konosuke! Konosuke rebounds, ducks the lariat, and he returns again, but Brody’s CHOP knocks him down! The fans bark for Brody and he drags Konosuke up. Brody scoops, Konosuke slips free, but Brody fires elbows!
Brody switches to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up, and Brody has Konosuke in a corner. Brody CHOPS and the fans fire up! The Princess of the Black Throne smiles as Brody fires forearms and CHOPS! The fans fire up more as Brody whips corner to corner. Konosuke hits buckles hard then falls in a heap! Brody huffs ‘n’ puffs, runs up, but Konosuke avoids a senton! Konosuke goes up to SECOND ROPE SENTON! The fans fire up while Brody bails out. Brody is on the apron, Konosuke storms up to ROCK him! Konosuke ROCKS Brody again, then runs, but Brody BOOTS him! Konosuke drops to his knees, Brody hauls him up and suplexes!
Konosuke lands safe on the apron and BOOTS Brody! Then he reels Brody in! Brody fights with elbows, then fireman’s carries! Konosuke fights with elbows, but Brody still APRON DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS!! Both men fall to the floor and the fans fire up! Julia also applauds while Brody rises. Brody shakes out the cobwebs, drags Konosuke up, and he puts Konosuke in the ring. The fans rally for Brody but Konosuke bails out the side. Brody barks, the fans join in, and Brody runs up, but Konosuke JUMP KNEES! Konosuke goes into the ring, builds speed, and he FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Brody! The fans lose their minds while Collision goes picture in picture!
Konosuke and Brody are both down, Julia coaches Brody while the fans rally. Konosuke stands Brody up but Brody CHOPS! Konosuke ROCKS Brody! Brody leans against the barriers, but Konosuke CHOPS him! And CHOPS! And then whips him hard into barriers! Brody slumps down and Konosuke refreshes the ring count. Julia again coaches Brody but Konosuke is back. Brody ROCKS Konosuke! Konosuke ROCKS Brody! Konosuke pushes Brody into the ring, stalks behind him, then snapmares. Konosuke clamps on a chinlock and squeezes tight. Brody endures, Julia rallies the fans, and Brody pries at the hold.
Konosuke thrashes Brody around, grinds him into the mat, but the fans continue to rally. Brody fights up, fires body shots, but Konosuke shifts his grip. Brody fights the lift with elbows, then runs, but into a mule kick! DDT! Konosuke snarls as he rises up, and now Konosuke goes up the corner! But Brody rises to CHOP first! Brody climbs up, CLUBS away on Konosuke’s back, then brings him to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men writhe and the fans fire up! Collision returns to single picture, Julia and the fans rally again, and a standing count is climbing. Both men are down at 5 of 10, but crawling for corners.
Konosuke drags himself up, “This is Awesome!” as Brody rises. Brody barks, the fans bark with him, and Brody runs corner to corner, CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Konosuke survives and Brody snarls. Brody drags Konosuke up, reels him in, but Konosuke fights the lift! Brody ROCKS Konosuke, Konosuke ROCKS Brody! The forearms go back and forth, and Brody CHOPS! Konosuke sits down, but Brody stands him back up. Konosuke fires a forearm, but Brody fires back. Konosuke fires a flurry, then winds up, and ALPHA ELBOWS! Brody stays up!? And he ROCKS Konosuke! And CHOPS him! And CHOPS! And then puts some stank on the CHOP!!
Konosuke falls to his knees again and the fans fire back up! But Konosuke is up, ALPHA ELBOW!! Brody falls, Konosuke falls on him for a cover, TWO!! Konosuke is stunned, but he drags Brody up again. The fans fire up as Konosuke reels Brody in, and Brody fights the lift! Konosuke powers through, BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Brody survives and Konosuke is beside himself! Konosuke shakes his head, stands back up, and he runs the ropes, LARIAT! Brody stays up!? Brody shakes his head, so Konosuke runs again, LARIAT! Brody still stays up, so Konosuke fires up and runs!
Brody SWATS the lariat to CHOP! ROLLING ELBOW! And then LARIAT! Cover, TWO?!? Konosuke survives, but Brody scoops! DANTE’S INFERNO!! Cover, TWO!?!? Konosuke survives, even Julia can’t believe it. Brody drags Konosuke up, reels him in, Canadian Rack, but Konosuke fights free! Konosuke runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Konosuke scoops?! And tucks!? BASTARD DRIVER!! But then, wheelbarrow GERMAN SUPLEX!! The fans are thunderous as Konosuke brings out his full power! Brody stands, into the LARIATOOO~!! Cover, TWO!!! Brody survives that Stan Hanson level clothesline and the fans are electric!
Brody snarls, dares Konosuke to bring it, POWER DRIVER KNEE!! Brody stays up!? POWER DRIVE KNEE, AGAIN!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Brody survives again, but Konosuke won’t stop here! BLINDSIDE POWER DRIVE!! And then another POWER DRIVE!! Cover, KONOSUKE WINS!
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
From trumping The Ace to trumping a King, Konosuke is the hot hand in this tournament to be sure! The Alpha looks to the Owen Hart Cup and vows it will be his! But will he be able to overcome the #BillyGOAT, Will Ospreay? Or will the Aerial Assassin be the one going Double or Nothing?
My Thoughts:
A great, maybe even awesome episode of Collision here. Even with things being mostly obvious results, it was all top level stuff. Knight VS Fox was great stuff to help keep Knight sharp in AEW. Best of the Super Juniors starts in May, so he’s got about another month where he will still be hanging in AEW, Knight can surely get a couple more wins before going back to Japan for that tournament. Gates of Agony of course won their match, but I like that they called out the Hurt Syndicate. I feel like they won’t win the title match with them, but it’s good to see the Gates finally moving up to this level and not just languishing in ROH.
Great match from Bowens VS Blake, and a great win for Bowens. Very good promo from Bowens, I’m sure he’ll get more wins and maybe even go for a title. Well, depending on where the different midcard belts are going, Bowens might have to wait a minute, given the tease of Omega VS Okada as of late. Good promo from the Death Riders as they have adjust after Pac gets injured. At the same time, Hook should be alright from the dizziness and possible concussion, as nothing has been said further. Death Riders VS Opps for the trios titles will be great stuff, but even doing it for a themed episode doesn’t make me think Death Riders lose. It’d be nice if they did, though…
Good Heel promo from FTR, though it didn’t say much more than Dax did passive aggressively a couple weeks ago: Cope kept FTR from what FTR wanted, which glosses over how The Death Riders kinda got at them, too; and the loss at Dynasty was just the last straw. Them threatening Schiavone & Nigel was a nice touch, as was getting Garcia into the story given he teamed with them against Undisputed Kingdom. Menard & Parker stepping up for Garcia was good, and wow did Menard bleed for that match. FTR of course win, and then them brutalizing 2Point0 to bring out Undisputed Kingdom (well, I guess they’re trying Paragon, since Schiavone mentioned that) was good, too.
Dax & Cash are tag guys so they won’t bother with the TNT Championship, but I could see them taking on Roddy & Kyle one more time, then we’d get Dax & Cash VS Cole & Garcia. At least, maybe? Just something that’ll help FTR get back up and maybe go for tag titles. Megan beating two opponents at once was a good way to step things up in her rebound from Dynasty. I wonder if she’ll keep doing that until running into some new rival. I say that as it seems we won’t be getting her and Toni Storm in a rematch.
Toni Storm had a great promo to call out all the remaining Women’s Owen Hart Cup entries, but I find it interesting that she had no quip for Kris, just a compliment. Makes me wonder if Kris is destined to win the tournament and go to All In with Toni. And of course, great stuff in all of the Owen Hart Cup matches. Jamie VS Billie was a great rematch, but I shouldn’t be surprised Jamie wins again. Jamie VS Kris will be great stuff to lead into Double or Nothing. Then, great stuff from Athena VS Harley, certainly one of Harley’s better matches. But at the same time, of course Athena won to face Mone. Good promo from Mone to call Athena out, their match is going to be awesome, hard to say who wins that.
Konosuke VS Brody was also great, definitely a great main event. Of course Konosuke won. He’s NEVER Openweight Champion, the Don Callis Family keeps their idea of All Don Callis Family alive a little longer, and Konosuke VS Ospreay is going to be awesome stuff. I still think Ospreay wins and meets Kyle in the main event, but I suppose that still depends on how Hangman VS Wild Card goes.
My Score: 8.9/10
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