Will the Front Man have his Resurgence?

Hirooki Goto and Zack Sabre Jr. battle over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, knowing that Shingo Takagi waits at NJPW Dominion!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Strong Survivor: Allan Breeze VS CJ Tino; Tino wins.
• Bea Priestly VS Viva Van; Priestly wins.
• Fred Rosser VS Matt Vandagriff; Rosser wins.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: World Class Wrecking Crew VS TJP & Templario; TJP & Templario win and become the new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
• 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers; The Bucks & Good Brothers win.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Ishii wins and retains the title.
• NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita VS El Phantasmo; Konosuke wins and retains the title.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr; wins and
• NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Mercedes Mone VS AZM VS Mina Shirakawa; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: World Class Wrecking Crew VS TJP & Templario!

No longer just for the West Coast, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson are World Class! But will they start to take over the world from the West Coast? Or will the Aswang & Lion Warrior conquer them for the United Empire?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is truly world class!

The teams sort out and then WCWC just attack! The bell rings, the fans boo, but Nelson stomps away on TJP! Isaacs TOSSES Templario, then WCWC double whip TJP. TJP leaps over the double lariat and Templario springboards to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as now TJP & Temp have Isaacs. They double whip him to DOUBLE ELBOW, then roll him into a wheelbarrow and BULLDOG! The fans fire up and Temp SPLASHES the leg! And SPLASHES it again! Then stomps it! Temp wrenches Isaacs, tags TJP, and they double whip to HIP TOSS, then  TJP becomes Templario’s weapon for a GOURD BUSTER SPLASH!

The fans cheer and TJP covers, TWO! TJP stays on Isaacs with an UPPERCUT! Isaacs goes to ropes, Nelson talks trash, but TJP tells Nelson to “SUCK IT!” TJP UPPERCUTS Isaacs, whips, but Isaacs catches TJP to a suplex! TJP slips free and wraps on the IRON OCTOPUS! Nelson runs in, CLUBS TJP and BLASTS Templario! Then BOOT and BACKBREAKER, into a BODY CHECK! The fans boo but Isaacs rains down fists! Tag to Nelson and WCWC wrench TJP for a DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! TJP staggers, Nelson dropkicks the legs out, then Isaacs deadlift suplexes TJP! Nelson covers, TWO! Nelson rains down forearms while the fans boo!

Nelson rains down fists, the ref reprimands, and Nelson “apologizes.” Nelson taunts Templario, bumps TJP off buckles, then tags Isaacs. Isaacs digs his boot into TJP while Nelson messes with TJP’s hair. Isaacs then BLASTS Templario while Nelson rains down fists! The ref reprimands WCWC but he also has to keep Temp from storming in. Isaacs & Nelson stomp away on TJP in the distraction and the fans boo. Isaacs taunts TJP to go tag Templario, then stomps him down! Isaacs clamps onto TJP’s arms for a motorcycle stretch! TJP endures, the fans rally, but Isaacs pulls on the arms! The fans boo WCWC while TJP still endures.

The fans rally harder for “T J P! T J P!” Nelson hijacks English commentary to talk trash, but TJP fights up to FLIP KICK Isaacs away! Isaacs hurries to whip TJP, but TJP goes Spider-Man to then slip under and RANA! The fans fire up while TJP and Isaacs crawl, hot tags to Templario and Nelson! Templario handsprings, then he fires forearms with Nelson! Templario gets the edge, trips Nelson, and things speed up. Nelson hurdles but Temp shoves. Nelson sunset flips, Temp rolls through but Nelson avoids the basement dropkick! Temp avoids a kick, rolls Nelson, but Nelson rolls through to RAM Temp! Temp comes back to SHOTGUN!

The fans fire up as Nelson tumbles out! Isaacs is in, Temp kicks but Isaacs blocks! Isaacs FLIPS Temp but Temp lands out! Isaacs whips but TJP tags in! Temp slips around Isaacs, shoves him to TJP for BOOTS, then TJP goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! WCWC regroups outside and the fans fire up. Temp holds the way open for TJP to Triangle Jump DROPKICK! Then TJP returns the favor so Temp can DIVE onto WCWC! The fans fire up with the Empire as they put Nelson back in. TJP goes up, up, and MAMBA- NO, Nelson dodges! TJP blocks a shot, SOBATS, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! Nelson dodges Temp but Temp goes up to DROPKICK back!

Isaacs is in, Temp dodges and V-TRIGGERS! Temp runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! All four men are down and the fans fire up! Isaacs and Temp bail out and the fans rally as TJP and Nelson go to corners. Nelson throws off the elbow pads and runs up, but into TJP’s TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again as Nelson flounders to the apron. TJP goes up, but Isaacs ROCKS him! Isaacs goes up, and stalling SUPERPLEXES! TJP flounders back up and Isaacs LARIATS him back down! Nelson hits a MACHO ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! TJP survives and the fans fire up! WCWC is furious, they whip to SPINEBUSTER and CATAPULT, for NO VASELINE!! Cover, Temp breaks it!!

Temp fires off on WCWC then runs, but into DOUBLE ELBOWS! WCWC soak up the heat, but they miss the Templarooni! The fans fire up as Temp dodges and uses Nelson to get up and RANA Isaacs! Temp then whips, Nelson reverses, but Temp drop toeholds Nelson into buckles! Wheelbarrow and GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up, but Isaacs is back! He POP-UP UPPERCUTS Temp down! The fans boo but Isaacs drags Temp back up. Isaacs whips, Temp reverses, and TJP goes up and over to TORNADO- NO, Isaacs stops that! TJP waistlocks, Isaacs switches, but TJP ducks so Temp’s SUPERKICK hits Isaacs!

Temp runs up on Nelson, Nelson slips around to waistlock Temp, but TJP waistlocks Nelson! Nelson steps through the O’Conner but TJP reaches up to headscissor Nelson forward for Temp to reel in and pick up! EL TEMPLO!! TJP goes up to MAMBA SPLASH!! Cover, ISAACS BREAKS IT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! TJP rises and THROWS Isaacs out! TJP aims to PLANCHA! Down goes Isaacs! Temp kicks away on Nelson, ENZIGIRIS, and TJP joins in. TJP Electric Chair Lifts and Temp goes up! Temp tightrope walks, FLYING FOREARM DOOMSDAY!! Cover, TWO!! Nelson survives and TJP is beside himself!

The fans rally up as TJP rises. Isaacs rolls back in, TJP holds him down with a facelock. Temp steps in, they double suplex, but Isaacs fights that to DOUBLE SUPLEX! TJP & Temp fight that, but Nelson anchors Temp! Isaacs shoves TJP into Temp, but TJP fireman’s carries Isaacs! Isaacs fights free, gut wrenches, but TJP turns that around!? Isaacs turns it back around, SPINNING TOMBSTONE!! Nelson whips Temp and pops him up, POWERBOMB! Another catapult, another fireman’s carry, and again, NO VASELINE!! Temp writhes and the fans boo, but WCWC kips up! They keep after Temp with another fireman’s carry.

Nelson and Isaacs take Temp to a corner, and Nelson steps on Temp’s back to- NO, TJP avoids the splash! Temp slips free to ENZIGIRI Isaacs! Nelson CLAWS TJP’s eyes and goes up another corner, to POP THE- NO, TJP catches Nelson to a backslide, but Nelson rolls through to cradle! Temp tips it over, THE UNITED EMPIRE WINS?!?

Winners: TJP & Templario, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)

Nelson is stunned! He thought he had it, but the Lion Warrior gave Captain TJP the much needed assist! Nelson throws a fit before he and Isaacs storm off. Will all of NJPW, all over the world, soon belong to the United Empire?

8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers!

The War Dogs are still coming fresh off their win against The House of Torture, and now claim the right to be called THE Bullet Club! However, the Founding Fathers of Bullet Club seem to take offense. Matthew & Nicholas Jackson reunite with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, will they #ShowUsTheLight? Or will we see that David Finlay, Gedo, Gabe Kidd & Clark Connors are the ones that’re #JustTooSweet?

The fans bark for the War Dogs, and then they throw up their Too Sweet. The fans chant, “Too Sweet! WOOP WOOP!” and the Founding Fathers raise theirs, but the War Dogs attack! The bell rings, the fans are torn, but the brawl is on! Things spill out to the outside, Karl fires hands on Gedo, Finlay THROWS Matt over barriers, and then goes after Matt in the crowd! The fans fire up as Karl CLAWS Gedo’s face! Gabe sends Gallows into railing, but Nick TOSSES Finlay to ringside! Connors has Matt now and they brawl. Gedo CLAWS Karl’s face in return! Gabe and Gallows return to ringside, then go up the ramp.

Gabe and Gallows brawl, shout at each other, and then Gabe CHOPS! Gallows UPPERCUITS! Matt ROCKS Connors, and Finlay has Nick on the stage! Nick fights the suplex, then SUPERKICKS Finlay down the stairs! Finlay tumbles, Gallows CLUBS him, and they all set up for Nick to run and FLY! Nick bowls them all over and the fans fire up! Matt puts Connors in and Nick puts him in a corner. The Bucks whip Connors to a corner, then Matt LARIATS! Nick LARIATS! Karl JUMP KICKS! Gallows SPLASHES! Gallows scoops Connors and SLAMS him down! The fans rally up as Matt goes to a corner. He FLIES out onto Gabe & Finlay!

Anderson SENTONS Connors, Gallows SPLASHES, and then the Bucks coordinate! RISKY BUSINESS! The fans fire up for the Founding Fathers, and they call for the Too Sweet! The fans cheer as they wind up, but the War Dogs attack again! Finlay fires off on Matt, Gabe HEADBUTTS Gallows, Gedo has Karl and Connors has Nick! The War Dogs climb up in the corners, and they rain down fists! The fans count along, and we go all the way up to TEN! That’s forty total and the fans cheer! The War Dogs toss everyone out but Karl, and Gedo stomps him. Gabe SMACKS Gallows off railing, and Connors drags Karl up.

Connors whips Karl to the corner hard and Karl falls to the mat! Connors puts Karl in place, runs, and hits an ELBOW DROP! Connors drags Karl up, brings him around, and whips him into Finlay’s boot! Connors tags Gedo but Finlay digs his boots in. The ref counts, Gedo argues with him, but that lets Finlay & Gabe CHOKE Karl! Gedo storms up but Karl CHOPS him first! And CHOPS, but Gedo blocks to poke Karl in the eyes! The fans are torn, but Gedo CLAWS at Karl’s eyes! The ref reprimands and counts, and Gedo stops at 4. Gedo looms over Karl, pulls him back, and CLAWS at his face again!

The fans boo, the ref counts, and Gedo stops at 4. The fans are torn as Gedo throws up the Too Sweet, then he tags Finlay. Finlay stomps Karl to a corner, stomps a mudhole in, but stops as the ref counts. The fans rally and duel as Finlay stands Karl up. Finlay UPPERCUTS, runs corner to corner, and UPPERCUTS again! Finlay suplexes and THROWS Karl, then pushes him down for a cocky cover. TWO, but Finlay drags Karl away from his corner. Finlay bends Karl’s fingers while Gabe & Connors BLAST the OGs! Gabe grabs a mic to talk trash during the match! Gabe stomps Karl, and mockingly asks if this is 2013 again, when those “14-year-olds were still cool?”

Gabe mocks the Bucks and say they’re the Young CUCKS, because they’re bigger virgin nerds than anyone in this building! And F YOU, too!! Gabe tells Karl and Gallows that HE’s the resident bald white guy in NJPW now! But then Karl CHOPS Gabe! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Gabe DECKS Karl, the War Dogs BLAST the OGs, then Connors feeds Karl to Finlay. Karl dodges, sends Finlay into Connors, but Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe whips, Karl reverses, SPINEBUSTER! Hot tag to Gallows! The fans fire up as Doc BOOTS Connors, ROUNDHOUSES Finlay, and YAKUZA KICKS Gedo! Gallows whips Connors into Finlay!

Gallows runs to SPLASH them both, then runs to CROSSBODY Finlay & Connors! The fans fire up but Gabe attacks! Gab e BITES Gallows’ head, talks trash, but Gallows UPPERCUTS! Gabe COMEBACK- NO, he runs into the 12 STEP PROGRAM! Both men are down from that modified Sky High and the fans fire up! Hot tags to Finlay and Nick! Connors still jumps in with Finlay but Nick rallies on them with his strike fest combo! SHINING WIZARD for Finlay, then a BULLDOG LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up again and Nick tags Matt. The Bucks mug Gabe, double whip, but Gabe reverses. Nick goes up and Matt SUPERKICKS!

Matt cravats, Nick helps, ASSISTED SLICED BREAD! SHINING WIZARD! Finlay is up, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS hit him first! Matt puts Finlay in the ropes, Nick goes up, DRAPING SWANTON! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives but Matt tags Karl. Gallows joins in and the fans rally up. Gallows reels Finlay in, but Connors SPEARS him! Finlay hits Karl with an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! But he gets DSOUBLE SUPERKICKS again! The Bucks fake Connors out to DOUBLE DDT! Gabe blocks a kick, sends it into Matt, then UPPERCUTS! But Nick SUPERKICKS in return! Gabe rebounds, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS!

Gabe rebounds again, to DOUBLE LARIAT! Gallows is back, he and Gabe DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! Gabe CHOPs, CHOPS, and UPPERCUTS! Gabe runs, into a GUN STUN!! We never thought that move would return to NJPW but here we are! Finlay flounders, hot tag to Gedo! Gedo JAWBREAKERS Karl, SUPERKICKS, and the rest of the Dogs hold down the OGs! Gedo mule kicks Karl now to GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!!! Karl escapes and the fans fire up! GUN STUN for Gedo!! Gabe runs up, dodges, COMEBACKER!! Gallows ROUNDHOUSES Gabe!

Connors & Finlay mug Gallows, double whip him, then Connors runs in, only for Gallows to DUMP him! Gallows DUMPS Finlay, too! YAKUZA KICK for Gedo, and into the E V P TRIGGER!! Matt says that’s not enough! Nick climbs up to be on Gallows’ shoulders! SUPER T K DRIVER!! The Bucks PLANCHA out to wipe out the Dogs! The Good Brothers top it off with a MAGIC KILLER on Gedo!! Cover, the Founding Fathers win!

Winners: The Young Bucks & Good Brothers, by pinfall

The War Dogs are beside themselves, but the OGs of Bullet Club still got it! The War Dogs step back into the ring, they look at their “senpai” while Gedo is helped to the back. The Bucks say no hard feelings, and offer the Too Sweet. War Dogs throw it up, just to Too Sweet with each other. It seems some things aren’t “4 life” like we thought. But with the Good Brothers back in town, will things be #JustTooSweet no matter where you look?

NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney!

The Stone Pitbull took this title off Gabe in the Windy City Riot, and now he defends it against another of the War Dogs! Will Ishii survive the 44 Caliber? Or will his reign not even last a full month?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really got that dog in ’em!

The bell rings and the fans rally as Drilla and Ishii get face to face. Then Drilla fires forearm after forearm! Drilla whips, Ishii reverses, but Drilla RAMS Ishii! Ishii roars so Drilla fires more forearms! Ishii eggs Drilla on and leans into the shots! Drilla keeps throwing shots but Ishii backs him down! The fans rally behind Ishii, and he DECKS Drilla into a corner! The fans fire up and Ishii shakes off those forearms. Ishii CHOPS, and CHOPS, but now Drilla eggs him on! Ishii fires forearms but now Drilla leans into the shots! The fans fire up as Drilla ROCKS Ishii. Drilla runs but Ishii CLOBBERS Drilla!

The fans fire up and Ishii suplexes, but Drilla slips free! Drilla waistlocks, Ishii fires elbows, and things speed up. Drilla hurdles, drops down, then DROPKICKS! The fans are torn but Drilla shakes out his arms. Drilla looms over Ishii, kicks him, and CHOPS him! The fans “WOO~” while Ishii wobbles, and Drilla CHOPS again! Drilla CHOPS Ishii to the corner, then CHOPS again! Ishii eggs Drilla on so Drilla winds up and CHOPS! Drilla stomps away on Ishii, the ref counts, but Drilla digs his boot in. The ref counts, Drilla steps off, and the fans rally. Drilla grins and brings Ishii up, but Ishii fires body shots!

Ishii backs Drilla down but Drilla snapmares and KICKS Ishii in the back! Ishii writhes, Drilla covers, TWO! Drilla is annoyed but Ishii is tougher than that. Drilla drags Ishii up, reels him in, and hits a BIG back suplex! Ishii sputters and rolls to the apron. The fans rally as Drilla storms over to join Ishii. Drilla drags Ishii up, reels him in, but Ishii fights the lift! Drilla pushes Ishii and ELBOWS him down! Ishii LARIATS the legs out from under Drilla! Drilla hobbles up, runs in, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM on the floor! The fans fire up while the ref checks Drilla. Drilla is okay to continue, so Ishii drags him into the ring.

Drilla goes to a corner, Ishii runs in, and LARIATS! Ishii whips, Drilla reverses, but Ishii comes back to CLOBBER Drilla! The fans fire up more as Ishii shakes off that damage. Ishii drags Drilla up, but Drilla fights the lift with elbows! Only for Ishii to shift and SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but he’s frustrated with himself. Ishii kicks at Drilla rather mockingly, and Drilla stands in a huff! Drilla ducks the haymaker to ripcord and CHOP! Then he brings Ishii in for a PILE- NO, Ishii fights that, so Drilla grabs tights for a STUFF PILEDRIVER! Ishii writhes but Drilla also grits his teeth from pain, and the fans rally up.

Drilla and Ishii stir, and Drilla rises first. Drilla drags Ishii up, CHOPS and ROCKS him on repeat, and the fans “WOO~” with every CHOP! Ishii just stares Drilla down! Drilla CHOPS, ROLLING ELBOWS, but Ishii DECKS him! The fans fire up and Ishii finally feels that damage. Ishii clutches a shoulder but he storms up on Drilla. Ishii kicks Drilla, hoists him up top, and then climbs up after him. Ishii stalling SUPERPLEXES! But Drilla’s right up!? The fans fire up and Drilla returns, but Ishii LARIATS! Drilla HAYMAKERS! Ishii HEADBUTTS! Drilla ROLLING ELBOWS, then ducks the enzigiri! Drilla runs, but Ishii stuffs the Gore!

Drilla wrenches free of the facelock, but Ishii HEADBUTTS Drilla down! The fans fire up while Ishii staggers around. Ishii roars to fire back up and the fans are with him! Drilla slowly rises, Ishii runs, but Drilla catches Ishii to a MADE IN JAPAN!??! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives Drilla using Shingo Takagi’s move and the fans fire up! Drilla goes to a corner while the fans rally up. The fans are on Ishii’s side and that pisses Drilla off. Drilla aims and runs in, but Ishii KNEES him low! Ishii stands Drilla up, but Drilla SUPERKICKS! Ishii rebounds, but into the SPINEBUSTER! Drilla gets moving again, and he GORES Ishii down!! Cover, TWO?!?

Ishii survives and Drilla is beside himself! The fans rally while Drilla and Ishii are down again. Drilla sits up and slashes his throat, vowing to end this. Drilla stands and he brings Ishii up. Drilla reels Ishii in, but Ishii fights the lift! Drilla swats a lariat, ducks the other, but Ishii ducks the enzigiri to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Drilla and Ishii stir as the fans rally up more. They go to ropes, rise up, and they both run in! DOUBLE LARIATS! Ishii fires boxing elbows, but Drilla eggs him on! Ishii fires forearm after forearm, but Drilla DROPKICKS! Drilla runs, but Ishii LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO!

Drilla survives and the fans rally up! Ishii sits Drilla up, runs, and SLIDING- NO! Drilla catches Ishii into a clinch! URE- NO, Ishii slips free to waistlock! Drilla switches, ripcords and DROPKICKS! Drilla reels Ishii in and suplexes, for a BRAINBUSTER!! But Ishii rises?!? His fighting spirit keeps him moving, but Drilla runs to LARIAT! Ishii stays up, UPPERCUTS, and ENZIGIRIS! Both men fall again and the fans fire back up! Ishii headbutts the buckles to fire up, and the fans are with him! Ishii runs again, to LARIAT!! Drilla tumbles, Ishii pushes him to a cover, TWO!! Drilla survives but Ishii powers back up!

Ishii hauls Drilla up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Drilla slips fere! Drilla shoves, then catches Ishii to wrench and Canadian Rack! DRILLA- NO, Ishii lands out! Drilla avoids a lariat, then another, and GORES!! Cover, ONE!?!? Drilla is shocked and the fans are thunderous! Drilla goes to a corner and he aims again! Drilla runs up, but Ishii turns leg lariat into POWERBOMB! And SLIDING LARIAT!! Ishii roars, suplexes, and BRAINBUSTERS!!! Cover, Ishii wins!!

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)

The Stone Pitbull showed the young pup how it’s done! Will Ishii continue to prove no one is as NJPW Strong as him?

NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita w/ Rocky Romero VS El Phantasmo!

It was just last week at Wrestling Dontaku that The Alpha and Headbanga battled over the NJPW World Television Championship. They went 15 minutes for a time limit draw and both men want more! Will ELP get all he can when he takes this title from Takeshita? Or will Konosuke NEVER lose again?

The introductions are made, the NEVER belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives up!

The bell rings and the one hour time limit is on. ELP and Konosuke circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Konosuke headlocks, ELP powers up and out, but Konosuke runs him over! Things keep moving, ELP stays low then hurdles over, but Konosuke leaps over. Konosuke sidesteps, ELP rolls off Konosuke’s back, but Konosuke reels him in! BLUE THUNDER- NO, ELP sunset flips! But Konosuke rolls through! ELP still reels Konosuke in and tucks the arms, but then Konosuke wrenches free! ELP dodges the lariat, but Konosuke goes Matrix to avoid Sudden Death! The fans fire up as the two are in a standoff!

Konosuke and ELP reset, circle again, and the fans are dueling. Konosuke and ELP step up, and ELP CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” and ELP eggs Konosuke on. Konosuke winds up, but then ROLLING ELBOWS! ELP falls, the fans are torn, but Konosuke stands ELP up. Konosuke whips, ELP ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard and CROSSBODY! Then he somersaults to LIONSAULT! ELP bounces off the cover, and Konosuke is up to LARIAT ELP up and out! The fans are torn but Konosuke builds speed to FLY! Down goes ELP and the fans fire up! Konosuke drags ELP up, puts him in the ring, and then clamps on with a chinlock.

ELP endures, pries at the hold, but Konosuke shifts to go for an arm. The fans rally as ELP throws body shots, but Konosuke knees low! Konosuke whips, ELP reverses, but Konosuke FLYING UPPERCUTS ELP down! Konosuke clamps onto ELP with a double wristlock! ELP endures so Konosuke changes it to a COBRA CLUTCH! ELP fights around all the same, reaches out and has the ROPEBREAK! Konosuke lets go, ELP goes to a corner, and Konosuke storms up. Konosuke whips corner to corner hard and ELP bounces off buckles! The fans rally while ELP writhes on the mat. Konosuke watches ELP as he rolls away to ropes.

Konosuke stalks ELP, drags him up, and wrenches to put him in a corner. Konosuke whips ELP corner to corner,  but ELP stops short! Konosuke runs in but ELP goes up and over! ELP runs in, but into a BOOT! Konosuke hops up, but ELP GAMANGIRIS him to the floor! The fans fire up and ELP builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Konosuke goes over railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! Konosuke rises as the ring count starts. ELP aims from the ropes! ELP did this in Japan, he’s gonna do it in California! SUPER DUPER THUNDERKISS!! Direct hit and the front row almost gets wiped out!

A Takeshita fan talks trash while showing off her Konosuke art, but Rocky is mad and throws off his jacket. ELP drags Konosuke up, CHOPS him back over the railing, and the ELP fans all “WOO~!” ELP storms after Konosuke, CHOPS him again, then puts him in the ring. Rocky gets up on the apron! The fans boo and ELP jumps, but Konosuke dodges! Konosuke then sidesteps to BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! ELP survives but Konosuke reels him in. ELP fights the suplex, but Konosuke powers through to suplex! ELP slips free, straitjackets and torture racks! BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO!!

Konosuke survives, but ELP kips up and the fans fire up! ELP tunes up the band and the fans cheer him on. ELP aims at Konosuke, for SUDDEN- NO, Konosuke blocks it to fire off boxing elbows! Then a ROLLING- NO, ELP mule kicks, front kicks, but then Konosuke BOOTS! ELP BOOTS! Konosuke rebounds but ELP ENZIGIRIS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Rocky coaches Konosuke, the fans rally for ELP, and both men rise. ELP and Konosuke go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! ELP grins as the shots keep going back and forth! Both men stand, and the forearms keep going! Konosuke ROCKS ELP and eggs him on!

ELP returns to ROCK Konosuke, and the forearms fly again! The fans fire up as the shots go faster and faster! Then DOUBLE FOREARMS send both men staggering back! ELP and Konosuke go to the apron now, and the forearms fly again! The fans rally as the shots keep going, and ELP ROCKS Konosuke! And ROCKS him again! Konosuke just ROCKS ELP in return! And again, and again, and again! Konosuke has ELP up against the corner, and hoists him up! Konosuke drags ELP onto his shoulder, but ELP fights free!

ELP mule kicks, then he reels Konosuke in! Konosuke fights the tuck, so ELP kicks him low! APRON PILEDRIVER!! Konosuke falls to the floor and Rocky is stunned! We pass 10 minutes while ELP rises up. ELP hears the ring count so he refreshes it, then he goes looking under the ring! ELP brings out a table! The fans fire up but the ref reprimands. ELP ignores that to set the table up at ringside. ELP then fetches Konosuke, drags him to the apron, and tucks the arms! Konosuke fights the lift, and ROCKS ELP! Then POWER DRIVE KNEES! Konosuke reels ELP in, but ELP fights the Blue Thunder with elbows! ELP rolls into the ring, but Konosuke avoids the shoulder!

Konosuke KNEES ELP back down and the fans fire up! Konosuke drags ELP up the corner, and the fans are already worried about what he’s planning. ELP fights with body shots, and then adjusts his position on the top rope! Konosuke fires body shots, then SUPER LARIATS ELP down!! Konosuke hurries to cover, TWO!! ELP survives and Konosuke is furious! Konosuke drags ELP up, scoops him, but ELP slips free to gut wrench! But Konosuke turns that back around! TOMBSTONE!! But Konosuke holds on! Konosuke stands up, tucks ELP in, BASTARD DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up!

ELP shakes his head, defiant against the damage done to him. The fans rally more but Konosuke brings ELP up. But ELP wrenches out, only for the ALPHA ELBOW to knock him down! POWER DRIVE- SUDDEN DEATH!! ELP hits first and the fans fire up! ELP hurries to reel Konosuke in, but Konosuke Alabama Lifts! And he spins ELP around for another BASTARD DRIVER!! And then a WHEELBARROW GERMAN SUPLEX!! The fans are thunderous, and ELP is right up!! LARIAT!! Cover, ONE?!!? WHAT?!?

ELP just runs again, goes up and up, and FLYING- ALPHA ELBOW!!! Cover, ONE!??! The fans are thunderous as both men defy expectations! ELP dodges a lariat to POISON-RANA!! Konosuke stands up but wobbles, and ELP ROLLING ELBOWS!! Cover, ONE?!?!?! HOW?!?! ELP shrugs it off to tune up! SUDDEN DEATH!! SUDDEN DEATH AGAIN!! And then C R 2!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Konosuke survives all of that and the fans are electric! Rocky is freaking out but “This is Awesome!” ELP is up, THUNDERKISS ATTACK! And then a somersault back to the apron, THUNDERKISS 86 SPLASH!!! Cover, ROCKY DRAGS THE REF OUT!!!

The fans boo as Azucar sours the taste of this one! The ref and Rocky argue, but ELP storms out to get Rocky! Rocky runs for it, but ELP SUPERKICKS him! ELP reels Rocky in and POWERBOMBS him through the table!! ELP goes into the ring, but the POWER DRIVE KNEE finds him! And then RAGING- CRADLE!!! TWO!!! Konosuke escapes, dodges, and ROLLING ELBOWS!! And then POWER DRIVE KNEES!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? HOW?!?!? Konosuke throws off his elbow pad, winds up, and ALPHA ELBOWS!!! Then the RAGING FIRE!!! Cover, Konosuke wins!!!

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)

ELP kept his NJPW World TV Championship, but now Konosuke has kept his NEVER Openweight Championship! Is Konosuke going to prove he isn’t just The Alpha of AEW, but the Alpha of the World?

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr w/ Shane Haste!

The Fierce Warrior took this title from The Front Man at the New Beginning in Osaka, and the Goto Revolution has been on a roll these last few months. ZSJ wants the spotlight back, but there’s also a catch: The winner here must defend against Shingo Takagi at NJPW Dominion in June! Will it be out of the frying pan and into the fire for Goto? Or will this be ZSJ’s resurgence?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the G in IWGP is still for Goto!

The bell rings and the fans fire up as Goto and ZSJ stare down. Goto and ZSJ then circle, feel things out, and go around. They knuckle lock, then clinch, and ZSJ waistlocks. ZSJ shifts to a headlock but Goto wrenches out to wristlock. ZSJ rolls, bridges, spins and wrenches, but Goto headlocks! ZSJ hammerlocks, Goto goes to the ROPEBREAK, and the fans cheer this opening exchange.

NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Mercedes Mone VS AZM VS Mina Shirakawa!

The CEO thought she was just getting one or the other for Resurgence, but that Double Count Out Draw in Chicago really upped the ante. Now both High Speed Bomb Girl and Fighting Gravure Idol get their shot, will one of them leave the Golden State wearing gold? Or will she still be #FourBeltsMone?

SmackDown is in O-H! I-O!

24 hours before Backlash and his Undisputed WWE Championship defense, JOHN CENA is on SmackDown! Will Dayton, Ohio get an Attitude Adjustment?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• LA Knight & Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu; Knight & Priest win.
• Chelsea Green & Piper Niven w/ Alba Fyre VS Zelina Vega & Alexa Bliss; Zelina & Alexa win.
• WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Nia Jax VS Jade Cargill; Nia wins and will challenge Tiffany Stratton for the title.
• WWE Tag Team Championship Eliminator: The Street Profits VS Fraxiom; Fraxiom wins and earn a title opportunity.
• Aleister Black VS Carmelo Hayes w/ The Miz; Aleister wins.
• Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar VS Rey Fenix & Andrade; Fenix & Andrade win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Backstage interview with Damian Priest.

Byron Saxton catches the Archer of Infamy at gorilla and knows his match is moments away. Byron brings up tomorrow night’s Fatal 4 Way for the United States Championship at Backlash, how is he feeling? Priest says he was good with just getting his hands on Drew McIntyre. But now the idea of becoming a two-time US Champion and getting his hands on Drew, that’s pretty… Oh, there he is. LA Knight steps up and wishes Priest all the luck in the world. But Knight is in that match tomorrow night, too, and anyone who gets in his way of the title, the backlash will be swift and severe!

But tonight, Knight & Priest take on Solo & Fatu, and what they gonna do? Priest is glad Knight brought that up. They’re facing two of the baddest men on this entire roster. Priest isn’t worried about having Knight’s back, but about Knight having his. Knight says he came in here with a clean conscience, trust wasn’t an issue, but now alarm bells are going off, Priest is acting a little sus. Here’s the deal: If Priest has Knight’s back, Knight has Priest’s. If you do dirt, you get dirt, so don’t make Knight give you dirt. Let’s do the thing, hit his music! YEAH!

Knight leads the way into battle, but will he and Priest be rolling into Backlash after tonight? Or will it be all gas, no brakes with it, YADADA MEAN!?

LA Knight & Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu!

The teams sort out but Priest and Knight argue. Solo CLOBBERS Priest and tells Knight to get out! The bell rings as Solo fires off on Priest more! The fans boo, Solo soaks it up, then throws more hands. Solo CHOPS, HEADBUTTS, then fireman’s carries, but Priest fights free to BELL CLAP! Priest then KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! ROLLING ELBOW! Solo wobbles, goes to a corner, and Priest ROCKS him again! Priest runs corner to corner to BACK ELBOW! solo staggers, Priest runs to RUN Solo over! The fans fire up and Priest roars at Fatu. Priest wrenches Solo, knuckle locks, and goes up the corner. Priest goes Old School with the CROSSBODY!

The fans rally up, Priest winds up, and Priest runs, only for Solo to bail out! The fans boo but Priest goes out the side. Priest runs in around the way, uses the steps to leap in, and AX HANDLES Solo down! Fatu stares Priest down and Priest dares Fatu to do something. But then Knight WRECKS Fatu with a dropkick! Priest tells Knight he didn’t need that, but Knight says he was gonna do that because the title will be Knight’s again. They argue that point while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Knight tells Priest to focus on Solo and Priest puts Solo in the ring. Priest storms in but Solo UPPERCUTS! Priest comes back to ROCK Solo! Priest JABS and ROCKS Solo again and again in the corner, the ref counts, but Knight tags in. Priest is annoyed by that but he lets it slide. Solo takes a swing on Knight but Knight blocks to counter punch! Knight stomps away on Solo, the ref counts, but then Priest tags in. Knight lets that slide, and Priest whips Solo. Solo reverses, Priest grabs ropes and he ELBOWS Solo away! Fatu takes a swing, Priest dodges, and then Priest DECKS Fatu! But Solo LARIATS Priest up and out!

Solo argues with the ref, and Fatu CLBOBERS Priest! Knight protests but the ref has him stay back. Priest drags himself up with the desk, Solo tags Fatu, and Fatu fires hands! Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest, stalks after him, and SMACKS him off the barriers! Priest staggers away but Fatu is right on him, to SMACK him off the apron! Fatu puts Priest in, whips him to a corner, and Priest hits buckles hard! Priest falls to the mat, but Fatu puts him on the ropes to COHKE! The ref counts, Fatu stops at 4, but Solo HEADBUTTS Priest down! Solo soaks up the heat and Fatu throws hands. Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest down, then HEADBUTTS him again!

Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest again, tags in Solo, and they mug Priest. SmackDown returns to single picture as Solo clamps on a shoulder claw! Priest endures and fights up while the fans rally. Priest stands and pries the claw away, but Solo CLUBS him! Solo talks smack, but Priest ROCKS him! Priest reaches for Knight but Solo grabs his hand! Priest throws hands but Solo holds on! Priest still reaches out, still throws hands, but Solo dodges to BLAST Knight! Priest ELBOWS Solo down, but he doesn’t have anyone to tag! Solo SPLASHES Priest from behind! SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Priest stays in this but Solo tags Fatu.

Fatu runs and SENTONS! The fans are torn but Fatu HEADBUTTS Priest down! And HEADBUTTS again! Fatu shouts all gas, no brakes! He HEADBUTTS Priest down, runs corner to corner, and HIP ATTACKS! Fatu snarls, he tags in Solo, and the fans boo. Solo soaks up that heat, then runs in, but Priest WHEEL KICKS Solo down! The fans fire up as Solo and Priest stir, and Knight rises! Priest and Solo crawl, hot tags to Fatu and Knight! The fans fire up as Knight fires haymakers on Fatu! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight whips, Fatu reverses, but then Knight didges the splash! JUMPING NECKBREAKER!

Knight scoops Fatu for the POWERSLAM! Knight mocks the geeking out, then spells it out! “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Knight then kicks and B F- NO, Fatu powers out, swings, but into a BIG back suplex! Knight goes to the corner, he spells it out again, but Priest tags in! The fans boo and Knight is indignant, but Priest winds up to LARIAT Fatu down! Priest brings down the straps and he takes aim. But Knight manages to tag in! The fans cheer but Priest and Knight argue, Solo CLOBBERS them both! SUPERKICK on Knight! Solo stands Knight up for the SAMOAN- NO, Knight spins that around to B F T!! Cover, Knight & Priest win!

Winners: LA Knight & Damian Priest, by pinfall

The dysfunction didn’t stop them from winning, but now Knight and Priest start shoving! Then they start throwing hands! And Fatu CLOBBERS them both! The fans are torn as Fatu HEADBUTTS Knight then POSTS him! Then he POSTS Priest! HIP ATTACK for Knight! HIP ATTACK for Priest! And repeat! Fatu geeks out and the fans fire up! Fatu grabs his belt and holds it up. The fans in Dayton cheer the Samoan Werewolf, but wait! CLAYMORE!! The Scottish Terminator takes Fatu down! The fans boo but now McIntyre holds up the belt. Will McIntyre complete his Grand Slam by destroying three other men to do it?

R-Truth is cheering on Cena… in the parking lot…?

Jimmy Uso walks over and asks what Truth is doing. Truth says Cena is in the house tonight to talk Backlash. It is on! Uh, but Cena sucks, though. Whoa! Truth’s childhood hero says you should never give up, but sounds like Jimmy threw in the towel. Jimmy says No Yeet then heads out. Will Truth be the only one in the locker room on Cena’s side?

Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.

Byron catches up with Drew and asks why he laid out Fatu, and Drew says it was a message to the Werewolf. Tomorrow night, Drew puts a silver bullet in him! But shouldn’t it be 1v1? Didn’t Drew win that #1 contender’s match with LA Knight? Didn’t Knight bring up the outside interference? Drew is a big details guy, cuz the devil is in the details. LA Knight shouldn’t have been in that match cuz he lost at WrestleMania! That’s BS! And speaking of BS, why is Priest in this match?! Drew told Priest that at Mania he would beat Priest in front of the world, in front of his family, brother, sister, father and mother, and he did that fair and square.

But Priest can’t succeed without Drew! Priest is rewarded with a spot in this match! BS!! And Fatu, the baddest dog in the yard, that’s who Drew wants to face. And when Drew wins, he’ll become a Grand Slam Champion. But Drew has some advice for Fatu so listen closely. “The problem when you’re all gas and no brakes~, is things are great when you’re mowing everybody down. But eventually, with no brakes, you hit a brick wall. And that brick wall is your next United States Champion, Drew McIntyre!” Drew heads out, will he make Backlash into a human demolition derby?

The Green Administration holds a funeral service…?

Alba Fyre says today, they are here to celebrate the Women’s US Championship reign of Miss Chelsea Green. But then Nick Aldis turns the lights on as he and Zelina Vega walk in. Aldis asks what in the world is going on. Piper Niven says sorry, this is a family and friends only event. Do they have clearance to be here? It’s HIS office! Chelsea say Alba was about to give one of the greatest #Eulogirlies, aka Eulogy for the Girlies, ever! She is in mourning! Zelina says spare us the crocodile tears. She’s mourning something she lost fair and square. So pathetic. Chelsea says Zelina doesn’t understand cuz she has zero friends!

Oh, wow, Zelina has zero friends? Well, maybe Chelsea & Piper should face Zelina and her non-existent friend in a match tonight. Aldis likes where this is going. Okay, then, see you in the ring tonight. Bye~! Zelina leaves, Chelsea says she is going through too much to do this! But she has no choice, that match is next! Just who does Zelina have in her corner to help against the Green Regime? We find out, after the break.

Aleister Black speaks.

“I guess this is the part where you expect me to speak in riddles. To pick up where I left off. Well, that part of myself, that man, I buried him. Ritualistically, violently. And funny enough, what I found six feet deep, it wasn’t death. No, no, it was the truth. And the truth is, I came back because I truly believe that I am the consequences this company so desperately needs. I am more than just the man that whispers in shadows, despite what you what me to do, despite what you think I might do. Now when I say that, I don’t mean that in a villainous way. No, this is so much bigger than just good versus evil. This is more than just the chants, the fog.

“Because this… This will cut deeper than any symbol could, deeper than I could ever do. I’m here to confront you, both mentally and physically. And you get to decide which one is worse. And as far as you, Carmelo, I haven’t quite figured you out. Or have I?” The Dark Father is still very mysterious, but will he make H1M #FadeToBlack?

Chelsea Green & Piper Niven w/ Alba Fyre VS Zelina Vega & ???

SmackDown returns as Chelsea fires Piper up. Zelina makes her entrance, and her partner is… ALEXA BLISS! Dayton cheers as their hometown girl stands side by side with La Muneca! Will these dolls make the Hot Mess & Miss P their playthings?

The teams sort out and Piper starts against Zelina. Zelina dodges Piper, runs up, but Piper scoops. Zelina slips free, Piper bucks the O’Conner, but then Zelina avoids the splash! Zelina sunset flips but Piper stays up. Zelina avoids the stomp, jumps again, but Piper catches her for a POWERSLAM! Piper drags Zelina over, tags Chelsea, and then Piper scoops and SLAMS Zelina! Chelsea goes up, up, and VADER FLOPS as Zelina moves! Zelina bumps Chelsea off buckles, JUMP KICKS her, then brings her around to ropes. Zelina calls her shot but Piper runs in! Zelina drop toeholds Piper into Chelsea! Zelina dials it up, DOUBLE 619! Cover, TWO!

Chelsea survives but Zelina points to Alexa. The fans cheer, but Chelsea THROWS Zelina down by her hair! The fans boo but Chelsea swings on Alexa. The ref keeps Alexa from retaliating, but Zelina kicks Chelsea. Zelina whips, Chelsea reverses and Piper gets a cheap shot in! Chelsea hooks a leg for a modified snapmare, then tags Piper! Piper runs and ELBOW DROPS! The Green Administration salutes but the fans boo, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Zelina fires forearms on Chelsea! Chelsea still keeps Zelina back, then she kicks low! Chelsea whips Zelina to a corner, but Zelina ELBOWS Piper! Zelina DUMPS Chelsea out, crawls her way over, but Chelsea tags Piper! Piper runs and ELBOW DROPS, but Zelina narrowly dodges! Zelina runs up, Piper catches her, then HEADBUTTS her! Piper scoops but Zelina swings to DDT! The fans fire up while both women are down! Zelina crawls, as does Piper, hot tags to Chelsea and Alexa! Dayton erupts and Chelsea panics! Alexa rallies on Chelsea, blocks a kick, and hits a DRAGON SCREW!

Alexa SLAPS, ROCKS, and runs up on Chelsea to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! Chelsea tumbles to ropes and Alexa runs in, DOUBLE KNEES! Alexa YANKS Chelsea back, then hits a BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Chelsea survives but Alexa drags Chelsea up. Alexa whips Chelsea into a corner, but Chelsea ELBOWS her away! Chelsea salutes as she climbs, but Alexa trips her up! Chelsea is in the Tree of Woe, Alexa DROPKICKS her down! The fans fire up as Alexa climbs the corner, TWISTED BLISS!! Cover, PIPER BREAKS IT! Zelina grabs Piper and hops on, CODE- NO, Piper blocks it! But Alexa KICKS Piper into the CODE RED!

The fans fire up and Zelina pushes Piper out of the ring. Zelina then METEORAS to the floor! Chelsea hooks Alexa’s arms and turns her! But Alexa powers out, and has the clinch! TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL!! Cover, Alexa wins!

Winners: Zelina Vega & Alexa Bliss, by pinfall

They might be small but they are mighty, Zelina & Alexa win big together! Will they stick together to keep the Green Administration out of power?

Rey Fenix is backstage.

And Santos Escobar finds him. Fenix doesn’t wanna hear it, and he tells Santos that Fenix won last week. No more conversation. Santos says yeah, he knows he lost. But he has one thing to say, and then he’ll go. Okay, fine, what is it? Santos asks, “Who said anything about a conversation?” LOS GARZA ATTACKS! Legado del Fantasma mugs Fenix, throws him around into road case after road case, but security and producers rush in! They get Legado to back off, and Andrade hurries over. El Idolo checks on Fenix, but did the Emperor of Lucha just get the revenge he wanted? Or will Legado work to make sure the Firebird never rises again?

Charlotte Flair is here!

Dayton is torn as The Queen struts her way to the ring. Charlotte still has someone hold the ropes open for her before stepping inside, and she smiles as she accepts cheers and jeers. Charlotte then grabs a mic to tell Dayton, “Your Queen has arrived! Here I am, coming off the greatest women’s match in WrestleMania history! And I need to give credit where credit is due. I was… I was out for almost two years, with a career-ending knee injury. And I took your champion to her absolute limit! Check this out, check this out.” Charlotte has the tron show an image of Tiffany Stratton near the end of the match.

Charlotte asks if that looks like someone who enjoyed her WrestleMania Moment? Charlotte enjoyed hers so much, she is going to announce her path back tot he WWE Women’s Championship! The fans are even more divided over that and she asks why they’re so disrespectful. Seriously! Why?! Charlotte is the Women’s Wrestling GOAT! THE Greatest Of All Time! See, if you continue to be this disrespectful, she will just leave Dayton and never come back. The fans cheer that! Charlotte says last chance, Dayton! The fans say bye bye already, and Charlotte throws her mic down in frustration! Charlotte storms off to the back, but then wait! “A storm is coming.”

Jade Cargill makes her way out here, the fans cheer, and Jade stares Charlotte down as they cross paths. Charlotte and Jade move on, but then Jade grabs that mic. Jade wants Charlotte to wait. “Before you go… You had your chance. Now head to the back of the line.” Jade throws shade, but will she be shining in the spotlight with her golden ticket? Or will the Irresistible Force make sure no one gets to Tiffany before her?

Charlotte returns backstage.

She argues with Aldis about leaving. He says she can’t just walk out. She isn’t “walking out,” she’s just leaving. Aldis says this is not how professionals handle business. Charlotte says she has done more for this division than anyone, and this is how he’s treating her? Aldis says she should be a leader and lead by example, not throw a temper tantrum when things don’t go her way! She says she can’t do this, and she wants her driver to take her to the airport. But then someone slams the door shut! It’s Alexa! And Alexa says, “Let’s chat.” A curious move from Lil’ Miss Bliss, but what does she have in mind for The Queen?

WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Nia Jax VS Jade Cargill!

SmackDown returns and Nia makes her entrance. But then wait! “It’s Tiffy Time!” Tiffany Stratton makes her way to ringside so she can watch this in person. The bell rings, Jade and Nia circle, and they tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Jade manages to push Nia back a couple steps. Nia digs in her heels and pushes Jade back those steps. Jade turns things around to put Nia in a corner, the ref counts, and Jade lets off at 4. Nia wants a timeout and talks trash on Tiff. Tiff talks trash back, then Nia rushes Jade. Jade slips around, waistlocks, but Nia ELBOWS her away. Nia CLOBBERS Jade and soaks up the heat.

Tiff and the fans boo but Nia whips Jade to a corner. Jade goes up and over, runs and RAMS Nia! Nia rebounds to RUN Jade over! Nia flexes, Tiff and Dayton boo more, but Nia soaks it up. Nia runs in and BACK ELBOWS Jade! Jade sputters, Nia brings her around, but Jade fires hands! Nia shoves Jade, Jade dodges and hurdles! Jade then SHOULDER TACKLES Nia down! The fans fire up and Tiff applauds as Jade brings Nia up. But Nia fights the fireman’s carry with knees and elbows! Nia fireman’s carries and SAMOAN DROPS! Jade sputters again and Nia runs, to drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO!

Jade survives, Nia grows frustrated, but Tiff talks more trash as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Nia lifts Jade with a STRETCH MUFFLER! Jade endures, uses her core to sit up, and she sunset flips over! But Nia stays up! Only for Jade to avoid the hip drop! Tiff cheers for Jade to get going, and Jade hurries to bring Nia up! Jade fireman’s carries and the fans fire up for Jade’s SAMOAN DROP! Jade rises up again as the fans cheer her on! Jade runs up on Nia to ROCK her! And then ROCKS her again! Nia blocks the third shot to KNEE low! Nia brings Jade around, suplexes, but Jade fights that to suplex Nia! The fans fire up and Jade kips up! Jade huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs in at the corner, but Nia puts her on the apron!

Jade RAMS Nia, slingshots up and over and keeps moving, SUPERKICK! And a SUPERKICK! Nia staggers, into the SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Tiff is excited just like the fans as Jade watches Nia rise again. Jade runs up, but Nia gets under the boot! POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Jade survives and Nia is shocked! Nia shakes her head, rises up, and she drags Jade to a drop zone. Nia goes up, up, but Jade SUPERKICKS! Jade then ROCKET LAUNCHES Nia off the corner!! The fans fire up and Tiff cheers Jade on! Jade roars, climbs, and FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO!! Nia survives and Jade is beside herself!

Jade drags Nia up, reels her in, but Nia elbows free! And TOSSES Jade to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then runs corner to corner, only for Jade to BOOT her down! Cover, TWO!? Nia survives and Jade is beside herself! BUT WAIT, NAOMI ATTACKS TIFF!! The fans freak out as Naomi RAMS Tiff into steel steps! Jade sees Naomi and wants after her, but Nia CLOBBERS Jade from behind! SENTON! Nia drags Jade to a corner while Naomi stomps away on Tiff! Nia goes up, up, and A-NIA-LATES Jade!! Cover, Nia wins!

Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Women’s Championship)

Give an assist to Naomi, Tiffany did not #ProceedWithCaution! Will Naomi help Nia tear Tiffany apart and take the title from whatever’s left?

The Street Profits walk the halls.

Mia Yim & B-Fab are there, and Michin says, “DAYUM! Y’all look messed up.” Fab says they still look so good drippin’ in all that gold. That TLC match was nothing less than fab-u-lous! The Profits thank Fab for that, and Fab says Dawks & Tez are doing their thing. Ford tells the ladies that they never lie. But also, they heard Mia & Fab put their foot down and talk tag titles. Tonight, right now, Ford & Dawkins are gonna do the same thing. Fab says tell ’em! Ford & Dawkins head to gorilla, what will the WWE Tag Team Champions have to say about what’s next? We’ll find out, after the break.

The Street Profits head to the ring!

Dayton cheers as Dawkins & Ford go to the ring, holding up the belts. Ford says, “The gorilla fears us!” IYKYK. Ford grabs a mic to say, “Oh, Daytoooon~!” Dawkins asks, “Who Dey?” The fans are torn as not everyone is a Bengals fan. But Ford says here’s how you do it. “O H I!” “O~!” See? Good pop. But anyways, cut the noise. Unless you’ve been under a rock the last couple weeks, Profits have been the talk of the town, right? Think about it. They put on arguably the greatest… No, they DID put on the greatest TLC match of all time! The fans cheer that. Ford says yeah, that’s right! The gorilla fears us!

But with that said, the blood, the sweat, the tears, the passion, and hell, they even used a prosthetic leg! They got a leg up on the competition! They’re a whole leg ahead! But with that said, what happened is what always will happen, and that’s the Profits coming out on top. The fans cheer that! But then wait! Fraxiom makes their way out here! Ford is already annoyed, but Nathan Frazer sincerely apologizes for this interrupting. But damn, it feels good to be here on Friday Night SmackDown! Ford says duh. Frazer says look at them, amigo! They’re rubbing shoulders with THE WWE Tag Team Champions, The Street Profits! Quite possibly the best tag team in the game right now.

Ford says hey, at least they’re smart. Frazer & Axiom step in, and Frazer asks Axiom if he remembers what Shawn Michaels told them as they left NXT. Oh yes, he does. HBK gave them one direct command: When you see an opportunity, go ahead and take it! Axiom says hey, The Profits are amazing, truly, best of the best. No disrespect, but Fraxiom saw them out here and just thought, “Man, those tag titles would look great on Fraxiom.” The fans are torn, and Dawkins needs a second. Y’all only had two matches on SmackDown. They think they deserve a title shot? The fans are torn again but Fraxiom is united in saying, “Yes!”

Ford says, “What? Are you serious? After three weeks, you want a title shot? Against the Street Profits? Who last week, put on a classic?” But Aldis steps in here. Aldis says Fraxiom is in the ring with The Profits, and Aldis likes what he sees. And yes, Fraxiom is new and haven’t proven themselves worthy, yet. But they have been extremely impressive. And we’re in the heartland of America with Dayton, Ohio! The fans cheer that and Aldis says with this being the Land of Opportunity he can’t think of a better opportunity to prove themselves than to face the Street Profits… RIGHT NOW! Let’s get a ref and let’s do this!

The Profits are upset, because between being beat up and NOT being dressed to compete, they’re not ready! But will they hurry and get ready? Because the match is happening after the break!

The Street Profits VS Fraxiom!

SmackDown returns and the match is already underway. Ford bucks Axiom’s O’Conner Roll, but Axiom comes back to RAM low! Tag to Frazer, then Axiom reels Ford in for an IRON OCTOPUS! Frazer runs and runs and runs, to DROPKICK Ford down! Ford flounders away and tags in Dawkins. Dawkins CLOBBERS Frazer, but his arm bothers him. Dawkins runs, Frazer drops down, hurdles, but Dawkins manages to cartwheel! The arm slows Dawkins down but Frazer always says #NeverSlowDown! Frazer ducks ‘n’ dodges, then DROPKICKS Dawkins down! Dawkins stagger sup, Frazer runs up and hits a snapmare!

The fans rally as Frazer grinds Dawkins down. Dawkins fights up, powers up, but Frazer hits a flying-mare! Frazer has the headlock and grinds Dawkins again, but Dawkins fights up. The fans rally, Dawkins powers up and out, then catches Frazer as he goes up and over! Frazer slips free, shoves, but Dawkins hurdles and FLYING ELBOWS! Frazer flops out, the fans rally up, and Dawkins goes out the side. Dawkins runs in and POUNCES Frazer into the desk! Frazer flops down, Dawkins leaves him behind, and the ring count climbs. Axiom checks Frazer, helps him up, and then helps him into the ring.

The fans rally as Frazer stands, but Dawkins is on him. Dawkins CLUBS Frazer, tags Ford, and Ford slingshot SENTONS! That was a bit double-edged, but the fans fire up as Ford rises. Ford runs to KICK Frazer in the side! Cover, TWO! Ford KICKS Frazer again, tags Dawkins, and Ford snapmares Frazer for the SPLASH STOMP COMBO! Dawkins shakes out the bad arm before he covers, TWO! Frazer stays in this but Dawkins looms over him. The fans rally, Dawkins whips Frazer corner to corner hard, then runs in for a CYCLONE SPLASH! Dawkins sputters as he covers, TWO! Dawkins seethes but he grabs at Frazer’s legs.

Frazer kicks at Dawkins, Dawkins HYANKS him up, but Frazer ENZIGIRIS! Tag to Axiom and the speed combo fires off! DDT on Dawkins! Ford runs in, he gets KICK after KICK and the ASSISTED DROPKICK! Ford tumbles out, as does Dawkins, Axiom DIVES on Dawkins while Frazer DIVES on Ford! And then repeat! Dawkins is sent into barriers, then Ford is sent into barriers, and Dayton fires up for Fraxiom as SmackDown goes picture in picture!

Fraxiom fires up, and Axiom stands Dawkins up to CLUB the bad arm! Axiom puts Dawkins in the ring, pushes him over and covers, TWO! Axiom waistlocks Dawkins but Dawkins endures. Axiom shifts up to a chinlock, then he goes for the arms! Dawkins fights against the motorcycle stretch, so Axiom shifts to a ghost pin! TWO, and Axiom DROPKICKS Dawkins down! Cover, TWO! Axiom facelocks and he grinds Dawkins down. Dawkins endures, fights up, but Axiom keeps between him and Ford. Dawkins fights up and lifts Axiom, to then THROW him! Frazer tags in and runs up to grab a leg! But Dawkins BOOTS Frazer away!

Axiom tags back in, he grabs legs, and he YANKS one! Dawkins writhes, Axiom looms over him, and Axiom clamps on a chinlock. Dawkins endures, reaches out, and fights up. Dawkins pries at the hold, but Axiom shoves him away. Axiom LARIATS at the ropes, tags Frazer, then feeds Dawkins to a GAMANGIRI! Fraxiom DOUBLE SUPERKICK Dawkins down! They BLAST Ford, Frazer STANDING SHOOTING STARS on Dawkins! Cover, TWO! Dawkins survives but Frazer goes to a corner. Frazer climbs while SmackDown returns to single picture. Frazer takes aim, PHOENIX- NO, Dawkins dodges and FLAPJACKS!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Frazer and Dawkins crawl, hot tags to Axiom and Ford! Ford runs and CLOBBERS Axiom! Then he BLASTS Frazer! And he LARIATS Axiom! And LARIATS again! Ford then dodges Axiom, both men run, and then Ford blows past Axiom to LARIAT again! The fans fire up with Ford, and he gets around Axiom to hit a BIG back suplex! Ford kips up and fires up, and Dayton is with him! Ford sets up, flexes, and STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives and Ford is frustrated. Ford whips, Axiom KICKS, and Frazer tags in! Ford ENZIGIRIS Axiom, Frazer springboards in!

Ford dodges Frazer, Frazer handsprings through and comes back to roll up! TWO, and Ford SUPERKICKS! The fans fire up again, and Ford runs up, only for Frazer to put him right up top! GAMANGIRI! Ford wobbles, Frazer climbs, and Frazer brings Ford to the very top! Ford resists with body shots, then he shoves Frazer back! Frazer backflips to land out, then he goes right back up! But Dawkins sneaks a tag! Dawkins gets under Frazer to Electric Chair Lift! Ford goes up, BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Cover, AXIOM BREAKS IT! The fans are torn as this continues, but they all know “This is Awesome!”

Axiom drags Ford up at the apron but Ford GAMANGIRIS! Ford climbs, leaps, but into a SUPERKICK! Ford falls out of the ring, Dawkins ENZIGIRIS Axiom! Dawkins runs up on Frazer but Frazer TOSSES him out! Frazer runs, DIVES, but into a HAYMAKER! Dawkins hurries up the corner, but Frazer UPPERCUTS! Axiom tags in and ENZIGIRIS! Frazer tags back in as Axiom climbs! SUPER SPANISH FLY!! PHOENIX SPLASH!! Cover, FORD BREAKS IT AND UPPERCUTS AXIOM!! The fans are thunderous and Frazer drags Dawkins up. But Dawkins ROCKS Frazer! Frazer PELES Dawkins!

Ford sneaks a tag, Dawkins gives Frazer the SKY HIGH! Ford hurries to a corner but Axiom hits a GOLDEN RATIO on Dawkins! Ford still reaches the top, but Frazer runs up! Ford hops down to GAMANGIRI, then he climbs again! Axiom runs up, Ford BOOTS him down! FROM THE HEAVENS FLOPS as Frazer dodges! Tag to Axiom and Frazer sets Ford up! MISSLE DROPKICK HIGH LOW!! Cover, Fraxiom wins!!

Winners: Fraxiom, by pinfall

The “Catapulta Infernal” strikes its target, and the new kids on the block just beat The Profits! Fraxiom offer handshakes, the Profits accept, and now these two teams will battle again with titles on the line. Will Fraxiom’s winning combination reach the titles in record time? Or will the Profits be able to heal up and bring their 100% to the match?

Tiffany Stratton returns backstage.

The WWE Women’s Champion is hunting down Naomi, but Nia finds her first. Nia says it isn’t easy being champion, is it? Tiff’s made some enemies. But instead of worrying about Naomi, worry more about Nia, because Nia is the #1 contender now to take back what is rightfully hers. Tiff says that’s fine, because once she beats Nia, Tiff can reserve a spot for Nia at the loser’s table. Right next to Charlotte Flair! Tootles. Tiff heads out and Nia scowls. Will Nia make sure time runs out on Tiffy Time?

The Miz talks with Carmelo Hayes at gorilla.

The Hollywood A-Lister insists that last week was all about getting game film on Aleister Black. And if Melo watched that film, then he should know a lot of counters to Aleister’s moves. If Melo studied that film, he should know that during Miz’s match, Melo was out of position. But that is okay, because Miz will show Melo where he needs to be to get the job done. Just watch Miz out there, because tonight is about Melo. Tonight is about showing Melo IS the Tenth Wonder of the World! For Miz, for Melo, and for #Dre, and for the WWE Universe, Melo will run the play just as Miz designed it, because #MeloDon’tMiz! And they are… AWES-H1M!

Who’s H1M? Melo is! Who’s H1M? MELO IS! That’s right! Let’s go! Miz & Melo make their entrance, but will Melo use Miz’s game plan to hit that game winner? Or will there be no three pointer when things #FadeToBlack?

Aleister Black VS Carmelo Hayes w/ The Miz!

SmackDown returns and Aleister makes his entrance. The bell rings and Aleister stares Melo down. They slowly circle, feel things out, and tie up. Aleister wrenches but Melo rolls. Melo facelocks, cranks on the hold, but Aleister wrenches out to headlock. Melo powers up and out, but Aleister spins that around to hit a headlock takeover. Melo keeps his shoulders up, fights to his feet, and he powers up and out. Aleister wrenches and whisp but Melo rolls off Aleister’s back. Melo ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard, but Aleister ducks under to sit cross-legged! The fans cheer as Melo is rather stunned. Melo runs up, Aleister avoids the low crossbody!

Aleister kips up, Melo kicks low and Miz tells Melo to keep on him! Melo fires off hands in the corner, then stomps away! The fans boo, the ref counts, and Melo lets off to soak up heat. Aleister just snarls, and then he KNEES Melo low! Aleister fires hands and kicks, then KICKS Melo at the rope! melo tumbles out, Aleister goes up and out, ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes Melo and Miz is worried. Miz stays back but Aleister does take a moment to catch his breath. Aleister also refreshes the ring count, then he runs up on Melo. Melo dodges, Aleister’s boot gets stuck on barriers! Melo DROPKICKS Aleister down!

Miz fires up and Melo crosses his arms like Andre the Giant. Melo is in control while SmackDown goes picture in picture.

Melo goes around the way to fetch Aleister, and CHOPS him against barriers! Melo RAMS Aleister into more barriers, CHOPS him again, then refreshes the ring count. Melo drags Aleister back around to wrench and RAM Aleister into the apron! Melo CHOPS Aleister against the desk, then he puts Aleister back in the ring. Melo hurries to KNEE Aleister in the side! Aleister ELBOWS Melo in return! Aleister ROCKS Melo, Melo mule kicks! Melo stomps Aleister down, then covers, TWO! Aleister toughs it out but Melo clamps on. Melo whips, ELBOWS Aleister down, and Melo drops a leg, brother! Cover, TWO!

Melo is frustrated but he clamps onto Aleister with a top wristlock. Aleister endures, fights up, and arm-drags Melo away! Aleister KICKS Melo, snapmares, and basement DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Melo toughs it out but Aleister whips him to ropes. Melo uses that to springboard and CROSSBODY! Down goes Aleister and Melo says swish! Melo stands Aleister up, CHOPS him, but Aleister CHOPS in return! Melo ROCKS Aleister, Aleister ROCKS Melo! Melo ELBOWS Aleister, Aleister fires fast hands! Melo HEADBUTTS, Aleister ROCKS Melo! Aleister clinches, fires KNEES and then sweeps the legs! SmackDown returns as Melo goes to the apron.

Aleister storms over and brings Melo up, but Melo HOTSHOTS him away! The fans rally, Melo climbs, but Aleister steps up to KICK Melo in the face! Melo wobbles, Aleister climbs, and Miz coaches Melo. Melo shoves Aleister away, but Aleister comes back, so Melo leaps over. Melo rolls through, comes back, tilt-o-whirl, but Aleister slips free! Aleister blocks a kick to JUMP KNEE! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Aleister and Melo stir while Miz coaches Melo up. Melo rises, fires forearms on Aleister, but Aleister fires back! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth, the fans duel, and Aleister CLOBBERS Melo!

Aleister fires off a strike fest! LEG SWEEP! SLIDING KNEE! Aleister kips up, then QUEBRADAS! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and Miz can breathe again. Aleister checks his teeth, shakes off the cobwebs, and then looms over Melo. Aleister reels Melo in, suplexes, but Melo counters to a cradle! TWO! Aleister blocks a kick to sweep the legs! Then Aleister suplexes, but Melo knees free! Aleister blocks another kick, but Melo rebounds to SUPERKICK! Melo runs, tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! And then Melo brings Aleister up, but Aleister suplexes! BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Miz is relieved as Melo survives!

Aleister scowls while he thinks on what to try next. The fans rally, Aleister stalks behind Melo, and then Aleister spins Melo around just to lift him up with his foot! Miz distracts Aleister, but then Aleister senses Melo! Aleister ducks, Melo BLASTS Miz, and Aleister rolls Melo up! ALEISTER WINS!

Winner: Aleister Black, by pinfall

Miz rushes back in, but into BLACK MASS!! The A-Lister tried trickery but paid for it! Will Aleister not back down on SmackDown? Will he find his way to gold soon enough?

Solo and Fatu return backstage.

Solo throws a bit of a fit over the loss. He says the numbers game is no longer with their family tomorrow. They need a game plan for it! They need to figure something out, because Solo is all outta sorts! Everyone is hurt! They need- Fatu says stop! “WE?! Game plan?! Man, the only game plan I that I got tomorrow is just to run the play! So tomorrow, Backlash, live in The Lou, these three suckas gonna get in where they fit in! Cuz tomorrow, Damian Priest, DOG WALKED! LA Knight, DOG WALKED! GADDAMN DREW MCINTYRE! I’ma ’bout to dog walk his ass!! That’s the only play that I ’bout to run! Cuz I’m all gas, no brakes with it. Yadada mean?”

Fatu is locked in, and Solo accepts that. At least, it seems he does. Will there still be something up Solo’s proverbial sleeve to ensure the Samoan Werewolf stays on top?

Fraxiom returns backstage.

They’re both still fired up from winning over the Profits, THE WWE Tag Team Champions. And then Motor City Machine Guns walk over and Chris Sabin says that is how you do it! They just won over the champs! Alex Shelley says Fraxiom came in, made some noise, and MCMG loved it! That’s exactly what MCMG did. They took the volume and cranked it to 11. Now, let’s see if Fraxiom can keep that energy up, because they know eventually, they’ll be facing MCMG. But then DIY CLOBBERS them all!! Johnny Gargano & Tommas Ciampa ran down fists on Fraxiom, and Ciampa shouts, “Don’t get it twisted, boys! You didn’t beat the tag team champions, the Profits, tonight!”

Ciampa says what Fraxiom did was they took advantage of two guys who were very banged up from TLC! Gargano says only a couple of lowlifes would do that! Then DIY stomps Fraxiom more. DIY hurries away, will Johnny Wrestling & Sicilian Psycho make sure no one gets ahead of them in line?

Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar VS Rey Fenix & Andrade!

Angel y Berto got the jump on the Firebird, but now they will have to fight fair and square with their enemies. Will the Firebird and El Idolo be able to humble Los Garza? Or will Legado del Fantasma lead the way for lucha libre in WWE?

SmackDown returns and Andrade makes his entrance, followed by Fenix. The teams sort out, Angel rushes Fenix but Fenix dodges to BLAST Berto! Fenix then SOBATS Angel, CHOPS him, and whips. Angel reverses, Fenix goes up and FLYING HEADBUTTS! Fenix runs, tilt-o-whirls, and he wrangles Angel into a ghost pin! TWO, and Angel RAMS Fenix into the corner! Tag to Berto, Los Garza stomp a mudhole, and Santos is mostly making sure commentary speaks positively about “running the bingo.” Los Garza taunt Andrade, and Angel throws his tearaway pants at him! The fans boo but Berto goes back to Fenix.

Berto drags Fenix up and snapmares for a KICK! Fenix writhes, Berto covers, TWO! Berto drags Fenix up, Fenix fires body shots, and Fenix CHOPS! Fenix runs, but Berto DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix stays in this but Berto argues the count. Berto drags Fenix up, reels him in and suplexes, but Fenix knees free! Fenix CHOPS Berto, then dodges to hot tag Andrade! The fans fire up as Andrade LARIATS, then blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Berto goes to a corner, the fans fire up, and they join in with “SI! SI! SI!” Andrade goes corner to corner and back again, but Berto runs up! Andrade dodges, Berto switches, and Angel sneaks a tag.

Andrade ELBOWS Berto, runs the ropes, but Berto drops down. Angel holds the ropes open, but Andrade stops short! Andrade wags his finger, but Berto CLOBBERS Andrade out of the ring! Fenix runs up, Berto TOSSES him and Angel DROPKICKS Fenix to the floor! Angel y Berto then go to the corners, climb up, and DOUBLE ARIHARA MOONSAULT! All four men are down but Santos loves it, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and the fans rally as Andrade endures the chinlock. Andrade fights up, JAWBREAKERS free, but Berto kicks low! Berto suplexes, Andrade fights that, and Andrade ducks both the roundhouse and the enzigiri! Then he hops on, and POISON-RANAS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Berto and Andrade crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up more as Fenix rallies on Angel! Fenix whips, Angel reverses, but Fenix reverses again to ENZIGIRI in the corner! Fenix puts Angel up top, CHOPS, but Berto storms up! Fenix ROCKS Berto then CHOPS Angel again! Fenix wrenches Berto, KICKS him, then knuckle locks.

Fenix goes up, up, jumps around, and ENZIGIRIS Angel before he FLYING ARM-DRAGS Berto! Dayton fires up and Santos is furious, but Fenix runs corner to corner! Somersault LARIAT on Angel, and Fenix puts him up top! Fenix tucks Angel in, but Angel slips free to FLAPJACK KCIK! Andrade runs in, dodges and CLOBBERS Angel! Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! Fenix SUPERKICKS Berto! The fans fire up while all four men are down! “This is Awesome!” as all four luchadores stir. Angel and Fenix find each other, and Angel CHOSP! Fenix CHOPS back! Angel CHOPS again, but Fenix CHOPS again!

Both men stand, Angel KNEES low, and then he runs to SPLASH Fenix in the corner! Berto tags in, he fireman’s carries Fenix to WASTELAND SLAM! Then ROLLING MOONSAULT! Cover, Andrade breaks it! Andrade hurries out but Berto drags Fenix up. Berto whips, Fenix reverses and runs up to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix snapmares Berto, but Santos distracts! Fenix hits the somersault rana, but Berto rolls through to sunset flip! But now Santos is costing Berto! The ref finally sees it and counts, TWO!! Santos is furious but Fenix wheelbarrows and victory rolls to FACEBUSTER! Cover, but Angel DOUBLE STOMPS it apart!

Angel CLUBS Fenix, hits a BIG back suplex, but Fenix lands out! Fenix staggers back, hot tag to Andrade! Andrade ROCKS Angel, then runs to boot feint and ELBOW! Berto flounders, Fenix goes up, ADIOS AMIGO KICK! Andrade brings Berto around, Fenix builds speed and FLIES onto Angel! Then THE MESSAGE!! Cover, Andrade y Fenix win!

Winners: Rey Fenix & Andrade, by pinfall

Santos is beside himself, but it was still his fault for this loss. Andrade and Fenix stand tall, will they be the ones leading the way as Worlds Collide? Santos then shouts at Los Garza to get on their feet! “What was that?!” Santos is taking his anger out on the wrong ones, and Berto SLAPS him! The fans fire up for Berto while Santos glares at him, but Berto leaves without Santos and Angel. Is Legado falling apart all around Santos, all because of his ego?

JOHN CENA is here!

Dayton fires up but also shout, “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” as the Undisputed WWE Champion walks out in his Ohio State Buckeyes styled The Last Time is Now merchandise. Cena has the song stop, and he again points to Mark Nash. The fans duel, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” while Mark reluctantly goes to the ring, same as the last few times. Cena tells Mark he already knows so Mark does the “proper” introductions. “Please welcome the Greatest Of All Time! The Never Seen Seventeen! Gracing Dayton with his presence one last time…! He is the Last-” Wait, Cena stops Mark there? Cena sees someone threw their bottle into the ring!

Cena picks up the bottle, looks it over, and it is a Michelob Ultra. Cena shakes his head, tosses the bottle aside, and lets Mark finish. “He is the Last Real Champion…! JOOOOOOHN CEEENAAA~!” The fans are torn while Cena holds up the title. Cena then takes Mark’s mic and excuses him. The fans boo but Cena says, “Tomorrow, your childhood dies. The reason you’re reduced to throwing empty bottles of beer is because every single one of you knows exactly how important Backlash is. You’ll do everything you can, just like Randy Orton. Which is why Randy Orton is not here tonight.

“Don’t boo! Don’t boo! He’s smart! He took my advice. He is home with his family in St. Louis. And he is preparing for the biggest moment of his career. The first time I wrestled Randy Orton was almost 25 years ago. Since then, we have shared in this ring on WWE television of almost 100 appearances. There are 31 world championships between us. We are the two names that defined what it means to have Ruthless Aggression. And if you are a fan between the ages of 12 to 55 and beyond, you either choose Randy Orton or you choose John Cena! THAT is what’s at stake tomorrow!” The fans here certainly cheer for “RANDY! RANDY!”

Cena says tomorrow, that is their final match. “Tomorrow, you only get to choose one more time. Tomorrow, your childhood dies! Don’t worry, don’t worry. If you’re a fan between the ages of 3 to 11 tomorrow, your childhood will die, as well. I will make sure you grow up fast, because tomorrow I prove three things: Life isn’t fair; winners write the history books; and Randy Orton is a liar! The person Randy’s been lying tot he most all these years is himself! I will explain it in terms that you can understand. Hustle, loyalty, respect.

“Hustle! Randy Orton only has this job because of his family! He has never once been held accountable for any of his failures! And he uses his stardom and his connections to protect him from responsibility or actually doing any hard work. Randy Orton is the Greatest Of All Time at wasting his potential! I am the Greatest of All Time because I AM hustle!” The fans boo but Cena continues. “Loyalty! Randy Orton thinks that working a job a lot of days in a row is loyalty. That’s not loyalty, that’s cashing a check. Randy Orton says he’s a WWE Lifer, he’s stuck here! He says he’s a piece of furniture, that’s right! He’s a La-Z-Boy!

“Loyalty is being a person that you can always count on. And you are counting on Randy Orton to be the one to take this away from me?! After 25 YEARS of injuries, bad attitudes and coasting his way to be over-celebrated and overpaid, you can’t count on Randy Orton for anything! Randy Orton is the Greatest of All Time at doing the bare minimum. I am the Greatest of All Time because I AM loyalty! Respect, of which you show me none! Randy Orton wants to beg for your respect! He has to remind you he’s a third-generation superstar. C’mon!

“Nobody knows Bob Orton Senior. The only thing Bob Orton Jr. ever accomplish in life was knocking up Randy’s mom. And the only thing Randy Orton’s ever done is life is ride off MY coattails! Yet he calls himself the Legend Killer? All he does is use his mean streak and his strength to remove these names from wrestling that were barely relevant in the first place. And tomorrow, he gets to do it again. Tomorrow, Randy Orton kills the legend of Randy Orton. Because he’ll be just like his 2006 drug test: A failure! Randy Orton is the Greatest of All Time at making a mockery of what a WWE superstar should be! I am the Greatest of All Time, because I AM respect!

“I’m not gonna stoop to your level, Dayton. Take a good look. Tomorrow is a historic moment for WWE. Because I make history again. And this is what a Last Real Champion looks like.” The fans boo as Cena holds up the belt. But who is this in a hoodie!? They spin Cena around, but Cena lifts them up for an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! This clearly isn’t Orton, he’s not tall enough. But Cena still nods and holds the belt up. ONLY FOR THE REAL ORTON TO APPEAR! You can’t see the R K O OUTTA NOWHERE!! Dayton is all fired up for Orton as he stands tall, holding the title up over Cena! Will this be how Backlash ends? Or will Cena make sure Orton’s legend ends instead?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown, especially as the go-home to Backlash. Great closing promo from Cena tonight, but Orton standing tall with that great surprise appearance hammers it home that Cena is winning at Backlash. Or he’s at least retaining. Everyone is wondering if they’ll flip the classic match from years ago where Randy retained by slapping the ref, and I wouldn’t mind them teasing that here to really add to the continuity of the rivalry. Charlotte Flair’s promo was also really good, with her doubling down on being a Heel even after her loss to Tiffany, and then being “so upset” over Dayton’s booing that she storms off.

Alexa Bliss returning in Ohio was a good move, and she had a very good match alongside Zelina against Chelsea & Piper. And a truly interesting move for her to confront Charlotte. Charlotte claims she’ll go right back for the top title but I would think Alexa doesn’t like that. Though, at the same time, Alexa could easily hop into the Women’s US Championship scene despite just teaming with Zelina. Meanwhile, great match between Jade VS Nia, with a great tease of Charlotte VS Jade during that entrance. Naomi of course does two birds with one stone, she beats up Tiffy while costing Jade, and now Nia VS Tiff will be some great stuff for the title. I wonder how Naomi will factor into that…

Great stuff opening with the US Championship story like they did last week. I figured Solo would take the loss so the Face team could have momentum, and then Drew gets the drop on him so that Fatu can also have go-home math in his favor. Fatu and Solo also had a very good promo together to show tensions mounting because it’s just them, and they’re at odds on how to handle the Fatal 4 Way. At this point, Solo Sikoa should bring in Hikuleo to freshen up their rogue bloodline. But also, Fatu could end up kicked out as Solo leads Leo, Loa & Tama against everyone else. Granted, fans would continue to see it as Temu Bloodline but whatever, SmackDown needs that one solid faction that does a lot of stuff in the same way Raw still has Judgment Day but now is also getting Rollin’s faction.

Good promo from Aleister to parallel Rusev’s return promo. It states that whatever WWE gimmick we remember from before no longer exists, and this is going to be more like Aleister bringing “Malakai” to WWE. Good promo from Miz to kinda talk down to Melo just a bit, but we still got a great match from Aleister VS Melo. Aleister of course wins with Miz getting too involved, and I’m still curious as to where this goes from here. We also got good progress in the Legado story, with Berto just done with Santos wrongfully heaping the blame on him. It was a great tag match, and I wonder if someone new joins Legado to freshen the group up, but mostly to give us a Six Man Tag of Fenix, Andrade y Berto VS Legado.

And great stuff with the tag titles, but perhaps with some curious moves. I liked Mia & Fab encouraging the Profits and then the Profits returning that as Mia & Fab hope to go for the women’s tag titles. But when it came to Aldis putting Profits in a match they weren’t prepared for, is that Aldis being Heelish? I don’t see the Profits being Heels at this point now, but hey, even “beat up” they had an awesome match with Fraxiom. Now DIY were really Heel with going after the tired Fraxiom backstage. We already got a Triple Threat with the TLC but I wonder if Fraxiom will have to still earn their title shot by getting past DIY and MCMG on separate occasions.

My Score: 8.8/10