Is there a changing of the guard in NJPW?

El Desperado and Hiromu Takahashi both lost last round, but the Best of the Super Juniors is far from over! Do Despy & Hiromu still have a chance to take their blocks?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO; Taguchi wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Clark Connors; Dia wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Kevin Knight; Yoh wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Ninja Mack; Kushida wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Robbie Eagles VS Nick Wayne; Nick wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Robbie X VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Robbie wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS MAO; Titan wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Kosei Fujita; Fujita wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Taiji Ishimori; Taiji wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Francesco Akira; Akira wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Kosei Fujita: 2-0, 4 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-1, 2 points
Dragon Dia: 1-1, 2 points
Francesco Akira: 1-1, 2 points
Ninja Mack: 1-1, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-1, 2 points
Robbie X: 1-1, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-1, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-1, 2 points
KUSHIDA: 0-2, 0 points

Here are the current B Block standings!

Nick Wayne: 2-0, 4 points
Robbie Eagles: 2-0, 4 points
MAO: 2-0, 4 points
El Desperado: 1-1, 2 points
Titan: 1-1, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-1, 2 points
SHO: 1-1, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 0-2, 0 points
YOH: 0-2, 0 points
Taiji Ishimori: 0-2, 0 points

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS SHO!

The Funky Weapon had a solid first round win, but was then brought back down in the second by Titan. Meanwhile, the Murder Machine failed to cheat Nick Wayne but brought the House of Torture down on Yoh. Who rises and who falls to kick off round 3?

Okay, wait. Last round, Yoh brought out whiskey with Sho’s name on it. Tonight, Taguchi brings out a bottle of champagne. Why’s everyone drinking on the job? Even Sho is wondering what’s going on. Wait, is Taguchi going to do what Yoh did? Taguchi takes a swig of champagne from his cup, and runs up on Sho! Sho runs away and it is another chase in Korakuen Hall! Sho fears the booze smoosh! Taguchi chases Sho to the entryway, but then just like the other day, the Tokyo Pimp was waiting! Taguchi backs up and apologizes. Taguchi decides to go into the orange seats, just like Yoh! But that surely means Evil is waiting behind the exit!

Taguchi storms into the hall, but no, it’s SANADA this time! The fans cheer seeing Cold Blooded in his Astro Boy boots, and Taguchi is just as surrounded as Yoh was last time. Taguchi figures he’ll keep the parallels going, and he fires up! Sanada & Yujiro mug Taguchi while Sho keeps the ref distracted! But this time, Yujiro holds Taguchi. Sanada runs up, but Taguchi slips free and the BOOT hits Yujiro! Then Taguchi shoves Sanada into Yujiro, and uses the pimp cane to DOUBLE LOW BLOW! And he THRASHES it around! And he lifts it again and again! The fans cheer but here comes Sho! Taguchi hurries away, pimp cane in hand!

Taguchi returns to ringside, slides into the ring, and he twirls the pimp cane. The ref confiscates the can, Sho slides in, and the bell finally rings to make this a match! Sho runs in, but Taguchi dodges and sends him into bare buckles! Sho suffers his own cheap trick and Taguchi rolls him up! TAGUCHI WINS?!?

Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sho earns 0)

Sho is absolutely dumbfounded! All those shenanigans beforehand don’t matter, this will go down as one of, if not THE quickest match in the tournament! Taguchi does a dance with Yujiro’s pimp cane, but Sho rushes back into the ring! Taguchi KICKS the ropes to jam Sho up! Yujiro storms in from the other side, Taguchi KICKS those ropes! Sanada tries from a different end, but Taguchi KICKS those ropes, too! The Funky Weapon gets the better of the House tonight and they go into retreat. He can be serious and he can be strange, but will Taguchi reach the top of the block one way or another?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Clark Connors!

The 1-1 traffic jam is much worse in A Block than B Block, but one man will break away and leave the other behind. Will the Infinite Carat Diamond make up for his loss to Master Wato? Or will 100 Proof shift into a higher gear?

The bell rings and the fans rally as Dia and Connors slowly circle. The fans bark with Connors but Dia stays cool. The two tie up, Connors puts Dia on the ropes, but Dia dodges his cheap shot! Dia kicks low, whips, but Connors reverses. Dia ducks ‘n’ dodges, then slides under the boot! Dia tilt-o-whirl ARM-DRAGS, then DROPKICKS! Connors doesn’t budge! The fans cheer and Connors brushes himself off. Dia SOBATS, runs, but into the JEEP FLIPPER! The fans fire up as Connors calls it a homerun! Dia bails out but Connors is right on him. Connors CHOPS Dia, brings him around, and POSTS him! Dia flounders and Connors tells fans to move!

The fans hurry away, they know from yesterday how this goes. Connors ROCKS Dia, but then he makes Dia take a seat. Connors stands on a chair to rain down fists! The fans bark and Connors goes to nine, then UPPERCUTS to top it off! The ref reprimands, but Connors goes looking under the ring! It’s WHEEL-SAN~! The fans cheer and Connors aims, but Dia dodges! Connors turns around, throws Wheel-san at Dia, but Dia ducks, and Wheel-san bounces off the post to SMACK Connors! The fans cheer as now Dia takes Wheel-san for his own! Dia hoists Wheel-san up, just to put it back under the ring!

The fans cheer, Dia puts Connors in the ring, and he has Connors in the corner. Dia whips corner to corner, Connors reverses, but then Dia dodges! Dia goes to the apron, ducks a haymaker to trip Connors and slingshot SPLASH! Dia hurries up a corner and the fans rally. Connors stands, into the D D- NO, Connors stops the 4D and makes it a suplex! Dia slips free, runs up and rolls, REPTI- NO, Connors stops that to SITOUT POWERBOMB! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Connors rises, paces, and he aims from a corner. Connors watches Dia rise, then runs in, but Dia hurdles the spear! Dia goes back up, DDDDT!! Dia crawls to the cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Connors survives and Dia rises again. Dia hurries to the apron, takes aim and springboards, but into a SPEAR!! Connors crawls to the cover now, TWO?!? Connors survives and Connors can’t believe it! Connors slaps Dia around, whips him, but Dia rolls for the REPTILIAN! Cover, DIA WINS!!

Winner: Dragon Dia, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Connors earns 0)

Connors tried burning rubber but now he’s hit a wall! Will he be able to make a U-turn and make it back to a winning way? Will Dia still be shining bright as the tournament rolls on?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Kevin Knight!

Direct Drive got screwed over by a stacked deck, but The Jet’s flight was grounded by MAO. Who finally gets going with their first points of the tournament?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. Yoh and Knight slowly circle, feel things out, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Knight’s height becomes a point of leverage. Knight puts Yoh on the ropes, but he lets off slowly, then blows a kiss. The fans applaud and Yoh blows a kiss back. Knight offers a kiss on the cheek and the fans rally up. Yoh walk up, but Knight headlocks! Yoh powers up and out but Knight slides under the hurdle. Knight shoves Yoh, then he hurdles, to then jump and RANA! The fans cheer while Yoh tumbles to the apron. Knight triangle jump dropkicks him down! The fans cheer more as Knight builds speed!

Yoh hurries back in, and he dropkicks Knight’s legs out! The fans rally but Yoh basement dropkicks Knight! Knight goes to ropes, Yoh KICKS a leg, then CHOP BLOCKS it! The fans rally while Yoh covers, ONE! The fans applaud but Yoh clamps on with a HEEL HOOK! Knight endures, crawls over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Yoh lets go. Yoh stalks Knight to a corner, but Knight fires body shots! Knight CHOPS, but Yoh kicks the leg! Yoh runs, but Knight scoops to BACKBREAKER! But that’s double-edged given the bad leg! The fans rally up while both men are down. Knight hobbles his way to ropes, then runs up to LARIAT!

Knight LARIATS, whips, but Yoh reverses. Knight manages to go up and over, then he avoids a dropkick to UFO SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Yoh stays in this but then bails out. The fans rally and Knight fights through the pain to build speed. Yoh gets out of the way, only for Knight to slide out and then go to the corner! PLANCHA! The fans fire up as Knight knocks Yoh down! Knight fires up and the fans cheer as Knight hobbles back to Yoh. Knight puts Yoh in the ring, aims from a corner, and the fans rally up. Knight somersaults and- NO, Yoh stops the DDT to wrench, waistlock, only for Knight to buck the O’Conner Roll.

Knight aims, but Yoh blocks the superkick! Yoh then DROPKICKS the other leg! Yoh hurries to step through, and he has the FIGURE FOUR! Knight endures as Yoh has a slightly different angle on it than is traditional. The fans rally and Knight backstrokes to the ROPEBREAK! Yoh lets go and the fans rally up again. Yoh brings Knight up to suplex and FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Knight stays in this and the fans cheer. Yoh roars and he tunes up! The fans clap along and Yoh waits on Knight. Knight rises, but he avoids the superkick to SKY- NO, Yoh fights the bomb to whip! Knight reverses, and hits SKY2HIGH!

Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Knight crawls to the apron, goes to the corner, and takes aim. Yoh rises, Knight runs in, but Yoh dodges! Yoh runs in but then Knight dodges! Knight returns to LARIAT! Knight puts Yoh up top, climbs up after him, and SUPER STEINERS! Yoh writhes and Knight hobbles. Knight aims, runs up, somersault and SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives and Knight can’t believe it! Knight stands and he vows to end this. The fans rally as Knight goes to the apron. Knight aims again, springboards, but Yoh SUPERKICKS! And then suplexes, but Knight slips free to backslide! TWO!!

Yoh swings, Knight ducks and sunset flips, but Yoh sits on it! TWO!! Yoh is up, runs in at the corner, but Knight BOOTS him away! Knight goes up, FLYING- NO, Yoh dodges the lariat to DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, Yoh wins!

Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Knight earns 0)

Knight tried to fly but Yoh used that to bring him down! Knight is 0-3, will his fortunes only get worse in round 4? Will Yoh stay fresh now that he’s finally on the board?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Ninja Mack!

It is shocking to say that the Time Splitter is 0-2 but that’s the truth after losing to Hiromu Takahashi and Robbie X. The American Ninja is only a touch better, having beat Robbie X to open, but then getting burned by Francesco Akira. Will Mack be on the attack and get back up? Or will Kushida finally hit 88 miles per hour and score?

Mack and Kushida bow and even shake hands. The fans applaud, the bell rings, and the two circle. Mack avoids Kushida’s leg trap, then things speed up. Mack rolls over the dropdown, hurdles, the backflips over Kushida’s slide! The fans cheer the standoff, but Kushida kicks and whips. Mack reverses, Kushida RANAS, but Mack handsprings through! The fans cheer but Kushida KICKS Mack’s leg! Kushida runs and tilt-o-whirl RANAS, but Mack handsprings and flips! The fans cheer as Mack shows off a bit, and Kushida isn’t sure what to make of it. The fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” and Mack dares Kushida to battle on his knees.

Kushida isn’t sure about this, but Mack insists. Kushida agrees to the kneeling duel. Mack asks the ref also join them. The ref is surprised by that, but he also agrees. The fans cheer as Kushida and Mack tie up, break, then tie up again. Mack headlocks and hits a short takeover. Kushida headscissors, Mack kips up but to his knees, and the ref scoots around. Kushida and Mack scoot, as well, but then Kushida seems to chase the ref! Mack chases Kushida, and Kushida wants a timeout. Kushida stands but Mack just goes back to center. Kushida kneels again, they tie up again, and Kushida wrenches to a wristlock.

Mack rolls, waistlocks, but Kushida sits down to then float around. Mack switches, Kushida switches, then Kushida floats all around. Kushida has the waistlock again, Mack decides to stand, and he runs to ropes to TUMBLE to the apron! Kushida lets go, Mack mule kicks him, and then the Young Lions hurry over! The fans fire up for Mack’s TOP ROPE DOUBLE MOONSAULT!! Mack knocks everyone down and the fans are thunderous! Mack rises and fires up, so the fans fire up with Mack! Mack shouts out Pat McAfee, then he drags Kushida up. The fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” and Mack puts Kushida in the ring.

The fans rally as Mack climbs, then DIVING HEADBUTTS! Both men writhe, perhaps that was double-edged for Mack… Mack says, “Itai, itai!” but he still crawls to a cover, TWO! Mack puts on a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Kushida fights up but Mack hops on, it’s a HOVERBOARD!! Mack is using Kushida’s own move, but Kushida powers out to then put Mack in the HOVERBOARD!! Kushida rolls back, Mack reaches for ropes, but Kushida rolls through! Kushida hooks a leg, but Mack fights that into a ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING CRADLE~! Cover, TWO!!! Both men are up, Kushida somersaults, but Mack denies the satellite DDT!

Mack throws Kushida back to JUMP KNEE! The fans fire up as Mack hurries to the corner and climbs again! NINJA- NO, Kushida moves and Mack has to roll through! Mack goes to the far corner, Kushida runs up, but Mack BOOTS him! Mack runs, and he handstand walks over Kushida’s dropdown! But Kushida PENALTY KICKS the arms out! The fans fire up as Kushida takes aim! Mack rises, into the SHOTEI! Cover, TWO!! Mack survives, but Kushida is right on him with a fisherman and BACK TO THE FUTURE!! Cover, KUSHIDA WINS!

Winner: Kushida, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Mack earns 0)

It was a wild ride, but The Time Splitter finally has points on the board! But is there still time for Kushida to again be the Best of the Super Juniors? Can Ninja Mack still get back on a winning track?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Robbie Eagles w/ Hartley Jackson VS Nick Wayne!

Two of the three 2-0 block leaders meet already, so someone is taking an L! Will the Sniper of the Skies be the first to shoot down this Prodigy? Or will the ROH World Television Champion stand tall over the Soul of PWA?

The moment Eagles is ringside, Nick FLIES out onto him! The fans fire up as Nick hurries to put Eagles in! The bell rings, Nick is up top, FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Eagles survives this sudden start and Nick takes time to take off his jacket. Nick takes Eagles’ shirt off and KICKS him in the back! The fans rally and duel as Nick lines up another shot. Eagles duck that kick, runs and RANAS, and then he WHEEL KICKS Nick down! Eagles kips up, the fans fire up, and Eagles starts up “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Then Robbie KICKS Nick in the back! Cover, TWO! Eagles grabs a leg to drop an ELBOW on it! Nick scrambles to the ROPEBREAK, but Eagles drags him back. Eagles KICKS away on that leg, but Nick BOOTS Eagles away with the other. Eagles goes to the apron, springboards in, but Nick dodges. Eagles kicks first, then CHOPS! Eagles whips, Nick reverses, then Nick hurdles, bypasses, and UPPERCUTS! Nick kips up, the fans fire up, and Nick pushes Eagles to a cover. TWO, and the fans rally up again. Eagles goes to ropes but Nick is on him. Nick stands Eagles up, winds up, and CHOPS! The fans rally while Nick brings Eagles around.

Nick snapmares Eagles, drops a leg, then covers, TWO! Eagles is tougher than that but Nick stays cool. Nick drags Eagles around, has the legs, and ties them up into a modified figure four! Nick then sits Eagles up so he can twist a wrist! Eagles endures as Nick has a double wristlock! Eagles uses his free arm to crawl over and have the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Nick slowly lets go. Nick stomps Eagles on the back, then he brings Eagles up. Nick waistlocks, then goes for the nelson. Eagles fights that off, fires elbows, but Nick has the half nelson! Eagles drops down, slips under, and SNAP SAIDOS!

But Nick is right up! Only for Eagles to CHOP BLOCK! And then BLINDSIDE LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Eagles rises, and he KICKS Nick in the chest! And KICKS! And KICKS! Eagles runs, the fans rally, and Eagles LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up more and Eagles feeds off the energy. Nick goes to a corner, Eagles runs in and DOUBLE KNEES! Nick sits down, Eagles runs in again, METEORA! The fans fire up and Eagles covers, TWO! Nick stays in this but Eagles vows to end it. Eagles drags Nick up, cravats, ASAI- NO, Nick stops the DDT to go for the nelson! Eagles mule kicks free, but Nick slips around to STUNNER!

Nick cravats, ASAI- NO, Eagles slips free and then he ASAI DDTS! Cover, TWO! But into the RON MIILLER SPECIAL!! Nick endures and the fans fire up! Eagles puts on the pressure but Nick still fights his way forward, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Eagles drags Nick back! Eagles KNEES Nick’s knee, but Nick spins to cradle! TWO!! Eagles escapes, runs up, but Nick avoids the low dropkick! Eagles blocks Nick’s kick, hooks him up, but Nick full nelsons! DRAGON SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Nick’s bad leg held him back on that but the fans rally up all the same. Eagles stirs and Nick slowly rises.

Nick calls his shot, goes up the corner, but Eagles anchors him! Nick kicks and Eagles tumbles away, but then Nick jams his leg! Nick still tries, up, up and WAYNE’S- NO, Eagles dodges and Nick’s leg jams again! Eagles runs up but Nick ducks Hyperion! Eagles ducks the roundhouse, hops up, and POISON-RANAS!! Nick flounders to the corner and the fans fire up! Eagles roars, the fans fire up more, and Eagles runs in, but into a SUPERKICK! Nick goes up but Eagles BASEMENT 619s! Then SNIPER DROPKICK to the leg! The fans fire up as Eagles then steps through, but Nick UP KICKS! Eagles wobbles, but he feints the slap to KICK the leg!

Nick still blocks Eagles’ kick and ROUNDHOUSES back! Nick goes up, up, into WAYNE’S WORLD!! Cover, NICK WINS!!

Winner: Nick Wayne, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Eagles earns 0)

Truly historic! Nick Wayne isn’t just the youngest entrant in BOSJ history, he’s the youngest to go 3-0 in his first BOSJ! Will nothing stop The Prodigy at this rate? As for Eagles, he may have fallen, but The Mighty Don’t Kneel! Will he get back up and soar higher than before?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Robbie X VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

Mr. X is feeling good coming off a clean win over Kushida while the Heel Master had to get down and dirty to screw over Clark Connors. Will everyone hop on the X Express? Or will Kanemaru find a way to screw over another War Dog?

Well speaking of, the moment Robbie is on the apron, Kanemaru knocks him back down! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Kanemaru stomps Robbie, wrenches his arm and hammerlocks, so that he can POST Robbie shoulder first! Kanemaru CHOKES Robbie with his own shirt! The bell rings, the ref reprimands, but Kanemaru stomps Robbie more. Kanemaru CLUBS Robbie, but Robbie SMACKS Kanemaru! Kanemaru stumbles, Robbie is right on him with another forearm! Robbie SMACKS Kanemaru off the apron, then he runs a lap around the ring! Robbie come sin for a DRIVE-BY DROPKICK!

The fans fire up with Robbie while Kanemaru falls. Robbie puts Kanemaru back in the ring and the fans cheer. Robbie aims and springboards, but Kanemaru dodges. Robbie rolls and comes back, but Kanemaru BOOTS him! Kanemaru wrenches the arm to YANK, YANK, then hammerlock and SLAM! Robbie writhes but Kanemaru stalks him to a corner. Kanemaru drags Robbie up, YANKS the arm, and then wrenches again. Kanemaru WRINGS the arm out and Robbie writhes more. The fans rally for Robbie but Kanemaru stands him up again. Kanemaru WRINGS the arm out a second time, then stalks Robbie.

Robbie tells the ref not to call this, but Kanemaru just stomps him around. Kanemaru whips, Robbie handsprings, but the bad arm gives out! Kanemaru BOOTS the bad arm, but Robbie CHOPS! Robbie fires up, runs, and still handsprings! But Kanemaru uses the ref as a shield! Robbie has to give up on the cutter, and then Kanemaru tilt-o-whirl DDTS! Cover, TWO! Kanemaru “falls” on the ref! The fans know better than that, but Kanemaru takes off his boot! Kanemaru aims, runs up, and he CLOBBERS Robbie with it! Then Kanemaru takes time to put his boot back on! Kanemaru then scoops for BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO!!!

Robbie survives and Kanemaru is mad with the ref now. Kanemaru goes up, waits on Robbie to stand, and then DEEP- NO, Robbie turns that into a deep atomic drop! The fans fire up, Robbie hits the NO HANDS HANDSPRING! LETHAL INJECTION X!! And then X EXPRESS!! Cover, ROBBIE WINS!

Winner: Robbie X, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)

The Heel Master thought he could get away with more trickery, but Robbie X has those intangibles of grit and determination! Will Robbie continue to rise up the ranks until this becomes the X Block? Can Kanemaru go back to the drawing board and come up with new ways to cheat?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Titan VS MAO!

El Inmortal snatched a quick victory from Ryusuke Taguchi last round, but the Idol Warrior is undefeated at 2-0! Will Titan stay alive? Or will he be cut down as things heat up?

The bell rings and the fans rally and duel a the two circle. It seems rather even, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, though Mao plays around a bit with changing levels. Titan trips Mao, things speed up, and Mao hurdles, only for Titan to leap over! Mao kips up, the two stare down for just a moment, then Titan runs up. Mao wrenches Titan and whips him to a corner, but Titan goes up and over to then handspring away! The fans fire up, and Titan runs again. Mao RUNS Titan over! #Tsukakui! The fans fire up while Titan bails out. Mao pumps up more, then goes to the ropes. Slingshot ARIHARA MOONSAULT!

Direct hit on Titan and the Young Lions, but Mao almost wipes out the front row at the same time! The fans fire up and Mao fires up with them. Mao puts Titan in, then runs up to BOOT Titan against ropes! Mao keeps moving, and he CANNONBALLS Titan against ropes! Cover, TWO! Titan is still in this and the fans rally up. Mao drags Titan up, reels him in and tucks the arm, then a leg! Then both legs! Mao uses a very Llave style hold, then dumps Titan down into JUST FACELOCK! Titan endures, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Mao lets go, and Titan shakes out his legs. Mao smiles as he hears the fans dueling.

Titan slowly rises, the fans rally harder, and Titan CHOPS! Mao powers up to be tsukakui! Titan CHOPS again, but Mao just puffs up! Titan CHOPS, fires up, but Mao hits OSAKA RINKAI UPPER! Titan falls and the fans fire up again! Mao drags Titan up, whips him to the corner, then runs in. Titan BOOTS Mao, SOBATS and fires a strike fest! The fans fire up for Titan and he goes to the apron. Titan springboards to CROSSBODY! Then he DROPKICKS Mao out! Titan DIVES, direct hit in Mao and more of the front row! Titan hurries to put Mao in, then springboards, DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! But Titan wraps Mao up in a TRAILER HITCH!

Mao scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Titan lets go and the fans rally even harder! Titan kicks Mao, kicks again, but Mao fires a forearm. There wasn’t much behind it, and Titan eggs Mao on. Mao fires more shots, then fires a flurry! Titan SUPERKICKS back! Mao checks his teeth, the ref confirms it is okay. Titan runs, Mao uses the ref as a shield! And then Mao leaps over to CUTTER! Mao grins and he vows to end this now! Mao drags Titan up, scoops, MICHINOKU- NO, Titan slips free and shoves! TORNADO DDT! Then he drags Mao back up, for a GOURD BUSTER! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up and Titan hurries to the corner!

Titan skins the cat to the top rope! Then he aims for DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Mao flounders, Titan hurries to cover, TWO!! Mao survives and the fans fire up more! Titan roars and the fans cheer. Titan has Mao’s leg, steps through, but Mao makes it a cradle! TWO, and Mao says LOOK! Titan falls for the trick, and Mao DECKS him with a right hand!! The fans are torn and the ref reprimands about closed fists. Mao drags Titan up, reels him in, MICHINOKU- NO, Titan slips free! Mao is shocked, but he capoeria dodges to KICK and- NO, Titan blocks tha tkick to fire a strike fest! But Mao UPPERCUTS!

Mao fires his own strike fest, KICKS Titan down, but Titan kips back up!! The fans are thunderous and Mao says now THIS is tsukakui! They fire forearms back and forth and the fans fire up! It is fast ‘n’ furious, neither man is backing down, and Mao gets the edge! Mao ROCKS Titan with an elbow! Mao then powers up and runs, OSAKA RINKAI!! But Titan stays on his feet!! Mao just runs again, OSAKA RINKAI!! But Titan is still standing! The fans are thunderous as Titan comes back for more! Mao runs, Titan dodges, but then Mao goes Matrix to avoid the superkick! Titan goes Matrix to avoid the uppercut!

Titan CALF KICKS! Mao still runs, goes Spider-Man, and DREAMCAST KICKS!! Mao drags Titan up, goes to the corner and comes back, DREAMCAST KICK, but Titan grabs the leg!! LLAVE INMORTAL!!! Mao is caught, and he TAPS!! TITAN WINS!!

Winner: Titan, by submission (gains 2 points; Mao earns 0)

The star of CMLL clashed with the star of DDT Pro, and in the end, lucha libre and llave win the day! The CMLL World Welterweight Champion is back on the rise, but will he prove himself the Best of the Super Juniors? Can Mao still find his own path to the top after this fall down the block?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Kosei Fujita!

The Way of the Grandmaster crosses paths with the Japanese Young Punk in a partial rematch of their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match. But will Wato win now like he did then? Or will Fujita grab the golden ticket?

The two get face to face but the ref wants them to calm down. Fujita pushes Wato back, Wato puts his coat aside, and then he gets back in Fujita’s face! Tensions are mounting and there’s more pushing. The ref has them back off, and then the bell rings. The fans duel already as the two stare down. Wato gets in Fujita’s face, so Fujita fires a forearm! Wato fires back, and the forearms fly! The fans rally as this gets fast ‘n’ furious already! Wato ROCKS Fujita, but Fujita storms up, only for Wato to ROCK him again! And again! Wato eggs Fujita on so Fujita fires a flurry! Wato fires it all back! Fujita wobbles and drops to a knee!

The fans cheer, Wato fires more shots, and Fujita falls to the mat. But Wato just keeps raining down forearms! Wato then goes for the bad arm and has a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Wato also steps over Fujita’s head to keep him down. Fujita fights his way over to the ROPEBREAK! Wato holds until the ref counts, then Wato stomps Fujita down. Wato brings Fujita up but Fujita ROCKS him! Fujita whips Wato to a corner, CHOPS him, then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! The fans rally as Fujita CHOPS more and more! Wato eggs Fujita on so Fujita CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, then KNEES Wato down! The fans fire up as Fujita stands Wato up.

Fujita CHOPS more, but Wato leans into those shots! A bit reckless as the CHOPS really hit hard now. Wato’s chest is red, but he turns things around to KICK Fujita! And KICK! KICK! KICK! Fujita sits down, but Wato stands him up for more KICKS! The ref reprimands, Wato backs off, and Fujita sputters against the ropes. Wato storms back over and digs his boots into Fujita’s neck! Wato stomps a mudhole but the ref backs him off. Wato drags Fujita up, brings him around, and knees low! Then sunset flip, into VENDEVAL! Fujita endures, rocks the boat, and manages to roll through! Fujita goes for the legs and ties them up!

Fujita adds a chinlock, but Wato fights around! Fujita wants the arms now, and he gets them! NEMOS SPECIAL! Wato endures, tips over, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Fujita lets go. Wato sputters but Fujita waistlocks and deadlifts! Wato fights the suplex, throws elbows, but Fujita CHOPS! Wato KICKS! Wato then ducks a chop to ROUNDHOUSE! And SPIN- NO, Fujita ducks that kick to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Wato survives and the fans fire up again! Fujita storms up on Wato, brings him up, and torture racks! But Wato fights free, runs up, tilt-o-whirl and clutch, RECIENTEMENTE! Cover, TWO!

Fujita survives but Wato roars! Wato drags Fujita up while the fans rally. Fujita fights the suplex, but Wato still GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fujita lands out! Fujtia then slips around Wato to O’Conner Roll and CHAOS THEORY!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Wato survives and Fujita roars! Fujita vows to end this and the fans fire up! Fujita drags Wato up, reels him in, and suplexes, only for Wato to fight it! Wato wrenches, reels Fujita in, but Fujita switches! ABANDON- NO, Wato fights that with knees! Wato KICKS, but then Fujita ducks the roundhouse! UPPERCUT! ABANDON HOPE!! Fujita roars because that’s not enough!

Fujita drags Wato up, torture racks, and THRILL RIDE!! Cover, FUJITA WINS!

Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)

Eagles pinned Yoh, Fujita pinned Wato, the pair is complete! Will the Ichiban Sweet Boys make sure to take those IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships back before the year is over? Will one of them have the trophy to add to the collection?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Rogue Luchador lost to The Prodigy, but that proved him right: anyone can win any given match. But will Desperado get back up and keep Taiji down? Or will the Bone Soldier win over THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion?

The bell rings and the fans rally for “DE-SU-PI! DE-SU-PI!” Despy fires up and circles with Taiji. They tie up, Despy trips Taiji and things speed up. Taiji hurdles, Despy leaps over, then they keep going. Taiji fakes out the hurdle to BOOT Despy down! The fans are torn, but Taiji runs. Despy does the splits to let Taiji tumble out! Despy then builds speed, but Taiji GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up and Taiji grins. Despy bails out the side but Taiji goes over to fetch him. Taiji drags Despy up, and POSTS him! Despy falls in a heap and the fans rally. Taiji drags Despy up, and POSTS him again! Taiji then tells fans to move aside!

Young Lions help usher fans out of the way, and Taiji wrenches Despy to whip and BOWL him into chairs! STRIKE! Taiji leaves Despy behind while Red Shoes checks on him. Taiji unties the blue buckle pad and waits on Despy. The ring count starts as Despy rises from the chairs and personal belongings. Despy stands at 9 of 20, hobbles his way over, and rolls in at 14. The fans applaud but Taiji storms over to Despy. Despy throws body shots but Taiji CLUBS Despy! Taiji wrenches and wristlocks to then wrangle Despy to the mat. Despy endures and fires kicks from below. Taiji pushes on the arm, isolates it, and then STOMPS it!

The fans are torn while Despy writhes. Taiji laughs and paces around. Taiji drags Despy up, wrenches, and hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Then he hammerlocks the arm, to RAM it into bare buckles! The fans are torn again while Despy bails out. Taiji soaks up cheers and jeers while the ring count starts. Taiji goes out so that refreshes the count, and he drags Despy up by the bad arm. Despy endures while Taiji wrangles him and digs a knee in. Taiji SLAMS the arm down, then rolls back into the ring. Red Shoes checks Despy again and Despy rolls back into the ring. Taiji stomps Despy, then digs his boot into the bad arm!

Red Shoes counts as Taiji has Despy on the ropes. Taiji stops at 4, but the fans continue to rally and duel. Despy stands to CHOP, but Taiji CLUBS him! Taiji whips, Despy holds the ropes, but that just hurts the bad arm! Taiji grins while Despy crawls. The fans rally for Despy, but Taiji stomps him around! Taiji whips, Despy reverses and scoops for a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Despy and Taiji go to corners, and Despy shakes out the bad arm. Despy runs in, blocks a boot, and puts the leg in the ropes! Despy KICKS the other leg, then give sit a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Taiji hobbles and falls and the fans fire up again.

Despy rises, storms up on Taiji, and give shim a SHIN BREAKER! Then a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Taiji writhes but Despy has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Taiji reaches out but Despy goes for that arm! Taiji fights around and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Despy lets go in frustration, and he kneels on the leg. Red Shoes reprimands, Despy plays dumb, but then “Oops!” and he drops a knee on Taiji’s leg! Despy again feigns innocence, then he brings Taiji up. Taiji fights the pump handle, so Despy KICKS the bad leg! Taiji drops to his knee and Despy drags Taiji up again. Gut wrench and- NO, Taiji slips free, but his leg jams!

Taiji hobbles, Despy runs up, but Taiji BOOTS him! Taiji runs up, hops on, CRUCIFIX DIRVER! Into the BONE LOCK!! Despy flails, fights around, and reaches out, but Taiji pulls on the hold! Despy still fights, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it out to Taiji, Despy’s hand is under the rope but that’s the same! Taiji lets go in frustration, and the fans rally while both men are down. Taiji shakes out his leg and rises back up. Taiji drags Despy up and brings him in, but Despy RAMS him into the bare buckles! Taiji suffers his own trick, and Despy runs in, only to be sent into the bare buckles! And then the POST! Despy clutches his arm while Taiji grins.

Taiji brings Despy around to hammerlock and scoop, SHOULDER BUSTER! But that was a bit double-edged given the bad leg! Taiji shakes his leg out, aims from the corner again, and Despy rises up. Taiji runs in, LA MYSTI- NO, Despy fights Mystica to a roll and STRETCH MUFFLER! Taiji rolls into the YES LOCK!! Despy endures, fights around, and reaches out! But Taiji rolls Despy away! Only for Despy to roll through, STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Taiji reaches out, Despy rolls him away, NUMERO DOS PLUS! But Taiji pops free to have the SEATBELT! TAIJI WINS!!

Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Desperado earns 0)

Desperado continues to be proven right, even as he keeps losing! The Bone Soldier has finally gotten points, will it be #ByGrace that he still takes the block? As for Desperado, will he stop giving out golden tickets to his opponents? Or will the line of contenders only grown longer?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Francesco Akira!

The Ticking Timebomb lost in last round’s main event to Fujita, and Fujita beat Akira to open the tournament. But the Crown of Fire reignited by beating Ninja Mack and is ready to burn even brighter. Just how explosive will this main event be to close round three?

The bell rings and both men rush in! Akira BOOTS Hiromu, Hiromu fires a forearm, and Akira fires back! They go back and forth, and then Akira gets the edge. Akira whips Hiromu to a corner, runs up and LARIATS, then Akira runs corner to corner. But Hiromu follows to LARIAT! Hiromu snapmares, but Akira is right up! Akira dodges, RANAS, and Hiromu has a rough landing! Hiromu bails out, Akira PLANCHAS onto him! The fans fire up with Akira and clap along, “A! KI-RA!” Akira says sup to Great-O-Khan on commentary before he CHOPS Hiromu! Akira hops up onto the apron and wraps on the headscissors!

The fans cheer as Akira squeezes tight while throwing up the crown! Hiromu endures, Red Shoes reprimands, but Akira lets go at 4. Akira has fans move aside before he brings Hiromu around. Akira CHOPS Hiromu, then whips him and BOWLS him into chairs! The fans fire up for the STRIKE, and Akira clears out some of the chairs. Akira drags Hiromu up, makes him take a seat, and CHOPS! Akira then gets space, runs in, and BOOTS! But hiromu stays up, so Akira gets space again. Akira takes a lap, even! And he runs back in, but Hiromu OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES Akira onto the chairs!!

The United Empire at ringside freaks out seeing Akira crash land like that! Hiromu has a very stern look on his face, maybe this isn’t about having fun right now. Hiromu goes back for Akira, drags him up, and CHOPS him! Akira sputters and staggers away but Hiromu stalks him. Hiromu CHOPS again! And he has more fans clear out! Hiromu BOWLS Akira into the chairs for a STRIKE of his own! Akira sputters and Red Shoes wants this in the ring. Hiromu says that’s what he’s doing. Hiromu drags Akira up, puts him in the ring, and the fans applaud. Hiromu drags Akira up, CHOPS him, and then brings him around for another CHOP!

Hiromu CHOPS Akira again and Akira gasps for air. Hiromu whips, Akira reverses, but Hiromu grabs ropes. Akira runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu hits the HANGING HEADSCISSORS! Hiromu mocks Akira by telling fans to take pictures of it! Hiromu lets go as Red Shoes counts, and Akira sputters. Hiromu storms in, whips Akira to a corner, then LARIATS, snapmares, and basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans duel as Akira stays in this, but Hiromu clamps onto Akira with a CAMEL CLUTCH! Akira endures as Hiromu sits way back! Akira frees one of his arms, but Hiromu just puts it back into place!

Hiromu pulls back on the hold, but Akira keeps fighting! Akira manages the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go, paces around, and he drags Akira back up. Akira fires a forearm, but there’s not much behind it. Akira fires another, and then CHOPS! That had something! Akira runs, but Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! And then Hiromu ties up the legs, MAXIMUM- NO, Akira has the ROPEBREAK first! Hiromu lets go, but then drags Akira back! Akira kicks free, but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Hiromu TOSSES Akira to the apron, DROPKICKS the legs, then he runs! But Akira SLINGSHOT CUTTERS first! The fans fire up while both men are down!

The fans rally as Akira rises and brings Hiromu around. Hiromu breaks free to CHOP! And CHOP! Hiromu whips, Akira reverses, then Akira blows past to jump up and RANA! Much cleaner this time and Hiromu bails out. The fans rally for “A! KI-RA!” and he FLIES! Down goes Hiromu! Akira rises and the fans fire up with him! Akira goes back for Hiromu, puts him in the ring, and he shouts, “Oi, Korakuen! IKU ZO!” The fans fire up for that, and Akira TRIANGLE LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives and Akira is frustrated but the Empire coaches him up. The fans still duel and Akira shakes his head.

Akira brings Hiromu up, SPEED- NO, Hiromu slips free, suplexes, and FALCON ARROWS! But Hiromu can’t make the cover! The fans rally up again and Hiromu drags Akira up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, Akira slips free, but Hiromu BOOTS him! Akira runs back in, Hiromu puts him on the apron, but Akira ROCKS Hiromu first! Akira climbs, but Hiromu CHOPS! Now Hiromu climbs, and the fans rally as Hiromu fires body shots. Akira fires back, then hops down to UPPERCUT! Akira springboards and- NO, Hiromu stops that to fireman’s carry! SUPER TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!! Akira survives and the fans are thunderous!

Hiromu shakes his head, and he grins as he stalks Akira. Now it’s fun as Hiromu fireman’s carries. But Akira fights it! Akira throws elbows, only for Hiromu to power up! F5, but Akira lands out! Hiromu kicks, KICKS, but Akira SUPERKICKS! Akira runs, but Hiromu SUPERKICKS back! Hiromu wobbles, but he brings Akira up to fireman’s carry! Swing and TIME- NO, Akira pops free! And he gets around Hiromu for a POISON-RANA! Akira roars, but so does Hiromu! GERMAN SUPLEX! But Akira rises, DOUBLE LARIATS collide!! The fans rally and duel as hard as they can while Akira crawls after Hiromu.

Akira waistlocks Hiromu, then goes for the arms! Hiromu fights the chicken wings, but Akira pulls Hiromu from the ropes! They struggle for every inch, and Akira POPS Hiromu up, into the GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and Akira is stunned! The fans rally as hard as they have all night, and Akira feeds off that energy to bring Hiromu up. Akira reels Hiromu in, SPEEDFIRE!! Akira then aims from the corner, for the NOVA FIRE- NO!! Hiromu ducks in time! But Akira comes back to METEORA! And then NOVA FIREBALL from the front! Cover, TWO!?!? Hiromu survives and shocks everyone, which is why Korakuen is electric!

Akira goes back to a corner and takes aim again. Hiromu rises, into the NOV- NO, Hiromu ducks again, and then STEALS NOVA FIREBAL!! Hiromu drags himself back up using the ropes, and he hobbles over to Akira! Hiromu roars, fireman’s carries, and hits the DYNAMITE PLUNGER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Akira survives and no one can believe it! Hiromu shakes his head as we hit 15 minutes, and he rises again. The fans rally and duel as Hiromu fireman’s carries once more. TIMEBOMB- NO, Akira sunset flips it! TWO!! Hiromu wrenches, pump handles, HIROMU-CHAN- NO, Akira rolls the roll back to a JAPANESE LEG CLUTCH! TWO!!!!

Hiromu escapes, Akira runs up, but Hiromu stops the wheelbarrow! Akira flails but Hiromu still WHEELBARROW GERMANS!! But Akira stands?!? HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!!! Cover, ONE?!?!?! Not even Khan can believe what he is seeing! Akira grits his teeth and he crawls over to Hiromu. Hiromu picks him up, CORNER DEATH VALLEY!! And then Hiromu roars! Hiromu dragon sleepers, but Akira fights with kicks! Akira is free, runs up, but into a tilt-o-whirl SIDEWALK SLAM! Hiromu huffs ‘n’ puffs, and he tells Akira to get up! The fans rally on another level, as Akira stands into the HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?!

Akira is surpassing human limits, but Hiromu dragon sleepers again! Inverted suplex for TIME- NO, Akira slips free! And he has Hiromu down for a BRIDGING FUJIWARA, into a REVERSE CROSSFACE!!! Hiromu endures, reaches out, but Akira is between him and the ropes! Akira BENDS Hiromu and Hiromu TAPS!!! AKIRA WINS!!!

Winner: Francesco Akira, by submission (gains 2 points; Hiromu earns 0)

The Timebomb could not hit the Timebomb, and perhaps that is why he self-destructed! For being a four-time tournament winner, is Hiromu just no longer the Best of the Super Juniors?

As for Akira, he quickly gets the mic to ask Hiromu, in Japanese, to wait a moment. Hiromu stops, and Akira tells Hiromu, “Right now, you don’t have a faction. The United Empire has been looking for new members. Would you like to join?” Hiromu says no thanks and storms off. Waiting until after you’ve beaten someone probably isn’t the time to offer them a helping hand… Akira shrugs that off and says he’s very tired. But pro-wrestling sure is a lot of fun, huh? But hold on, hold on. Akira shifts to English and says that he promised to stop looking at the past, only look to the future. Stop thinking about those who left, but to those who are here.

He has Callum, Jakob, Khan, Templario, Aaron, Akira himself, and the fans! Akira is here to be the best Junior Heavyweight int he world, and tonight, he just beat one of the strongest ever! The fans cheer that, and Akira goes back to Japanese. Akira thanks everyone here tonight, and promises, don’t take your eyes off him as he makes his Japanese dream come true! The fans fire up for that as Akira drops the mic and throws up the crown. Will the Crown of Fire blaze that trail to the very top of the mountain until no one can deny him?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Kosei Fujita: 3-0, 6 points
Dragon Dia: 2-1, 4 points
Francesco Akira: 2-1, 4 points
Robbie X: 2-1, 4 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-2, 2 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 1-2, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-2, 2 points
Master Wato: 1-1, 2 points
KUSHIDA: 1-2, 2 points
Ninja Mack: 1-2, 2 points

Here are the NEW B Block standings!

Nick Wayne: 3-0, 6 points
Robbie Eagles: 2-1, 4 points
Titan: 2-1, 4 points
MAO: 2-1, 4 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-1, 4 points
Taiji Ishimori: 1-2, 2 points
El Desperado: 1-2, 2 points
SHO: 1-2, 2 points
YOH: 1-2, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 0-3, 0 points

My Thoughts:

An awesome night for NJPW here, and they’re really going hard with all ten matches at once. Still some really quick ones, but those are a lot of fun all the same. The blocks again have unique looks to them, but now everyone in A Block has at least one win, with Fujita rather quickly and quietly moving up as the frontrunner with his 3-0 record. B Block now has only Kevin Knight at 0-3 and only Nick Wayne at 3-0. Rather surprising on both sides, but especially with Nick. Nick beat Sho, beat Desperado, and now beat Eagles, that’s an honestly incredible list. All three of those guys have checked off the Junior Heavyweight singles and tag titles, and at this point, Nick might as well be a semifinalist already.

NJPW also continues to show they’re masters of organizing a match card where everything escalates and gets better as you head for the main event. The last four matches on this card could’ve main evented just about any weekly American wrestling show, aka AEW or WWE TV, and no one would be disappointed. Akira’s win over Hiromu was definitely the best, and Akira had a great promo to put forward that, well, the Empire is moving forward. Ospreay, Fletcher & Davis are in AEW, and now Cobb is in WWE, and that is great for them, but the Empire (both kayfabe and shoot) and the fans can’t let that get them down. What’s left are still amazing, and Akira is making moves towards the top, he is a believable semifinalist.

My Score: 9.1/10

The Road to Money in the Bank is paved with golden opportunities!

While SmackDown superstars battle to enter Money in the Bank, Tiffany Stratton defends the WWE Women’s Championship against Nia Jax! Is Tiffy Time about to run out?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Chelsea Green VS Mia Yim VS Alexa Bliss; Bliss wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
• Fraxiom VS #DIY; Fraxiom wins.
• Aleister Black VS Carmelo Hayes w/ The Miz; Aleister wins, by disqualification.
• Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Rey Fenix VS Jimmy Uso VS Solo Sikoa w/ Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo; Solo wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
• LA Knight VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu; JC wins.
• WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton VS Nia Jax; Tiffany wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Solo Sikoa heads to the ring!

The would-be Head of the Table smiles as he leads Jacob Fatu and the newest member of the WWE roster, Jeff Cobb, to the ring. The Samoan Werewolf is also still WWE Untied States Champion thanks to Solo and Cobb, and the fans cheer for “FATU! FATU!” Solo has the mic to tell Greensboro, “Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome the man who helped keep the United States Championship in this family… My man, JC!” The fans boo as Solo and Cobb dap it up. Solo says, “When Roman lost to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, he ruined everything for my family. He ruined everything! We lost everything!

“But now, I’m here to take it all back.” The fans boo, but Solo says that starts with him winning tonight’s qualifying match, going on and winning Money in the Bank, and then going after the title to bring it back to the family where it belongs. And if there is anybody in the back that tries to step in front of Solo, they will be dealt with by his man, JC, and the Samoan Werewolf, Jacob Fatu! The fans do cheer that part, and Solo says check it! They better get in where they fit in, cuz Solo’s all gas- Fatu stops Solo from using his shtick! The fans cheer but Solo is upset. Solo lets it slide, and Fatu says, “Let’s keep it 100. Don’t you ever get this thing twisted over here.

“I told y’all I was bringing the US title to the family!” The fans cheer that! “And I told you I was gonna do it with your or without you!” The fans also cheer that. “And if anybody gets in my way, well line ’em up, cuz I’ma deal with ’em all by myself!” The fans cheer again, and Fatu says at the end of the day, FATU is all gas, no brakes with it! YADADA- Solo interrupts by mocking the Yadada over and over. JC chuckles and Solo says of course he knows what Fatu means! Everyone knows what Fatu means! Solo does, and so does JC. But Fatu, don’t worry. The reason Solo is doing all of this is because he loves Fatu. This is all to help!

Look at your shoulder, Jacob. What is that? That is proof! That title is proof of Solo telling Fatu that Solo loves Fatu. But there is something Solo needs to hear from Fatu. Solo is sure Fatu remembers what he used to say all the time, loud ‘n’ proud, every minute of the day. What was that? How’d Fatu used to do it? Fatu says, “I love you, Solo.” The fans boo and Solo laughs. That wasn’t it! That’s not how he used to do it! Everyone here knows how! He used to be loud ‘n’ proud. C’mon, Jacob! Solo pushes Fatu, and asks Fatu who he loves. He wants Fatu to do it the old way. Fatu takes off his sunglasses, but then here comes LA Knight!

The fans fire up as the Mega Star sneaks in from the crowd! Knight drags JC out and SMACKS him off the desk! Knight fires hands, then he gets away before Solo & Fatu can get him! Knight says that’s what they get for messing him over at Backlash! Knight’s willing to fight all three members of Solo’s “family,” but with Solo in tonight’s qualifier, will it be Fatu or JC that deals with LA?

B-Fab talks with Mia Yim backstage.

Fab tells Mia that #MichinInTheBank sounds great. So we need Mia to go out there and win the qualifier. Because you know what goes good with the briefcase? The tag titles~! Mia says yeah, once she brings that briefcase back to them, they’ll have it all! But then the Green Administration laughs their way in. Chelsea tells Mia & Fab that while this is cute, if anyone is winning MITB this year, it is the VIP of last year. But she still lost last year… Chelsea says once she wins, she is going to ring in a beautiful “social economic policy” that has a trickle down effect to lower interest rates for all of… her Secret Her-vice.

But Alexa Bliss walks over and taps Alba on the shoulder. Alba freaks out, as do Piper and Chelsea. Alexa just tells the others, “See you out there.” Piper & Alba calm Chelsea down, but then B-Fab tells them that no, there’s a ringside ban in place. What? Who approved that? Fab says either way, they’re stuck watching backstage with her. Have fun~! B-Fab accompanies Mia to gorilla, and Chelsea shouts she’s putting tariffs on mediocrity! Mia & B-Fab are first on the list! Well, delusions of grandeur aside, will there be no road back for the Hot Mess to MITB? Or can she somehow get one over on the Head Baddie in Charge and Lil’ Miss Bliss?

Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Chelsea Green VS Mia Yim VS Alexa Bliss!

SmackDown returns as Michin makes her entrance, followed by Chelsea. The bell rings, and Mia SUPERKICKS Chelsea! The fans are torn but Mia and Alexa high-five. They circle, feel things out, and tie up. They go around, Mia headlocks and hits a takeover. Alexa slips out to headlock right back. Mia fights up, powers out, but Alexa tilt-o-whirls, only for Mia to swing her around. Mia whips, Alexa ducks ‘n’ dodges. Chelsea is back in but Alexa slides to trip her up! Mia adds a basement DROPKICK! Chelsea tumbles out, Alexa rolls Mia, TWO! Mia blocks another try and she backslides Alexa, TWO! Alexa drop toeholds! Oklahoma Roll, TWO!

Mia is up and she body scissor rolls Alexa, TWO! The two stand off and the fans cheer. Chelsea complains but what else is new? But then Alexa & Mia DOUBLE DROPKICK Chelsea! Chelsea is furious, but then Alexa & Mia DOUBLE WRECKING BALL DROPKICK! Chelsea tumbles to the ramp but Mia goes out to fetch her. Mia puts her in the ring, but then Alexa YANKS her down! Alexa goes up but Mia YANKS her down! They argue, and Chelsea DIVES onto them both! Greensboro fires up for Miss Green, and she salutes before shouting, “PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE!” Hard to tell if anyone does as SmackDown goes to picture in picture.

Chelsea drags Alexa up, THROWS her into barriers, then drags Mia up to throw her into barriers! Chelsea storms back over to Alexa and she puts her in the ring. Cover, TWO! Chelsea is upset with the ref but the ref defends the count. Chelsea bumps Alexa off buckles, talks trash, then bumps Alexa off more buckles. Chelsea whips Alexa right back into the corner, then grabs the arms. Chelsea gives Alexa the motorcycle STOMP into the buckles! Cover, TWO! Chelsea is annoyed but she drags Alexa up and TOSSES her out! Chelsea soaks up cheers and jeers while she leads a Pledge of Allegiance to Chelsea Green.

Chelsea then storms out and whips Alexa into barriers! Chelsea pulls Alexa’s hair, drags her into the ring, and CLUBS her down! Chelsea CLUBS Alexa again, then BOOTS Mia from the apron! But Alexa rolls Chelsea! TWO, Chelsea clinches but Alexa fires body shots! And an ENZIGIRI! Chelsea comes back to SMACK Alexa off the mat! Chelsea soaks up cheers and jeers, but Mia is in! GERMAN SUPLEX for Chelsea! And then another GERMAN SUPLEX for Chelsea! Chelsea elbows free of the third, but Mia blocks her kick! Mia slips under Chelsea to lift her up, and SIT-OUT POWERBOMBS! Cover, Alexa breaks it!

Mia is frustrated but all three women are down while SmackDown returns to single picture. Mia storms up on Alexa, but Alexa blocks a shot! Mia still fires fast hands and kicks, then a PELE! Mia whips Alexa to a corner but now Chelsea runs in! Mia dodges and PELES Chelsea, too! Chelsea falls onto Alexa, and Mia says get this twerk! Mia runs up to CANNONBALL! Mia then drags Alexa to a high stack, TWO! Cover on Chelsea, TWO! The fans rally up as Mia drags Chelsea around. Wrench and- NO, Chelsea avoids Da Feet, then avoids Alexa’s haymaker! Chelsea pokes Alexa in the eyes! Mia runs up, Chelsea dodges, the BOOT hits Alexa!

Mia turns around, she and Chelsea DOUBLE ROUNDHOUSE! Both women fall, and that means all three are down! The fans fire up while the three stir. “This is Awesome!” as Mia bails out. Chelsea and Alexa crawl to each other. Chelsea shouts at Alexa but Alexa fires a forearm! Chelsea fires back, the forearms go back and forth! The fans are torn, but Alexa blocks to SLAP, ROCK, and DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Alexa runs, but Mia SHOTGUNS Alexa down! Only for Chelsea to chicken wing Mia! Mia wrenches out, and EAT DA FEET!! Cover, ALEXA BREAKS IT AGAIN! Mia is frustrated, but Alexa dodges her to tilt-o-whirl and DDT!

The fans fire up and Alexa puts Mia in the drop zone! Alexa climbs, the fans fire up, and it is TWISTED BLISS!! Cover, Chelsea breaks it!! Chelsea DUMPS Alexa out, drags Mia up, UNPRETTY HER!! But Alexa drags Mia out of the ring! Chelsea is furious, takes a swing, but into the clinch! TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL!! Cover, Alexa wins!

Winner: Alexa Bliss, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)

Green saw red, but Alexa used that against her! Will Alexa make this #MoneyInTheBliss? Or will there be a second chance waiting for Mia and Chelsea?

Fraxiom VS #DIY!

Whether or not Nathan Frazer & Axiom were in the wrong for facing The Street Profits when Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins were less than 100%, that’s hard to say. But Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano used it as an excuse to go after the new kids on the block instead of admitting they’re jealous of the new kids on the block. But will the undefeated Fraxiom #NeverSlowDown? Or will DIY prove that if you want to get ahead, you gotta Do It Yourself?

SmackDown returns as DIY makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Axiom starts against Ciampa. They circle, feel things out, and tie up. Axiom waistlocks, Ciampa wrenches to a wristlock, and Ciampa grinds the arm down. Axiom endures, the fans rally, and Axiom fights up. Ciampa keeps on the arm, but Axiom rolls, bridges, then breaks free to DROPKICK! Tag to Frazer, they whip Ciampa and wrap him up but Ciampa fights the Iron Octopus! Ciampa is now in a GROUND OCTOPUS, and Frazer still runs to DROPKICK him! Ciampa bails out, Gargano runs in, but into KICK after KICK, ASSISTED DROPKICK!

Gargano bails out, Frazer DIVES onto Ciampa! Ciampa almost ends up in the front row! Axiom DIVES onto Gargano! Frazer DIVES onto Ciampa again, and he DOES end up in the front row! Axiom DIVES again and Gargano hits barriers! DIY is down, Greensboro fires up, and Frazer drags Ciampa back into the ring. Tag to Axiom and he goes up a corner. Ciampa staggers to his feet, but he avoids the leap. Axiom dodges the chop, but Gargano inadvertently(?) trips him at the ropes! The ref reprimands, but Ciampa KNEES Axiom down. Tag to Gargano, and Gargano LARIATS Axiom down! The fans boo but Gargano grins.

Gargano drags Axiom up, brings him around, and THROWS him into barriers! DIY sits on the barriers, and they applaud themselves and pat themselves on the back. Gargano then puts Axiom in the ring, but Axiom CHOPS! And CHOPS! And then fires forearms! Axiom reels Gargano in, but Gargano scoops to SLAM Axiom into the ropes! Axiom tumbles out of the ring, DIY soaks up the heat, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Ciampa keeps Axiom from Frazer. Axiom fires hands, Ciampa KNEES low, then Ciampa whips Axiom to the corner. Axiom ROCKS Gargano, goes up and over Ciampa, and then rolls! Hot tags to Gargano and Frazer! Frazer springboards to AX HANDLE Gargano, then he BLASTS Ciampa! Frazer LARIATS, whips, but Gargano reverses. Frazer goes up and over then handsprings away! Gargano runs up but into a SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up and Frazer keeps moving, QUEBRADA, then DDT! Frazer keeps moving, RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Gargano survives that speed blitz but Frazer hurries to a corner!

The fans rally as Frazer goes up, up, and PHOENIX- NO, Gargano moves! Frazer rolls through, Gargano ROCKS him! Gargano runs, but Frazer JUMP KNEES! Frazer runs, QUEBRADA into a SUPERKICK! Gargano tags Ciampa and Ciampa reels Frazer in! Underhooks, SUPERKICK into FAIRYTALE ENDING!! Cover, AXIOM BREAKS IT! The fans fire up while DIY regroups. Gargano TOSSES Axiom, then PLANCHAS! Ciampa hoists Frazer up, PROJECT CIAMPA!! Cover, TWO!?! Frazer survives and “This is Awesome!” Ciampa takes his kneepad down and aims from a corner. PSYCHO- NO, Frazer dodges and the knee hits buckles!

Gargano tags in, he BLASTS Axiom and then BOOTS Frazer! Gargano goes up, Frazer GAMANGIRIS! Gargano wobbles, Frazer climbs up, and Frazer brings Gargano up! Gargano fires body shots, SHOVES Frazer, but Frazer backflips through! Ciampa storms up but Frazer ENZIGIRIS first! Frazer hurries back and jumps up to the top rope! Axiom tags in, and Frazer hits the SUPER DUPER PLEX! Roll through, and Frazer suplexes Gargano! Axiom adds a SUPERKICK, CHASING THE DRAGON!!! Cover, CIAMPA KNEES AXIOM DOWN!! All four men are down and the fans are thunderous! Ciampa and Frazer bail out, Gargano and Axiom scrap with each other!

Gargano stands to ROCK Axiom, but Axiom CHOPS! Gargano ROCKS, Axiom CHOPS, repeat! Gargano fires a flurry, but then Axiom ducks the rolling elbow! Gargano fights the German Suplex, bucks the O’Conner Roll, but Axiom kips up! INTO A SUPERKICK! Gargano then rolls Axiom up, with tights! TWO, and into a RINGS OF SATURN!! Gargano endures, Ciampa hobbles in, and he grabs at the mask! Frazer SUPERKICKS Ciampa down! Gargano SUPERKICKS Frazer! Roll up, but Axiom sits on it! FRAXIOM WINS!!

Winners: Fraxiom, by pinfall

Gargano is stunned! But then he and Ciampa CLOBBER Fraxiom! The fans boo but DIY are sore losers! And they still rip at Axiom’s mask! But here come the Motor City Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin grab Ciampa, ENZIGIRI FLATLINER to the floor! Gargano realizes he is alone and he runs for it! But MCMG flanks him, and Sabin PENALTY KICKS from the apron! MCMG take care of DIY, and they help Fraxiom to their feet. When and where will the two fastest moving tag teams face off?

Rey Fenix prepares backstage.

Andrade finds him and wishes him luck tonight. Fenix thanks Andrade, and also says last week was a great match. Andrade says maybe they’ll see each other in the MITB ladder match. Fenix says he had his WrestleMania Moment, and though he failed, that fire inside him is burning brighter than ever! Fenix feels it! That next level is MITB. But Solo Sikoa says, “Ey, Carnal!” Solo asks Fenix & Andrade where LA Knight went. El Idolo & the Firebird have no idea. Solo says he’s no good at Espanol. Solo and Cobb storm off, Fatu looks Fenix and Andrade over, then Fatu follows.

Will Solo’s family find LA Knight before the night is over? How will Solo prepare for his qualifier if he’s obsessed with the Mega Star?

Fraxiom regroups backstage.

Frazer & Axiom are fired up, because they are on a roll! No one can stop them! But then The Street Profits walk up and applaud. Dawkins says, “Congratulations, boys! You’re on a roll! Beat DIY, Pretty Deadly, Los Garza, and the other night, y’all even got one over on us.” Ford says what they did is so special! So special that Ford & Dawkins just talked with Aldis, and Aldis has granted Fraxiom their tag team championship match! How ’bout that? AHAHAHA! But guess what? The best part is… They don’t gotta wait until MITB, or even Saturday Night’s Main Event! The WWE Tag Team Championship match is next week!

Fraxiom is fired up, and Frazer says all they have to do is beat the Profits again! Axiom stops Frazer there, and says what Frazer means is that they’re looking forward to this. The Profits shake hands with Fraxiom, and Dawkins says they’ll be 100% then. Hopefully Fraxiom will be, too. The Profits head out and Frazer says they’re speed-running this! Axiom has Frazer calm down and focus on next week. Frazer says yeah, let’s go work on that! Will the Jersey Island Rocket & Undeniable Truth be undeniable as #1 contenders? Or will The Profits not only get that smoke, but get that respect?

Exclusive sit-down interview with R-Truth.

Wade Barrett thanks Truth for meeting with him. To get right to it, during the Backlash press conference last Saturday, John Cena hit Truth with an Attitude Adjustment through a table. What is going on with them? Truth says life is tough. This is the constant pressure, man. Career, family, friends, bills. But regardless of what’s going on in your world, you can always depend on John Cena. When you feel like you want to quit, what would Cena say? Never give up! You didn’t know when it was gonna come, when it would happen, but what would Cena say? Your Time Is Now! Hustle, Loyalty, Respect! Those are not just words, those are a beacon of light.

If Cena did it, so can you! Wade wants Truth to listen to himself. Truth sounds crazy! Truth basically won that match for Cena at Backlash when he stopped Randy Orton from punting Cena. And then look how Cena repays Truth! And Truth wants to sing Cena’s praises? Truth says Cena won that on his own. You don’t know Cena like Truth knows! That man at the press conference was NOT John Cena! The Cena that Truth knows would never turn his back on the people that support and love him. The Cena that Truth knows wouldn’t talk about ruining wrestling, or put his friend and brother through a table!

Truth doesn’t wanna fight Cena. But if he has to beat some sense into Cena, then Truth will do it. Truth will do it. He already talked to Nick Aldis. It is set for Saturday Night’s Main Event! Cena is the Greatest of All Time, but Truth remembers what his hero told him about facing the impossible: Never Give Up! Regardless of what happens, Truth will hold his head high, because he will live by Hustle, Loyalty & Respect! That’s what’s up! Wade says this has been rather enlightening, and best of luck against Cena at SNME. Truth says much obliged. So then, will Truth be able to make Cena see the truth? Or will the Never Seen 17 still ruin wrestling?

Damian Priest speaks.

“Drew. It feels like we’re stuck in a cycle. You get involved in my business, I get involved in yours… Sabotage each other until we destroy everything. I’m banged up, I’m frustrated, but most of all, I’m pissed off at myself for getting stuck in this vortex that is Drew McIntyre’s petty, childish, vindictive BS. We need a conclusion, Drew. At Saturday Night’s Main Event, a simple match won’t do it. I want you to hurt real bad. I want you to feel real pain. I want to bash your face in so bad that the hospital will need dental records to identify you. Anarchy, violence, I want this to happen inside a steel cage.

“I hope this is what you wanted, Drew. Because it’s what you’re gonna get. The cycle ends here.” The Archer of Infamy has spoken, will he send the Scottish Warrior way past South of Heaven?

Aleister Black VS Carmelo Hayes w/ The Miz!

The Dark Father made the Hollywood A-Lister #FadeToBlack, and then he made H1M miss like an airball. But will Aleister stay untouchable in his return? Or will this be the night Melo hits the game winner?

SmackDown returns and The Miz tells the camera, “Allow me to explain exactly what is about to happen.” Melo stops Miz there and says he’s got this. “Aleister Black! Ptew! Even saying your name makes me sick. Last week, you had the opportunity to take my head off, and you didn’t take it. And that’s the biggest mistake of your life. Because now, this beef, it will never end. Okay? It’s not over until I win. You in the playoffs, big dog. Ask the last guy, cuz it’s Melo over everybody! It’s MOE! I’m the Tenth Wonder of the World! I am H1M!” Miz says, “Who’s H1M?” Melo says, “I am.” “Who’s H1M?” “I am!” “WHO’S H1M?!” “I AM!”

One month ago was Aleister’s grand opening. Tonight in Greensboro, it’s closing night. Melo & Miz go to the ring, but will they make this Melo’s Rocky 2? Or is this more like riding into the Perfect Storm?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two tie up, Melo headlocks, but Aleister powers his way out to wrench and wristlock. Melo rolls, trips Aleister, then floats to a headlock. Aleister fights up, he and Melo fight for the clinch, then they end up in a corner. Aleister turns things around, lets off slowly, but Melo SLAPS him! The fans boo, Aleister swings but Melo dodges. Aleister dodges Melo and runs, but Melo drops down. Aleister stops himself and arm-drags! Melo fights up, arm-drags free, but Aleister runs him over! Cover, ONE! Melo sweeps to cover, ONE! Both men kip up and the fans fire up!

Melo shakes his head, but then he narrowly avoids Black Mass! Aleister sits down cross-legged but Melo gets up in a huff. Aleister blocks a kick, reels Melo in and waistlocks. Melo ELBOWS free, whips, but Aleister reverses. Melo springboards, but into a BOOT! Melo tumbles out of the ring and Miz is worried. Aleister goes to a corner, goes up and out, but Miz gets Melo in the ring! Aleister MOONSAULTS, lands on his feet, and wonders what happened. Aleister glares at Miz, but Melo FLIES! Down goes Aleister and the fans are torn, but Miz is all fired up! The ref reprimands Miz but Melo puts Aleister in the ring.

Melo springboards, FADE AWAY DDT! Cover, TWO! Aleister stays in this but Melo says he is H1M, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns as Melo goes, but Aleister runs up and steps up to BOOT Melo down! Melo falls to the floor and Miz is worried. The ring count climbs while Miz coaches Melo up. Melo rises at 5 of 10, crawls over at 7, and he rolls in at 8! Aleister dodges Melo to then rally with forearm sand elbows! Aleister ducks a shot, fires a strike fest and sweeps the legs! Then SLIDING KNEE! Aleister handsprings, the fans fire up, but Melo waistlocks! Aleister switches, Melo elbows free, but runs into a DROPKICK! Melo bails out, Aleister goes up, and this time he MOONSAULTS onto Melo! The fans fire up and Aleister puts Melo in. Aleister hurries to cover, TWO!

Melo survives and Aleister grows a bit frustrated. But Greensboro says “This is Awesome!” as Aleister waistlocks Melo. Melo fights up, reaches out, and throws elbows. Aleister lifts, Melo victory rolls, TWO! Aleister escapes, but Melo SUPERKICKS! Melo runs, tilt-o-whirl, LA MYSTICA! And then Melo reels Aleister in for the suplex, only for Aleister to sunset flip! TWO, and Melo BOOTS Aleister! Aleister is in the corner, Melo blocks a boot, but not the KNEE! Aleister goes up to METEORA! Aleister then fires up, to ROUNDHOUSE! And GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Melo survives again and even Miz is surprised!

The fans rally up and Aleister rises. Aleister waits on Melo to rise, but Miz creeps up! Miz swipes at the feet, the ref reprimands, but Melo rolls Aleister! TWO, and Aleister KNEES Melo! Aleister runs, but into another LA MYSTICA! And then a suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Melo is beside himself, Miz argues with the ref, but then Miz tells Melo to go for that three pointer! Miz is on the apron, the ref reprimands, and Melo brings Aleister up. Melo and Miz argue about the game plan, but Aleister shoves Melo into Miz! Cradle, TWO!! Melo escapes, but the SHADOW ELBOW finds him! Aleister fires a strike fest, but the FIRST 48 hits!

Aleister rebounds, BOOTS Melo, then JUMP KNEES! Melo sputters and Aleister lifts with his foot. But Miz CLOBBERS Aleister!!

Winner: Aleister Black, by disqualification

Miz drags Aleister up into a full nelson, but Aleister powers out! BLACK MASS!! But then Melo CHOP BLOCKS Aleister! Melo rains down fists, then he goes to the corner. Melo is going to do just as Miz said to, NOTHING BUT NET!! Melo hits that three pointer but only after the match was done. Will Melo make sure he’s the one who wins in the end?

Backstage interview with Alexa Bliss.

Byron Saxton says last week, she made her return, and tonight, she is the first to qualify for this year’s MITB. How does it feel? Alexa says it is amazing. Now her goal is to be the first woman to win MITB twice. She wants to take that briefcase and… Alexa trails off, then asks to be excused. Alexa walks down the hall, and she sees Charlotte Flair waiting outside Nick Aldis’ office. Alexa says hey, and Charlotte asks Alexa, “What’re we doing here?” Alexa just wants to know if Charlotte gave any thought to what they talked about last week. Charlotte says yeah, they aren’t friends. They weren’t even that close.

No, but when Alexa first came to NXT, no one gave her the time of day. Charlotte took Alexa under wing, and was for some reason a decent human being. Alexa never forgot that. Charlotte doesn’t remember that. Alexa says fine, but then out of the office steps GIULIA! Aldis also walks out to introduce the newest member of the SmackDown roster. Aldis then tells Charlotte, “Let’s talk Money in the Bank.” Charlotte tells Alexa to just stay out of her way, because Charlotte doesn’t need Alexa. Alexa says, “Keep telling yourself that.” Just what was Alexa hoping for from The Queen? And way to bury the lead, will all of SmackDown soon succumb to the Beautiful Madness?

Drew McIntyre is here!

Greensboro is torn as the Scottish Terminator makes his way to the ring, though rather gingerly. Drew still stands on the corner for his pyro, and then he gets the mic. The fans cheer and jeer, but Drew says, “I heard what you had to say, Priest. The only thing that was accurate in that entire video was how much violence we’ve inflicted on each other. But you’re stuck in the Drew McIntyre Vortex, is that what you said? I’ve been in this vortex for over a year. That so-called Drew McIntyre Vortex you’re in is the only reason you’re relevant and the only reason anyone gives a damn about you!” The fans are torn but Drew paces.

“I’ve been trying to tell you for months and months. I beat you at WrestleMania in your own match. I beat you in a Street Fight clean, and you keep getting involved in my business. You’re obsessed with me! It’s getting to the point I was genuinely concerned you wanna wear my skin to your birthday party. But I know what this is. This is jealousy. This is a psychotic level of jealousy! You look at me and you see everything you’ve ever wanted. I am better than you in every single way! I’ve got all the accolades. I would’ve been a Grand Slam Champion if it wasn’t for you at Backlash! You’re trying to take out the competition!

“And I genuinely believe you’re willing to kill me to do it, because you choke slammed me off a 15 foot platform and SLAMMED MY HEAD INTO THE CONCRETE!” The fans are torn but Drew calms himself down a moment. Drew scowls and says, “This has to end. I’ll see you inside that cage next Saturday. And I’m gonna make you a guarantee, because when Drew McIntyre makes a guarantee, it happens. Only one man is gonna walk out of that cage. The other is leaving on a stretcher!” Drew throws down the mic, but who survives when they lock these two in and throw away the key?

As Drew makes his exit, Solo Sikoa makes his entrance, accompanied by Fatu & “JC Mateo.” Drew glares at them, especially the United States Champion. Drew moves on, and Solo’s “family” continues to ringside. Solo may still want LA Knight’s head, but will he settle for the golden ticket to Los Angeles?

Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Rey Fenix VS Jimmy Uso VS Solo Sikoa w/ Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo!

SmackDown returns and we follow #BigJim on his way to gorilla. “Money in the Bank is around the corner! But tonight, it’s qualifying night. I gotta get through Solo and I gotta get through Rey Fenix. I’ma take my ass to MITB, climb that ladder, snatch that, win that, cash that. Who’s dat? Big Jim with a big win!” Jimmy makes his entrance, followed by Rey Fenix. The bell rings and Solo CLOBBERS Fenix! Solo rains down fists, perhaps unhappy Fenix didn’t hel;;p him find Knight. The fans boo as Solo THROWS Fenix down, then he tells Jimmy they can work together as true blood brothers.

Solo raises the one, Jimmy raises it, too, but then Jimmy UPPERCUTS Solo! Jimmy CHOPS Solo, CHOPS again, but Fenix runs up! Jimmy gives Fenix a boost to ENZIGIRI Solo! Solo staggers, Jimmy & Fenix DOUBLE LARIAT Solo up and out! Except Solo’s hand gets stuck in the ropes! Jimmy & Fenix get Solo free and Solo clutches that hand, so Fenix rolls Jimmy up! TWO and Jimmy CHOPS! Fenix falls, Jimmy looms over him, and then stands Fenix up. Jimmy whips, Fenix reverses, but then Jimmy dodges. Fenix goes Spider-Man to go to the apron. Jimmy runs up, Fenix RAMS him, and then Fenix GAMANGIRIS!

Fenix slingshots and somersaults to RANA! Cover, TWO! Fenix keeps moving, tilt-o-whirls, but Jimmy fights. Fenix still puts on the IRON OCTOPUS! Jimmy endures so Fenix CLUBS him, CHOPS him, and has him in the corner. Fenix CHOPS again, but Jimmy CHOPS back! The fans “WOO~” and Jimmy whips. Fenix reverses, Jimmy goes up and over, and the two RAM shoulders! Jimmy CHOPS, Fenix BOOTS, and Fenix goes up, up and MISSILE DROPKICKS! The fans fire up, Fenix covers, TWO! The fans rally with Fenix but Jimmy UPPERCUTS! Fenix goes to ropes, Jimmy stalks up and CHOPS again!

The fans rally up, “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jimmy whips, Fenix reverses, but Jimmy stops himself to BOOT Fenix down! But then Solo drags Jimmy out! Solo SMACKS Jimmy off the desk! And SMACKS him off the desk again! Solo’s wrist seems okay, but then Fenix kips up to SUPERKICK Solo! Fenix then goes up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODIES! Fenix takes down Jimmy and Solo, and Greensboro fires up with Fenix! Fenix puts Solo in, goes to a corner, and springboards, but into the URENAGE! Solo roars but the fans boo. Solo goes to the ropes, Jimmy drags himself up, and Solo BLASTS Jimmy off!

Jimmy hits off the desk, and then Solo goes out after him. Solo drags Jimmy up, pushes him against the desk, and he says Solo is winning MITB! Understand!? URENAGE onto the desk!! Solo soaks up the heat while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Solo points up at the briefcases, then he stalks Fenix. Solo drags Fenix up, DECKS him, then drops a SENTON! Solo looks to Fatu and says, “I love you, Fatu!” Jimmy is back but Solo has him at the ropes. Jimmy blocks the punch to give a punch! And more punches! Jimmy RAMS into Solo, then slingshots, but into an UPPERCUT! Jimmy falls back down and Solo goes out after him. Solo looks under the ring, looking to use that No Disqualification rule to his advantage. Nothing on this end, so Solo just goes back to Fenix. Solo talks trash but Fenix CHOPS! And CHOPS! Solo eggs Fenix on, then HEADBUTTS him down!

Solo paces around Fenix, stomps him down, and he SUPERKICKS Jimmy off the apron! Solo drops the leg on Fenix! Cover, TWO! Fenix survives but Solo just soaks up the heat. Solo stalks Fenix, drags him up, but Fenix blocks the suplex! Solo still tries, but Fenix fights again. Jimmy returns to help Fenix out, and he mule kicks Solo! Jimmy UPPERCUTS, then he and Fenix POST Solo! Solo falls back while Jimmy and Fenix catch their breath. SmackDown returns to single picture and the fans want tables! Fenix ROCKS Jimmy but Jimmy CHOPS Fenix down! Jimmy goes to the corner and climbs while the fans rally up.

But Fenix somersaults and SHORYUKENS! The fans fire up and Fenix climbs. Fenix CLUBS away on Jimmy, then CHOPS him! Fenix cravats, but Solo is up! Fenix somersaults to get him, but Solo stops the victory roll! Jimmy adjusts, leaps, but Fenix victory rolls through! The ref checks Jimmy as he rolls, but he misses the cover! TWO, and Fenix SUPERKICKS Solo down! Fenix ELBOWS Jimmy away, then goes up, up, and leaps, into a SUPERKICK! Solo is back to LARIAT Jimmy! The fans boo but Solo whips Fenix for a SAMOAN DROP! Solo drags Jimmy up, fireman’s carries, SAMOAN DROP! The fans boo more but Solo sees targets in corners.

Solo runs in at Fenix, HIP ATTACK! The fans boo but Solo runs in and HIP ATTACKS Jimmy! Solo holds up his thumb and the fans boo more. Solo drags Fenix up, tells Jimmy he could’ve helped Solo. SAMOAN- NO, Fenix slips around the spike! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Solo into the takedown! Cover, JIMMY BREAKS IT! Jimmy cleans up the mess he made, and the fans rally up. Solo bails out, Jimmy and Fenix go forehead to forehead. Then they go forearm for forearm! The fans duel, Fenix CHOPS, then he boots Jimmy’s uppercut away! Fenix kicks the legs out, then BUZZ- NO, Jimmy ducks! Fenix blocks the superkick, but not the DRAGON WHIP!

The fans fire up as Jimmy reels Fenix in for a fireman’s carry. Fenix slips free, shoves, and DROPKICKS! Fenix goes up the corner, ADIOS AMIGO! Jimmy flounders away and Fenix says “ANIMO!” Fenix runs in, but into a SPEAR!! Jimmy covers, TWO?!?! Fenix survives and Jimmy cannot believe it! The fans rally up and Jimmy climbs a corner. But then Fatu runs up! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Fatu, but that lets Solo hit the SAMOAN SPIKE!! But ADIOS AMIGO AGAIN!! Fenix goes up, up, and DOUBLE STOMPS Solo’s back! JC is up but Fenix DECKS him! Fenix fires up, but then a SAMOAN SPIKE finds him!!! Cover, SOLO WINS!

Winner: Solo Sikoa, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)

As always, it takes the whole family, but Solo is still going to Los Angeles! But then LA Knight attacks JC and Fatu! He gets a chair to keep them all at bay! Nick Aldis shouts for everyone to stand down right now! Aldis tells Knight that if he’s so desperate to get his hands on JC, and if JC loves sticking his nose in other people’s business, then let’s handle this in the ring! In fact… Get a ref right now! JC can make his SmackDown in-ring debut now! JC Mateo VS LA Knight is happening after the break, but will the Mega Star be able to tear down the new recruit? Or will that be the other way around?

LA Knight VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu!

SmackDown returns, the bell rings, and Knight talks trash with the former Olympian turned enforcer. They tie up, JC shoves Knight, and then talks trash. Knight and JC reset, tie up, and Knight waistlocks. JC switches, then he THROWS Knight away! The fans boo but JC eggs Knight on. Knight and JC circle, tie up, and JC waistlocks. Knight endures the bearhug, fires elbows, then rolls, but JC stays up! JC stomps Knight down! The fans boo but Solo cheers him on. JC stands Knight up to ROCK him, then scoop him! Knight slips free, headlocks, but JC powers up and out! Knight RAMS JC, but JC doesn’t budge!

JC tells Knight to run, but Knight kicks and fires haymakers instead! “YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips, JC reverses, but Knight ducks ‘n’ dodges! Knight CROSSBODIES, but JC catches him! JC pops Knight up to a suplex, but Knight slips free! NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! JC is tougher than that, but Knight storms up to RAM into him! And RAM, RAM, and RAM! Knight climbs up and he rains down fists! The fans “YEAH!” along, but JD stops Knight at five! JC carries Knight but Knight still throws hands! Knight fights free of the grip, throws more hands, and then runs, but into an ELBOW! JC trucks Knight and Solo is pleased.

JC drags Knight up to ELBOW him in the head! JC drags Knight up, CLUBS him, then ROCKS him in the back! Knight drops to his knees, but JC waistlocks. Knight fires elbows, then HAYMAKERS! Knight runs, but into another bearhug! Knight BELL CLAPS free, then whips. JC reverses, then runs in at the corner. Knight BOOTS JC, goes up, up, and FLYING BULLDOGS! Knight hurries to another corner, goes back up, but Solo is on the apron! Knight runs Solo off, but JC CLUBS Knight down! JC brings Knight up, clinches, and OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES Knight up and out of the ring!

The fans boo but Solo mockingly claps and says, “Yeah.” Knight sputters and writhes but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and the fans rally as Knight fights up. Knight throws elbows to get free of the bearhug, then he fires haymakers! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight runs and ROCKS JC again! And ROCKS him again! And then- NO, JC hits a SPINEBUSTER, and FALLING HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Knight stays in this but JC grows frustrated. JC drags Knight around, ELBOWS him in the shoulder again and again, then looms over Knight. JC clinches again, OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO! Knight survives but Solo says to finish this! JC puts Knight in a corner, but Knight fires hands!

Knight backs JC down, but JC ROCKS Knight! JC whips, Knight KICKS JC, but then JC ELBOWs, JABS, and YUKON LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives that Rampaging Dragon combo, but JC has the rear bearhug on again! Knight endures, fights up, but JC wrangles him back down. JC leans on Knight, then thrashes Knight around! Knight still endures and the fans still rally up. JC taunts Knight, Solo says to squeeze Knight, and Knight is fading! Knight reaches out feebly, but then he gets a second wind! The fans rally as Knight rises up. Knight pries at the grip, throws elbows, but JC blocks to HEADBUTT!

JC TOSSES Knight out, then grins as he goes out after Knight. JC clamps onto Knight, and POSTS him! JC pushes Knight against the post, tells him this is what he gets for St. Louis! JC runs up, but Knight dodges! JC POSTS himself! Solo is upset but Knight and JC slowly rise. Knight rolls in at 8 of 10, JC is in at 9! Both men slowly rise, and JC swings, only for Knight to counter punch! And punch! Knight dodges JC’s punch to JAB, JAB, JAB! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” JC grabs Knight, TOSSES him to a corner, but Knight dodges! JUMPING NECKBREAKER! And then a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight whips, JC reverses, and JC scoops!

Knight slips free, REVERSE DDT! Time to spell it out! “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! JC stays in this and LA grows a bit frustrated. Knight rises again, rallies the fans, and he waits on JC. Knight kicks low, but JC CLUBS Knight out of the BFT! Then ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO! Knight survives, but GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Knight survives again and JC is shocked! JC vows to end this now, and he drags Knight up. JC whips, Knight grabs ropes, and then Knight ELBOWS JC! Knight runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Knight staggers, JC runs in, but Knight dropkicks the legs!

JC hits ropes, Knight goes to the apron, and Knight KNEES JC back in! Solo storms up, Knight mule kicks him! Knight then springboards to CROSSBODY onto Solo & Fatu! Knight hurries back in, slingshots, but into a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!

Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall

Even with Solo’s presence being part of it, JC still put Knight down himself! Will nothing stop Solo’s family now that this Imperial Unit is behind him?

Santos Escobar meets with Angel backstage.

The Emperor of Lucha wants to know where Berto is, and Angel says he can’t seem to reach him. Berto wasn’t home, he isn’t answering messages, but Angel feels maybe Berto just needs his space. Santos says he fears Berto is listening to the wrong people. People who don’t understand about loyalty and the bigger picture. Santos is willing to forgive Berto for last week. Why? Because there is something on the horizon. It’s an opportunity that Santos secured for Legado, for all of them. This opportunity will help them make a statement, but Santos needs Angel to find Berto and bring him home. That is because Santos wants to share this together.

Santos says we can call this an invitation to a sit-down dinner party on him. They can discuss this. This opportunity will help put their names where they belong. Angel says okay, he will try his best, but no promises. Santos tells Angel that when you stand up for something bigger than yourself, something special, that will scare people. But loyalty is the one thing Santos has always seen from Angel since day one. It’d be a shame if they lost all this for the actions of one selfish person. Legado is…? Familia. That’s it! Santos heads out, but could Angel start seeing things more Berto’s way? Or can they all patch things up before it’s too late?

Shinsuke Nakamura speaks.

“LA Knight… You haven’t changed. You’re still the same man as you were when you fought me for the US Title. I see what’s behind the chant…. A hunger for recognition. It’s that hunger that will bring you down. Aleister Black… I do not fear you. You hide behind smoke and mirrors, but deep down inside, you fear the darkness. But there is a deeper darkness lurking behind the shadows. I am sharpening my katana and watching all the while. I know every moment when your heart beats, and ever trigger that makes you lose control. Next week, when you two sink at my feet… I will have my ticket to the Money in the Bank contract.

“And only then will you know that I am an unstoppable storm, an unstoppable blade, and an unstoppable being.” The sinister Samurai of Strong Style is ready to cut down all in his way, but will he be the one to #FadeToBlack? Or will we all be saying YEAH on the way to LA?

BREAKING NEWS for next week!

SmackDown’s next round of qualifiers is set! We already heard from Nakamura calling out Aleister and Knight, so for the women, it is a Triple Threat of Charlotte Flair, Zelina Vega, and the newest member of the roster, GIULIA! Will it be The Queen, the Women’s US Champion, or the Beautiful Madness that earns a ticket to Los Angeles?

Jade Cargill finds Tiffany Stratton backstage.

The Storm tells the champ that she just wants to wish her luck. But to be honest, it doesn’t really matter who wins, because Jade’s got next. Jade will win her qualifying match, will win the MITB briefcase, and then will take her title the same way Tiff did from Nia, “you little backstabber.” Tiff tells Jade that she can talk all she wants, but if Tiff were Jade, do not get comfortable. Tiffy is always ready. Jade might be good enough to win a qualifier, and she might be good enough to win the briefcase, but for as long as Tiff is champion, Jade will never be good enough to cash-in on her. Tootles. Tiff heads out, but will she find herself in the eye of The Storm soon enough?

WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton VS Nia Jax!

While it’s as Jade said, with #TiffyTime only happening because of an MITB cash-in, the Wrestling Barbie has proven herself a champion by holding onto the belt ever since. However, the Irresistible Force is now going to have Tiff all to herself, no caveats or disclaimers! Will Nia break Tiff like a Barbie doll? Or will Stratton find a way to survive?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Tiff’s still the Center of the Universe!

The bell rings and the fans rally for “TIFFY TIME! TIFFY TIME!” Tiff and Nia circle, tie up, and Nia SHOVES Tiff down! The fans boo while Tiff flounders to a corner. Nia soaks up the heat, runs up at Tiff, but Tiff dodge! Tiff kicks Nia blocks it to HEADBUTT her down! Nia shoves Tiff to a corner, whips her corner to corner, but Tiff goes up and over! Tiff handsprings, DROPKICKS a leg out, then runs, only for Nia to CLOBBER her! Nia soaks up more heat, then she stalks Tiff. Nia drags Tiff up, whips her to a corner, then runs in. Tiff dodges, ROCKS Nia, then ROCKS her again! Tiff wrenches, ROCKS and KICKS, then puts Nia in a corner.

Tiff goes to the far side, handsprings corner to corner, but Nia catches her and HOTSHOTS her on the ropes! Tiff sputters and the fans boo, but Nia pushes Tiff around. Nia eggs Tiff on, POSTS her, then goes to the apron. Nia mocks the Tiffy Time, then runs up and HIP ATTACKS Tiff against post!! Tiff falls to the floor in a heap and Nia soaks up the heat while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Nia looks down on Tiff quite literally, then drags her up and into the ring. Nia storms in and flexes before she clamps onto Tiff with a motorcycle stretch. Tiff endures, fights to stand up, but Nia THROWS her down! Cover, TWO! Nia is amused at this point, and she kicks Tiff around. Nia puts Tiff on the ropes to CHOKE her! The ref counts, Nia stops, and then Nia paces around. Nia clamps onto Tiff with a COBRA CLUTCH! Tiff endures, fights up, and snapmares Nia away! Nia tumbles to ropes, Tiff runs up to HIP ATTACK! Tiff keeps moving but Nia ELBOWS her down! Cover, TWO! Tiff toughs it out but Nia clamps on with the COBRA CLUTCH!

Tiff endures all over again, even as Nia thrashes her around. Tiff stands to JAWBREAKER free! Nia staggers, Tiff goes to a corner, but Nia runs up! Tiff BOOTS Nia away, goes up the corner, but Nia ROCKS her first! Nia then climbs up, fireman’s carries, and SUPER SAMOAN DROPS!! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives and now Nia is frustrated. SmackDown returns to single picture while the fans rally up. Nia drags Tiff up, runs her to the corner and POSTS her! Nia goes to the apron again, runs in, but Tiff avoids the hip attack! Nia hits post, Tiff RAMS Nia down! Tiff runs and WRECKS Nia with a dropkick!

Nia staggers around, Tiff hurries after Nia, and Tiff whips, only for Nia to reverse! Tiff hops over the barrier, then goes up! FLYING RANA and Nia hits POST, head first!! Tiff hurries to POST Nia again and again! Tiff puts Nia in, hurries up the corner, and Tiff CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Nia survives and now Tiff is frustrated. Tiff runs and TIFFY STOMPS! Nia sputters, Tiff runs again, but Nia fireman’s carries! SAMOAN DROP! SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives and Nia is getting mad. Nia watches Tiff go to a corner, runs in at her, but Tiff dodges! Roll up, TWO! Tiff KNEES Nia, then runs corner to corner! Handspring and BACK ELBOW!

Nia sputters and the fans fire up! Tiff manages the SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Nia stays in this and Tiff isn’t sure what to think! The fans rally behind Tiff, Tiff gets running, but Nia stops the cartwheel! POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO, but Nia deadlifts Tiff for another POWERBOMB! Nia DROPS THE LEG, BROTHER! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives again and Nia is losing her cool. Nia drags Tiff to a drop zone, goes up, but Tiff rises! Tiff SHORYUKENS! Tiff climbs, Nia fires body shots, and Nia scoops! SUPER POWER- DDT!!! Cover, TWO!!! Nia survives the counter, and wait! NAOMI IS HERE?! And she has a chair!

Naomi and her bad attitude storm down to the ring, but the ref tells her to hold on! Naomi wants after somebody, but here comes Jade! The fans fire up as Naomi swings on Jade! Jade dodges and SUPERKICKS Naomi! Then Jade TOSSES Naomi over the barriers! Jade and Naomi brawl off into the night, and Tiff is in the corner! Nia runs up, Tiff dodges! Nia hits POST, Tiff pushes her down! PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Nia survives and Tiff cannot believe it! Nia’s the first person to survive Tiff’s best shot! Tiff hurries to drag Nia back into a drop zone and then goes back up top!

The fans fire up as Tiff climbs, but Nia SHOVES Tiff to the floor!! Tiff clutches e leg, Nia storms out and clears off the desk! The fans fire up but the ref says keep this in the ring! Nia drags Tiff up, reels her in for a fireman’s carry, SAMON DROP on the desk! These desks really are reinforced! Nia grins and puts Tiff back in the ring. Tiff sputters, Nia steps on her in the drop zone, then goes up! A-NIA- NO, Tiff slips under her!! Tiff pulls, but Nia SUPER A-NIA-LATES Tiff!!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!??! Nia sees that hand on the ropes but she doesn’t believe it!! Nia is furious with the ref and Greensboro is also losing their minds!

But then Nia storms out and grabs the belt? Nia claims it is hers, no matter what anyone says!? The ref reprimands, so Nia says fine. Nia gives him the belt to put back, only to grab the chair Naomi left behind!! But Tiff FULL METAL DROPKICKS Nia!! Nia is busted open, Tiff goes up, up, and PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!!! Cover, TIFF WINS!!!

Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Champion)

After fury and violence, the dust has settled and Stratton is still at the Tiffy Top of the mountain! If not even Nia can take this title off her, will anyone take this title from the Wrestling Barbie? Or can only an MITB cash-in put an end to Tiffy Time?

My Thoughts:

A great episode of SmackDown here, especially to start us on the road to MITB. Great promo from the women involved in tonight’s qualifier, and Chelsea continues to make her political parody funny. Great match, and it made sense for Alexa to win. She’s finally getting her return push, and there’s also this story they’re building with her and Charlotte. Charlotte is likely to win her qualifier, but that’s a bit tricky with Giulia making her SmackDown in-ring debut. I suppose Zelina can be involved in an opportunistic finish, but maybe shenanigans happen.

Shenanigans sure happened in the men’s qualifier with Solo having Fatu and now “JC Mateo” with him. WWE pulled a JD McDonagh with Jeff Cobb’s WWE name. JC is obviously for “Jeff Cobb,” and then they just threw on a last name that fits his nationality. Solo winning his qualifier is fine, as it’s hard to say he’ll win the briefcase. But Knight doing his hit ‘n’ run on them to then give Cobb his first WWE match was good stuff. For those who’ve seen Cobb before, you can tell this was definitely more an LA Knight paced match. But even then, Solo & Fatu were of course why Cobb won. But this is a great start for “JC Mateo,” surely he and Fatu will feud soon enough and really show what Cobb can do.

Nakamura calling out Knight almost made me fear they were going to run the feud back, but then he pivoted to Aleister and I was relieved. A Triple Threat of Knight, Nakamura and Aleister will be great stuff, but there are a lot of ways that can go. Aleister wins against Melo again, but Melo did stand tall, so maybe #MeloDon’tMiz interfere to screw Aleister over. I feel like Nakamura and Aleister should come to an understanding to take on Melo & Miz as a team, and then Aleister can move on from Melo & Miz to feud with Nakamura. Aleister VS Nakamura would be awesome stuff, and can help build someone (Aleister) towards a title opportunity.

Speaking of title opportunity, Fraxiom getting their shot next week is fine, it’s still the go-home episode to SNME, part of the BIG Tampa takeover WWE is doing for Memorial Day weekend. Fraxiom of course got the win on DIY, and MCMG of course made the save, but I don’t see Fraxiom winning against the Profits. At least, not if it’s only the go-home to SNME and not on SNME or a PLE like MITB or SummerSlam. Good promo from Santos and Angel, and things feel that much closer to Legado falling apart. As for Santos’ apparent opportunity, I’m thinking it relates to AAA now being part of the WWE Universe. Legado is already slated to appear at TripleMania Regia on June 15, 2025, so the team has to stick together at least that long.

Very good promos from both Damian and Drew, but it’s a bit of a worked shoot where they’re both talking about how the feud should’ve ended already because yeah, maybe it should have. But a Steel Cage match where neither guy has anyone to interfere on their behalf will be good stuff, like a smaller version of the Hell in a Cell match Drew and Punk had. Very good promo from R-Truth with Wade Barrett. Truth partly excuses Cena’s actions, but then still has some clarity by saying Cena isn’t himself right now. Cena VS Truth is non-title but that’s because the mission is getting Cena to see the error of his ways. Maybe Truth manages that, or maybe it causes Cena to double down as he resists his better nature out of bitterness.

And awesome stuff with the women’s title tonight. Good promo from Jade with Tiff to establish the line of contenders, and then an awesome match that could’ve been on a PLE or even SNME. Naomi wanting after presumably Tiff and Jade running her off was good stuff, maybe those two are in a qualifier down the line with the third person benefitting from the grudge taking the focus off the MITB opportunity. And then that chair really got Nia good, that was rather wild. But Tiff retains to certainly put her in the position Nia was last time with always worrying Miss MITB is going to try something. Can’t wait to see how Tiff handles things with the proverbial shoe on the other foot.

My Score: 8.8/10