Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/29/25)
The last Raw of 2025!
Whose reign survives into the New Year?
The last Raw of 2025 sees AJ Styles & Dragon Lee VS The Usos, then a WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat: Vaquer VS Bella VS Rodriguez!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat: Stephanie Vaquer VS Raquel Rodriguez VS Nikki Bella; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
- GUNTHER VS R-Truth; Gunther wins.
- Rey Mysterio VS Austin Theory w/ Logan Paul; Rey wins, by disqualification.
- WWE World Tag Team Championships: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee VS The Usos; The Usos win and become the new WWE World Tag Team Champions.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Vision is here!
Paul Heyman walks with Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and now Austin Theory, as they go to gorilla. Orlando, Florida barks but mostly boos as these five make their way down the ramp and to the ring, The Badass front and center. Paul Heyman gets the mic, he pats Theory on the cheek, then says, “Ladies and gentlemen…” Orlando boos and gives thumbs down, but Heyman frowns and sighs. The fans then chant for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Heyman frowns again, Logan wags his finger, but Heyman says, “CM Punk could have been here, standing in this group, but oh no! He had to placate to all of you and stop listening to me!
“Stupid ass CM Punk chants. We’ll start this all over again! Ladies and gentlemen… My name is Paul Heyman! Now, everything I say after that moment only hypes up where I’m going on this, the last show of 2025 of Monday Night Raw. Everything I say after that sentence just justifies something that needs no justification. So five years from now, when you’re obsessively scrolling through whatever platforms you’ll be obsessively scrolling through, this is the moment that you look back and identify all the WrestleMania main eventers.” The fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Heyman frowns, and he says out of character, thanks for their most irrelevant opinion.
But when you look at the current day main eventers, you’ll realize five years ago, they’re all standing in front of you right here, right now. So here’s the sentence that matters, here’s the moment you scroll back to, here it is in one straight declarative statement: The rumors are true, ladies and gentlemen, the newest member of The Vision… AUSTIN THEORY! The fans boo more as Heyman lifts Theory’s hand in congratulations. Heyman tells Theory to earn his keep, they’re all yours. Theory takes the mic to say he has waited his entire life for this moment. The fans boo, but Theory says he has worked his entire career for this moment!
Theory says he has a lot of things he wants to talk about. First: He wants to talk about the NEXT WWE World Heavyweight Champion, BRON BREAKKER! The fans boo and bark, but Theory then asks The Wise Man to educate us on this part again. “The goals of the Vision outweigh the individual needs of any exclusive athlete inside of the group.” But wait! C M PUNK is here! The fans fire up and Heyman shakes his head in frustration. The fans sing with Cult of Personality and Punk soaks it up. Punk already has a mic as he stands on stage, and he says Theory is already just spinning and doing tricks, drinking gallons of Kool-Aid.
But Punk isn’t here for Theory, he’s here for the other kid, Bron Breakker. Punk has been called a lot of things in his career, and he’s tougher than he is smart, but maybe someone in The Vision has a brain. Heyman, that means you. So explain to Bron that the match is already set, Punk VS Breakker, January 5th. Punk could come down there to say some things, Theory could stomp him, Bronson could hit a Tsunami, Breakker could spear him, Logan could punch him. But there’s not gonna be a title shot on the 5th then, huh? So why is Punk here? Tougher than he is smart? Maybe. But he likes to look a man in the eye before he puts him to sleep.
Punk walks down the ramp, and says unless Bron is scared… Maybe get the boys out of the ring so Punk and Bron can clear the air face to face. C’mon, he wants to say something, and Bron’s got a big mouth! Is Bron scared? Is the little doggy scared? The fans bark, and Punk steps up to the apron. Bron says the only one scared here is Punk. Come on in, Punk. Bron has the boys back up, and he asks Punk to step on in. Heyman has the rest of The Vision step outside, and Punk steps in. Punk dares Bron, “Whaddya got, kid?” Bron smirks and says, “Why are we here, Punk? Why are we standing here? Why does The Vision exist? Why’re we here?
“We are here because we look at things towards the future. We see things through the same lens. Look at Big Bronson Reed! The Tribal Thief! The master of the Shoe-la-fala, the most feared man that walks the halls. Look at Logan Paul! The biggest superstar in the entire world! Look at Austin Theory! A man with everything to prove. And then there’s me, who’s gonna be the next World Heavyweight Champion. And I’m so tired of you, and I’m tired of everyone else saying that I’m ‘the future’ and that one day, I’ll figure it out, and that one day, I’m gonna main event WrestleMania, and that one day, I’m gonna main event every show and figure it out.
“Well guess what? I am not the future, I am the NOW!” The fans are torn on that, but Bron says Punk has the audacity to come out here and say Bron’s the new shiny toy. That when Bron is under the bright lights, he’ll fail and be dropped like a bad habit. Tell you what. Go backstage, to the locker room, and find another guy like Bron, who can do what Bron can do! Who came into this business with less than a year of experience and took it over. Find someone who is as committed to this as Bron! Find someone who was born into this more than Bron! Find someone who is more of a dog than Bron!
Bron says Punk may not like him for not paying his dues. Bron knows what Punk sees in his eyes, thinking Bron’s had everything handed to him, that his life has been easy just for the lineage. Punk’s wrong, he doesn’t know Bron at all. Every single thing Bron has had to do in his entire life has been under a microscope. Bron’s had to live up to a higher standard than you could ever imagine! Bron has had to do things at the highest possible level! And you still don’t respect him for not paying his dues on the indies or something? Guess what? While Punk was doing that, Bron was sharing the field with Lamar Jackson! They ain’t the same!
Bron promises on January 5th, he is willing to die for the title. And he knows Punk is, too. And Bron will let Punk. Because Bron will put Punk in the ground, beat him, and become the NEW World Heavyweight Champion! The fans are torn, but the Punk chants begin again. Punk says Bron’s first mistake was assuming what Punk thinks of Bron. You think Punk was gonna say Bron isn’t ready? When his entire life, Bron’s been told he is? Brother, Bron’s more ready than anyone Punk’s ever seen! More than anyone back there, more than anyone in The Vision! The problem is, Bron, Punk ain’t ready. You want what he’s got? Take it!
Punk drops the belt at Bron’s feet. “It’s a lot heavier than you think, and I ain’t talking about the physical weight. It is a privilege to carry this strap! It is something that I’ve earned, and I’m not ready to let it go! I’m not ready to stop coming into sold out arenas nationwide and getting the privilege to say, ‘Is it good to be alive on a Monday night in Orlando or what?'” The fans cheer that! “I’m not ready to stop being champion. You’re big, you’re bad, you’re strong, you’re tough, you’re fast. You’ve got what it takes. But you’re right, we’re not the same. Because one of us is CM Punk.” The fans cheer that, too!
Punk continues, “Some day, I’m not gonna wake up, but it wasn’t today. Some day, I’m gonna run out of road, but it’s not January 5th. And some day, somebody is gonna beat me for this. But it ain’t gonna be you. I’ll see you January 5th!” Punk shoves the mic into Bron then takes his leave, the fans all fired up! But will Punk still be the Best in the World in 2026? Or will the Netflix Anniversary be the day everything changes?
Backstage interview with Raquel Rodriguez.
Jackie Redmond is with Big Mami Cool and notes she is preparing for tonight’s massive Women’s World Championship Triple Threat. Tonight is a huge opportunity for Raquel, but there has also been a lot of chaos leading up to it. How does Raquel plan to handle it all so she can go into 2026 as the new champ? Raquel says it is simple: There will be no tricks tonight. Nobody is getting in the way of her getting what’s hers! But then Liv Morgan apologizes for interrupting, she needs to talk. She knows Raquel’s felt weird the last couple of weeks, and now with JD McDonagh AND Dominik Mysterio being injured… Judgment Day NEEDS Raquel to handle business.
Which Liv knows Raquel will, because she is a champion! Raquel thanks Liv for that, and says just for the sake of communication and being on the same page, Raquel can handle Vaquer and Nikki on her own. Liv knows that! But Roxanne was just saying- What was Roxie saying? Just that they- Roxie walks in and asks what they were talking about. She did hear her name, after all. Liv says they’re talking strategy, and how they all want the same thing: Sister Raquel as the NEW Women’s World Champion! Roxie agrees, last week is water under the bridge, and Roxie wishes Raquel luck. Raquel says she doesn’t need luck.
Raquel heads out, Roxie is a bit unsure what that’s supposed to mean, but Liv pats Roxie on the head to assure her it’s fine. But will Ricky Desperado take down two big targets at once? Or will Judgment Day end 2025 on a low note?
WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat: Stephanie Vaquer VS Raquel Rodriguez VS Nikki Bella!
Raw returns as Raquel makes her entrance, joining Nikki in the ring. That means last but certainly not least, La Primera makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who really runs Raw!
The bell rings and the three watch each other closely. Raquel tells Vaquer that no one cares about Nikki, they should settle things themselves. Nikki says excuse me!? And then she pie faces both of them! The fans boo but Nikki ROCKS Vaquer, Raquel waistlocks Nikki, but Nikki fires elbows! Raquel SHOVES Nikki down! Vaquer shoves Raquel into Nikki! Vaquer runs, tilt-o-whirls, and she rolls Raquel up with a bridge, TWO! Raquel sputters but Vaquer grabs her by the hair. But Nikki DECKS Vaquer! The fans boo, but Nikki goes out to run up on Vaquer, only for Vaquer to dodge! The DROPKICK hits Raquel, then Nikki whips Vaquer into barriers!
Nikki whips Raquel into steel steps! The fans are torn but Nikki says she is the next champion, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Raquel clamps onto Vaquer with a top wristlock. Vaquer endures, fights up, and fires body shots. The fans rally, but Nikki climbs up. CROSSBODY, but Raquel catches Nikki! FALL AWAY SLAM! Nikki tumbles, then Raquel KNEES Vaquer and Canadian Racks! Into a Gory Especial! Vaquer endures being bent back, and she powers up ! Raquel lets Vaquer down to RUN her over! Raquel reels Vaquer in again, and right back to the GORY ESPECIAL! Vaquer endures again while the fans rally up. Raquel kneels down to make it a cover, TWO! Vaquer manages to bridge, and then she activates the core!
The fans fire up as Vaquer sunset flips through, TWO! Nikki BOOTS Raquel at the same time! Vaquer wrenches Nikki to snap suplex! And now Vaquer has Nikki caught! But Raquel KICKS Vaquer in the side! The fans boo but Raquel TOSSES Nikki out to go after Vaquer. Raquel fires forearms, then runs in, but Vaquer dodges! Vaquer comes back, but is put on the apron! Vaquer blocks a shot, HEADBUTTS, then SMACKS Raquel off buckles! Vaquer goes up, but Nikki YANKS her down! Nikki avoids a boot to HOTSHOT Raquel’s leg! Vaquer is back up, CROSSBODY! Nikki hurries to POST Vaquer!
Nikki goes to Raquel, drags her around, S T F! The fans boo as Nikki uses her ex’s hold! Raquel endures, but the fans chant “Thank You, Cena!” Nikki says no, THANK her! But Raquel pries free, and has Nikki in a HEEL HOOK! Wait, Vaquer gets Raquel! And she turns them both over! DEVIL’S KISSES on Raquel while Nikki suffers the leglock! The fans fire up as Vaquer gets all ten, then she SMACKS Nikki off buckles. Vaquer METEORAS Raquel in one corner, then runs up on Nikki. Nikki BOOTS her! Vaquer just fronts, puts Nikki’s legs in the ropes, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Raquel runs up, but Vaquer dodges!
Vaquer has Raquel in the ropes, and DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up as Vaquer stalks Nikki to the outside. Vaquer stomps but Nikki dodges! Nikki TRIPS Vaquer, then gets after her. But Raquel guzels them both! But Vaquer and Nikki both break free! Nikki ducks, the LARIAT hits Vaquer! The SOUTHPAW LARIAT hits Nikki! Raquel is in control as Raw goes back to break.
Raw returns again and Vaquer has Raquel in a HANGING ARMBAR! But Nikki DROPKICKS Vaquer into POST! Nikki then goes up, but Raquel ROCKS her first! Raquel climbs, fireman’s carries Nikki, but Vaquer climbs up to join them! Wait, who has who?! Nikki sunset flips through, TOWER OF DOOM!! Nikki covers Raquel, TWO!! Cover on Vaquer, TWO!! Nikki is frustrated but both Raquel and Vaquer survive. Nikki drags Vaquer up, fireman’s carries, “This is Awesome!” as Vaquer slips free. Raquel BOOTS Vaquer down! Nikki rolls Raquel up, TWO! Nikki RAN- NO! Raquel stops that, and pops Nikki up, only for Nikki to pop free!
Nikki ELBOWS Raquel, goes up, FLYING CHUCK! But Vaquer has Nikki! ANGEL’S WINGS!! Cover, Raquel breaks it! The fans fire up while all three women are down! Nikki slumps out of the ring, Raquel goes to a corner, and Vaquer crawls to ropes. Raquel storms up, brings Vaquer in, but Vaquer JAWBREAKERS! And SUPERKICKS! Vaquer runs, dodges Raquel, then tilt-o-whirls, but Raquel blocks! Raquel suplexes, but Vaquer cradles to counter! TWO!! Raquel escapes in time and Vaquer is surprised! Raquel winds up to CLOBBER Vaquer! Raquel then puts Vaquer in a drop zone, goes up, but Nikki YANKS Vaquer out!
Raquel BELLY FLOPS, Nikki ghost pins, TWO!! Nikki throws a fit as Raquel survives. Nikki runs up, but Raquel FLAPJACKS her off the corner! Raquel then hoists Vaquer, up, and adds Nikki to it?! But Vaquer slips free! TEXANA BOMB on Nikki! Vaquer TOSSES Raquel out, covers Nikki, and wins!!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s World Champion)
Raquel wrecks Nikki, but Vaquer snipes the victory! Will no one stop Vaquer even in the New Year?
Backstage interview with Gunther.
Jackie asks Der Ring General his response on the widespread belief that his general behavior since defeating John Cena is… disrespectful. Gunther says “defeating” John Cena isn’t quite precise. Gunther made Cena tap out like a- “GUNTHER!” R-Truth says the disrespect has to stop! Gunther made Cen atap, sure. A 17-time world champion, a Grand Slam Winner, and Truth’s hero, as well as a hero to a lot of other people. But Gunther singing the same old song makes him a… P O S! Truth says Gunther may be a great wrestler, and this is the second time he’s put away a legend. There won’t be a third.
Gunther scowls at Truth, but then laughs it off. If this is supposed to be a challenge, then see you in the ring! Gunther heads out, but will he be able to handle the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth? Or will he sadly add another name to the list?
The Kabuki Warriors are here!
Asuka & Kairi Sane will defend their WWE Women’s World Tag Team Championships next week, but there’s also the star-studded 8 Woman Tag this Friday Night SmackDown. What will The Empress of Tomorrow & The Pirate Princess have to say about it all? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns as Asuka & Kairi have the mics. The fans are torn, but Asuka says, “Last week, I faced Rhea Ripley. I BEAT HER!” Kairi applauds but the fans boo. Asuka says the fans all think their “stupid Mami” can take on Asuka. Huh Hah? HAH?! NO!! YOU IDIOTS! All of you are stupid babies~! BAAAKA~! Kairi adds on by saying yes, the fans are all stupid! But Iyo Sky, you should never have attacked Kairi. And if she- Asuka interrupts Kairi with a shout, and has Kairi give up her mic. Kairi cowers and apologizes to Asuka, but the fans cheer for Rhea & Iyo. Asuka says last week, Iyo & Rhea paid for their disrespect!
Because…! NO ONE is ready for Kabuki Warriors~! They’re the tag team champions! But wait! Rhea & Iyo ARE here! The fans fire up while Kairi is very worried. Mami & The Genius storm down to the ring, and the Kabuki Warriors are ready! To run away! Rhea & Iyo don’t care, they keep going! The brawl is on right in front of commentary! Rhea puts Asuka back in the ring, SUPERKICK! Iyo CULBS Kairi down, but Kairi RAMS Iyo into the back! Rhea storms out to DECK Kairi! Rhea checks Iyo, but Asuka KICKS Rhea down! And she THROWS Iyo into the timekeeper’s area! The Kabuki Warriors then mug Rhea!
The Kabuki Warriors but Rhea back in the ring, they mug her more, and then they set Rhea up! Kairi climbs, but Iyo is back! Iyo SHOVES Kairi down! Asuka runs up on Iyo, but she gets a GAMANGIRI! And then Rhea hits the EDDY GORDO KICK! Rhea HEADBUTTS Kairi, and hits the RIP- NO! Kairi slips free! Rhea ELBOWS Kairi, then she and Iyo each BASEMENT DROPKICK! The Kabuki Warriors retreat, leaving #RheYo to stand tall! But will this be how it is at the Netflix Anniversary? What about the 8 Woman Tag this Friday?
CM Punk checks on Rey Mysterio.
Punk wants to make sure Rey is ready, and Rey says he knows what Punk’s gonna say. Punk will say he’s got Rey’s back with The Vision tonight. But Rey says he’s good. Punk needs to protect that title. And just know that Heyman isn’t the only one in the business of favors. Rey’s covered, trust him. Oh, well okay. Go get that W! Punk leaves the King of Lucha to it, just who could it be watching Rey’s back tonight?
GUNTHER VS R-Truth!
Der Ring General keeps belittling The Greatest Of All Time, and that does not sit well with anyone, especially not John Cena’s number one fan! Will Truth defend his hero’s honor? Or will Gunther put an end to the Truth?
Raw returns and Truth makes his entrance, but he isn’t in the mood to ask What’s Up. Could that mean Ron Killings is in the driver seat now? The bell rings and Truth runs up to fire shots on Gunther! The fans fire up but Gunther turns things around to swing! Truth dodges, he fires more hands, but Gunther shoves Truth! Truth kicks low, “What’s up?!” SCISSOR- NO, Gunther dodges the kick to CHOP Truth down! The fans boo but Gunther stomps Truth, drags him up, and scoop SLAMS him back down! Gunther taunts Truth, taunts the fans, then drags Truth up. Gunther wrenches and CHOPS Truth, but Truth fires hands!
The fans rally as Truth fires more shots, but Gunther CHOPS him down! Gunther snarls, paces, and then grins as the fans boo. Gunther taunts the fans more, then he drags Truth up. Gunther reels Truth in for a back suplex, but Truth lands out! Truth jumps on, SLEEPER! Gunther flails, RAMS Truth into a corner, and the ref counts. Truth lets go, but Gunther CHOPS him down! The fans boo, but Gunther drags Truth right up. Gunther then short arm LARIATS Truth down! The fans boo more, but Gunther says Truth’s gonna give up! Gunther paces around Truth, then runs to LARIAT him back down! Gunther soaks up heat as the fans still boo.
Gunther stands Truth up, then mocks him with “You Can’t See Me!” Gunther runs, but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! And SHOULDER TACKLES! But Gunther BOOTS him down! Gunther grins, then lifts Truth up for a GENERAL BOMB! Cover, but Gunther lets up! Gunther throws HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS, then the REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Truth flails, reaches out, but he TAPS! Gunther wins!
Winner: Gunther, by submission
Der Ring General made sure Truth lost the way he wanted him to, and then laughs about it! Will no one stop Gunther? Will no one humble Gunther? Will no one survive Gunther?
Jimmy & Jey Uso meet up backstage.
Big Jim asks if Jey is ready to get back those tag team championship tonight, and Jey somewhat quietly says he’s ready. Jimmy asks Jey if he’s alright, and Jey says yeah, he’s ready, Uce. Jimmy says they’re brothers. When something ain’t right, he can feel it. Is Jey locked in? Is he alright? Jey says to be 100 with Jimmy, he feels like nothing has been going right his way, everywhere he turns… It’s one thing to put himself in a bad spot, but it’s another thing to put his brother in a bad spot. He ain’t trying to do that to Jimmy. Jimmy says the only bad spot is in Jey’s head! Jimmy’s been telling him, he needs Jey. Jey’s it.
Jey is a world champion! The Jey Uso that Jimmy knows is an EIGHT-TIME World Tag Team Champion, the longest running tag team champion. The Jey Uso that Jimmy knows is just like him, and he’s got everybody around the world and in that arena ready to yell one word, four letters… YEET. Jimmy needs Jey. Is Jey alright? Jey stands up and says YEET! Together, they’ll get at it. The Usos are going for gold, but will they make it number nine? Or will Dragon Lee & AJ Styles be too phenomenal?
Dragon Lee & AJ Styles talk backstage.
They’re also feeling good about their match, and then in steps a very excited Je’Von Evans. The Young OG tells Styles & Dragon good luck with The Usos. Thanks, but what’s Je’Von even doing here tonight? Je’Von says he doesn’t even know, but Mr. Pearce wanted to talk to him so Je’Von’s gonna go to his office real quick. Oh, “Mr. Pearce,” huh? Well, gotta keep it respectful. Well, Styles wants Je’Von to tell Pearce that Je’Von & Leon took Styles & Dragon to the limit at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Those guys were bouncing all over the place. But wherever they get situated, let Dragon & Styles know so they can run it back.
Je’Von says you know him! They all shake hands, but then in step Los Americanos. El Grande tells Je’Von in Espanol that he shouldn’t have come back here. Maybe he’s too stupid to understand the trouble he’s in. Je’Von says he has a lot of respect for Los Americanos, but uh, he’s not running from any of them. And he will do what he damn well pleases! Bravo & Rayo get heated, but Grande tells them to tranquilo. Grande steps up, but then Styles & Dragon step back in, and Dragon tells Grande to tranquilo himself. If you want after Je’Von, consider Styles & Dragon in, too. And they’re ones to talk about who’s stupid!
Grande says okay, okay, no problem! They can all be amigos. But just know that this isn’t over. Los Americanos leave, Dragon gives bare bones translation, and then they head out to get ready for the title match. Also, was that American Made in the background? Are The Creeds finally going to the bottom of who this El Grande Americano really is?
Austin Theory warms up.
Logan Paul says Theory is looking sharp. Heyman walks in, sipping coffee, and he says tonight is a big night. Theory is not gonna let Rey ruin it for him, is he? No. Then welcome to The Vision. They shake hands on that, and then Bron & Bronson step in. They also shake hands with Theory. Bron says from now on, they’ve got his back. Theory promises he has their backs, and he acknowledges his Tribal Thief. Logan says hey, he’s not the most humble guy in the world. Well, maybe he is. But he’s also one of the biggest, greatest stars walking the planet. So that said, his first day in The Vision, he was a little nervous.
But Theory did great out there! Logan wants theory to know that they’ve all got his back, including him. They fist bump on that, and Heyman says Logan should go to the ring with Theory. Oh, really? Sure! They can eliminate Rey Mysterio together, some quality bonding time. Okay, sure. It’ll be easy! Logan leads the way for Theory while the others hang back. Will it be Vision all day? Or will the 619 take A-Town down?
Rey Mysterio VS Austin Theory w/ Logan Paul!
Raw returns and Theory makes his entrance, complete with new lights, theme, tron, the whole nine yards. The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally for Rey as he and Theory tie up, and Theory puts Rey in a corner. The ref counts, but then Theory KNEES Rey low. Theory puts Rey in a corner, LARIATS, then whips corner to corner hard! Rey falls to the mat, Logan mocks the pain, and Theory scoops to BACKBREAKER! Then a gut wrench, btu Rey slips free! Rey ELBOWS Theory, BOOTS him, then goes up the corner to FLYING RANA! Theory tumbles, but he CLOBBERS Rey right back! The fans boo as Theory stalks Rey.
Theory stands Rey up to ROCK him with a forearm. Theory SMACKS Rey off buckles, brings him around, but Rey JAWBREAKERS free! Rey dodges Theory in the corner, runs in, but Theory drop toeholds him into buckles! Theory then slingshot somersaults, but into a RANA! Theory is on the ropes, Rey dials it up, 619 misses as Theory ducks! Rey hurries to the apron, and SEATED- NO! Theory stops the senton to POST Rey! Then he swings Rey around to APRON POWERBOMB! Theory snarls, his new edge razor sharp, as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Logan talks trash as Theory has Rey up top. Theory CLAWS at the mask, the ref counts, and the fans boo. Rey fires elbows, Theory steps back, but Theory pulls Rey into the Tree of Woe! Theory stomps away on Rey, then snarls as he backs off. Theory runs up, but Rey sits up! Theory crashes into buckles! The fans fire up as Rey adjusts. Logan coaches Theory, Rey SEATED SENTONS! Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl RANA! The fans fire up again and Rey RAMS Theory into the corner. Rey rains down fists, the fans count all the way to TEN, then Rey hops down. Rey runs, slides under, but Theory SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!
Logan says that’s good! Theory’s got this! Theory snarls, he drags Rey up, and he fires knees into Rey. Theory scoops, torture racks, and bends Rey! Rey endures, the fans rally, but Theory swings Rey, only for Rey to DDT! Cover, TWO! Theory survives the turnaround but the fans rally up for Rey. Rey builds speed, swings around again, and he RANAS Theory again! Theory is back on ropes, Rey redials, 619! But Logan TRIPS Rey right in front of the ref!
Winner: Rey Mysterio, by disqualification
Logan mockingly asks what’s wrong. Logan taunts the fans, puts Rey back in, and now he and Theory mug Rey! But wait! PENTA is back! The fans fire up as the Man with No Fear rushes the ring! Penta dodges theory, SUPERKICKS Logan, then he RANAS Theory! Penta dodges Logan to mule kick, and he gives Rey a boost! RANA! Logan collides with Theory! Logan is on the ropes, 619!! And then Penta LARIATS Logan up and out! The fans fire up as Penta & Rey stand tall! Will The Vision have reason to fear Monday nights now?
Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky speak.
Rhea tells Asuka, “You are nothing but delusional. You are the one that betrayed Iyo! You are the one that broke my face! You are the one that misted us! And you are the one that continuously hides behind Kairi to attack us from behind! You say that Iyo betrayed your family? And you say that I disrespected you? But really, you are the one who is disrespectful. You may have beaten me last week, but that is the first and the last time. Because Asuka, next week, I’m going to break you.” Iyo tells Kairi, “You are lost. It is too late for you. You have chosen the wrong path. Asuka, I am stronger than you! You were my senpai, but now the student has become the master.”
Next week, they teach you both a lesson in respect when they become the NEW Women’s Tag Team Champions! Mami & The Genius are more than ready, will The Kabuki Warriors not be ready for them?
Maxxine Dupri is here!
Orlando cheers the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion as she goes to the ring. Maxxine gets the mic to ask the fans if they had a good holiday. She did, too. And it was thanks to every single one of the fans. She would not be in this ring with this title on her shoulder if not for the WWE Universe, so thank you. The fans chant, “You Deserve It!” Maxxine hopes “Becks” hears that, because they all know the truth. But hey, Becky can keep running her mouth, saying she’s the “real IC Champion” and that Maxxine didn’t beat her. But what Becky can’t deny is that last week, when Maxxine got her ankle, Becky HAD to tap out, because Maxxine was NOT letting go.
Just like Maxxine is NOT letting this title go! Next week, January 5th, Maxxine stops at nothing to remain YOUR- Wait! Becky Lynch is here! The fans boo The Man as she storms out here, mic in hand. “How dare you. I did NOT tap out, okay?” The fans chant, “You Tapped Out! You Tapped Out!” Becky says the only thing she did was give up living in Orlando! No, no, n o, don’t boo her because you lost her, cheer because you had her. And let her be an inspiration to you all, that if you get rich and famous, you can move out of here, too. Maaxxine tells Becky to choose her next move wisely.
Because if Maxxine gets hold of that (Becky’s leg), Becky has two choices: A) Maxxine’s personal favorite, she’ll break it; B) Becky submits AGAIN! The fans cheer, and Becky steps in asking, “Who’s a Moody Maxxine? This is what I’m talking about, you’re very, very moody. I didn’t come out here to fight, I never start a fight, although I do finish them. I came to give you cr…” The fans chant, “You Tapped Out!” Becky says she knows, loss is hard to cope with, they lost her, but it’s okay. This is where it all started! Becky is here to give Maxxine cre… Crrrrr…. Credit! There! When Becky first saw Maxxine, she thought Maxxine was awful, terrible, just the worst.
But over the last few weeks, or even months, Maxxine has… Becky’s face twitches as she forces herself to say Maxxine’s gotten just a tiny bit better and managed to get away with stealing the title. That’s not nothing! Maxxine says the only thing she stole is the spotlight. She EARNED the title, and if Becky can’t realize it, Maxxine will make her realize it! Becky will not come out here to claim it was the ref or the corruption. No, it’ll be all Maxxine, and she won’t be the only one saying it, the fans will be saying it, and Sports Illustrated might even say it! Becky, you will have to say it, too: Maxxine Dupri, THE Intercontinental Champion!
The fans cheer and Becky scowls. “Listen to me, you little pup! I came out here to be nice, because I am a very nice person! Okay?! Alright!? But you think four weeks of training in a dungeon is gonna make up for the lifetime I have given to this business?! I am a Royal Rumble winner! I am a Grand Slam Champion! I won the main event of WrestleMania! I am the greatest female wrestler of all time, and it’s not just me saying it, Sports Illustrated says it, everybody says it! The Bleacher Report says it! Okay?! And I didn’t just get there because everything went my way, no! I climbed every mountain, I overcame every corruption and injustice perpetrated against me!
“And it is NOT over, it is never over, until I win, and I always find a way to win! But you, you think you stole the spotlight? Well, in one week, Maxxine, all eyes are gonna be on you. And you gotta ask yourself, are you everything they think you are? Or are you gonna be everything that i know you are? Welcome to the Big Time!” Becky throws down the mic, and the countdown begins. Will The Man make the Netflix Anniversary all about her? Or will it be all about Maxxine Du-PRI?
Adam Pearce talks with Trick Williams.
The Raw General Manager is hoping to make Trick Willy part of Monday Night Raw, and Trick says they don’t call him Hollywood for nothing. Pearce agrees there, let’s find a way to get more Trick on Monday. Trick says take your time, but don’t really, because “they” want him, too. Here’s his card, call him! 1-800-WOOP-DAT! Pearce says he’ll have it on speed dial. Bayley storms in, Lyra trying to calm her down, and Bayley says why not dial 1-800-CALL-BAYLEY!? Pearce asks what is going on, and Lyra says yes, hello, did he have a good Christmas? Anyway, Pearce was going to consider them as part of the tag title picture, right?
But uh, couldn’t help but notice that the big tag title match is next week and… They want next. Well, full disclosure, Liv & Roxie were in here earlier, and- WHAT?! Liv & Roxanne?! Liv hasn’t wrestled in however long, Bayley beat Roxie last week, so what’re we even talking about?! Lyra calms Bayley down again, and points out Bayley has a point. Pearce knows that, too, he can hear Bayley, he’s standing right here. Good, glad he can, so hear this: HE’S AN IDIOT! A big bald idiot! Yes, that’s obvious. Lyra thanks Pearce for the time, awkwardly shakes hands with him, and says they appreciate it. They want next. Happy New Year. Pearce needs a drink.
WWE World Tag Team Championships: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee VS The Usos!
The ragtag combination of Phenomenal One & Boy Wonder have been able to clear out some great tag teams already, but now they go up against perhaps THE greatest team in WWE history! Will Main Event Jey & #BigJim truly reopen the Uso Penitentiary tonight? Or will is now not the time for reign number nine?
Raw returns and Dragon makes his entrance, followed by Styles. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who brings them into the New Year!
The teams sort out, Styles starts against Jey, and the fans rally up. Jey and Styles circle, feel things out, and tie up. Styles powers Jey back, but Jey puts Styles in the corner. The ref counts, Jey backs off, and the fans applaud. Styles and Jey circle, tie up, and Styles waistlocks. Jey fights the lift, ELBOWS free, and puts Styles in a corner. Jey whips corner to corner, Styles reverses, but Jey goes up and over! UPPERCUT! Jey whips, Styles reverses again, then hurdles, drops down, and DROPKICKS! The fans cheer as Styles brings Jey up. Tag to Dragon, the champs double whip, then DOUBLE ELBOW! Jimmy runs up, into DOUBLE HIP TOSSES!
Styles gives Dragon a boost to RANA Jimmy, and Jimmy tumbles into the ropes! The fans wince as he gets hit in the “Little Jimmy,” and Styles says that’s a double whammy. The Usos regroup, the fans rally up, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Jimmy has Dragon in a chinlock. The fans rally as Dragon fights up and fires body shots. Jimmy CLUBS Dragon, whips, but Dragon reverses. Jimmy sunset flips, Dragon DOUBLE STOMPS him! The fans fire up, Dragon goes corner to corner, HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Jimmy stays in this but Dragon stays on him, and tag to Styles. The champs mug Jimmy, then Styles CHOPS! The fans rally up, Styles whips, but Jimmy reverses. Styles kicks low then runs, and he ROCKS Jimmy! And ROCKS Jimmy again! Styles whips but Jimmy reverses, only for Styles to ELBOW him away!
Jimmy staggers, the ref checks him, and Jey GAMANGIRIS Styles! The fans are torn but Jey plays innocent. Jimmy tells Styles that the Usos are just too smart. Tag to Jey, and The Usos snap the wishbone! Styles writhes, Jey eggs Styles on, then pushes him around. Jey stomps Styles, stomps him again, then stalks him to the ropes. Tag to Jimmy, The Usos mug Styles, and that CHOP sends Styles staggering. Jimmy whips Styles to ropes, but Styles KICKS Jimmy! Both omen stagger, Styles dodges to hot tag Dragon! Dragon ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! The fans fire up as Dragon goes corner to corner again, JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! COMBINACION DRAGON!
The fans fire up again and Dragon runs up, DRAGON- NO, Jimmy ducks the elbow! Dragon blocks a kick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! Tag to Jey and he LARIATS, but Dragon slips through! Dragon reels Jey in, gets him up, LIGER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Jey survives and the fans fire up! Dragon stays on Jey, kicks him out of the ring, then builds speed. But Jimmy trips Dragon up! Jimmy drags Dragon out to send into the steps! Jimmy clears the desk! The fans fire up and Jimmy storms over to Dragon, but Styles FLYING FOREARMS! But Jey DIVES and sends Styles onto the desk! The fans fire up as The Usos regroup, #LockedIn, as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again, and Jey BLASTS Styles with a sucker punch! The fans boo that, but Jey drags Dragon away from Styles. Jey says YEET, and he brings Dragon up to tag Jimmy. The Usos mug Dragon, then shove Dragon down. Jimmy storms over to Dragon, puts him in a corner, and CHOPS him! The fans “WOO~” and Jimmy puts Dragon up top. Jimmy CHOPS Dragon again, then climbs up. But Dragon trips Jimmy up! More damage to Lil’ Jimmy, then Dragon stands to WOE STOMP Jimmy down! The fans fire up while both men crawl! Hot tags to Jey and Styles! Styles fires the Phenomenal Blitz, LARIAT included!
Styles runs, SLIDING FOREARM! Jimmy is back, but he gets a PELE for it! Styles LARIATS Jey, then fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Jey sputters, but Styles drags him up to reel him back in. The fans fire up, but Jey fights the Clash! Fireman’s carry and- NO, Styles powers out! So Jey SUPERKICKS Dragon! Then he ducks ‘n’ dodges Styles to SPEAR! Tag to Jimmy, and Jimmy climbs up! USO SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!!! Styles survives and no one can believe it! The fans blame the ref but Styles is just that tough! Jimmy drags Styles to a drop zone, then tags Jey. The Usos take the corners and they both aim at Styles!
The fans rally up, but Dragon DROPKICKS Jimmy down! Jey hurries to get Dragon, but he only gets POST! Dragon then builds speed to DIVE onto Jimmy and hit the desk!! The fans go nuts seeing that crash landing! Jey is also rather shocked, but Styles rolls Jey up! TWO!! Jey SUPERKICKS! But Styles PELES! Styles then reels Jey in, for the STYLES CLASH!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Jey survives and again, everyone is shocked! But they do agree, “This is Awesome!” Styles goes to a corner, looks to Dragon, and Dragon says si! Styles drags Jey up, tags Dragon in, and Dragon climbs! Styles puts Jey on the ropes!
Dragon aims, DOUBLE STOMPS and Jey is sent into the STYLES- NO, Jimmy SUPERKICKS Dragon! Styles drops Jey, runs up on Jimmy, but Jimmy puts him on the apron! Styles ROCKS Jimmy first! Styles springboards, PHENOMENAL- DOUBLE SUPERKICKS!!! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICKS on Dragon!! Then the ONE D!!! Cover, USOS WIN!!!
Winners: The Usos, by pinfall (NEW WWE World Tag Team Champions)
They teamed up, locked in, and are now taking home the tag team championships! The fans YEET along with Jimmy & Jey as they are back on top! Will Monday Night Raw once again be about that Day One Ish?
My Thoughts:
A very good Raw to close out the year, though could’ve been better. I will say they bookended things nicely, giving us a great promo segment from The Vision, though it was namely Bron and Punk. But even with the fire Bron and Punk put into this, I can’t be sure of the math for the title match, or which outcome works better. Theory has The Vision’s trust, though, and they gave us a very good Theory VS Rey Mysterio match. Logan of course interfered, and great return for Penta, but I kinda thought it was gonna be Latino World Order. And what of Rey Fenix? Will the Lucha Brothers reunite to face The Vision? Not a bad idea, really.
Good promo from The Usos to tease them not being on the same page, and then very good promo from Dragon, Styles, Je’Von Evans, and Los Americanos. Though, I feel like we needed subtitles, I was kinda spit-balling my translation. Anyway, that’s a fun Six Man Tag idea, and also the tease of The Creeds finally returning to Raw was nice. Usos VS Styles & Dragon was a great tag title match for our main event, and with all the possibilities, I’m actually surprised The Usos won. They did blur the lines of Heel and Face, aka Tweener, and the Usos “locking in” as we went to that one commercial break was a good touch. Great win for Usos to have nine reigns now, and while we were sensing Jey snapping on Jimmy, that could happen the moment reign nine ends.
Gunther and Truth had a good promo that was short and sweet and got us to their match. And likewise, the match was a decent showing for Truth, but he of course lost. There’s still the tease of Gunther VS Styles they gave us before, and if Styles is no longer tag team champion, we could see Gunther VS Styles as at least one of the matches Styles has on his own retirement tour in 2026. Fun promo from Trick with Pearce, and then Pearce with Bayley & Lyra. I appreciate we’re getting angry Bayley again, because who wouldn’t be frustrated not getting a response on a request? I don’t doubt Bayley & Lyra “get next,” at least for the Raw Women’s Division.
Very good promos from The Kabuki Warriors, good brawl from them and #RheYo, and a very good response promo from #RheYo later. The 8 Woman Tag on Friday might give more on the go-home math, but at this point, it feels like Rhea & Iyo have to win to give the Kabuki Warriors their comeuppance. Very good promo from Raquel with Liv & Roxie to tease some new Judgment Day dysfunction, and to also update us on Dominik’s injury. Apparently Finn was in a commercial break promo segment, that’s interesting. But the Triple Threat of course made it so Nikki took the loss, and a great win for Vaquer from it.
Not sure if Nikki will leave things alone or not now, maybe Raquel forces her with a 1v1 loss. Liv & Roxie also need to get going on a tag title story, there’s a lot of stuff for Judgment Day falling apart in 2026, can’t wait to see it.
My Score: 8.7/10
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Who heads for Montreal?
To determine a challenger to the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, SmackDown holds qualifying matches for a #1 contender’s match! Who wins tonight to advance to Saturday Night’s Main Event?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Randy Orton VS The Miz; Orton wins and advances.
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss VS Giulia & Kiana James; Charlotte & Alexa win.
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Trick Williams VS Matt Cardona; Trick wins and advances.
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa; Priest wins and advances.
- WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes VS Leon Slater; Melo wins and retains the title.
- Jordynne Grace VS Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre; Grace wins.
- WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Sami Zayn VS Ilja Dragunov; Sami wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bagpipes play for Drew McIntyre!
A troupe of six play the music of the Scottish Terminator’s people before the NEW Undisputed WWE Champion officially makes his entrance. London cheers as Drew steps on stage, belt around his waist, and they sing for “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” as he takes his time walking down the ramp. Drew gets his pyro, the fans cheer more, and Drew continues to the ring. Drew looks at the championship while he hears the fans cheering, and he goes up the corner to raise the belt up high! The fans cheer as Drew gets more pyro! And a lot of it! The fans cheer again, and Drew puts the belt on his shoulder, but then he goes back out to join the front row in cheering!
Drew goes back to the ring, grabs the mic, and the singing for “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” continues. Drew says, “I prayed for this and it happened.” The fans cheer that, then chant, “You Deserve It!” Drew says, “I know it’s been a rough few years in the UK here, but if there’s somebody that can bring us together, it’s our Undisputed WWE Champion. It’s the first-and-only-ever BRITISH WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre!” The fans cheer that! Drew says the love he’s been shown the past week is incredible. Texts, social media posts, the cheers all across Europe, including tonight, “you bunch of mentalists.”
And Drew just wants to say to each and every one out there… “Screw you.” The fans laugh at that, but Drew says no, this isn’t even being a bad guy wrestler. Seriously, screw you! When he got FIRED from WWE, where were they? They wanna jump on the bandwagon now? 99% of them weren’t there for him! When he was being screwed over by Roman Reigns and the Bloodline, there was no uprising for him, huh? How’d they help him out? When CM Punk screwed Drew, the fans cheered Roman and Punk and doing the YEET with Jey Uso! The fans do chant those things now, and then Drew brings up Cody and the corrupt refs!
Was there a hashtag for Drew? NO! There is only one person Drew needs to thank, that ever believed in Drew, and that person… is Drew! So thank you, Drew! If you wanna chant, chant “Thank You, Drew!” The fans do chant, “Thank You, Drew!” Well, there’s one more person Drew must address: The former… Oh, that feels good to say. Drew knows Cody Rhodes is here, and it must cut like a knife to say FORMER WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes! The fans now sing for “Cody, Cody Rhodes~!” Yes, Drew knows Cody’s crack team is trying to figure out a title rematch. Drew admits to having Nick Aldis add a little extra clause.
Since 99% of Americans can’t read, Drew will tell us what it is: There is NO rematch clause! Cody must start at the bottom, work his way back up. The Vanilla QB1 Era is over! The Dangerous Drew Era begins tonight! The fans cheer that! But then here comes Randy Orton! The fans also cheer for The Viper, they sing along with Voices, and Orton goes right to the ring. Orton grabs himself a mic while the fans finish singing, and then the fans cheer as Orton and Drew are face to face. Drew says this must be Orton out here to congratulate him. The fans chant “R K O!” while Orton chuckles. Orton says Drew and the fans in London all know that they don’t like each other one bit.
So no, this is not Orton here to congratulate Drew. Orton is here to remind Drew that a few months ago, Drew had the chance to kick Orton through the table and declined. The fans again chant “R K O! R K O!” Orton says he wanted to tell Drew that when Orton has the opportunity to return the favor, he won’t hesitate. he beat Drew for that title before, he’ll do it again, and it’ll be courtesy of the three most dangerous letters in all of sports entertainment: R K O! The fans cheer that, but Drew smirks. Only for JACOB FATU to show up! The fans cheer the Samoan Werewolf as he storms his way down the ramp and to the ring.
Drew wants Fatu to hold on, but Orton steps aside so Fatu can DECK Drew! Fatu goes out after Drew, DRIBBLES him off the desk, then whips again! Drew reverses to POST Fatu, but Fatu isn’t even bothered! Drew hurries away, Fatu chases him into the crowd! Orton is more amused than anything, will Drew get out of London in one piece? But then The Miz slithers in! SKULL CRUSHING FINALE on Orton!! The Hollywood A-Lister strikes outta nowhere, but will he soon regret that? We find out, after the break!
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Randy Orton VS The Miz!
SmackDown returns and the match is already going as Orton fires body shots and a HEADBUTT! But Miz kicks the leg out and BASEMENT DDTS! Cover, TWO! Orton survives then bails out, then throws his shirt off. The fans rally, but Miz pursues. Orton ROCKS Miz, then brings him up for the DESK BACK- NO, Miz lands out to then CLUB Orton! Miz hits the DESK BACK SUPLEX! The fans boo as Miz mocks Orton’s signature pose, then Miz puts Orton in the ring. Miz stomps Orton, but the fans taunt Miz with, “OH~ Miz is a Wanker~!” Miz throws hands, Orton fires back, and they go back and forth.
Orton fires off haymakers, whips Miz to a corner, but Miz reverses. Miz soaks up heat, runs in at Orton, but Orton LARIATS first! And LARIATS again! Then a dodge and SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up for Orton while Miz scrambles to the apron. Orton goes after Miz, brings him through the ropes, but Miz fights free! Miz hurries away while the fans boo, but Orton pursues. Orton finds Miz at the desk! Kick and DESK BACK SUPLEX! Miz sputters and writhes while the fans fire up. They want that “One More Time!” Orton obliges, another DESK BACK SUPLEX for Miz! The fans rally, they still want that “One More Time!”
Orton gets Miz up again, a third DESK BACK SUPLEX! Orton refreshes the count while Miz slumps off the desk. The fans cheer Orton, he puts Miz in the ring, and he has Miz in the ropes! The fans fire up again and Orton smiles as he drags Miz in, DRAPING DDT! The fans cheer again, and Orton hears those voices! Miz slowly rises, R K- FINALE!?! Cover, TWO!! Orton survives and the fans cheer! Miz is beside himself as Orton survives his finisher again! The fans rally behind Orton but Miz storms up to full nelson again. But Orton arm-drags free, RK- NO, Miz rolls him up, TWO! Miz scrambles, RKO!! Cover, Orton wins!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
The fans cheer as The Viper strikes, and now punches his ticket to Montreal! But will Orton truly be the Apex Predator when he battles three others for that #1 contender’s spot?
Drew returns backstage.
He grumbles about crazy Fatu, but Ilja Dragunov finds him. The Mad Russian is glad they are finally talking face to face. Obviously, Drew has some problems, so Ilja will get to the point: Tonight, Ilja will beat Sami Zayn and be one step closer to the championship. Ilja won a championship his first night back, simply because he doesn’t fight like a sane man! Drew says yeah, he doesn’t care, there’s a crazy person after him! Go ahead, win your match, win the Fatal 4 Way, and we’ll see him at the Royal Rumble. Drew swears he did NOT knock Fatu’s teeth out, but he sure will do that to Ilja! Drew runs off, but is that true? If Drew didn’t sideline Fatu, who did?
The Wyatts speak.
Bo Dallas says, “Solo… You think you stole our light. But you’ve just inherited the weight of what it really means. The lantern has never been a weapon. We carry it in the dark, so the dark doesn’t carry us. It does not belong int he hands of someone who believes taking it is more powerful than its true purpose. It will come back to us. Like a moth to a flame, we will not rest until it’s home.” The warning has been issued, will MFT heed it?
Charlotte Flair finds Alexa Bliss backstage.
The Queen hip bumps Lil’ Miss Bliss to cheer her up, but it doesn’t really work. Alexa says last week sucked: She lost to Giulia, Nia & Lash messed with her before the match and then beat her up after. It was a complete numbers game, Alexa was alone, so was Charlotte actually sick? Or was she just “cough cough” sick? No, it was not a “cough cough,” it was a “barf barf.” And Alexa’s the one that got a title opportunity without Charlotte, but Alexa has no idea how many title opportunities Charlotte turned down because she put the team first. Really? Yes, really. Name them. Not the point. Well, does Charlotte have Alexa’s back? Does Alexa have Charlotte’s back?
Bottomline is, Alexa is Charlotte’s person. Charlotte was sick. Heart hands, and Charlotte says she’ll finish warming up. But then Nia & Lash walk in saying that was so cute. Charlotte has no reason to trust Nia, but this is typical Alexa. She makes you feel guilty then plays victim. She’s really good at it. Yeah, Charlotte has no reason to trust Nia. And they won’t like her response. As for this charade, Charlotte gets why Alexa isn’t friends with Nia. And Lash has changed. Charlotte heads out, will #Charlexa be able to focus on the match before them? Or will the Irresistible Force & Bougie Bully make sure all eyes are on them again?
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss VS Giulia & Kiana James!
SmackDown returns and the Beautiful Madness and Miss Management are already waiting in the ring. Charlotte makes her entrance, followed by Alexa. The teams sort out and Alexa starts with Kiana. The fans “WOO~” for Charlotte while Kiana talks some trash on Alexa. Kiana shoves Alexa, but Alexa SLAPS back! The fans cheer that! Alexa then ducks a shot to SLAP, ROCK, KNEE, and DROPKICK Kiana! Alexa runs, but Kiana gets up to KNEE low! Kiana brings Alexa around, suplexes, but Alexa tags out to Charlotte. The fans “WOO~” again and Kiana talks more trash. Charlotte slips around her, Kiana ELBOWS free, then whips, but Charlotte reverses!
Kiana hits buckles, but she ELBOWS back again! Kiana goes up and over Charlotte, then SUPERKICKS! Charlotte wobbles, Kiana runs, but into Charlotte’s BOOT! Tag to Alexa, and she gets a hand in the spin and DROPKICK! Giulia tags in, Alexa dodges but Giulia ROCKS Charlotte! Alexa ROCKS Giulia! Alexa ROCKS Kiana! But then Giulia SHOTGUNS Alexa! Giulia taunts Alexa, the ref keeps Charlotte back, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
The ref reprimands but Kiana backs off. Giulia wrenches Alexa’s hair to THROW her to the corner. Giulia stomps away on Alexa in the corner, the ref counts, but Giulia stops at 4. Giulia tags Kiana, Kiana stomps Alexa, then Kiana CLUBS Alexa. Alexa goes to another corner, Kiana whips corner to corner, and Alexa hits buckles hard! Kiana grins as she storms back up, and she bumps Alexa off buckles. Tag to Giulia and Giulia brings Alexa onto the ropes. Giulia hooks Alexa up in the ropes, and fishhooks the face! The ref counts, Giulia stops and sucker punches Charlotte! The ref stops Charlotte, Giulia DROPKICKS Alexa and Kiana BOOTS Alexa down!
Giulia ELBOW DROPS Alexa, covers, TWO! Giulia is already annoyed with the count, but she stomps away on Alexa. Giulia CLUBS Alexa, HEADBUTTS her, and HEADBUTTS again! Giulia bumps Alexa off buckles, tags Kiana, and Kiana brings Alexa around to kick a leg. Kiana taunts Alexa, but she sucker punches Charlotte! The fans give thumbs down, but Kiana snap suplexes! Charlotte protests, that distracts the ref! The ref is late to the cover, TWO! Kiana fireman’s carries Alexa, but Alexa fights to a sunset flip! TWO! Kiana stops Alexa, but she still reaches out! Kiana RAMS Alexa into the corner! And RAMS her again and again!
Kiana handsprings, runs back in, and she RAMS Alexa again! The ref counts, Giulia tags in, and Kiana snapmares Alexa to BOOT her! Giulia is up top, she MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Alexa survives, but Giulia HEADBUTTS her to the cover! Charlotte again distracts, another late count, TWO! Giulia is annoyed but she tags Kiana as SmackDown returns to single picture. Kiana sends Giulia in, but Alexa dodges! Giulia hits buckles, Alexa DUMPS Kiana out, and the fans fire up! Kiana hurries back in, she anchors Alexa’s foot, then she drags her back! Alexa ENZIGIRIS free, hot tag to Charlotte!
The fans fire up as The Queen RUNS Kiana over! And RUNS her over again! CHOP and CHOP for Kiana, CHOP and CHOP for Giulia! CHOP after CHOP, “WOO~” after “WOO~,” and then Charlotte CHOPS Giulia down! Charlotte runs up, Kiana dodges, but Charlotte keeps moving! WALK OVER LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Charlotte stalks Kiana to a corner. Charlotte whips, Kiana reverses, but Charlotte goes up and out. BOOT for Giulia, BOOT for Kiana, and then Charlotte goes up! CROSSBODY on Kiana! Cover, TWO! Kiana is tougher than that, but Charlotte stays focused. The fans rally up as Charlotte runs in, but into a BOOT!
Kiana runs up, but into a BOOT! Charlotte steps on Kiana to a corner, she and Giulia scrap, and Kiana YANKS her down! The fans boo but Charlotte still wrenches Kiana to a NECKBREAKER! Charlotte runs, but into a SIPNEBUSTER! Kiana shows her power, and she tags Giulia! Giulia KNEES Charlotte down! Cover, Alexa breaks it! The fans fire up but Giulia is furious! Kiana whips, Alexa reverses and TOSSES Kiana out! But Kiana trips Alexa! Giulia has Charlotte, Charlotte shoves free, but Giulia BOOTS her! And KICKS her! And KICKS her again! Charlotte snarls, she ducks the buzzsaw!
Charlotte shoves and ROCKS Giulia! Charlotte runs, but Giulia follows to HEADBUTT! Giulia runs, but into a BOOT! Charlotte has Giulia but Kiana tags in! Charlotte runs, Kiana KNEES her first! But Alexa tags in! Kiana runs, but into the clinch! TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL!! Cover, Charlexa wins!
Winners: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, by pinfall
Bliss proved she does have Charlotte’s back! But then Nia & Lash attack after all! They BLAST Giulia, DECK Alexa, and HEADBUTT Charlotte! And HEADBUTT her again! Nia POSTS Charlotte while the fans boo! Nia & Lash soak up the heat, but Giulia is back up! Kiana says hold on, hold on, they’re good. Giuila says she is NOT good, she wants after Nia! Miss Management has her client back off, if just for now. Will the Beautiful Madness make sure no one disrespects her and gets away with it?
Solo Sikoa speaks.
“Bo. You’re absolutely right. This is just more than a lantern. I can see the millions of fireflies across the world. They are now in my possession. Your legacy is in my hands. And if you want this lantern back, I suggest you put those tag team titles on the line. But that’s just the beginning. You see, my family is going to take back all the gold. But until then… I’m going to take real, real good care of this. And he is going to be with me when I take out Damian Priest and bring back the WWE Undisputed title to the family.” Solo then blows out the lantern, but will it be lights out for the Archer of Infamy? Or will Priest be the one headed to Saturday Night’s Main Event?
Cody Rhodes is here!
London sings along with Kingdom as The American Nightmare makes his entrance. There’s a bit more smoke than usual, but we still get “WHOA~ OH~!” and the pyro! Cody takes a moment to take in the crowd before he goes down the ramp and to the ring. Cody then stands on the corner for the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro, but even that seems different without the Undisputed Championship on his arm or around his waist. Cody grabs the mic, the fans cheer, and Cody takes a moment to hear them singing, “Cody, Cody Rhodes~!” Cody then says, “Well, that sounds a bit different. That’s okay. That’s okay.
“Because if anything, I guess it was becoming a bit… episodic. I would come out here, I would tap my fist three times, we’d all say ‘Whoa,’ I’d walk to the ring, and I’d ask you, ‘Whaddya wanna talk about?'” The fans are a bit torn there, and Cody takes a moment. The fans now sing for “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” Cody says don’t worry, they will discuss the NEW WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre. Cody never broke down why the name of his podcast is Whaddya Wanna Talk About. It was quite simple: He wasn’t just the company’s champion, he was the people’s champion. The fans are again torn, but Cody says he didn’t want the fans to be spectators, he wanted them to be teammates.
But perhaps Cody got comfortable with the episodic, with the predictable. He didn’t see all the eventualities, all the ways in which he could lose. Or, is Drew just that good? The fans agree there! Cody says he could ask himself that, or he could ask what HBK, Hogan, and Stone Cold have in common with Cody. Simple: they’re the only ones to go back-to-back in Royal Rumble wins. And only one of those names won it three times, that’s how a near impossible feat that is. And they all know Cody loves a gamble, he loves a long shot. Here in WWE, where we have the best men’s and women’s divisions, sometimes the best power you can have is self-belief.
So here and now, in a city that means a great deal to Cody, a city he wrestled in every weekend for WhatCulture Pro-Wrestling to sharpen his skills and became the American Nightmare, a city that DOES deserve a WrestleMania (the fans erupt for that!), let Cody make it official! Drew says there’s no rematch clause, good! They’ll do this the old fashioned way! Cody is officially declaring for the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match!! The fans love that, too! “So, London, what DO you wanna talk about?! Let’s talk about Jacob Fatu!” The fans are torn on that name, and Cody says he met Fatu backstage at APW, you know he’s a thoroughbred!
Cody saw Fatu VS Solo Sikoa, and you could tell Fatu was on the come up. Fatu is a young veteran in their industry. But as such, Cody is aware and positive that Fatu knows what a receipt means! And Fatu has the largest receipt coming from Cody! Fatu is all gas, no brakes, come down here and collect. Or Cody can find Fatu first and beat the brakes off his ass! The fans are fired up with Cody, but is this gambler going to bust even before we reach the Royal Rumble? Or will a fight with Fatu be just the momentum Cody needs to have his threepeat?
Backstage interview with Matt Cardona.
Cathy Kelley is with The Complete, saying he is moments away from his match with Trick Williams to qualify for the #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way. What would it mean to not only come back to the WWE but to win that title? Cardona says the way Cody lost was a shame, and Cardona was really looking forward to facing his friend for that belt. But now that it’ll be Drew McIntyre. They go way back, too. Drew’s first WWE match was with Zack Ryder. And just like Cody and Drew, Cardona left WWE to find himself, and he’s back, But while Cody and Drew are each former world champions, Cardona is not. Yet.
Cardona isn’t back just to be back, he wants his time at the top. The journey, the ups and downs, the grind, it all led back here for Cardona to be Undisputed Champion! Cardona is #AlwayZReady, but will he be able to #WhoopDatTrick? Or will the former NXT & TNA World Champion soon be headed for another top title in his young career?
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Trick Williams VS Matt Cardona!
SmackDown returns as Trick continues to vibe with London. Then the fans cheer as Cardona makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans rally and duel already. The two circle, tie up, then break. Cardona smirks, Trick flexes, and the two go again. Trick waistlocks, spins Cardona, then pie faces Cardona! Trick talks trash, but Cardona RAMS him into a corner! Trick bobs ‘n’ weaves, then he pie faces again! Trick says he runs this house, dawg! But Cardona ROCKS Trick, ROCKS him again, then fires hands in the corner! The ref counts, Cardona backs off, but Trick KNEES low! Trick scoops and SLAMS, then snarls as he checks his chin.
Trick tells Cardona not to mess with him! Trick RUNS Cardona over! The fans are torn but Trick talks trash. Cardona rises up, he dodges the tackle, but Trick CLUBS the backdrop away. Trick pie faces, then runs, but Cardona DROPKICKS him! Then clinch and FLATLINER! Trick staggers up, Cardona LARIATS him up and out! The fans fire up with Cardona, and he builds speed to WRECK Trick with a dropkick! Cardona then aims from the apron, MISSILE DROPKICK to the floor! The fans rally up again and Cardona grits his teeth while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Cardona drags Trick up, puts him in the ring, but Trick bails back out. Cardona goes to the ropes, and he drags Trick up by his hair! But Trick trips Cardona up! Trick drags Cardona out to THROW him into barriers! Trick talks trash, then FLAPJACKS Cardona off the apron! Trick fires up, then he brings Cardona up to put him in the ring. Cardona goes to a corner, Trick storms up on him, and he ROCKS Cardona. The ref reprimands, but Trick CHOPS Cardona. Then ROCKS him again! Trick hears the fans cheer and jeer, and he talks some smack on them now. Trick UPPERCUTS Cardona and Cardona slumps against ropes.
Trick whips Cardona, FLAPJACKS again, then kips up! Trick says he runs this house, then he storms up on Cardona at the ropes. Trick CHOKES Cardona, the ref counts, but Trick stops at 4. Cardona coughs and goes to a corner, Trick digs his boots in, but the ref counts. Trick stops at 4, snarls, then he whips Cardona corner to corner! Then a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Trick keeps Cardona down with a chinlock, but the fans rally while Cardona endures. Cardona fights up, fires body shots and CHOPS, but Trick LEG LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Trick rains down forearms and Cardona can barely guard!
Trick drags Cardona back into the chinlock and he squeezes tight. The fans rally as Cardona endures again, and Cardona fights up. JAWBREAKAER! Trick rebounds, but Cardona dodges to then ROLLING ELBOW! Trick pushes Cardona back, Cardona avoids the sweep but not the EDDY GORDO KICK! Cardona wobbles, but he comes back to BOOT Trick! Trick comes back, but Cardona catches the leg lariat to SAIDO! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Trick crawls, Cardona rises, and the fans duel. Trick is in a corner, Cardona runs up, forearm SMASH! Cardona fires shots, soaks up cheers and jeers, then goes side to side for the BROSKI BOOT!
Cardona then ZIGZAGS! Shoutout to his pal, Nic Nemeth, then covers, TWO! Trick survives but Cardona underhooks him! Trick fights the lift, BACKDROPS, but Cardona sunset flips it to high stack! TWO!! Trick escapes, runs up, but the splash misses! Trick slumps down, Cardona goes for another, but Trick avoids the boot! Trick wags his finger, but then Cardona just WRECKS him with another dropkick! Cardona hurries to fetch Trick into the ring while the fans still duel. Trick runs back up, SLINGSHOTS Cardona into the ring, then TRICK KICK! Cover, TWO!! Cardona survives but Trick gets the arm.
The fans rally up, Trick cartwheels to RIPCORD, and BOOK- DDT!! Cardona turns things around, goes to the corner, and he runs up, ROUGH- NO, Trick pops free! Trick runs up, but into KNEES! Cardona goes up, lines up the shot, but Trick avoids another one! Both men run, and Trick POUNCES Cardona?! The fans fire up and Trick takes aim again! Cardona staggers up, TRICK SHOT!! Cover, Trick wins!
Winner: Trick Williams, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
A hard fought match for the first-time-ever, and Mr. Whoop Dat punches his ticket to Montreal! Will Trick soon win his first Saturday Night’s Main Event to- “Hey, Kit. Are you there?” The fans fire up for Mr. Masculinity Detox! Kit steps past Trick and Cardona, to then BLINDSIDE Cardona! The fans boo as Kit sends Cardona into the steel steps! Kit says, “TOXIC! TOXIC! TOXIC!” London goes back to cheering as the song continues, but will Kit make himself the topic no matter where he goes?
Backstage interview with Damian Priest.
Cathy Kelley is now with the Archer of Infamy, and brings up his chance at Drew McIntyre and the Undisputed Championship. But that means going through Solo Sikoa first. How do you prepare for such an opportunity? Priest says he could go on and on about Drew, there’s a lot of history there. He won’t get ahead of himself, tonight is about Solo. Facing Solo 1v1 isn’t an issue. But is it going to be 1v1? Priest doesn’t think so. But Priest will remind us that in London, he became Senor Money in the Bank. So tonight, Solo, MFT, if Priest has to do 1vALL again, he’ll do it. Priest has to get past this and get at Drew. So tonight, it’s whatever it takes.
Priest heads out, will he make sure no one stops him on his path back to the top? Or will Solo use The Outlaw as an example to all of the WWE Universe?
SmackDown returns and…
Kit is still in the ring with a mic,. “You all know that I’m right! You know there’s a problem! And I’m the solution. So I will say it again. I will let the whole world know. you all need reassurance, you all need leadership. you all need ME!” The fans cheer that, but then FATU slips in behind Kit! Kit says he is the tonic to the toxic masculinity, he is KIT! WIL-SON! But he turns around into a SUPERKICK! The Samoan Werewolf is raging, the fans are torn, but Fatu dares Cody and/or Drew to show up! SENTON on Kit, then a MIGHTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Kit flounders away, the fans are still torn, but now Fatu grabs a mic.
“YADADA MEAN!?” The fans cheer that! Fatu tells Cody, “You got something to say about me?! You have something to say TO me? Well check this out! Bring your punk ass out here right now!” Fatu throws off his vest, and Cody makes his entrance again! Cody is in his tracksuit but that comes off pretty quick, too! The American Nightmare and Samoan Werewolf start throwing hands and the fans fire up! Cody hammers away in the corner, but Fatu RAMS him into another corner! Security rushes out here but fans boo! “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” Aldis hurries out here, and he wants them both to stop!
The fans cheer as Cody breaks free! Cody CLOBBERS Fatu, everyone falls over, and SmackDown goes back to break! What must Aldis do to restore order?
BREAKING NEWS!
Now set for Saturday Night’s Main Event, it will be Cody Rhodes VS Jacob Fatu! Will Montreal survive the American Nightmare and Samoan Werewolf tearing it up?
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Damian Priest VS Solo Sikoa w/ MFT!
The Archer of Infamy and the would-be Tribal Chief have said their piece, and now they must back those words up with actions. Will Priest defy the odds as Solo isn’t solo out here? Or will Solo, waving the Wyatt lantern as he walks out here, lead by example for his family?
The bell rings and Solo circles with Priest. They tie up, Solo headlocks, and Solo talks trash. Priest powers up and out, they RAM shoulders, and Priest rebounds to RAM Solo! Solo staggers, but he and Priest reset. They tie up, but Solo kicks low! And HEADBUTTS! Solo ROCKS Priest, whips him to ropes, but Priest reverses to BACK ELBOW! Priest mule kicks Solo, reels him in, but Solo fights the lift. Solo UPPERCUTS, but Priest SUPERKICKS! Solo tumbles out, MFT is there to check on him, but Priest pursues. The fans fire up as Priest runs up, but MFT stands in the way! The fans boo, the ref tells MFT tos tay back, and Priest goes back tot he apron.
Solo runs up,b ut Priest dodges! Solo still avoids the roundhouse and he BOOTS Priest down! The ref wants Solo to back off, but now MFT mugs Priest! The fans boo, JC Mateo pretends to be shocked, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Solo goes out to fetch Priest, SMACK him off the desk, and put him in the ring. Solo soaks up heat, HEADBUTTS Priest down, then HEADBUTTS him again and again! Solo stalks Priest to ropes, kicks him out, then pursues. MFT backs up so Solo can SMACK Priest off the desk again! Solo soaks up more heat, winds up, but Priest clinches! FLATLINER on the desk! The ring count is climbing but Priest puts Solo in at 5 of 10. Priest then winds up to UPPERCUT! Solo wobbles, Priest powers up the arm, and he runs to COME- NO, Solo ducks, shoves, and SAMOAN DROPS! Cover, TWO! Priest survives and Solo frowns.
Solo motions that he’s gonna be champion, and he rains down fists in the corner. The ref counts, Solo stops at 4, and he soaks up more heat. Solo runs corner to corner, HIP ATTACK! Priest sputters in the corner, Solo soaks up more heat, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Solo aims again, he runs back in, and HIP ATTACKS! Priest sputters again and the fans duel. Solo smirks as he goes corner to corner again, and mocks Jey Uso with the “Run it back” motion. Solo runs back in, but Priest is up! WHEEL KICK! Priest hits that just in time, and JC shields the imaginary eyes of the lantern from that collision.
Solo and Priest go back to corners while the fans rally up. Priest huffs ‘n’ puffs and fires up! Priest and Solo stare down, run up, and they RAM shoulders! Then they fire haymakers back and forth! The fans duel, Priest KICKS, Solo ROCKS, and the hands keep firing off! Solo gets the edge, but Priest avoids the last shot to BELL CLAP! Then he KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! ROLLING ELBOW! Priest then winds up again, but Solo HEADBUTTS! Priest ROUNDHOUSES! Solo rebounds to SUPERKICK! Priest staggers, but he SPIN KICKS! Solo stays up, Priest SPIN KICKS again! Solo rebounds, Priest ducks ‘n’ dodges, then LEAPING LARIATS!
The fans fire up with Priest while Solo goes to a corner. Priest runs up, BACK ELBOW! Priest keeps moving, but Solo fireman’s carries! Priest slips free, ELEVATED FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, MFT coaches Solo, but Priest goes to the corner. Priest climbs up, but Solo distracts the ref. Talla reaches out to trip Priest up! The fans boo but the ref wonders what happened. The ref puts two and two together, and he EJECTS Talla! The fans cheer, Talla is mad, but Solo hurries up after Priest! Fireman’s carry, but Priest slips free! Priest has the crucifix! RAZOR’S EDGE on Solo! Cover, TWO!! Solo survives and MFT is relieved.
Priest sighs but he just brings down the straps. The fans fire up as Priest aims, but Tama Tonga distracts! The fans boo, but Loa gets on the apron! Priest runs Loa off, but Solo prepares his own right hand! Priest avoids the spike, COMEBACK- SPINNING SOLO!! Solo goes up the corner, FLYING SOLO!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Priest survives, but Solo- OH NO! The Wyatts are here!! The lights go out, the fans go nuts, and when the lights are back, the Wyatts are BEHIND MFT! JC, Loa and Tama turn around, and then Howdy, Gacy & Lumis JUMP on them! The fans fire up as the factions fight all around ringside, Nikki Cross cheering her brothers on!
Things spill out into the crowd, Howdy RAMS JC into the post, then TOSSES JC into security staff! Howdy sees the lantern, but Solo CLOBBERS Howdy first! The fans boo, but Solo brings the lantern to the ring. The ref reprimands, Solo sets the lantern down, but Priest guzels! SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest wins!!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
Solo’s obsession with tearing down the Wyatt legacy just cost him his own chance at glory! Saturday Night’s Main Event is now wepa, but will The Archer of Infamy hit the mark in Montreal? Meanwhile, Howdy laughs as he takes the lantern back. But TALLA is back! And he BOOTS Howdy down! The fans boo but Talla takes the lantern back for MFT. Will the Wyatts have no choice but to put those titles on the line in exchange?
Sami Zayn heads for gorilla.
And on the way, he crosses paths with Drew McIntyre. Drew tells Sami that he heard what Sami said last week. Sami hoped that Drew would win, but thought Cody would? Well, lucky Sami isn’t a betting man, or he’d lose big, as usual. Sami says he meant what he said, a part of him did want Drew to win, and that part of him is happy Drew did win. Because now, Sami is going to go to war with Ilja Dragunov, and win. Then next week, in Sami’s hometown of Montreal, Sami will become #1 contender. And then at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, they’ll see each other again.
Oh, really inspiring, Sami, but here’s the truth: Drew has beaten Sami ELEVEN times, Sami has beaten Drew ZERO times. And if Sami does happen to make it to the Rumble, absolutely nothing changes. Sami says, “We’ll see.” Sami continues on, will he be able to defeat the Mad Russian and head home to Montreal? Or will he fall short of his world championship dreams yet again?
WWE United States Championship Open Challenge: Carmelo Hayes VS ???
Speaking of championship dreams, it is another opportunity for someone, anyone, to step up to H1M! Who will go for gold in London? We find out, after the break.
SmackDown returns, London cheers on “MEL~O! MEL~O!” But who is answering the call? It’s TNA X-Division Champion and the star of Bradford, England, LEON SLATER! The fans fire up for their guy, but will the Youngest In Charge soon be a double champion? The introductions are made, the US title is raised, and we see who hits the game winner!
The bell rings and the two run up! They tie up, go around, and Melo headlocks. Melo hits the headlock takeover, Leon headscissors, Melo kips free. Roles reverse as Leon hits the headlock takeover for Melo to headscissor. Leon kips free, Melo turns things back around with another headlock, but Leon powers up and puts Melo in the corner. The ref counts, Leon backs off, and the fans applaud as Leon whips. Melo reverses, Leon goes up and over, but Melo turns hip toss into hip toss and lateral press! TWO and Leon has the ghost pin! TWO, Leon stands, dodges Melo, but Melo blocks! Melo dodges, then hits the FADE AWAY JUMPER!
The fans fire up as Melo then brings Leon up. Melo CHOPS, ROCKS, and CHOPS again. Leon ROCKS Melo back! The fans rally up as Leon runs to CHOP Melo in the corner! Leon shakes out his hand, that’s how hard he hit Melo! But Melo kicks Leon, CHOPS again, and the fans fire up. Melo whips, Leon reverses, but Melo rolls off the back. But Melo’s leg jams! Leon hesitates, but Melo says bring it. Leon runs up, Melo dodges to waistlock, but Leon bucks the O’Conner! Melo blocks one kick, ducks the enzigiri, but that REWIND HEEL hits! The fans fire up, Leon whips but Melo reverses, only for Leon to handspring back elbow!
Melo bails out, Leon aims, PLANCHA! Down goes Melo and the fans fire up! Leon puts Melo in, he goes up the corner, and Melo hobbles up into the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Melo is still in this, but the fans sing, “Leon Slater, DOO DOO DOODOO!” Leon is feeling it, Melo applauds, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Leon and Melo circle, though that bad leg is still a problem. Melo shakes it out, he and Leon go again, and Melo waistlocks. Leon switches, they go to the mat, and Leon body scissors for a GEDO CLUTCH! TWO, and Melo is up! Leon hurries after him, but Melo ELBOWS Leon away. Melo reels Leon in, suplexes, then floats to a cover, TWO! Melo takes his kneepad down to check his knee, and Leon crawls to ropes while the fans rally up. Melo stalks Leon, has him in a corner, and he climbs up. Melo rains down fists, gives a little forearm grind instead of the six-seven, then he snapmares Leon. But Leon’s right up to CHOP!
Melo flops to the apron, Leon brings him up, but Melo RAMS Leon! Melo hobbles but runs, only for Leon to blow past him! Melo hurdles, ducks, and then DROPKICKS! But even that wasn’t the best, and he shakes the leg out. Leon slowly rises, the fans rally more, and both men stand. Melo hobbles over to Leon, brings him up, and reels him in again. Leon fights the suplex, Melo still tries, but Leon pops free! Leon shoves and DROPKICKS Melo down! Cover, TWO! Melo is toughing it out but Leon still has the fans behind him. Leon stands Melo up, whips him to ropes, but Melo reveres. Leon handsprings, but Melo dodges!
Leon avoids the Jumper again, then he follows Melo! INVERTED SPANISH FLY! The fans fire up while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as SmackDown returns to single picture and both men slowly rise. Melo is up first, he gets Leon to his feet, and he CHOPS! Leon snarls and he CHOPS again! Leon then brings Melo up, but Melo ROCKS Leon! Leon staggers, comes back, and he ROCKS Melo! Melo CHOPS, whips, but Leon reverses to BOOT! Melo is at the ropes, but he avoids the sweep! LA MYSTICA! And then the suplex, LAYUP CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Leon survives and the fans rally up while Melo grits his teeth.
Melo waits on Leon to rise up, then he storms up in the corner. Melo whips, Leon stops himself, and he stops the First 48! Melo fights the crab, reels Leon in, TWO! But then Leon LEG LARIATS Melo down! Cover, TWO! Melo survives the sudden turnaround but Leon stays cool. Leon drags Melo to a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Melo goes to the apron. Leon just adjusts, then leaps, but Melo dodges! Melo CHOPS Leon, but Leon fireman’s carries! Melo slips free, the leg jams, and Leon avoids the shoulder! GUILLOTINE LEG DROP in the ropes! Leon then goes back to the corner, springboards, but Melo slips around! Sunset flip, TWO!
Leon sits on the cover, TWO! Melo has it, TWO! Leon has it, TWO! ONE! ONE! And repeat! both men stand, the fans fi reup, and Leon SPIKE-RANAS! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives and the fans fire up again! Then Melo SUPERKICKS! Leon goes to the corner, Melo runs up, but Leon puts him on the apron. Melo’s leg jams again! Leon just builds speed corner to corner! Leon FLIES over the post!! Down goes Melo and the fans are thunderous! Leon puts Melo in fast, goes up the corner, and the fans are on his side! SWANTON- NO, Melo moves and Leon FLOPS! Melo hits the FIRST 48! Cover, TWO!! Leon survives and the fans fire up again!
Melo is frustrated, his leg is hurting, but he elbows Leon off him. “This is Awesome!” as Melo goes back up the corner. Leon hurries to anchor a foot, but Melo CLUBS away on Leon. Leon UPPERCUTS Melo, then climbs back up. Leon and Melo fight for control up there, and they’re on the very top! Melo hits a SUPER LAYUP CUTTER!! Cover, MELO WINS!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall (still WWE United States Championship)
A standing ovation as two young icons just put on an instant classic, and Melo gives respect to Leon. This was the first time they’ve fought, will there be many more in the years to come?
Shinsuke Nakamura watches this backsatge.
But then Tama Tonga calls him out. Tama says Nakamura is looking at the US title, but the next chance doesn’t belong to him. Nakamura took his shot, and he blew it. Once MFT takes the tag titles, that US Championship is Tama’s. Nakamura and Tama do go way back, so this is Nakamura’s one and only warning: Stay out of Tama’s way. Nakamura tells Tama in Japanese that he knows their history, but he warns Tama in return that he better be ready to fight for what he wants. Will the Good Bad Guy bring the US title to MFT? Or will the King of Strong Style get another chance?
Johnny Gargano & Candice LeRae walk ‘n’ talk backstage.
Johnny Wrestling looks at the Axiom mask he stole and he still can’t believe “those dorks” fell for it last week. Who even wears turtlenecks? But Axiom steps in and says he’ll be the better man. He wants to save Gargano from a beating, so just hand the mask over. Oh, Gargano doesn’t have the mask. He hands it to Candice, she hurries off, and Axiom tells Gargano to grow up. Gargano says if Axiom will excuse them, they’re gonna do married people things. Laters. Wait, another Axiom? This one DECKS Gargano, and surprise! It was Frazer! Oh, another surprise is that Frazer talked with Aldis. Next week, it is Gargano VS Frazer, 1v1.
And after Frazer beats Gargano, his amigo will do the same and take that mask back. So enjoy it while you still can. Fraxiom high-fives and heads out, will they get their revenge on Gargano one way or another?
Jordynne Grace VS Chelsea Green w/ Alba Fyre!
The Juggernaut chose SmackDown because of all the names she’d love to beat down. She already handled “Slaygent A,” will she bring down The Hot Mess next? Or will even she have to pledge her allegiance to Chelsea Green?
SmackDown returns and Jade Cargill is ringside to watch this. The Storm has put Chelsea and Jordynne on notice, will her presence do that tonight? Jordynne makes her entrance now, and the bell rings. Chelsea runs up to tie up with Grace, but she SHOVES Cheslea away! Chelsea gets up to SLAP Grace, and SLAP and SLAP again! Grace just brushes those off, then SLAPS back! Chelsea wobbles, Grace whips her, and then SPINEBUSTER! Grace hauls Chelsea up, reels her in, and the fans rally as Grace claps using chelsea’s back. Grace hits a stalling suplex, then she SLAMS Chelsea down! The fans cheer, Grace covers, TWO!
Grace clamps onto Chelsea, fireman’s carries, but Chelsea slips free to RAM her into buckles! Chelsea salutes, BOOTS Grace into the corner, then Alba SUPERKICKS Grace behind the ref’s back! Chelsea runs, slides, and THROWS Grace down! Cover, ONE!! Chelsea is furious already, and she drags Grace up. Chelsea whips Grace to the corner, salutes again, and the fans are torn as she runs in. Grace slips around to RAM Chelsea into buckles! ANd again, and again! Backslide, roll through, and short arm LARIAT! Short arm LARIAT! And- NO, Chelsea slips aroudn to waistlock. Grace ELBOWS free, then she ROCKS Cheslea!
Grace ELBOWS, LARIATS, then roars! the fans fire up and Grace runs in, but she blocks a boto firsT! Then a wrench and MUFFLER PLEX! Grace shouts fo rChelsea to ger up. Chelase stands, Grace fireman’s carries, DIRECT EFFECT! Jackknife bridge, Grace wins!
Winner: Jordynne Grace, by pinfall
A new move for her new win streak, but Jade just golf claps Grace’s win. Grace grabs a mic, and she says, “Hey, champ. I’m glad that you came out here tonight to watch me. It’s extremely important that you know exactlly waht’s coming fo ryou.” The fans are torn, but Grace says if watching was just enough, that’s fine. But if Jade’s tired of babysitting that title, then step into the ring right here, right now! The fans fire up as Jade stands up! Jade goes to the ring and says Grace msut be stupid. But then Chelsea runs up! Grace dodges, Cheslea BLASTS Jade!! Chelsea is shocked, but also dazed, and Grace picks up the belt.
Grace smiles as she holds up THE WWE Women’s Championship, before she throws it back to Jade. Jade says, “Bet!” When and where will these forces of nature battle it out?
Backstage interview with Trick Williams.
Cathy congratulates him on his win tonight, and says he didn’t just ease his way onto SmackDown, he jumped into the deep end. What does this mean to him that he is headed to Saturday Night’s Main Event for a #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way? Trick says let this be a warning: he is putting all of SmackDown on notice! All you bums, bobbleheads and bootlickers, know that Trick is that dawg! Trick looks like money, he feels like money, because Trick IS money. And he wants a special shoutout to Randy Orton and Damian Priest! Congrats, you have a match with the future of this business, let’s talk about it! And hold on. He might be Whoop Dat Trick, but on Saturday, he whoops dat ass.
Cathy says yes, she was going to add- Oh, Priest steps in. Trick is the guy who does a lot of talking. Priest doesn’t. You already know what’s up on SNME. But Trick’s free on Friday, right? So is Priest. And Priest is ready to whoop dat Trick. Priest heads out, will he have quite the appetizer with Trick when SmackDown arrives in Montreal?
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Qualifier: Sami Zayn VS Ilja Dragunov!
We saw these two battle over the United States Championship, and #BigMatchSami lost the title to the returning Mad Russian Dragon. But now, they fight for a much bigger prize on this Road to WrestleMania! Will Sami make up for that loss and join that Fatal 4 Way? Or will Ilja continue to rise up the ranks and be one match away from taking over the world?
SmackDown returns as Sami makes his entrance. The fans sing along with the song and Sami high-fives the front row along the ramp. The bell rings and the fans fire up as Sami and Ilja stare down. They step up, and they start firing forearms! The fans rally up as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster! Sami fires a flurry, but then Ilja CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Then SPIN CHOP! CHOP to the leg! BOOT! Ilja runs, but into a LARIAT! The fans fire up while Ilja goes to ropes and Sami catches his breath. Sami storms up on Ilja to CHOP! Ilja just eggs him on! Sami CHOPS, fire more forearms, then stops as the ref counts.
Ilja KNEES low, fires more forearms, then whips. Sami reverses, Ilja reverses back, but Sami goes up and over! Sami runs up, Ilja BOOTS him, then JUMP KICKS! The fans fire up with Ilja, and he stands Sami up to bump him off buckles. Ilja CHOPS, then runs corner to corner. Ilja KNEES low, keeps moving, and he BOOT WASHES! Ilja snapmares Sami down, then hops up, KING KONG KNEE DROP! The fans fire up and Ilja goes up again! KING KONIG- NO, Sami dodges! Sami then kicks Iljia and suplexes, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO! Ilja is still fighting and the fans rally back up.
Sami stands Ilja up to CHOP! Ilja goes to a corner, Sami ROCKS him, and the fans cheer. Sami ROCKS Ilja again, has him in a corner, and CHOPS! Sami reels Ilja in, whips him to ropes, but Ilja KNEES Sami! Then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ilja holds on and he talks some smack while the fans rally. Sami stands, switches, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ilja headlocks in return as Sami stands him back up. Ilja then pries the waistlock open, switches, but Sami switches. They switch and switch and switch, then Ilja SNAP GERMANS! The fans cheer, Ilja goes back to the corner, and Ilja rises up, only for Sami to CHOP!
The fans cheer and sing for “Sami, Sami Zayn~!” but Ilja fires body shots. Sami CLUBS Ilja again and again, then goes up to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down and the fans cheer again while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Sami and Ilja both stir, and Sami crawls over to Ilja. Sami brings Ilja up with a facelock, but Ilja wrenches out to waistlock. Sami fights the lift, but Ilja CLUBS him and HAMMERS him, then pump handles for an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Sami survives, but Ilja SLIDING FOREARMS in the back! Ilja ELBOWS and CLUBS Sami again and again, then stalks him to ropes. The fans rally up, and Ilja stomps Sami at the ropes. The ref counts, Ilja BOOTS Sami, then SLAPS him! Sami sputters, but he comes back to SLAP Ilja! Ilja and Sami make it a SLAP fight, then Sami fires haymakers! DDT! Cover, TWO! Ilja stays in this, but Sami stays cool.
Sami checks his teeth, they’re all there. Sami stands, Ilja crawls to ropes, but it’s Ilja who eggs Sami on! Sami stomps a mudhole into Ilja at the ropes! The ref counts, Sami stops at 4, but the fans rally up again. Sami huffs ‘n’ puffs and brings Ilja around. Sami goes for the corner but Ilja wants the leg! Ilja eggs Sami on, Sami HAMMERS Ilja down! Sami busts Ilja’s eyebrow open! Ilja sputters, Sami goes to the apron, and the fans rally up again. SmackDown returns to single picture as Sami rises, but Ilja SLAPS him! Ilja SLAPS again, climbs up, and he fires up again! The fans are with Ilja on that, but Sami gets some shots to the chin!
Sami CLUBS Ilja, then adjusts position, SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ilja survives and the fans fire up again! Sami is beside himself, but he hurries to get after Ilja at the ropes. Sami drags Ilja up, around, but Ilja stops the Blue Thunder with elbows! Ilja runs, but Sami reels him back in! Ilja slips free, ducks ‘n’ dodges, CONSTANTINE SPECIAL! The fans fire up while both men flounder! Ilja goes to a corner, goes up top, and he aims to go COAST2COAST! Sami falls, Ilja covers, TWO!! Sami survives and now Ilja is stunned! The fans rally again while Sami is down. Ilja winds up, H-BOMB- BOOT!!
The fans fire up as Sami counters the falling forearm! Both men stagger to their feet, then Sami clinches! But Ilja fights off the exploder! Sami ROCKS Ilja, Ilja springs up to ENZIGIRI! Ilja has Sami in the corner, he runs corner to corner and LARIATS! Ilja runs corne rto ocrner again, another LARIAT! Ilja goes for a third, but he ducks Sami’s Helluva Kick! Ilja knew that trick and Sami crashes into buckle! They both go to the apron, and Ilja fireman’s carries. Sami fights free, HEADBUTTS Ilja, and Ilja staggers back. But then TORPEDO MOSCOW!! Both men fall to the floor! The fans rally while the ring count climbs!
Ilja rises at 5 of 10, rolls in at 7, and Sami sputters at 8. Sami rises at 9, and leaps in at 9.99! But Ilja is on him! POWERBOMB! Ilja goes up, up, and SUPER SENTONS but onto KNEES! Not the cleanest counter, but Sami clinches Ilja! BUCKLE EXPLODER! The fans fire up with Sami, he runs corner to corner, HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Sami wins!!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall (advances to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
And with that, our #1 contender’s Fatal 4 is set! Orton, Trick, Priest, and Sami! But then Trick CLOBBERS Sami from behind! The fans boo but Trick lets his hair down and goes wild! Trick aims again, TRICK SHOT!! Sami is down, Trick stands over him, and he soaks up all that heat. But will Trick be able to whoop three decorated superstars at once? Or will Sami’s journey to the top finally be fulfilled in Montreal?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for SmackDown, a lot of action that also helped in the various story builds. Drew McIntyre had a great opening promo, but they also segued really well into Orton VS Miz as the opener. We also got a very good promo from Cody, and of course he wants to threepeat at the Royal Rumble. It was wild for Kit Wilson to go after Matt Cardona to give Fatu an opening to attack and then call out Cody in return. Very good brawl from Fatu and Cody, and Cody VS Fatu for Saturday Night’s Main Event is going to be great. If Drew didn’t do the attack, will Cody win against Fatu and reveal it was him all along?
Good promo from Charlexa with Nia & Lash, and then a very good tag match. Good win for Charlexa, but at least Giulia and Kiana got a bit better of a showing. But of course Lash & Nia attacked after, and now all three teams have beef. With Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez as contenders from Raw, we’ll definitely get separate contenders for SmackDown now to parallel. Then it’ll be about Rhea & Iyo trying to survive both challenges, perhaps to build up the go-home week to Royal Rumble. If Liv & Roxie actually win, then the SmackDown team stands no chance, no matter who it is, because Liv & Roxie wouldn’t be transitional champions.
Very good stuff from Grace, Chelsea, and Jade, and I wonder if they’d give us a Triple Threat of Jade VS Grace VS Chelsea. Chelsea would definitely be the one to take the loss to keep both Jade and Grace strong, regardless of who wins. But at the same time, we’d still need a proper 1v1 of Jade VS Grace for the title to settle the feud. Good promo with Fraxiom getting payback on Gargano and setting up Frazer VS Gargano and Axiom VS Gargano. Absolutely awesome US Championship from Melo VS Leon, I did not think they’d go that hard, but it was greatly appreciated. Melo selling bad leg is definitely foreshadowing how he eventually loses that title, though it might not be for some time.
And of course, great stuff in all four SNME qualifier matches, even with all the results being how I expected. As I said last week, a shame that Cardona had to lose here, but Trick is getting on a roll already. Orton VS Miz was a great opening, and Sami VS Ilja was an awesome main event. Trick going after Sami kinda foreshadows Sami winning out in the end, as Sami VS Drew is definitely a great choice for the Royal Rumble, too. It really is a story of “Something’s gotta give.” Drew pointed out the 11-0 record between him and Sami, but Drew has/wants to make it through his first title defense, it could come down to Drew using shenanigans like he did to dethrone Cody.
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.15.26
TNA had some time to cook up their big debut. Did they burn it, or make a succulent feast?
AMC era has begun! Granted it’s not without a big loss, being The Rascalz seem to be headed to AEW. Which honestly I’m conflicted. If it was their decision because the money was astronomical, then I can’t fault TNA for not being able to compete with the TK Bank Account. But if TNA didn’t even try and let them walk for money that could’ve been negotiated…then TNA fumbled harder than CJ Stroud. Jake Something is a non-factor, but The Rascalz could be a big mistake.
WOAH! @AJStylesOrg and @FrankieKazarian come face to face on #TNAiMPACT on @AMC_TV! pic.twitter.com/CSh7IpV5ex
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2026
Ratings:
- Elijah & The Hardyz vs Order 4: Jeff wins via Swanton Bomb – *
- TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: The IInspiration (c) vs The Elegance Brand: Maggie wins via pinfall – (-) *** – TITLE CHANGE!!!
- TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs Mike Santana: Santana wins via Spin the Block – *** 3/4 – TITLE CHANGE!!!
Results:
AJ Styles comes out to kick off TNA episodes on a new network. He walks out to the WWE theme, makes a quick hype promo, doesn’t interact with anyone aside from the crowd. Definitely feels like more could’ve been done with AJ, but it was nice to see him.
Elijah & The Hardyz vs Order 4
The Hardyz come out with some guitar guy, Justin Lyonz or something…BDE and another streamer buddy? Definitely already feels overbooked just on the intro.
Order 4 tries to start fast but things back fire quickly and…this is starting off like an old episode of like WCW Thunder. Just messy overbooked intros, hot start into a commercial. 13 minutes in and it’s not a good start. Coming back from the commercial, Ali had the advantage but then Jeff Hardy is turning it around, all the apron dwellers are down. Ali tries the Rolling Neckbreaker, Jeff catches him with a Twist of Fate. Tasha tries to get in the way, Ali gets shoved into her, Matt hits the Twist of Tasha draped over Ali…shmoz spot. The Great Hands actually turn things around after the pinfall break, but Elijah stops them with some Mule Kick action, into a Twist from Matt and Swanton from Jeff. I think we saw maybe 3 minutes of this and it was all just cliche chaos crap.
Loser Agent Zero attacks after the fact…even though Elijah laid him out last week and the luster is off of Zero. He’s a joke. The Righteous come out to make a…Save? Dutch hits Death Walks on Matt and Vincent pulls out…a pad lock or something and then chains Jeff to the post via his eat gauge. This is…an embarrassing mess of crap just happening. If this is anyone’s first episode, I apologize for the Crash TV whiplash effect of this so far.
20 minutes of worthless D List Star spotting that leads to a comedy spot with Ryan Nemeth (which is fine, I love Ryan) but then it goes into Santino finding a new General Manager type because he’s been compromised. And it’s…Sonya Deville with Daria Rae as her new gimmick name. She comes out as the heel “management” type who wants to get rid of Santino. And…she apparently signed Elayna Black. Yikes, back to back no one cares reveals. Sonya Deville and Cora Jade. Cora’s hot, but wrestling competence…ya that’s non-existent.
I can almost tolerate Sonya since she’s supposed to come out and be a heel immediately, so the lack of current love, buzz and pop, is fine. But bringing Cora Jade along like she’s anything more than eye candy is…pathetic. It has been 30 minutes since the last actual wrestling match happened.
WHY DO WE GO INTO ANOTHER GOOFBALL TALK SEGMENT?!?!? The Elegance Brand, with Perez Hilton…has he even been relevant since like 2008? What is this? I get that it’s a dumb shtick before the match but STOP TALKING. This…Mr Elegance thing is complete garbage.
TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: The IInspiration (c) vs The Elegance Brand
The IInspiration comes down to stop the awful segment and as soon as things start we cut to commercial again. WHY. M has control cause of course the heels are in control until Cassie gets the knees up and M crashes and burns on the Moonsault. Jessie hot tag, lays out both Elegance members. She dispatches of M, Armbar Suplex on Heather but the Concierge pulls out Jessie. Jessie blocks the numbers game but eats combination kicks from Heather. They go for their Bow and Arrow, Stomp combo but Cassie shoves off Heather, IInspiration double teams M, Mr Elegance hops on the apron and gets slapped.
This is a sloppy mess of over booked gimmicked garbage. Idolizer on Maggie but interference for days and Maggie gets the pin and the…I don’t care. Get rid of these titles. I love Maggie, but this is pathetic and the fact we need NXT tag teams to flesh out a contender bracket is sad. What the actual FUCK is this episode? This feels like a fever dream.
TNA International Champion @Stacks_WWE and @AriannaGraceWWE take plenty of shots at @milanmiracle ahead of #TNAGenesis! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/9V2wMk3zlk
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 16, 2026
Jesus, okay the Visa issue is legit because I know there’s problems in e-sports and other professional mediums. But now Lei Ying Lee comes out because her title match becomes an Open Challenge because Dani can’t compete at Genesis. ZaRuca comes out, and I don’t care who challenge Lei, but I swear if TNA makes Lei drop the title to an NXT wrestler again. Sol actually says Zaria deserves the shot, which surprises Zaria…kind of a nice moment. But still…I swear, no more NXT wrestlers taking TNA gold.
Christ on a crutch, another talking segment. The System has to say stuff because Dango is retiring on Saturday, but come the hell on. So far there have been 2 matches, we saw 3 minutes of the first one, some people missed the entire second match because AMC ran back to back commercial breaks. But even seeing it, there’s was about 4 minutes of interference in that match. 90 minutes so far, and there’s been 7 minutes of visible wrestling. They’ve done garbage shows like this before, but I was hoping they would know better than to give us some gum flapping imbecile show. But NOOO.
TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs Mike Santana
Collar and Elbow tie up, Kaz tries the early Chicken Wing, but Santana fights it off and tries to catch him with a Spin the Block, but easily dodged and we reset. Santana hits the Shoulder Tackle and the crowd pops probably because it’s actually wrestling for what feels like the first time all night. Frankensteiner sends Frankie to the floor, Escalera Plancha from Santana keeps Kaz on the receiving end. Santana launches off the steps but misses and Kaz connects with a Belly to Belly.
Back from yet another terribly timed commercial, we see Kaz get shoved off the ropes, Santana tries the Rolling Buck Fifty, but Kaz connects with a Backstabber. He then decides to talk smack to Santana and big brother him. Santana absorbs Kaz’s shots, fires and then throws his own haymakers. Santana going a little Sting with a big Woo, catches Kaz’s foot and then Gamengiri. Kaz cuts him off, Santana cuts off Kaz, Rolling Buck Fifty out of the up and over, but only a 2 count.
Kaz claws the eyes, shoves Santana away, but Santana climbs the buckles again, Spanish Fly, no sell, into a struggle for signature moves when Santana snaps off a Code Red for another near fall. Santana takes too long to go for the Cannonball, knees up, Kaz hits the Angel’s Wings for two. Chicken Wing attempt two, but Santana rolls over into the pinfall, Kaz kicks out. A little cat and mouse on the Guillotine, but Slingshot Cutter into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop for two again!
Frankie tries to bring in the belt, it gets taken away, finisher counters, Fighting Spirit, Spin the Block misses, Kaz goes for a Shotgun Kick but ref bump. Santana hits the Spin the Block but the ref is dead. Kaz looks for the discarded belt, clocks Santana with it while the referee is still dead. Kaz aims for Fade to Black on the apron and connects! Throws Santana back into the ring, cover, Santana kicks out at two and fires! Kaz with the Canadian Destroyer but Santana no sells, Spin the Block! 1-2-2.999. Kaz kicked out of it. Kaz dodges the next STB, tries one of his own, but then Santana connects with another!
Overall Score: 2.5/10
This was an awful trainwreck of a fever dream. The Main Event was the only thing worth watching, and if you’re not a TNA fan, I wouldn’t expect people to have stuck around that long. The Main Event is 2 of the 2.5 points, the only other slightly decent part was utilizing Sonya Deville’s relative lack of interest and expected lack of pop, to just make her a heel out of the gates.
Everything else about this show was complete unadulterated dogshit. Mr Elegance talks like young Chris Jericho, Ryan Nemeth and Peter Brady did a failed fusion dance. The concept was cringe the execution is worse. The constant commercials at the start of matches and coming back for 2-3 minutes of trash is a 90s formula that doesn’t work nowadays. 80% of this show was useless talking, highlight segments of the history of TNA and running around to fix Genesis matches because all the UK wrestlers can’t make the show.
This was pathetic. If this was people’s first time watching TNA, it probably will be their last. This show made WCW Thunder look competent. I yearn for the days of Disco Inferno vs Lodi. Van Hammer vs Mike Awesome during his fat chick thriller era, would be better writing and television than whatever this was.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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