Results
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (6/26/26)
The night before Night of Champions!
The American Nightmare, Der Ring General, and The Last Real Good Guy.
SmackDown is in London, and Cody Rhodes is going to address his WWE Championship Triple Threat with Gunther and Sami Zayn!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Tiffany Stratton & Alexa Bliss VS Mia Yim & B-Fab; Mia & Fab win.
- AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix VS Nathan Frazer; Fenix wins and retains the title.
- Paige w/ Brie Bella VS Jacy Jayne w/ The Fatal Influence; Paige wins.
- Danhausen & Matt Cardona VS Los Garza; Danhausen & Cardona win.
- Jade Cargill VS Chelsea Green; Jade wins.
- Giulia VS Kiana James; Giulia wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Trick Williams is here!
London chants, “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” as the WWE United States Champion and Lil Yachty make their entrance. Trick Yachty Gang high-fives fans along the ramp, then they step into the ring. Trick gets the mic to add, “What? Huh! Uh-Huh! What? What? I like it!” Trick has them cut the music, and he says Yachty. You know what he thinks? What? Trick thinks the people here in London miss Trick Williams and Lil’ Boat. Especially since they missed last week. Last week, something happened that made Trick miss SmackDown. It had to be something meteoric to make him miss SmackDown. So to fill everyone in, last week, Trick went to Jamaica.
Lil Yachty was there. Lash Legend was there. And he is now a married man! The fans cheer the news while Trick shows off the wedding ring. Trick appreciates that, but talk about the party! Ohh… There was women, violins, hand-rolled cigars, salmon, chicken, rice, beans, it was so crazy! And love was in the air! Trick must admit, when he got married, that has to be the best day of his life. His friends were there, his family was there, Lash said, “I do,” and then they whooped dat trick all night long! Now, the Legend is not here tonight, so he’ll send a message, “I’m thinkin’ ’bout you, girl.” But back to business.
Last week, while they were partying and all that, Ricky Saints earned the right to face Trick at Night of Champions. Trick says congrats, Ricky Saints, because Trick is absolutely gonna whoop your ass! Trick beats Ricky down at Night of Champions, high steps into SummerSlam rocking the Lemon Pepper Steppers, a ring on his finger, and then the US Championship around his waist, let’s talk about it. But then Ricky Saints makes his entrance! The fans boo but Saints says yes, he’d boo, too, if he wasn’t married. But he’ll be the first to congratulate Trick. But what that tells Ricky is that Trick’s not good at making life decisions.
More importantly, Ricky doesn’t give it that much time to be lasting. The fans mock Ricky with, “Who are ya?” Ricky says he’s your wife’s favorite lover! Your mama’s favorite son! And more importantly, he is Absolute! Trick says walking down to the ring, interrupting Trick, knowing his patience is short and his backhand is strong… Trick smacked Ricky once, but if Ricky keeps mouthing off, Trick will smack him down to London Bridge, let’s talk about it! The fans cheer that! Ricky laughs that off, but the fans chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” Ricky says glad to see London can sing along with a chant.
But more importantly, it seems Trick is on the sauce, he’s crazy, talking out his head! Trick doesn’t get what’s happening right now. Trick is talking about SummerSlam, Lemon Pepper Steppers, London Bridge, cheap pops. Ricky says lemme tell you something! You shouldn’t be overlooking Ricky. Reality stands right in front of you. Tomorrow, Night of Champions, you’re looking at the NEW United States Champion, baby. Every single person out here agrees, but Ricky knows that this hype train is gonna end tomorrow.
Trick tells “Ricky Suave” that he’s talking about what Trick needs to focus on, but here’s what Ricky should worry about. Who will Ricky’s dentist be after Trick knocks those teeth through the back of his throat? Yachty says get a smaller size on that top next time. Ricky says they don’t need comments from the peanut gallery! But talking to Trick, when Ricky beats him for that title, does Trick’s little friend come along with it? Yachty says he would never work for Ricky. Ricky SMACKS Yachty, then runs for it! The fans boo, but then Trick goes to check Yachty and Ricky slides back in! Ricky cheap shots Trick, too!
The fans boo but The Absolute strikes his pose. Will this only make Trick want to whoop him harder? Or is the revolution about to strike gold?
Backstage interview with Alexa Bliss.
Jackie Redmond is with “Blisster” and brings up everything last week with Charlotte Flair, the attack from Jade Cargill & The Baddies and then the loss to Liv Morgan, do we have an update? How is Charlotte? Alexa says obviously, Charlotte is feeling the physical pain, but also the emotional pain of that loss. And she tells Jade Cargill that after what the “minions” did to The Queen, Alexa will have her revenge. Even if she has to team up with… Tiffany Stratton. The Women’s US Champion steps in and asks if that’s why they’re teaming together, to get revenge for Alexa’s friend. Sorry, Tiff only cares about getting through her match tomorrow and beating Jade.
Alexa says yeah, we get it, Tiff and Charlotte have history. But Tiff helped them before, this is Alexa returning the favor. Oh, well, in that case, let’s get through tonight, and then after Tiff beats Jade at Night of Champions, #Charlexa can do whatever they want. As long as they leave Tiff out of it. They plan to. Tiff heads out, Alexa sighs, but will this dysfunctional dynamic only damage Tiff’s chances tomorrow? Or can she and Lil’ Miss Bliss beat the Baddies?
Tiffany Stratton & Alexa Bliss VS Mia Yim & B-Fab!
SmackDown returns as Alexa makes her entrance, joining Tiff in the ring. Then The Baddies make their entrance, Jade not with them. Is that confidence in the team? Or is Jade making sure she isn’t a target for Tiff? The teams sort out, Tiff starts against Michin, and the fans rally for “Tiffy Time! Tiffy Time!” The two circle, Mia dodges Tiff, and she pushes Tiff. Mia taunts Tiff, but Tiff headlocks back. Mia powers up but Tiff uses the ropes to tornado takeover! Mia fights up, powers out, then drops down. Tiff handsprings over, eggs Mia on, then drop toeholds her into ropes! Tiff runs up and HIP ATTACKS! Mia falls over but Tiff returns to DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!
Tiff stays on Mia, fireman’s carries, but Mia CLAWS Tiff’s eyes! Tiff staggers, and Alexa tags in! The fans cheer as Alexa then dodges Mia, THROWS Her down, then blocks a shot to SMACK, ROCK, KNEE, and DROPKICK! Mia flounders but Alexa runs, BLOCKBUSTER! Alexa then brings Mia up, but Mia JAWBREAKERS free! Mia runs the ropes but Alexa catches her to the clinch! Mia pulls hair to THROW Alexa down! Mia runs, Fab tags in, sunset flip, but Bliss rolls through! Basement DROPKICK, and Mia bails out! Alexa goes to the apron, TORNADO DDT to the floor! But B-Fab BOOTS Bliss down! Fab soaks up the heat while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fab drags Alexa up, POSTS her, then leaves her behind. The ring count starts while Fab talks trash on the fans, and Alexa is still down at 5 of 10. Alexa crawls her way over, rolls in at 8, but Fab is on her! Fab rains down fists, then covers, TWO! Alexa goes to ropes, Fab storms up, and Fab CHOKES Alexa! The ref counts, Fab steps off, but Mia gets a cheap shot in! Fab drags Alexa to a cover, TWO! Alexa toughs it out but Fab brings her around. Tag to Mia and they double whip Alexa to SOBAT, BOOT, and cover, TWO! Mia brings Alexa up, Alexa fires body shots, but Mia THROWS Alexa back down. The ref reprimands about the hair pulling but Mia doesn’t care.
Mia brings Alexa up, scoops her, then SLAMS her! Cocky cover, TWO! Mia drags Alexa up, THROWS her again, then stalks her to the corner. Alexa fires body shots but Mia RAMS her into the corner! Mia then brings Alexa around, reels her in, and suplexes, only for Alexa to fight it. So Mia turns it into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Mia is annoyed, but she talks trash on Tiff before going back to Alexa. Mia scoops Alexa, SLAMS her, then scuffs her. Mia lets out a ‘WOO~” to mock Charlotte, then she steps on Alexa before she runs and ELBOW FLOPS as Alexa moves! SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans cheer.
Alexa goes to a corner, Mia runs up, but Alexa dodges! Mia hits buckles, Alexa crawls, but Mia grabs a leg. Alexa KICKS Mia away, Fab tags in, but hot tag to Tiff! Tiff LARIATS Fab again and again, then blocks a kick to ELBOW Fab! And SHOTGUN for Mia! Tiff dodges Fab, cartwheels, and ALABAMA SLAM! Cover, TWO! Fab survives but Tiff brings her back up. Fab JAWBREAKERS then fires a flurry of forearms. Fab whips, Tiff handsprings, and Tiff STUNNERS! Cover, TWO! Fab survives again and Tiff grows frustrated. The fans rally for Tiff as she drags Fab to a drop zone. Tiff goes up, up, and SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, but Mia breaks it!
The fans boo, but Mia runs, only for Alexa to trip her! Alexa drags Mia out to CLUB away on her! Then Alexa THROWS Mia around the way, only for Mia to THROW Alexa over barriers! Tiff fireman’s carries Fab, BOOTS Mia away, then ROLLING SENTONS! Tiff goes up, up, but JADE APPEARS OUTTA NOWHERE! Jade trips Tiff up, Fab hits the FABULOUS FACTOR! Cover, Baddies win!
Winners: Mia Yim & B-Fab, by pinfall
At this point, it’s just Jade’s MO to surprise her enemies and mess them up! But she’s not done, either, as she and The Baddies close in on Tiff. Wait! CHELSEA GREEN is here! She kendo stick SMACKS Fab, then storms into the ring, but drops the stick!? Oops. Mia runs up, Chelsea dodges and Mia hits buckles! Jade runs up but Chelsea DUMPS her out! The fans cheer Chelsea, and even Tiff is happy to see her! Will the Hot Mess have Tiff’s back to make sure Night of Champions is a fair fight? Or will that not matter when going up against The Storm?
MFT meets backstage.
Solo Sikoa asks Tama & Talla what’s up! Did they see what happened on Monday? What Solo did to Jimmy? Roman ain’t gonna like that, huh? Not at all! Tama says yeah, they saw, and that’s the problem. Solo asks what Tama means, and Tama says they are tired of being dragged into Solo’s wars. Roman, Jimmy, all of it. This obsession is tearing MFT apart. Solo says Tama doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Tama brings up last week, how they told Solo to stay backstage, and how he didn’t listen. Now they’re standing here without any gold around their waists. And then Solo helps LA Knight? Solo tries to explain but Talla stops him.
Talla says they have word from the elders. Talla & Tama… They’re out. Out? What does he mean out? Solo says they can’t leave! Tama says they just did. Solo shouts that they can’t walk away from the man who brought them here! Nobody leaves Solo! Nobody! But whether he likes it or not, MFT leaves Solo solo. Will he have no choice but to return home to the Bloodline?
Jade Cargill storms around backstage.
She demands to know where Nick Aldis is, and Aldis says he’s right here. Jade says she is NOT asking! Jade VS Chelsea 1v1 TONIGHT, make it happen! Aldis says he can do that. Jade says good, then she storms back out. But is Jade going to wipe the floor with the Hot Mess? Or will Chelsea further embarrass #ThatB1tch?
AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fenix VS Nathan Frazer!
The Firebird already has a hot streak going after winning this title, having successfully defended it against Axiom last week. But now, the Jersey Island Rocket is looking to hit it big in this homecoming adjacent. Will Frazer cool Fenix off? Or are things only going to get hotter in the UK after tonight?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who really heats things up!
The bell rings and the two run up! They RAM shoulders, then Fenix SOBATS and whips. Frazer goes up, up, and over, then runs the ropes. Fenix handsprings, Frazer catches him, but Fenix switches to shove. Fenix hurdles, drops down, then hurdles again. Frazer leaps over, Fenix trips him up, cover, ONE! Frazer sweeps and covers, ONE! Both men handspring up, then Frazer ducks a heel kick! The fans fire up for both men as they stand off. Frazer runs up, Fenix blocks and FLIPS Frazer, the LARIATS him in the corner! Fenix whips corner to corner,. Frazer goes up and over again to handspring away!
Fenix runs in, Frazer catches him, BUCKLE SHOT! The fans fire up as Frazer gets moving, but Fenix BOOTS him away! Fenix goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Frazer scrambles to his feet but Fenix DROPKICKS Frazer out! Fenix goes to a corner while the fans rally, and Fenix SUPER CROSSBODIES! Down goes Frazer at the ramp and the fans fire up again! Fenix puts Frazer in, blocks a kick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! The fans rally for “Lucha Libre!” but Frazer builds speed. Frazer FLIES and down goes Fenix at the ramp! The fans fire up while both men are down, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Frazer rises up, fires up with the fans, then brings Fenix up and around. Frazer puts Fenix in the ring, then goes up the corner, only for Fenix to somersault and SHORYUKEN! Frazer falls down to the mat, and Fenix fires up! Fenix hobbles over to Frazer, CHOPS him against the ropes, and Frazer flounders around. Fenix says uno mas, then waits on Frazer to stand back up. Fenix winds up to CHOP! Frazer hobbles to another side of the ring but Fenix whips. Frazer reverses, but Fenix tilt-o-whirls and torture racks! Fenix swings Frazer for the FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fenix stays focused as the fans rally up.
Fenix brings Frazer up and back suplexes, but Frazer lands out! Frazer hits a BIG back suplex, then covers, TWO! Frazer frowns but he focuses on Fenix with a NECK SNAPPER! High stack, TWO! Fenix survives but Frazer hurries to bring him around. Fenix has a COBRA CLUTCH, but Fenix endures. Fenix fights around, fights to his feet, and SmackDown returns to single picture as Fenix hits a JAWBREAKER! Fenix fires elbows, then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fenix SPIN CHOPS and Frazer wobbles! Fenix whips, Frazer reverses, but Fenix handsprings to CUTTER! Fenix fireman’s carries, counts it out, DEATH VALLEY NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Fenix is growing frustrated as Frazer survives. The fans rally behind Fenix as he goes to the corner. Fenix climbs, but Frazer GAMANGIRIS! Frazer then climbs up, but Fenix fights the superplex! Fenix SHOVES Frazer, but Frazer flips through to land on his feet! And he’s right back up top to SUPER DUPER PLEX! And a roll through, but Fenix cradle counters! TWO!! Frazer escapes, DOUBLE LARIATS knock both men down, but they both kip right up! DOUBLE ROUNDHOUSES and both men fall again! The fans are all fired up! “This is Awesome!” as Fenix and Frazer slowly stir. Frazer crawls, he and Fenix stand, and Frazer fires a haymaker.
Fenix CHOPS, but Frazer ROCKS Fenix! They go back and forth, Fenix fires a flurry, but Frazer V-TRIGGERS! Fenix dodges the lariat to tiger feint rewind and HEEL KICK! The fans fire up for Fenix, he goes to the ropes, but Frazer gets Fenix for an INVERTED SPANISH FLY! Then the suplex, ANARCHY!! Cover, TWO!! Fenix survives that high speed assault and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Frazer puts Fenix in the drop zone, then climbs up. PHOENIX- NO, Fenix dodges that splash, and he SUPERKICKS! Then he DOUBLE KNEES in the corner! Fenix puts Frazer up top, CHOPS him, then tucks, but Frazer fights free!
Frazer BOOTS Fenix away, but Fenix comes back. Frazer pops Fenix up to the top rope, and GAMANGIRIS him outta the ring! Fenix tumbles tot he floor and the fans fire up again. Frazer sees his chance, he builds speed, and he DIVES! But Fenix moves, Frazer SMACKS off the desk!! Frazer is dazed but “This is Awesome!” as Fenix puts him back in the ring. Fenix goes up the corner, the fans rally, and he FROG SPLASHES!! Cover, TWO?!?! Frazer survives and no one can believe it! Fenix runs up, Frazer BOOTS him! Frazer skins the cat, but Fenix tucks him in! Fenix carries Frazer out for the MEXICAN MUSCLE BUSTER!! Cover, Fenix wins!
Winner: Rey Fenix, by pinfall (still AAA Cruiserweight Champion)
An instant classic if ever there was one, but it is still Rey Fenix who reigns over the Cruiserweight Division! But he still shows respect to Frazer and the fans cheer as they shake hands. But will anyone be able to overtake, or even keep up, with Fenix at the speed he’s going?
Backstage interview with R-Truth & Damian Priest.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Tag Team Champions and congratulates them on their successful defense last week. But he has to ask, what’s next? Truth says the clubhouse! Tell ’em, D! The hot tub! Priest says no. But they’re looking forward to moving on from MFT, and SmackDown has so many talented tag teams that this is what they want. But then in step the War Raiders. Ivar says they’re actually surprised Truth & Priest survived last week. Erik says that since Truth & Priest are still WWE Tag Team Champions, and since the War Raiders are still AAA World Tag Team Champions, let’s put all the gold on the line!
Truth says in some kind of accent that the luchadores come over here and want to talk to them! He then winks at Priest as he puts a toothpick in his mouth. Truth says their titles VS the WWE titles, Lil’ Jimmy says ALL the Judgment Day is gonna have a title! Them AND Finn! Erik says Truth knows they’re not Judgment Day anymore, right? How DARE you! Priest has everyone calm down. Ivar says they’re not, though. Shut your mouth! Priest asks why Truth is talking like this, and Truth says this is how he talks! What? Truth says if they want to go to war, then- Priest stops Truth and says yeah, they’re fine with that. Challenge accepted.
Priest says he and Truth are gonna talk to Aldis, and then Priest leads Truth away. Whatever’s going on in Truth’s head, will it still be #WepaUp for the Summer? Or will Erik & Ivar soon have double the gold?
A car pulls up backstage.
And stepping out of it is L A KNIGHT, YEAH! Jackie Redmond is there to greet him, given the rumors he’d be here, but what is he doing here? Knight says he could ask Jackie the same thing. Is she stalking him? How’d she know he was the one pulling up? A little weird, but that’s okay. He has questions just like she does, but the difference is, he’s gonna go out to the ring to get his answers. YEAH! The Mega Star heads to gorilla, who will he question and what will their answer be? We’ll find out, after the break.
LA Knight heads to the ring!
SmackDown returns, and just as he said he would, The Mega Star makes his entrance. The fans cheer, and Knight grabs the mic to say, “LEMME TALK TO YA! Monday night, Jimmy Uso and I, we came out here, we had a battle. Unfortunately for Jimmy, he had to eat a BFT, three the hard way, and he caught himself staring at the lights, YEAH.” “YEAH!” Knight says as the one guy from the Bloodline he kinda respects, even so, Knight feels Jimmy got what he deserved. But all of a sudden, a little bit of an unexpected assist happened in this corner. And it has Knight a little confused, so with that being the case, Knight wants Solo to walk his keister out here, right about now!
Knight waits, and Solo indeed makes his way out here! Solo isn’t really in a mood after MFT ditched him, but he still steps into the ring. Solo also gets a mic, the fans sing, “OH~ Solo Sikoa~!” Knight says he has to be honest, that was a little catchy. But ten outta ten times that Solo’s come out here, it’s been to attack or distract Knight, them fighting in the center of this ring, so Knight is trying to wrap his head around Monday. But Solo’s song does say, “I’m taking it all.” So is Solo taking Jimmy and taking Knight? Solo tells Knight he’s not out here to fight. If Knight is looking for a fight, he’s wasting his time, because Solo’s not here for that.
Solo isn’t sure if Knight was watching earlier, but everyone in his family has left him. Knight says okay. Knight gets that that hurts. At the same time, his heart doesn’t pump purple piss for Solo losing all that. Bottomline, Solo “losing his family,” that’s just leaving him wide open to go right back into the fold. That’s all that tells Knight. The fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” Solo sighs, but Knight asks if he wants to stand around and listen to that crap. Does Solo want Roman Reigns to lord that all over him? The thing is, Knight and the fans are wondering, why did Solo do what he did on Monday? Maybe Solo’s wondering why he did what he did.
Knight doesn’t know if that was Roman’s initiation or- YOU WANNA KNOW WHY?! It’s cuz Solo HATES that damn family! That’s why! He HATES The Bloodline! He hates that he was part of that group! He hates Jacob Fatu, he hates The Usos, and he hates The OTC, Roman Reigns! Knight seems rather surprised, but Solo says the only way for him to feel better is if he finishes them! But he knows there’s one thing he and Knight have in common: Knight and Solo do not like The Bloodline. Knight says Solo really should hate them. Hate them, and more specifically, hate Roman Reigns, for every single thing he’s done to Solo.
But y’know who else should hate Roman? Jimmy, Jey, and Jacob! What’s happening with them? And honestly, Roman’s done more to them than he ever did to Solo, and yet look at them! They went right back to the fold! We have the artist formerly known as Main Event Jey Uso, but now he’s the baggage handler. And Solo thinks that Knight will trust him? That Solo won’t just go back and join up again? Knight’s seen the movie, he knows how it ends, why is this different? Because Solo has nothing to lose. Because Solo has no family. Because it’s just Solo. And the enemy of my enemy can be my friend. They can work together! They can be partners and take out The Bloodline!
They can watch each other’s backs! The fans sound torn on that idea, but Knight wonders… Friends? Just Solo? Knight’s heard that before, “Just me, Uce!” But let him think about it. Because does Knight hate Bloodline? YEAH! Is Knight outnumbered? YEAH! Have those numbers always worked against him? YEAH! Does he need help? YEAH! Does he need Solo Sikoa standing next to him, watching his back? Solo says YEAH, but Knight says NAH-NAH! Knight lives and dies doing things HIS way, because it’s the only way he’s ever known, and he’ll live and die the same way, with everybody saying, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” Thanks, but no thanks.
Knight leaves, but is this the right move or the wrong move if Knight wants to win the game?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Byron Saxton is with the Last Real Good Guy, and he says there has been a lot of discussion in the officiating job last week. Sami already rolls his eyes and says he doesn’t need this from Byron, too. Sami watched it back, he called it down the middle, as fair as he could, until Gunther pushed him. And Sami admits, he retaliated, but he did what anyone else would’ve done. But Byron doesn’t get that, Aldis doesn’t get that, Cody doesn’t get that, NO ONE seems to get it, except HIM! We look over and see Johnny Gargano planking on the road case. Candice LeRae sighs as Sami says Gargano’s the only one who understands around here!
But that no longer matters, because Sami’s mom always told him that good things happen to good people. And now, Sami is about to wrestle for THE WWE Championship. Byron says to that point, Sami’s had previous world title opportunities, but this time does feel different. Sami says he’ll be honest, the last few months have not been great. Anyone who has watched him crash out backstage, lose his cool, he’s been an emotional wreck, hasn’t fully been himself. But it all started when he had a chance to win the world title at the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, and he lost.
But because he stayed true to himself, because he stayed good, now the universe has provided him this opportunity to redeem himself! Sami then realizes, he can redeem himself. He’s gonna become Undisputed WWE Champion…! Sami is already in awe of what could happen tomorrow, but will it? Will this finally be Sami’s time atop the mountain? Or is he forgetting that Triple Threats are no easy feat?
Paige w/ Brie Bella VS Jacy Jayne w/ The Fatal Influence!
Another huge homecoming match for London’s own, and she already has a win from Monday Night Raw. Will Paige keep the momentum going on SmackDown? Or will the Toxic Rockstar earn herself and The Influence a golden opportunity?
SmackDown returns as The Influence makes their entrance. The bell rings and the fans cheer Paige on. Jacy says time out, and she huddles up with The Influence. Paige waits, Jacy comes back, but Lainey talks some smack. Paige is distracted, and Jacy SUPERKICKS her down! Cover, TWO! Jacy keeps after Paige, bumps her off buckles, then stomps away in the corner. The ref counts, Jacy says alright, but then she digs her boot in. The ref counts again, Jacy backs off, and she taunts the fans. Jacy runs in, Paige dodges and SLAPS! Paige THROWS Jacy by her hair! Paige then runs Jacy to the ropes, Jacy stops from being thrown out, so Paige YANKS the ropes!
Jacy tumbles, Paige shouts “This is MY house!” and the fans cheer. Paige HEADBUTTS Jacy, then whips her into the corner. Paige dribbles Jacy off buckles, the fans chant, “This is Your House!” Paige sits Jacy down in the corner, then stomps away! The Influence protests but Paige backs off at 4. Paige runs up, blocks a boot, and she THROWS Jacy down! Paige ties up the legs, hooks Jacy, and not quite the PTO but close enough. Jacy fights to the ROPEBREAK, then she bails out. Jacy wants a timeout but Paige goes to the apron. CANNONBALL but Lainey & Fallon take the shot! Jacy PENALTY KICKS Paige, and says this is HER house now! The fans boo, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again as Jacy keeps Paige down with a chinlock. The fans rally as Paige fights up, and Paige reaches back to JAWBREAKER! Jacy staggers, Paige runs, and DOUBLE LARIATS take them both down! The fans rally up as Jacy goes to the ropes. Paige ROCKS Jacy, Jacy ROCKS Paige, repeat! Jacy mule kicks, but Paige ROCKS Jacy! Paige fires a flurry, then runs to LARIAT! Paige then slips around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Paige blocks a kick, hooks Jacy up, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Jacy staggers up, but Paige hooks her up, PAIGE TURNER! Cover, TWO! Jacy survives but the fans rally for Paige.
Paige brings Jacy up, hooks her up in the facelock, but Jacy fights with body shots. Jacy cradles Paige, TWO! Both women hurry to their feet, but Jacy dodges to then SHOTGUN BOOT! Cover, TWO! Paige survives, The Influence is frustrated, but Jacy goes to a corner. Jacy fires herself up, takes aim at Paige, and Paige rises, into the ROLLING- NO, Paige dodges the Encore to hook arms! Jacy RAMS Paige into a corner, flips the hooks, and backslides! Jacy puts her feet on the ropes, but Brie manages to shove them off! The fans cheer, but then Fallon & Lainey run up! Brie DECKS Fallon, but Lainey POSTS Brie! Lainey shouts at the ref but Paige DECKS her
Jacy O’Conner Rolls Lainey, TWO! Paige rolls Jacy, with tights! Paige wins!
Winner: Paige, by pinfall
Once again, the savvy vet cheats the cheater and comes away with the win! Will no one be able to deactivate #ScreamMode?
Danhausen is back in the lab.
He once again has the brain-fried Miz and Kit Wilson, but he hasn’t been able to restore them. Matt Cardona walks in, he thanks Danhausen for helping the Knicks win the NBA Finals, what an unbelievable run. But ever since getting shocked last week, he’s been feeling a little strange. His hand keeps twitching, he has this sudden urge to move back to Long Island, and he can’t stop going “Woo woo woo.” What’s going on, man?! Danhausen doesn’t really address that issue, and then notices Miz & Kit have disappeared! Danhausen hurries off to find them, but then Los Garza step in. They ask where “Freakhausen” went, and Cardona says no idea, but he was just here.
Angel says no, Danhausen has to pay them back. Cardona says go find him yourself then! Cardona then looks at the slab and touches the cloth. Danhausen says don’t touch that! Wait, where is he? And will Cardona be able to resist the urge to be a broski again?
MFT is heading out.
But then Tama & Talla cross paths with Finn Balor. He says hey, good to see you boys. Especially Tama. Finally making his own decisions. Reminds Finn of the Tama that he used to run with. Tama says they did used to run together, but that was a long time ago. And y’know, Shinsuke’s from the past, too. We all saw how that went. Tama leads the way out, but could things get too sweet again?
Danhausen heads to the ring!
The fans cheer, and the Very Nice, Very Evil One found Miz & Kit! He ushers them along down the ramp, though they’re robotic/zombie like movements aren’t exactly helping. Somehow, they do get in the ring, and Danhausen gets the mic to say, “Hello, Londonhausen! It is I, Danhausen, Very Nice, Very Evil, and I am here to welcome you to the Most Must-See WWE Television Show of all time, welcome to DanhausenTV!” The fans cheer as Danhausen commandeers Miz’s show and says his guests tonight are “The Legion of Danhausen!” Hi, Miz, how’re you feeling about Danhausen replacing you on your own TV show? “AAAAWESOME~!”
And let’s give it up for the hometown boy, Kit Wilson! The fans cheer, and Danhausen asks Kit how he feels about Los Garza ruining Danhausen’s experiment? “TOXIC, TOXIC, TOXIC!” Absolutely agreed! But then speaking of, Los Garza makes their way to the ring! Angel y Berto storm right up and they CLOBBER #MizKit! The fans boo, MizKit didn’t even do anything! Berto TOSSES Miz, Angel THROWS Kit into the corner, then stomps him outta the ring! The fans boo Los Garza, and Danhausen wants them to calm down. But then Matt Cardona rushes out here! The fans cheer as The Complete steps to them on behalf of Danhausen!
Aldis hurries out here and says okay, gentlemen, that’s quite enough. The fans cheer, and Aldis says he has no idea what this is, but it has to end before it gets outta hand. And seeing as how at least four of them are in fighting shape, let’s book a tag match! Cardona & Danhausen VS Los Garza! And it starts right now! The fans cheer that! Cardona is #AlwayZReady, but will #Cardonahausen be able to humble Angel y Berto? Or will Los Garza make Danhausen pay for taking their money?
Danhausen & Matt Cardona VS Los Garza!
SmackDown returns as Cardona sends Berto stumbling to the corner. Cardona runs up, LARIATS, then shoves Berto aside so he can go up and MISSILE DROPKICK! Cardona then runs to ROCK Berto in the corner! The fans “Woo woo woo!” with Cardona, and he BROSKI BOOTS! The fans fire up as Berto sputters around, but he avoids the Rough Ryder! Tag to Angel but Cardona BOOTS Berto back to a corner! Cardona runs up, Berto puts him outside, and Angel SHOTGUNS Cardona down! Angel mocks “Woo woo woo!” while Miz mindlessly ambles by. Angel fetches Cardona but the fans cheer Cardona on.
Angel stands Cardona up, CHOPS him, then HEADBUTTS him! Tag to Berto, Los Garza stomp a double mudhole in, then Angel talks trash. Kit stares blankly at Los Garza, then at the crowd, before randomly shouting, “TOXIC!” Berto CHOKES Cardona on the ropes, stops as the ref counts, but Angel gets a cheap shot in. Berto tags Angel and Angel puts Cardona on the apron. Angel runs, DOUBLE KICK SANDWICH! Cardona flops to the floor, Los Garza brings him up, and THROWS him into barriers! They put Cardona in the ring, then they DOUBLE LARIAT Kit just because! Miz ambles the other way, Angel runs at Cardona in the ring, but into a FLAPJACK!
The fans fire up while both men crawl, hot tags to Berto and Danhausen! Atomic drop for Berto, then a LARIAT! Then a wrench and lift for Angel, NORTHERN LIGHTS! The fans cheer, Danhausen LARIATS Berto, then LARIATS Angel! And repeat! Danhausen is winded already, but then he gets his second wind! LARIAT for Berto, then he dodges Berto to send him into Angel! GERMAN SUPELX on Berto! Cover, but Angel DOUBLE STOMPS it apart! And he SUPERKICKS Cardona! Angel says Danhausen owes them money, now he’s gonna pay for it! Angel goes out to get a chair, but Miz wants the chair, too. Angel says move!
Miz doesn’t move, so Angel winds up! But then Kit grabs the chair! Kit shouts, “TOXIC, TOXIC, TOXIC!” before he flops over. Angel says forget it, and he goes back to the ring, only to get a ROUGH RYDER! Danhausen rolls Berto up, TWO! Danhausen ducks one kick but not the ENZIGIRI! Berto brings Danhausen to a drop zone, then he vows to end it. The fans boo as Berto climbs, but Danhausen sits up! “YOU! ARE! CURSED!” PYRO MISHAP! Berto flops off the corner, and into the dragon sleeper! REVERSE DDT! Cover, Cardonahausen wins!
Winners: Danhausen & Matt Cardona, by pinfall
Woo woo woo, you know it! And Miz continues to shamble around. But are the A-Lister and Mr. Anti-Toxic more coherent than they appear? Or was it just dumb luck that they helped the Very Nice, Very Evil Overlord?
Backstage interview with Gunther.
Byron Saxton is now with Der Ring General and brings up Sami’s comments. Sami described tomorrow’s Triple Threat as his opportunity for redemption. What is Gunther’s reaction? Gunther says, “Redemption? If there’s anybody in need of redemption, it’s me. Because I got screwed out being WWE Champion twice!” Byron says not to upset Gunther, the flipside of that is that Gunther’s win-loss record against Cody Rhodes hasn’t been in his favor. Is Byron serious? Does he not understand the language they’re speaking? Cody SCREWED Gunther over twice! As for tomorrow, it goes down very differently. And exactly how is what Gunther will tell them tonight!
Gunther storms off, ready to confront both thorns in his side. Will things turn into a fight even before Night of Champions?
Jade Cargill VS Chelsea Green!
The Storm ruined things for Tiffany Stratton & Alexa Bliss earlier tonight, but then The Hot Mess ruined The Baddies’ plan to bully them. Will Chelsea continue to mess things up for Jade? Or will Chelsea regret messing with #ThatB1tch?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Jade THROWS Chelsea down, talks trash, but Chelsea gets up. The fans cheer Chelsea as she SLAPSA Jade, then salutes. Jade THROWS Chelsea down, then LARIATS her down! Chelsea flounders to the apron while Jade talks trash. Jade lines up a shot and runs up, but Chelsea DUMPS her out! Chelsea CROSSBODIES, but Jade catches her! FALL AWAY SLAM to the floor! Jade kips up, talks more trash, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns as Chelsea JAWBREAKERS free of a chinlock! But Jade guzels to CHOKE SLAM Chelsea! COver, TWO! Chelsea survives, but Jade rains down fists on Chelsea! Jade drags Chelsea up, whips her to a corner, then runs up, only for Chelsae to dodge! Jade POSTS herself, Chelsea rolls her up, TWO! Chelsea ROCKS Jade, ROCKS her again, and again and again! But then Jade THRWOS Chelsea to a corner! Jade runs up, Chelsea dodges again, and she fires more forearms! Chelsea snapmares Jade, then runs corner to corner, but Jade puts her on the apron! Chelsea blocks a shot to ROCK Jade again!
Jade goes up, up, rallies the fans, then MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives but Chelsea drags her up to hook the arms! Jade powers out of the Unpretty-Her, but then Chelsea avoids the boot! SUPERKICK! Jade staggers around, but she rebounds to BOOT Chelsea! Jade chicken wings Chelsea now, for a JADED! Cover, Jade wins!
Winner: Jade Cargill, by pinfall
Jade sighs, as if that was too easy. But Jade isn’t done beating up on Chelsea as she stomps and rains down fists! The fans boo, but Tiff rushes out here! Tiff AND Bliss are on their way back to the ring, but Jade decides to make her exit. Only for Mia & Fab to run up! The brawl is on, but Bliss DECKS Mia! Jade BOOTS Bliss! Tiff fires off on Jade, but Fab & Mia go after Tiff! The fans boo but The Baddies still get to bully Tiff after all! They stand Tiff up, Jade chicken wings, JADED! Jade covers Tiff, saying it’s a preview of Saturday. Will nothing stop Jade from being back on top? Or will SmackDown still run on #TiffyTime?
Backstage interview with Solo Sikoa.
Byron is with the man without a family, and says it has been a rough night. MFT left him, LA Knight turned down the offer, and now, Solo is all alone. Solo takes a moment, but then Royce Keys walks in. Royce hopes Solo knows Jacob Fatu’s coming after him. Solo says, “So? You gonna help me like how I helped you?” Royce just wishes Solo good luck. Royce leaves, Solo says he doesn’t need luck, he needs help! But is this everything Solo has done being revisited onto him? Or will someone somewhere stand by Solo’s side?
Backstage interview with Trick Williams & Lil Yachty.
Jackie Redmond is with Trick Yachty Gang, and brings up Ricky Saints delivering what most would call “a cheap shot” to them. Yachty takes over by telling “Ricky Stank” that to be quite frank with him, they weren’t looking at you, they were looking right past you. But congratulations, you now have their full, undivided attention. Tomorrow on Night of Champions, baby boy, you earned yourself a Tricky situation. Cuz only a sucker would sucker punch a man! Ricky was afraid to approach from the front, so he had to hit him from the back! Yachty realizes how that sounds, so Trick takes over.
Trick tells Ricky that he won’t pretend they’re on the same level. Ricky, you’re cheating, conniving, doing everything you can just to get in the ring with Trick Williams. Newsflash! Now you in the ring with Trick Williams! And he’s bigger than you, he hits harder than you, he’s smarter than you, he works harder than you, and he’s smoother and prettier than you, too! There’s nothing you can do about Trick Williams! At Night of Champions, it’ll be the Night of Trick Williams, let’s talk about it. The champ is ready to throw hands, but will he make Ricky regret every trying him? Or can The Absolute #WhoopDatTrick?
Giulia VS Kiana James!
Former client and manager, as well as former tag team partners, fell apart all because of a misunderstanding, and now it’s time to have it out in the ring! Will Kiana succumb to the Beautiful Madness? Or will Giulia learn not to underestimate Miss Management?
SmackDown returns as Kiana makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two run up! Kiana BOOTS Giulia down, CLUBS her, and continues to vent that after everything she did for Giulia, this is how she treats Kiana! Kiana drags Giulia up, bumps her off buckles, then RAMS into her again and again! The ref counts, Kiana handsprings back, but Giulia DROPKICKS her out! Giulia fires up, the fans cheer, but Kiana trips Giulia. Kiana drags Giulia out and SMACKS her off the apron. Giulia BODY BLOWS in return, SMACKS Kiana off the apron, then puts her inside. Giulia huffs ‘n’ puffs, but then avoids Kiana’s elbow drop!
Giulia smiles as she says she’s smarter than that. Giulia sits Kiana up, then KICKS her in the back! And KICKS her again! And again! Giulia winds up, the fans cheer, and she KICKS again! Then she fakes Kiana out, before she DROPKICKS her down! Cover, ONE! Kiana toughs it out but Giulia brings her up. Giulia reels Kiana in, scoops, but Kiana slips free to kick. Giulia blocks to HEADBUTT! Kiana bails out, Giulia snarls, and Giulia goes to the apron. Giulia aims, runs up, but Kiana avoids the stomps! Kiana scoops Giulia to SNAKE EYES off the steel steps! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Kiana leaves Giulia behind while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Kiana lets the ring count climb while she soaks up heat. Giulia is still down at 5 of 10, rises at 7, and she drags herself in at 8. Kiana is right on Giulia, stomps away, then stomps a leg. Kiana ROCKS Giulia with a forearm, then ROCKS her again! Giulia flounders, Kiana stalks her to the ropes, and Kiana CHOKES Giulia on the ropes! The ref counts, Kiana goes up and out to BOOT Giulia back in! Kiana hurries to cover, TWO! Giulia is tougher than that, but Kiana brings her up. Giulia fires forearms on Kiana, then CHOPS! Giulia ROCKS Kiana, whips her, but Kiana reverses. Kiana runs up, stomps away, but the ref counts again.
Kiana JUMP STOMPS, then she tells the ref to back off. Kiana soaks up more heat, then brings Giulia up. Kiana ROCKS Giulia, stalks her, talks trash, then reels her in for a HIP DROP! Giulia sits up slowly but Kiana is on her again. Kiana clamps on a chinlock and squeezes tight. Giulia endures, fights up, then fires body shots. Kiana KNEES low, puts Giulia on the top rope, then climbs up to join her. Giulia resists the lift, fires shots, then ELBOWS Kiana down! Giulia adjusts her position, then MISSILE DROPKICKS Kiana down! SmackDown returns as both women stir and the fans rally up. The two find each other at center, and Kiana fires a forearm!
Giulia snarls as she ROCKS Kiana, but Kiana ROCKS Giulia! Giulia fires back, but so does Kiana! The fans cheer Giulia as she fires a flurry! Then she winds up, FASTBALL SPECIAL! Giulia runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Kiana sets up, STANDING MOONSAULT FLOPS as Giulia moves! Giulia goes to ropes, she BOOTS Kiana, then she dodges Kiana. Giulia RUNS Kiana over, RUNS her over again, then whips. Kiana reverses, but Giulia tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Kiana tumbles, the fans fire up, and Giulia runs at Kiana for a BOOT WASH! Kiana sputters, Giulia drags her up, SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Kiana survives but the fans still rally for Giulia.
Giulia drags Kiana up, CLUBS her, ELBOWS her, but has to let go because she’s pulling hair. The fans rally as Giulia goes up the corner, but Kiana hurries to pull hair in return! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Kiana ROCKET LAUNCHES Giulia! Kiana then brings Giulia around, reels her in, and suplexes for the FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Giulia survives and Kiana is seething! Kiana drags Giulia up, scoops her, but Giulia slips free! Roll-up, TWO! Giulia hurries to ARRI- NO, Kiana stops the knee, then stops the buzzsaw to POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Giulia survives and Kiana is furious! Kiana drags Giulia up and puts her in a corner.
Kiana snarls as she stands Giulia up, fireman’s carries, then climbs the corner! But Giulia swings through, SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! The fans fire up as Giulia rises, ARRIVEDERCI!! And then, the NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, Giulia wins!
Winner: Giulia, by pinfall
In the battle of “I never needed you,” it is truly Giulia’s win! Will Giulia continue to prove that as she rises to the top all on her own?
But wait! BLAKE MONROE ATTACKS?! The Glamour chose to debut in her hometown, and now she’s stealing Giulia’s moment! Gotch lift, NEUTRALIZER!! Blake smiles as she stands in the spotlight, is SmackDown about to be truly glamorous?
Cody Rhodes is here!
London cheers The American Nightmare and sings along with Kingdom as the Undisputed WWE Champion makes his entrance, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, he high-fives fans, and he continues down to the ring. Fans sing for “Cody, Cody Rhodes~!” while he gets the mic, and he says, “So… LONDOOOON~! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says at Night of Champions, the American Nightmare- gets interrupted by Sami Zayn! The fans are a bit more conflicted about The Last Real Good Guy making his way out, but Sami says first of all, he just wants to say thank you to all his Ride or Die fans in London! He loves you and thanks you!
Sami continues to say that’s not why he’s out here, though. He is here because he needed to say this face to face, man to man, and for whatever it is even worth at this point, as a friend. Sami steps into the ring with Cody, and he says he just had to tell Cody last week, Sami as guest ref, he regrets how some of that went down. Yes, Sami was provoked and pushed, but in the end, he’s a good guy. Sami is the LAST REAL GOOD GUY, so Sami should’ve been better about that. He regrets the fast count on Gunther, he regrets striking the official, and he especially regrets knocking Cody out cold with the WWE Championship belt. Sami is being serious, it was a mistake.
Oh, was it? Y-Yeah, it was a mistake! But now, they’re here, here is where they find themselves. They’re about to wrestle for THE WWE Championship, and Sami needs Cody to understand, he needs Cody to know, this is not how he wanted it. This is never how Sami wanted it. Sami never wanted to be in the middle of this thing with Cody and Gunther. Sami didn’t ask to be guest referee. This is not how he wanted it. Cody shouts, “ENOUGH! Enough, Sami! This is exactly what you wanted! Oh gosh, Sami, you’re wrestling for the WWE Championship, the richest prize in the game, in a country that you’re beloved in?
“You’re wrestling in a match against me, that I don’t even have to be pinned for you to walk home with this? For a guy who says he doesn’t catch a lot of breaks, things are sure looking up, Sami! This whole victim card that you’re playing for me, that you’re playing for that thing that’s just laying down backstage, that you’re playing for all of them, you’re not a victim. You’re not! Sami, do you know what you are? You are exhausting. You are exhausting. Every interaction we’ve had backstage, you’ve been like a mosquito sucking the blood from me. What, do you expect me to just keel over and hand you the WWE Championship? That’s not how this works!
“Y’know something I can’t wrap my head around? The fact that you are best friends with Kevin Owens. Oh, no, let’s go there, alright? You are best friends with Kevin Owens, because there’s two main differences I see between you and him. One, Kevin Owens would’ve come out here, said what he meant, and stabbed me in the front, not the back. And the other? At least Kevin Owens has been WWE Champion!” Sami says he is gonna say this once and only once. “You keep Kevin Owens’ name outta your damn mouth!” And if we’re going low, let’s go low! Let’s be clear about something! If not for Sami, GUNTHER would be WWE Champion now!
The only reason Cody is still champion, instead of chastising Sami, he should be down on his hands and knees THANKING SAMI! The only reason Cody is still champion is because of Sami. But after Night of Champions, the reason Cody will no longer be champion is because of Sami! But then Gunther makes his entrance! The fans are again torn in regards to Der Ring General as he storms right to the ring. Gunther asks what is all this drama. Friends, not friends. Accident or not. Gunther does not care! All he cares about is winning what is rightfully his, and that’s what’s on Cody’s shoulder. But Sami is right about one thing: If Sami hadn’t screwed up, Gunther would be champion!
Gunther then tells Sami he’s still very wrong about something. Sami is wrong thinking he’ll leave Night of Champions with the title, because GUNTHER will! To be honest, as a referee, Sami caused a lot of damage. But as a wrestler, Sami is a non-factor! Because let’s face it, Sami has never been WWE Champion and he never will! As for Cody, enjoy your last night as the Golden Boy, because tomorrow, Gunther takes it all away! Gunther walks into SummerSlam facing the King of the Ring, NOT Cody! But then JEY USO is here! London is YEETing for Main Event Jey as he joins this conversation, much to Gunther’s chagrin.
Jey steps into the ring, mic in hand, and then the fans chant, “Run It Back! Run It Back!” Jey hears the people, but Gunther says NO NO NO NO! Not on his time! Who does Jey think he is? What does he want? Jey says no one likes yeeting with Gunther anyway, so he’ll keep it short ‘n’ sweet. Tomorrow night, Saturday, Jey punches his ticket to SummerSlam when he becomes King of the ring! “YEET!” So Cody, you said you easy to find? Jey will pull up on you at SummerSlam. That’s your warning shot, BLAOW! Sami, you Jey’s dawg, but if you get the title, then Jey’s gotta get you! This your warning shot, BLAOW! And Gunther… Jey almost wants it to be you!
Gunther gets no warning shot, Jey will just do you like he did at WrestleMania for the World Heavyweight Championship, and TAPPED YOU OUT LIKE A LITTLE B*TCH! Gunther DECKS Jey for that! Sami and Cody go after Gunther, but then Sami pushes Cody aside! Gunther BOOTS Sami! Jey SUPERKICKS Gunther! Cody RHODES UPPERCUTS Gunther, and then DOUBLE SUPERKICKS send Gunther out! Cody and Jey pace around, then stare down. The fans like the look of this showdown, but then the lights go out! And OBA FEMI is here! The fans cheer for “O~BA! HOOT!” as The Ruler makes his presence known.
Oba looks at Cody, then at Jey, while the fans continue to cheer, “O~BA! HOOT!” Jey SUPERKICKS CODY!? Well, no friends when it’s all about the title, but then Gunther runs up! Short arm LARIAT on Jey! Gunther stares Oba down, holding the title! But Sami snatches the belt to CLOBBER Gunther! Sami looks at the belt, looks at Oba, but then Cody snatches Sami! CROSS RHODES!! Cody takes back his belt, but then Oba steps into the ring. Cody slowly stands up, looking up at the mountain of a man before him. Cody holds up the belt, but Oba does not look away. So many possibilities, but what becomes our reality in less than 24 hours?
My Thoughts:
Well, this was certainly a go-home episode of SmackDown. It had its great moments, but it also got hit with a case of Go-Home Syndrome with video packages I easily skipped. At the same time, I’m again convinced WWE needs to get SmackDown off of USA Network ASAP so it can be on Netflix, meaning they can just air SmackDown when its really happening, not tape delay it by three days. You avoid people spoiling things and ruining the fun for everyone that didn’t attend it live.
That gripe aside, we also didn’t get the strongest builds in each story. The top title got a great closing segment tonight that certainly has us guessing who wins what and how that affects SummerSlam. Oba and Cody being the last image on our screen, maybe that’s the match-up, or maybe they’re teasing that because it’s not at all what we’re getting. As for the promos themselves, kinda funny for Sami to think he’s destined to win at Night of Champions, but I do understand him trying to sort out that he let his emotions get the better of him last week. Cody not willing to hear it out is perhaps a passive-aggressive way of being Heel in itself, because he’s not willing to see things from Sami’s side. I feel like NOC needs to be the breaking point for Sami’s Heel turn, or where Cody starts his.
MFT up and leaving Solo, no beatdown, was an interesting move. Having a promo with Finn was also a nice tease of Bullet Club in WWE (for like the third or fourth time), I still hope they end up joining forces with #WepaUp on top of it. Very good promo from Priest & Truth with Erik & Ivar, and they’ll have a very good tag title match for both sets of titles. I feel like there will be some level of shenanigans and disqualification to keep either team from losing their belts, I’m just not sure what. Solo had a good promo with LA Knight, where Knight just can’t get past his own Bloodline paranoia. Royce Keys adding a little insult to injury was also a nice touch.
Awesome title match from Fenix VS Frazer, and I would not have guessed Frazer just taking a faceplant to the desk like that. Great win for Fenix, he can certainly build interest in AAA if he has more matches like this. And even if not, he at least gets to have awesome matches that thrill the WWE fans. Very good match for Paige VS Jacy, and a great hometown win for Paige, but I’m a little surprised #ScreamMode has been unstoppable. Are they still hoping Nikki Bella will be back from injury soon and then The Bellas can take over as champions?
Meanwhile, good build in the Women’s US Championship story, but Jade’s tactics are so copy-paste that the Faces really need to start expecting it. The Baddies stay afloat as a tag team with that win, and then Chelsea getting to do her part in the story is fun. Jade of course wins against Chelsea, but now that she stands tall over Tiff, does that mean Tiff finds as way to survive as champion? I wonder if it’s from Charlotte showing up tomorrow and costing Jade, thereby sending Jade and Charlotte off on a feud of their own, no titles involved, just the grudge.
And speaking of grudge, good match from Giulia VS Kiana, but of course Giulia won that. Nice surprise in Blake showing up here, and despite her naming many names, it seems she’s settled on Giulia as her first feud. A little surprised by that, because Giulia and Blake each need wins to be strong in the Women’s Midcard, but now Blake is gonna take some of that from Giulia like she just did here tonight. Seems a shame, but I guess that’s just the way of the World Wrestling Entertainment.
Which explains the goofy fun that we got from Danhausen and all the different guys in that story. Very fun tag match, fun stuff from zombie Miz & Kit just bumbling around, but I can’t be sure the endgame of this. Miz & Kit surely reset, but this is a pretty silly way for them to be Faces alongside Danhausen.
My Score: 8.7/10
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NJPW PPV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW Road to G1 Climax Results & Report! (7/6/26)
The field will be finalized!
Who will grab the last tickets to the G1?
The Road to G1 Climax 36 is almost over, and that means finally filling both blocks! Oskar or Yujiro, ELP or Oiwa, who will reach the Climax?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 8 Man Tag: Yuya Uemura, Taichi, El Desperado & Masatora Yasuda VS Ren Narita, SANADA, SHO & DOUKI; Ren, Sanada, Sho & Douki win.
- 8 Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Aaron Wolf, Hirooki Goto & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Yuto-Ice & Daiki Nagai; Oleg, Wolf, Goto & Matsumoto win.
- Triple Threat Tag: Tiger Mask & Jado VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo; Kanemaru & Dick win.
- G1 Climax 36 B Block Qualifier: OSKAR VS Yujiro Takahashi; Oskar wins and advances.
- G1 Climax 36 A Block Qualifier: El Phantasmo VS Ryohei Oiwa; Oiwa wins and advances.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino VS Gabe Kidd; Gabe wins and becomes the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: YOH VS Francesco Akira; Yoh wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
After Triple Threat Tag: Tiger Mask & Jado VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo…
To be fair, this match started turning into a 4v2 against the House of Torture, but even then, Dick knocking the ref down and choking Jado out gave Kanemaru the opening to use WHISKEY MIST! A roll up and cover, the House of Torture wins! The fans boo but the Heel Master & Spoiler indeed had to spoil Tiger Mask’s final tag match. But even so, Tiger Mask takes the mic to say, “Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight. Last year, I announced my retirement. And now, finally, tomorrow, will be my last matches. Dynamite Kid, Tommy Billington, and Black Tiger.
“I will do my absolute best and show you the bets Tiger Mask I can tomorrow night. Until the very end, I’ll give it my all. I look forward to having your support.” The fans cheer as Tiger Mask prepares for the final battles of his career. Can this living legend ride off into the sunset one last time?
G1 Climax 36 B Block Qualifier: OSKAR VS Yujiro Takahashi w/ The House of Torture!
Yuto-Ice is already through to the Climax, having overcome Taichi in a very powerful match. But the German Giant might have the bigger challenge because The House of Torture never rolls alone. Will Oskar be able to join his Knock Out Brother in the tournament? Or will Tokyo Pimp lie, cheat, and steal his golden ticket to the top?
The bell rings and Oskar BOOTS Yujiro right down! Then NIGHTMARE SLEEPER!! Yujiro flails but he’s turning red already! But SHO rings the bell! Oskar lets go, having fallen for the trick! The fans boo but Sho plays dumb. Oskar is pissed, but then Yujiro CHOP BLOCKS Oskar’s leg! The fans boo but Yujiro drags Oskar up and TOSSES him out. Then Yujiro distracts the ref so the House can mug Oskar! The fans boo, but then Sho & Douki DOUBLE KNEE SMASH on the floor! Then they drag Oskar up, hold the leg out, and Ren JAMS it up with a chair! The fans boo but The House scurries away like the rats they are.
Yujiro goes out to fetch Oskar, put him in the ring, and stalk him. Oskar tries to stand but that bad leg won’t let him! Yujiro grabs that leg, puts it on the ropes, then stands on it! The ref counts, so Yujiro HIP DROPS the leg! Yujiro drags Oskar up, bumps him off buckles, then puts the bad leg through ropes. Oskar CLUBS away on Yujiro, but Yujiro still BOOTS the bad leg! Yujiro BOOTS it again, then brings Oskar around to snapmare. Yujiro isolates the bad leg so he can SPLASH down on it! Oskar clutches the leg, but Yujiro grabs the other, steps through, and has the FIGURE FOUR KNEEBAR! Then he reaches out to grab the ropes for leverage!
The fans boo as Oskar endures, and the ref finally notices! Yujiro lets go of the ropes but he still has Oskar tied up. Oskar fights around, Yujiro grabs ropes again, and the ref counts! Yujiro lets Oskar go this time, and the fans rally as Oskar crawls. Yujiro stalks Oskar, taunts him, then kicks the bad leg. Oskar manages to CHOP! The fans cheer as Oskar ROCKS and CHOPS Yujiro, then reels him in. But Yujiro BITES Oskar’s hand! The ref counts, Yujiro lets Oskar go, but then he blocks a kick! Yujiro CLAWS Oskar’s face, throws him down, then runs to basement DROPKICK! The fans rally for Oskar while he’s down, but Yujiro is right on him.
Yujiro drags Oskar up, reels him in, but now Oskar BITES Yujiro’s hand! the fans cheer the payback, and Oskar lets go so he can RUN Yujiro over! The fans fire up while Oskar hobbles around. Oskar runs up on Yujiro but Yujiro dodges in the corner! Yujiro kicks, whips, but Oskar reverses! Oskar runs up again and ELBOWS Yujiro! Oskar shoves Yujiro down, then slaps his bad leg into working. Oskar manages to run and drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Yujiro survives but the fans continue to rally for Oskar. Oskar rises up, hobbles his way back over, and he brings Yujiro up for a scoop! But Yujiro pulls hair and CLAWS Oskar’s eyes!
Yujiro THROWS Oskar out, and The House is after him! But Oskar guzels Sho, and guzels Douki! Oskar gives them a meeting of the minds before he kicks and CLUBS Ren! Oskar POSTS Ren, but Yujiro hurries after him! Oskar CHOPS Yujiro first! The fans fire up as Oskar storms after Yujiro and CHOPS! And then he puts Yujiro in the ring. Oskar hobbles his way back into the ring, fires himself back up, but Yujiro kicks the leg! Yujiro runs, but into a scoop and SLAM! The fans fire up with Oskar as he stands Yujiro back up, for the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER! And then a SLEEPER SLAM! Cover, BUT REN YANKS THE REF OUT!
The fans boo, and now Oskar’s mad! Oskar storms out after Ren but he lures Oskar into a trap! SANADA attacks! The fans boo as the Cold-Blooded Snake helps mug Oskar now! They get Oskar back in the ring and Yujiro has his pimp cane! The fans boo as the House all stands Oskar up for Yujiro to CANE SHOT back down! Yujiro then drags Oskar back up, reels him in, and PIMP JUICE! Cover, but YUTO YANKS THE REF OUT! The fans cheer as The House feels the sting of karma! Yuto apologizes, but then explains about the House’s sins. But then they attack Yuto! The fans boo as Sho & Douki kick and whip Yuto, but Yuto grabs ropes!
Yuto BOOTS Douki, ROUNDHOUSES Sho, then intercepts Ren with a THROW! Sanada runs in but gets a POP-UP KNEE! Yujiro kicks Yuto, then runs, but into a BOOT! The fans are fired up now as Yuto feeds Yujiro to the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER, and then into AMBITION! And then a scoop for the K O B DRIVER!! The fans are thunderous, Yuto hurries to fetch the ref, and now we get the cover, OSKAR WINS!
Winner: Oskar, by pinfall (advances to G1 Climax 36)
With a little help from his Knock Out Brother, Oskar brings down the House, and now he is in the G1! Will KOB be able to meet at the Climax and get everyone high?
G1 Climax 36 A Block Qualifier: El Phantasmo w/ Jado VS Ryohei Oiwa!
The Headbanga has been fighting hard and falling short lately, but he’s not giving up! The same can be said for The Mullet as he also continues to grind. Will ELP be able to #TurnItAllAround? Or will Oiwa prove that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. ELP offer a handshake, Oiwa accepts, and the fans cheer. The two circle, and the fans cheer on “E L P! E L P!” ELP nods, but then Oiwa gets the fans cheering him on. The two tie up, ELP headlocks, but Oiwa wrenches free. ELP wrenches back to hammerlock, half nelson, spin and snapmare, then ghost pin! TWO, and the two back away. The fans applaud as the two reset, then tie up. Oiwa wrenches to wristlock but ELP uses the ropes to flip through. ELP wrenches back, but Oiwa rolls to wrench again. ELP rolls, trips Oiwa, then ties up the legs! ELP hooks Oiwa up, for the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! But Oiwa pops free to a cover, TWO!
The fans applaud the standoff, and the two take their time resetting. The fans duel as the two reset and tie up again. Oiwa headlocks, ELP powers up but can’t power out. ELP goes to the ropes, powers free this time, only for Oiwa to run him over! Oiwa runs to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Oiwa headlocks again but ELP endures the grind. ELP fights up and fires body shots. ELP powers up and out, then drops down to DROPKICK! Oiwa bails out while ELP kips up, and the fans fire up as ELP builds speed. But Oiwa catches ELP to a headlock! Only for ELP to POST Oiwa! Oiwa falls to the floor, and ELP PLANCHAS him back down!
The fans cheer as ELP stands, and then ELP points to the corner. ELP climbs, the fans rally, and they join in with “E! L! P!” ARIHARA MOONSAULT! Down goes Oiwa and the fans fire up again! ELP pushes the Young Lions aside so he can stand, and he brings Oiwa back up. ELP puts Oiwa in the ring, then aims from the apron! Springboard SWANTON, then the LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but ELP stays focused. The fans rally as ELP slashes his throat. ELP reels Oiwa in, tucks the arms, but Oiwa powers up and BACKDROPS free! The fans cheer as ELP sputters. ELP still gets up and runs up, but Oiwa arm-drags to the armlock!
ELP fights up, whips Oiwa to ropes, but Oiwa RUNS him over! Things keep moving, and Oiwa counters hip toss with HIP TOSS! Then another arm-drag, back to the armlock! Oiwa wrenches and whips ELP to a corner, but only to YANK the arm and DEATH ROLL! ELP clutches the arm but Oiwa vows to end it now! Oiwa clamps on for the ARC CLUTCH! But ELP has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Oiwa lets go. Oiwa then drags ELP up, puts him in a corner, and CHOPS! ELP staggers to another corner, Oiwa stalks him, and he winds up to CHOP again! Oiwa wraps the bad arm around ropes, pulls on it, but lets go as the ref counts 4.
Oiwa runs in, but ELP dodges! ELP GAMANGIRIS, then goes up to TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! ELP kips up and the fans cheer! ELP goes to the corner, tunes up, and he waits on Oiwa. Oiwa stands, into SUDDEN DEATH! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa survives but ELP is right on him! ELP tucks the arms, lifts, but Oiwa fights free! Oiwa wrenches the arm, YANKS it, but ELP ROCKS Oiwa! Oiwa UPPERCUTS ELP! ELP mule kicks! Oiwa spins, ELP blocks, but then Oiwa comes in with the DISCUS LARIAT! The fans rally up again and Oiwa nods. Oiwa rises, he brings ELP back up, and he gut wrenches! But ELP RANAS to a cover, TWO!!
Oiwa stands, sunset flips, then stacks! TWO, into a deadlift POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up! Oiwa rises again, and he powers up the arm. The fans duel again as Oiwa spins, but ELP ducks The Grip! ENZIGIRI! ELP goes to run, but Oiwa reels him in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! ELP is right up, and he reels Oiwa in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! But then Oiwa is up to O’Conner and CHAOS THEORY! The fans fire up as ELP rises again, he runs up on Oiwa, they collide, but Oiwa hurries to whip! And THE GRIP!! Cover, Oiwa wins!!
Winner: Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall (advances to G1 Climax 36)
ELP tried, but once again fell short of the goal! How much harder must he fight to finally reach the top? As for Oiwa, he hurries to get the mic to say, “The G1 Climax is now complete with Ryohei Oiwa! I won the play-in to the tournament, I will go to the finals and be the big name of the summer! The G1 Climax is now within my grip!” The Mullet moves on, but will he have a mighty run at the trophy?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino VS Gabe Kidd!
Just as the Roughneck finally had his moment, the Mad Man came outta nowhere to ruin it! Gabe has betrayed NJPW all to be All Elite, but will he also take this title? Or will Shota’s Second Chapter stay golden?
OH NO, Gabe SHOTGUNS the ref, Marty Asami! Then he gets up in President Tanahashi’s face! The fans boo but here comes Shota! They brawl and Shota KNEES low! Shota TOSSES Gabe out, throws his jacket off, then hurries to put his title belt and other entrance gear aside. Shota then storms after Gabe, eggs him on, and they start throwing hands! The fans rally for Shota as the shots go fast ‘n’ furious, but then Gabe sends Shota into the metal barriers! Gabe drags Shota up, they go into the orange seats, and through a row! The fans move aside as best they can as Shota hits back! Shota ROCKS Gabe, ROCKS him again, and again!
Shota and Gabe go up the narrow middle aisle, go to the iconic gap, and the fans rally up as the shots keep going! Shota gets the edge, but Gabe ROCKS him! Gabe gets in Shota’s face, eggs him on, then ROCKS him again! Shota DECKS Gabe in return! The fans cheer while Gabe sputters. Shota snarls, then stands Gabe up, but Gabe SMACKS Shota in return! Gabe then SMACKS Shota off the stairwell wall! The fans boo but Gabe soaks up the heat. Gabe finally takes off his sweatpants, but the ankle cuffs aren’t agreeing with his boots. Gabe finally gets free, then storms back over to Shota. Shota is busted open from hitting the edge of the solid wall!
Gabe says zoom in, and then he HAMMERS away on the bloody forehead! The fans boo but Gabe BITES Shota’s forehead! Gabe shoves Shota down, talks trash, then soaks up the heat. Gabe mocks the fans cheering Shota on, then he drags Shota up, just to CHOP him back down! Gabe sees Shota’s blood on his chest and just shrugs. Gabe CHOPS Shota, stalks him along the way, then ROCKS him! Shota staggers around, but he comes back to ROCK Gabe! Gabe eggs Shota on so Shota ROCKS him! Gabe eggs Shota on, telling him to protect NJPW from Gabe, the AEW wrestler! Shota ROCKS Gabe again, but Gabe ROCKS him right back!
Gabe shoves Shota along, then storms down the stands to intimidate fans. The fans boo but Gabe goes back to Shota. Finally, a new ref arrives so there can be order, and Gabe CHOPS Shota! Shota staggers along, but now Gabe goes up a few rows to snatch a fan’s towel! The fans boo but Gabe uses that Shota Umino merch to CHOKE Shota! Gabe mocks the fans, then soaks up the heat. Gabe goes back to Shota, drags him up and brings him along with a headlock. Gabe CHOPS Shota, and Shota tumbles down the steps! The fans rally for Shota, even as he tumbles all the way to ground level. Gabe drags Shota up again, just to DECK him!
Gabe snarls, then he drags Shota up. Gabe whips Shota into a POST! Shota tumbles, Gabe flexes, and the fans boo. Gabe taunts Tanahashi before he brings Shota into the ring. Gabe says just give him the belt already, but then he snatches it off the table! Gabe THROWS the belt away, then he SPITS on Tanahashi! The fans boo but Gabe says The Ace is gutless! Gabe goes to the ring, but Shota LARIATS! The fans fire up, and we finally get the bell to ring! The fans fire up as Shota runs, and he LARIATS Gabe again! Shota hauls Gabe up, SECOND- NO, Gabe fights free and bails out of the ring! Shota pursues, catches Gabe’s lariat, to then suplex and BRAINBUSTER on the floor!
The fans rally as Shota smiles through the crimson mask. Shota flops over but the fans still cheer him on. Shota and Gabe stir, and Shota sits back up. The ring count starts, Shota stands at 4 of 20, and he takes a moment to fire up! The fans are with him as he drags Gabe up and puts him in the ring. Gabe flounders but Shota stalks him to a corner. Shota ROCKS and CHOPS Gabe on repeat! But Gabe turns things around to fire SLAP after SLAP! Shota turns it around again to CHOP and ROCK! Gabe shouts, “C’MON, P*SSY!” so Shota DECKS him! The fans cheer, and Shota runs corner to corner, SHINING WIZARD!
Shota lets Gabe fall, then watches him crawl. Gabe sits up, into the STRIKE KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives but Shota just brings him up and around. The fans rally as Shota reels Gabe in, scoops, and SECOND- NO, Gabe slips free to GERMASN SUPLEX! Then LARIAT! Gabe doesn’t stop, he hauls Shota up for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up! Gabe seethes as he sits back up while the fans continue to cheer Shota on. Gabe drags Shota up, puts him in the corner, and then SLAPS, SLAPS, SLAPS! Gabe HAMMERS and stomps Shota down, the ref counts, and the fans boo. Gabe tells them all off!
Gabe CHOPS Shota on the back, so Shota UPPERCUTS Gabe down! The fans rally again, and Shota roars as he rises up! Shota storms over to Gabe, drags him up, but Gabe fires more palm strikes! So Shota fires them back! They go SLAP for SLAP, again and again, fast ‘n’ furious! Shota ROCKS Gabe with one, but Gabe just fires a flurry! Then he bobs ‘n’ weaves, SMACKS Shota, and again! And again! STRAIGHT RIGHT! The ref reprimands but Gabe stumbles away to the ropes. Gabe flips everyone off, but the fans boo and cheer Shota on again. Gabe stomps Shota, taunts him, then sits him up. “Is this your hero? This your boy? This your boy, Tanahashi? F YOU!”
Gabe stands Shota up, SPITS in his face, but Shota ROCKS Gabe! And ROCKS him again! Then SWATS the lariat! Gabe staggers, falls, and Shota goes to run, but the ref checks on Gabe. Gabe clutches his arm, the same arm that’s given him problems before, but Shota wants Gabe to bring the fight! Gabe is pissed, but then wait! IT’S A LIE! He LARIATS Shota down!! The fans boo, but then Gabe lifts Shota for a PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again! Gabe kicks Shota out of the ring, reels him in, and he stares Tanahashi right in the eye as he hits a PILEDRIVER on the floor! Then Gabe SPITS on Tanahashi!
Gabe puts Shota in the ring, drags him back up, and hooks a leg, LEG TRAP PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!? Shota survives and the fans are thunderous again! Gabe is frustrated but the fans are still cheering Shota on. Gabe drags Shota up, brings him around, and underhooks the arms. DEATH RIDER DRIVER!! Cover, GABE WINS!!!
Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
Shota tried, but he could not stop this Mad Man, this man full of hate and violence, from taking away the title! Tanahashi must reluctantly hand the belt over to Gabe, and Gabe just THROWS it down anyway! Gabe then tells Tanahashi to put the belt on him. Tanahashi reluctantly does as told, putting the belt around Gabe’s waist. Gabe then SLAPS Tanahashi down! And he throws the belt on the floor! The fans boo but Gabe just soaks up the heat. For the first time in wrestling history, a man owns a championship in a company he hates. Will nothing stop this Dog from doing whatever he wants?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: YOH VS Francesco Akira w/ The United Empire!
Yoh finally proved he was the Best of the Super Juniors, and he finally took this title off the false god that was Douki, only to have challengers come out the woodwork. A Fatal 4 Way was held, and when the smoke cleared, it was the Nova Fireball standing tall. Will Akira conquer the Junior Heavyweights for the United Empire? Or will Direct Drive still be in the driver’s seat?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the Best of the Super Juniors!
The bell rings and the fans rally up for Yoh. Akira is annoyed already, but he does have his fans cheering him on out there. The two circle, Akira says that title will be his, and the two tie up. Akira goes for an arm, wrenches and wristlocks, but Yoh rolls, kips up, wrenches back and hammerlocks. Akira drops down, rolls, wrenches and hammerlocks in return. Akira then shifts to a headlock, hits the takeover, but Yoh headscissors. Akira kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. They circle again, tie up again, but Akira pulls hair! Red Shoes reprimands as Akira puts Yoh on the ropes. Yoh turns things around, but lets off slowly.
Yoh then winds up, fakes the chop, and then fakes it again! Akira says c’mon, stop it! Yoh CHOPS Akira for real! Akira storms up to headlock, but Yoh powers up and out. Akira RUNS Yoh over, SPITS on him, then runs. Yoh stays low, then sidesteps, drop toeholds, and runs to basement DROPKICK! Akira bails out, Yoh copies the “A! KI-RA!” rhythm, maybe for “Y! O H!” Yoh then aims and PLAN- NO, Akira trips Yoh up, drags him out, and SMACKS him off the apron! Akira slides in, aims, and PLANCHAS but onto a Young Lion! Akira is upset but Yoh kicks him low. Yoh checks on Tatsuya Matsumoto, then SMACKS Akira off the apron.
Yoh gets the clapping going again, then takes aim. PLANCHA but back onto Tatsuya! Akira uses the same trick, and he RAMS Yoh down! Akira says, “Baka ne!” The fans cheer that, and Akira brings Yoh around to CHOP! Akira then brings Yoh around with a headlock, and SMACKS him off the timekeeper’s table! Akira smiles at the title, picks it up, and takes aim at Yoh! Red Shoes reprimands, then he and Akira fight over the belt. Akira SHOVES Red Shoes down, but Yoh kicks Akira! Yoh POSTS Akira, then helps Tatsuya to his feet. But then he brings Tatsuya over to whip him into Akira! The fans applaud as Yoh raises Tatsuya’s hand in victory!
Yoh then stalks Akira, but the Empire is there. They stay back, and Akira SMACKS Yoh with a serving tray! It literally has Yoh’s name on it! Then Akira SMACKS Tatsuya with it! Akira mocks Yoh with the tray, then drums his head with it. The fans are torn but Akira brings Yoh up and reels him in. Snap suplex to the floor! Akira then goes looking under the ring, and he brings out a TABLE! The fans are again torn, but Akira sets that table up nearby. Red Shoes reprimands but Akira brings Yoh over. Akira drags Yoh up, reels him in, and lifts, but Yoh fights with fists! Yoh slips down, Akira CLUBS him, and then Akira RAMS Yoh into the apron!
Akira puts Yoh in the ring, kneels for the cover, but Red Shoes says no! Akira argues with Red Shoes, but Red Shoes says there were too many shenanigans on the outside. Akira storms over to Yoh for a CHOP! Akira whips Yoh corner to corner, but Yoh reverses. Yoh runs up, but Akira goes up and catches him into the TARANTULA! The fans cheer the Tajiri special, and Akira lets go of Yoh. Akira struts around like Tajiri, then he taunts Yoh. Yoh rises up to BODY SHOT! Yoh fires forearms, Akira fires back, and Akira DECKS Yoh! Akira then snapmares Yoh, steps over, and traps one arm in a hammerlock while he clamps on with a chinlock!
The fans rally for Yoh as he endures, and Yoh kicks his way around. Yoh almost gets his arms free, but then Akira has a dragon sleeper! Yoh still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! Akira lets go and looms over Yoh as he talks some trash. Akira stands Yoh up, CHOPS him, but Yoh eggs Akira on. Akira CHOPS again, but Yoh wants more. Akira CHOPS again and Yoh falls to his knees! Akira soaks up the cheers and jeers, then he talks more trash on Yoh. Yoh stands to ROCK Akira! Akira and Yoh go forearm for forearm, but then Akira throat chops! Akira whips but Yoh FLYING FOREARMS! The fans fire up while both men are down!
The fans rally as Yoh sits up, and he runs up to CLOBBER Akira! And CLOBBER him again! And turn for the NECKBREAKER! Akira flounders away but Yoh runs up. Yoh blocks a boot, then trips Akira! Yoh ties Akira up in Paradise! The fans cheer as Yoh then sits on Akira to mock Great-O-Khan’s throne! Khan gets on the apron but Red Shoes has him stay back. Yoh mocks Khan again, “HMPH!” Khan has no choice but to stand down as Yoh goes for a third, with a smug smile. Then Yoh runs to DROPKICK Akira out of Paradise! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Khan tells Akira to kill Yoh for making fun of him!
Yoh looks to the table Akira set up, and he gets an idea. Yoh brings Akira up, reels him in, and calls his shot! Yoh suplexes, but Akira fights free! Akira runs up, but Yoh dumps him out! Akira tumbles to the apron, Yoh fires forearms, and Akira holds onto the ropes! Yoh runs, but Akira slingshots for the CUTTER! Akira then dragon sleepers for the FINAL CUT! Cover, TWO! Akira clamps right on for the roll and GROUND TARANTULA! Yoh scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Akira lets go. Akira brings Yoh up, reels him in for a facelock, but Yoh fights the lift. Yoh fires a body shot, then another.
Akira pie faces Yoh and eggs him on. Yoh fires a forearm, but Akira fires back! Yoh fires another, so Akira fires back! The fans rally as the forearms keep going, faster ‘n’ faster, then Akira fires a flurry! Akira runs, but Yoh UPPERCUTS! Yoh runs but Akira LARIATS at the ropes! Akira then feints the run to tabletop and DROPKICK! Akira runs, but into a scoop! FALCON GOROSHI! And then the ANACONDA VICE! Akira endures, fights around, but Yoh swings him through to suplex and FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Akira survives and the fans applaud. Yoh shakes out his arms while we pass 15 minutes on this one hour time limit.
Yoh goes to ropes, drags himself up, and he tunes up! The fans rally behind him, but Akira drops back down! Yoh is annoyed, but he brings Akira up. Akira rolls Yoh up, with tights! TWO, but Akira victory rolls to STOMP 182! Yoh writhes while Akira goes to ropes. Akira drags himself to a corner, he takes aim, but Yoh ducks the Fireball! Yoh waistlocks, Akira elbows free, but Yoh ROCKS Akira! Akira BOOTS Yoh! Yoh ROLLING ELBOWS! Akira ENZIGIRIS! Yoh rewinds, I’LL BE BACK SUPERKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. The fans rally as Yoh pushes Akira to the apron, near the table…
The Empire protests but Akira is the one who brought the table out. Yoh drags Akira up, reels him in, and the Empire tries to warn Akira. Akira fights the suplex, then fireman’s carries! Yoh fights free with elbows, but Akira fires a forearm! Yoh fires back! They brawl on the edge while the fans rally up again. Akira ROCKS Yoh, POSTS him, then gets under him! Akira brings Yoh over, POWERBOMB onto the table! It mostly breaks, but it doesn’t fall! Red Shoes hurries to check Yoh while The Empire checks on Akira. Yoh has a bloody cut on his back now, but he seems otherwise able to continue. Akira rolls into the ring and a ring count starts.
The fans rally for Yoh while he’s still down. The count is 10 of 20, then 12! Yoh stirs at 13, crawls around at 14, but is still down at 15! Yoh reaches up at 17, rises at 18, and LUNGES in at 19! But Akira LIONSAULTS onto Yoh! Then he reels Yoh in for a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! But Akira reels Yoh back in, SPEEDFIRE! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives and the fans are thunderous! Akira is stunned, but he refocuses and drags Yoh back up. Akira reels Yoh in, hooks a leg, and- NO, Yoh fights the lift! The fans rally as the two fight for control, and Akira lets go to KNEE down low! Akira grins while Yoh sputters on the mat.
Akira tells Yoh he’s gonna finish this! But Yoh anchors a foot to keep Akira from running ropes. Akira ROCKS Yoh, goes to run again, but Yoh again anchors a leg! Akira is annoyed, and he sits Yoh up to ROCK him again! But again, Yoh anchors a foot! Yoh eggs Akira on, again saying he’s not even using full power! Akira DRIBBLES Yoh off the mat! Akira taunts the fans even, then he runs the ropes, but Yoh springs up and waistlocks! O’Conner Roll, FIVE STAR- NO, Akira slips free! But runs into a SNAP DRAGON! Akira is up, but Yoh LARIATS!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Akira stirs but Yoh roars as he rises up.
Yoh brings Akira up and suplexes, FALCON GOROSHI again! Cover, TWO! Akira is tougher than that, but Yoh just fires up again. The fans rally as Yoh stands back up. Yoh slashes his throat, vowing to end this. Yoh underhooks, but Akira fights the lift! Akira wrenches but Yoh full nelsons! Akira reaches out for ropes, but Yoh spins him around! DIRECT- NO, Akira fights the lift, fireman’s carry takeover, GROUND TARANTULA!! Yoh kicks and flails while the fans rally as hard as they can! But Yoh is still so far away! Akira bends the arms, but Yoh refuses to let this stop him! Yoh kicks, and kicks, and kicks, but Akira puts on more pressure!
Red Shoes checks with Yoh, but he still has fight in him! Yoh shifts around, slips his arm free, and he has a ghost pin! TWO!! Akira gets free, goes to a corner, and Yoh runs up! Akira dodges, backslides, but roll through! FIREBALL!! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives, but Akira reloads! NOVA FIREBALL!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yoh survives and Akira is shocked! The fans are electric as we pass 25 minutes, and Akira roars! Akira brings Yoh up, vows to end it now, and he hooks a leg! CROWN- NO, Yoh tries to cradle counter, but Akira stops the counter! Akira suplexes through, but Yoh slips free! Ripcord and- NO, Akira blocks the knee!
Akira swings, but into a clinch! Akira throws Yoh away, but Yoh ducks the Buzzsaw! Ripcord and JUMP KNEE! Then STANDING ANACONDA VICE!! Akira endures, reaches out, but Yoh keeps him from the ropes! Yoh hits the ANACONDA STO! Then ANACONDA VICE!! But Akira makes it a cradle! TWO, and they roll through! DIRECT DRIVE!!! Cover, YOH WINS!!
Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
Akira burned bright tonight, but he could not take the crown! How much harder must he fight to become the best?
As for Yoh, he grabs the mic, and he rests on the mat as he says, “Oi, Akira. It feels like you were only at 99% today. You need to be 100% if you wanna beat me.” Yoh then holds up the title as he says, “Me and this belt, how far are we gonna go together? I’ve already decided. And you (belt) know it, as well. We’re gonna light it up together!” The fans cheer that. The 100th IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion continues to roll on, what more history will he make from here on out?
My Thoughts:
A great finale to the Road to G1 Climax, and we even got some good build going into Tiger Mask’s final event. A little surprised he lost his last tag match, and that it was a Triple Threat in the first place, but in a roundabout way, that is also part of tradition. With that, I’m not sure if Tiger Mask is losing both of his final matches, or if he’s going 1-1 where he can get one last win before his true, final match. Great G1 qualifiers tonight, and I figured Oskar would find a way. Naturally, Yuto had Oskar’s back, and needing only Yuto shows the power level of the Knock Out Brothers. I was a little surprised it was Oiwa over ELP, but I wonder if ELP’s time in NJPW is coming to an end, with him going to AEW as literally just “ELP.”
Another surprise would have to be Gabe Kidd winning the Global title off Shota. Great showing for Shota, including getting busted open, but I wonder where we go from here with Gabe as Global Heavyweight Champion again. Will he come up with his own design for the belt since he literally left the current one behind? It’s a white strap right now, does he make it a black strap with a grittier looking face plate? And then great main event from Yoh VS Akira, including getting Tatsuya Matsumoto in on it as a human weapon. But I had a feeling that the 100th champion of this belt’s history would not lose it so soon. Yoh probably goes all the way to WrestleKingdom 21, and even then he might make it through that.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Will the Last Real Good Guy still be Undisputed?
Sami Zayn may be champion, but Cody Rhodes earned his rematch on Friday, so now it’s time to see who is Undisputed WWE Champion 1v1!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE World Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Bron Breakker & Austin Theory w/ Logan Paul; Bron & Theory win and become the new WWE World Tag Team Champions.
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Sol Ruca VS Raquel Rodriguez; Sol wins and retains the title.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Sami Zayn VS Cody Rhodes; cancelled…
- Chad Gable & Dragon Lee VS Ethan Page & Rusev; Ethan & Rusev win.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Sami Zayn VS CM Punk; Punk wins and becomes the new Undisputed WWE Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
Sami Zayn arrives backstage.
The Last Real Good Guy pulls into the parking garage in his nice convertible, honking the horn and raising the Undisputed WWE Championship high as he does. Sami is greeted with applause and he shakes hands with all the staff there. Then Cody Rhodes steps in. Sami asks how Cody is feeling. Cody says he’s fine, and Sami says yeah, he must be feeling great. Because here’s what Sami thinks Cody thinks is gonna happen tonight: Cody is just gonna jump right back in and take his spot. There’s no way Sami can hold onto the title. Cody will just swoop in and be Golden Boy champion once again. But Sami says he is not gonna let that happen!
Sami is waling out of Chicago STILL WWE Champion. Cody says that’s great, but he was just going to wish Sami luck. But since Sami already told Cody everything Cody is thinking, then Cody will tell Sami that he’s right! Sami says we’ll just see about that. Sami leaves, and GUNTHER CLOBBERS CODY! Gunther then hauls Cody up to POWERBOMB him through a table! Staff freaks out, refs rush in, but the damage is done. And Gunther tells Sami, “You’re welcome!” Cody is no longer the problem, Gunther is! Because Sami is a disgrace and a fluke of a champion who should’ve never had the title in the first place.
Gunther says he is coming after Sami, and when he gets his chance… Gunther BOOTS Cody into the side of the car! Did Der Ring General just cancel tonight’s main event?!
Seth Rollins is here!
Chicago sings for The Architect, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as he goes to the ring. Sami’s title defense aside, we know from last week that Rollins put the challenge out to Roman Reigns, and Roman Reigns accepted. Rollins is fired up, the fans are fired up, and Rollins grabs a mic. Rollins tells Chicago, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins! Y’all know me. I am a Visionary, I am a Revolutionary, I am Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins! Gawd, I love this building, man.” The fans cheer that! But there are also chants for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Rollins says he gets it, Punk’s from Chicago, it’s obligatory. Get it out of your systems. But he couldn’t care less about that guy right now.
Rollins says hey, it’s just not his business right now. His business is the World Heavyweight Championship, his business is SummerSlam, getting back the title he never lost, and beating the Tribal Chief, beating the OTC, and continuing to own Roman Reigns! The fans now chant for “O T C! O T C!” Rollins says yes, obligatory chant. But bad news: Roman is NOT here tonight. The fans boo but Rollins says he doesn’t like it, either. But we’ve run this play a million times, that’s just how it is. Roman didn’t come to Chicago because either A) he didn’t think it didn’t anything for him, or B) the check wasn’t big enough.
But that’s just who Roman Reigns is, guys! That’s who he’s always been! Because Roman Reigns, from day one, has been “The Chosen One.” No one holds Roman accountable. The Shield debuted as a trio, right? Three of them, but it was made abundantly clear that Roman was the chosen one. Roman was gonna be the guy on the marquee, the big star, the guy who main-evented WrestleMania, and it didn’t matter if he couldn’t cut a promo, if he couldn’t wrestle out of a wet paper bag, it was always gonna be Roman. Rollins is gonna be honest since Chicago is always honest, that didn’t sit right with Rollins.
And here is why. There’s a little boy here in the front row, not sure how old. Nine years old? ANother one a little younger, five years old. Rollins was those boys, sitting in these stands, and all he ever wanted to do his entire life was to walk down that ramp, hold this mic in his hand, get inside this ring. Rollins wanted to main event WrestleMania and be the biggest star in this industry! Those were his dreams. And to watch those dreams be handed off to someone else… That broke something in Rollins. It broke something, and every decision that Rollins made after that was in direct response to watching his dreams be handed off to someone that he didn’t feel deserved it.
When Rollins broke up The Shield, that was to catch up to Roman. When Rollins cashed in at WrestleMania 31 to take Roman’s main event, that was so Rollins could keep up with Roman. He knows that sounds petty, because it was. But Rollins truly believed that if he put in the work, sacrificed, and believed in himself, he could still achieve those dreams. He could still believe that he and Roman were running the same race. Boy, was he wrong. It occurred to Rollins a couple years back, Roman said something that changed everything for Rollins. Roman admitted the fact that he worked ten times less and made ten times more.
Roman said that BS with such bravado that it made Rollins wanna puke! Because for Rollins, it was never about the money! It was never about making billions of dollars, living in some mansion on South Beach. The reward was the work! It was the hustle, the grind, the ability to make something of yourself. Roman has to beat Rollins at SummerSlam, absolutely. And y’know why? Because Roman needs to justify what he’s been trying to prove to himself the last 15 years, and that is he’s not a fraud! But Rollins needs to beat Roman just as much, because he needs to prove to himself, to that five-year-old Rollins, that through hard work and sacrifice, you can still achieve greatness!
But then LA Knight appears?! The fans cheer The Mega Star as he goes right to the ring, has the fans spell it out, “! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” and he catches the mic! Knight then looks to Rollins as the fans cheer him on, and he says, “LEMME TALK TO YA!” Knight says Rollins needs to understand: There’s no way two weeks in a row, Knight was gonna sit back and listen to this again. Last week, Roman sauntered out here, bored everyone to sleep, and Rollins joined in and did the same, with the same old trash! Roman, Rollins, give Knight Skippy! They’re happy-handing, bloviating all over each other, and what a great cheat code, bringing up how great Rollins and Roman were, and then surprise, Rollins gets a title shot!
Knight remembers a time when you had to win matches and tournaments to get opportunities at the title. Correct Knight if he’s wrong, but didn’t Rollins LOSE in the King of the Ring? No shame, Knight lost, too! But the difference is, Knight isn’t making a claim to the world champion for nostalgia’s sake. But Rollins and Roman are saying brother, lil’ brother, let’s get a match, a haircut, the same beard! They’re the greatest of all time, brother! AT WHAT?! The fans cheer that! Knight says “Greatest generation?” Rollins is an ironman, Knight gives that. Rollins has had so many world title reigns, Knight sure isn’t gonna catch him.
But talking greatest generation, just a couple years ago, when business was really starting to pick up around here, when things were peaking, who was at the top of that? Not Rollins, not Roman! Knight gives credit to Cody, but what came storming through the WWE? A force no one had seen, with everybody saying, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” So if we’re giving ourselves flowers, Knight gives his! He’s making his rise, but here’s what Rollins and Roman are really good at. Knight got cut off by the Bloodline’s numbers with Roman. Then a little later, it’s Rollins and The Vision. C’mon! Now, here we are, Roman and Bloodline trying to stuff Knight to the bottom, but you can’t do it!
Greatest generation at one thing: Being the two biggest vomits in the business! Great at manipulating numbers to hold others down! You won’t stop him, you can’t stop him, Knight will rise because he must rise! The fans cheer that! But Rollins asks if Knight’s done. Rollins tells Knight that he doesn’t like him. But he respects him. Rollins respects Knight because he is a shining example of everything that Rollins just described. Knight is hard work, grind, hustle, and Rollins believes Knight’s time will come. But right now, he cannot worry about Knight, because he has to go to SummerSlam and get back a title he never lost!
And when Rollins gets that title back, if Knight wants to step up one more time, then Rollins will make him the first person he puts in the dirt! Mic drop from Rollins and he takes his leave. Knight talks a little more trash, but JIMMY USO sneaks in! SUPERKICK on Knight! The fans boo but Jimmy says this is what happens when you mess with the family! Keep their names out your mouth! Jimmy leaves, but is this only proving Knight right? Are there those simply trying to keep him down?
Adam Pearce reprimands Gunther.
The Raw General Manager is furious with Gunther but Gunther asks if the title match tonight is off. Well, of course it is! And that’s on Gunther! Gunther says no, that was Pearce’s decision, but then NICK ALDIS storms in! Pearce has to keep Aldis back while security ushers Gunther out. Gunther tells Aldis he is a failed wrestler AND a failed GM, but he still leaves. Pearce asks if Aldis has to be ushered out, and Aldis says no, he’s just here after Pearce poached Aldis’ main event. Pearce says save it for the investigation. The industry is bigger than Aldis’ ego, and Aldis’ ego is the reason they’re in this mess!
Aldis asks if Pearce would’ve done things differently. Pearce says Aldis lost his temper, but don’t try to tell Pearce how to run the show. Aldis says don’t tell him about egos, Mr. Poached Show! Aldis says Cody was attacked, hurt badly, and THAT is on Pearce. Aldis leaves, Pearce grumbles, what is going to happen with the main roster management at this point?
WWE World Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Bron Breakker & Austin Theory w/ Logan Paul!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins got a little bit of help in taking these titles off The Vision, but they’ll have to try and keep them on their own. Will the Profits still be up? Or will Bron & Theory make it through the smoke?
Raw returns as Jackie Redmond is with The Vision in gorilla. She mentions they’re about to go out there for a title opportunity, but considering everything that’s been going on, how much pressure are they feeling? Logan wants to say something, but Paul Heyman steps in first. The Wise Man has Jackie go, and he says don’t worry about that whole thing with barrier. Bron didn’t even take out Seth Freakin’ Rollins! And Theory didn’t even take out JOE HENDRY!? The tag team titles, the Street Profits, come back with something worthy of The Wise Man… or don’t come back at all! The ultimatum has been issued, will that be enough motivation to win?
The Vision makes their entrance, the introductions are made, and now the belts and stakes are raised. The teams sort out, and we start with Bron and Ford. They circle, then Bron RUSHES Ford! Bron RAMS into Ford again and again, tags Theory, and Theory scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Bron sets up, STANDING MOONSAULT! Theory covers, TWO! The fans taunt Logan, but Theory drags Ford up to bump him off buckles. Theory whips corner to corner, but Ford goes up and over. Ford cartwheels and handsprings, then stares Theory down. Theory runs up, but into a DROPKICK! Ford tags Dawkins and they whip Theory to then RUN him over!
Dawkins lifts Ford for the BACK SUPLEX SPLASH! Cover, ONE, but Dawkins is right on him with a headlock. Theory powers up and out, hurdles, but then so does Dawkins! Dawkins UPPERCUTS Theory down! The fans cheer, Dawkins covers, ONE! Theory toughs it out, then he RAMS Dawkins into the corner! Tag to Bron, they mug Dawkins, then Bron whips. Dawkins KICKS back, then DROPKICKS! Bron goes to ropes, Dawkins whips, but Bron reverses. Dawkins dosidos with Bron, then Dawkins ends up on the ropes. Dawkins BOOTS Bron, dodges Theory, then DECKS him! Bron headlocks, Dawkins powers out, but Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges to RUN Dawkins over!
Bron stands tall, the fans fire up, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as the fans rally. Theory and Dawkins crawl, hot tags to Ford and Bron! Ford leaps over Bron to LARIAT Theory! Ford LARIATS Bron but Bron stays up! Ford runs gain to ALRIAT, then dodges a shot to mule kick! Front kick! Bron blocks a kick to FLIP Ford, and Ford lands on his feet! ENZIGIRI! Ford runs up in the corner, Bron puts him on the apron, but Ford ENZIGIRIS again! Then CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Bron is still in this but Ford stays on him. Bron swings, Ford ducks, but Bron standing switches. Bron shoves and POP-UP POWERSLAMS! Tag back to Theory and he slingshots to somersault, but Ford dodges!
Ford JUMP KNEES Theory, tags Dawkins, then climbs up! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts, BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY! Cover, but Bron breaks it in time! The fans boo but Ford goes after Bron! Ford whips, Bron stops himself, then Bron TOSSES Ford up and out! Dawkins runs up, CYCLONE SPLASH and ENZIGIRI! But Theory ROCKS Dawkins! Theory reels Dawkins in, but Dawkins wrenches free! THE SILENCER! Both men are down but Logan is sneaking the brass knuckles out! But the ref catches that right away! Logan argues with the ref but the ref still gets the knuckles put away. But Logan has a SECOND PAIR!
Logan slides this second pair to Bron, Bron grins as he puts them on, but Dawkins ROCKS Bron first! Ford hurries in, and he FLIES over the corner! Down goes Bron and Ford! Theory sees the knuckles are still loose i the ring! But Dawkins takes them first! The fans cheer, Logan argues with the ref, and Dawkins equips the knuckles. But MAXXINE DUPRI is here?! And she LOW BLOWS Dawkins from behind!! Theory covers Dawkins, VISION WINS!
Winners: Austin Theory & Bron Breakker, by pinfall (NEW WWE World Tag Team Champions)
The Alpha Babe smiles, and she runs into Theory’s arms! And plants a big kiss right on Theory’s lips! Theory gets the gold and the girl in a twisted version of a sports hero story! Is nothing going to stop The Vision now that they’re back on top?
Cody Rhodes is being checked in medical.
The doc checks Cody’s arm and his head, and Pearce walks in, asking for an update. The doc says he cannot clear Cody until they get proper scans. Cody says he’s fine, Pearce says normally he’d be right with Cody, but if the doc says no, then Pearce’s hands are tied. The doc helps Cody along, and looks like the main event really is off the card. What is Pearce to do about making up for it?
The Vision regroups backstage.
Logan says he is so proud of Bron, so proud of Theory, and so happy for Theory and Maxxine. They’re the best this business has, and they have Logan, too! He loves these guys! But then Heyman walks up. Heyman says okay, first step. But it’s only a first step. Wait, he’s being too harsh. Someone got something accomplished. Theory thanks Heyman for that, but Heyman says he was talking to Maxxine. Heyman heads out again, Logan says it’s just tough love. The Vision heads out for the n ight, how hardy will they party in Chicago?
but then The Alpha Academy steps out, having seen the whole thing. Otis & Tozawa are speechless and distraught, what’re they to do now?
The Judgment Day is in the clubhouse.
Everyone hypes Raquel Rodriguez up, tonight is her night to take that Women’s Intercontinental Championship! Judgment Day has all the momentum! They took out Iyo Sky, they sent a message to that freak, Danhausen, and now, Raquel is gonna have a championship. They will do everything in their power to make sure Raquel leaves here the NEW Women’s IC Champion! Raquel says she will not let it slip through her fingers. Tonight, she rips that title from Sol’s waist! Tonight, that title is as good as hers! Raquel is all fired up, JD McDonagh says Big Mami Cool is ready! But will things still go Judgment Day’s way? Or are they underestimating the Surfer Girl’s ability to ride the waves?
Backstage interview with Penta.
Jackie Redmond is with the WWE (Men’s) Intercontinental Champion and brings up next week, we will have a #1 Contender’s Gauntlet, the winner challenging Penta for the title at SummerSlam. How does Penta feel about the field? Penta is excited for that. Names like Joe Hendry, Dragon Lee, Ethan Page- Ethan interrupts even, as does Rusev. Penta didn’t mention them there, but y’know one name he won’t get to mention? Rey Mysterio. Rusev laughs and Ethan says after sharing the ring with All Ego, Rey found a way out of the gauntlet and onto the shelf. Rusev says he was CRUSHED! Dragon steps in and tells them both off in Espanol.
In English, Dragon says watch what you say about Rey Mysterio. Rusev says Dragon better watch what HE says before Rusev crushes him, too! Chad Gable steps in now, and he asks if there’s a problem. Rusev says yes but Ethan says no, no problems. They’ll get to Rusev’s favorite part of this job next week, but time for Ethan’s favorite part. They’ll go negotiate with Pearce and get a little tag match with these two while Penta enjoys the show. Ethan & Rusev head out, Penta thanks Gable & Dragon, and he hopes they go out there tonight with #CeroMiedo! Gable & Dragon fist bump with Penta, will we get a grande tag match.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Sol Ruca VS Raquel Rodriguez!
Raw returns with champion and challenger already in the ring. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who gets snatched tonight!
The bell rings and the two tie up. The fans rally as they’re in a deadlock, but Raquel uses her height as leverage. Raquel puts Sol in a corner, but stops as the ref counts. Raquel and Sol circle again, tie back up, and Raquel puts Sol on the ropes. The ref counts, Raquel backs off, but then Sol dodges the cheap shot! Sol headlocks, Raquel powers up and out, only for Sol to TORNADO- NO! Raquel stops the takeover to lift Sol and THROW her away! Sol runs up, slips around to waistlock, but Raquel ripcords and WRINGS her out! Then Raquel has a knuckle lock cover, TWO as Sol gets an arm up! Raquel puts it down, TWO as Sol gets the other arm up.
Raquel tries again, TWO as Sol bridges! Sol then lifts Raquel, uses that to teetertotter up, and she sunset flips! Raquel rolls through, stumbles around, but Sol runs up! Raquel stops the monkey flip to put Sol on the top rope! Raquel SHOVES Sol, but Sol body scissors to stay up! Sol ROCKS Raquel, GAMANGIRIS, then slingshots to- NO! Raquel catches Sol and LAWN DARTS her off buckles! Raquel then fires those rough back elbows! The ref counts, Raquel stops at 4, and the fans rally up as Raquel wrenches and scoops again. Sol slips free to SHOVE Raquel into buckles. Raquel staggers, comes ack, but Sol DUMPS her out!
Raquel tumbles, shakes out her arms, but Sol goes to the apron. Sol goes up the corner to MOONNSAULT, but Raquel dodges! Raquel then pops Sol up, but Sol lands safe on the apron! Raquel blocks a kick, but Sol cartwheels through the throw! PENALTY KICK, then a TORNILLO! The fans fire up as Raquel goes down, and Sol says SHE’S the champ! Sol hurries to put Raquel back in the ring, then covers, TWO! The fans rally as Sol dodges, springboards, but Raquel catches her! Sol slips through the choke slam, but that SOUTHPAW LARIAT takes her down! cover, TWO! Sol survives, Raquel seethes, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Sol goes up, but Raquel trips her up! Raquel CLUBS Sol, runs corner to corner, but into a SCORPION KICK! Raquel comes back, but Sol sits up! Raquel POSTS herself, Sol sunset flips, TWO! Sol keeps moving, springboard CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Raquel is still in this, and she goes after Sol. Sol blocks a shot, ROCKS Raquel, then ROCKS her again! Sol kicks, CLUBS, ducks, and UPPERCUTS! Sol bobs ‘n’ weaves, UPPERCUTS again, then whips. Raquel reverses but sol SHOULDER TACKLES! Raquel stays up so Sol RAMS her again! Sol runs up but is sent into buckles! Sol still goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK!
The fans fire up as Sol kips up, and she aims for a SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Raquel survives that knee but Sol stays focused. Sol springboards to FROG SPLASH into knees! Roxie hurries out here as Raquel BOOTS Sol down! High stack, TWO! Raquel drags Sol up, lifts and TEXA- NO, Sol RANAS free! the fans fire up, but now Roxie distracts the ref! Sol runs up, but Liv anchors her foot! Raquel THROWS Sol down, then hauls her up! Fireman’s carry, SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Sol survives and Judgment Day is furious! Liv argues with the ref, but wait! IYO SKY is here! Now Liv is really mad!
Liv shouts at Roxie to go to the ramp, but Iyo CROSSBODIES from barriers! And then she kicks at Liv !Liv ducks one but not the ROUNDHOUSE! Iyo then goes to the apron, waves hi to Raquel, then ASAI MOONSAULTS to dodge! Down go Liv & Roxie! Iyo taunts Raquel, but Sol runs in! SOUL SNATCHER!! Cover, Sol wins!
Winner: Sol Ruca, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion)
Judgment Day’s plan clearly left out the possibility that Iyo would be back so soon! Sol is still champion, but is Liv about to lose her title with the Genius of the Sky coming after her?
Raw returns with Paul Heyman is in the ring.
The Wise Man says, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name mis Paul Heyman. I serve as The Advocate for the greatest combat fighter in history, BRRROCK! LESNARRR! I came out here tonight to talk about Oba… Femi…” The fans already chant for “O~BA! HOOT!” Heyman sighs, and he says Oba Femi came into the WWE like he owns the joint, which he doesn’t. Oba saunters down the aisle like he’s King Schlong, until he got punted by a Beast in the little Femis. And that hurt more than anything Oba’s ever experienced. Waters up the eyes, forces everything up into your belly, your knees go together, and your voice gets a little higher.
And the bad news for Oba Femi is that that is nothing compared to the pain he is going to suffer inside Hell in a Cell. The fans continue to chant for “O~BA!” Heyman says, “Oba Femi has inspired Brock Lesnar! Oba Femi has compelled The Beast to emerge from Brock Lesnar! Oba Femi has motivated BRRROCK LESNARRR! Oba Femi has made the biggest mistake of his life by accepting the challenge of BRRROCK! LESNARRR!” Oba will not get out of Hell in a Cell. There is no way and no how. Brock Lesnar will destroy Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell! Mic drop from Heyman, but then Oba Femi makes his entrance!
Chicago cheers “O~BA! HOOT!” as The Ruler makes his way to the ring. Oba strikes his pose in the spotlight, then he grabs a mic. Heyman is very wary as he stands in the corner, and Oba says Heyman loves to talk so much, doesn’t he? That is why Oba is here. It’s so Heyman won’t be lonely. Oba wants to give Heyman a face to talk to. Heyman composes himself and says Oba surely learned last week that, “Talk Sh*t, Get Hit.” But Heyman will talk facts. He’ll state for the record that the reason he is valuable is because he prevents people from making bad mistakes> Oba made a bad mistake.
Not at WrestleMania. Oba accomplished something. He proved to the entire world that Brock Lesnar is beatable! And then in Italy, Brock Lesnar proved that Oba Femi is beatable, too. Now comes the trilogy match, and we find out who goes on being the unbeatable superstar. So let’s examine who’s stepping into Hell in a Cell. This isn’t just anybody. This is BRRROCK LESNARRR. The fans cheer “O~BA!” Heyman says Lesnar was the reigning, defending, undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world,. No one fights in a cage like Lesnar. Lesnar destroyed the Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell! Hell in a Cell was invented by Taker!
And Lesnar didn’t just beat Taker once in HIAC, but twice! Oba didn’t accept a challenge to just step into a cage with Lesnar, he didn’t accept a challenge for a cell, that’s the “Brocktagon!” And inside the Brocktagon, Lesnar is the Bringer of Pain! Lesnar is the Beast you cannot conquer! Lesnar is the mountain Oba cannot climb! The fans boo but Heyman says only one man leaves SummerSlam, only one man leaves HIAC, with their reputation in tact that they are truly the unbeatable superstar in WWE! And that man is not a man but a Beast, and he is BRRROCK LESNARRR! And the beatable one is going to be you, Oba… Femi…
Another mic drop from Heyman while the fans boo. Oba thinks on what to say, and he says Lesnar showed up last week. Do you know what that tells Oba? That after weeks and weeks of calling Lesnar names under the sun, to no avail, Lesnar finally shows up. That tells Oba that every word he said got to Lesnar. Every single thing Oba said about Lesnar got under Lesnar’s skin. Now Lesnar can pretend he doesn’t watch the show, but the fact that he showed up proves he definitely does. But Heyman is here to do his usual damage control, telling us how great Lesnar is, writing these checks Lensar cannot even cash.
Because that is who Heyman is now! He is less than an Advocate, he is just a mouth. And that is the thing about a mouth. Mouths need to be fed. But how can Heyman feed if he has no head? So that’s why Heyman is here, telling everyone how great Lesnar is! Preaching his accolades, telling us about Randy Couture and Undertaker, when really, Lesnar fears Oba Femi! That is why Heyman is here. Because they’re scared! Once again, they are scared, and Heyman is here for damage control. Every man knows when his time has come. And trust Oba, this is the end! This is the final chapter! This is where the book closes! This is Oba Femi VS Brock Lesnar, HELL IN A CELL!
The fans fire up again, and Oba says what bigger stage than SummerSlam, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in front of Lesnar’s friends and family! Oba will beat Lesnar in front of his wife and children! Lesnar has been the singular thing standing between Oba and destiny, between Oba and salvation! And Oba has seen the lesson: You have to go through Hell if you want to get to Heaven! So tell your client… See you in Hell! Mic drop from Oba! The countdown is on, but whose time is up when these two titans battle inside the cell?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Jackie Redmond is with the Undisputed WWE Champion, who is taping up. But while we’re waiting on Cody Rhodes’ medical status, Sami is still meant to face Cody in the main event. Unfortunately, it is now confirmed Cody cannot compete tonight. What is Sami’s reaction to that news? Wait, Cody is really out? Sami tries not to smile as he says that’s just terrible. Sami and Cody have their differences, but at the end of the day, Sami is a good guy. Some might say The Last Real Good Guy. Sami doesn’t wish ill upon Cody or anyone. Especially since Sami was hoping to test himself against Cody tonight, #QB1.
Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. It felt cursed to begin with, Sami couldn’t be sure why he was defending his title here on Raw. So at this point, let’s just wait for SmackDown, see what things look like then. Pearce steps in and asks if Sami knows where they are. Sami says he’s very aware, it’s Chicago. Yes, and Pearce promised Chicago a WWE Championship match. So that is what the people gonna get. Yeah, but Cody- No, Pearce knows that, but you just let him worry about that. Sami is the champion, he should prepare to defend his title in the main event tonight. It is official. Pearce heads out, Sami is confused, but the fans have a feeling…
Chad Gable & Dragon Lee VS Ethan Page & Rusev!
Well, it seems that negotiating was successful, because the American Made Man & Boy Wonder will battle All Ego & Bulgarian Lion after all! But who will gain momentum ahead of next week’s #1 contender’s gauntlet?
Raw returns as Dragon Lee makes his entrance to join Gable in the ring. Then Ethan makes his entrance, followed by Rusev. Rusev makes sure Ethan is ready for this, and then they both attack Gable & Dragon! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Rusev stomps away on Dragon while Ethan TOSSES Gable. Ethan & Rusev whip Dragon into the corner! Rusev throws hands, stomps away, and the ref counts. Rusev backs off, then tags Ethan. Ethan stomps away on Dragon, then backs off as the ref counts. Ethan drags Dragon up, but Dragon fires body shots. Ethan whips Dragon away then BOOTS him down!
The fans boo but Ethan talks trash. Ethan stomps Dragon, tags Rusev, and they mug Dragon. Rusev drags Dragon up to suplex high and hard! Then he suplexes high and hard again! Rusev roars, the fans boo, but some Chicago fans still remember “Rusev Day! Rusev Day!” Rusev whips Dragon to a corner, but Dragon DROPKICKS Etahn! Then he dodges Rusev, hot tag to Gable! Gable runs up, slips around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! And GERMAN SUPLEXES! And then- NO, Rusev ELBOWS free before the third. Rusev runs, but Gable OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES! Ethan runs in, but he gets an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELL!
Rusev MACHKA- NO, Gable blocks the kick, and he has the ANKLE LOCK! The fans cheer as Rusev scrambles around! Ethan runs up, Gable BACKDROPS him! Dragon is back, Gable gives him the boost, RAILGUN DROPKICK on Ethan! Ethan is down in a corner, the fans fire up again, but Rusev gets Ethan away before Dragon can hit the Meteora. But then Gable claps and the fans join in. Dragon builds speed, Gable gives him a boost, and Dragon FLIES onto Ethan & Rusev! The fans fire up again as Dragon stands on the barriers, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Ethan whips Gable to the corner. Ethan LARIATS, then tags Rusev. Rusev KICKS Gable, the fans rally up, but Rusev short arm LARIATS! Rusev short arm LARIATS again, then short arm LARIATS again! The fans are torn over the hattrick, but Rusev drags Gable up. Rusev whips Gable to the corner, runs up, but Gable BOOTS him! And he ROCKS Ethan! Gable CHOPS Rusev, ROCKS Ethan, then ducks under Rusev! Rusev hurries to waistlock and he THROWS Gable away. But Gable comes back, only for Rusev to catch him! Gable makes that a DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! They crawl, hot tags to Ethan and Dragon!
The fans fire up as Dragon dodges, then he SUPERKICKS Rusev! Dragon BOOTS Ethan, dodges, then comes back to JUMP KICK! Dragon sits Ethan down, SUPERKICKS Rusev again, then COMBINACION DRAGON on Ethan! And a TORNADO DDT on top! Ethan staggers but Dragon puts him up top. Dragon goes outside, GAMANGIRIS Ethan into the Tree of Woe, then goes up! WOE STOMPS! Cover, but Rusev CHOPS it apart! Rusev drags Ethan to the corner, tags back in, and he helps Ethan up. They reel Dragon in, DOUBLE SUPLEX, but Gable makes the save! Gable ROCKS Rusev, dodges Ethan, and ANGLE SLAM!
The fans fire up, Rusev MACHKA KICKS Gable! But Dragon rolls Rusev with a stack, TWO! Dragon dodges Rusev, to SNAP GERMAN! A low angle, but then Dragon SUPERKICKS! Rusev is down, Dragon goes up, and Chicago cheers for the CROSS- NO, Rusev catches Dragon to URENAGE! And MACHKA KICK! And then THE ACCOLADE!! Dragon endures but he can’t, he TAPS! Rusev & Ethan win!
Winners: Ethan Page & Rusev, by submission
The fans boo as Rusev refuses to let go! The ref reprimands, but Gable deadlifts Rusev up for a GERMAN- NO, Ethan CLOBBERS Gable! Ethan then HAMMERS away on Gable, and he lets Rusev get him! ACCOLADE!! But “Say his name and he appears,” JOE HENDRY is here! And he slides in, dodges, and he fires forearms and UPPERCUTS! Rusev UPPERCUTS back, but Hendry then DUMPS Rusev out! And he scoops Ethan for the FALL AWAY SLAM! Hendry kips up and… TURNS! He wants more, and he clinches Ethan for- MACHKA KICK!! Rusev stands tall again, but Ethan tops it off with the EGO PLEX!
Ethan says break his back, and Rusev stomps Hendry! ACCOLADE!! The fans boo as now Hendry endures! Referees and producers finally get out here, they tell Rusev to stop but Ethan tells Hendry that he’s gonna pay for sticking his nose in their business! The officials finally pry Rusev off of Hendry, but Rusev just goes back for more! Ethan has Rusev stand down, they did what they needed to. The gauntlet is coming, will Ethan and Rusev make it until the end? Or will someone else defy the odds and become a contender?
Jimmy Uso is heading out.
Jackie Redmond hurries to catch up with #BigJim, hoping for just one quick question. What was that earlier with LA Knight? What kind of message is he trying to send? Jimmy says it is time for Big Jim to step up for The Bloodline. That means he’ll go to SmackDown, step up to Solo Sikoa, but after tonight he can- LA KNIGHT IS HERE! But then JACOB FATU INTERCEPTS! The Samoan Wolf says he and Big Jim are out this joint. The Mega Star got bodied, but will he only want payback all the more now?
Adam Pearce is on the phone.
He is negotiating something for the main event, but it doesn’t seem to be going well. Can Pearce find a replacement for the main event before it’s too late? Or will someone surely step up for their chance at THE Undisputed WWE Championship?
Bayley speaks.
“Lyra, you once waited in line for hours at a toy shop waiting to meet me, and I made time for you to have a real conversation about your wrestling career. And maybe that never meant anything to you, but to me, that’s the foundation of where my respect for you began, where my trust in you truly began. Because I watched this girl who was just a fan become the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion, to then become my best friend, and stand right beside me at WrestleMania. And when I had one of the hardest years of my career, it was you who kept me level headed. It was you who made me reach deep down and bring out the best version of myself every single week.
“You constantly reminded me of who I was and what I’ve done. And after all the heartbreaks I’ve been through, I never questioned my trust in you. I shared my experiences and my stories with you, thinking it would help guide you. You just used it all against me. And I don’t just understand why you couldn’t just have an honest conversation with me about everything that was going on in your head. Instead, you took the easy way out. So Lyra, I’m giving you one chance to prove to me that you’re not just like everybody else. Meet me next week, face to face.” The Role Model wants to talk with The Morrigan, but will Lyra want anything to do with Bayley?
Pearce is still on his phone.
This time he seems to be texting as his fingers can move, and Aldis steps in. Aldis takes a peek and Pearce reminds him he is on administrative leave. What does he want? Aldis says that’s a funny way of thanking him. Thanking him for what? Well, see, while Pearce was busy leaving voicemails, Aldis was making a call. And he secured the replacement for tonight’s main event. That superstar is in the building. So the only thing left for Aldis to say is… You’re welcome. Aldis leaves, Pearce grumbles again, but who IS the replacement? Though, do we really have to ask?
Judgment Day speaks.
JD McDonagh tells Danhausen that if he thinks what they did to the lab last week was bad, just wait to see what happens at Saturday Night’s Main Event. They saw on SmackDown how Danhausen’s calling in someone for back-up, but they don’t care who it is! JD isn’t just coming for the money! He’s coming to SMASH Danhausen up, grind him down, and dance on his head in front of all his fans. Then he puts this weird Cinderella sob story in the trash bin where it belongs! Dom says they can make this right. Give them the money, uncurse JD! And just like Liv said, give them what they want or they make Danhausen’s life a living hell!
The boys sure talk tough in the clubhouse, but will they really get what they want? Or will the Very Nice, Very Evil Overlord have a big surprise for them in the Big Apple?
Undisputed WWE Championship: Sami Zayn VS ???
At first, The Last Real Good Guy was ready to fight The American Nightmare so he could defiantly prove a point about his title reign. But then Der Ring General wiped the floor with Cody Rhodes, and Sami was oddly happy to have the night off. But then Pearce said he’d find someone, only for Aldis to steal his thunder on that. But in the end, who IS Sami Zayn facing tonight? The fans already chant for him, and Sami asks, “Who you got?!” We cut backstage, and YES, C M PUNK is here! The Best in the World is getting another opportunity, here in his hometown! Can he seize the day? Or will Sami find a way to survive the Second City Saint?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see which way the winds of change are blowing!
The bell rings and the fans are thunderous for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Punk personally hands his shirt to a young fan in the front row, then he and Sami circle. They feel things out, tie up, and Punk headlocks. Sami powers up and out, but Punk RUNS him over! The fans cheer, even as Sami gets right back up. Sami and Punk reset, circle, and knuckle lock. Sami headlocks, Punk powers him to the ropes, but Sami turns things around. Sami CHOPS, then backs away. The fans boo but Punk brushes that off. Punk and Sami circle again, feel things out, then tie up. Punk powers Sami to a corner, the ref counts, but the two hand fight.
Punk RAMS into Sami, CHOPS him, then snapmares Sami for a CHOP to the back! The fans “WOO~,” but Sami RAMS Punk into the corner again and again! Sami climbs up, rains down fists, but Punk carries him away before ten! Punk hits an atomic drop, then he stalks Sami to a corner. Punk climbs up, rains down fists, and the fans count along! Sami slips free before ten to CLUB Punk on the back! Sami then HOTSHOTS Punk down to the floor! The fans boo but Sami trolls them a bit as he revs up, only for Punk to trip him up! Punk drags Sami out, SMACKS him off the apron, then Punk builds speed! Punk DIVES and down goes Sami!
The fans fire up with Punk as he stands tall, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Sami CLUBS Punk with crossface forearm after crossface forearm. Then he ELBOWS Punk in the head! The fans boo but Sami says he’s still going to be champion. Sami stomps Punk around, but Punk fires body shots! Sami ROCKS Punk, KNEES him down, then stands Punk up to bump off buckles. Sami goes up, up, and AX HANDLES Punk down! Cover, TWO! Sami clamps onto Punk with a chinlock and holds him down. The fans rally as Punk endures, and Punk fights up to fireman’s carry! But Sami fires elbows to get free! But then Punk LARIATS Sami down! And LARIATS again! Punk whips Sami to ropes to then CALF KICK him down!
Sami goes to a corner, Punk runs up, SHINING WIZARD and- NO, Sami stops the bulldog, only to run into a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Punk, he pounds the mat, and the fans cheer more. Punk says night-night! Fireman’s carry and- NO, Sami fights free again! BLUE- NO, Punk fires down elbows! Punk huffs ‘n’ puffs and hammerlocks to PEPSI TWIST! Cover, TWO! Sami survives that classic move, but the fans continue to rally behind Punk as he goes to the corner. Punk climbs, aims, but Sami trips him up! The fans boo but Sami climbs up after Punk.
Sami CLUBS Punk, brings him up to the very top, and hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down and the fans fire up again as Raw goes back to break.
Raw returns once more as both men are down again. “This is Awesome!” as both men slowly rise up. Sami fires a haymaker, but Punk fires back! Sami fires another haymaker, but Punk fires back! The shots keep going, Sami gets the edge, but then Punk fires body shots and haymakers! The fans cheer as Punk ROCKS Sami, but Sami kicks low! Sami whips, Punk reverses, and Punk fireman’s carries! But Sami slips free again, BLUE- NO, Punk slips free! ROUNDHOUSE! Punk runs up, SHINING WIZARD again, and then he winds it up for the BULL- NO! BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Punk survives!
Punk and Sami stir again, but it is Sami who stands first. Sami brings Punk up, talks trash right in Punk’s face, then clinches for the- NO, Punk fires elbows! The fans fire up as Punk fires KNEE after KNEE now, then SHINING WIZARDS again! BULLDOG! Third time is the charm, and Punk hurries up a corner! MACHO ELBOW! Direct hit but Punk has to crawl back to the cover, TWO!! Sami survives, but Punk snatches him into the ANACONDA VICE! Sami flails, reaches out, but he’s so far away! The fans rally as hard as they can, but Sami hooks Punk with a leg! Punk fights off the headscissors and he puts on the pressure!
Sami reaches, reaches, but he pushes at Punk’s face! Sami has the headscissors, pops free, but Punk moves around to step through on the legs! Sami kicks and kicks and kicks, and Punk staggers away! Sami runs up, but into a fireman’s carry! Sami slips free, Punks witches, but Sami drops down! Victory roll, TWO!! Punk escapes and Sami is beside himself! Chicago is thunderously cheering for Punk, but Sami and Punk trade shots again. Sami fires a flurry, but then Punk ducks to fireman’s carry! Sami still slips free, then he fireman’s carries?! Sami steals GO TO SLEEP!! Cover, TWO?!? Punk survives and Sami is furious!
Chicago is electric as Punk manages to go to a corner. But Sami takes aim from the other! Sami runs corner to corner, but Punk catches him! CORNER EXPLODER! Punk uses one of Sami’s moves now, and he goes to the other corner. The fans rally harder and harder as Punk takes aim! Punk runs up, but Sami fireman’s carries again! And he again steals GO TO SLEEP, to then add BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!!! Punk survives and Sami is shocked! He argues with the ref but the count was fair. Sami unwraps his wrist tape, he’s getting serious now! Sami eggs Punk on, then SLAPS him! Then HEADBUTTS him! The fans boo but Sami SLAPS Punk again! And again!
Sami says HE is champion now! Does Punk understand?! Sami SLAPS Punk again, then ROCKS him with a haymaker! And another! Punk is still standing, and the fans cheer him on! Sami ROCKS Punk again, so Punk JABS! And CHOPS! And ROCKS Sami again and again and again! Sami fires fast hands, then he whips corner to corner. SHINING WIZARD once more! But Punk just goes corner to corner, but dodges Helluva Kick! Punk suckers Sami in so that he can steal HELLUVA KICK!! And then a fireman’s carry! GO TO SLEEP!!! Cover, PUNK WINS!!
Winner: CM Punk, by pinfall (NEW Undisputed WWE Champion)
Sami Zayn said on Friday that no one could take away that he finally became WWE Champion, but CM Punk just took away the championship itself! And as CM Punk once said, you have to be ready for the moment an opportunity falls into your lap, and here is that opportunity! Punk is once again a world champion, is this going to be The Summer of Punk 2026?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here, but the timing of the episode being in Chicago clearly meant CM Punk was coming back. I did not think they’d clear out Cody like that, but it helped feed into the story of Gunther and Aldis at the same time, so it worked out. Great stuff with Aldis being the reason Punk was even here tonight. Punk VS Sami was a great match, especially for a Raw main event, but clearly if Punk was coming back right into a title match, he was gonna win. A shame for Sami, but then again, nine days as world champion is more than some have gotten in their entire careers. And I feel like this sets up Cody VS Punk for SummerSlam, a match they teased months ago.
Very good stuff with Heyman and The Vision, and I suppose this was a good a time as any for Maxxine to turn and join The Vision. Heyman was probably ready to abandon these guys until this, and we might get The Vision’s story back on track now. And I both laughed and felt bad for Otis & Tozawa after The Vision drove away. That’s definitely a tag title match right there, with Maxxine caught in the middle, but I would think she doubles down on her loyalty to The Vision since she’s now also kayfabe romantically involved with Theory. Heyman also had a great promo with Oba, the fans definitely appreciated it all, but I would think Oba’s gonna need a match or two to keep him sharp since we’ve still got a month to build this story.
We didn’t get as much from Judgment Day as I was expecting, but focusing on Sol VS Raquel was probably the better move anyway. Obviously, Liv & Roxie tried to help Raquel in the end, and luckily for Sol, it backfired because of Iyo showing up. Good promo from JD & Dom to call out Danhausen, and maybe on SmackDown, Danhausen gives us hints as to his friend waiting in New York. Though, I feel like them changing the Saturday Night’s Main Event logo to have orange and blue this time around is big hint that the New York Knicks will be there to help Danhausen out.
Very good promo from Bayley to respond to Lyra, and they’ll have a good faceoff promo next week. That either sets up a Saturday Night’s Main Event match, or a SummerSlam match, or maybe both because of shenanigans at SNME that leads to a rematch for SummerSlam. Very good promo from Penta, Ethan, Rusev, Dragon Lee and Chad Gable to not only help plug the #1 contender’s gauntlet but set up the tag match. Great tag match, and good win for Ethan & Rusev. They not only won but they stood tall in that brawl, even beating down Joe Hendry in the process, so… Are they both out of the running per go-home math? To be fair, any choice in that gauntlet is great for facing Penta, even Dominik Mysterio.
And very good promo from Seth Rollins, but also one from LA Knight to pick apart everything going on with this Rollins VS Roman “One More Time” story. Chicago was certainly on Knight’s side with what he was saying, maybe Knight gets a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship after SummerSlam. It’d fit this story he’s got with The Bloodline 2026, with Jimmy attacking him outta nowhere, and then Fatu watching Jimmy’s back in the parking lot. If nothing else, this is setting up yet another WarGames match with The Bloodline involved, and LA Knight on the opposing side. He could even be team captain, depending on who would be joining him.
My Score: 8.8/10
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