Results
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (8/22/23)
NXT is on fire!
Will the Heatwave get to HIM?
NXT brings back the Heatwave, and Carmelo Hayes defends the NXT Championship against Wes Lee! Who survives this scorching Summer night?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Trick Williams VS Ilja Dragunov; Dragunov wins.
- Ivy Nile VS Ava Raine w/ The Schism; Ivy wins.
- Undisputed NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Nathan Frazer w/ Tyler Bate VS Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four; Dar wins and is the Undisputed NXT Heritage Cup Champion.
- Mixed Tag: Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio VS Lyra Valkyria & Dragon Lee; Lyra & Dragon win.
- Baron Corbin VS Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone; No Contest.
- NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes VS Wes Lee; Melo wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Tony D’Angelo gets a phone call.
It’s from Stacks! And he says The Don has to get back quick, there’s a situation that needs handling. What does he need Tony for? Tony’s in enough heat as it is. Well there’s a heatwave going through and Tony needs to see this. Stacks dives into the pool and splashes Tony! Okay, it’s gonna be like that? Go get him, guys! The boys jump in! That was good, huh? Yeah, almost as good as tonight’s Mixed Tag match will be. Mami & Dommy VS Lyra “Val-Cree-Uh,” did he say that right? Close enough. And Dragon Lee! That’ll be a banger. And speaking of dragons, The Mad Dragon wants to put a whooping on Trick!
Hey, the streets are all about respect. And they gotta respect what Trick’s trying to do. Trick wants to prove he’s more than a talking head, but taking on Ilja Dragunov is a tall task. Hey, Tony! The ladies are here! The boys stand up and say more the merrier. Now it’s a party. But who do they have in the main event? Tony’s cousin is going with Wes Lee, “the human stick of dynamite.” He’ll bring everything he’s got to take the title away from HIM. Him? Yeah, HIM, Carmelo Hayes! But the streets are putting a lot of money on both guys. Stacks thinks Wes is gonna score big. Hey, Stacks, you talking ’bout Wes or yourself?
Oh, uh, Wes, of course. But now listen. When they celebrate int he family, they raise a glass. Summer’s coming to an end, so let’s go out with a bang. Here’s to an unforgettable Summer!
Trick Williams VS Ilja Dragunov!
Just as The Don said, Trick wants to prove he isn’t Carmelo’s sidekick but his equal. Plus, he looks to settle some scores with The Mad Dragon. Will Dragunov get back at Trick for the controversy behind what happened at the Great American Bash? Or will UNBESIEGBAR fail to #WhoopDatTrick?
The bell rings and the two run in! Dragunov BOOTS Trick, CHPOS him in a corner, then bumps him off buckles. Dragunov throws knees, then fires forearms! Dragunov CLUBS Trick, CHOPS him again, then brings him around to bump off more buckles. But Trick fires forearms in return! Trick scoops, Dragunov slips free and waistlocks, but Trick fights the suplex! Trick runs, RAMS Dragunov, btu Dragunov returns to ENZIGURI! Down goes Trick and fans fire up! Dragunov drags Trick up in a waistlock, Trick fights, but Dragunov CLUBS him again! And again! And then against ropes!
Dragunov brings Trick around to spin and CHOP! Trick sputters and fans fire up! Dragunov BOOTS Trick, Trick goes to a corner, and Dragunov CHOPS him again! Dragunov brings Trick out to spin and CHOP again! Dragunov BOOTS Trick down, but then Trick blocks a kick! Trick spins Dragunov to ROCK him with forearms! They go back and forth, and Trick DECKS Dragunov! Dragunov gets up, Trick whips but Dragunov reverses to wrench and CHOP! Trick DROPKICKS in return! Fans fire up and Trick roars! Trick brings Dragunov up, whips him to ropes, but Dragunov ducks and CONSTANTINE- POP-UP HAYMAKER!
Dragunov stumbles and falls! He bails out, but Trick is after him! Dragunov RAMS him into the apron, BOOTS him, then GERMAN SUPLEXES to the floor! Fans fire up and the ring count starts, Dragunov puts Trick in, stalks him, and fans rally as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dragunov stomps Trick, storms around, then brings him up to ROCK with a haymaker! And CHOP! Dragunov brings Trick around, to hit a headlock takeover! Trick keeps his shoulders up, but Dragunov throws furious fists! Trick endures, even as Dragunov grinds the headlock. Trick fights up, powers out, but Dragunov RAMS him! Dragunov BOOTS Trick, then CLOBBERS him from behind! Trick writhes and Dragunov seethes. Dragunov KNEES Trick in the side! Dragunov brings Trick up, suplexes, but Trick fights it! Trick suplexes but Dragunov fights back! They fight for suplex control, Trick gets Dragunov up but he slips free!
Dragunov shoves Trick, then spins to CHOP! Then he CHOPS the leg, then he KNEES Trick down! Cover, TWO! Trick is still in this but Dragunov jumps on him! Dragunov has a chinlock and he grinds Trick down. Trick fights up again, but Dragunov UPPERCUTS him! Trick ROCKS Dragunov in return! The forearms fly back and forth, and then Dragunov CHOPS, ROCKS and SLAPS Trick down! Both men are on the mat as Dragunov also catches his breath. Dragunov runs in at Trick to BOOT him down! Dragunov YANKS the rope to tweak Trick! Dragunov runs in CHOP Trick in the corner!
Trick sputters, the ref checks on him, but then Dragunov runs in to BOOT WASH! Dragunov backs away as NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally up, Trick drags himself to his feet, and Dragunov storms back up. MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Trick sits down but Dragunov stands him back up. But Trick CHOPS back! Dragunov grins, and he MACHINE GUN CHOPS again! Dragunov tries another round but Trick blocks it! Trick and Dragunov stare down and Trick fires forearms! Dragunov throws them back and fans are thunderous! Trick LARIATS, Dragunov kips up to PELE! But Trick EDDY GORDO KICKS!
Fans are thunderous as both men are down! They chant for “NXT! NXT!” giving them this wild opener. They both stand, and the forearms start going back and forth again! Trick gets the edge, then ducks the back hand to fire off fast hands! Trick DECKS Dragunov! And BOOTS him down! And again! And again! Dragunov leans against ropes and he eggs Trick on! Fans fire up again as Trick stomps Dragunov! Trick drags Dragunov up but Dragunov fires clubbing shots! Dragunov trips Trick, but Trick BOOTS him away! Both men rise, Trick runs up to whip, and he FLAPJACKS Dragunov! Trick aims, runs in, TRICK TRIGGER!! Cover, TWO!!
Dragunov survives that shot right to the head, but there’s blood from his forehead! Trick jumps and ripcords Dragunov up, but Dragunov DDTS! And then another DDT!! Cover, TWO!! Trick survives, fans are thunderous, and Dragunov puts Trick in a corner. “This is Awesome!” as Dragunov puts Trick up top. Dragunov ROCKS Trick, climbs up, but Trick throws hands! They fight up top, and Trick hits a SUPER BOOKEND!! Cover, TWO!?!? Dragunov survives and no one can believe it! Trick is furious, but he aims again. Dragunov rises, Trick spins, but Dragunov blocks the kick! GERMAN SUPLEX!
Dragunov PUNTS Trick in the side of the head! And then reels him in, but Trick still fights the lift! Dragunov tries again, but Trick is fighting! Even so, Dragunov powers through to POWERBOMB!! And then FALLING HAMMER!! Cover, TWO!??! Trick survives and again, no one can believe it! Trick SLAPS Dragunov from below! So Dragunov stomps Trick! Fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this has to end somehow. Dragunov goes up a corner, SUPER FALLING HAMMER!! Cover, Dragunov wins!
Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by pinfall
The Mad Dragon got one hell of a fight out of Trick, but in the end, he still won! However, as Trick sits up, Dragunov seems to nod his respect. Did Trick prove he is a top contender in his own right?
Tyler Bate meditates with Tai Chi.
The Big Strong Boi is Zen enough that he knows it is Nathan Frazer who walks in. Bate says hello, and Nathan asks what he’s up to. Bate brings up how Dabba-Kato hurt him last week. This is how Bate embraces the pain and moves forward. Right, that was brutal. Yes, but that was last week. Tonight, Nathan will show the world who the true Heritage Cup Champion is. Is he ready? Yeah, he is! But that’s kinda why he’s here. Meta Four has a second, third and fourth, so Frazer could use someone out there to watch his back so they can settle things with Noam once and for all. Bate gets that. He’ll have Frazer’s back.
Frazer thanks Bate, and acknowledges that this is two favors now he owes Bate. So should Frazer win tonight, Bate will be the very first challenger to the TRUE Heritage Cup Champion. Bate likes that. Let’s take care of the Meta-Four Massive Frauds. Frazer nods, but will one Big Strong Boi be enough to stop Noam’s main man and leading ladies?
Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio prepare backstage.
Dom says Mami inspires him. Rhea asks Dom what they’re gonna do tonight. Dom says, “Punish.” Rhea says that’s right, cuz punish is what Mami likes to do. But then Mustafa Ali walks in. Hey, Dom-Dom! Oh, sorry, is he interrupting? Well, this is their locker room, so go away. Guys, c’mon, he was gonna wish them luck. Go out there and break a leg. But like, actually, Dom. Into a million pieces. Then Dom can go away and NXT can have a North American Champion they can be proud of. Dom says he doesn’t care about NXT. He just cares about Mami. Rhea says Dom is a champion everyone can look up to.
But Ali, you have ten seconds to get out of here before they give him a preview of what happens to Lyra & Dragon tonight. Wow, just ten seconds? Sounds like something they might be used to. Ali does leave, and Rhea is confused as to what he meant. But will Rhea & Dom have more than they bargained for against Lyra & Dragon?
Ivy Nile VS Ava Raine w/ The Schism!
Diamond Mine lost the Losers Leave NXT match, and yet something a little fishy seems to be up. The Diamond Pitbull will neither confirm nor deny, but will she put Ava in her place? Or will The Schism have the last laugh after all?
NXT returns as The Schism make their entrance, the yellow masked minions following. The bell rings, the two circle, but The Schism already starts distracting Ivy. Ava CLOBBERS Ivy, the ref reprimands The Schism, but Ava RAMS Ivy into buckles! Ava then brings Ivy out, scoops and SLAMS her! Then scoops and SLAMS her again! Ava tells Ivy to just give up already. She whips Ivy to a corner then SPLASHES! Ava fires off hands on Ivy, brings her around, scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER! Ivy writhes, Ava covers, TWO! Ava drags Ivy up, whips her to a corner, then runs in, but Ivy dodges! Ivy fires off forearms!
Ivy KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! Ivy whips, Ava reverses and HEEL KICKS Ivy down! Cover, TWO! Ava CLUBS Ivy, drags her up to SLAM her off the mat, and then soaks up the heat. Ivy crawls to ropes, but Ava CHOKES her! The ref counts, Ava YANKS the ropes to send Ivy tumbling! Ivy gets up, but Ava runs her over! Ava drags Ivy up again, scoops, but Ivy slips into the DIAMOND DRAGON!! Ava TAPS, Ivy wins!!
Winner: Ivy Nile, by submission
The Schism is shocked! They didn’t think Ivy would be able to break Ava so easily, but now the yellow masks get on the apron! Ivy holds onto Ava, but the minions still storm in! Ivy SUPERWOMAN PUNCHES one, then dodges another to GERMAN SUPLEX! And then CALF KICK! Some of the minions drop back and a few get Ava out of the ring. Ava grins as she gets away, but this was still a hit to The Schism. Will the roots still be strong after this newest failure?
Wes Lee is on the phone.
He just wishes that they could be here. But then Dragunov walks in, still very sore from his match with Trick. Wes asks if he’s good, and Dragunov says yes, he is good. Because Trick is no longer an issue. And nothing stands in his way to the title! Nothing will get between him and his destiny! Wes almost has a spit-take hearing that. Dragunov needs to hold on. He does know there will be a new champion tonight? Oh, we’ll see. Dog, you’re looking at him right here! The title that Dragunov wants so badly that he claims to be destined to have will be on Wes’s shoulder!
Wes wasn’t destined for any of this. Not the main event or even in this building, but he makes his own destiny! And tonight, he beats Carmelo Hayes. And from that reaction, maybe Wes will go one-on-one with the Mad Dragon. He looks forward to it as NXT Champion! Wes storms off, will he come through to change Dragunov’s destiny?
Undisputed NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Nathan Frazer w/ Tyler Bate VS Noam Dar w/ The Meta Four!
Through excuses, legalities and technicalities, the British Rocket must defend his Heritage Cup Championship against the former Heritage Cup Champion to finally get to the bottom of this. Will Frazer prove he was the real champ all along? Or will the Scottish Supernova snatch this cup back by any means necessary?
The introductions are made, the cup’s on display, and we see if Frazer denies Dar once and for all!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock for the first round. The two circle, feel things out, then tie up. Dar goes for an arm, wrenches to a wristlock, but Frazer rolls. Frazer hooks a leg but Dra still wrangles him down to a wristlock. Dar bends and twists the arm against his leg, then spins Frazer around to wrenches and ELBOW BREAKER! Frazer reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Frazer flips and wrenches back to hit an ELBOW BREAKER of his own! Frazer clamps onto the shoulder but Dar pulls hair. They end up on ropes, Frazer lets off and dares Dar to come back. The two reset, feel things out, and knuckle lock.
Dar rolls, wrenches and wrangles Frazer again. Dar steps over and he hip drops the arm! Dar then snapmares, covers, TWO! Dar keeps on Frazer’s arm, but Frazer fights through to have a headlock. Dar endures, Frazer hits a takeover, but Dar pulls hair! The ref reprimands, the two stand up, and Dar brings Frazer down to a knee. But Frazer fights back up! Dar powers out of the headlock, they RAM shoulders, and Dar KICKS a leg! Dar headlocks as we go under a minute, but Frazer pries the hold open. Frazer headlocks back, Dar powers up and out, but Frazer redirects, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then rolls Dar up! TWO! Dar has an omoplata!
Frazer rolls, gets free, dodges but Dar dodges back! Frazer dodges stomps, runs and springboards but Dar stays back, to SLAP Frazer! Frazer DECKS Dar! Fans fire up as Frazer gives Dar ground ‘n’ pound! We reach the last 10 seconds, Frazer keeps after Dar, but the time is up!
Frazer: 0; Dar: 0
Fans fire up as Frazer holds back that last punch. The ref has Frazer let off, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Meta Four hurries to refresh Dar while Bate and Frazer are much more relaxed themselves. The grace period is over, and round two begins. Dar puts his dukes up, he and Frazer circle, and Dar gets a shot in. Dar grins, the two tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Dar manages to push Frazer to ropes, but Fraezr gets away before the kick! Frazer hits a headlock takeover! Dar keeps his shoulders up, he rolls Frazer to a cover, TWO! Dar headscissors, then SLAPS Frazer on the chest! Frazer fights around, headstands, and he pops free to then dropkick! And back to the headlock! Frazer grinds Dar down but Dar fights up.
Dar trips Frazer, drops an elbow on the leg, and Frazer clutches the knee. Dar kicks Frazer around, flexes on Bate, then brings Frazer up. Dar snapmares to UPPERCUT in the back! Cover, TWO! Dar clamps onto Frazer with a chinlock, but then grinds his forearm in Frazer’s face. The ref counts, Frazer fights up, but Dar knees low before the jawbreaker! Frazer goes to ropes as we hit one minute, and Dar fires off hands! Dar whips, Frazer ducks ‘n’ dodges and DYNAMIC DROPKICKS Dar down! Fans fire up, but DABBA-KATO ATTACKS BATE AGAIN!! APRON CHOKE SLAM!! Refs rush out to stop Dabba, but Dar rolls Frazer up! DAR SCORES!!
Frazer: 0; Dar: 1
The Supernova sneaks one because the behemoth Dabba beat down Bate! Dar then scrambles away to maximize his refresh period. Frazer is furious at both Dar and Dabba, but Bate is being checked on by medics. NXT returns to single picture as Frazer isn’t sure what to do now. Meta Four is confident Dar has this now, and we start round three. Dar rushes right in to fire off on Frazer! The ref counts, Dar backs off, and Frazer hits him back! Frazer whips, Dar reverses but Frazer goes up and over and handsprings away while Bate is helped to the back. Frazer runs up, he rolls Dar into an STF!!
Fans fire up as Meta Four freaks out! Dar endures, reaches out, scrambles around, but he’s turning red like Frazer’s tights! Dar reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Frazer lets go in frustration and Dar goes to a corner. Frazer runs in, but Dar puts him on the apron. Frazer ROCKS Dar, springboards, but Dar trips him up! Rough landing for Frazer and Meta Four is loving it! Dar drags Frazer through the ropes, drops him and PUNTS him! Cover, TWO! Dar is annoyed but he walks around Frazer. Dar lines up a shot and boots Frazer down! Fans rally for Frazer, but Dar UPPERCUTS him! Dar brings Frazer up to CLUB him on the neck!
Dar pretends he can’t hear the ref, and then he snapmares Frazer to stomp the arm! We go under a minute and Dar stomps Frazer more. Fans duel, “SUPERNOVA!” “SUCKS!!” Frazer fires body shots in return, but Dar blocks a kick! Dar counters enziguri with a DRAGON SCREW! And AKNLE LOCK! But Frazer rolls to send Dar out! And then he DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp! Frazer puts Dar back in the ring, and QUEBRADA DDTS! Frazer RUNNING HSOOTING STARS a la Bate! Cover, TWO!! We’re under ten seconds! Dar hurries away, saved by the bell! BUT HE CHEAP SHOTS FRAZER!!
Frazer: 0; Dar: 1
The ref warns Dar on this one, even as Meta Four argues that’s a “Buzzer beater.” They hurry to refresh Dar again, and now we’re on to round four. Frazer is getting angry now, and he dodges Dar to mule kick, run and DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Frazer sees Dar go to a corner, runs in and CHOPS! Frazer whips, Dar reverses, Frazer goes up and over to scoop and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Frazer hurries up a corner, aims, PHOENIX- NO, Frazer rolls through as Dar moves! Dar runs in, Frazer rolls him up, TWO! Dar blocks a kick, to BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Frazer survives and Dar is frustrated.
Meta Four coaches Dar and he drags Frazer to ropes. Dar puts the leg on ropes, goes up a corner, but Frazer runs up! Dar ROCKS Frazer, but Frazer is right back on him! SUPERPLEX! Roll through, FINAL CUT!! Cover, Frazer scores!!
Frazer: 1; Dar: 1
Meta Four has to drag Dar back to his corner, he is in bad shape after that one! Frazer catches his breath as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dar sputters, Jakara & Lash fan him off, but it could come down to the very next round. Oro stands Dar up as best he can, Frazer watches and waits. Round five starts, and Frazer runs in! Dar dodges, but then Frazer comes back to TACKLE Dar! Frazer rains down fists! Frazer goes to a corner, climbs up, and POHENIX SPLASHES into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Dar holds onto Frazer as Frazer fights the hold! Frazer deadlifts Dar to SITOUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives and Frazer is stunned! But Frazer drags himself to the apron, gets to his feet, and he feints the springboard to make Dar move!
Dar is on the apron, Frazer gets him from across the corner! They brawl, climb, and Dar pulls on an arm! Frazer throws hands, but they both DECK each other! Frazer AND Dar fall to the floor! A ring count starts, Meta Four panics, but both Dar and Frazer are down at 5 of 10. Lash drags Dar up and puts him in!? She got away with it cuz the ref was checking Frazer! And she even tries to stop Frazer from getting in! The ref reprimands, Frazer gets away but Dar HOOK KICKS! And FISHERMAN BUSTERS! cover, TWO!!! Dar is shocked that his team couldn’t cheat this one for him!
Frazer goes to a corner as we hit 45 seconds. Dar flexes, runs in, but Frazer hits a BUCKLE SHOT a la Seth Rollins! NXT returns to picture in picture as Frazer then skins the cat to the top rope a la Sheamus. Fans fire up, Meta Four freaks out, but Dar gets out. So Frazer SUPER CANNONBALLS Dar & Oro down!! Frazer puts Dar in, but Dar distracts the ref and both Lash & Jakara try to stop Frazer! Frazer gets in but Lash has a foot! Cover, TWO!! And then the bell!
Frazer: 1; Dar: 1
The Meta Four didn’t cheat the win out but they did cheat to keep Dar alive! They help Dar get back to his corner while Frazer crawls to his. The refresh period is over pretty quickly this time as we go to the sixth round! Will this one end in regulation?
Dar and Frazer stand, fans fire up, and the two storm up to throw forearms! They go back and forth, Dar KICKS, but Frazer knees low! Dar KICKS, fires off forearms, then flexes. But Frazer fires them all back! Frazer DECKS Dar! But Dar kicks a leg out! And kicks Frazer from below! Dar holds a wrist and kicks away on Frazer’s face! Dar goes to a corner, takes aim, NOVA FEINT! But Frazer avoids the leg sweep! Frazer runs in but into a SUPERMAN PUNCH! But Frazer ENZIGURIS! Frazer storms up but Dar dodges to sweep the legs after all! Dar goes to the corner, climbs up, but Frazer avoids the guillotine stomp!
Frazer SUPERKICKS! And QUEBRADA- NO, Dar slips out of the reverse DDT to get the CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEEBAR!! Frazer endures, but we have 90 seconds to go and he’s so far from the ropes! Frazer manages to roll over, and he throws hands on Dar! Dar lets go, and we’re still at one minute left! Frazer goes to ropes, drags himself up, and fans rally. Dar stands, Frazer DECKS him! Frazer goes up the corner, but Dar goes after him. Frazer ROCKS Dar, BOOTS Oro onto the ladies, and then PHOENIX FLOPS as Dar moves! NOVA ROLLA!!! Cover, DAR WINS!!
Winner: Noam Dar, 2-1, by pinfall (NEW NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
Meta Four does it again! They CHEAT to WIN! Is Dar ever going to stop being the Heritage Cup Champion with all these pawns in his corner?
Ava Raine speaks.
“Thanks to the bravery of these two loyal and devoted followers, I am once again standing safely underneath The Schism’s Tree. Ivy, you tried to end my career! You tried to inflict permanent damage! But Ivy, you failed. You are a failure, just like The Creed Brothers, and just like all of Diamond Mine. Ivy, if you wanna prove me wrong, you know exactly where I am. So come and find me.” Ava has called Ivy out to fight under the shade of the Tree, will Ivy look to tear The Schism out of NXT, roots and all?
Tiffany Stratton is here.
NXT returns with The NXT Women’s Champion already in the ring, and with mic in hand. “The Summer of Tiff Tiff is coming to an end, and let me tell you all, it has been a hot one. It officially began at Battleground, where I won the NXT Women’s Championship. And then, I went on a winning streak, retaining my title against Thea Hail at Gold Rush, and then again at the Great American Bash. And with Summer coming to an end, and the Fall of Tiff Tiff is right around the corner, I am going to make this much, much better. And I’m sure you’re all wondering, how can it get better than it already is? I’m basically a perfect champion!
“And I know the word ‘perfect’ scares some people, but when you’re Tiffany Stratton, perfection comes easy. Which is why this title isn’t going anywhere. Matter of fact, I’m gonna go down in history as one of the best NXT Women’s Champions of all time!” Fans boo but Tiff says she will be better than Bayley! Than Asuka! Than Becky Lynch! And even Charlotte Flair! The list can go on and on and on, but for now, she remains at the #TiffyTop. Wait, who is this coming out? Gigi Dolin! She tells Tiffany that while she’s at the top, do us a grand favor and SHUT THE HELL UP! Fans cheer that!
Gigi says she gets it, the Summer of Tiffany. But what Gigi is dying to see is the Fall of Tiffany, as in falling off being champion. So look no further for your next challenger than Gigi Dolin! Tiff isn’t sure what hole Gigi crawled out of, and doesn’t care, but if this is Gigi shooting her shot, then consider this Tiff shooting it down. Gigi doesn’t deserve a shot against Tiff! Oh, deserve? Deserve? The audacity! Tiff doesn’t deserve to stand here and call herself a champion cuz the last time she defended that title here on NXT TV, she TAPPED OUT! Tiff did not! But wait, now Kiana James walks out. And she says Gigi must be lost.
Kiana doesn’t know what delusional world Gigi lives in, but there is not a shot in Hell that Gigi deserves a title match. Tiff thanks Kiana for saying that. Kiana says Gigi’s record against Kiana is terrible. Gigi doesn’t deserve the match, but Tiff can bet her Barbie wannabe little ass that Kiana sure does! Rude. But then Blair Davenport walks out! “Ladies, ladies, ladies. You know I’m sure we can stand here and argue all night long about who has the fanciest materialistic possessions, the biggest, gaudiest shoes, and even the most social media followers. But I don’t care about any of that crap!”
It was a cruel Summer in the NXT Women’s Division, courtesy of Blair Davenport. If you don’t believe her, just ask around. Blair joins everyone else in the ring, and says that one thing that is not up for debate is that Blair deserves a shot at the title, because it’s Blair! Gigi says Blair and her haven’t crossed paths, but before laying claim to the division, she has to go through the division! And Gigi knows that everyone knows Blair beat Dana Brooke, Kelani Jordan, but nobody has forgotten that little trip to the convenience store! Kiana adds on, “Clean up on aisle Blair!” Though Gigi says she would’ve rather seen it be “business b*tch” Kiana!
But seeing Blair’s face ping pong off that frozen food door was priceless! Blair mockingly says “Look at the dark side of Gigi Dolin finally coming out. Aw, cute.” But Gigi doesn’t want to mess with Blair. If you thought that kick from Jacy Jayne was bad, wait until Blair pounds Gigi’s face so bad, her own brother won’t recognize her! Tiff says this is all getting out of hand. They can figure this out on their own and she’ll just go. But wait! Here comes Roxanne Perez! “Hey, Blair. Hi. Y’know, it’s mind boggling to me that you’re out here running your mouth, cuz I thought I ended things with you at the Great American Bash when I put your ass through a table and a bed of chairs. In case you forgot.
“But more importantly, Tiffany, I actually have something to tell you.” Tiff says it better be good. Roxie DECKS Tiff!! And then a brawl breaks out! Tiff runs away while Gigi is after Blair and Kiana is after Roxie! The refs rush in to stop this and Tiff actually thinks this is funny. But will all four of these women get their shot at the Center of the Universe?
Damon Kemp trains with Charlie Dempsey & Drew Gulak.
Gulak coaches them through the hand grappling, and Myles Borne runs over. Gulak has him wait as the two in the ring get loose. Gulak then asks Myles what he wants to say. Myles says he washed the mats, swept the ring, and even sprayed the ropes. Good boy, Myles. Is he tired? No, sir. Good, because they don’t get tired. Dempsey then clamps on a SLEEPER on Myles!! Myles taps but Gulak says no, you gotta fight! They don’t get tired! Will Myles be able to keep up with the technical savages he’s following?
Ava speaks again.
“With each passing second, Ivy proves exactly what I was saying. She’s weak, she’s a failure, and most of all, she’s way too scared to stand on her own two feet. Don’t fall for the façade, because behind that strong physique-” But then Ivy shouts at Ava. Speak of the devil, here she is. Get her, boys! The “boys” don’t respond. SIURPRISE! They’re the Creed Brothers! And then Ivy snatches Ava! Julius asks The Schism, “Do we have your attention now? If you want to see Ava again, then next week, we get a match against The Dyad, and when we win, we’re reinstated in NXT.” Brutus says, “And this time, so no Schism followers interfere, it’s gonna be a Steel Cage Match!”
Julius says, “Don’t keep us waiting.” They drop the camera and take Ava who knows where. Will The Schism have no choice but to accept the challenge?
The Meta Four celebrates backstage.
They drink champagne and Dar says he is UNDENIABLE! He’s been the best at this since day one, and now, nobody can touch him! Jakara says they’re not back, they’re better. And finally, Nathan’s phony reign is over. Lash says it should’ve have happened anyway, so really, it doesn’t count in their books! They fill the Heritage Cup and Oro says the world is right again. But someone serves Dar documents from the NXT Heritage Cup Committee?! What?! Dar has Oro read this for him. Oro looks the letter over, and says, “Dear Mr. Dar, congratulations on winning the NXT Heritage Cup.”
Winning?! What? No! Retaining! But the letter goes on to say that in order to assure Dar has a proper contender for the cup, next week will be the NXT Heritage Cup Global Invitational. An eight man tournament where the winner gets their shot at the Cup at NXT No Mercy! Dar says that means he doesn’t have to do anything for five weeks! They celebrate even more! But Dar says it makes sense they’d have to look around the world to find enough people to fight for this opportunity. Let’s go to California! NXT is putting together quite the event, who will make it through to face Dar on September 30th?
Mixed Tag: Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio VS Lyra Valkyria & Dragon Lee!
Judgment Day is still looking to dominate Mondays and Tuesdays, but they’re running into some stiff opposition. Will the Morrigan & The Wonder Boy bring down the Women’s World Champion & NXT North American Champion? Or will Mami & Dommy do them dirty like they do everyone else?
NXT returns as Dragon makes his entrance, followed by Dragon’s. The teams sort out, and Dragon starts against Dom. They circle, fans rally, and the two tie up. They go around, Dom puts Dragon in a corner, but he lets off. Dragon dodges the chop to CHOP back! Dom runs up but Dragon trips him to rain down fists! Dom gives those back, then knuckle lock covers, TWO as Dragon bridges up! Dom pushes Dragon down, TWO as Dragon gets an arm up. Dom jumps but Dragon uses that to get up and wheelbarrow to a victory roll! TWO! Dom scrambles up, kicks low and he throws hands!
Dom has Dragon in a corner, whips corner to corner, Dragon reverses, Dragon runs in but is put on the apron. Dragon bumps Dom off buckles, KICKS him away, then goes up and in and somersaults, but Dom fireman’s carries! Dragon slips free, Dom switches, but Dragon elbows free. Dom BOOTS back, dodges a boot, then CHOPS! Dom runs, but Dragon DROPKICKS him down! Dom staggers up and Rhea calls to him. Dom hurries over and he tags her in. Lyra steps in and fans fire up as she and Rhea step to each other. They talk some trash, Rhea pokes Lyra in the head while she says she was giving Lyra advice.
Lyra pushes back and says Rhea was just keeping her down. Rhea shoves back, so Lyra shoves again! Then headlocks! Rhea powers up and throws Lyra way, but Lyra comes back to wrench and YANK the arm! Lyra whips, Rhea blocks and reverses. Lyra goes up and over and then hip tosses! Lyra runs up on Rhea, Rhea blocks the hip toss to body shot and choke grip! But Lyra wheelbarrows, but Rhea back suplexes! Lyra lands on her feet, shoves, but Rhea runs Lyra over! Fans rally up and Rhea reaches down, but Lyra KICKS her away! Lyra almost gets the heel kick! Rhea keeps away as Lyra keeps spinning!
Fans fire up as Rhea stays in the ropes. The ref has Lyra back up, and rhea SLAPS Lyra down! Rhea tells Lyra not to test her, but Lyra swings! Rhea blocks to short arm LARIAT! And again! Rhea reels Lyra in, she gives some Latina Heat, and suplexes, but Lyra slips out! Lyra CHOPS Rhea on the back! And SLAPS her across the face! Lyra eggs rhea on, bobs ‘n’ weaves then fires off fast hands! SOBAT! Front kick! HEABUTT! Rhea blocks the roundhouse to pick Lyra up! Lyra sunset flips but Dom tags in! Rhea scrambles away and Dom storms up on Lyra. Dom eggs her on but Dragon SUPERKICKS him down!
Dragon is all fired up and so are the fans! Rhea returns, Lyra dodges and springboards, but Rhea moves so the CROSSBODY hits Dom! Fans fire up more as Rhea pops Lyra up, but Lyra RANAS! The Judgment Day regroups, Dragon & Lyra build speed together to WRECK Rhea and FLY onto Dom! Fans fire up as Dragon & Lyra stand tall as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dragon drags Dom up, puts him in the ring, and he stalks Dom. Dom wants mercy, but Dom BOOTS him down! Dragon bumps Dom off buckles, fires hands, then has everyone hush. He CHOPS Dom! Fans fire up, Dragon says one more, and he puts Dom back in the corner. Dragon climbs up onto the corner, but then lets off to take a big swing! Dom gets away, but Dragon is still after him. Dom kicks low, bumps him off buckles, then swings, but Dragon dodges! Dragon CHOPS Dom again! Dragon snapmares, covers, TWO, but then he clamps on a chinlock! Dom endures, fights up, and throws body shots!
Dom knees low, whips Dragon but Dragon reverses. Dom slips out as Dragon run sin, and Dom HOTSHOTS Dragon down! Dom gives some Latino Heat before the slingshot SENTON! Cover, TWO! Dom looms over Dragon, talks some trash and kicks him around. Dom clamps onto a chinlock and he grinds Dragon down. Fans rally as Dragon endures, but Dom pulls back on the hold. Dragon still fights up, still throws elbows, but Dom knees low. Dom whips Dragon to a corner, runs in, but into a boot! Hot tag to Rhea! Rhea storms up but Lyra CROSSBODIES her down! They stand, Lyra LARIATS! Lyra LARIATS again!
Lyra ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS! Rhea flounder sup into knees! Lyra fires off, puts Rhea in a corner, then climbs up to rain down fists! But Rhea stops Lyra at 4! Lyra fights the bomb, slips free, and SOBATS! But Rhea throws Lyra down by her hair! The ref reprimands, Rhea slaps Lyra around, then CLUBS her down. NXT returns to single picture as Rhea wraps Lyra up in body scissors. Lyra endures the squeeze and fans rally up. Rhea slaps Lyra around some more while putting on the pressure. The ref counts as Rhea pulls hair, so Rhea keeps on the body scissors. Lyra reaches out, but Rhea talks trash.
Lyra pushes back to a cover, TWO! Rhea keeps on the body scissor but Lyra throws elbows. Another push back to a cover, TWO! Rhea turns Lyra over so she can have the rear mount. Rhea slaps Lyra around, grinds her forearm into Lyra’s neck, but Lyra throws headbutts! They roll, Lyra is still caught in the scissors, but Lyra powers up and manages to turn around! Lyra throws down forearms! Rhea lets off the body scissors to get up and BOOT Lyra down! Rhea stands Lyra up, throws kicks then KNEE SMASHES Lyra! Rhea reels Lyra in, double pump handle and flip into a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!
Lyra is still in this but Rhea looms over her. Rhea stares Dragon down, fans rally up, and Lyra grabs at a foot. Rhea KICKS Lyra in the side! Rhea CLUBS Lyra, tells Dragon to “SUCK IT!” then goes back to Lyra. Rhea CLUBS Lyra more, but Lyra throws body shots! Rhea CLUBS and HAMMERS Lyra down to the mat! Fans boo but Rhea looms over Lyra. Rhea brings Lyra in, pump handles again, but Lyra turns suplex into DDT!! Fans fire up while Rhea is dazed! Both women crawl, Rhea grabs at Lyra’s feet. Lyra kicks Rhea away, hurries up but Rhea YANKS her back down! Rhea pushes Lyra around but Lyra stands up.
Rhea has Lyra’s leg, but Lyra dodges Rhea’s boot! HEEL KICK! Rhea wobbles, Dom reaches out, he tags in! Dragon runs in to dodge and rally on Dom with elbows! dragon whips, Dom reverses but Dragon RANAS! Dom staggers to the corner, Dragon runs up to put legs in the ropes! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! And then Dragon hangs Dom out to dry, CLUBS away, then goes up a corner! Dragon GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Dom survives but Dragon waistlocks. Dom elbows free so Dragon schoolboys and then reels Dom in. Dom knees low! Dragon fires back! Dom runs, Dragon follows, but Dom drop toeholds him onto ropes!
Dom dials it up, but Dragon ducks 619! Dragon runs in, flips through a lariat, and hits a SITOUT POWERBOMB! Cover, Rhea breaks it! But Lyra goes after Rhea and TOSSES her out! Lyra then goes to the apron, leaps, but Rhea blocks the flying rana! Rhea SWINGS Lyra into barriers! Rhea fires up, goes to her corner, but RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ is here!! They brawl like they did on Raw! Big Mami Cool fires off on Mami Rhea and they go to the back! Dragon runs in to tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!!! Cover, Dragon & Lyra win!
Winners: Dragon Lee & Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall
Dragon just pinned the NXT North American Champion! Despite Mustafa Ali’s campaigning, is Dragon going to be the one to take that title off Dom?
Carmelo Hayes mentally prepares backstage.
Trick finds him and asks if the champ is ready. Melo is ready, he’ll have Wes in the bag. Melo says he’s proud of Trick for tonight. Trick thanks Melo, and says that his singles run isn’t really going the way he wanted, but he’s putting the work in. Hey, tonight started with Trick, and it ends with Melo. First defense without Trick by his side, is Melo okay? Yeah, he’ll be fine. But last time at the Bash, with how things went down between Trick and Dragunov, there’s an asterisk on that win, Melo can’t have that on the reign. Trick asks if Melo’s blaming him or something. No, no, no! He just wants to silence the doubters, starting tonight against Wes Lee.
Trick gets that. He hands Melo the belt, and they secret handshake. Melo heads out, will he return with the title?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
She’s scrolling through her phone while McKenzie Mitchell asks that she requested this time, so what is this about? Tiff says she knows, her mentions are through the roof! All the Twitter trolls, X trolls, whatever trolls, she gets it! Becky was never NXT Women’s Champion. But in Tiff’s defense, Becky may be Big Time to all of them, but to Tiff, she is quite literally irrelevant. Moving on to things that matter, like Tiff, the title, and duh! Did you see the atrocity that happened out there? McKenzie has eyes, right? That is not how she wanted to end the Summer of Tiff Tiff.
However, as champion, Tiff has the inside scoop. Those four wannabes are gonna have the opportunity to fight it out for a chance against Tiff. Now say it back. McKenzie says that next week, it will be Roxie VS Gigi VS Kiana VS Blair, #1 Contender’s match. Good enough. Tootles. Tiff heads out, who will be up next to fight the Pro-Wrestling Barbie?
NXT shares footage from last week.
Thea Hail pleaded with a ref that the decision in her match can’t count because of the interference. But the ref apologizes, there’s nothing he can do. Thea says her life sucks now! She had momentum but now it’s gone, poof, and it’s all Mr. Chase’s fault, all because he knows best or whatever. Jacy walked over, Thea is ready to go, but Jacy says relax. Jacy just wants to say that “that beast” she just fought out there is not the same Thea that walked into the locker room a year ago. Thea knows, she’s a grown woman. Well, sure. Don’t get hot at Jacy. But if it makes Thea feel any better, everyone’s let down by someone in their lives.
Jacy and Thea both sigh, and Jacy gives Thea advice: you can get through it; people like them always do. Thea wonders if that’s true. Will Thea start doing things her way instead of Mr. Chase’s way?
Baron Corbin VS Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone!
Corbin says he’s No BS this time, but he sure talked a lot of trash on Von. Von gave it back, and then bodied him in their brawl. Will Von do it all again? Or will there be no need for a table tonight when Corbin #BurnsTheShips?
But speaking of Corbin, he attacks Von during his entrance! And keeps after him! Fans boo, Stone can’t do anything to stop this as Corbin RAMS Von into steel steps! The ref reprimands, but Corbin storms his way up to the apron. Corbin FLYING CLOTHESLINES Von down! But Von fights up to RAM into Corbin! Von fires off hands, SMACKS Corbin off apron, and then throws knees! Corbin throws them back, then aims for the post! Von stops himself, to then POST Corbin! Fans fire up as Von now has control, but Corbin throws hands! Corbin SMACKS Von off steel steps! And then brings him around to ROCK with a right!
Fans are torn but Von comes back to throw more shots! Corbin ROCKS Von, Von ROCKS Corbin, repeat! They go back and forth, fans cheer as Von RAMS Corbin into steps! And now he eyes the desk! Fans fire up as Von clears the desk, but Corbin DECKS Von! Corbin drags Von up and around, to back suplex to the floor! Corbin then grabs Stone! Fireman’s carry, but Von ROCKS Corbin! Stone is saved, and Von BOOTS Corbin! Fans fire up as Von stalks Corbin. He clears the desk, drags Corbin up, but BRON SPEARS VON!! The “Best Spear in the Business” just hit Von outta nowhere, and Bron says if Corbin doesn’t fear him, he will.
Bron barks it up, fans join in, and there’s not gonna be a match tonight. But will there be no mercy in the future for these three monsters?
The Schism speaks.
Joe Gacy tells The Creeds, “Where is your morality!? You disguised yourselves and infiltrated our family, and tarnished the purity of The Schism!” Rip Fowler says now this kidnapping and ransom of their dear Ava, for what?! Jagger says, “For one more chance to save your floundering careers?” Gacy says there is nothing The Dyad wouldn’t do for their sister in the Schism! Return her safely and they will agree to the Creeds’ demands. Rip knows the Creeds think the cage will keep the others out, but what they need to realize is who they are locking themselves in with! Jagger says grit your teeth! They beat The Creeds before, and next week, The Dyad ends this once and for all!
Dijak speaks.
“The opportunity at the NXT Championship, the reason that I returned to NXT, and you diverted my attention. Eddy Thorpe, you’re the reason I’m not becoming NXT Champion tonight. I don’t need to look up to the stars or perform an ancient ritual to know what your future holds. If you thought the beating that I gave you last time that sent you into the wilderness was bad, you have seven days to become one with the spirits. Because this time, once I’m through with you, not only will your body be broken, but so will your spirit!” Hard Justice has spoken, will he bring down the Alpha Wolf?
Becky Lynch tweets. (Or whatever it’s called on X)
“I haven’t been NXT Women’s Champion… yet.” Becky’s watching you, Tiff Tiff! Be careful not to get into big time trouble!
NXT Championship: Carmelo Hayes VS Wes Lee!
While there is still the cloud of controversy on Hayes VS Dragunov, Trick took Dragunov on a detour, and that opened the way to the #WesSide. Will the Cardiac Kid have his most exciting, most incredible and most historic victory yet? Or will NXT still belong to HIM?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who makes it through the Heatwave!
The bell rings, the two circle and they tie up. Fans chant for “Both These Guys!” as Melo headlocks. Wes powers out, Melo whips and ELBOWS Wes back! Melo snapmares but Wes ducks the Penalty Kick! Wes rolls Melo up, Melo rolls through, but Wes headlocks. Melo powers out, things speed up, Melo drops down then hurdles but Wes also rolls. Wes comes back, Melo dodges and leaps, but no Code Breaker as Wes throws him away. Wes handsprings, Melo avoids the kick to get legs, but Wes rolls to throw Melo away. They both rush back in, both block a kick, then both push back and dropkick! Those cancel out and both men kip up!
Fans fire up as the two stand off, Wes a touch steadier than Melo. Fans rally, Melo runs in but Wes DROPKICKS! Cover, ONE! Melo says okay, and the two reset. Melo ROCKS Wes! Wes JABS Melo! Melo ROCKS Wes, Wes ROCKS Melo back! They go back and forth, and DOUBLE BOOT! Then both go down, then they both kip up! DOUBLE FOREARMS! Melo staggers, rebounds, but into a SPANISH FLY! Both men are down and fans fire up as NXT goes picture in picture!
Melo checks his chin and shakes out his arms. Melo stands, Wes goes to ropes. Wes runs in, Melo dodges and clotheslines! Melo snapmares, Wes gets up and he sweeps low! Melo jumps over the kick but Wes fires off hands! Wes snapmares and basement dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Wes keeps cool as Melo goes to a corner. Wes runs in, Melo goes up and over, things speed up and Melo springboards to FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Wes is still in this but Melo drags him back up. Melo brings Wes up, reels him in, and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Melo brings Wes around, headlocks and grinds Wes down.
Wes endures, fans rally up, and Wes fights to his feet. Wes pops out the back to throw body shots. Melo goes to a corner, Wes runs in, but Melo dodges! Melo storms up, blocks boots and puts Wes in the ropes to ENZIGURI! And then FADE- NO, Wes kicks Melo’s legs! DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Wes keeps cool as he storms up on Melo. NXT returns to single picture, Wes brings Melo up but Melo RAMS him into a corner! Melo digs his shoulders in but Wes CLUBS Melo. The ref counts, Wes CLUBS Melo again but Melo RAMS Wes. Wes CLUBS Melo, ROCKS him, but Melo BOOTS Wes!
Wes ROCKS Melo again! Melo ROCKS Wes again! Wes GAMANGIRIS! Wes goes up while Melo wobbles, but Melo GAMANGIRIS back! And ENZIGURIS as Wes is in the ropes! FADE AWAY JUMPER! Fans fire up while both men are down! Melo snarls as he watches Wes rise. Melo storms up on Wes, ROCKS him with a right, but Wes ROCKS Melo back! They go back and forth again, fans rally and duel with each shot. They go faster and faster, shot for shot! Melo eggs Wes on, then kicks low! Front kick! CHOP! Wes stays up to CHOP back! Melo CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Melo whips, Wes reverses but Melo rolls off his back to LARIAT!
Wes is right up but into an atomic drop! Melo whips Wes to a corner hard, then runs in to forearm smash! Melo then snapmares and SUPERKICKS Wes down! Cover, TWO!! Wes is still in this and fans cheer. Melo is a little annoyed but he nods in some respect. Melo drags Wes up as fans duel again. Wes fights the suplex, Melo still drags him up and CLUBS him on the back. Melo suplexes but Wes knees free! Wes shoves, Melo springboards but Wes dodges to RUNNING METEORA! Cover, TWO!! Melo escapes and Wes is seething! Wes hurries up on Melo, but Melo ELBOWS him! Melo jumps, but into a SUPERKICK!
Wes brings Melo around, scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Wes hurries to a corner, goes right up top, and SKY TWISTER!! Cover, TWO!!! Melo survives what finished Dijak just last week, and Wes is frustrated. Wes drags Melo up, reels him in, but Melo wrenches out to facelock. Melo suplexes, but Wes fights the cutter! Wes shoves Melo away to then ENZIGURI in the corner! Wes pushes Melo down, CARDIAC- NO, Melo catches Wes, flips him, and suplexes! CUTTER!! Melo aims from the corner, runs in, CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!!! Wes survives the First 48, and Melo is surprised.
Melo tosses Wes out, goes out after him, but Wes ELBOWS Melo! Melo BOOTS Wes! Wes ends up on the desk, and Melo goes to the apron!? Fans fire up for the SUPER NO LOOK JUMPER, through the table!! The fans lose their minds while the ref checks both men. They’re both conscious, so Melo drags Wes up and puts him in the ring. Melo then goes up the corner, NOTHING BUT- NO, Wes dodges! CARDIAC KICK!!! Melo flounders around, Wes hurries after, but Melo gets out of the ring! Fans fire up while Wes is furious! Wes grits his teeth, aims from the corner, and he runs to DIVE! But he FLOPS as Melo moves!
The ref checks Wes again, his head having hit barriers! Wes jarred that one loose, even! Melo hurries back into the ring as the ring count climbs. It’s past 5 of 10, Wes flounders around at 7 and drags himself up at 8. Melo shakes his head but Wes is still in at 9.99!! That’s a buzzer beater! But Melo is up top, for NOTHING BUT NET!!! Cover, Melo wins!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)
Wes took a shot from downtown not even Melo would’ve tried, and that cost him in the end! Melo continues his reign, will he now look to settle things with Dragunov? As for Wes, will he be able to recover from having his shot blocked?
My Thoughts:
A great Heatwave, though it sure felt like Heel Heatwave at one point. I cannot believe Dar has the Heritage Cup back again. Dabba-Kato going after Tyler Bate again was expected, but I guess I should’ve expected Meta Four to get involved in things again. I just didn’t think it would be to that level, with Lash & Jakara getting away with anchoring Frazer’s feet. I get the logic of Faces being (considered) better in the chase, but c’mon! I’ve said it before here, I have no choice but to say it again: How many times are we going to have a Heel Faction holding onto a title/prize like this? Where are Heels with the grit and power to win on their own?
The silver lining they gave us is that there’s going to be a “global” invitational, meaning it will be a diverse tournament with representatives from various countries. That is going to be a lot of fun, and I bet Dabba VS Bate happens through that as Dabba will represent Nigeria by way of Poland, and of course Tyler Bate represents England and the UK. Frazer could argue he deserves a spot in the tournament after getting screwed over, so he can represent Jersey Islands, and we can throw in at least one American wrestler like from Gulak’s new faction. Poor Myles, though. I hope he costs whoever it is (Gulak, Kemp or Dempsey) in the tournament as his way of breaking from their group.
Good stuff in setting up the NXT Women’s Championship story. Gigi, Kiana, Blair and Roxie all get their own bit with Tiffany, Roxie’s being the best. But of course they’ll all fight now in a Fatal 4 Way with Tiff just relaxing. But I do like that Becky responded to Tiffany talking some smack. An NXT “callback” for Becky would be interesting, but she’s not taking that title off Tiff and I don’t like the idea that Tiff might beat Becky, no matter how they protect it. Great brawl from Von and Corbin in place of a match, and Bron adding on was great. While Bron’s shirt says he’s got the best spear in the business, I don’t know about that. But the one he hit tonight was really good. Pretty sure this will end up a Triple Threat for No Mercy, as an unofficial #1 contender’s match to the top title.
Good promo from Dijak to call out Eddy, they’re gonna have a great match of their own. And good promo from Thea and Jacy. Jacy showing some respect to Thea isn’t gonna turn Jacy Face, especially because Jacy is too good at being obnoxious. Thea might turn Heel, or at least have a gimmick change. I wonder if these two stick together as a team, united by this “we’re survivors” mentality Jacy introduced. Hopefully NXT properly returns to being in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships story. Piper & Chelsea only just got started on their run together, maybe they get a match for No Mercy because it just doesn’t feel like there’s time to do something for Payback.
Ivy VS Ava was good but of course just a big vehicle for setting up Diamond Mine abducting Ava. The Creeds reveal themselves to The Schism, but I don’t know why we’re getting another steel cage match with the Trish VS Becky one for Payback. Did they need to dust the cage off before it rusted? Cage matches don’t actually stop interference. But I would love seeing the yellow masks storm the cage like zombies trying to get in. But since this is to reinstate The Creeds in NXT, I would think they win. It’d seem silly for them to do all these shenanigans if they still end up on RawDown. Though that does beg the question of just what is The Schism to do? Their one big win in banning The Creeds isn’t even holding up, so what else do they have to lose? Other than being a faction at all.
Great mixed tag match, and what a nice surprise that Raquel followed Rhea back to NXT to continue where they left off on Raw. And Dragon pinning Dom is great, those two can have a great title match, with Ali facing the winner. Heck, Ali should cost Dom so that he and Dragon can have a match at No Mercy instead, letting Dom focus on the Judgment Day dysfunction. And then great bookending (pun intended maybe) of Trick VS Dragunov to open and Melo VS Wes to close. That opener was wild! One of, if not Trick’s very best match.
And a good promo between Dragunov with Wes to fire Wes up, and one from Trick and Melo where there’s a little passive aggressiveness from both sides. Being this was TV, I figured Melo would win, but what a way for Wes to look strong in defeat. It’s pretty clear Melo VS Dragunov Round 2 is gonna happen at No Mercy, paralleling how Melo had multiple matches with Bron, but no idea which way that goes. Personally, I still want Dragunov to finally be top guy, but there’s a good chance Melo retains cleanly this time just to prove a point.
My Score: 8.9/10
How will the Ballad of #ZaRuca end?
To finally put their grudge to rest, Sol Ruca and Zaria battle in a LAST WOMAN STANDING MATCH! Who survives this final fight between former friends?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT North American Championship: Myles Borne VS Dion Lennox w/ DarkState; Myles wins and retains the title.
- Joe Hendry VS Keanu Carver; Keanu wins.
- Vacated WWE Speed Championship: Lexis King w/ Birthright VS EK Prosper; Lexis wins and is the new WWE Speed Champion.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship Casket Match: Tatum Paxley VS Blake Monroe; Tatum wins and retains the title.
- Last Woman Standing: Sol Ruca VS Zaria; Zaria wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Unfinished business remains…
The Glamour thinks she is forever, but will she survive another fight with #TuesdayAddams? Those who dared to believe must now reckon with an unhinged danger. And the ultimate revenge will be claimed by the one who stands alone, while the other falls. Tonight, the final reckoning has arrived, where only the ones strong enough to weather the storm will survive, and finally claim their Revenge!
NXT North American Championship: Myles Borne VS Dion Lennox w/ DarkState!
After dealing with All Ego to earn this belt, the champion now deals with a burning rage in this challenger. Will Dion score as he takes point for DarkState? Or will Myles #NeverBreak?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who wants it that much more!
The bell rings and both men run up! Dion catches Myles to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! DarkState is fired up for Dion but the fans rally for Myles. Dion whips Myles into a corner, RAMS him again and again, then whips corner to corner. But Myles comes back to LARIAT and DROPKICK! The fans cheer Myles as he ROCKS Dion, DECKS him, then whips him to ropes. Dion reverses but Myles avoids the boot! The fans cheer the standoff, then Myles ROCKS Dion! Myles bobs ‘n’ weaves Dion’s hands, but Dion ELBOWS him! Dion NORTHERN LIGHTS, bridging cover, TWO! Myles is tougher than that but DarkState coaches Dion.
Myles goes to a corner, but he kicks Dion first! Myles FISHERMAN SUPLEXES, then floats to the cover, TWO! Dion is tougher than that, too, but Myles storms up. Dion fires body shots, then BOOTS Myles! Dion CLUBS Myles, the fans duel, “DARK~ STATE~!” “SUCKS!” Dion CLUBS Myles, ROCKS him, then CLUBS him! The fans rally as Dion runs, but Myles SNAP POWERSLAMS! Cover, TWO! Dion bails out and DarkState checks on him, but Myles builds speed! AIR BORNE! Down go Dion AND Osiris, and the fans fire up! Myles puts Dion in the ring, but the ref warns DarkState as they creep up. Myles stares them down as he goes to the apron, but Dion LARIATS!
The fans boo as Dion turns the tide, then goes out to fetch Myles. Dion goes looking under the ring and the fans boo more. The ref reprimands, but Dion THROWS Myles into the ring’s frame! The fans boo but DarkState is all fired up as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dion points to the title, then drags Myles up. Dion puts Myles in the ring, stomps him at the ropes, but the ref reprimands. Dion backs off, then drags Myles up. Dion scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Myles toughs it out but DarkState coaches Dion to keep going. Another scoop and another BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Myles survives but Dion drags him up. Dion whips Myles to a corner, but Myles goes up and over to roll Dion up! TWO! Dion stands but Myles slips around, only for Dion to elbow free! Myles ROCKS Dion with haymakers, then whips, but Dion turns backdrop into KNEE SMASH!
Dion runs to SPLASH onto Myles’ back! Cover, TWO! Dion huffs ‘n’ puffs as he TOSSES Myles out. Dion distracts the ref so DarkState can mug Myles! Myles writhes but DarkState gets away with it, and Dion goes out to SMACK Myles off the apron. Dion puts Myles in the ring, covers, TWO! Dion snarls as he clamps onto Myles again, and hooks up the legs in a modified deathlock. Myles endures, reaches out, reaches back, and SLAMS Dion down! NXT returns to single picture as both men rise up and the fans rally even harder. Myles counter punches Dion again and again, then ROCKS Dion for a LAIRAT! And LARIAT!
Dion staggers up, Myles whips, but Dion reverses to LARIAT Myles up and out! The fans rally as Dion steps out and stalks Myles. Dion ROCKS Myles, has him against the steel steps, then runs up, only for Myles to dodge! Dion kicks the steps, then gets pissed at them! Dion shoves the top steps off, then turns around, only for Myles to ROCK him! Myles swings again, but Dion gets under to BACK SUPLEX onto the steps!! The fans go nuts while the ref checks Myles. Myles writhes and sputters but he’s still in this fight. Dion drags Myles up, puts him in the ring, then covers, TWO! Myles shows his true toughness but Dion HAMMERS away!
Dion says Myles doesn’t deserve this title! Dion HAMMERS Myles again, then stands him up. But Myles ROCKS Dion! Dion BODY BLOWS then ROCKS Myles, then SLINGSHOT POWERBOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Myles survives and the fans fire up again! DarkState grows frustrated, but they coach Dion to keep on Myles. Dion stalks Myles while the fans rally up, and Dion hits a BIG back- NO, Myles lands out! Myles ELBOWS Dion, BOOTS him, then runs up, but into a SPINE- DDT COUNTER! Myles turns things around on Dion and the fans fire up again! Myles LARIATS, and LARIATS, then UPPERCUTS!
Myles hits a BIG backbreaker, then tells Dion to get right back up! Dion stands, Myles fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Dion survives but DarkState looks worried. Myles climbs a corner, but Saquon gets on the apron! Myles BOOTS Saquon down, but UPPERCUTS! Dion climbs but Myles fires off hands! Dion staggers back, but he hits the ropes to trip Myles up! Dion climbs, brings Myles up, and hits the SUPERPLEX! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Myles blocks the pin by grabbing Dion’s hand! The fans rally as the two stare down. Myles shakes his head as the two go forehead to forehead.
Dion fires a shot, Myles fires back! Dion fires another shot, but Myles fires back! They stand as the haymakers keep going! Dion ROCKS Myles but Myles just gets pissed! UPPERCUT! HAYMAKER! Dion BODY BLOWS, UPPERCUTS, but the two lean on each other again. The fans rally as they shove and DOUBLE LARIAT! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Saquon has the team huddle up, and then they go into action! “This is Awesome!” as Saquon gets on the apron! Cutler saves Dion from Borne Again! Dion scoops, but Myles slips free! Osiris is up now, but Myles BLASTS him! Dion scoops and- NO, Myles slips free again!
Saquon tries one more time, but Myles SHOVES Dion into him!! Then BORNE AGAIN!! Cover, MYLES WINS!!
Winner: Myles Borne, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)
DarkState tried to tip the scales, but they end up turning this all the way around and messing themselves up! Will DarkState ever figure out the problem? Will Myles continue to go the distance as a champion?
Blake Monroe speaks.
“Staring at this title, it just feels correct. But a casket match tonight? Of course Tatum’s twisted mind goes there.” Vanity Project is there and Ricky Smokes says Blake’s got this! She IS The Glamour! Blake says yes she is! And tonight, she beats Tatum to become the rightful Women’s North American Champion. Jackson Drake is checking his phone, and he says to press pause! Baddie alert! Look at who he just matched with! Yeah, but Blake’s got her match tonight. They’d never leave Blake alone with Tatum. Blake says no, they gave her everything she needed. They can go and enjoy their night.
Drake says okay, but if she needs literally anything at all, just shoot a text, they’re literally going right across the street. Go, queen! Love you! The Vanity Project heads out, but will they miss Blake’s last night as the deluded champion? Or will they get to join in on a glamorous celebration?
Saquon Shugars hurries to talk with Robert Stone.
Saquon gets the NXT General Manager’s attention, and Suit Man Stone points out we all saw that interference. Saquon says yes, but he fumbled the ball! You gotta give DarkState another chance. Well, walk ‘n’ talk with him. They head out, Shiloh Hill tells Stone he’s got next. Tatum Paxley is there to tell Shiloh great job in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. Shiloh says that was so much fun. He just kept telling people he was supposed to be in the match and it kept working. But tonight is about Tatum finally putting Blake to rest. Tatum can’t wait to put Blake in that casket, that Shiloh personally made! And he’s dug the hole already!
Tatum seems down and Shiloh asks if that joke was too far. Tatum says no, she just worries Vanity Project will get in the way. Nothing to worry about! Shiloh helped arrange a date, and let’s just say, it’ll take them a while until that date shows up. Wait, who’d he set them up with? Don’t worry about that now. But next week, Shiloh gets a match with Ricky Saints! Shiloh & Tatum both hit the Absolute pose, and Shiloh wants to wish Tatum luck. Tatum thanks Shiloh as he heads out. Will Tatum truly put this feud to rest? Will Shiloh be absolutely ready for his match with Saints?
Joe Hendry VS Keanu Carver!
All the Prestigious One wanted to do was give the fans a live concert that helped work out his plans for the future, and the One Man Demolition Crew had to step all over it! Will Hendry make Keanu pay for raining on the parade? Or will nothing stop Keanu from carving Hendry up?
The bell rings and the fans cheer Hendry. Hendry dodges Keanu to CHOP, UPPERCUT, and repeat! Keanu THRWOS Hendry to a corner, but Hendry dodges to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP! Keanu shoves Hendry away, then scoops, but Hendry slips free! Hendry BOOTS Keanu, then CHOP BLOCKS! Hendry KNEES Keanu down, then covers, TWO! Hendry stands Keanu up, but Keanu breaks free to guzel! Keanu SHOVES Hendry into the corner, then RAMS him again and again! The ref counts but Keanu BODY SHOTS, ROCKS, and stomps away on Hendry! The ref counts, Keanu stops, then he stands Hendry up.
Keanu whips Hendry corner to corner hard! Hendry falls to his knees from hitting buckles, but Keanu just whips him hard into the other corner! Keanu storms up on Hendry, whips him back the other way, then storms up and reels Hendry in. Gut wrench and Canadian Rack for the stretch! The fans rally as Hendry endures, and Hendry fights free! Keanu runs up but Hendry drop toeholds him onto the ropes! The fans fire up but Keanu just snarls! Keanu stands up, but Hendry LARIATS him up and out! The fans cheer while Keanu throws a fit! Hendry holds the ring as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns as Keanu facelocks but Hendry wrenches out to fire body shots. Hendry swings but Keanu ducks the lariat to GERMAN SUPLEX! Hendry tumbles to the ropes while the fans are dueling! Keanu storms up on Hendry, ROCKS him, stomps him, then backs off as the ref counts 4. Hendry slowly rises but Keanu scoops and pops Hendry up for the BACKBREAKER! Hendry writhes and grits his teeth, but Keanu pushes him to a cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Hendry toughs it out. Keanu drags Hendry up, scoops again, and hits another BACKBREAKER! Keanu bends Hendry against his knee, but Hendry continues to endure!
The fans rally, Hendry fights free with knees, and Keanu staggers away. Keanu kicks Hendry, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but Hendry dodges! Keanu POSTS himself and the fans fire up! Keanu staggers back, takes a swing, but Hendry ROCKS him! Hendry fires haymaker after haymaker, then LARIATS! Hendry whips, Keanu reverses, but Hendry ducks ‘n’ dodges to DISCUS LARIAT! The fans fire up with Hendry as he scoops, and FALL AWAY SLAMS! The fans fire up as Hendry kips up, and he… TURNS! But Keanu LARIATS right back! The fans fire up as Keanu scoops and whips, then SPINEBUSTER!
Keanu roars as he stands back up! Keanu FALLING FOREARMS on Hendry! And another! Not quite Ilja Dragunov’s H-Bomb shots but close enough! Keanu HAMMERS Hendry, the ref checks, Hendry is OUT! The ref calls it!!
Winner: Keanu Carver, by referee stoppage
And yet, Keanu won’t stop! The ref has to physically pull Keanu back, but then Keanu scares the ref away! Keanu looms over Hendry, who isn’t even moving! Has Keanu proven that no matter how hard you believe, some things are just inevitable?
Someone is ready to rock!
The guitar riff gives way as this new face says “they” told her she too loud, too gritty, and too unapologetic, but why would she apologize for who she is?! And she is Lizzy Rain, the Heavy Metal Maiden! The stage is set for her NXT debut, and the world is about to find out that Lizzy Rain and Heavy Metal will never, ever DIE!
Vacated WWE Speed Championship: Lexis King w/ Birthright VS EK Prosper!
The Drama King and the Unapologetically Athletic both fought through the short ‘n’ quick tournament to reach this opportunity, and only one can become the NEW Speed Champion! Who crowns themselves the champion in five minutes or less?
NXT returns as Prosper makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who has the need for speed!
The bell rings, the clock starts, and EK runs up to handspring and backslide! TWO, and Lexis scrambles back tot he ropes! The ref keeps EK back, btu then Lexis wrenches an arm! Lexis pulls hair, talks trash, then slaps EK around. EK CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS in return! Lexis headlocks, EK powers up and out, but Lexis rolls over the dropdown. EK runs up, shoots around, but Lexis switches to shove. EK ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Lexis dodge the No Hand Handspring! But EK still DROPKICKS Lexis down! The fans fire up as EK runs up, blocks a boot, and DROPKICKS Lexis! EK goes out to slingshot back in, LEG DROP! Cover, TWO!
The fans fire up while Lexis bails out. Birthright regroups to talk strategy, but EK builds speed! ARIANNA is used as a shield! The fans boo but Lexis slithers in, and Uriah Connors distracts! EK still ROCKS Lexis first! EK goes up, but Lexis kicks the legs out! Then WOE STOMPS! Lexis keeps going, HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! EK is tougher than that but Lexis talks trash on him. Lexis SLAPS EK, but EK SLAPS back! They go forearm for forearm and we hit regulation of three minutes remaining. The CHOPS go back and forth now, and EK CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! EK runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally as EK watches Lexis go to a corner. EK runs in, Lexis dodges, and Lexis LARIATS! Then CHOPS! Then reels EK in for a BIG BACKBREAKER! STRAITJACKET BCKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! EK survives but Lexis soaks up the heat. We hit the two minute warning orange phase but Lexis reels EK in! CORO- NO, EK slips through to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up again as both men go to corners. Lexis runs up, but EK CORNER SUPLEXES him down! Lexis is in the drop zone, EK goes up, but Lexis hurries to trip EK up! EK dangles over the floor, the fans rally, but Birthright says 90 seconds! Lexis and EK trade forearms on the apron!
Lexis CHOPS, then reels EK in! But EK BACKDROPS Lexis on the apron! Lexis falls to the floor, EK goes up, ARIHARA MOONSAULT onto ALL OF BIRTHRIGHT!! Th efans are thunderous as we’re under a minute! EK puts Lexis in but Arianna SLAPS EK!! The fans boo, but then EK dodges Stacks, SUPERKICKS Uriah, then DECKS Stacks! But Lexis SUPERKICKS EK! Then the straitjacket, CORONATION!! Cover, LEXIS WINS!
Winner: Lexis King, by pinfall (NEW WWE Speed Champion)
It was more like a 5v1 as Birthright steals away this title! Will nothing stop them all from taking over the world of wrestling entertainment?
Vanity Project posts online.
Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes are keeping an eye on Jackson Drake as he waits on his date. They wanna see how hot the lady herself is, and maybe she brought some friends? Just don’t be obvious. Wait, is Drake alone? Drake says she’s yet to show. NO! What!? Did he get stood up?! Drake says he has no idea who this chick thinks she is, no-showing Dr. Thirst. Smokes says don’t take it personally, some girls are just the worst. Words of wisdom: Drake will live to love another day. But y’know who else took losses back in the day? LeBron James! If The King can take a loss, so can Drake. Let’s bounce, boys!
Wait, Bailey Humphrey turns the corner. Did she hear that they got stood up? U-Um… N-No…? Is Vanity Project in trouble? And if so, what kind?
DarkState regroups backstage.
Dion asks what happened out there, and Saquon says he was trying to help. Was he? Yes! He knows he messed up, but after the fight, he went right to Robert Stone. Saquon got them a rematch! The team fires up, and Dion says he owes Saquon. Dion guarantees he’s got Myles beat in the rematch. Well, that’s the thing. No doubt Dion would have, but it won’t be Dion getting this match. What? Saquon did everything he could to make sure Dion got his lick back, but Stone said something like Dion got his shot, and if DarkState was to get another one, it’d have to be Saquon. Is that what he said? Yes! And Saquon wasn’t gonna say no!
Saquon reminds Dion that this is about getting gold back in the fam by any means necessary! This is the means! Dion did mean that, didn’t he? Yes, Dion did mean that. Good! So next week, Saquon brings that North American Title home! Dion says hell yeah, brother! Cuz when DarkState strikes, ain’t nobody safe! But will the team hold it together and succeed with this second chance?
NXT Women’s North American Championship Casket Match: Tatum Paxley VS Blake Monroe!
For the first time since Undertaker VS Shawn Michaels at Royal Rumble 1998, a title is on the line in this morbid match type! But will #TuesdayAddams make Taker & HBK proud? Or will The Glamour make herself the real Women’s North American Champion?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who mourns their own defeat!
The bell rings, Blake throws off her blazer while Tatum takes off her veil, and the fists start flying! The fans fire up as Tatum ROCKS Blake, but Blake ROCKS Tatum! The forearms keep going back and forth, but then Tatum hits a JUMP KNEE SMASH! Tatum wants the lid open so the refs oblige. Tatum TOSSES Blake in, but Blake scrambles right back out! So Tatum WRECKS Blake with a dropkick! Blake falls but Tatum puts her in the ring. Tatum runs corner to corner but Blake dodges! Tatum crashes into buckles, Blake LARIATS, then Blake ROCKS her! Blake turns Tatum around, goes to the apron, but Tatum denies her the Stratusfaction!
Tatum BOOTS Blake and Blake falls to the floor. Tatum hurries after Blake, dodges the bouquet attack, then mule kicks! Tatum winds up and SMACKS Blake around with those roses! Petals fly and the fans fire up, but Tatum waistlocks. Blake grabs the handles on the casket to resist the suplex, then she ELBOWS Tatum away! Tatum runs back up to ROCK Blake! Blake SMACKS Off the lid and the casket closes with no one inside. Tatum gets an idea, and she goes looking under the ring. Tatum brings out one of her dollhouses! The fans cheer as Tatum props it up against barriers, then brings Blake around.
Tatum whips, Blake stops short, so Tatum runs up. Blake dodges, Tatum stops herself from crashing into the dollhouse, then she fireman’s carries! But Blake CLAWS Tatum’s eyes! Blake SHOTGUNS Tatum into the dollhouse! Tatum wipes out the living room with her back, but both women are down as NXT goes picture in picture.
Blake drags Tatum up, then takes a piece of that dollhouse to SMACK her with it! Blake then brings the whole thing around, and SLAMS it down onto Tatum! The refs check Tatum but she’s still able to continue. Blake drags Tatum up, opens the casket, and shoves Tatum. Tatum resists so Blake SMACKS her off the steel steps! Blake tries again, and she GRINDS Tatum’s head against the edge of the casket! Blake shoves Tatum down, then brings a fire extinguisher over! Blake holds it up, but Tatum CLUBS her first! Tatum whips, Blake reverses, and Tatum SMACKS into the casket lid, causing it to shut again!
Tatum flops down but Blake steps on her. The refs open the casket again as Blake fireman’s carries. Blake THROWS Tatum inside, then grabs the lid. But Tatum keeps the lid open with a foot, then scrambles into the ring! Blake pursues, but Tatum ROCKS her! And ROCKS her again! And again! Blake HEADBUTTS back! Tatum flops against ropes, Blake grabs her title belt, and she takes aim! But Tatum drop toeholds Blake into the ropes! The vanity belt goes into the casket, but Blake gets up to SLINGBLADE Tatum! Tatum flounders around, but Blake storms over to stomp her at the ropes! Blake CHOKES Tatum, then stops to go to the apron.
Blake actually closes the lid so she can DRIBBLE Tatum off it! Tatum sputters as Blake pushes her back into the ring. Blake paces, signaling she’s going to be the champion again, and she stomps Tatum. Blake suplexes Tatum high and hard! Tatum writhes, Blake opens the casket, and Blake drags Tatum up. Blake TOSSES Tatum, but Tatum lands safe on the apron! NXT returns to single picture as Tatum RAMS into Blake! Blake returns but Tatum slides under. Tatum kicks, Blake blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! The fans fire up with Tatum while Blake staggers away. Tatum rises, runs up, and rallies with big forearm shots!
The fans cheer as Tatum wrenches, ROUNDHOUSES, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Blake flounders, Tatum runs, and ROLLING AX KICK! The lid is opened, Tatum shoves Blake into the casket, but Blake has the pillow?! Blake SMACKS Tatum, and it sounded heavy! What is in that thing?! Blake ROCKS Tatum, but Tatum SUPERKICKS! Both women wobble, but Blake KENES Tatum! They BOTH fall in, the lid slams closed on its own! The refs agree, this is not even a draw, someone has to win! Blake sits up to open the lid, and she grins as she has Tatum in a vulnerable position. But Tatum laughs?! Blake SLAPS Tatum!
Tatum stands to ROCK Blake! They both go to the apron again, then stumble around. Tatum BOOTS Blake, Blake stands on the casket! Tatum joins her, they brawl, and Blake HAMMERS away on Tatum! Blake shrieks like a banshee, then underhooks. But Tatum wrenches and clinches, SPANISH FLY to the floor! The fans are thunderously losing their minds while both women are down! Tatum clutches an arm while Blake sputters, but “This is Awesome!” for the fans! Blake and Tatum sit up, spot each other, but also spot the weapons nearby! They both crawl for the fire extinguisher! Blake SMACKS Tatum off the floor, then grabs the canister!
Blake BLASTS Tatum with the smoke! Then she hits a DRAPING GLAMOUR SHOT!! Blake shouts for the lid to open and the refs oblige. Blake pushes Tatum into the casket, and she SLAMS the lid shut! But Tatum uses the title belt to keep the casket open!! Blake doesn’t realize it until the refs point it out!! The fans fire up while Blake is losing her mind! Blake storms to the apron, grabs at the belt, but Tatum isn’t letting go! The casket has to open, and Tatum rises up again! Blake drags Tatum into the ring using the belt, and then STOMPS her down! Blake holds up her belt, takes aim, and LASHES Tatum! And LASHES! And LASHES her again!
Tatum writhes as Blake LASHES her again! The Woman From Hell takes that weighted pillow, and reveals it indeed had something heavier inside! IT WAS RHINESTONES!! Blake drags Tatum over, underhooks, and GLAM- NO, Tatum slips through! CEMETERY DRIVE onto the stones!! Blake flounders and scrambles, but Tatum rises like a zombie! Tatum runs up to LIGER KICK! Blake falls into the casket!! Tatum SLAMS the lid shut and WINS!!
Winner: Tatum Paxley (still NXT Women’s North American Champion)
And now, holding up the TRUE title belt, Tatum has finally closed the proverbial book on Blake Monroe! But now that she’s survived The Woman From Hell, what will be next for Tatum as she continues to reign?
The Vanity Project keeps us updated.
It seems Drake is going through with his impromptu back-up date, and Smokes says that’s his boy! Drake asks “Mika” what’s her deal, and she says she used to be a mortician’s assistant. Dissecting bodies, stitching them up. Whoa, wait, she used to dissect corpses? Yes! Her hands have done some stuff. Wow, Drake says that is quite impressive. He’s never been so happy to be stood up, because let’s be honest, who needs to go on a date with this chick? Mika looks closer at the profile picture and says bro, that’s an AI bot! You didn’t get stood up, you got tricked! What? No, this is… Oh… Okay, Drake knows exactly who did this! SHILOH!
Mika says no need to ruin a perfectly good night, though. Let’s get some dinner. And uh, his cute little friends can join them if they want. W-Wait, who? Smokes & Brad? No, no, they don’t wanna come with. Uh, yes they do! Mika leads the way out, arm in arm with Drake. Mika SHOVES a dude in the way outta the way, and Drake says that’s kinda hot. Is Dr. Thirst about to have himself a tall drink of water tonight?
Lola Vice is here!
The fans cheer as the Mayor of Vice City struts to the ring, #AndStill the NXT Women’s Champion! Lola grabs a mic to say, “Hola, NXT!” “Hola, Lola!” Lola says last week, she didn’t just beat Jacy Jayne, but she made a statement! In her first defense, she showed us exactly the kind of champion she is going to be. The fans cheer that, but Lola does give Jacy credit, she elevated this division and completely reinvented herself. Lola will, too, but in her own way. And not to lie, the hardest part about being a champion isn’t winning the title, it’s keeping it. Lola feels it, she sees it. She knows all eyes are on her in the locker room.
The NXT Women’s Division is deep, hungry, and full of girls ready to have their moment. And none of them are waiting! Kendal, Kali, Izzi, Sol and Zaria, they all stepped up and made it clear they want what Lola has. Those women are not competition, they’re threats. And they all want Lola’s NXT Women’s Championship. But… Lola likes it that way! And she gets why. Holding this title could mean you’re a possible WrestleMania main-eventer one day! The fans cheer that! This title is the most important title to hold as a woman proving themself in the WWE! Lola is about ot be the realest champion, because this title deserves women who are willing to step up and take their shot!
Because Lola was that girl. And she still is that girl. So while she respects it, she understands it, she wants to make something very clear. You don’t just walk into Vice City and step up to the champ! You’re stepping into a fight! And you don’t just walk up to take what’s Lola’s! You can try. You can step up, you can take your shot, but all that will get you is knocked out and danced on! The fans like the sound of that, but Izzi Dame interrupts. Lola, it is so interesting listening to you. Lola’s talking like she’s already cleared out the division after just one defense. Granted, it was Jacy Jayne, so we’ll give Lola that.
But to circle back to what’s important, it’s Izzi. Lola called Izzi a threat, and thank you, it’s true. But Izzi wants to ask Lola, is she feeling it? The shift. The looks are sharper, the whispers are a little louder, and Lola’s rather emotional. Every time she steps in the ring, she has to prove something. The woman standing across from her has to be knocked out in order for Lola to prove she belongs. And that works, until it doesn’t. While Lola swings on everything that moves, Izzi is watching, learning, and waiting for the exact moment when Lola makes a mistake. And no doubt about it, Lola will make a mistake.
And Lola keeps saying this is Vice City, this is her world. But having that mindset means Lola isn’t a champion that losses in big moments, but loses in small ones. Izzi isn’t stepping into Lola’s fight, but into Lola’s weak spot, and she will rip Lola apart! Every crack, every doubt, every second slipping away, Lola will feel everything. And when it’s over and Izzi is the NEW NXT Women’s Champion, Lola won’t be cursing Izzi’s name, she’ll be thanking Izzi! Lola laughs and says Izzi and everyone else, all that studying, that waiting, it’s just hesitation. So go ahead, take your shot, wait for the right moment. Because by the time she does, she’ll already get her ass kicked!
Izzi says don’t tempt her with a good time, mamacita! One thing Lola learns about The Culling is that they’re always two steps ahead. That’s why Izzi will be champion. Niko Vance swipes at Lola’s Mixed Tag title, Lola gets on guard, but Izzi BOOTS her down! The fans boo as Izzi snatches the NXT Women’s Championship off Lola, but will she do it when it matters?
Birthright regroups backstage.
Sarah Schreiber is there to congratulate the NEW WWE Speed Champion. Though, the circumstances were a bit questionable. Lexis says, “Questionable? Ma’am, do you have any idea who you’re talking to right now? I am the fastest man alive! Let’s face it, NXT finally has a champion that was born to do this. Not one of these pompous college recruits, or some indie degenerate that we pulled up off the street. No, a real star! Stars, in fact, that’s plural. And we’re not gonna stop until each and every one of them has gold around their waists. Because this right here, Sarah, is our birthright.”
But EK Prosper storms in! He tells Lexis that they gotta run that one back, because if it wasn’t for Lexis’ sorry ass crew, Lexis wouldn’t even be champion. Dempsey says EK lost, get over it. But then Dorian Van Dux steps in, and he points out “these clowns will never fight fair.” But DVD will gladly team with EK against whichever two are brave enough. Uriah says if DVD wants in the ring with generational talent like them, consider your career over before it even begins. Arianna says now that Birthright has another title in the collection, they can make this happen. See you two next week. As for right now, they have a coronation to attend! Bottles on King!
Birthright heads out, but will they keep the momentum going in tag team action? Or will they see that EK + DVD = W?
NXT presents Chronicle: Kendal Grey, part 2.
Before coming to the Performance Center, the Ice Woman was a three-time UNDEFEATED National Champion! She was the first girl to qualify for an all men’s tournament in the state of Nevada. She is not the first woman to list all her accolades, but amateur wrestling was her entire life. Growing up in Vegas was an incredible experience, too. When you think “Las Vegas,” you think The Strip, the nightlife, but for her, it was the fight capital of the world. She wasn’t drawn to the lights, but to the competition. At school, she competed against the guys. So many people said girls shouldn’t wrestle, let alone wrestle boys, but for her, that was just natural growing up with a big brother.
Everything was competition. When she hung out with her friends, it was really her brother and his 20 friends playing football, baseball, whatever. They’d even be backyard with gloves on, wrestling until someone tapped out. She definitely is a tomboy, but she owns it. She got that from her mom, who didn’t like to dress up or do make-up. And she and her dad would bond through sports and outdoor activities. She has an embarrassing story about that. They go to a Mets game, eating soft pretzels and chilling, and then BOOM, foul ball hits her! Of course, that’s her luck. Mom would tease her as “The Problem Child” cuz she was always getting hurt, getting scars.
One time at a barbeque, she was 12 years old. Even though there was a ton of food around, this dog just decides to jump up and bite her lip off! Then in high school during a match, Kendal and her opponent go for a grapple at the same time, and she gets her forehead split open! She’s just a magnet for bad luck. But regardless, Kendal was obsessed with wrestling. She lived on the mat. The technique, the pressure, the pace, she loved it all. But especially with winning. And while she knows she said she hates talking about herself, she’s actually glad she took this time to sit down and talk, because the NXT Universe deserves to get to know her.
But for now, there’s a ton of work to be done, and she won’t stop until she has her hands on THE NXT Women’s Championship. NXT is about to enter the Grey Area, will Kendal come out on the other side with gold?
Robert Stone talks with Lola Vice.
Fortunately, Lola is okay after that sucker kick from Izzi. But she just has to even the odds. And she has the perfect person in mind. Wait, what’s going around the corner? Stone hurries over, and Saints is beating up on Shiloh! Saints says play games with him now! Stone is furious, what is Saints doing in his office?! Saints says here’s your phone back. Saints says he’s beating Shiloh’s ass next week! Stone calls for a ref, it seems Saints sprung a trap on the unorthodox genius. But will he be ready to fight #ToothlessAggression fair and square?
NXT returns as Sarah Schreiber catches up to Robert Stone.
Naturally, she asks for a medical update on Shiloh after Saints’ sneak attack, but all Stone can say is he’s headed to medical right now, so he’ll give us one when he gets one. Stone then turns the corner and sees Tony D’Angelo. Stone says great timing, he was also looking for him. But then a staff member says this box just arrived for Tony…? Tony accepts, those he isn’t sure what the Japanese kanji on it means. Stone says he was hoping to talk with the champ, he’s still sorting things out, but next week, he’ll have a better idea of who Tony’s next challenger will be. Tony then spots Keanu Carver passing by.
Tony asks if this delivery is from Kenau. Keanu says nah, if he wants someone’s attention, he’ll just get it. But that right there is the kanji for war. There are sharks circling, Tony of all people should know to be ready. Keanu heads out, Stone says that’s not wrong, Stone’s phone has been blowing up. But then, will whatever is inside the box be a clue as to who wants Tony’s attention?
Last Woman Standing: Sol Ruca VS Zaria!
We already know how much these two have grown to hate each other when their friendship’s dysfunction turned into disdain. Ironically, they still made it to the biggest show of NXT’s year together, but it was only the Soul Surfer that could stand and deliver on a win. Will Sol get one last win on her former friend? Or will the Agent of Change truly change the landscape of NXT?
NXT returns ringside as Zaria’s music hits. But while Sol’s looking to the ramp, Zaria slips in from the crowd side! Sol turns around, but she dodges in time! THESZ PRESS and fast hands as the bell rings! Zaria shoves Sol away but Sol BOOTS her back! Sol LARIATS Zaria up and out! The fans rally as Sol goes to the apron, springboard TORNILLO! Down goes Zaria at the ramp and the fans cheer! Sol smiles as she watches Zaria writhe. The count starts but Zaria is already crawling. Zaria stands at 5 of 10 and stumbles to barriers. Sol runs up, but into a BOOT! Zaria has a trash can already, and she CHUCKS it at Sol! Sol goes down in a heap!
Sol flounders, crawls, but Zaria wants the count to go faster! The ref keeps the pace fair, so Zaria storms up. Sol swings a kendo stick, but Zaria blocks it! Zaria YANKS the stick away, BOOTS Sol, then gets the can! But Sol SHOTGUNS it into Zaria! Both women are down while the fans fire up! The count starts again, Sol rises up while Zaria crawls. Sol storms up on Zaria, but Zaria LASHES her with camera cables! And LASHES her again! And again! The fans wince as Sol writhes, but Zaria CHOKES Sol with the cable! Zaria even gags and DRAGS Sol to the apron, and DANGLES her off the edge!!
The fans are freaking out while Sol kicks and flails! Zaria DROPS Sol, then stands over her while the count starts again. Sol sputters and sits up at 4, but Zaria drags her up! Sol SMACKS her with a trash can lid! Zaria stumbles away, Sol storms in, but Zaria swings with the kendo stick! Sol dodges to hit the X-FACTOR! Zaria is now under the count while the fans rally and duel. Sol has the kendo stick again, and she sees Zaria stand at 6. SMACK! SMACK! And SMACK again! Sol then fires off with the kendo stick on Zaria’s back! Zaria writhes while the fans fire up. Sol paces around Zaria while fans chant, “One More Time!”
Sol clamps onto Zaria with a kendo stick Camel Clutch, and STOMP! The fans cheer Sol while she tells Zaria that this is what she wanted. The count passes 5 but Zaria goes to the apron. Zaria drags herself up at 8, then drops to a knee. Sol SLINGSHOT SUNSET FLIPS, but Zaria holds onto the ropes! Sol pulls, pulls, and POWER- NO! Zaria fights with fists to get free! Then she BOOTS Sol down! The fans fire up while both women are down again! The fans chant for “TABLE! TABLE!” as both women rise. Zaria and Sol crawl to each other at 7, and stand at 8. Zaria fireman’s carries Sol, but Sol fights free of the F5! Sol SPEARS Zaria through the wall!!
The fans lose their minds while both women are down underneath The Perch! The count is climbing, Sol stands at 6 and hobbles away. Zaria rises at 8, stands at 9, but both women flop back down! The fans cheer as NXT goes picture in picture.
Sol stands at 5 again, then clears off the commentary desk! The fans like what they see as Sol makes sure everything is pushed aside, but then Zaria CHUCKS a water bottle at her! Right in the back! Zaria then THROWS Sol over barriers! Zaria then climbs up and over to join Sol, and they brawl in the crowd! The fans cheer as they’re even closer to the action now! Sol ROCKS Zaria, but Zaria ROCKS Sol! Zaria ROCKS Sol again as they go up the stands! Sol hits back, Zaria shoves fans aside, and she makes Sol take a seat for a CHOP! Zaria HAMMERS Sol, brings her around, but Sol hits back! Sol CLUBS away on Zaria no w!
Sol pushes Zaria back tot he railing and DECKS her! Zaria tumbles up and over into the gap! Zaria drags herself up, but Sol is right on her! Sol and Zaria stand on the barriers as they brawl! Zaria ROCKS Sol, Sol stumbles away, but she still hits back. Zaria ROCKS Sol again, they go along the way, and the hands keep flying! They go back ‘n’ forth, faster and faster, and the fans cheer as Sol WINDMILLS on Zaria! NXT returns to single picture, Zaria blocks the kick to HEADBUTT Sol! Then as they both wobble, Zaria manages to fireman’s carry! The fans go nuts for the F5 down through the desk!!
Zaria stands tall on the barriers while Sol is under the count. Sol is still down past 5, but rises at 7! Zaria decides to go look for something as Sol stands at 8. Sol leans against the apron, but she falls again. The count is on Sol again, but Zaria brings a table out! Zaria stands it up on one end, but Sol GERMAN SUPLEXES Zaria first! The fans fire up as Sol then SHINING WIZARDS! Both women are down but the fans fire up again! The count is back, and Sol keeps her eyes on Zaria as she stands at 5. Zaria sputters, drags herself up at 8, and stands at 9! Sol takes that table for her own, stands it up on the legs, and she looks to the Perch?!
Zaria SMACKS Sol off the table first! Then the POST! Zaria goes looking, and she SHOVES things aside so she can bring out another table! Zaria positions this table right next to the first, CLUBS Sol, then finishes arranging the furniture. “This is Awesome!” as Zaria also looks to The Perch… Zaria storms up to Sol, but Sol JAMS her up with a piece of the desk! And then SMACKS her on her back! Sol puts Zaria on the table, and it is now the drop zone as Sol climbs up! The fans are fired up already as Sol goes to The Perch! Sol is fifteen feet high as she looks down at Zaria! Except, Zaria isn’t there anymore?!
The fans are going nuts already as Zaria is behind Sol again! Sol says don’t do it! Zaria still runs up, Sol hurdles over! Zaria stops herself from going over, but SOUL SNATCHER on the perch!! The fans are going nuts again as both women are down! The ref hurries to check them, then starts the count! Sol already sits up at 3, then drags herself up at 6. Sol sees Zaria stand at 9, and ROCKS her! Zaria ROCKS Sol back! They go shot for shot, back and forth, but Zaria is dangerously close to the edge! Zaria ROCKS Sol, Sol ROCKS Zaria, repeat! The shots are fast ‘n’ furious and the fans are loving it! Sol ROCKS Zaria, but then keeps Zaria from falling!?
Zaria asks Sol to show mercy! She’s sorry! Sol pulls Zaria away from the edge, and the fans aren’t sure what to make of it. Sol and Zaria are both emotional, and they hug it out! The fans cheer, maybe there’s hope for #ZaRuca yet. But then… the look on Zaria’s face says otherwise. Zaria SHOVES Sol down through the tables!! The fans are speechless as Sol really only goes through the one and not the other… But the count is climbing, and there’s no stopping it! Sol is down, ZARIA WINS!
Winner: Zaria
Zaria said Sol was the villain, but only an evil mastermind would pull at the heartstrings just to rip them out like that! Sol is down, both physically and emotionally, will she ever recover? Will Zaria’s cold-blooded nature finally lead her to gold?
My Thoughts:
A great second week for the first-ever NXT Revenge special, they can probably make this an annual thing. Though, that ending to the Last Woman Standing was a bit scary. They were smart to have two tables there for a bigger drop zone, but they still miscalculated Sol’s fall in the moment. She clips that table edge pretty badly, so hopefully she’s okay. Another point towards my argument that taking physics classes is a must for pro-wrestlers, and surely the WWE Performance Center can figure out how to do that. But even with that scary ending, that was a great Last Woman Standing match, and it worked so well in story for Zaria to win out, and the way she did it.
Great Casket Match for Tatum VS Blake, and I like the side gag that Vanity Project was away with a date. Great spot for Bailey Humphrey to get TV time, and she clearly owns the fact that she’s a country strong girl. Blake’s unofficial title coming into play for the finish was genius, but I’m actually a touch surprised Blake lost. I feel like Blake can move on to the top title now while Tatum defends the North American title against a lot of other contenders. Great promo segment from Lola and Izzi to set up that title match, but Izzi is definitely losing that to help build Lola up. And I’m pretty sure the person she’s gonna get to help her is Mr. Iguana, his interactions with Shawn Spears & Niko Vance will be great.
Very good stuff with Shiloh and Saints, their match is going to be great stuff. Very good Men’s North American Championship match, and DarkState accidentally costing Dion was a great way to do this. Especially with Saquon now getting the title shot next week. I don’t know if we get a second take on what we just got, but I also don’t know if Saquon wins the title. But one way or another, this has to add to the dysfunction between Saquon and Dion, forcing Cutler and Osiris to choose sides. Very good Speed Championship match, but as I figured, Lexis won with help from Birthright. DVD stepping up to be EK’s teammate is good stuff, they’ll have a great match with I assume Uriah & Dempsey.
Great match of Keanu VS Hendry, and I really like them going with a ref stoppage. Keanu is already monster, now he’s a savage. Though, to think this is how Hendry is exiting NXT to go to main roster. I wonder if his next concert promo addresses this. As for Keanu, they continue to keep him orbiting the NXT Championship. Tony D getting a mysterious box with Japanese on it, there are a few options. I don’t want it to be Nakamura coming back to NXT just to lose to Tony D, Nakamura needs to do more with Tama Tonga and MFT. This could/should be someone from Pro-wrestling Noah, like a returning Yoshiki Inamura or someone else building up his stardom, like Kaito Kiyomiya or Kenoh. Imagine if it was Kenta, formerly Hideo Itami in NXT…
My Score: 8.9/10
It’s the Raw After WrestleMania!
WrestleMania 42 is in the books, and once again, WWE must ACKNOWLEDGE HIM! But what will be next for Roman Reigns now that he is the NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky VS The Kabuki Warriors; Rhea & Iyo win.
- Je’Von Evans VS Ethan Page; Ethan wins.
- Sol Ruca VS Liv Morgan w/ The Judgment Day; Liv wins.
- Finn Balor VS JD McDonagh; Finn wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
OBA FEMI is here!
The T-Mobile Arena in Vegas cheers as The Ruler appears! They chant for “O~BA!” as he struts to the ring in a suit and tie. The fans cheer more as Oba grabs a mic and steps into the ring. “O~BA! HOO!” echoes out and Oba takes it all in. The fans chant for “OBA FEMI!” and he says, “The Ruler has arrived!” Then he drops the mic and the fans cheer again! Oba doesn’t need to say much, his actions spoke loud and clear on Sunday! Oba stands in the spotlight, but who will he conquer next?
The Kabuki Warriors speak.
Asuka tells Iyo, “Once again, you choose your fake family in Rhea Ripley over your real one and yourself. I will always be your senpai, and I will always be the one who brought you your success in WWE. Iyo, you seem to forget this, but tonight, you will remember. Since you devoted yourself to Rhea, how has that been working out? Rhea is a champion now, and what are you? Huh? You are NOTHIN! Iyo, it didn’t have to happen this way. You could’ve shown me the respect I deserved, and you would’ve had your senpai by your side. Not only did you make your choice, you tried to corrupt Kairi, too!”
Kairi speaks up to say that last week, she beat Iyo. This week, they beat Iyo again! Iyo & Rhea will suffer the consequences! They are not ready for Asuka! But will that still be true even now? Or will #RheYo finally be done with the Kabuki Warriors?
Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky VS The Kabuki Warriors!
Raw returns as Asuka & Kairi make their entrance to join #RheYo in the ring. The teams sort out and Kairi starts against Iyo. They circle, tie up, and go around. The fans rally as Iyo arm-drags Kairi but the two keep the grapple. Kairi fights to her feet but Iyo puts her on the ropes. The ref counts, Iyo backs off slowly, but Kairi shoves her! Kairi swings, Iyo ducks to waistlock, but Kairi wrenches through to wristlock. Iyo spins, wrenches, and headlocks. Kairi pulls hair and the fans boo, but Asuka gives a thumbs up! Kairi THROWS Iyo down, then drags Iyo up by her hair. Kairi THROWS Iyo, but Iyo handsprings through!
The fans cheer, Kairi runs up but Iyo blocks a shot and kicks low. Iyo wrenches and whips, Kairi reverses, but Iyo pops Kairi up and out! Kairi RAMS low, goes up, but Iyo avoids the leap! Kairi says kiss this! The fans rally for Iyo & Rhea but Kairi taunts Iyo with her own crazy taunt. Kairi runs, dodges, then stomps Iyo’s foot! Kairi runs to go up and RANA, then she basement DROPKICKS! The fans boo but Asuka cheers Kairi on. Kairi brings Iyo up, reaches out for Asuka, but Iyo rolls her up, TWO! Kairi blocks Iyo’s kick, ROCKS her, then Alabama Lifts! Iyo fights that to underhook and TIGER BACKBREAKER!
The fans fire up as Iyo tags Rhea! Iyo then wheelbarrows with Rhea for the assisted SPLASH! Rhea covers, TWO! Rhea drags Kairi up but Kairi SMACKS Rhea! Rhea atomic SLAMS Kairi, then DROPKICKS her! Asuka tags in and the fans fire up! Asuka shoves Rhea, each ducks a kick, but Asuka fires fast hands! Rhea ducks the uraken to kick, SMASH, and- NO, Asuka ducks the haymaker to URAKEN, SOBAT, FRONT KICK, MULE KICK, then run the ropes! SLIDING KICK! Rhea falls over, but she EDDY GORDO KICKS right back! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Rhea drags Asuka up, but Asuka BOOITS Iyo to prevent the tag!
Rhea waistlocks, Asuka elbows free, but Rhea BOOTS back! Asuka distracts the ref as Kairi takes a swing! Rhea ducks it, then DECKS Kairi, but Asuka ROUNDHOUSES Rhea down! Rhea falls out of the ring while Asuka tags Kairi. Asuka BLASTS Iyo while Kairi climbs, and Kairi FLYING KABUKI ELBOWS! Down goes Rhea and Kairi is all fired up while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns as The Kabuki Warriors whip Rhea to ropes to then KICK, AX KICK, BULLDOG, and basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Rhea stays in this, but Kairi tags Asuka. Asuka brings Rhea up while Kairi climbs, and Asuka dragon sleepers! But Rhea wrenches out to DECK Asuka! Kairi leaps, Rhea dodges, and Kairi rolls, only for Rhea to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up as Rhea crawls, but so does Kairi. Hot tags to Asuka and Iyo! The fans fire up as Iyo dodges Asuka to URAKEN, SHOTEI, and SHOTEI! Asuka shoves Iyo, but Iyo BOOTS back! Kairi runs up but Iyo blocks a kick and sends it into Asuka!
The fans cheer as Iyo ducks ‘n’ dodges, handsprings through, then DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! The fans fire up again as Iyo kips up and does the crazy taunt! Iyo has targets in the corners, so she hops on the bullet train! SHINKANSEN for Asuka, SHINKANSEN for Kairi, and SHINKANSEN back to Asuka! The fans fire up as Iyo BUZZSAWS Asuka, covers, TWO!! Asuka survives but Iyo drags her up. Iyo wrenches, then calls to Rhea! Rhea tags in, then she hauls Asuka up! Iyo climbs, then waves bye to Asuka. RAZOR’S EDGE, and a MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kairi is a fingertip shy so she’s fortunate Asuka survives.
But then Rhea hauls Asuka back up, RIP- NO, Asuka slips free! Asuka BLASTS Iyo, dodges Rhea, then tags Kairi! CODE BREAKER to BLUCK BUSTER! DOUBLE SLIDING ATTACK! Cover, Iyo breaks it! The fans fire up but Asuka is furious! She BUZZSAWS Iyo, then GERMAN- NO, Iyo victory rolls to STOMP 182! But Kairi CLUBS away on Iyo! Kairi SLAPS Iyo, whips her, but Iyo DIVES onto Asuka! Kairi is stunned, but Rhea HEADBUTTS her! Then tag to Iyo, RIPTIDE to OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, RheYo wins!
Winners: Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky, by pinfall
The team is back together again and they’re still winning! But how will Asuka handle Kairi taking the loss?
Adam Pearce talks with Penta.
The Raw General Manager congratulates the Man With Zero Fear on retaining the WWE Intercontinental Championship, that match was increible! Penta thanks Pearce, but Pearce isn’t sure how to follow that up. Je’Von Evans walks in, says hey to “Mr. P” and Penta, and says congrats to Penta. Penta did his thing. But to be real, Evans is still gonna be champion, so he ain’t going anywhere. Penta says yes, they stole the show, and they can do it again soon. But Penta’s title isn’t going anywhere, because he is Penta, and he has #CeroMiedo! Penta leaves, Evans sighs, but in steps Ethan Page! Pearce knows Evans knows All Ego, but he welcomes Ethan as Raw’s newest superstar!
Ethan asks Evans if he really said he wants another shot at the Intercontinental title. Well, Ethan is here now, and he always gets what he wants. And he wants the Intercontinental Championship. The only difference is, Ethan’s not gonna need a second chance. Oh, he thinks he’s funny, huh? Pearce says okay, okay, let’s settle this in the ring tonight. Ethan says he’ll gladly humiliate Evans again. Evans says ain’t nobody taking his spot. The Young OG heads out, Pearce welcomes Ethan to Raw, but will Ethan already take over?
CM Punk is here!
We watch Punk walk to and through gorilla, then onto the stage, yet with no music. The fans still cheer “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” despite him no longer being WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Punk kneels, checks his watch, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME!” Now Cult of Personality starts and the fans sing along as Punk walks down the ramp. Punk goes to the ring, but takes his time as he gets the mic. The fans still cheer Punk on, and Punk finally says, “I’ve been dealing with a lot of loss the past six months, maybe since October. I was overseas wrestling in Japan when I got a call that woke me up. My friend, my MMA trainer, that Duke Rufus, didn’t wake up that morning.
“Then in November, my Larry crossed the rainbow bridge. And it seemed like between then and now, every two weeks, me and my WWE family lost a member. Kerwin Silfies, Jim Shank, David Coates. And these are the people behind the scenes. These are the cameramen, the hair and make-up, and the caterers, and the producers and the people in the truck and the truck drivers.” The fans cheer as Punk gives reverence to “everybody who makes this place a well-oiled machine, the real heroes, the real superstars, behind the men.
“My job is easy. These are the men and women that grind day in and day out, away from their families, that are with me so often that they call me family. And I just had to show a little bit of respect last night on my jacket. Yeah, give it up for them.” The fans applaud with a standing ovation for all of the WWE crew. Punk continues by saying most recently, his friend, Bo Lueders, passed away. Then Punk lost the title last night. All the aforementioned losses sting more than losing the title, but the thing is, every week, Punk has come here, and the fans cathartically helped Punk heal and get through those losses.
Being Heavyweight Champion gave Punk an anchor and a reason to not just slow down and reduce himself to a puddle of tears, even when he wanted to. So he is here to say thanks for helping process all the grief. The fans all helped him get through those losses, so something tells him they’ll help him through the loss from last night. Hell, Punk wasn’t even supposed to be World Heavyweight Champion. He survived Gunther, only to be cashed-in on in a single second by Seth Rollins. A part of Punk said being WHC at 46 years old, for even three minutes, that’s not bad. That’s the cherry on top of one hell of a sundae.
And then, Punk could’ve just reduced himself to a puddle of tears, ate donuts on the couch with his hot wife. But instead, he stayed ready! He came here and poured his heart and his soul into this to entertain all the fans. And because Punk stays ready, an opportunity arose. Rollins got hurt, Punk won the #1 contender’s match, and next thing you know, Punk is WHC. If he didn’t stay ready, you’d be here YEETING with Jey Uso instead. Punk doesn’t know why fans boo that, he likes to YEET. Get with the program, Vegas. But Punk stays ready, that’s all he can do, because he never knowns when a title opportunity will fall outta the sky.
Punk stays ready, but do you know why he’s smiling? Because he’s still the Best in the World, and he came here to Vegas. He said he had a dream ever since he was a kid, and he stood under the brightest lights on the biggest stage in front of the world, and he proved it! He gave everything he had, it just wasn’t his night. He won’t cry about it, he won’t go home and sulk, and he’s not going on vacation. Punk will stay ready, because you never know when an opportunity is gonna fall out of the sky. WAIT! Cody Rhodes is here! The fans sing along with Kingdom as the American Nightmare walks out on stage.
Cody takes off the sunglasses to reveal the nasty bruising around his eye. Cody hobbles a bit as he walks down the ramp, and while the fans say “WHOA~ OH~!” and we get the pyro, Cody isn’t really in the mood for that. Cody steps into the ring, gets himself a mic, and Punk gets a good look at the shiner. In fact, that might not even cover what happened. Cody waits on the second “WHOA~ OH~!” while the fans are a bit more torn. Punk asks if he went over, is this Cody’s time? No, Punk, don’t leave, this is Monday Night Raw, this is Punk’s time. And well, maybe Cody assumed, maybe he is wrong, but he was standing by, watching like everyone else, and…
This isn’t necessarily what Cody expected, but… Wait, wait, did Cody think Punk would freak out or crash out? If Punk is asking if Cody thought that, then… yeah. Punk says that’s fair. But Punk knows Cody, Cody knows Punk, but Punk is buttoned up. This is not what Cody was expecting, he is glad Vegas gave Punk the flowers he deserves, as he always does. But Cody isn’t sure what he’s supposed to do, he’s the one standing here feeling and looking like a loser, yet he has the title. Punk asks hold on, should Punk feel like a loser? Cody tries to apologize but Punk says no, stop, it’s fine! They’re friends! Punk doesn’t feel like it, okay?
Well, maybe Punk looks like a loser, he has that tattoo of a marshmallow on a stick. But Cody’s not a loser, either. Punk gets why Cody feels it. On Saturday, Cody overcame a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a living legend. But this is what made it hard: he also beat a friend, a mentor. Punk fought someone he hates! That’s easy! It’s easy to kick him in his stupid face and make fun of the chili pepper necklace. But Cody fought a friend, that’s a real challenge. Cody won, Punk lost. Cody is a winner, and technically, Punk’s a loser. But it’s okay! The path is clear. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but Punk’s free as a bird.
Punk gladly shouldered the burden of being world champion last night, but it just wasn’t his night. The path for Cody is to keep being champion, to keep winning. The path for Punk is to stay ready, because you never know when a championship opportunity is just gonna fall out of the sky. Punk gives a glance to the title, then steps away, but Cody says, “Hey, Punk. Just say when.” Punk smiles and the fans cheer. Beat up as Cody is, is he willing to fight the Best in the World?
Finn Balor speaks.
“Last night at WrestleMania, Dom brought out The Demon. And The Demon put Dom down. But I’m not finished with The Judgment Day. Dom drew first blood, so he was the first to fall. I expected this type of betrayal from Dominik. But from JD? I remember when JD was just a 12-year-old unassuming kid that walked into the wrestling gym in Ireland. Over the years together, I helped him grow into one of the greatest performers on earth. And in the Judgment Day, when I needed someone that I knew would have my back no matter what, it was only gonna be JD. But then the moment of truth, he made a choice, and he chose Dominik Mysterio.
“JD, this is gonna be one of those full circle moments. Because I brought you into this business, but tonight, I’m gonna take you out.” The Prince has spoken, will he prove you don’t bet on the Irish Ace?
Je’Von Evans VS Ethan Page!
These two have a deep and heated rivalry from NXT, and now it’s about to get Raw! But will The Young OG humble All Ego on his debut? Or will Ethan steal everyone’s smile on the Raw After Mania?
Raw returns as Evans makes his entrance to join Ethan in the ring. The bell rings and the fans rally for Evans. They tie up, go around, and Ethan headlocks. Evans endures and powers up to power out. Ethan RUNS Evans over, but the fans boo as Ethan pats Evans on the head. Things speed up, Evans dodges to redirect and jump into the roll-up! TWO, but Ethan runs up! Evans goes up and over, then again, but Ethan still takes a swing! Evans goes Matrix to kip up and STUNNER! The fans cheer as Ethan stumbles to a corner, but Ethan uses the ropes as a defense! The ref has Evans back up, but Ethan DECKS Evans with a cheap shot!
The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Ethan rains down fists! Ethan snarls as he paces around. Evans stands, Ethan CLUBS him on the neck, then scoops him for a BACKBREAKER! Evans writhes but the fans rally. Ethan storms up but Evans UP KICKS! Evan brings Ethan around to CHOP, but Ethan swings! Evans ducks to JAB, JAB, JAB! Evans runs, but Ethan dodges to ROCK Evans again! Ethan whips Evans, ELBOWS him down, then covers, TWO! The fans rally but Ethan HEADBUTTS Evans! Ethan clamps onto Evans and squeezes tight, but the fans rally for Evans. Evans fights up, reaches out, and he RAMS Ethan into the corner!
Ethan CLUBS Evans, stalks him, then back suplexes. Evans lands out, DROPKICKS, then runs up to BOUNCY~ RANA! Ethan tumbles all the way out while the fans fire up! Evans says guess where we at! #WeOutside! He builds speed to FLY! Down goes Ethan and the fans fire up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Ethan CHOKES Evans and says this is HIS house! Evans breaks free to TOSS Ethan, then he DIVES! Another direct hit at the ramp and the fans cheer again. Evans puts Ethan in, bobs ‘n’ weaves to ROCK Ethan, put him in the corner, and ENZIGIRI! Evans shoves Ethan to center, then springboards to FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Evans as he stands again. Evans fires Vegas up even more, then goes to the corner. Evans climbs, but Ethan SMACKS him! Ethan climbs up after Evans, but Evans HEADBUTTS back! Ethan drops down, but he UPPERCUTS! Ethan then crosses the arms, ICONOCLASM!
Ethan then RIPCORDS Evans up for the POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Evans toughs it out! Ethan is annoyed, and he points to Evans while mocking the fans. The fans boo Ethan but Ethan rips Evans’ shirt up! Ethan scoops but Evans fights free! Evans DUMPS Ethan out, mule kicks him, then ASAI M OONSAULTS, but has to land out as Ethan moves! Ethan whips, Evans reverses, and Ethan eats POST! Evans runs up to SUPERKICK Ethan onto the desk! The fans fire up as Evans looks to the corner. But someone turns Evans around! Rusev?! Evans ducks the cheap shot to SMACK Rusev in return!
Evans sees Ethan getting up, but Evans CROSSBODIES Rusev down! The fans fire up for Evans, he hurries after Ethan in the ring, and goes up, up, and- NO, Ethan trips Evans up! TWISTED GRIN!! Cover, Ethan wins!
Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall
Give an assist to the Bulgarian Brute, Rusev storms in to beat up on Evans! Ethan says yeah, not his problem. The fans boo Ethan and they boo Rusev, but Rusev stops stomping so he can drag Evans around! Stomp and ACCOLADE!! But PENTA rushes out here to make the save! The fans cheer as Penta dodges Rusev, CHOPS away, then KICKS, KICKS, and- NO, Rusev blocks the superkick! Rusev spins Penta but Penta dodges the lariat to SUPERKICK after all! The fans fire up for Penta as he climbs up a corner! But Ethan SHOVES Penta down! Rusev MACHKA KICKS Penta down!
All Ego calls to Rusev and says good work. Ethan leaves the ring to Rusev, and Rusev stomps Penta! ACCOLADE!! Penta endures being bent back, but Rusev lets him go to pick up the belt. Will Rusev have his day when he finally gets that title?
Judgment Day is here!
The NEW WWE Women’s World Champion, Liv Morgan, leads the way for Dirty Dom, JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez, ready to celebrate her victory at WrestleMania. The new theme song is right, she was nothing but trouble for La Primera, though it helps that she had her amigas helping out. The fans are torn as Liv gets the mic, and she revels in it all. Some fans even chant, “You Deserve It!” Liv smiles as she says, “las Vegas, that is the smartest thing y’all’ve said all day! Because you are now in the presence of the GREATEST Women’s World Champion of ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIIIIIIME~!”
But before they really get to the celebration, there are a couple of people Liv would like to thank. First off, to her Judgment Day family, JD, Roxie, Daddy Dom y Raquel. They have been her rock, she wouldn’t be where she is without them, thank you. Secondly, this one might surprise people, but she’d like to thank her opponent, Stephanie Vaquer. “We beat the hell out of each other, but she reminded me of a feeling that I haven’t felt in a long time. It reminded me of who I am. And who I am is the most talented in the WWE! This is MY ring, this is MY division, this is MY show, and this is MY Women’s World Championship!”
The fans are again torn, but Liv says if you thought she was “messy and trouble before,” well, just you wait. Because- SOL RUCA is here?! The fans cheer the Soul Surfer as she high-fives her way down the ramp and to the ring. Sol gets a mic and says, “Hey, Liv~! Now, I’m so sorry for interrupting, but I’ve been watching you. And honestly, you are such an inspiration to me. Watching your journey over the past decade, seeing you win that title, it taught me what I learned at the battle royal. And that’s that you are the top woman in this division. Honestly, congrats, dude, you deserve this.” Liv thanks Sol but uh, she has some nerve coming out here during LIV’S celebration!
But y’know what? Liv does appreciate those kind words. So since Sol was so nice to Liv, Liv will say this as nicely as she can. “You are no Liv Morgan, sweetie! HAHA~!” But Liv will give Sol a chance to save herself. If she ever wants to make it to a WrestleMania, she’ll get out of LIV’S ring right now! Sol says Liv is misreading this. She’s not picking a fight. But she sure won’t back down from one, either. The mics drop, the fans fire up, but Adam Pearce hurries out here. The GM says hold on, don’t get hot, he has to keep this under control! This is the biggest Monday of the year, the Raw After Mania, and Vegas is acting like they wanna see a fight. The fans cheer “YES!”
Wait, they DO wanna see the fight? Pearce calls to Jessica Karr, and he asks if she can handle this. Jess says yes, and Pearce says then it is official! Liv VS Sol, right now! Judgment Day is livid, but will Liv get her soul snatched? Or will she drag Sol into Oblivion?
Sol Ruca VS Liv Morgan w/ The Judgment Day!
Raw returns, the bell rings, and Liv runs up! Sol goes Matrix, then trips Liv to handspring and SUPERKICK! The fans cheer Sol and she whips Liv. Liv blocks, ROCKS Sol, then kicks, KICKS, and ENZI- NO, Sol ducks under! Sol waistlcoks, Liv victory rolls, ONE! Sol has it, TWO! Liv ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA, but Sol cartwheels through! DROPKICK! Sol kips up, the fans fire up, and Sol runs up in the corner to BACK BODY BLOCK! Sol then snapmares Liv and sets up, STANDING MOONSAULT but onto knees! Liv turns things around and Judgment Day coaches her up. Liv runs at the ropes but Sol ROCKS Liv!
Sol jumps up, Liv hits the ropes, and that trips Sol up! Sol falls, Liv stomps away, and Liv HAMMERS away on Sol’s back! The fans are torn as Sol writhes. Liv smiles as she steps on Sol, then drags her up. Liv whips Sol to a corner, runs up and BACK BODY BLCOK! Liv rolls, runs, and SHINING WIZARDS! Liv snapmares to SHOTGUN Sol down! Cover, TWO! Sol toughs it out and Liv is annoyed. Liv drags Sol up, kicks her around, then runs up, but Sol ELBOWS her away! Sol BOOTS Liv, then slips around to O’Conner- NO, Liv bucks the roll to kick low! Liv looms over Sol, brings her around, and scoops, only for Sol to slip free!
Sol waistlocks, SLAMS Liv down, then floats to a facelock. Liv wrenches out to facelock back, but the fans rally as Sol endures. Sol fights up, but Liv KNEES low! Liv CLUBS away on Sol, then scoops, but Sol slips free again. Sol shoves Liv, then runs past her! Sol handsprings through the arm-drag to X-FACTOR! The fans fire up while Liv flounders! Roxie & Raquel are worried but Sol goes to the apron. Sol goes to the corner to QUEBRADA! Down goes Liv and the fans fire up while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns as Liv ROCKS Sol. Liv reels Sol in, then snap suplexes! That’s Una Amiga as Liv stands again, and she hits Dos Amigas! The fans boo but Liv brings Sol up again, gives some Latina Heat, but Sol snap suplexes in return! The fans fire up while both women are down! Raquel & Roxie coach Liv up, and she fires a forearm! Sol fires back! They go back and forth, shot for shot, then Sol CHOPS! Liv CHOPS back! Sol ROCKS Liv, Liv ROCKS Sol, repeat! The fans rally behind Sol as she fires a flurry of CHOPS! Sol mule kicks, ELBOWS, then ducks to UPPERCUT! Sol whips and ELBOWS Liv, then ELBOWS her again!
Sol whips Liv to a corner, then SNAP GERMANS! Sol goes up the corner, leaps and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Liv tumbles away, and Sol kips up! The fans cheer as Sol runs and SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO! Liv survives and the fans are torn again. Sol goes back up the corner, “This is Awesome!” as Sol takes aim again. Liv rises, Sol leaps, but Liv hits a CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sol survives the counterattack and Liv is beside herself! The fans rally again as Sol crawls to a corner. Liv takes aim, runs up, OBLIV- NO, Sol handsprings through! SUPERKICK! And then SOUL SNATCHER!!! But Liv flounders right out of the ring!
The fans boo, and Sol can’t believe how close and yet so far she was! Sol just handsprings, SOL-SUKE SPECIAL! Sol takes Judgment Day down and Vegas is losing their mind! Sol then locks in on Liv, puts her in the ring, BUT ZARIA ATTACKS!! Zaria POSTS Sol, then SPINEBUSTERS her on the floor! All while Liv distracts the ref! Zaria tells Sol better get used to looking at the floor! Their Last Woman Standing match awaits for NXT Revenge, but the fans boo as Zaria leaves Sol laying. The ring count starts, Sol is still down at 5 of 10. The fans rally harder and harder but Sol is still down at 8! Sol rolls in at 9, but into OBLIVION! Cover, Liv wins!
Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall
New reign, same story: Liv gets help and survives. But will Liv’s luck run out some day? Will Sol make sure to get her revenge on Zaria tomorrow night? Wait, speaking of revenge, Vaquer is here! La Primera stares Liv down on stage, and warns her that this is far from over. When and where will the Dark Angel strike Liv down?
The Vision is here!
The fans boo as Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Paul Heyman walk out on stage. They may have lost at WrestleMania, but they’re still WWE World Tag Team Champions. What will their next order of business be? We’ll find out, after the break.
Raw returns, the fans still booing, as Heyman has the mic. “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman. I had a whole speech prepared, but the beginning of this entire program threw me off a bit. Y’know, my favorite part of WrestleMania has always been, ‘Expect the unexpected.’ And yesterday was a moment that was so unexpected, it will live inside my heart, and I suspect a lot of other people’s hearts for the rest of their lives.” The fans applaud, and Heyman says, “And yet, despite the fact that earlier tonight, CM Punk came out here and was kissing the asses of all the people backstage, and in the production truck, and all the people behind the scenes and how great they are…
“This supposed greatest production team of all time, when they did the Then, Now & Forever, still have MY Beast in the Now! So these STUPID B*TCHES IN THE TRUCK and in the production team just can’t take the reality of what went down yesterday! So let me bestow upon you my wisdom. Please take him out of the Now, and put him in the Forever! Because he is now the Now, and he will Forever be the BADDEST…” Heyman stomps his feet to censor himself… “That has ever been in the WWE ring! And that Beast’s name…! IS BRRRROCK! LESNAR!!!!” The fans cheer Heyman for that one! They also chant, “Thank You, Brock!”
Heyman calms down and continues to say let’s talk about the now. The now is the fact that the WWE is experiencing a resurgence in the tag team division thanks to Theory & Logan. The fans boo that one, but Heyman says they are the Heavyweight Tag Team Champions of the World, The Vision. To interrupt your regularly scheduled program, ladies and gentlemen, a personal message from Logan Paul. The fans boo furiously but Logan takes the mic. Theory pats Logan on the back and Logan holds up the title belt while he says, “The only reason that the Usos and…” The booing gets loud so Logan tries again, and again.
The only reason The Usos & LA Knight stole that victory from Logan and his “brother,” Theory, “was because of that ungrateful, backstabbing weasel, IShowSpeed!” Logan gets heated as the boos keep going, and he says he is sick of these YouTubers, these streamers, thinking they can come into OUR business and do what WE do! Logan HATES the outsiders! The fans boo Logan being a hypocrite on top of a sore loser. Logan says nothing at Mania matters! Because guess what? He left Speed with a piece of his fist lodged in Speed’s face, and STILL Tag Team Champions of The World! The fans boo more, but Heyman takes the mic back.
Heyman says, “I think it’s only fitting if we all take a moment to realize the fact, what a magnificent, magnificent favor that was done for me by Gunther. And Gunther, sir, not only do I thank you, I also realize I owe you one. Any time you’re ready, I’m willing to repay. But the best assist of the weekend belongs to the man that cut Seth Rollins in half! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back to Monday Night Raw…! BRRRON! BRRREAKKERRR!” The fans are torn as The Badass makes his entrance. Bron goes to the ring, rejoining The Vision, and Heyman hands him the mic. The fans bark, but also cheer his return.
Bron says, “I was thinking today, one year ago, ironically, is when I became the leader of The Vision, right here in this very same arena, because Seth Rollins was too weak. Now, I don’t know about you, but my favorite part about WrestleMania Weekend was watching Seth Rollins get this close to beating Gunther, and then I ruined everything for him!” The fans already sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” but Bron tells Seth, “I hope you’re back there, at home, who knows. I hope you’re watching somewhere, because from here on out, every single day from this day forward, I will be coming after you. I’m going to attack you. I’m going to make your life-”
“BURN IT DOWN!” The music hits, the fans cheer, and Rollins sides in from the crowd side! SHIELD CHAIR SHOT!! You think they’d learn by now! Rollins then JAMS Logan, but Theory DECKS Rollins! Theory rains down fists, then stands Rollins up for Logan’s ONE LUCKY RIGHT! The fans boo as The Vision mugs Rollins, then Theory shoves Rollins down. Theory drags Rollins back up, but THE STREET PROFITS are here?!? The fans cheer, Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins finally return to Raw, and they’re rushing the ring! Ford & Dawkins brawl with The Vision! The fans fire up as Dawkins DECKS Logan, then CYCLONE SPLASHES!
Ford DECKS Theory, Dawkins LARIATS Logan up and out! The fans are all fired up, and Ford FLIES! Ford lands on his feet as he wipes The Vision out! Then they TOSS Logan & Theory into the crowd to keep on brawling! The fans cheer as this goes around the way and to the back! But that leaves Bron, Rollins, and a SPEAR- SUPERKICK COUNTER!! Rollins rains down fists of fury on Bron, then DRAGON STOMPS! The fans sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as Rollins CURB- NO, Bron dodges, to SPEAR!! Bron turns the tables on Rollins and rips off his shirt. Bron snarls while Rollins writhes, and he steps on Rollins’ neck!
Bron RIPS Rollins’ shirt away now, and he tells Rollins that he never needed his sorry ass! Bron is gonna ruin everything Rollins has ever done! The fans will only remember Rollins as a shell of his former self! Bron builds speed again, and he SPEARS Rollins again! Rollins coughs and sputters but the fans bark for Bron. Bron looms over Rollins, will nothing stop this Badass now?
JD McDonagh speaks.
“Alright, Finn. Are we done with the wigs and the makeup? Because it’s time to get serious. You brought me into the Judgment Day, you told me it was a family. But let’s put the rest of the crew aside for a second, let’s forget about them, because you ‘n’ me specifically are supposed to be family. Now you’ve changed so much I barely even recognize you anymore. You started taking your cues from CM Punk. You let him get in your head. What about me? What of the guy who stood beside you for 20 YEARS? Defending you, taking bullets for you. You walk around the clubhouse, causing fights with people, talking down to us like you’re the leader.
“You cost us gold, Finn. But ever since we jumped you out, people’ve been asking me, ‘JD, how could you do that to Finn? How could you throw away 20 years?’ You wanna know the truth? It was easy. I’d do it again. After tonight, after all this time, I’m gonna step out of that big, fat shadow that you cast. I’m gonna show the whole world what I already know: the Finn Balor we all knew and loved is dead.” Will the Irish Ace deal the death blow to The Prince?
Finn Balor VS JD McDonagh!
Raw returns as JD makes his entrance, Finn already waiting in the ring. But as soon as JD is in range, Finn WRECKS him with a dropkick! The tape around JD’s ribs is a clear target as Finn storms out after him, but JD RAMS Finn into the apron now! Then JD THROWS Finn into barriers! JD storms up but Finn DUMPS him up and over! JD tumbles, Finn FLYING FOREARMS, and the fans cheer as they brawl in the crowd! This isn’t a match yet so Finn can throw more hands without worrying about a count! The ref still follows them up into the bleachers as Finn throws hands, then brings JD around. JD kicks low, whips Finn into barriers, then runs up again!
Finn dodges to then LARIAT JD into the ringside area! The fans cheer as Finn puts JD in the ring, and now the bell sounds! Finn runs up to CHOP JD in a corner! The fans cheer as Finn CHOPS again, and Finn whips JD to ropes. JD reverses but Finn ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for JD to ELBOW him down! The fans rally up while JD rains down fists on Finn’s head! Finn bails out while the fans chant “Bobblehead!” JD shakes his head and storms up on Finn. Finn RAMS the ribs! Then GAMANGIRIS JD down! The fans cheer as Finn goes up, COUP DE- NO, JD dodges, then he DROPKICKS Finn out of the ring! JD seethes while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as the fans rally, because JD has Finn in a chinlock. Finn endures, fights up, and fires body shots. JD scoops but Finn fights it to the EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Both men are down, Finn has blood in his mouth but fire in his eyes. The fans rally as Finn drags himself up with the ropes. Finn ROCKS JD, ROCKS him again, BODY BLOWS again and again, then trips JD to STOMP him in the ribs! The fans fire up for Finn as he stalks JD, whips, but JD reverses. Finn reverses back to SLINGBLADE! The fans cheer Finn as he goes to the corner, then takes aim> But JD knows Finn and dodges that dropkick! Jackknife bridge, TWO!
Finn kicks, JD blocks, and JD HEADBUTTS! Both men fall, JD crawls to the cover, TWO! Finn survives and JD grows frustrated. The fans rally up for Finn but JD goes to a corner. JD goes up the corner, MOONSAULTS, but into BOOTS! Finn then SHOTGUNS JD down, goes up the corner, and the fans fire up for the CUOP DE GRACE!! Cover, Finn wins!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall
Finn throws up the Too Sweet, but DIRTY DOM ATTACKS! The fans boo this sore loser as he stomps away on Finn, then rains down fists! Finn got a win on Dom, he got a win on JD, but Dom wants the last word! He dials it up, but Finn LARIATS Dom first! Finn then takes aim again, SHOTGUN! Dom hits buckles and falls into the drop zone! Finn climbs, but JD saves Dom! The fans boo, but it is clear Finn is not done exactly vengeance on Judgment Day.
Backstage interview with Gunther.
Jackie Redmond is with Der Ring General and asks how he’s feeling after the victory of Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. Gunther says he feels fantastic. He proved every word right he said about Seth. Well, on that note, were Gunther and Heyman aware of Bron Breakker’s presence that night? Gunther says first off, there is no him and Heyman. The only thing Heyman does is owe Gunther a very big favor. Jackie then asks what this favor might be. Gunther says he’s only going to say that it is something that benefits his future. And everyone better get used to seeing the World Heavyweight Championship back around Gunther’s waist very soon.
But then LA Knight steps in! The Mega Star says Gunther and the world title, it gets Knight thinking, LEMME TALK TO YA! From one Mania winner to another, congrats! Gunther must be very proud of himself! And he should! He beat Rollins, he did it! But uh, Knight knows that Gunther knows that Knight knows that Gunther knows that he’s not the only one with eyes on the world title. Seems to Knight, if we look back and do the math, one of them is a winner that needed a 2v1 advantage to make the win go down. And that wasn’t Knight, so that means it was Gunther, and that should really count as an L.
That L is short of an A and of a Knight. Why? Because there can be only one, with everybody saying L A KNIGHT, YEAH! See you around. Knight leaves, Gunther frowns, but will they have to battle it out to see who really gets first crack at the title?
Rhea and Iyo regroup backstage.
Mami says guess this is it. Let’s try not to make it forever, okay? Rhea says Iyo can handle her business here while she becomes the champion SmackDown deserves. Iyo says Rhea’s got this. They hug it out, wish each other luck and safety, and #RheYo is no more, for now. But then Liv is right around the corner. Liv hopes to see her down the line. Rhea says she’s looking forward to it. Will these forever-enemies both hold onto these belts and meet again down the line?
Roman Reigns arrives backstage!
The fans cheer already as they watch The OTC step out of his car, belt on his shoulder, and head to gorilla. Roman checks his watch, fashionably late but right on time to close the show. Roman nods to the camera as he can hear the fans singing for him already. Roman arrives at gorilla, and the Usos are there waiting for him in Las Vegas Raiders style jerseys. They dap it up, the music hits, and Roman tells them to come along for old time’s sake. The fans cheer as the OG Bloodline steps out on stage, raises their fingers to the sky, and the pyro goes off. What will The Tribal Chief have to say about his victory and his future? We’ll find out, after the break.
Raw returns as the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Roman stands in the ring, soaking it all in, and has the mic to say, “Las Vegas…! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer again, and Roman continues by saying he was gonna keep it simple tonight. Roman was gonna talk about the title, about business moving forward, and about the future. But then he ran into his cousins, and uh, it just makes sense that they discuss some family business first. Roman looks to The Usos, and he says, “I miss this.” Jey says a quick, “Yeet.” Roman says he misses having their full trust. He misses having their full respect and admiration. He misses doing business with The Usos.
See, right now, this is them, as he holds up his hand with fingers apart. They’re separated and scattered, weak enough to where guys like CM Punk think they can run their mouths and get away with it. There is no limits to it! Even some rapper from the 90s is running his mouth to Jey! That’s crazy! This is Main Event Jey, The YEET Man! Vegas says “YEET!” See? Look at that! Jey changed the whole environment, and he got washed rappers running their mouths? That’s because they’re separated. This ain’t them. Roman makes a fist and says this is them! The fans cheer that! Roman says this is the power! When they all come together, nobody can touch ’em!
Roman says when they were like this, they ran this company for FOUR YEARS STRAIGHT! The fans cheer that, too! Roman says he isn’t asking them to serve him, he’s just asking they be his blood and stand with him. Fans “YEET!” Jimmy says he speaks for him and his brother when he says this: Roman IS The OTC, he’ll always be their Tribal Chief. Any time The Bloodline in your city, everybody already know, they the twos and #WeTheOnes! Jimmy drops his mic and puts up his finger. The fans cheer as Jey does the same! Roman raises his finger, but JACOB FATU is here?! The fans cheer as The Samoan Werewolf goes to the ring!
Fatu, victorious off his unsanctioned and violent match with Drew McIntyre, now joins his cousins in the ring, mic already in hand. The fans cheer Fatu as he looks at Roman & The Usos. Roman says it’s been awhile since they last saw each other. There can only be two reasons why Fatu is out here. It’s either to ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, but then Fatu says nah, that ain’t it! Then it must be because Fatu wants the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Fatu says he doesn’t want that title, he NEEDS it! Fatu says he’ll make it clear that he isn’t here to be Tribal Chief, but he needs everything that the Tribal Chief has!
Fatu needs the shoe deal, the private jets, the Rolex, the cars, the house, and to put his kids in better schools! Fatu will do anything for his family, even if he has to dogwalk Roman! So at Backlash, Fatu’s upgrading! At Backlash, Fatu’s levelin’ up his household! And at Backlash, you gonna know Jacob Fatu is ALL GAS, NO BRAKES WITH IT! YADADADADA MEAN?! FATUUU~! The fans cheer that while Roman is stone faced. Roman says he agrees, he wants those things for Fatu, too. Maybe Fatu can be world champion. Maybe. But the question is, if he can beat Roman, can he handle the burden of the title?
Then we have to look at it the other way: If Fatu can’t beat Roman, can he handle the burden of having to ACKNOWLEDGE HIM?! Understand this, Fatu. The air is thin and the footing is shaky at the top of the mountain. But Roman will give Fatu the rest of the week to think about it. This isn’t a yes but this isn’t a no. Roman wants Fatu to be sure he’s ready. Roman will see Fatu next week on Raw. Later, cousin. The Tribal Chief puts the ball in Fatu’s court, but will Fatu still be game for a match with Roman Reigns?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw After Mania here, though a bit sparse on the match number. Well, those were still really good matches, with a very good call-up for Ethan Page and at least a tease of where Sol Ruca will go for her call-up. Good combination of stories with Ethan, Rusev, Evans and Penta. All roads should lead to the Intercontinental Championship, and they can certainly do something for Backlash. Maybe not as big as WrestleMania with that ladder match, but we can get a great 1v1 of Penta and any of those choices. Good match for Liv VS Sol but of course Zaria interfered. Just not sure if this means the go-home math tips the scales back in Sol’s favor.
Very good promo from Kabuki Warriors ahead of their match with Rhea & Iyo. It makes sense for Rhea & Iyo to win to add heat to the Iyo-Asuka-Kairi triangle. Rhea is now moved to SmackDown, but I did like Liv having a sarcastic goodbye for Rhea. There is a good chance we see Liv and Rhea fighting over the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship or something. Great stuff with Finn VS JD, both the promos and the match, and great win for Finn. Dom attacking made sense, and Finn turning things around on him was good, too. Not sure Finn needs an ally, not sure if he gets one, but I’m not sure what else is supposed to happen aside from Finn VS Dom again.
Very good stuff with Oba, and he didn’t have to say much, we’re all still buzzing from Oba winning. It was kinda like the flipside to when Roman reveled in the booing after beating The Undertaker, where he also only had to say one line to get the fans all heated. Heyman had a great promo as part of the sendoff for Lesnar. Logan had a decent promo, playing up getting flustered by the fans, and then Bron had a great part for Rollins to interrupt. The Street Profits returning was a great surprise, and perhaps they and Rollins go against The Vision now. Bron standing tall works for his full return, and we’ll get some good stuff on the way to Backlash.
Good promo from Gunther and LA Knight, they can definitely have a good feud in the background of the world title story, since we now see it will be Roman VS Fatu. Fatu must be the unofficial trade for Rhea, and great stuff with Fatu and the OG Bloodline. I can’t imagine Roman’s new reign being under a month, but we’re gonna get some good stuff in this not quite Bloodline reunion story. And great promo from Punk and Cody, but I almost thought Cody was going to give up the title. The nasty black eye Cody’s got, there was perhaps an assumption from dirt sheets that he was going to be out of action. Now, maybe something happens on SmackDown to establish that, but we could see Punk win the world title and undisputed title within six months of each other.
My Score: 8.8/10
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