Say his name and he appears…?

Joe Hendry showed up Trick Williams last week, so Trick Williams showed up in TNA! Will Joe Hendry return to NXT and Whoop Dat Trick?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints VS Lexis King; Saints wins and retains the title.
• Sol Ruca w/ Zaria VS Karmen Petrovic w/ Ashante THEE Adonis; Sol wins.
• NXT Tag Team Championships: Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura; Hank ‘n’ Tank win and retain the titles.
• Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace VS Giulia & Roxanne Perez; Iyo & Jordynne win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Joe Hendry is here!

Vic Joseph said his name, so he appears! The TNA World Champion makes his way to the ring, the fans wave their hands from side to side, and Hendry raises his title. The fans cheer, Hendry has the mic, and… TURNS! The fans cheer again, and they chant, “We Believe! We Believe!” Hendry says he is back in front of the NXT Universe! And what a journey it has been. I just wrested Randy Orton at WrestleMania! And less than 48 hours ago, I successfully defended my TNA World Championship at Rebellion.” The fans cheer that, but Hendry says we unfortunately know what happened next. Trick Williams attacked Hendry while his back was turned!

The fans chant F That Trick, and Hendry says he agrees! Hendry knows he embarrassed Trick, he expected retaliation, but what Trick did… He crossed the line! Hendry said Trick was entitled, but now it’s worse than that. Trick used to be someone the fans could get behind! That could lead the locker room! Trick was Mr. Let’s Talk About It, but now Trick can’t stand the fact that fans aren’t talking about him, they’re talking about Hendry! And what the fans are saying is, “We Believe!” The fans do chant that again, and Hendry says Trick is also arrogant. Because instead of looking within, he blamed everyone else that he couldn’t win back the NXT Championship!

We know Oba Femi won’t just give Trick another title match, so Trick thought he’d take a shot at the TNA World Champion! Trick, Hendry assures you he is an entertainer, but he’s also got an antagonistic side, and he recognizes what this is. Hendry will NOT fall for the deception, so he will make this nice and easy: Hendry will say Trick’s name and make him appear! Get out here right now! But wait! That’s DARK STATE! No one is safe, especially not aa wrestler from another company! Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Osiris Griffin & Saquon Shugars swarm Hendry! The fans boo, but they give Hendry the DARK STATE BOMB!!

Hendry writhes while this wild pack of dogs bark and talk trash. Will Trick even need to bother to do something after what just happened?

Ava Raine meets with…?

The NXT General Manager knows it has been a couple hectic weeks, but she gives congratulations on the WrestleMania win, and welcomes them back to NXT. Iyo Sky thanks Ava for that. Ava says she knew Iyo would be coming given the attacks from Roxanne Perez & Giulia, so she is prepared. There is a tag match set, but has Iyo found a partner? Well, no, not yet. But Iyo is sure she will. And tonight- Oh, in steps Jordynne Grace! The Juggernaut offers her help, because she knows it’ll help her get one step closer to the NXT Women’s Championship. Iyo says okay, she accepts. The Juggernaut & The Genius of the Sky shake on it, but Jordynne’s grip is so strong!

Jordynne apologizes, and they high-five instead. Will this super duo take down the new villainous combination of Prodigy & Beautiful Madness?

Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley are backstage.

Karmen Petrovic is with them in the dining area and says they were SO close to becoming WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Not to mention, they almost won the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships at Rebellion! Gigi points out they weren’t even one of the teams pinned in that Fatal 4 Way match. Tatum says right! And she just feels that if they could get one more shot- Ashante THEE Adonis interrupts. He says he was looking all over for Karmen. Hey, don’t worry about these losers, Karmen. They gotta go cuz he just got her a match with Sol Ruca! Karmen says first, don’t do that. They’re not losers.

Adonis apologizes, but says she needs to hurry to get ready. Karmen says yes, she knows, okay. But when? Tonight! What?! But she isn’t ready! Well, she better get ready! And after she wins tonight, “we” have a title match. Let’s go. Karmen sighs but she does head for the locker room. Gigi repeats that: “We have a title match?” Wow… Is Adonis being a bit controlling in this relationship? Or can Karmen make the most out of the opportunity he got for her?

NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints VS Lexis King!

The Absolute overcame All Ego at Stand & Deliver, only for The Drama King to think he could just call his shot. Lexis lost his Heritage Cup because he was looking too far ahead, but will he be right on the money tonight? Or will the revolution still be televised?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really championship material!

The bell rings and Lexis CLOBBERS Ricky from behind! The fans boo but Lexis CLUBS away on Ricky, then stomps a mudhole in the corner! Lexis gets in Ricky’s face, whips him corner to corner, then runs up, only to get a BOOT! Ricky goes up, MISSILE DROPKICKS Lexis down, then drags Lexis up to CHOP! And CHOP! And UPPERCUT! Ricky fires haymakers from all sides, and he bumps Lexis off buckles. And bumps him off buckles again! Ricky winds up to CHOP and the fans cheer! Ricky gives the fans what they want with the “Stroke~!” and the fans fire up! Ricky whips Lexis, ELBOWS him down, then finally takes his vest off.

The fans fire up for “Stroke Daddy!” as Ricky frames his shot. Ricky storms up, but Lexis UP KICKS! Lexis headlocks, then punches away on Ricky’s head! The ref reprimands but Lexis digs his boots in. The fans boo, the ref counts, and Lexis stops at 4. Lexis CHOPS Ricky, whips him, but Ricky reverses. Lexis goes up but Ricky stays back! Lexis is confused as to where Ricky went, but Ricky spins him around to SLAP! And CHOP! Ricky fires haymakers, then whips. Ricky dodges Lexis to then OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Lexis bails out, but Ricky builds speed, and Ricky WRECKS Lexis with a dropkick! Ricky steps on Lexis to then go to the fans!

The fans fire up as Ricky is on the barrier and poses! Ricky blows a kiss and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Lexis runs up, but Ricky dodges, only for DOUBLE CROSSBODIES to collide! The fans fire up for “N X T! N X T!” while both men are down. Lexis drags Ricky up to hit a BIG back suplex! Lexis climbs, aims, and SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO! Ricky survives and he brings Ricky up to fireman’s carry. GUT BUSTER DROP! High stack cover, TWO! Ricky is still in this and the fans fire back up, but Lexis goes to a corner. Lexis waits on Ricky, tunes up the band, and then SWEET- NO, Ricky dodges to LARIAT! And LARIAT! Lexis tries, Ricky dodges and scoops to SLAM! The fans fire up with Ricky as he brings Lexis back up!

Ricky whips Lexis to a corner, ELBOWS him, then reels him in, TORANDO- NO, Lexis slips free! Lexis dodges and sends Ricky into buckles! Roll up, and Lexis tries for the ropes! TWO!! Ricky survives again and Lexis is frustrated. Lexis runs, but Ricky blows past! SUPERKICK from Lexis! Lexis reels Ricky in, crosses the arms, but Ricky spins through! TORNADO DDT!! The fans fire up and Ricky hauls Lexis up! Canadian Rack, ROSHAMBEAUX!! Cover, Ricky wins!

Winner: Ricky Saints, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)

And that is why Ricky is Absolute! The revolution moves on from The King, but who will step to Ricky next?

The Culling meets.

Shawn Spears sits with Brooks Jensen, Niko Vance & Izzi Dame. “Over the past few weeks, you all have… fallen short of expectations. Brooks & Niko in the gauntlet match, and Izzi… Mere fingertips away from becoming the new Women’s North American Champion at Stand & Deliver. It hurts to lose, I know. But you can’t let your failures define you. Let your failures teach you. If you fear failure, you’re simply putting limitations on your life. I’m going to be honest with you, Izzi. This NXT Women’s Roster is deep and rich with talent. So I need you to focus on how you’re gonna stand out from the pack.

“And I need you to take and I need you to rip that spotlight away from somebody and put it exactly where it belongs: On yourself.” Izzi nods and has a sinister smile. Is there already a name or two on her mind? Spears then tells Vance & Jensen that with Hank ‘n’ Tank as the new NXT Tag Team Champions, Jensen & Vance need to work on building a stronger bond, on becoming a more cohesive unit. They will work deeper than surface level. And if they do that, they will have the results they seek. As always, Spears is here for them all. So he wants them to rise up and seize control. The Chair Man has given his “family” their orders, what will the future hold?

Tony D’Angelo is here!

The fans cheer as The Don finally returns from Las Vegas, but he is without Adrianna Rizzo & Luca Crusifino. The cowardly betrayal by Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo has shaken up the entire family, so Tony is here, the cousins waiting for him in the ring. The fans cheer Tony on, but Tony says, “Betrayal is something everyone can relate to. And everybody’s been asking me, ‘Did you expect this to happen? Did you expect this to happen at Stand & Deliver?’ And honestly, no, I didn’t. Now, I expected me and Stacks to have a conversation man to man, but never this.

“Now Stacks, he’s always been so passionate. And when things started turning sideways, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. And it made me think about when we were kids, and Stacks would pop off on somebody bigger than him. What’d I do? I stepped in, and I handled it. And it didn’t matter if it was on the schoolyard, it didn’t matter if it was in the streets, I always had his back cuz that’s what loyalty is all about.” The fans cheer that, and Tony continues, “Now Stacks, he’s always had his eyes on the big seat. He always wanted to lead the family. But y’know what, there were plenty of times where I was down and Stacks had my back.

“When I got locked up, Stacks stepped in and he handled business. When I got hurt, he stepped in and handled business. And he showed the world why he was deserving to be The Underboss. So I rewarded him. But at the same time, Stacks’ impulsivity jeopardized this family, and I had to step in and show him why I am the Don of this family, why I make the big decisions!” The fans cheer that, too! Tony says Stacks waited. Stacks waited for the right moment. For the whole world to be watching. For Stand & Deliver. Stacks took that knife and he stuck it right in Tony’s back. Tony tells Stacks that he will pay for his sins.

The family is in disarray. No one’s heard from Luca! Rizzo is in hiding! Wait, security walks out here? Stacks is on the tron, and he’s standing on that bridge. Stacks tells Tony that he was gonna go out there and face Tony, “those mason lamps staring back at me. Then I thought, ‘That’s not what The Don would do.’ Security’s out there anyways, nothing’s gonna happen. But Tony, I’m gonna tell you exactly what you need to hear. I am sick of taking your orders. You were getting soft! You talk about this pledge, this code you live by, but you’re making decisions that allowed people like The Dark State to think they could push us around.

“You aren’t capable of leading us anymore. Let’s be honest, T. You were never gonna lead the family anyways, so you left it to me. I had to take the reins myself, and put you in your place. I know you, T, better than anyone. And you’re shaken. Your Underboss and best friend, gone. Luca, gone. And then you send Rizzo into hiding? You’re losing more power every day. Probably thinking to yourself, ‘What’s next? Can I even trust my own family?’ Let’s be real. You don’t even know who you can trust right now, do you?” Tony looks behind him at the cousins, and they all defend their innocence. Only for “security” to rush Tony!

Tony fights off these dirty security guards but that’s 4v1! Tony still DECKS each on, and he TOSSES The last guy out onto the rest! Tony is furious, and he shouts a Stacks, “You wanna piece of me, huh!? You wanna be The Don? Well, you’re gonna have to bring your ass down here and take it yourself!” Tony will not be punked out by the man who was always under his wing. But now, will Tony have to put Stacks under his boot?

The Meta Four reunites backstage.

Noam Dar and Oro Mensah hang out in the Meta Lounge, and they’re both happy to see Dar and the Heritage Cup back where they belong! Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson walk in and they give Dar a big hug. They congratulate Dar and Dar thanks them. But he is thinking… Reunion time~! Oro is up for it, but Lash & Jakara are a bit conflicted. Let’s all just sit down and talk. Lash tells Dar that a lot has changed since he’s been gone. Lash was in the Royal Rumble, she and Jakara went to Saudi Arabia for a shot at the Women’s Tag Team Championships, and Oro is killing it in Evolve.

But honestly… Oro has always been Dar’s main man, but it is time for Oro to be his own man. And it is time for Miss Jackson to be about her action, and for Lash to lash out and be her own legend. Dar agrees. What made the group special is that it always took care of their individual needs. If that also means separating to be the stars that they know they are, then that’s the move. So for one last time, the Meta Four fingernail click together. No matter what, they’ll always be friends. They hug it out, and the others let Dar have the lounge. Dar tells the Heritage Cup that it’s just the two of them again. Will the Scottish Supernova still turn it up to 11 even though he’s the only one?

Sol Ruca w/ Zaria VS Karmen Petrovic w/ Ashante THEE Adonis!

The Stand & Deliver ladder match was wild, but the Sol Surfer was able to ride that wave and come out on top. However, that just means she has a target on her back. As such, Adonis “gifted” his girlfriend this match. Will Karmen earn a title shot with a #ShingShing? Or will she just get her soul snatched?

The bell rings and the two circle. Karmen KICKS, and KICKS, and then KICKS! Sol hobbles, Karmen headlocks, but Sol powers up and out. Karmen goes up to KICK from the corner! Karmen runs up, wrenches, but Sol blocks that kick to FACEBUSTER! Karmen bails out, Sol goes to the apron, and Sol goes up the corner to MOONSAULT! Karmen dodges, and Zaria is there to break Sol’s fall! The fans cheer, Sol hurries back into the ring, but Karmen KICKS! Karmen whips, Sol ducks that kick, then she jumps the dropdown and handsprings over! Karmen avoids the leg sweep, and the fans cheer the standoff.

Karmen and Sol reset, then Sol slips around to waistlock. Karmen fights the lift, wrenches free, but Sol ducks a kick only for the SOBAT to hit! Karmen whips, Sol goes up and flips over, but the ROUNDHOUSE finds her! Karmen pushes Sol down to rain down fists! Sol gets away, but Karmen drags her for a cover, TWO! Karmen clamps on with a chinlock and she grinds Sol down. Sol fights up, Karmen CLUBS her, and Karmen reels Sol in. Sol powers Karmen back but Karmen throws into the corner! Karmen then runs in and SLIDING KICKS! Karmen snapmares Sol, then SHOTGUNS her down! Cover, TWO!

Karmen grows frustrated but Adonis coaches her up. Karmen stands Sol up but sol fires body shots, Karmen ROCKS Sol with forearms, but Sol ROCKS Karmen in return! The fans rally up, Sol mule kicks, CLUBS and CHOPS! Sol whips, then she SHOULDER TACKLES! And FLYING FOREARMS! And FLYING FOREARMS again! The fans fire up and Sol brings Karmen around to whip. Sol runs up to ELBOW Karmen, then hooks her up for a BACKPACK SENTON! Then Sol runs, runs and KNEES Karmen down! Karmen flounders, Sol goes up, SOUL- NO, Karmen shoves Sol out of the ring! Karmen stares Zaria down, then puts Sol back in.

Karmen hurries after Sol to cover, ONE! Karmen has the cover, TWO! Sol and Karmen rise up, Sol kicks low. Sol whips Karmen to a corner, Karmen goes up, but Sol blocks the kick to YANK her down! Then SOUL SNATCHER!! Cover, Sol wins!

Winner: Sol Ruca, by pinfall

Zaria brings the belt to Sol and the friends celebrate together. But then Adonis tries to talk things out with Karmen, but she doesn’t want to hear it. Adonis turns Karmen around, but Karmen ROUNDHOUSES him down! Is the romcom turning into a tragic breakup?

Trick Williams is here!

The fans still chant, “Whoop Dat Trick!” and Booker T still adds his, “What? Yeah! Uh-huh! I like it!” as #CrashOutTrick goes to the ring. Trick grabs a mic and he says, “Joe Hendry…” He waits, but then says hold on, maybe the mic wasn’t working. “Joe Hendry.” Trick says he’s calling Joe’s name yet his ass done disappeared. And Hendry better be glad Dark State got to him before Trick did. But even those punks know that Joe Hendry doesn’t belong in NXT. The fans boo, but Trick says he won’t lie: Hendry got the best of him last week. Hendry has Trick’s number, Trick was out of character. Trick might even have… crashed out.

But this is what helped Trick Willy feel better. He looked up Hendry’s schedule, he saw there was TNA Rebellion in Los Angeles, so Trick got himself a first class ticket to go whoop that ass, let’s talk about it! That’s right, Hendry! He went on your show, and then made it the Trick Williams Show. Let’s talk about this: While Trick was in LA, he went to Hollywood with some of his old friends, and in case you haven’t heard, Trick Willy hitting the big screen! The fans do applaud, and Trick says coming to the CW, Trick’s second show, season seven of the all-hit show, All American, the season finale, Trick makes his debut, let’s talk about it!

What Trick is saying, he and Hendry aren’t on the same level! The fans chant “Hollywood Trick!” and Trick says yeah, he IS Hollywood! Hendry is just “local talent.” They ain’t on the same level! And while Hendry is trying to figure out his lane in this business, look at Trick’s. It’s the same as The Rock, John Cena. Hendry, you can’t see Trick. But while you’re figuring it out, Trick’s on to bigger and better things! You already know, and that’s the NXT Championship! Oba, Trick meant what he said! He wants his title back. And Oba knows he has what belongs to Trick. Wait, Ava makes her way out here!

Ava tells Trick he just doesn’t get it, does he? Ava had to kick Trick out of the arena because he wrecked the place! He destroyed a camera, and that still wasn’t enough. Because then Trick went to another company and attacked their champion. What is Trick doing!? Trick says he would hear her out, but she needs to hear him out. Trick is about Trick! Trick used to think he was NXT, but no. After Sunday, maybe Trick is bigger than NXT. Let’s talk about how Trick is the biggest superstar here, and after Sunday, he’s the biggest star in TNA, too. Hendry, you better believe that. Wow, biggest star here? That’s a bold claim.

And all of this just to get “his” title back? Ava says if he wants a shot that bad, then he can get it. But he won’t be cutting the line. Trick will have to take about… 25 steps back. Because next week, we are getting a 25 MAN BATTLE ROYALE for the #1 Contendership! If Trick can outlast all 24 other men, then the title shot is all his, because the winner faces Oba at Battleground! Good luck. Trick has his last chance, but will he defy the 1/25 odds to finally be the one around here again?

Roxanne Perez talks with Giulia backstage.

Roxie says she’ll be honest. She was not the biggest fan of Giulia when she came here, and took what she loved the most. But after being side by side with her, she thinks- Giulia stops Roxie there. Roxie is a great champion, Giulia understands that now. And Giulia sees that the Prodigy & The Beautiful Madness together will be unstoppable. These two on the same page could be a very dangerous thing. But will they be the ones writing the story that is the future of NXT?

Backstage interview with Oba Femi.

Kelly Kincaid is with the NXT Champion to ask his response to Trick Williams still wanting a title match, and that there will be a battle royal to determine Oba’s next challenger. Oba says, “Trick Williams’ complaints are starting to sound more and more like that of a crying child. However, if he can somehow manage to win the battle royale, I will face him at Battleground. But what he doesn’t quite understand yet is that it doesn’t matter if I face him one more time, or one million times, at Battleground, the title will stay on the shoulders of Oba Femi.”

Then in steps The Undertaker! He tells big Oba that he said it before, he’ll say it again: This is your yard now. Oba says that means a lot coming from Taker. Taker adds that it is Oba’s yard for now. Just so Oba knows, Taker’s got some guys coming up from LFG, and they’ll be coming for the NXT Championship. In fact, those guys step into frame! Shiloh Hill, Anthony Luke AND Jasper Troy all stare Oba down. Oba asks if this is the future Taker is talking about. It is. Then Oba looks forward to the challenge. Taker knew he would. They shake hands, and Oba heads out. When and where will “Team Taker” look to take over NXT?

NXT Tag Team Championships: Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura!

From running the table in the tag team gauntlet to then running Fraxiom over like a couple Mack trucks, the big belly boys finally put some gold around those waists. But will their first defense be their last defense? Or can Hank ‘n’ Tank deny The Bullhead Brawler & The Great Rush their last chance at the titles?

NXT returns as Briggs & Inamura make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who can handle the heat with all that meat!

The teams sort out and Tank starts with Inamura. They both set up in a three point stance, and at the bell, they both rush in! Inamura runs Tank over! Inamura stomps Tank again and again, then he brings Tank up. Inamura whips, Tank grabs ropes and he BOOTS back! Tag to Hank, and Tank bumps Inamura off buckles. Hank runs up to SPLASH, then he BULLDOGS! Tank SENTONS, Hank covers, TWO! The fans fire up and Hank brings Inamura up. Inamura throat chops Hank! Then ROCKS him! Tag to Briggs while Hank sputters, and the challengers double whip. Briggs BLASTS Tank while Inamura CLOBBERS Hank!

The fans are torn while Briggs talks trash. Briggs brings Hank up with a choke grip, but Hank slips free to fire hands! Hank runs, but Briggs ELBOWS him! Briggs whips, but Hank ducks ‘n’ dodges! Briggs also dodges, and he CLOBBERS Hank! The fans fire up with Briggs, he tags Inamura, and they double whip again. Hank sunset flips Inamura, TWO! Inamura headlocks but Tank sneaks a tag while Hank powers out! Hank then blows past Inamura and Tank CLOBBERS him! Hank ‘n’ Tank wait for Inamura to stand, and then ASSISTED SEATED SENTON! The fans fire up for that, and Tank covers, TWO!

Tank huffs ‘n’ puffs, brings Inamura around, and Tank grinds Inamura’s arm. Inamura endures, fights up,  but Tank steps over to HIP DROP! Inamura body shots, but Tank clamps on again. Tank whips, Inamura reverses, and they COLLIDE! Tank falls back, Briggs talks trash, and Inamura storms up to CLUB Tank. Inamura brings Tank up to fire forearms, then he whips. Tank cartwheels past Inamura, then slips around to crucifix, only for Inamura to swing free! Inamura CHOPS Tank down! Tank sputters, staggers up, but Inamura fires the SUMO PALM STRIKES! Inamura fires off in the corner, ROCKS Tank, then tags Briggs.

Inamura runs Tank side to side to bump him off buckles! Briggs runs in and BOOTS Tank while Inamura runs and BLASTS Hank! Briggs then sends Inamura at Tank to SPLASH! Inamura feeds Tank to a BOOT! The fans are torn while Briggs & Inamura are fired up, and NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again and Hank runs to BOOT Inamura! The fans fire up with Hank while Inamura staggers. But Inamura roars and ROCKS Hank! Hank ROCKS Inamura! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster! Hank swings, but Inamura blocks to CHOP, CHOP and ROCK Hank! Hank BOOTS in return! Briggs tags in, Hank scoops Inamura to TOSS him! But Briggs BOOTS him down! Then Briggs BLASTS Tank! Briggs whips Hank, scoops, SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH! Briggs roars, the fans are torn, but Briggs tags Inamura. Briggs whips Hank into Inamura’s waistlock, BOOT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! Bridging cover, TWO!!

Hank survives and the fans fire up! Inamura roars, he hauls Hank up, and he atomic drops Hank onto the corner! Inamura climbs up, Hanks fires elbows, and Inamura falls! Hank DECKS Briggs, then adjusts position, and FLYING LARIATS! Hot tag to Tank! Tank gives Hank the boost, FLAPJACK SPLASH! The fans fire up as the big belly boys go to the corners, “HONK HONK!” But Briggs trips Hank! Then RAMS him into the steel steps! Tank is stunned, Inamura rolls him up! TWO!! Tank escapes, Briggs tags in! Briggs choke grips to CHOKE SLAM!! Tag back to Inamura, and Briggs CLOTHESLINES FROM HELL!

Inamura is up, he builds up that energy, GREAT RUSH SPLASH!! Cover, HANK BREAKS IT!! The fans are thunderous and Briggs is beside himself! The fans are thunderous for “N X T! N X T!” Briggs runs up, Hank DUMPS him out, only for Briggs to drag Hank out! Tag back in and Briggs choke grips! Inamura joins in, CHOP to the back, and a- Wait, Hank runs in! Inamura scoops him, but Hank’s boots BOP Briggs! Tank is free, and he DECKS Inamura! Tag back to Hank and Hank scoops Briggs! GRIDIRON!! Cover, HANK ‘N’ TANK WIN!

Winners: Hank ‘n’ Tank, by pinfall (still NXT Tag Team Champions)

That was a hoss fight if there ever was one! Hank ‘n’ Tank hold on by the seat of their pants, but will they just keep winning the Hank ‘n’ Tank way? Inamura apologizes to Briggs, and Briggs seems to accept. But with Inamura soon to return home to Japan, what will happen to Briggs now?

No Quarter Catch Crew talks backstage.

Myles Borne asks Tavion Heights if he heard the announcement. Yeah, the #1 contender’s battle royale. There’s gonna be not just NXT talent, but also Evolve superstars, TNA wrestlers, and maybe even some LFG talent. Whoa…! Yeah, who knows who’ll be in it. But next week, that’s gonna be huge. Wait, where’s Charlie? Not here right now. He’s still mad at Myles. For what? For teaming with Je’Von? Yeah. That’s outside the group. C’mon, man, what’s the big deal? Myles is sure Charles will get over it. But for now, they can break out! Myles and Tavion both! Yeah, but what will Charlie say?

Myles says who cares! They’ve done everything he’s ever asked of them, so it is time to think for themselves. And he doesn’t know about them, but Myles is ready to win that battle royal. Tavion says he wants in, too, but what’s Charlie gonna say? Wren knows Charles is a complex man. He has many thoughts about many things. What does that even mean? Wren isn’t sure… But one way or another, will the crew give that battle royal no quarter if it means getting a shot at the NXT Championship?

Dark State speaks.

Saquon Shugars mocks the song, “Say his name and, he appears~!” How about they make him disappear? Hendry, things have changed, fool. Dion Lennox says they don’t care about breaking the internet. They just wanna break your favorites! Osiris Griffin says champions, challengers, it doesn’t matter. When the lights go out, Dark State is around. Cutler James says we can believe in Joe Hendry all we want, but you best believe that they’re just getting started! If no one is safe, will no one be able to stop the chaos?

Chase U is back!

Andre Chase welcomes his students back and they’re all excited to be back. He knows it has been awhile, as five months ago, Ridge Holland ended Chase U as we knew it. Chase was forced to let go of the people who helped build this place from the ground up, and Chase wasn’t sure if he’d ever open these doors again. But never say never! Because today is a new semester, with a new agenda! A Chase U that- Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors arrive late… Someone brings up that Chase himself said class started sharply at 9 o’clock. Uriah tells “Chad” to pipe down, no one likes a snitch.

Chase says everyone settle down, because they’re both right. He will not let students talk to each other like that. They all wear the red ‘n’ black. Now, Chad, as for your question… F THAT! You stupid SOB, you gonna question Chase? F that! F ALL YOUR QUESTIONS! Okay, that just feels right. Chase U really IS back! The class, except for Chad, is fired up! But who will rise up as top of the class in this new semester?

#ZaRuca regroups backstage.

Sol did not see that coming with Karmen & Adonis. Zaria says she sure did. But hey, they don’t have issues, right? Kelani Jordan walks over to sarcastically congratulate Sol on the win. And she “doesn’t mean” to discredit Sol, but when Kelani was a champion, she defended that title every single match. Kelani thought Sol would do the same, but it seems she was wrong. And the audacity! Sol could’ve faced anyone tonight, and she goes and chooses Karmen? The girl with more distractions than you can count? Some champion Sol is. Sol tells Kelani that if she has an issue, then step up whenever you want.

Great! Next week, Sol and Kelani- Zaria has Kelani hold on there. Sol is not defending that title against Kelani next week. Sol asks, “I’m not?” Kelani says she wasn’t talking to Zaria, but Zaria says Sol busted her ass in that ladder match, put hours and hours into her training, and finally has a championship. Sol is not just throwing out title shots. If Kelani wants to step to Sol, step to Zaria first. Kelani says fine, then storms off. Will the Agent of Change make sure the Standout earns her way back?

Joe Hendry gets checked in NXT Medical.

The TNA doctors already found Hendry had a sprained shoulder joint, so the NXT doc is just making sure it didn’t get any worse. Hank ‘n’ Tank check in with “Joe Joe.” Tough week, huh? Hendry got jumped by Trick at Rebellion, and then tonight was Dark State. Is he okay? Hendry says yes, because in due time, Trick will get his. But first, Hendry wants to get his hands on Dark State. Tank says let it be known, he and Hank believe in Hendry. Just say “Honk Honk” and they’ll be there. Hendry joins in for a HONK HONK, and it looks like we’ve got a trio stepping up! Will they make Dark State into believers?

Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace VS Giulia & Roxanne Perez!

The Genius of the Sky already got some payback on her opponents tonight last night on Raw when she and Rhea Ripley ran them off. But now, she is joined by The Juggernaut to see if she can do it again here on NXT! Will Grace help the Women’s World Champion and earn herself a shot at the NXT Women’s Champion? Or will the Beautiful Madness & The Prodigy use some vicious villainy to take those opportunities for their own?

NXT returns and Grace makes her entrance, followed by Iyo’s. The teams sort out and Iyo starts against Roxie. Iyo then runs up but Roxie bails out! Iyo pursues on the outside, and then Grace hops down so they can trap Roxie. But then Giulia turns Iyo around! Giulia and Grace take a swing but both Iyo and Roxie dodge, so Grace CLOBBERS Giulia! Roxie runs up, Grace dodges and Iyo ROCKS Roxie! Grace puts Roxie in the ring for Iyo and the fans cheer. Roxie avoids the buzzsaw, goes to a corner, but Iyo RAMS her! Iyo stomps away, stops at 4, then digs her boot in. The ref counts but the fans cheer, and Iyo slingshot DOUBLE KNEE DROPS!

Roxie sputters, Iyo brings her up, and the fans cheer. Iyo scoops, but Giulia makes the save! Giulia runs up but Iyo grabs her first. Roxie CLUBS Iyo, then she and Giulia double whip. Iyo ducks the double lariat to then handspring! Roxie & Giulia get clear, but Iyo comes back and DOUBLE DROPKICKS them down! The fans fire up as Iyo kips up, and she tags in Grace. Grace gives Iyo a boost, ELECTRIC CHAIR SENTON! The fans fire up and Grace covers, TWO! Grace drags Roxie up, reels her in, Canadian Rack, but Roxie arm-drags free! Roxie hurries to tag Giulia! Giulia runs up, dodges the lariat and headlocks for a takeover!

Grace headlocks, Giulia kips free, and Grace fireman’s carries! Giulia flails to sunset flip, but Grace breaks fere! Things speed up, Grace cartwheels over to scoop! Giulia slips free, shoves, but Grace runs her over! Grace scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM Giulia! Then a stalling suplex, and Grace shifts it into a SPIN and GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Giulia survives but Grace drags her up. Grace fireman’s carries again, but Roxie runs up! The ref stops Roxie, but that lets Giulia CLAW Grace’s face! Giulia smothers Grace, bumps her off buckles, then tags Roxie. Roxie stomps away, the ref counts, and Roxie stops at 4.

Roxie tells the ref she knows the rules! Roxie then stomps Grace, drags her up, and whips her to a corner. Grace reverses, scoops, but Roxie tilt-o-whirls through to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Roxie is furious and she stomps Grace down. And SMACKS her off the mat! Roxie drags Grace up, tags Giulia, and they double whip. But Grace reverses to crisscross and SMACK them into each other! Then Grace reels them in for a DOUBLE NORTHERN LIGHTS! Grace crawls, hot tag to Iyo! The fans fire up as Iyo springboards at Giulia for a MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Iyo, and then she rolls to a jackknife bridge, TWO!

Iyo drags Giulia up, underhooks, but Giulia RAMS her into the corner! Grace tags in, and she brings Giulia around to whip and UPPERCUT! Giulia flops down, tag back to Iyo! Grace goes out to spin Giulia around, and then she gives Iyo another boost! But Roxie saves Giulia, and they both YANK Grace & Iyo down! Grace hits apron, Iyo HOTSHOTS off ropes, and the fans boo the devious duo while NXT goes picture in picture.

Roxie & Giulia soak up the heat, then Giulia fetches Iyo into the ring. Giulia kicks Iyo around, puts her in the corner, and fires a CHOP! And a forearm! And repeat! The ref counts, Giulia stops at 4, then she goes corner to corner to SHOTEI! Iyo staggers, Giulia snapmares, and Giulia runs to SHOTGUN! Cover, TWO! Giulia drags Iyo up, tags Roxie, and they double whip Iyo into the corner. They both run in to DOUBLE ELBOW! Roxie & Giulia keep moving, and they DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKCIK! Cover, TWO! Iyo is tougher than that, but Roxie drags Iyo up to bump her off buckles. Roxie stomps a mudhole into Iyo, then digs her boot in!

Iyo CLUBS Roxie, the ref reprimands, and Roxie lets off. Roxie CHOKES Iyo on the ropes, stops at 4, and Iyo sputters. Roxie taunts Iyo, drags her up, but Iyo fires body shots! Roxie storms back up to headlock, but Iyo fires more body shots. Roxie ROCKS Iyo, whips her to ropes, but Iyo reverses. Roxie wheelbarrows, then arm-drags! And SLIDING UPPERCUTS! Cover, TWO! Roxie clamps onto Iyo to bring her around, wrench and then tag to Giulia. They mug Iyo, then Giulia trips Iyo to hook up the legs. NXT returns to single picture as Giulia has the surfboard and STOMP! Cover, TWO! Iyo survives but Giulia tags Roxie.

Roxie stomps Iyo, keeps her from Grace, and she hammerlocks Iyo. Iyo fires elbows, slips around, but Roxie switches. Iyo wheelbarrows, victory roll, STOMP 182! But Giulia runs in to stop Iyo! Iyo rolls free, KICKS Giulia down, then crawls! Roxie BLASTS Grace first! Roxie runs up on Iyo, tilt-o-whirl and LA MYSTICA! But Iyo escapes the crossface and reels Roxie in! TIGER BACKBREAKER! Both women are down and the fans fire up! Roxie and Iyo crawl, hot tags to Giulia and Grace! The Juggernaut rallies, then scoops to GUT WRENCH PLEX! UPPERCUT and LARIAT for Roxie, then a fireman’s carry!

Giulia stands, Grace CLOBBERS her using Roxie! Then Grace ROLLING DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS Roxie! Then an ELBOW for Giulia! Grace sends Giulia into Roxie, NORTHERN GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO!! Cover on Giulia, TWO!! The fans fire up and Grace lets her hair down! Grace roars, drags Giulia up, and she hooks Giulia up. Giulia resists so Grace RAMS her into the corner! And again, and again! Iyo tags in, Grace completes the Gory Especial, and Iyo climbs up! DOUBLE STOMP followed by GORY BOMB!! Cover, Roxie CROSSBODIES Grace onto it! All four women are down and the fans fire up for “N X T! N X T!”

Giulia crawls away but Iyo fires up! The fans rally with Iyo, but Roxie sneaks a tag! Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN! Iyo drags Giulia to the drop zone, goes up and up, but Roxie ROCKS her! Roxie goes up to get Iyo, SUPER STEINER! Tag back to Giulia and Roxie SHOTGUNS Grace! Giulia HEADBUTTS Iyo, Roxie SUPERKICKS, and then Giulia hammerlocks for the scoop! Tag to Roxie again, Giulia spins for the GLORIOUS DRIVER! Roxie double jumps to LIONSAULT! Cover, GRACE BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but Giulia CLUBS Grace! “This is Awesome!” as Grace TOSSES Giulia! Giulia goes Matrix to avoid the haymaker!

Giulia HEADBUTTS Grace, drags her to the apron, but Grace blocks a boot! Giulia blocks the backhand and SLAMS Grace down! Giulia headlocks Grace but Grace RAMS her into the apron! They scrap on the outside and the fans fire up! Roxie isn’t sure what’s going on with that, but Iyo reels her in! Roxie switches, they go to ropes, O’Conner Roll! TWO, and Iyo rolls Roxie right up, TWO! Roxie has an arm, LA MAGISTROL into an O’CONNER BRIDGE! TWO!! Iyo has the O’CONNER BRIDGE! TWO!! SHOTEI!! Roxie wobbles, Iyo reels her in and whips her to a corner. Roxie goes up and over, hops on, but Iyo pops free!

Iyo runs up, Roxie wrenches to KNEE and SUPERKICK! And SOBAT! Iyo doubles over, Roxie talks trash, and Roxie runs! POP- NO, Iyo backflips through! BUZZSAW!! Then up, up, and OVER THE MOONSAULT!! Cover, Iyo & Grace win!

Winners: Iyo Sky & Jordynne Grace, by pinfall

The Women’s World Champion has her vengeance on the disruptors! Roxie is frustrated, what will she do to get back to a title?

Ava talks with Stephanie Vaquer.

The NXT GM says the NXT Women’s Champion did an amazing job last night on Raw. Vaquer thanks Ava, and says she is ready to defend her title again. Who is her next challenger? Ava says given everything that’s happened, it should either be Giulia or Jordynne Grace. And she knows what Vaquer will say about that, so she already has an idea. They will have a #1 contender’s match with each other, and whoever wins that will challenge Vaquer at Battleground. Vaquer says that’s a great plan. La Primera heads out, who will she be meeting in Tampa?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for NXT here, with things going well towards Battleground. Great promo from Hendry to call out Trick, but Dark State going after him was certainly a surprise. Trick had a good promo in response to that, and the 25 Man Battle Royal will be great stuff. I feel like Trick is going to win that, but I feel like there needs to be shenanigans. Trick is a Heel, he should do more Heel things, like find a way to catch the others off guard. They should even have Dark State interfere. Yes, they’re facing Hendry, Hank ‘n’ Tank, but there’s four of them so they could wonk that match to win, then still help Trick. It doesn’t even have to be that Trick is some kind of mastermind, it’ll be that he and Dark State come to an understanding.

Speaking of Hank ‘n’ Tank, awesome tag match with Briggs & Inamura, and a great win for their first title defense. Plus, Inamura was on his way out so he wasn’t winning. Briggs is now adrift again, I wonder if he’ll end up joining The Culling over his bond with Jensen. Good promo from Spears to motivate The Culling, and we’ll get some good stuff from them on the road to Battleground. Good promo from Gigi, Tatum and Karmen with Adonis. A good match from Sol and Karmen for being a bit quick, and it seems Karmen x Adonis is over already. Kelani of course wants her match, and I like Zaria stepping up. I feel like Zaria being the gatekeeper, she’ll end up earning herself a shot at the title just because she gets on a win streak, and that will make for something fun with her and Sol.

Very good promo from the Meta Four, and I appreciate that their faction agrees to split up amicably. It sounds like Lash & Jakara are even agreeing to go for singles titles rather than strike out on the tag titles again. Good promo from NQCC, and it feels like Myles might break away from the group, too. I almost thought Charlie Dempsey was gonna surprise him by walking up on the group, but maybe he confronts Myles about this stuff next week. Very good promo from Tony and Stacks with the battlelines drawn, and I like that the “dirty security guards” were also just Evolve superstars. I still feel like Luca can’t actually be kayfabe dead, he is just waiting to attack whoever at the most opportune moment. And it’d be the more dramatic if Luca attacks Tony to reveal he joined Team Stacks.

Good promo from Oba with Taker, and I like that NXT is already getting familiar with the LFG talent as we’re going to see any number of them in the NXT ring soon enough. Good promo from the revived Chase U, and of course Andre Chase gets a classic Mr. Chase rant in there. But I feel like Kale & Uriah are gonna get cocky just because they’re the two that helped Chase get back on his feet. I hope that cues Riley Osborne to return from Evolve to defend Mr. Chase, and I can only hope that also compels WWE to bring back Duke Hudson.

And great stuff with Iyo Sky’s return to NXT. Good promo to establish the main event tag match with her and Grace VS Giulia & Roxie. A little surprised Cora Jade hasn’t tried harder to get back at Roxie for ditching her at Stand & Deliver, but maybe that happens next given it’s Giulia VS Grace to then face Vaquer. Either choice is great for Battleground, and if it’s Giulia, that’ll be a great farewell-to-NXT match before Giulia goes to Raw full-time. Then Vaquer and Grace can have something for Worlds Collide in June that can also let Vaquer lose the title and move on, given how she’s also been showing up on Raw lately. Or they might just say screw it and give us yet another Triple Threat to do all of that at once.

My Score: 8.9/10

The Visionary, the Wise Man, and the Badass…

After a wild Raw After Mania, Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman & Bron Breakker will be here to establish themselves as the new force of nature on Monday nights!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Rhea Ripley VS Roxanne Perez; Rhea wins, by disqualification.
• Finn Balor & JD McDonagh w/ Carlito VS The War Raiders; The War Raiders win.
• Stephanie Vaquer VS Ivy Nile w/ Chad Gable; Vaquer wins.
• Sami Zayn VS Bron Breakker w/ Paul Heyman & Seth Rollins; Bron wins, by referee stoppage.

PLAY BY PLAY

Nick Aldis is filling in for Adam Pearce.

The Raw General Manager is taking some administrative leave given last week’s particularly chaotic and violent Raw, so the SmackDown GM will gladly step in. Surely no ulterior motives like showing he’s a superior GM…

Seth Rollins is here!

Kansas City fires up for the Visionary as he leads The Wise Man and the Badass to the ring. And while Rollins wears stylish sunglasses and long-tailed coat, Paul Heyman got Bron Breakker to wear a suit! The fans sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as the three step into the ring, and Rollins pats both Heyman and Bron on the shoulder. The fans bark for Bron, and they again sing for Rollins as Rollins has the mic already. Rollins revels in this moment as usual, then he tells Kansas City, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~!” He is the Visionary, he is the Revolutionary, he is Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins!

“And in case you didn’t know, you’ve been living under a rock, you’re looking at the winner of the main event of WrestleMania! And I know it’s a little difficult for some of you out there that still wanna chant for CM Punk…” Some fans do indeed still chant for CM Punk. Rollins nods and says, “I knew there were still a few out there. And I know it might be painful for you who still wanna put your fingers in the air for Roman Reigns…” And fans do indeed raise the ones and chant “O T C! O T C!” Rollins says what you are looking at in this ring right now is the future of this industry! The fans do cheer that.

Rollins says the future runs through one man. That man is NOT CM Punk. That man is NOT Roman Reigns. Hell, it’s not even John Cena, Jey Uso or Cody Rhodes! The future of this industry, with Paul Heyman to his left, and Bron Breakker to his right, the future of this industry runs through SETH FREAKIN’ ROLLINS! But wait! Sami Zayn makes his way out here! Sami goes to the ring and grabs himself a mic, but Rollins gives Sami the introductions. The fans do cheer, and Rollins has Bron stand down. Rollins says it is good to see Sami back on Monday Night Raw! Rollins assumes Sami caught WrestleMania.

Sami says yes, he did. He saw the main event of night one. How long have they been friends? A long time, right? Well, then Sami feels the need to come out here as a friend, as someone who has known Rollins a long time, to say that this… “This is a load of crap, man.” What/ What does he mean? Uh, how much time did Rollins talk about Punk, Roman, and how one the one thing those two had in common is standing by Rollins now. How is Rollins any different? Whoa, wait, is Sami comparing Rollins to Punk and Roman? How can this NOT be different? Sami says for the longest time, he started to believe Rollins just had this hatred for Punk and Roman.

But now, maybe Rollins was just jealous of them. Maybe Rollins just wanted to be in the position that they were in. Rollins says Sami, look, Rollins is not Punk, he is not Roman, this is the vision for the future! They go back many, many years, talking about what the vision of the future would look like. Oh, yes, isn’t that a coincidence? The “vision” for the future of the WWE and of the entire industry for years to come, it all revolves around Rollins being front and center. That’s not a coincidence! Rollins is the best man for the job! That’s Sami’s point, Rollins. It isn’t coincidence, it is hypocrisy.

Sami says all this time talking about The Bloodline this, the Bloodline that, and- Rollins stops Sami there. This is NOT The Bloodline, stop making that comparison! Well how is it different? The Wise Man over on that side, and a lapdog over on the other. And if Bron keeps looking at Sami like that, Sami will kick Bron’s face in! The fans fire up hearing that! Rollins shouts for everyone to calm down. Sami, what is this? You came out here to be honest with Rollins, so Rollins will be honest with you. This IS the vision for the future. And Sami is either with them, or they are against them. And that’s not a threat.

Rollins doesn’t want Sami to be an enemy. This whole thing is bigger than Rollins. It doesn’t matter if Rollins hates you like he does Roman and Punk, or if he loves you like a brother. You stand in his way, you become a target, and Rollins doesn’t want that for Sami. So they can find a solution to this. It doesn’t have to come to blows. Wise Man, please, pull some strings. Sami can be moved off Raw. The fans boo and Rollins says no, that’s not a threat! It’s just that Sami clearly won’t buy in, so maybe they can cash him out. That is not a threat. But it is an offer. A favor, even. So look, Sami, just think about it. But they will need an answer by the end of the night.

Rollins turns to go, Heyman has Bron stand down, and the clock is ticking. Will the Underdog from the Underground side with Rollins’ vision? Or will he be the first to stand against it?

Rhea Ripley VS Roxanne Perez!

Mami came to the rescue last week when The Prodigy and Giulia went after Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer. Rhea still wants to be on top, will her brutality go a long way towards that? Or will the former NXT Women’s Champion pop off against the former Women’s World Champion?

Raw returns and Roxie makes her entrance. The bell rings and the fans rally up. Rhea and Roxie circle, the fans behind “MAMI! MAMI!” The two tie up, Roxie dodges and then bails out. The fans boo but Roxie tells the ref to back Rhea off. Rhea does back up, and Roxie takes her time stepping inside. Roxie and Rhea feel things out, but then Roxie bails out again! The fans boo but Roxie is clearly trolling. Roxie then throws her jacket at Rhea! Roxie storms in and CHOP BLOCKS! Rhea writhes, the fans boo but Roxie talks trash. Roxie CLUBS and kicks and stomps, but then Rhea grabs Roxie by the hair!

Roxie SLAPS Rhea, then laughs. Rhea is furious so now Roxie apologizes. But then Roxie dropkicks the legs out and Rhea hits buckles! Roxie runs in, UPPERCUTS, then comes back, but into a BOOT! Rhea reels Roxie in, Canadian Racks, but Roxie hooks the ropes! Roxie slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges to wheelbarrow, but no bulldog! Roxie shifts to roll Rhea, and she stomps away on the bad leg! Rhea BOOTS Roxie away with the good leg! But then Roxie SWEEPS the legs! The fans rally but Roxie DROPKICKS Rhea out! Roxie builds speed to DIVE! But Rhea catches her! The fans fire up as Rhea THROWS Roxie into barriers!

Roxie is down, Rhea shakes out the bad leg, then she drags Roxie up. SNAKE EYES off the barriers! The ring count climbs, Rhea stalks Roxie, and Rhea puts Roxie in the ring. Roxie backs up but Rhea puts her on the apron! Rhea DECKS Roxie, then drags her back up, only for Roxie to trip Rhea! Roxie SLAMS Rhea’s bad leg into the post! Rhea resists as Roxie tries again, but Roxie CLUBS away, then she SLAMS the leg back into post! The fans boo but Roxie runs, tilt-o-whirl RUSSIAN- NO, Rhea blocks with power! Roxie slips free of the scoop but Rhea LARIATS her down! The fans fire up while Rhea gets her leg moving.

Rhea hauls Roxie up, whips her to a corner, then runs in. Roxie BOOTS Rhea away, then goes up and leaps! But Rhea catches her again! Rhea powers through to suplex high and hard! Roxie staggers up, but Rhea DROPKICKS Roxie down! Roxie bails out, Rhea shakes the bad leg out, and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Roxie double jumps and MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Rhea survives and Roxie grows frustrated. The fans rally but Roxie goes for the bad legs. Spinning toehold, then a DEATHLOCK! Rhea endures as Roxie puts on the pressure! Rhea CLUBS Roxie, Roxie pushes on the bad leg, repeat! Roxie fires a forearm, Rhea fires a haymaker, but Roxie fires a flurry! Roxie lets Rhea go to then have a standing toehold! Roxie pushes on the knee and ankle, but Rhea kicks with the free leg! Roxie still holds on so Rhea kicks at her again and again! Rhea finally BOOTS free, then ENZIGIRIS! Roxie comes back, but Rhea wrenches to a short arm LARIAT!

Rhea short arm LARIATS, then ducks a shot to wrench and HOOK KICK! Rhea reels Roxie in and lifts her up, Canadian Rack for the RAZOR’S EDGE! Roxie flounders, Rhea SLIDING KICKS! Cover, TWO!! The bad leg holds Rhea back and Roxie survives for it! Rhea hobbles and goes back for Roxie. Rhea drags Roxie up, then fires off in the corner! The ref counts but the fans fire up! Wait, is that Giulia!? The Beautiful Madness is back again, taunting Rhea. Rhea eggs Giulia on, but Roxie snatches Rhea to a cradle! TWO!! Roxie runs and tilt-o-whirls to SPIKE-RANA! Roxie gets moving and she HANDSPRING KNEE DROPS! Cover, TWO!!

Rhea survives and Roxie is freaking out! Giulia is just as frustrated over that count, but Roxie drags Rhea up. Roxie SLAPS Rhea, Rhea SLAPS Roxie! Roxie SOBATS, hops on, POP- NO, Rhea flips that over and KNEES Roxie down! Rhea then glares at Giulia. Giulia eggs Rhea on, Rhea grabs Giulia’s hair! Roxie rolls Rhea, but Rhea rolls through and HEADBUTTS! Rhea pump handles, but Giulia CHOP BLOCKS Rhea!

Winner: Rhea Ripley, by disqualification 

The fans boo but Giulia HAMMERS away on Rhea! Roxie joins in, but here comes Iyo Sky! The fans fire up as the Evil Genius rushes in, dodges Roxie and SHOTEIS Giulia! SHOTEI for Roxie! Iyo blocks Giulia’s kick to send it into Roxie! Then victory roll, STOMP 182! The fans fire up with Iyo, and then she runs at Roxie! Roxie puts Iyo on the apron, but Iyo GAMANGIRIS! Giulia is up, and she trips Iyo up on the springboard! Now the champ is getting mugged! Rhea returns, and that sends Roxie & Giulia running! Roxie & Giulia never used to be friends, but they have common targets in Iyo & Rhea. Will they come to regret it?

Judgment Day talks in the clubhouse.

They’re all excited, and then Finn joins in! Finn formally welcomes JD McDonagh back from injury, and mentions they need to talk later. They go off to the side and Finn thought JD was going to tell him when he was back. JD says he told Dom first, he meant to tell Finn, and he’s sorry. Finn is fine with that, he just wishes JD had told him. JD knows, but with the Intercontinental Championship match, JD was cleared quicker than he thought and- Liv checks in. Is everything okay? Sure, of course! Just catching up. Okay, but why aren’t they getting ready for their match? Wait, what match?

JD says he was also going to tell Finn but it got away from him. Liv said it’d be great if JD & Finn made another run at the World Tag Team Championships, and JD agreed, so he went to Nick Aldis and they’ve got a match with the War Raiders tonight. JD thought Liv was going to tell Finn. Liv says it’s just been so busy, it slipped her mind. But she just figured, since Finn isn’t a champion right now, that he’d be interested. Well of course he’d be interested. But in the future, please keep Finn in the loop. Yes, absolutely. Finn says he’ll go get ready, JD and Liv grumble at each other, but Carlito says it’ll be great once everyone is champion. Oh wait, maybe Carlito should be, too…

Liv & JD go back to the game with Dom and Raquel, and Carlito seems to have an idea. But what title could Caribbean Cool possibly capture?

Logan Paul is here!

Raw returns as The Maverick is already in the ring. Kansas City boos, but Logan says, “Hey, yo! That’s crazy, cuz I dunno if y’all remember, but I beat the Phenomenal AJ Styles last weekend at WrestleMania. And I hear you. You people still aren’t satisfied. Hey, hey, hey, I get it. You’re from Kansas City, you’re a victim of circumstance. You don’t know greatness when it’s standing right in front of you. You people are so, so stupid! You don’t know what a true legend looks like. And hey, hey, I’m gonna say something, and it might offend some of you, you’re not gonna like it. But a true legend certainly does not look like your current World Heavyweight Champion, Jey Uso.”

The fans boo but Logan says he has had seven days to think. He realized he’s done just about everything there is in this industry, except win the world title. “So Jey Uso! Consider your days numbered, because you have something that I want!” But then YEET! Here comes Main Event Jey! The fans fire up and sing along with that Day One Ish, and the bounce is on! Jey even bestows his YEET sunglasses to a young fan who beat cancer and is at his first WWE show. The fans fire up for that, and they YEET again! Jey steps in the ring, grabs a mic, and the fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Logan looks right at the belt, and Jey tells him hold up.

Let’s silence this noise! Cuz Logan thinks that after 15 YEARS of Jey making a name for himself, finally becoming World Heavyweight Champion, that Jey’s just gonna hand this over to some punk YouTuber like Logan Paul! STOP! “YEET!” Jey tells Pat, “Can you believe this?” Jey says let’s get real for a minute. Jey watched Gunther beat his twin brother to a bloody pulp. That did something to Jey. It lit a fire inside of him that ain’t ever going out. So look, Logan, this title is not given, it is earned. And it’s Jey’s! So if you want it, come take it! Four letters, one word. Uh, uh, YEET!! The fans fire up, but Logan rolls his eyes.

“YEET? You sound so stupid, Uce. I’ve done more in four years than you have in 15! All of you know that’s true!” So Logan has something for Jey! This is how it’s gonna go: That title? Logan will take it from Jey. And Jey will do what he does best, what he always does, and that is crash out, screw up, and lose in less time than he held the Intercontinental Championship. So enjoy it while you- SUPERKICK!! The fans fire up as Jey just knocks this punk ass YouTuber on his punk ass! Will this be the story of Logan trying to take the main event from Main Event Jey?

Finn Balor & JD McDonagh w/ Carlito VS The War Raiders!

The Prince was as surprised as the fans to see The Irish Ace return, but while JD helped Dirty Dom become Intercontinental Champion, now the lads can be WWE World Tag Team Champions again. Well, that’s if they can get past Erik & Ivar to go after the New Day. Will this be a bright new chapter for Judgment Day? Or will they simply run into Ragnarök?

Speaking of The New Day, they’re ringside to be part of commentary, and they’re just running down everyone, even claiming that by supporting the War Raiders, you’re supporting literal war. The teams sort out and Ivar starts against JD. The bell rings and they tie up. JD waistlocks, headlocks, but Ivar powers out. JD RAMS Ivar but he’s the one that falls back! Finn swipes at Ivar, Ivar storms up on Finn, but JD headlocks Ivar. Ivar powers up and out again, but JD slips through the backdrop! JD waistlocks, Ivar bucks the O’Conner, then Ivar DECKS Finn! JD CLUBS Ivar, kicks away, and Finn tags in. The Judgment Day mugs Ivar, then soaks up the cheers and jeers.

Finn tags JD back in, JD wrenches Ivar’s beard! Ivar whips JD away, then he BACKDROPS JD! Tag to Erik and he DECKS JD! Finn runs up, but Erik wrenches and lifts Finn for an EXPLODER! JD runs, Erik dodges and SHOTGUN KNEES! The fans fire up and Erik tags Ivar in. Erik sends Ivar in and he LARIATS Finn! Then he feeds Finn to Erik’s ELBOW! Ivar KNEES JD, whips and Erik KNEES JD down! Erik drags JD up, TOSSES him out to join Finn, and the fans cheer on the Raiders. The New Day taunts the raiders with the titles, and Judgment Day returns! But the Raiders scoop and SLAM both JD & Finn!

Finn tumbles away, Ivar scoops JD to SLAM him again! Erik scoops Ivar to SLAM him onto JD! Erik steps outside so Ivar can tag him back in. Ivar then lines up a shot, and the fans fire up as he runs in. But Carlito drags Finn who drags JD to get him out of the way! Ivar crashes into the LED apron! Erik checks on Ivar, Woods mockingly says, “It’s impressive cuz he’s fat, wow~.” The New Day verbally runs down the Raiders while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and JD RAMS Erik into the Judgment Day corner. The ref counts as JD throws hands, but fans count along. Erik stops JD at 5, BLASTS Finn, but JD kicks Erik. Erik DECKS JD! Both men are down, the fans fire up, and New Day makes bald jokes on Erik. JD and Erik crawl, hot tags to Ivar and Finn! The fans fire up as Ivar rallies on Finn! Scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM! Ivar runs to SPLASH! The fans fire up with Ivar and he runs, but Finn dodges. Ivar SEATED SENTONS! Then he cartwheels past JD to HEEL KICK! The fans fire up and Ivar gets them to chant, “WAR! WAR! WAR!” Ivar runs to BRONCO BUSTER!

Finn sputters into the drop zone, Ivar goes up, and the fans fire up again. DOOMSAULT FLOPS as Finn moves! Carlito is relieved while Finn and Ivar are both down. Finn crawls, Ivar stirs, and New Day just puts themselves over. Hot tag to JD, and he uses Ivar as a step to BLAST Erik! Then JD DUMPS Ivar out, and he ASAI MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and no desk to worry about on that side! JD puts Ivar in the ring, climbs up again, and he MOONSAULTS! Cover, Erik breaks it! Finn returns to fire hands on Erik! Finn TOSSES Erik out, then he and JD double whip Ivar. Erik sneaks a tag, Ivar breaks the double lariat!

Ivar handsprings and DOUBLE BACK ELBOWS! Kofi say she can do that, too. Erik goes out to fetch JD, Ivar has Finn, and the fans fire up as the Raiders DOUBLE LAWN DART Finn & JD into each other! New Day says get those two in the ring then! Dummies! Erik puts JD in, then glares at Kofi & Woods. Ivar throws Finn at the New Day! The fans fire up, and then Ivar SPLASHES them all!! The fans fire up, Carlito gets up, Erik DECKS him! JD rolls Erik up, TWO! Erik has JD but JD JAWBREAKERS! JD goes up, Carlito distracts more, but PENTA is here! He SHOVES JD to screw JD! Payback for WrestleMania!

Erik tags Ivar, the fans fire up as JD is popped up for the WAR MACHINE!! Cover, War Raiders win!

Winners: The War Raiders, by pinfall

The man with Cero Miedo made sure JD & Finn get nothing! Will Dirty Dom and the Intercontinental Championship be next? Will New Day have to face the raid once more?

Sami Zayn contemplates backstage.

Otis asks him what he’s thinking, and Sami says he isn’t sure. But then in steps Paul Heyman. The Wise Man sits with Sami and asks Otis give them the room. Otis obliges, and Heyman says he was thinking about what Sami said about The Bloodline. Heyman & Sami are OG Bloodline, y’know? Sami says that is true. But Heyman blew up whatever was left. Well, Heyman respected when Sami broke away. Maybe one day, Sami will respect what Heyman did. But Heyman isn’t here to talk about that. “Seth Rollins views himself as the vanguard of the future of this entire industry. And whether he is or he isn’t, that’s how he views himself.

“And Bron Breakker? Well, that’s his dog at the gate. And whether he is or he isn’t, that’s how Bron Breakker views himself. And Bron Breakker right now is demanding a match with you. Seth and I, we can’t say no to that because Bron Breakker is the key to our plans. But Seth Rollins, he holds you in such reverence, he is offering you a pass. If you accept being traded to SmackDown starting this Friday, everybody wins!” Sami is about to get up but Heyman has him hold on. Heyman has spoken with Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis. Seth Rollins is going to do Sami a favor. Oh, is he? Yes.

If Sami accepts the offer, the moment Sami arrives on SmackDown, he is set to face the winner of John Cena VS Randy Orton after Backlash! Just like that! Instant #1 contender. That’s how much Rollins thinks of Sami. Think of your future, Sami. And of your family’s future. “Sami, you can live in the future… Or you can die with the past. Think about it.” Heyman pats Sami on the back, leaves, and Bron is there around the corner. Will the dog still get to take a bite out of the underdog? Or will Sami make his dreams come true?

Becky Lynch is here!

Kansas City isn’t quite as excited to see The Man as usual given what she did to The Morrigan the moment they lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Becky grabs a mic and says, “The Man has come around to Kansas City! And The Man is back in business, so let’s get down to business, shall we? Bayley was tragically taken out of her WrestleMania match, but there won’t be any murder mystery, any weeks long whodunnit. I have examined the evidence, I have reviewed the footage, and we have found the culprit. It was me! I did it!” The fans boo, but Becky says no no no no no no! Don’t make her the bad guy here!

They can’t act like Becky is the villain! You can’t fake outrage! Bayley has attacked Becky nonstop since 2019! And not one time did Bayley apologize! But are we supposed to just forget about it? Just like how Bayley’s forgotten just what this business is! While Bayley’s out here going, “Everyone, please like me!” and wearing everybody else’s merch, and dancing to everyone else’s music, and asking, “Why aren’t I a bigger star?” Well, she just saw what a bigger star looks like when Becky walked down the ramp at WrestleMania! The fans boo, but Becky says that brings her to Lyra Valkyria. As the saying goes, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

But then the reverse works, too. The friend of an enemy is an enemy! Lyra wouldn’t be in this business if not for Becky! Becky had high hopes for Lyra. But while Becky was out, Lyra cozied up to the woman Becky’s been fighting for the last six YEARS!? Even then, Becky still tried to save Lyra and get her to “ditch that b*tch!” Lyra never would’ve won those tag titles with Bayley! But it was too late, she was already compromised as a loser. Becky showed Bayley what she thought of her before- Wait! Lyra is here! Lyra has a mic already and she says, “You had high hopes for me? Do you know how many women in that locker room warned me about you?”

Becky says, “I bet they did.” Lyra says Bayley was one of the first! Well, of course she was. Bayley said Becky would step on anyone just to get ahead. Lyra didn’t buy any of it, because she was so caught up in some stupid fairytale dream of two Irish women as tag team champions at WrestleMania! Because of the hopes she had for Becky! And Lyra isn’t sure how it took her all those Manhandle Slams, but Lyra finally sees it now. She knows exactly what Becky is: The Illusion of Becky Lynch is dead. And Lyra will make her pay for what she did! Becky bails as Lyra storms in, and Lyra says c’mon, she’s really gonna run away?

Kansas City wants to see a fight, right? The fans cheer that yes they do! Lyra asks what’s the matter. Is Becky thinking back to the last time they went 1v1? When Lyra beat Becky and took the NXT Women’s Championship? Becky says no, no, no, from now on, The Man only fights when it matters. And it doesn’t matter here in Kansas City! Lyra says she should’ve seen this coming, too. Sorry, Kansas City, but The Man is too good for you. But fine, they’ll do it at Backlash. And The Man will only want it if the Women’s Intercontinental Championship is on the line. Then Becky’s got it! Well, okay. Becky will make that title matter like she did Lyra matter!

So welcome to the- OH SHUT THE HELL UP, BECKY! Becky didn’t make Lura matter, Lyra made herself matter. Lyra doesn’t want to be the next Becky Lynch. She is Lyra Valkyria, and she will be both a better person than Becky, and she already knows she’s a better wrestler! Becky tells Lyra, “You listen to me, you little punk!” Becky rants about how Lyra wouldn’t even be in WWE if not for Becky paving the way! But then Lyra WERCKS Becks with a dropkick! The fans fire up as Lyra then goes after Becky on the outside, shoves her into the ring, and then hurries to throw down hands! The fans fire up more but Becky bails out again!

Becky runs away into the crowd and then into the night, but Lyra eggs her on. Will Becky face all the backlash for what she’s done since her return? Wait, speaking of return, Becky CLOBBERS Lyra on the ramp! The Man uses a cheap shot, but will Lyra make sure she sees the next one?

Nick Aldis talks with Penta backstage.

The substitute GM wants Penta to tranquilo. He knows what Judgment Day did, he knows Penta wants payback, so he’ll let Penta off without a fine. But we can’t have this happening, okay? Penta thanks Aldis. Aldis does have good news. He has put it on the books for next week: Penta VS JD McDonagh! Good! Penta will be ready! Penta thanks Aldis again, and then Penta turns around, to see Chad Gable & Ivy Nile. Chad, in his new “El Grande Americano es Numero Uno” shirt, tells Penta that he was just walking Ivy to gorilla and couldn’t resist to talk to another luchador on his descent.

Penta thought he was pretty slick pulling out a cheap victory on Gable for the Netflix debut, huh? But look at him now. Dropping the big one at WrestleMania. Oh, nothing to say? Isn’t it Cero Miedo? More like cero comebacks, clown! And also, Penta losing wasn’t the favorite part of WrestleMania for Gable. It was Penta’s loser brother, Fenix, dropping the ball in his WrestleMania debut to El Grande Americano! Penta BOOTS Gable down! Penta tells him not to talk bad on his brother! Don’t mess with the Lucha Brothers! And yes, he IS Penta, and he does have Cero Miedo, pendejo! Penta storms off, will Gable still be able to coach Ivy for her match?

Rusev speaks.

“Once upon a time I had it all. The gold, the fame, the tank at WrestleMania, then I lost myself. I left the WWE, and on my way home to Bulgaria, I fell into the abyss. In that abyss is where I found myself, healed myself, redeemed myself, and fixed myself. In that Hell, I realized I will no longer fight for a woman that isn’t mine, nor a flag that never was. An epiphany. I was finally free to crush people not because I was told to, but because I wanted to. So now, I will use my hands and jacked body for good. I will hunt the frauds, the arrogant, those who waste their talents like I did. And through pain, I will perfect them all for good.

“So my brothers, your lack of suffering ends now. I am the tempest rolling in. I will hunt you, forgive and fix you, like I fixed myself. But choose your next steps wisely, because for a righteous man, savagery will be no hardship. Ending you will be no loss.” Rusev is ready to fix the Raw roster, who will he choose to work on first?

Stephanie Vaquer VS Ivy Nile w/ Chad Gable!

La Primera made quite the impression on the Raw After Mania, then she thwarted Roxanne Perez on the NXT After Stand & Deliver. She has returned once again, will she continue to show why she is THE NXT Women’s Champion? Or will the Diamond Pitbull show her American Made strength?

The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally as the two feel things out. Ivy refuses the knuckle lock but Vaquer avoids the leg pick. Ivy comes back to lift and SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ivy facelocks, gator rolls, and she keeps hold of Vaquer to then float around, flip her over and cover, TWO! Vaquer waistlocks now, pops Ivy down to a O’Conner BRIDGE, TWO! Ivy gets up, runs up, and she kicks low. Ivy headlocks, Vaquer endures, and Vaquer powers up and out. Ivy runs Vaquer over, kisses the biceps, and things speed up. Vaquer bypasses Ivy then runs her over! The fans cheer, Vaquer storms up on Ivy, and whips her to ropes.

Ivy tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Vaquer comes back, Ivy ducks and whips, and Vaquer tilt-o-whirls to roll-up deep! TWO, and Ivy stands back up. The fans cheer the standoff, and then the two step up. Ivy swings, but into a wrench and snap suplex! Vaquer sits Ivy up and smiles. The fans like where this is going! Headscissors for the- NO, Ivy pops free to tie up the legs! QUEEN ANGELITO STRETCH, into a SURFBOARD! Vaquer endures, pushes back to roll, andshe has the headscissors! DEVIL’S KISS! TEN kisses, yeeeeeeeah~! Gable is frustrated, the fans are fired up, and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns, and we get more DEVIL’S KISSES! Another TEN, yeeeeeeeah~! The fans fire up more while Gable is protesting. Ivy goes to a corner, Vaquer runs in, METEORA! Vaquer drags Ivy out, pushes her down to a cover, but Gable gives Ivy the ropebreak! The fans boo and Vaquer knows what happened. Gable plays innocent, but she storms out after him! Gable asks what’s her problem. But Ivy runs up to GERMAN SUPLEX Vaquer to the floor! Ivy puts Vaquer in the ring, hurries to go Around the World, CALF KICK! And then GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Vaquer survives but Ivy is right on her.

Ivy pushes Vaquer to the drop zone, climbs up the corner, but Vaquer rises to UPPERCUT! The fans cheer and Vaquer goes up! Vaquer brings Ivy to the top, but Ivy fights with body shots! Vaquer fires a flurry of HEADBUTTS! Vaquer shakes that off, then hoists Ivy up, SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! Ivy survives and Gable can breathe again. The fans rally up, “This is Awesome!” as Ivy and Vaquer rise. Vaquer HEADBUTTS, but Ivy fires a forearm! Vaquer CHOPS, so Ivy CHOPS! The fans rally as the shots keep going, and they turn to forearms! Ivy gets the edge, but Vaquer ducks a kick to mule kick!

Vaquer tucks Ivy, but Ivy powers out and scoops! SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Vaquer survives and the fans fire up! Vaquer goes to a corner, Ivy runs in, but Vaquer dodges the kick! Vaquer grabs the other leg, sticks it in the ropes, and then SUPERKICK! Then the DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Vaquer tucks Ivy in, S V B!! Cover, Vaquer wins!

Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall

The NXT Women’s Champion has been busy, but it isn’t slowing her down! Will the Dark Angel continue to fly high no matter where she goes?

Aldis talks with AJ Styles.

Aldis knows The Phenomenal One is upset with how things went for him at WrestleMania. Logan Paul, Karrion Kross, trickery, all that. But Aldis knows Styles is still phenomenal. They’ve got a long list of opponents to help Styles get back on the horse. Styles says he’s got some ideas himself. But in step Judgment Day first… Liv has Dom & Raquel with her as she “apologizes” for interrupting, but she’ll need time off for Liv’s big Hollywood movie role! Yes, Aldis is aware. Congrats on that, that’s very exciting. And as far as he knows, the paperwork is all good. Liv thanks Aldis, but now Dom asks that he gets time off, too.

Um, why? Because Dom is a champion and he gets what he wants. Oh, is that so? No, Dom should’ve listened to his dad more. When you’re champion, you have to do more work. So request denied. And if they don’t mind, Aldis was in the middle of a conversation. Dom asks what Styles has to talk about, a retirement home? HAHAH! Didn’t Styles break a hip like Dom’s deadbeat dad? No, actually. Styles is thinking about breaking something else, if you catch his drift. Liv has this stop here. Judgment Day leaves, and Styles says if we’re talking opportunities, he just got an idea. Aldis says he knows exactly what Styles means. Is Dom’s name about to move way up the list?

Sami Zayn paces.

But Karrion Kross finds him. Kross says Sami’s got a really big decision to make tonight! And hopefully, Sami makes the right choice. Kross smiles and leaves, are his mind games only going to make things harder for Sami?

Pat McAfee addresses Gunther’s actions last week.

After reviewing footage of Der Ring General taking umbrage with Michael Cole’s mere opinion, and then the brutal physical assault on Pat McAfee for him simply sticking up for Cole, it is announced that Gunther has been fined an undisclosed yet large amount of money, and has been suspended indefinitely. Pat then stands up on the desk with a mic in hand, and the fans cheer as he says, “It is my honor to get a chance to chat in the city of the Home~ of the~ Chiefs! This place is glorious, and it’s the right place for me to deliver this message. There are a lot of people that have forgotten who the hell I am.

“I’ve had such a successful career on a microphone, I think even I have forgotten who the hell I am! This past week has made me look in the mirror and realize some things. That I’m still that dog that was born in the east  hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a truck driver that was just trying to go paycheck to paycheck to paycheck. I am a man that was not handed a lot in this life. I am a man that is lucky to be blessed with great friends. I am a man that went from being a irrelevant bum to a human that is known in basically every city in this country. I don’t have more talent than anybody, I’m definitely not better looking than most folks.

“But I happen to have a few things that I hope people will remember me by whenever my time has come to pass. When I die and I’m six feet in the dirt, I hope they say, ‘That guy was an incredibly hard worker. He worked his ass off. Not only for himself but for his friends, for his family, and for his community.'” The fans cheer that! Pat continues to say that he hopes they say he was empathetic. Whenever he received a lot, he gave back a lot. He gave millions, “AND MILLIONS~!” of dollars to his community and to children’s hospitals across this country. To military foundations, to homeless shelters, to LGBTQ reach out.

To public schools, to underprivileged communities and societies! Pat hopes that the people know he gave back and made the world better than when he came into it. And last but not least, when Pat is dead and gone, he hopes they will say that he was a loyal mother effer! The fans definitely cheer that! Pat says, “You must ride for those that ride for you. If one go, all go. You’re either with me or against me. And there’s one man that has been with me since the day I met him, and he just so happens to be the greatest of all time, MICHAEL COLE!” The fans cheer for Maggle, and Pat says to Cole, he will be loyal until he’s in the soil.

And if someone has something with Cole, then they have something with Pat. So last week, when that Austrian a-hole put his hands on Cole, Pat had no other option than to protect his guy! IT was deep in Pat’s soul, his blood. Afterward, Pat got attacked. Pat sees himself choked out all over the internet and TV. Friends and family told him not to do this with Gunther. Gunther is in his prime, a former World Heavyweight Champion. Pat said, “F THAT!! If I die, I die. If you’ve got a problem with Cole, you’ve got a problem with me, Gunther! SmackDown’s version of Adam Pearce, please come out here!”

Nick Aldis does make his way on stage, and Aldis wants Mr. McAfee to calm down. Pearce’s style tends to be, “let chaos reign,” but Aldis is in charge tonight and he does things a little different. And we all know that this is not the time nor the place for this. But Pat called Aldis out, so here he is. Please, keep it professional. Pat says he knows Aldis is just some middle manager, just like Pearce. Pearce, we miss you. But Pat knows Aldis has the power on this particular evening to make some things happen. Pat doesn’t like that Pearce suspended Gunther, that Gunther isn’t here. Aldis, lift the suspension so Pat can fight Gunther ASAP!

The fans like the sound of that, and Aldis says he figured it’d be something like that. That is why Aldis discussed this ahead of time with Pearce. As far as the suspension goes for Pat to go after Gunther, the answer is… No. The fans boo, but Aldis says both Gunther and Pat are far too valuable of assets to the WWE to take such a risk. But speaking of value, Aldis does have an alternative. They can lift he suspension on Gunther, and Pat can get his hands on Gunther, in a sanctioned contest inside the ring. Pat, what Aldis is proposing is Pat McAfee VS Gunther 1v1 at Backlash! The fans like the sound of that, too!

Pat says him and Gunther, 1v1, St. Louis, Backlash… DEAL! The fans cheer Pat on, but Cole is a bit worried. Win, lose, or draw, will Pat put Gunther in his place and show you can’t just bully anyone you want?

Sami is still thinking…

And then he crosses paths with Jey Uso. Jey tells his brother from another mother, Jey just wants to check in. Sami appreciates that. It is a big decision. Jey says whatever Sami decides, it’ll be the best for Sami. Jey loves you, dawg. Sami says he loves Jey, too. They hug it out, and Sami heads out. Will Jey having his back help Sami with that decision? But then LOGAN PAUL SUCKER PUNCHES Jey! Logan says that’s karma, Uce! Logan leaves Jey down and out, but will Logan face some karma of his own?

Seth Rollins is back in the ring.

The fans again sing for the Visionary, and he says, “Well, we are here. It is nearly the end of the night, so… Sami Zayn, I’d love for you to come out here and let’s talk this out, my friend.” Rollins waits, and Sami makes his entrance once again. The moment of truth is here as Sami again joins Rollins in the ring. Rollins says before Sami makes his decision, he just wants Sami to hear him out. Sami is putting Rollins in a very, very difficult position. He really is. They go back a long way, and Rollins does not want to see anything bad happen to Sami. Rollins gets it, Sami doesn’t like Bron or Heyman, but this is Rollins!

Twenty YEARS of friendship, Rollins and Sami. Last week, Sami came back to Raw, celebrated with Jey & Jimmy Uso because they’re friends. When Sami came out here, Rollins thought Sami was giving him the same respect. Rollins knows Sami doesn’t agree with it, but Rollins and Bron and Heyman, that is the way forward. Rollins believes with his whole heart that this IS the vision for the best future of the WWE. Rollins wishes he had someone else to believe in, but there is no one better to lead us into the future than Rollins. And the fact Sami doesn’t believe in Rollins hurts. Because this business tears relationships apart, friendships apart.

They’ve both been on either side of that, and Sami knows that after everything is said and done, how many true friends can Sami count he’s made in this business? It’s all on one hand, right? Less than five. But for Rollins, Sami was one of those true friends. When Rollins’ baby girl was born, Sami was one of the first people he called, as he’d just become a new father himself. Rollins was scared out of his mind, had nowhere to turn, so he turned to Sami. Sami gave him some of the best advice he’d ever gotten in his entire life, and he will forever be grateful. So please, allow Rollins to return the favor and give Sami some advice that could save his life.

Rollins wants Sami to take the pass. Take the way out. Whatever Heyman’s got lined up, go take it. Because if Sami stays on Raw and doesn’t believe in Rollins… Bad things are gonna happen. And Rollins loves Sami, he doesn’t want that to happen, so just take the pass. Take the way out. Rollins is begging Sami to take the out! The fans are torn, Sami is conflicted, and Sami says if he hurts Rollins’ feeling as a friend, he is sorry. Everything Rollins is saying is true, their friendship transcends the business, their children are friends, these two are good friends. Outside of this ring, that is true.

But when it comes to everything that Rollins says inside this ring… Sami says Rollins is playing games. Rollins is good, always has been. Sami’s never been good at that stuff. That’s why Rollins is in this position. And Rollins knows because of how close they are, he knows what cards to play. Sami confided in Rollins over the years, and how the one thing that’s eluded him in his entire career, how much it nags at him, that one thing Sami has yet to get is a world championship. And now, Rollins is dangling that in front of Sami. That is what Rollins is doing. Friend or not, for as long as Rollins has known Sami, has he ever, ever known Sami to run away?

Talk about hurt feelings, Sami will not stand here as his “friend” threatens him. Because that is what Rollins is doing. Rollins is saying if Sami doesn’t submit to Rollins’ future, he is a target. Guess what? Sami’s been a target 1000 times before! Sami can live with bein ga target, but he can’t live with being blackmailed, blackballed, blacklisted, extorted, manipulated! He will NOT be threatened!! The fans fire up as Sami says he WILL win a WWE world championship!! And when Sami does, it will not because of a favor from anyone., It will be from Sami doing it his way, and doing it the right way!

The fans cheer Sami on as Sami says, “As a friend, I respect you, I love you, but this is me telling you to go to Hell.” Rollins sighs, and here comes Bron! Heyman did say the dog would be coming for the underdog, will Sami not back down from this fight, either?

Sami Zayn VS Bron Breakker w/ Paul Heyman & Seth Rollins!

The bell rings and Sami runs up, only for Bron to RAM him into a corner! Bron RAMS Sami again and again and again, then stops as the ref counts. Bron THROWS Sami overhead! Rollins watches on as Bron storms up on Sami to ROCK him! Bron scrapes Sami’s face against the ropes! Bron then whips Sami, but Sami KICKS the backdrop away! Sami goes to a corner, Bron runs up, but Sami ELBOWS him! Sami goes up, and he AX HANDLES Bron down! The fans fire up, Sami runs up on Bron and kicks him! Sami bumps Bron off buckles, then pushes him down. Sami goes back up, and he AX- NO, Bron hits another OVERHEAD SUPLEX!

The fans are torn, but plenty bark it up for Bron. Bron stalks Sami, drags him up and throws haymakers. Bron talks trash, CHOKES Sami on the ropes, then steps off. The ref reprimands and Sami sputters but Bron comes back for more. Bron whips Sami to then ELBOW him down! Bron smirks while fans are torn between boos and barks. Bron drags Sami up, brings him around, but Sami fires forearms and CHOPS! Sami fires more shots, more CHOPS, but Bron knees low! Bron headlocks, Sami powers up and out, drops down then jumps, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Sami is tougher than that, but Bron stays focused.

Bron drags Sami up and puts him on the ropes. Bron fires knee after knee, then whips Sami to ropes. Sami springboards to go up and over, then LARIAT! The fans fire up as now Bron scrambles. Bron runs back in but Sami TOSSES him out! Sami goes to the apron but Bron grabs a leg! Bron YANKS Sami down, then SMACKS him off the desk! Rollins doesn’t even look as Sami sputters. Bron goes up, aims, and FLYING LARIATS Sami onto the desk! Sami flops to the floor in a heap, but Rollins is still stoic as Raw goes to break.

Raw returns once more as Bron has Sami up top. Bron brings Sami up, but Sami fights the suplex with body shots! The fans fire up as Sami CLUBS away on Bron’s back! Sami then adjusts and SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Bron survives, the fans fire up, and while Heyman nods, Rollins almost starts to scowl. Sami rises, the fans bring the fireflies out for Sami, and Sami storms up on Bron. Sami clinches, but Bron fights the exploder with elbows! Bron then wrenches, but Sami CHOPS, goes up, and up and TORNADO DDTS! Cover, TWO!! Bron survives, and now Heyman is a bit worried.

Rollins is still scowling the same as he was a moment ago, but the fans rally up for Sami. Sami goes to a corner, climbs up, and the fans cheer him on. But Bron is right after him! Bron anchors a leg, Sami throws down elbows, and Bron staggers away. But Bron is right back up! SUPER STEINER! The fans fire up as Bron brings down the straps! Bron aims, runs in, but Sami KICKS Bron! Sami clinches to CORNER EXPLODER! Bron sputters and the fans fire up for Sami! Sami is in the corner, he wants Bron to rise up, and he runs in, but into a SPEAR!! Bron turns things back around, and then he looms over Sami.

Bron looks to Rollins, Rollins gives the slightest nod, and Bron builds speed! SPEAR!! The fans bark while Sami flounders away to the apron. Rollins is there to tell Sami, “It doesn’t have to be this way. Take the out! There’s still time!” Sami tells Rollins, “GO TO HELL!” Sami drags himself up, but Bron builds speed! SPEAR!!! Sami is down and writhing again while the fans bark. Rollins frowns as Sami flops out to the floor. The ref checks Sami, and then he calls in the medics! Sami took a lot of damage, especially from those spears. Heyman tells Rollins to not feel bad, this isn’t on Rollins. And then Rollins tells Bron to finish this.

Bron goes outside, takes a lap, and he builds speed for the SUPER SPEAR!!! Bron just devastated Sami all over again! But then Bron tells the producers and refs to back off! Bron isn’t going to stop until Sami either gives up or is unconscious! Bron puts Sami in the ring, but the ref calls this! Bron wins!

Winner: Bron Breakker, by referee stoppage

Bron says no, this doesn’t end like that! Rollins steps inside, even as medics check Sami. Rollins has Bron stand down, he’s done his part. Sami sits up, and Rollins says tonight is the first lesson: There are people who deserve their respect! Who deserve their compassion! Sami made his bed, so now he’ll sleep in it. THEN ROLLINS CURB STOMPS SAMI!!! Heyman grins a sinister grin, fans sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Is Rollins’ vision for Monday Night Raw and all of WWE all but inevitable?

My Thoughts:

Great episode tonight, but they snapped back to under 2.5 hours after last week’s big Raw After Mania. Rhea VS Roxie was a great match, even with Giulia getting involved. Iyo helping Rhea was good stuff, and that’s gotta be a tag match at some point. Judgment Day has continued disfunction as Finn is all out of the loop and getting put in a tag match. Great trash talk from The New Day, and great move from Penta to screw Judgment Day over. While Penta is getting a match with McDonagh, his interaction with Gable might invite an appearance from El Grande Americano. I bet Penta VS El Grande Americano could be set for Backlash. And then how hilarious would it be for the secret to be exposed just because the Lucha Brothers want a tag match with Gable and El Grande.

Very good match from Vaquer VS Nile, and that was probably one of Ivy’s best matches in awhile. Nothing else happened so this might’ve just been a good showcase for Vaquer. For all anyone knows, she’ll have a great feud with Giulia and Jordynne Grace, then Vaquer drops the title so she can jump right to Raw. Good promo from AJ Styles and Aldis to also bring in Dom, Liv & Raquel. Liv going off to do some movie stuff is cool, and I like that Dom thinks he can just get time off along with Liv. If Penta’s shifting to Gable/Grande, I bet Styles VS Dom will be the first Intercontinental Championship match for Dom’s reign.

Great promo from Becky, though I should’ve figured they were making her Bayley’s attacker. Lyra had a very good response, and their Women’s Intercontinental Championship will be a great match. I feel like Becky is about to return the favor of that NXT Women’s Championship match and take Lyra’s title. They’ll be 1-1 in their 1v1 series, and the tiebreaker can be some epic stuff for Money in the Bank in June. Very good promo from Rusev to put his return into perspective. I still think he and Otis have a match as Rusev’s in-ring return, and then he will win so he can move on to even bigger names.

Good promo from Logan, though as a Heel, he glosses over how he hasn’t actually done everything. There are a lot of titles and match accomplishments for him to still do, but whatever. Plus, great response from Jey, both verbally and with that superkick. Logan getting payback backstage was fitting of Logan being such an obnoxious Heel, and I am pretty sure this is a sign that they learned from their bad pacing with the Jey VS Gunther build. Speaking of, great promo from Pat to hype things up going into Pat VS Gunther at Backlash. I guess Pat must’ve been getting himself ready this whole time, because we’re talking 12 days until it’s time.

And of course, Seth Rollins’ new faction and how Sami Zayn stood up to him is THE story going now. Good promo to start the show, bringing up how Rollins is being no better than certainly Roman by starting a faction, and then Rollins being diplomatic in a backhanded way. Sami contemplating the choice while hearing from others was good stuff, and I like that Kross is back to copying Sami’s hair the way he also copied Styles. Naturally, Sami as a Face, he chose to stand against Rollins and his attempt to control the WWE, and we get a great main event.

If I had a nickel every time Sami lost by referee stoppage, I’d have (at least) two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but I like that it’s kinda Sami’s thing. And the framing of Rollins giving Sami that Curb Stomp was a bit obvious, but that’s why it was also perfect. I don’t know if Sami gets any allies in this fight, with so many names out there preoccupied in other stories right now, but I guess we’ll have to see if Sami even returns next week to keep fighting.

My Score: 8.8/10