Results
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/14/21)
Titles on the line even BEFORE the PPV!
SmackDown paves the way to #WrestleManiaBacklash!
Before SmackDown puts all their gold on the line this Sunday, there’s gold here tonight! Can Natalya & Tamina finally stop Nia & Shayna?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Natalya & Tamina; Natalya & Tamina win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
- Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Robert Roode; Rey wins.
- Shinsuke Nakamura VS King Corbin; Corbin wins.
- Cesaro VS Jimmy Uso; Cesaro wins, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is in the ring.
“They call me ‘The Right Hand Man,’ Main Event Jey Uso. You know this.” Last week, brother Jimmy disrespected The Head of the Table, Roman Reigns. So this week, they have no choice but to handle family business! That said, Jey brings to the WWE Universe the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief, the man who will handle Cesaro this Sunday at #WrestleManiaBacklash, Jey’s cousin and WWE Universal Champion, Roman…! Reigns! Roman does indeed make his entrance, with Paul Heyman following behind and carrying the title for him. Heyman hands the belt over so Roman can hold it up as pyro goes off.
Roman hands the belt back to Heyman and they continue down the ramp while recap of last week plays. Roman raises the title for the second round of pyro, then is handed the mic from Heyman. He says to Jey, “So clearly, we’ve got some problems. One of them being your brother. And we’ll get to him here in a minute, but I’m gonna address Cesaro first. I like him. Like a lot of the boys in the back, I respect Cesaro. I do, he’s a top tier talent. Hell, we could say he’s one of the best wrestlers in the whole world.” Heyman agrees with “one of.” But Paul, Roman is so much more than just a wrestler, right?
Heyman agrees there, too. He lists off how Roman is Tribal Chief, Head of the Table, the End All Be All, and of course WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion. But with everything Roman does, no way could Cesaro fulfill all that. Does WWE really want Cesaro in Roman’s place? Do you think SmackDown wants that? Does Fox want that? NO! Just look at the facts. How many world title matches has Cesaro even had? ZERO. And rightfully so! But how many has Roman had? Heyman’s people are good with numbers, and that number is 39! Wow! But moving on, let’s just talk about Jimmy Uso. “It was simple! He got to see how it works.”
But Jimmy comes out to interrupt! And his new shirt reads “NOBODY’S BITCH,” to emphasize what he said to last week. Jimmy has a mic and says he’s here, so let’s talk. Jimmy hears the chief jaw-jacking, running his mouth, while his brother standing there like, a, BITCH! Like the shirt, Uce? Jey must be feeling it. Jimmy has one for Jey if he’s ready. Matter fact, now’s the time! Jimmy isn’t sure if “our boy” Roman is gonna make it past Cesaro! Jey says that’s their cousin! Head of the Table! Show respect to family, Uce! Jimmy IS all about family, Uce! Roman asks Jimmy about that. If he’s about family, then he’s about Roman because what he’s done for the family.
No, that’s not it. Roman may be family, but he isn’t the entire family! Roman wants to backtrack a bit. Jimmy doesn’t think Roman can beat Cesaro? That’s how he feels? Jimmy doesn’t want to make this a thing, but if Roman’s asking… No, he doesn’t. But Jimmy can, right? He can do what Roman does, but better? No, but the Usos together can. Check it! What if the Usos won the tag titles but then Roman loses his Universal title? Wouldn’t that make the Usos the Heads of the Table? Technically, they’d be chiefs! That’s not how it works! That is not their part! Roman is Roman and the Usos are the Usos! Roman is chief and CHAMPION! He puts food on the table and carries this company, a responsibility Jimmy could never handle!
Hold on. Does Jimmy think he can? He really thinks that? He thinks he can do what Roman does? Be the man around here? Then do it! Represent like Roman represents. Put the title on the line against Cesaro tonight! Show the world that he’s the man! Roman will let the whole world see Jimmy can defend against Cesaro. Hell, just show you can beat him, Uce! Can you? Jimmy grins and calls out Cesaro! Cesaro is surely listening, but Jimmy is ready to lock it down! What you say, Uce? Was that good enough, Roman? Jimmy is still smiling, but here comes the Swiss Superman! Cesaro has a nice suit and a mic, but he says challenge accepted!
And Roman, look at Cesaro. Cesaro will beat Jimmy tonight, then Roman on Sunday! Cesaro is ready, despite what Roman says. Jimmy is ready, despite what Roman says. But can Jimmy hang after all the time off? Or will he get into the swing of things thanks to the #1 contender?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Natalya & Tamina!
These two teams met at WrestleMania 37 after the Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly got through Tag Team Turmoil. They were close but still so far away. Will they finally get these belts off the Irresistible Force & Queen of Spades this close to #WrestleManiaBacklash?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we revisit WrestleMania before the PPV all about revisiting WrestleMania!
The teams sort out, and once again blood battles blood as Tamina and Nia stare down. They circle, Reggie already distracts and Nia attacks! Nia CLUBS Tamina over and over, then looms over her at the ropes.? Nia drags Tamina up to toss her into the corner! Tag to Shayna, they mug Tamina but Tamina fights back! Tamina shoves Nia out, fires off on Shayna, then backs her down to the other corner! BIG uppercut, tag to Natty, then a HEADBUTT and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Natty drags Shayna back over, tags Tamina back in, and feeds Shayna to Tamina’s LARIAT! “That’s what you get!” Tamina tags Natty back in, they coordinate, catapult SAMOAN DROP!
Reggie gets on the apron again but the ref tells him to stop! The ref EJECTS Reggie, but he’s still missing Natty cover Shayna! Nia is upset, Tamina attacks her on the ramp! They brawl, Nia fireman’s carries, SAMOAN DROP into barriers! Shayna kicks Natty down, KNEES her in the face, cover, TWO!! The second generation superstars are in a tough spot as SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns and Shayna whips Natty to feed Nia’s scoop SLAM! Nia then runs to drop an elbow! Cover, TWO! Tamina is still down on the outside, Nia dribbles Natty on the mat! Nia shoves Natty to the corner, runs in and HIP ATTACKS! Shayna tags, she drags Natty to a cover, TWO! Natty survives but Shayna wrenches the arm and stands on Natty’s head. The ref reprimands, Shayna locks the arm and STOMPS it! Shayna mocks Natty to go get a tag, then tags in Nia. Shayna feeds Natty to Nia again, then runs, KNEE TO SIDEWALK SLAM! Nia sees Tamina and sends Shayna to get her while Nia covers Natty! But Tamina scoops and SLAMS Shayna onto Nia!
Tamina goes back to the corner and calls to Natty. Natty crawls, hot tags for Tamina and Shayna! Shayna dodges but returns to a scoop! Shayna slips out to Kirafuda! Tamina gets free, runs and FLYING HEADBUTTS! Shayna gets to a corner, Tamina fires up and run sin. Shayna dodges, but Tamina elbows back. Tamina boots but Shayna catches it to twist the foot! Tamina uses power to kick and STOMP Shayna down! Cover, TWO! Tamina drops knees on Shayna, then goes to the corner. Tamina climbs up, but Shayna gets up to KICK her first! Tag to Nia, and Nia hurries to climb up after Tamina! Tamina fights off the superplex and clubs Nia back! Nia throws headbutts and sends Nia down!
Nia staggers, Shayna swipes but Natty trips her up! The Queen of Harts sends the Queen of Spades into barriers with a GERMAN SUPLEX! Nia hits Natty, headbutts Tamina, and drags Natty into a fireman’s carry! SAMOAN DROP! BUT SUPERFLY OUTTA NOWHERE!! Cover, Tamina & Natty win!!
Winners: Natalya & Tamina, by pinfall (NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
History has been made! Tamina has been 24/7 Champion, but she’s finally got a “major” title under her belt! Kayla Braxton interviews them and congratulates them. Natty says tonight was for anyone who has had a dream but felt like it passed them by. It is NEVER too late to keep fighting for your dreams! Natty is so proud of Tamina, and Tamina is thankful to Natty and the WWE Universe! Tamina is thankful to their families! This is why they do this!
Kayla Braxton intercepts Paul Heyman.
He was headed for Roman’s private suite but she wants a quick word. If Jimmy & Jey did team up and become tag team champions while Roman lost his Universal- Oh stop with the hypotheticals! Here’s the real question! “Mr. Heyman, can Jimmy Uso beat Cesaro tonight?” Heyman doesn’t know, but he does know that Roman can and will defeat Cesaro on Sunday. Thank you for your questions. Heyman goes into Roman’s room and we’ll just have to wait and see on all of that.
Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez are in the ring.
Azeez stands on a podium, colored green and white for Nigeria, as Apollo has a mic and a box in his hand. “Tonight, all of you get to witness a very, very special presentation.” Very triumphant music plays and Apollo says that ever since he became WWE Intercontinental Champion, “the swarm of gnats” attempting to take the title has grown. But time after time after time, his commander has swatted them like the nuisances they are. With the help of Azeez, Apollo has restored glory to this title, and brought honor to Nigeria! There is no end in sight to Apollo’s reign of prosperity! As a matter of fact, Apollo might be Intercontinental Champion for LIFE!
And so, for those acts of bravery and loyalty, Apollo presents Azeez with the most distinguished medal, the Nigerian Medal of Honor! Azeez bows and Apollo puts the medal around his neck. Big E talks from the titantron! “Apollo~! Apollo~! You ain’t gotten rid of me yet!” And what sham is this? This is worse than when Macklemore won best rap album of the year. Apollo better not get comfortable with the title. Because Apollo still has to feel the power~! But wait, Sami Zayn heads out now! Is this not typical Big E behavior? Having to mock and joke? Sami always respects and loves an awards ceremony, though. This isn’t the Sami Awards but-
Apollo tells Sami to shut up. How dare he come out here and disrespect both Apollo and Azeez! Sami says the truth is, there is a bone to pick. Apollo is holding Sami’s Intercontinental Championship. Azeez picks up the podium and TOSSES it out of the ring! Sami wants Azeez to calm down and tells Apollo that if he were a man of honor, he’d give Sami a match so that he can reestablish his status as Champion of the People! But not now, of course. Wait, here comes Kevin Owens! Sami wants everyone to just take a breath, but then he urns into the ring to avoid Kevin! Kevin gives chase, he ends up brawling with Apollo and Azeez!
Apollo fires off haymaker after haymaker, but Big E is here! Big E goes after Azeez, but Azeez throws him out! Big E stays on the apron, Azeez grabs him, but Big E ducks the Nigerian Nail to dump Azeez out! Big E goes after Apollo, Kevin SUPERKICKS him down! And SUPERKICKS Apollo! Sami hits Kevin and now fires off haymakers! Sami goes corner to corner, into a STUNNER! Big E scoops Kevin for the BIG ENDING! Apollo swings, only for Big E to scoop him! Azeez saves Apollo again! Big E says that title is his, but Apollo says it will never be Big E’s again! What will Apollo do to finally exterminate the challengers that are bugging him?
Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Dolph Ziggler w/ Robert Roode!
There was a last minute swap between father and son last week, and it paid off! The Show-Off certainly wants redemption, but will the King of Lucha Libre show him up?
SmackDown returns as the SmackDown Tag Team Champions make their entrance. The bell rings and Ziggler circles with Rey. They tie up, Ziggler puts Rey in a corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Ziggler smirks as he and Rey reset. They tie up again, Rey waistlocks but Ziggler gets ropes. The ref counts, Rey lets off and they go again. Ziggler waistlocks, brings Rey around, pulls at the mask but the ref reprimands and counts. Ziggler headlocks, grinds Rey down, but Rey fights up. Rey throws body shots, powers out but Ziggler runs him over! Ziggler swivels hips and fires up as he looms over Rey at the ropes. The ref has Ziggler back away and Rey gets up.
Rey and Ziggler circle, tie up again, and Ziggler headlocks again. Ziggler drags Rey down but Rey gets up. Rey throws body shots, powers out, and things speed up, only for Ziggler to run Rey over! Ziggler talks trash while he puts a headlock back on. Roode talks trash to Dom while Ziggler makes Rey look at him. Ziggler puts Rey on the ropes and grinds his forearms in. “You don’t have what it takes anymore!” Ziggler whips Rey, drops and waistlocks but Rey uses that to send Ziggler out! Rey WRECKS Ziggler with a dropkick, then builds speed to SLIDING TOPE! Both men are down on the outside as SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns again and Ziggler has Rey in a corner. Ziggler throws haymakers, talks more trash, then throws more hands. Rey counter punches! Rey whips, Ziggler reverses but Rey ducks and springboards, only to FLOP off the crossbody! Ziggler grins and Roode says to stay on him! Ziggler stalks Rey to ropes, the ref warns Roode, but Ziggler sits Rey up. Ziggler digs his fingers into the eyeholes of the mask and Rey’s eyes themselves! The ref counts, Ziggler lets off, and he drags Rey up to INVERTED POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Ziggler stays on Rey with a chicken wing and chinlock! Rey endures the holds as Ziggler pushes up for leverage.
The fans rally on their ThunderDome screens as Rey fights up. Rey elbows free, throws body shots and even clubs Ziggler’s leg! Rey runs but into a BIG back elbow! Ziggler hobbles over to cover, TWO! Roode is frustrated on Ziggler’s behalf, but Ziggler puts Rey in a grounded Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch! Rey endures, reaches and gets the ropebreak! Ziggler holds until 4, then stalks Rey to a corner. Ziggler whips Rey corner to corner hard, then runs in, to get a BOOT! Rey uppercuts, headscissors, but Ziggler blocks to bring Rey off the corner! Rey swings to make that a DDT! Both men are down but their tag partners coach them up as fans fire up!
Ziggler and Rey sit up, Ziggler goes to a corner but dodges Rey as he runs in! Rey goes to the apron, shoulders back in, DECKS Ziggler then climbs up! Ziggler hits Rey first! Ziggler climbs, stands on the very top, but Rey fights back with body shots! Rey headbutts Ziggler away, then adjusts to FLYING SEATED SENTON! Rey whips Ziggler, Ziggler sunset flips but Rey rolls through to BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler survives and Roode panics. Rey dropkicks Ziggler onto ropes and dials it up! 619 misses and Ziggler returns with a FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Ziggler is beside himself as Rey survives but he aims from a corner. Rey dodges the superkick to put Ziggler back on ropes!!
Dial it up, SUPERKICK!!! Ziggler got Rey outta nowhere but he has to crawl to a cover! He gets it, ROPEBREAK!! Ziggler is shocked but Rey’s resilience is part of what made him a legend! Ziggler gets Rey up, scoops and SLAMS him, then vows this is over! Ziggler drags Rey back up, scoops and Rey makes it a cradle!! REY WINS!!
Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall
That’s twice the Mysterios have gotten Ziggler! Roode runs in but Dom is there to BLAST him first! Dom and Rey are ready, but will they keep this momentum rolling all the way through Backlash to make history as father and son?
Backstage interview with Cesaro.
His first Universal Championship opportunity is Sunday, but he must get through Jimmy Uso tonight. What’s his plan of attack for both those matches? It means the world to Cesaro that he has a Universal Championship match. He grew up dreaming of a moment like this, watching WWE in Switzerland. People thought he was crazy to want to go to the US, enter the WWE and become champion. But he always told himself, “I think I can.” When someone doubted him, mocked him, said he can’t, he said, “I think I can.” Cesaro isn’t like Roman Reigns. He wasn’t bred for this business, asking people acknowledge him. He earns it.
And he’s not taking Jimmy lightly. But does Jimmy want to be known as Jimmy Uso, or as Roman’s Cousin? Cesaro doesn’t think he can, he KNOWS he can beat Roman Reigns and earn our acknowledgement as WWE Universal Champion! Will that start with avoiding lockdown tonight?
Backstage interview with the Mysterios.
Kayla congratulates Rey on the win, and Rey says they’re so close to grabbing the titles, he can almost feel it. He and Dom are going to make history together! But here comes Ziggler & Roode. Ziggler told the kid doesn’t belong, so he should just beat it. Daddy got lucky, but on Sunday, the Dawgs take him out for good! So if “Baby Dom” were smart, he wouldn’t even get out of his crib. They can call Dom all the names they want, but on Sunday, he’ll be #BabyChamp! Aw, how cute. The Dawgs say THEY’RE the champs, but will that all change in the most historic way?
Bianca Belair heads to the ring!
The EST SmackDown Women’s Champion is here ahead of her title match at Backlash, and we’ll hear her final thoughts before her match with Bayley, after the break!
SmackDown returns and Michael Cole has joined Bianca in the ring. He can’t believe it’s been four weeks already that she won this title off Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37. And this Sunday at Backlash is her first title defense against a woman who held the belt for 380 days, the Role Model, Bayley. Bianca wants Cole to remember that she’s the B E S T. When you shine like she shines, you get a whole lotta hate! People have doubted her all her life, but speaking of, where is Bayley? Yes, that is an obvious question after last week.
A recap package reminds us that Bayley talked up then talked down to all the past champions, and even Bianca as the current. Bianca responded, they brawled, and Bayley had the last laugh quite literally. And now in the present, Bayley is here to laugh at Bianca more! Does Bayley like Bianca’s hair? She wants to show Bayley her braid. Where is she, anyway? Far, far away, okay? Via satellite thanks to the technology of 2021! Bianca must be a big idiot if she thinks they’ll be in the same ring after that vicious attack! The next time they’re in the ring together is when they battle at Backlash, and Bayley takes back her title.
Oh, Bayley, you’re so funny. Bayley talks a big game and will do whatever it takes to win, but when Bianca gets her hands on her, it will be the roughEST, the toughEST and the quickEST victory yet! Bayley laughs more, but Bianca says she didn’t want to have to stoop to Bayley’s level. But Bayley keeps coming at her so time to hurt Bayley’s feelings. Bianca says the real reason Bayley is so mad is that she was busy getting thrown down the ramp by the Bellas while Bianca was in the main event and won the title! Bayley isn’t laughing anymore. When Bayley sees Bianca waving her ponytail, shining to get attention, it’s like a look into Bayley’s past.
Bayley wants Bianca to know that from experience, the fairy tale doesn’t end well. Bayley makes sure it ends for good on Sunday. The longEST reigning champion and the newEST champion are going to get serious, but who comes out of Backlash with the belt?
Shinsuke Nakamura VS King Corbin!
The King of Strong Style may have suffered the pinfall at the hands of the Wolf King, but he is not conquered in the least! Will Nakamura show Corbin how different 1v1 is from 5v5?
SmackDown returns as Corbin makes his entrance. The bell rings, Nakamura and Corbin circle. They tie up, Corbin powers Nakamura to a corner but Nakamura powers back. Corbin knees low and hard, then brings Nakamura up to suplex. Nakamura knees free, Corbin ducks a roundhouse but not the HEEL KICK! Nakamura gives Corbin some BAD VIBRATIONS! Corbin staggers, Nakamura runs in but Corbin dodges! Nakamura boots Corbin, hops up, but Corbin DECKS him! Corbin stomps Nakamura, puts him on the ropes and chokes him! The ref counts, Corbin lets off to argue, but then Corbin gets Nakamura up. Nakamura fires body shots, runs but into a kitchen sink!
Corbin gets Nakamura’s arms and throws down elbows! Ghost pin, TWO! Corbin argues the count but the ref says it was fair. Corbin looms over Nakamura with a grin, then drags him up to a facelock. Corbin whips, Nakamura ducks and dodges to DYNAMIC DROPKICK! Both men are down but the ThunderDome rallies up. Nakamura fires off a strike fest, ducks Corbin’s counter and fires off kicks! Corbin blocks one but not the ENZIGURI! Nakamura gets Corbin up, whips him but Corbin reverses. Corbin runs in, but Nakamura dodges. Corbin slides out, slides in, swings but into a takedown! ARMBAR!! Corbin fights to get up but ends up in a triangle hold!
Corbin powers up to dead lift Nakamura but Nakamura throws hands! Nakamura drags Corbin down but Corbin makes it a cover, Corbin wins!!
Winner: King Corbin, by pinfall
And then Corbin throws Nakamura out so he can celebrate! Corbin demands his crown back, and he puts it on, only to turn around into a ROUNDHOUSE!! And a KINSHASA!! Nakamura has knocked Corbin’s crown off his head! And then steps on him to go to the crown itself! Nakamura wants the crown for his own! He pretends it’s very heavy, but he still gets it on his head! Will Nakamura truly become the King of WWE soon enough?
Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville talk backstage.
But then Apollo and Azeez barge in! What kind of leaders are they?! Did they not see what happened to Apollo and Azeez? “How can you allow those idiots to interrupt my sacred Nigerian ceremony?!” He demands consequences! What is Pearce going to do about it? Well the plan was to figure out who faces Apollo next week for the Intercontinental Championship. What?! They’re going to be rewarded?! That is outrageous! Sonya tells Apollo to be careful, or else Pearce might end up making Apollo face them all at once like he did Roman. Just saying. Pearce says that’s a great idea! It will be a Fatal 4 Way for the championship next week!
Apollo says Pearce is out of his mind! But he and Azeez leave, and Pearce tells Sonya not to undermine him in front of the superstars. The tension in the management aside, will Apollo survive when Big E, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn all come for the title at once?
SmackDown returns and Nakamura models the crown.
He seems to like how he looks with it on, even if it was made for Corbin. Will Corbin come back to get that one? Or use that money he brags about to buy a better one?
Aleister Black shares Chapter 3 from Tales of the Dark Father.
“Man is born worthless. But he can discover his value. Not by love, not by affection. It can only be trial by fire. It can even cleanse or consume you. Father spoke about the cruelties of life. Father taught me… The Lesson.” Father taught Aleister that he was wrong to fight his true nature. “I am a cruel man, because you have deemed it so. I was cut from steel while you were made from dirt. Because I was chosen. I saw greatness and I chose it, while you chose the archetype.” But it’s easier to take a seat and watch life happen rather than fight through it. Aleister could help us, teach us The Lesson, but he won’t. “Because you’re not a participant. You’re a spectator.” Will SmackDown have no choice but to watch what Aleister has in store for us next?
Backstage interview with Jimmy Uso.
What’s going through his mind just moments before his first match in over a year? Well this isn’t his idea. He thought his first match back would be alongside Jey, and they’d do what they do. Because as far as Jimmy is concerned, the Usos are the hottest tag team the WWE Universe has ever seen! But now, he’s not so sure. Roman Reigns is playing around. Jimmy was home as he saw Jey do all the work for Roman. Roman says he doesn’t need Jey to have success. Well Jey doesn’t need Roman, either! Jimmy knows Jey doesn’t think that but Jimmy does. Jimmy knows the brothers will be fine, so long as Roman stays out of it.
But what’s better than WWE tag team champions and Roman being Universal Champion? Roman wants to see what Jimmy can do to Cesaro. Well let’s get it! Jimmy makes his entrance first, can Jimmy break through to both Jey and Roman and make them see things his way? Or will he just be a pawn in Roman’s game with another of his challengers?
Cesaro VS Jimmy Uso!
SmackDown returns and the bell rings. Jimmy and Cesaro tie right up, go around, and Jimmy wrenches to a wristlock. Cesaro rolls, handsprings, breaks free and dropkicks Jimmy down! Cesaro welcomes Jimmy back but Jimmy keeps his cool. They tie up, Jimmy headlocks but Cesaro changes it to his headlock. Jimmy powers out but Cesaro runs him over. Things speed up, Jimmy leaps but into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Jimmy gets to a corner but Cesaro waits on him. Jimmy rushes into a waistlock, Cesaro whips him to a corner, but Jimmy goes up and over. The leg bothers him, that’s why he was out for so long.
But Jimmy was suckering Cesaro in! Mule kick, whip and SAMOAN DROP! Jimmy grins as he covers, TWO! Jimmy clubs away on Cesaro, then wraps on a chinlock. Cesaro endures, fights up, but Jimmy squeezes tighter. Jimmy CLUBS Cesaro, goes for a suplex but Cesaro blocks. Cesaro powers up to suplex Jimmy up and over! Fans fire up while Cesaro catches his breath and shakes out his arms. Jimmy gets up, he kicks but Cesaro blocks. Cesaro spins Jimmy but gets the DRAGON WHIP! Cover, TWO! Cesaro gets to a corner, Jimmy fires up and runs in, to HIP- NO! Cesaro dodged the hip attack, rolls Jimmy up, TWO! SUPER- NO! Cesaro blocks the kick to EuroUpper!
Cesaro whips Jimmy corner to corner, runs in but Jimmy dodges and POSTS Cesaro! Cesaro staggers, Jimmy clotheslines him out of the ring! Jimmy builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit for the first time in over a year! Jimmy clutches his leg and this time it might be a bit more real. Both men are down at the ramp while SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns once more and Cesaro fires body shots on Jimmy in a corner, then throws in EuroUppers! The ref backs Cesaro off but he runs to DISCUS! Cover, TWO!! Jimmy is still in this but Cesaro reels him in. Jimmy back drops, Cesaro lands on his feet, springboard into a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Cesaro survives and gets to a corner. Jimmy runs in, HIP ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Jimmy keeps his focus and goes to a corner. Cesaro is down as Jimmy climbs up, but Cesaro gets up to EuroUpper! Cesaro climbs to join Jimmy, brings him up, and SUPERPLEXES! Both men are down, fans fire up, but Cesaro crawls to a cover, TWO!!
Cesaro shakes out the cobwebs while checking the count. Jimmy survives, drags himself over to ropes, but Cesaro stalks over. Cesaro goes out after Jimmy, aims from the apron, and leaps to CANNONBALL! Fans fire up with Cesaro, but he isn’t done there! He runs in and EuroUppers Jimmy into barriers! Jimmy wobbles, Cesaro puts him in the ring, and ROMAN ATTACKS!
Winner: Cesaro, by disqualification
Roman POSTS Cesaro, then throws him over the announce desk! “I TOLD YOU! I RUN THIS BITCH!” Jimmy is upset, Roman just had to make this about him. Jimmy had Cesaro but then Roman and Jey get in the ring. Jimmy goes to leave, Roman says this isn’t about Jimmy. No one cares if Jimmy wins! Jimmy says he was gonna win. Roman says no one cares about the little matches. This is about the big money matches!! That is how they keep the family on top, and how Roman keeps them on top! UNDERSTAND THAT!
So it’s about Roman? Not this time! Cesaro gets after Jey with EuroUppers! Jimmy and Roman still argue, but then Roman runs in to CLOBBER Cesaro! Roman asks what Jimmy is doing outside. Get inside and help! But Cesaro EuroUppers Roman! And again! And kicks low, to reel him in! Jey attacks and saves Roman! Jey rains down rights on Cesaro, then tells Jimmy to get in here so they can end this! But Cesaro EuroUppers away on Jey! And BOOTS Jimmy! Roman retreats but Cesaro gets Jey back up! “This is gonna be you this Sunday!” Gotch, hold NEUTRALIZER!! Cesaro dares Roman to do something for his family, but Roman stays put on the ramp!
Cesaro drags Jey up and reels him back in. Another Gotch hold, another NEUTRALIZER!! Does Jey not matter to Roman? Cesaro says this will be Roman’s fate at Backlash! Will Cesaro prove he’s worthy by earning the top spot?
My Thoughts:
SmackDown avoids Go-Home Syndrome because this was a pretty great night! There were recap packages that kinda had to be mentioned, but it was actually because they were worked into segments much more organically than just starting the night with one or throwing over to a “Progressive Match Flow” to fill between segments. Bianca’s segment having that was good, and it was a good segment even without the recap, as Bianca throws Bayley’s segment with the Bellas in her face, but also for Bayley saying she had the same experience as a ponytail Babyface. Their match is going to be awesome and could be a show stealer just on the in-ring, but I would think Bianca wins.
It is so great that Natalya & Tamina won the Women’s Tag Titles tonight. Nia & Shayna had a strong run but the last few months have been the downhill part, so it was good to get these titles onto a new team now. Tamina & Natty can carry the titles through into the Summer, and maybe all the way to SummerSlam, whenever and wherever that will be. Nia & Shayna can still stick together since the RawDown Women’s Tag Division still needs teams, but this can also free them up for a story about “Who goes after the Raw Women’s Championship first?” The dysfunction element that helped Shayna & Nia work before as characters can come back and keep them going a little longer.
On the SmackDown Tag Team Championship scene, I’m a little surprised we didn’t get Rey VS Roode as the flipside to Dom VS Dolph, but I suppose since we were “meant” to get Rey VS Dolph, we were still going to get that. Ziggler losing again might mean history isn’t made at Backlash, which is a shame, but maybe WWE decides to surprise us and make Backlash noteworthy again. Apollo giving Azeez a kayfabe medal seemed like a nice touch, it allows both of them to have something to boast about. I also like that the Intercontinental Championship match is happening next week, in a Fatal 4 as expected.
As I said before, this can help keep everyone fairly strong, even if Apollo retains, and maybe, just maybe, it gets Sami and Kevin on the same side again. As much as Jimmy wants to reunite with Jey and go for the tag titles, Sami and Kevin joining up could really get the SmackDown Tag Division going because it is surely something all the Sami and Kevin fans have wanted to see for some time. Nakamura VS Corbin, King VS King, is a very natural move, though obviously this first match was just an appetizer. I don’t know if this will spark a 2021 King of the Ring tournament, but with Nakamura snatching Corbin’s literal crown, at least make it a Ladder Match, winner takes the crown.
We got great stuff out of the ever expanding Universal Championship/Roman Reigns story. I feel like Jimmy already having a Jimmy Uso “Nobody’s Bitch” shirt is a sign he isn’t going to convince Jey of anything, but it’s a good detail. Jimmy calling out Cesaro in an indirect move for the Head of the Table is a great detail. I find it intriguing that he’s trying to get the others to be reasonable, and is of course finding resistance from Roman. Cesaro VS Jimmy was a great main event, a great return for Jimmy, and the ending segment was great for Cesaro because he took the fight to the Bloodline again, and looked like he actually got Roman to be wary.
With Cesaro standing tall, the math says Roman wins on Sunday, and there’s a good chance he does with Jey still being loyal. I think it’d be creative to have Jimmy try and stop Jey, and that distraction in itself is how Cesaro loses. Cesaro has been working so hard for so long, it would be a shame if he loses, but Roman’s story is still that strong. As for Jimmy, they could bring this full circle by having Roman VS Jimmy like Jey did at Hell in a Cell, and that could be the moment of truth for Jey. Jey saving Jimmy from Roman like he couldn’t do in October would definitely get a pop from fans, live or otherwise, and that’d help the Usos skyrocket right back into the tag title scene.
My Score: 8.6/10
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It’s a Collision of Honor!
As things heat up towards Double or Nothing, Darby Allin defends the AEW World Championship against The Spanish God, Sammy Guevara!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW World Trios Championship Eliminator: The Conglomeration VS Lee Moriarty & The Infantry w/ Shane Taylor Promotions; The Conglomeration wins and denies Lee & The Infantry a title opportunity.
- AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale VS Red Velvet; Willow wins and retains the title.
- Samoa Joe & Anthony Bowens VS Jay Lethal & Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian; Joe & Bowens win.
- AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Eliminator 5 Minute Challenge: The Divine Dominion VS Allie Katch & Kaia McKenna; The Divine Dominion wins and denies Allie & Kaia a title match.
- Six Man Tag: Mark Davis & The Dogs VS The Rascalz; Davis & The Dogs win.
- AEW World Championship No Count Outs: Darby Allin VS Sammy Guevara; Darb wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Death Riders speak.
It was after AEW Dynamite on Wednesday that Jon Moxley said, “Every time I step into the ring with Kyle O’Reilly, I can’t find a way to win. It’s been failure after failure after failure. Kyle O’Reilly has tapped me out, twice. Ipso facto, Kyle O’Reilly will be the new Continental Champion. You might think. But the Jon Moxley of six months ago is not the same as Jon Moxley of today. Who I will be tomorrow is better than who I am today. Logic and strategy would dictate that I should stay as far away from Kyle O’Reilly as I can. Because there’s no doubt about it, Kyle, you have my number.
The thing about this Continental Championship, it’s good bait. All the dragons I wanna slay come right to my door. I will do what I’ve done for 22 years surviving in this business, Kyle: I’m gonna find a way.” The Maniac heads out, and Claudio Castagnoli steps forward to tell Brody King that Brody always brings the bark. But if he steps in the ring with Claudio in the Owen Hart Tournament, he better bring the bite. Pac then says, “Nobody gets special treatment. It doesn’t matter who you are, Death Riders against the world.” Daniel Garcia says yeah, let’s get it! Yuta repeats, “Against the world.” Marina Shafir tells the world, “Bring it, you p*ssies!”
AEW World Trios Championship Eliminator: The Conglomeration VS Lee Moriarty & The Infantry w/ Shane Taylor Promotions!
Well speaking of Kyle O’Reilly, he, Orange Cassidy, and the returning Mark Briscoe are going to put STP to the test! #TAIGASTYLE is still ROH Pure Champion, but Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo are upset after losing the ROH World Six Man Tag titles. Will STP take out their frustrations as they rumble, bad man, rumble? Or will the Violent Artist, Freshly Squeezed & Sussex County Chicken simply send #THEM home emptyhanded?
The trios sort out and Briscoe steps up against #BadNews&Tattoos. The fans are behind Briscoe as he and Bravo circle. They approach, Bravo kicks low, and he flips everyone off. The fans boo, Bravo headlocks, but Briscoe powers up, out, and headlocks in return. Bravo powers up and out but Briscoe RUNS him over! The fans cheer, and Briscoe runs. Bravo drops down, hurdles, but Briscoe hits a crane stance! Bravo says that’s stupid! But Briscoe ducks Bravo’s punch to UPPERCUT! Briscoe whips, Bravo reverses to ROCK Briscoe! The forearms go back and forth, Briscoe fires a flurry, but Bravo CLAWS Briscoe’s face!
Bravo runs, but Briscoe winds up to UPPERCUT! The fans cheer the Redneck Kung-Fu! Lee tags in and hits his tiger stance. But then Kyle calls to Briscoe, and Briscoe tags Kyle! The fans cheer as Kyle and Lee tie up, go around, and Kyle wrenches. Lee wrenches, slips through, and waistlocks. They go around, Lee switches but Kyle has the arm. Kyle arm-drags Lee down, double wristlock, but Lee fights around. Kyle body scissors, rolls to the cover, TWO! The fans fire up as the two go again, knuckle lock, and Lee headlocks. Kyle powers up and out, Lee goes up and around, but Kyle does the same to slide under.
Lee ducks a kick, then wheelbarrows to victory roll, then EURO CLUTCH! TWO! Kyle is up, Lee backs off, and the fans cheer the exchange. Lee points to Nigel McGuinness, wanting him to remember the Euro Clutch did him in the last time they faced off. Kyle storms up on Lee, Lee headlocks, but Kyle powers up and out. Lee RUNS Kyle, keeps moving, but Kyle drops down. Lee sunset flips but Kyle stays up! Kyle shakes his head, drops down into the ARMBAR, but here comes The Infantry! Briscoe & Cassidy intercept Dean & Bravo, fire off hands in corners, and Kyle shifts to an ANKLE LOCK! But Lee reels Kyle into a headlock.
Briscoe & Cassidy TOSS The Infantry, then go out after them. Lee waistlocks, Kyle fires elbows, and Kyle climbs up in the corner. The fans count along as Kyle goes all the way to TEN! Tag to Briscoe, he climbs up, and he rains down fists! Briscoe goes all the way to TEN, then he tags Cassidy! The fans fire up again as Cassidy winds up, climbs up, and rains down ONE! The fans cheer Cassidy while Lee stumbles. Lee tags Dean, and now The Captain steps to Cassidy. Dean says go ahead, put the hands in the pockets. Cassidy says okay, and he raises his hands, to then slowly, slowly, put them in his pockets!
The fans cheer as Cassidy then ducks ‘n’ dodges Dean, and still arm-drags Dean away! Dean runs up, Cassidy drops down to MONKEY FLIP! Then Cassidy kips up! The fans fire up, but Bravo storms in and whips him to a corner. Cassidy goes up, out, and ducks Bravo to bump him off buckles! Dean tries, but Cassidy bumps him off buckles! Bravo tries again, he just gets buckles! Dean tries again, he just gets buckles! The fans fire up as Cassidy climbs, but Lee trips him up! The fans boo while Cassidy falls to the mat, but the ref has to keep Kyle & Briscoe from going after Lee! The Infantry flanks Cassidy, but Cassidy bobs n’ weaves to dodge the shots!
Cassidy tries again, but the CARLIE CROSSOVER hits, then a feed to the SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Lee drags Cassidy to the apron, the ref is still distracted, Shane Taylor hits a GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! The fans boo but STP has taken control while Collision goes to picture in picture!
Lee drags Cassidy up, puts him in the ring, and Dean covers, TWO! Dean drags Cassidy up, whips him to ropes, then BODY BLOWS! Cassidy falls in a heap but Dean soaks up heat. Dean stomps Cassidy, drags him up, then bumps him off buckles. Dean tags Bravo to send him in for the SPLASH! Dean adds a SPLASH, then scoops while Bravo goes up, KNEE DROP SIDEWALK SLAM COMBO! Cover, Briscoe breaks it! Bravo is upset, but he CLUBS Cassidy. Cassidy fights the suplex, Bravo CLUBS him again and again, then suplexes through! Cover, TWO! Cassidy toughs it out but Bravo drags Cassidy over to the corner.
Dean tags in, The Infantry stomps away on Cassidy, but the ref counts. Dean stops to kneel on Cassidy, then steps off again. Cassidy throws “shots” on the leg, but Dean stomps Cassidy down! Dean then BLASTS Briscoe & Kyle! The ref reprimands but that just lets Bravo CHOKE Cassidy! The ref reprimands Bravo now as Collision returns to single picture. Dean asks, “Is this camera on me? B! B! C!” BRONCO BUSTER CAPTAIN! Dean bounces, Bravo says if you see Cap in that corner, yo’ ass is a goner! Dean drags Cassidy up, tags Bravo, and Dean sends Bravo in for the SPLASH! Then feed to Dean, but Cassidy tilt-o-whirl DDTS!
The fans fire up but Bravo hurries to anchor a foot! Cassidy reaches out, reaches out, but Bravo drags him back! Cassidy BOOTS Bravo away, Lee tags in, and Lee BOOTS Briscoe down! The fans boo but Cassidy swings! Lee blocks the lariat to wrench Cassidy into the COBRA TWIST! The fans boo, the ref keeps Kyle back, and STP links up on the twist! Four men strong and they make Cassidy suffer! The ref sees that, Dean lets go to defend his innocence, but that causes him to fall onto Bravo! Cassidy powers up to HIP TOSS free! Hot tag to Kyle! Kyle BOOTS Lee, KICKS him, then fires off a strike fest! LEG SWEEP!
Lee flounders to a corner but Kyle runs up to forearm SMASH! Kyle wrenches and ELBOW BREAKERS, then cravats for some knees! Snapmare and a PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! ARMBAR! The Infantry attacks Kyle! The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Bravo drags Lee to safety. Bravo tags in, then he tags Dean. Bravo jukes around Kyle, lifts him up, BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER COMBO! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives but Bravo runs up! Kyle ELBOWS Bravo away, BOOTS Dean, then goes up! FLYING KNEE for Dean, LARIAT for Bravo! The fans fire up again because Chicken is rising! Kyle crawls, hot tags to Briscoe and Lee!
Briscoe fires off JAB after JAB on Lee, then whips, but Lee grabs ropes. Lee BOOTS back, runs up, but Briscoe dodges! FLYING FOREARM! The Infantry is back, but Briscoe dodges Bravo to ROCK Dean! Briscoe CHOPS Bravo, then repeat! Dean slips around, but Briscoe BOOTS Bravo away! Then Briscoe breaks free to PELE! Dean falls out of the ring, Briscoe reels Bravo in! Briscoe underhooks but Bravo fights free! Bravo whips but Briscoe WRECKS Dean with a dropkick! Then he RAMS Bravo and DUMPS him out! Cassidy DIVES to hit Lee! Briscoe gets a chair! The fans fire up as the chair is set up, and Briscoe runs, only for Shane to stand in the way!
ORANGE PUNCH for Shane! Kyle FLYING KNEES Shane down for good measure! Briscoe uses the chair to FLY! Down goes STP!! The fans are thunderous as Kyle gets Dean in, and Briscoe is up top! FROGGY-BOW! But that’s not all! Dean staggers into the kick, the underhooks, and JAY DRILLER!! Cover, Conglomeration wins!
Winners: The Conglomeration, by pinfall (denies Shane Taylor Promotions a title opportunity)
When it rains, it pours for STP! Will they just have to regroup and refocus taking over ROH? Will The Conglomeration continue to #ManUp here in AEW?
Will Ospreay speaks.
It was also after Dynamite that The Aerial Assassin told Samoa Joe, “My apologies for not getting back to any of your messages, been a little bit busy training and getting myself ready for The Owen. Surprised to see you there in the opening round, mate. It’s gonna be a tough one. But if you can just bear with me for a hot second while I explain to you… Six months of my life got taken away from me, mate. Six months, I’ve been sitting in front of a TV screen, watching AEW, looking at it, trying to get my strength back in my arms, rushing to get back. That’s six months of frustration, six months of anger. And then I finally had my kill shot on Dynasty, and I lost.
“And ever since then, man, I’ve been struggling with my matches. Doc even stopped one for my own safety. I’m annoyed that I didn’t get revenge on Jon. But I’m more upset at the idea that I can’t be the guy that AEW put their trust in once upon a time. Regardless of how I feel about Jon, regardless of how I feel about The Death Riders, there’s nothing that I can say that’ll make people ever understand. But Jon Moxley is the Ace, he’s a soldier for this place. And while his methods might be sick, there are people who stand up to see him get elevated. So what could it happen with him in my corner?
“Joe, I’ve got nothing but respect for ya. Everything that you’ve done in this industry. Mate, you were in the match that made me want to become a pro-wrestler. But no one, no one, is stopping me from winning The Owen. And I find it very poetic that the man takt took away my old life has given me a second chance of capturing the world championship.” The Billy Goat is ready to become something more, but will Samoa Joe make sure Ospreay goes Double or Nothing and loses?
Backstage interview with The Conglomeration.
Lexy Nair congratulates them on their win tonight, and brings up that Moxley has accepted Kyle’s challenge. Kyle says yes, Moxley is right, Kyle has his number. But facing Moxley has been the biggest test of Kyle’s career, so what’s one more test? This Wednesday, it’s a title eliminator, and after Kyle makes Moxley submit again, he is putting all his chips in and goes Double or Nothing! Briscoe says damn right, Kyle. And speaking of Dynamite, Tommaso Ciampa, Briscoe put it plain and clear, but he hasn’t heard a word from Ciampa! If Ciampa’s scared, he should just say it! Cassidy says Willow needs to say something.
Willow says sure, okay. Great job, guys, really. But for her, Double or Nothing, it will be TRIPLE or nothing, because she has THIS bad boy, the TBS Championship! But she’s also coming for The Owen, and the World Championship! As for tonight, Red Velvet may have beaten Willow to qualify for The Owen, but that won’t happen tonight. Welcome back to AEW, time to meet the Comeback Killer. Lexy says by the way, that match is next. Willow fires up, hurries off to make her entrance, but will she be ready to cook with The Chef?
AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale VS Red Velvet!
Before making her entrance, the ROH Women’s World TV Champion tells Willow, “The Comeback Killer,” that she’s still salty that Willow is in The Owen and Velvet is not. Tonight, she takes out all her frustrations every time she stirs it up and punches Willow in the face. Yeah, Velvet beat Willow before. And in fact, she’ll beat Willow for that TBS title right now!
The introductions are made, the teal belt is raised, and we see if The Babe with The Power is still the Face of TBS!
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Willow powers Velvet to a corner, and the ref counts. Willow backs off, and she flexes as she fires the fans up. The two reset, tie up, and Willow SHOVES Velvet away. Velvet is frustrated as she comes back and resets with Willow again. Velvet then slips around Willow, waistlocks, but Willow wrenches out. Velvet wrenches back, top wristlocks, but Willow stays up. Velvet kicks and TRIPS Willow, then steps over to LEG DROP on the arm scissor! The fans rally as Willow rolls and stacks Velvet, TWO! Willow gut wrenches, but Velvet slips through! Willow ducks, but the superkick still scuffs her!
Willow says okay, okay, and she resets with Velvet. The fans rally behind Willow as she offers a handshake. Velvet accepts, but then arm- NO! Willow stops the arm-drag, and the next one, then whips Velvet to RUN her over! Willow fires up, the fans cheer, and things keep moving. Velvet runs up to CALF KICK! Willow flounders to a corner and Velvet storms up on her. Velvet fires body shots, then stomps Willow down. The ref counts but Velvet does the splits as she digs her boot in! The fans are torn but Willow pushes the foot away. Velvet runs back up, but Willow dodges to LARIAT again and again! The fans count all the way to TEN!
Willow short arm- NO, Velvet ducks the shot, but Willow ELBOWS her! Willow fireman’s carries, Velvet sunset flips, but Velvet avoids the hip drop! Ghost pin, TWO! Willow FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! A deep bridge, TWO! Not quite perfect but Willow shrugs that off. Willow runs, but Velvet avoids the senton! Velvet hurries to STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Velvet snarls while Willow bails out. Velvet pursues, runs up, and ROCKS Willow! Velvet DOUBLE CHOPS Willow, then CLUBS away on Willow! Velvet reels Willow in, talks trash on the fans, but Willow suplexes instead! Willow stalls then SLAMS Velvet on the floor!
The fans cheer as Willow flexes and high-fives, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Willow drags Velvet up, puts her in the ring, then CLUBS her on the back. Willow stands Velvet up but Velvet fires hands. Willow CLUBS Velvet again, then scoops to SLAM! Willow pushes Velvet down to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Velvet toughs it out but Willow stirs it up. Willow stands Velvet up to CHOP, Velvet CHOPS back, but Willow ROCKS her! Fireman’s carry, AIRPLANE SPIN! Willow goes around and around, then back the other way! Willow then SAMOAN DROPS! Willow says that’s how you stir it up! Cover, TWO! Velvet survives but Willow reels her into a KOJI KLUTCH! Velvet endures, even as Willow puts on the pressure, and Collision goes to break!
Collision returns as Willow has Velvet in a corner. Willow runs corner to corner, but Velvet slips to the outside! Willow ROCKS Velvet first, then goes outside to fireman’s carry! But Velvet fights free! Velvet ROCKS Willow, Willow ROCKS Velvet, and Velvet sits down! Willow fires the fans up, then lines up her shot. Velvet stands up, Willow runs, but Velvet dodges! Cannonball crashes ‘n’ burns!! Willow writhes and clutches her back, but she’s somehow still in this! A ring count starts, Velvet rolls in before 3, but Willow rises up at 5. Willow hobbles her way over, rolls into the ring, but Velvet SUPERKICKS her down! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally as Velvet brings Willow up. Willow shoves Velvet, Velvet counter punches! And counter punches! Velvet fires a flurry, but Willow slips around to waistlock. Willow ducks the elbow but Velvet DDTS! Willow goes to ropes, Velvet runs up, DOUBLE KNEES! The fans fire up while Velvet yanks the ropes. Velvet wheelbarrows to BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Willow survives and Velvet is frustrated. Velvet brings Willow up to ROCK her, then she runs the ropes, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Willow frowns as she scoops Velvet, RAMS her into a buckle, then OKLAHOMA- NO, Velvet DDTS free again!
The fans fire up as Velvet dragon sleepers, STRAIGHT OUT THE- NO! Willow stops Velvet to POWERSLAM through! The fans fire up as Willow gut wrenches, BABE WITH THE POWER- RANA! Velvet puts Willow back on ropes, and DOUBLE KNEES again! Velvet snaps Willow back, but Willow is up! Wheelbarrow and- FULL NELSON SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Velvet survives but Willow keeps on her. Willow ROCKS Velvet, Velvet ROCKS Willow, repeat! Willow rebounds to LARIAT! Both women are down again and the fans fire back up! Velvet rolls away to a corner, but Willow rises up! Willow runs in, Velvet dodges, but Willow BOOTS her!
Willow goes up but Velvet CHOPS! Velvet climbs up after Willow, SUPER VICTORY THROW! The fans fire up as Velvet then STIRS IT UP!! Cover, TWO?!? Willow survives and Velvet is shrieking in anger! The fans rally and duel as Velvet demands Willow to get up! But then Willow ducks the heel kick, and the buzzsaw! Shove, dodge, and POUNCE!! PERIOD! The fans fire up with Willow and she drags Velvet back up. Willow gut wrenches, BABE WITH THE POWER BOMB!! Cover, Willow wins!
Winner: Willow Nightingale, by pinfall (still AEW TBS Champion)
Red Velvet brought the fire, but she couldn’t cook Willow! Willow is now rolling towards Double or Nothing and her match with Alex Windsor, but will she then head for her second Owen Hart Cup win?
Backstage interview with Sammy Guevara.
Lexy Nair is with The Spanish God and brings up how he called out Darby Allin just last night at Supercard of Honor for the AEW World Championship. But just like last night, Sammy hushes “Chica” Lexy, and says, “Everybody’s Favorite Pillar is about to talk, so zip it and listen. Darby, I don’t need to call my shot against you because I looked through the history books, and history’s on my side. I’ve beaten you not once, not twice, not three times, I’ve beaten you four times. When I look at the history books, I’m a three-time TNT Champion while you, you’ve only held that belt twice.
“So I’m gonna beat you tonight like I’ve beaten you before. I’m gonna stamp my ticket to Double or Nothing, and MJF, I know you’re watching, you sociopath. I’m gonna beat you next week and I’m gonna shave you BALD! But don’t worry, I’ll give you a nice little fade. Because I am the best! I am the best wrestler, I am the best talker, I am the best this planet has! I’m the Spanish God, dammit! I’m number one, I’ve been here since day one, and there’s only one way this is gonna go: With me as the NEW AEW World Champion! Darby, your time is up, and my time is now. Because I am Numero Uno. That means ‘number one.'”
Sammy heads out, but is his big head only going to get in the way tonight?
Backstage interview with Darby Allin.
Collision returns and Lexy is now with said AEW World Champion. She brings up the five title defenses in 21 days, an AEW record! But tonight is number six against someone Darby’s known for a long time in Sammy Guevara. Darby says when he showed up today, he asked if anyone had seen MJF yet. Then he thought, “What a stupid question. Of course he’s not gonna be at Collision.” MJF is not a company man, he only cares about himself. And those same people asked back, why is Darby back? Why is Darby defending his title again? Double or Nothing is next Sunday, why is Darby risking losing this? Because Darby loves this!
And if there’s anyone in this company as crazy as Darby, it is Sammy Guevara. Darby loves it! Darby realizes this could all end tonight, and Speedball wants his match on Wednesday? Well, if Darby walks out here tonight, then on Dynamite, it’s Showtime! Darby thanks Lexy then heads back out. Will the Relentless Reign be an unstoppable one? Or is this one Collision Darby will not walk away from?
Something’s going on backstage!
Tommaso Ciampa is CHOKING Mark Briscoe out! The Psycho Killer SMACKS Briscoe off road cases, and says how dare Briscoe call him out! Their brawl now moves onto the stage! The fans boo as Ciampa fires hands on Briscoe as they go down the ramp! Ciampa whips, Briscoe reverses, and Ciampa hits barriers hard! Briscoe stomps away on Ciampa, the fans fire up, and Briscoe whips Ciampa into more barriers! Briscoe throws a chair into the ring, then he drags Ciampa up and in. Ciampa bails out, but Briscoe DIVES! Down goes Ciampa, and Briscoe just throws another chair into the ring! Briscoe CLUBS away on Ciampa, then brings him up.
Ciampa BODY SHOTS, but Briscoe sends Ciampa into the steel steps! Briscoe puts Ciampa in the ring, stomps him, then positions the chairs. Briscoe reels Ciampa in, underhooks, but Ciampa fights the lift! Ciampa then LOW BLOWS Briscoe! The fans boo but Ciampa just scowls. Ciampa then grabs a chair, and he SMACKS Briscoe on the back! Briscoe writhes, the fans boo, but Ciampa just stalks Briscoe to a corner. Ciampa DIGS a chair into Briscoe’s bad shoulder! The fans boo but Ciampa soaks up heat. Ciampa then brings Briscoe up, bumps him off buckles, and hoists him up top. Ciampa CHOPS, Briscoe sputters, but Ciampa gets the chairs!
Ciampa wants to recreate what put Briscoe on the shelf the past month! Ciampa JAMS Briscoe up with a chair first before putting it side-by-side with the other. Ciampa then climbs up, soaks up heat, and vows to end Briscoe once and for all! But then Kyle & Cassidy rush out here! Ciampa runs away from The Conglomeration, but he warns them all that he’ll get them for this! Briscoe grabs a mic to shout at Ciampa, “You ain’t nothin’ but a punk, son! You wanna do it like that? Sounds like to me Wednesday night, the only right thing to do is to make this ANYTHING GOES! NO DISQUALIFICATIONS!” The fans like the sound of that!
The Psycho Killer may have just stepped into it! Will there be nothing stopping Briscoe from doing anything he wants to Ciampa?
Samoa Joe & Anthony Bowens VS Jay Lethal & Lee Johnson w/ Blake Christian!
What a rich history of honor here, as two icons of ROH meet again here on Collision. The Samoan Submission Specialist helped build The Franchise Player’s foundation, and now both men mentor new proteges. But will The Lethal Twist see The Opps are #NeverLacking? Or will Lethal & Johnson make up for how Supercard of Honor went sour?
The teams sort out and Bowens steps up to Lethal. But Lethal says time out, time out, he wants Joe. The fans cheer for Joe, too, and Joe reaches out! Bowens obliges and he tags in Joe. The fans fire up as Joe and Lethal circle, tie up, then Lethal slips around to CHOP! Lethal likes how that went, and he Fargo Struts with Big Shotty. Joe just shrugs it off while the fans chant, “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” Lethal taunts Joe as the two reset, then Lethal slips around, only for Joe to JAB! JAB! JAB! Joe fires fast hands, a KICK, and Lethal flounders away! The fans cheer while Joe digs his boot into Lethal’s face, then scrapes him!
Joe storms up on Lee, Lee backs off, but Lethal bails out. The fans boo but Joe just tags Bowens in. Bowens dares Lethal to come back, but Lethal tags Lee. The fans cheer Bowens as he circles with Lee. They tie up, Bowens headlocks, but Lee powers up and out. Bowens RUNS Lee over, then runs the ropes, but Lee drops down, blows past, and slides under to then headlock takeover. Bowens headscissors, Lee kips free, but roles reverse as Bowens hits a headlock takeover. Lee headscissors, Bowens kips free, but Lee kicks low! Lee mocks the scissor fingers, then whips corner to corner. Bowens goes up, over, but Lee goes up and over in return!
Lee flips Bowens off, but Bowens THROWS Lee to the corner! Bowens CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, then stomps, stomps, stomps! The ref counts, Bowens backs off, and the fans cheer the Pride of Pro-Wrestling as he jukes the ref to stomp Lee again! The ref counts, Bowens stops, and Lee bails out. Bowens goes outside after Lee, but Lethal runs up! Bowens mule kicks Lethal first, then RAMS him into the apron! And again! And again! The ref reprimands, Joe has his guy back off, but he is definitely impressed. Bowens hurries back into the ring to storm up on Lee, but Lee throat chops! Lee goes for a corner but Bowens blocks the bump to give a bump!
Tag to Joe, and Bowens clinches Lee into the RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Joe then runs up to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Lee toughs it out but Joe looms over him. Joe drags Lee up, puts him in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Lethal hurries to soften the impact, Lee runs up on Joe, but Joe dodges Lee so he can CHOP Lethal on the back! Blake gets up, but backflips away before Joe can grab him! Lee HOTSHOT BULLDOGS Joe, and Lethal MISSILE DROPKICKS! The Lethal Twist makes the numbers game work in their favor, but fans boo while Collision goes picture in picture.
Lee RAMS Joe into the corner, RAMS him again, and Lethal tags in. Lethal RAMS Joe again and again, then he tags Lee. The Lethal Twist mugs Joe, Lee stomps away, but the ref counts. Lee backs off, but that lets Lethal and Blake mug Joe! Bowens protests but The Lethal Twist gets away with it all. Lee then tags Lethal back in, and Lethal grabs a leg to trip Joe. Lethal then turns Joe over for the HALF CRAB! Joe endures, reaches out, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! Lethal lets go as the ref counts, but he sucker punches Bowens! Bowens tumbles, Joe hobbles, and Lethal goes after Joe. Joe CHOPS Lethal in return! And CHOPS again!
Lethal puts Joe on the ropes as he CLAWS Joe’s eyes! Lethal talks trash on Joe, then he tags Lee. They CHOKE Joe on the ropes, but the ref counts. The Lethal Twist stops, and Lee bumps Joe off buckles. Lee fires hands, then stomps, but Joe hits back! JAB for Lee, CHPO for Lethal, repeat, but Lee kicks low! Lee RAMS Joe, tags Lethal, and Lethal taunts Bowens before he SPLASHES Joe! Lethal then DROPKICKS Joe down! Lethal mockingly applauds himself, then he CHOKES Joe! The ref counts, Lethal stops, then he clamps on a chinlock. Joe endures while Collision returns to single picture. The fans rally harder as Joe fights to his feet!
Joe fires body shots, but Lethal CLUBS Joe again and again! Tag to Lee, then Lethal sets Joe up, but Joe BOOTS Lee! Joe whips Lethal away, kicks at Lee, but Lee blocks! Lee hands the foot off to Lethal to then ENZIGIRI Joe! Lethal adds a DRAGON SCREW! Lee covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Joe toughs it out, but Lee rains down fists! Joe pushes Lee away, but Lee brings Joe back up. Tag to Lethal, Lethal climbs, and Lethal AX HANDLES Joe on the back! Joe goes to an open corner but Lethal JABS, JABS, and JABS! Joe JABS in return! Lethal KNEES low! Lethal runs, but into the SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up while both men are down!
The fans rally up, and Joe hurries to hot tag Bowens! Lethal hot tags Lee, but Bowens rallies with LARIATS and CHOPS! Then a wrench, clinch, and REVERSE NECKBREAKER on Lee! Then a kick, KICK, and FAMOUSER for Lethal! The fans fire up as Bowens then catches Lee to a torture rack! SWINGING SLAM! Cover, Lethal breaks it! Lethal CHOPS Bowens, then runs, and Lethal dodges Bowens so he can DIVE onto Joe! Lethal hurries back up, but Bowens DECKS him! Lee kicks, Bowens blocks, to Rock, Paper, Scissors, SUPERKICK! Bowens fires up, the fans are with him, and he clinches for the- victory roll from Lee! TWO!!
Lee SUPERKICKS Bowens, then brings him up in a fireman’s carry! ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Lethal MACHO ELBOWS! Lee covers, TWO!! Bowens survives and the fans fire up again! Lethal tags in, he grabs Bowens’ legs, and he steps through. But Bowens BOOTS Lethal away! Lee tags back in, runs up on Bowens, HELLUVA KICK! The Twist then whips Bowens, but Joe saves Bowens from the splash! Bowens LARIATS Lethal! Lee LARIATS Bowens! Joe LARIATS Lee! Lethal LARITS Joe, but Joe doesn’t budge! Joe roars, but Lethal pokes him in the eyes! LETHAL IN- COQUINA CLUTCH! But Lethal JAWBREAKERS free!
Lethal trips Joe, steps through, but Joe trips Lethal up into the COQUINA CLUTCH!! Bowens intercepts Lee, THE ARRIVAL! Roll through, and DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Bowens tortures Lee’s arm, LEE TAPS! Opps win!
Winners: Samoa Joe & Anthony Bowens, by submission
The 5 Tool Player shows the power of Joe’s teachings, but he also gets the mic to say, “For the last year, I have been confused. But I have found solace and clarity in the fact that i Have found a group of men, The Opps, that understand everything I do for this business, everything I do for AEW, and everything I do for you!” The fans cheer, and Bowens continues by saying everywhere he goes, he represents the fans, because he is the Pride of Pro-Wrestling! He is your hero! And to be honest, for everything that he does, he deserves a standing ovation! Joe certainly applauds, and the fans here in Salisbury join in!
Bowens says if you’re asking what this change of attitude is about… This man, Samoa Joe, has been teaching Bowens all he needs to know: choices have consequences; and if you don’t like the way the table is set, you flip that table over and you choose violence! The fans cheer, and now Joe speaks on the mic. “Oh, Ospreaaaay~…! Do you understand what I do for my friends? But unfortunately, decisions have consequences, and you chose a different road, Will. So allow me to say this: I am truly beyond honored that you consider facing me a dream match.” The fans cheer that, but Joe says it’s just unfortunate that when he gets Ospreay in the ring, “it’ll be nothing but a nightmare.”
Joe & Bowens have made it clear that no matter who, no matter where, and no matter what, The Opps will not show mercy. Will nothing stop The Opps from taking it all here in AEW?
Backstage interview with #Brodido.
Lexy Nair is with Brody King & Bandido, and wants to talk the Owen Hart Tournament. Brody is set to face Claudio while Bandido is up against Swerve Strickland. Now, if they both win their matches, that pits them against teach other in the semifinals. But what they also needs to talk about is last night, Supercard of Honor, Bandido retained the title, only for Swerve to attack. Brody tells Swerve that he warned him about what would happen if Swerve messed with the people Brody cared about! Next time Brody sees Swerve, he’ll- Bandido stops Brody there, and says no, no, hermano. Bandido loves you, but this is Bandido’s battle, and Brody needs to respect that.
So Bandido tells Swerve that this is a battle Swerve will not win! Swerve may be the Most Dangerous, but Bandido is the Most Wanted! And after Double or Nothing when Bandido beats Swerve, Swerve won’t be a danger to anyone anymore! Both sides of Brodido have spoken, but will either of them knock down Swerve’s House? Or will Swerve’s thirst for power be satiated with the Owen Hart Cup?
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Eliminator 5 Minute Challenge: The Divine Dominion VS Allie Katch & Kaia McKenna!
Megan Bayne & Lena Kross established just how dominant they are in the first 5 Minute Challenge last week, yet it seems two more poor souls want to test their might. Will Allie & Kaia at least last longer than the previous team? Or will The Megasus & Aussie Amazon score the fatality?
The teams sort out, Megan starts against Allie, and the bell rings. We’re on the clock as Megan and Allie circle, then tie up. Megan powers Allie to the ropes, then CHOPS! Megan whips, Allie blocks the lariat to wrench and PELE! But then Megan just rebounds to SHOTGUN BOOT Allie down! Allie flounders, Megan puts her in the corner, and CLUBS away from all sides! Tag to Lena, she whips Allie back into the corner, then ROCKS her! And ELBOWS her! And fires more elbows! The fans cheer, Lena BLASTS Kaia, then scoops Allie for a SPIN-OUT SIDEWALK SLAM! Lena grins, she drags Allie up, and she tags Megan.
Kaia runs up but Megan scoops her! The Divine Dominion SANDWICH the two, then FALL AWAY SLAM them both! And they SPLASH in the corners! And then another SPLASH! They send their opponents into each other, then DOUBLE LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up as Lena & Megan focus on Allie, DIVINE INTERVENTION! Cover, Divine Dominion wins!
Winners: The Divine Dominion, by pinfall (denies Allie Katch & Kaia McKenna a title match)
It was only one minute and 50 seconds this time, they’re only getting stronger! Will no duo ever remove Megan & Lena from the mountaintop?
AEW hears from the four fighting for the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Kris Statlander says, “At Double or Nothing, I face three women, one who I hate, one who I respect, and one who I’m still not sure about.” The hated one, Thekla, says there’s only one way this ends when she’s up against dumb b*tch after dumb b*tch after dumb b*tch. The respected one, Jamie Hayter, says she had the title stripped away from her and it’s eluded her ever since. And the uncertainty, Hikaru Shida, says even though it is every one for themselves, she knows she and Kris will be on the same page, just like always! Kris says y’know who really has her back? Kris herself! That’s all she needs! Jamie warns Thekla that she’s gonna find out, unfinished business is her favorite kind!
Thekla says Double or Nothing, the Toxic Spider destroys New York! A Fatal 4 Way of epic proportions await, will there be nothing left after the dust clears?
Backstage interview with Athena and Mina Shirakawa.
Lexy Nair is with the ROH Women’s World Champion and the Fighting Gravure Idol, and thanks them for accepting the No Physicality Agreement. They are on a collision course in the opening round of the Owen Hart Tournament, this has gotta be a tough one. Athena says maybe, maybe not, but the facts are this: Athena has been the ROH Women’s World Champion for over 1252 DAYS, and has left of dozens of bodies in her wake. Pretty sure Mina’s one of them. Mina says last year at All In, Athena broke Mina’s hand. Athena says so what! Last year at Death Before Dishonor, she kicked Mina’s ass all over the arena! Why does Mina think this match will be any different?
Mina laughs and says last night at Supercard, when she locked in the Figure Four on her opponent, she dreamt it was Athena. Athena says Mina is dreaming of her! So flattered! But she hopes Mina has the best dream tonight: Mina’s dead body in a ditch, next to her precious Toni Storm! Mina tells Athena that Mina has dreamt of winning The Owen and the AEW Women’s World title, while ending Athena! She can’t dream anymore, because now she will live it! Athena says sure, sure. They argue, but Lexy keeps them from getting physical! Will the Fallen Goddess be unstoppable even in AEW? Or will The Owen will be about #MinaNow?
Backstage interview with Lio Rush.
Nigel McGuinness tracked down The Problem Child, and walks over. Lio says hey, Nigel! Good to see you! He saw Nigel put in that work last night, he did great. He did really good. Nigel appreciates that, that’s what he wants to talk about. Specifically, what happened between Lio and his former tag team partner, Action Andretti. Action cost Lio the ROH World TV Championship, what is Lio’s response? Lio says it’s all fine! It’s fine! These things happen, Nigel. Losses happen, friends get upset. It’s fine. It’s fine. Lio keeps saying that, and Nigel says that is the official response. Lio again says it’s good to see Nigel.
But then Lio takes off his sunglasses to show off those creepy eyes. He smiles, and that black goo drools out… Lio continues to say it’s fine, but is it anything but fine? Or should Action learn to sleep with one eye open?
Six Man Tag: Mark Davis & The Dogs VS The Rascalz!
Before they team up for Stadium Stampede, the AEW National Champion teams with David Finlay & Clark Connors to test their chemistry. Will Dunkzilla, The Rebel & 100 Proof sink their teeth into Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz & Myron Reed? Or will The Rascalz light ’em up and smoke ’em in Salisbury?
The trios sort out and Davis starts against Dez. They circle, but then The Dogs rush in! The ref stops them, Davis runs up on Dez, but Dez dodges! Dez dodges again, SHOTGUNS The Dogs, then SUPERKICKS Davis! Dez jumps on for a SLEEPER, Zach tags in, and Myron helps out as The Rascalz mug Davis! They beat Davis down in the corner and the fans fire up! The ref counts, The Rascalz back off, then Zach tags Dez back in. They double whip but The dogs bail Davis out. The fans boo but The Rascalz run up to TRIPLE BOOT Davis & The Dogs down! Then they build speed, only for The Dogs to CLOBBER Zach & Myron!
Dez DIVES, but Davis catches him! And CHOPS him down! The Dogs beat up on Zach & Myron on the outside, Davis CHOKES Dez with a chair, but the ref reprimands. Davis puts Dez in the ring, Finlay CHOKES Myron while Connors whips, but Zach reverses! Connors hits railing hard and writhes on the floor. Myron whips Finlay into railing, and Dez dodges Davis as Davis runs up in the corner! Dez ENZIGIRIS again and again and again! Then Zach joins in, ENZIGIRI GAMANGIRI SANDWICH! Tag to Zach, they speed blitz Davis, then Myron joins in with a DOUBLE STOMP! The Rascalz combine, but The Dogs catch Dez!
The Dogs use Dez to CLOBBER Zach, and THROW him at Myron! The Dogs whip Zach, DOUBLE ELBOW, then SENTON! SLIDING SHOULDER! Davis SENTONS on top! The fans boo but Davis & The Dogs soak it up while Collision goes picture in picture.
Davis drags Zach up just to CLUB him down. Then he drags Zach up to whip hard into the corner. Davis tags Connors, Connors ROCKS Zach, then ROCKS him again. But Zach hits back! Zach backs Connors down, but Connors UPPERCUTS him down! Connors taunts the fans and The Rascalz, then drags Zach back up. Connors RAMS Zach into the corner, tags Finlay, and Finlay stomps away on Zach. The ref counts, Finlay stops, but then Davis CHOKES Zach behinds the ref’s back! Davis gets away with it, then flexes to soak up heat. Finlay puts Zach on the ropes, backs off as the ref reprimands, but that lets Connors CLOBBER Zach!
Finlay then hoists Zach up, BROKEN ARROW! Zach gets distance from that throw, and Finlay flexes. Cover, TWO! Finlay drags Zach into shoulder claws, and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns as Zach fires body shots on Finlay, but Finlay throat chops! Zach sputters, Finlay tags Connors, and they double whip Zach, but Zach BLASTS Davis! Finlay runs up, blocks a boot, but Zach reels him in, pushes him down, then hops over! Zach then slips under Connors, but Connors gets a leg! Zach BOOTS Connors into Finlay! Zach crawls, but Connors BLASTS The Rascalz! The fans boo but Connors CLOBBERS Zach, too! Connors soaks up heat then drags Zach up. Connors whips, Zach handsprings, JUMP KNEE! The fans fire up, both men crawl, and we get hot tags on Finlay and Myron! Myron ducks Finlay to then dodge and GUILLOTINE LEG DROP!
Myron goes up, up, and he leaps, but Finlay gets under. Finlay blocks a kick, spins Myron, but Myron DRAGON WHIPS! Connors runs up, Myron dodges, and Dez UPPERCUTS! SUPERKICKS! And CUTTERS! Myron runs up on Finlay, whips, but Finlay reverses. Finlay ducks a boot but the SUPERKICK hits! Dez joins in, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! The Rascalz hoist Finlay up, SLINGSHOT NECKBREAKER BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but Myron tags Zach. Zach & Myron get Finlay up for a torture rack while Dez climbs, but Davis SHOVES Dez down! Connors saves Finlay, then Finlay hits an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER on Myron!
Connors SNAP POWERSLAMS Zach! The fans boo but Finlay tags Davis. Davis goes up top, Finlay and Connors get Zach and Myron up in Electric Chair Lifts, but Myron & Zach each POISON-RANA free! Dez goes up to get Davis! SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up while everyone is down around ringside! The Rascalz rise and regroup, then they build speed! TRIPLE TOPES!! The fans are all fired up as The Rascalz get Davis in! “This is Awesome!” as The Rascalz then combine for the SWING OUT TRIPLE DROPKICK!! The fans fire up while Davis is in the drop zone! Zach goes up, Dez tags in, and Zach SWANTON BOMBS!
Dez climbs up top, Myron tags in, Dez FROG SPLASHES! Myron goes up, he adds the 450 SPLASH! Cover, THE DOGS BREAK IT! The fans can’t believe it but The Rascalz go after The Dogs! They TOSS The Dogs out, but then the brawling continues! Finlay fireman’s carries Dez for a SNAKE EYES off the railing! Connors JEEP FLIPS Zach! The Dogs then go after Myron, but he goes Matrix to dodge! DOUBLE CUTTERS on the kip up! Myron runs, FLYING- NO! Davis stops the cutter to LARIAT Myron back in! Then Davis runs, hits the REBOUNDER!! Davis tags Finlay, and Davis PENDULUM DRIVERS! Feed to Finlay for the suplex!
Connors is up top, FULL CLIP!! Cover, Davis & Dogs win!
Winners: Mark Davis, Clark Connors & Davis Finlay, by pinfall
The Savage King warns Chris Jericho and his team that if they want carnage, they’re gonna get carnage! Will anyone survive the star-studded 7 VS 7 Stadium Stampede?
Backstage interview with Anna Jay.
Lexy Nair is with the Queenslayer and commends her on that great return match against Willow Nightingale a couple weeks ago. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop the Comeback Killer. Anna gives all the respect to Willow, her moves hurt. Maybe Anna dove into the deep end, but she didn’t drown. So while Willow is still TBS Champion, maybe Willow isn’t quite the Comeback Killer. Anna came back, is still here, and there is still a lot left for them to do. And by that, she means her and Tay Melo! The besties reunite, and Tay says if Anna is back, and she is back, then there’s one thing they gotta do.
Anna tells if they wanna find out what that is, #JustTryUs! TayJay is back again, but are they going to fight their way right to the Divine Dominion’s tag titles?
AEW World Championship No Count Outs: Darby Allin VS Sammy Guevara!
The Relentless One may have gotten MJF to accept the Double or Nothing challenge, but he is always up for a fight! The Spanish God still has the ROH World Tag Team Championship around his waist, but he wants even more gold to show off to his wife and daughter! Who gets what they want tonight to then head for Queens, New York?
As he makes his entrance, Sammy brings a table out from under the ring and sets it up ringside, planning ahead for the wild fight he and Darby are about to have! The introductions are made, and Darby kneels down with the belt, only for Sammy to STOMP him into it!! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Sammy holds up the belt as if he’s already won it! Sammy puts the belt aside, the bell rings, and Sammy KNEES Darby right outta the ring! Sammy THROWS Darby into railing, THROWS him in again, then goes back to his table! Sammy puts the table by the stage, then he drags Darby up. Sammy THROWS Darby into more railing! And more railing!
Sammy grabs a ladder and he brings it over to his table! The ref reprimands, there are no count outs but there are still disqualifications! Sammy doesn’t seem to care, he still stands his ladder up near that table. Sammy then lines up a shot, and he JUMP KNEES Darby back down! “I’m gonna be the world champion! Me! Not him!” Sammy drags Darby up, puts him on the table, and he rains down fists! Sammy climbs the ladder, goes to the very top, and reminds us that he’s loco! SUPER SWANTON BOMB through the table!! The fans go nuts as Darby and Sammy are both down in the wreckage!
The ref checks both men, and Sammy sits up first. Sammy drags Darby up with a headlock, brings him to the ring, and Sammy covers, TWO!! Darby survives and Sammy is furious! Sammy drags Darby up, torture racks, and GO TO- NO, Darby blocks and turns Sammy over! SCORPION DEATH LOCK!!! Sammy endures, reaches out, but Darby is looking dizzy! Darby falls over?! Sammy grins as Darby sputters, but the ref has Sammy hold on, he needs to check! Darby is conscious but dazed, and Sammy hurries to the apron. Springboard FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Sammy is beside himself!
Sammy pushes Darby to a cover, TWO! Darby refuses to give up, despite how it looks. Sammy puts Darby up top, but Darby fires body shots! Darby HEADBUTTS Sammy down, then adjusts, but Sammy trips Darby up! Darby hits buckle, then apron, then floor! Sammy soaks up the heat while the ref checks Darby again. Darby flounders and crawls but refuses to stop, so Sammy fires hands! Sammy climbs up on Darby but Darby fires hands in return! Darby shoves Sammy, Sammy goes up the steps and JUMP SOBATS! Sammy says #AndNew AEW World Champion! Sammy soaks up more heat, then he drags Darby up.
Sammy puts Darby in the ring, drags him up, then KNEES him low! Sammy grins, suplexes, and that’s just Uno Amigo! That means “One Friend.” Sammy hits Dos Amigos! Then THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! Sammy is frustrated as Darby survives again. Sammy clamps on with a chinlock, not quite a bulldog choke, but Darby is still sputtering for air. The fans rally as hard as they can, and Darby rises up to fire body shots! Darby runs, but Sammy SUPERKICKS! Darby falls, Sammy covers, TWO!! Darby scrambles away but Sammy stalks him, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Sammy digs his boot into Darby’s face at the ropes, but the ref counts. Sammy stops, talks some trash, then stalks Darby to a corner. Sammy drags Darby up, whips him corner to corner hard, and Darby flounders out of the ring. Sammy pursues, drags Darby up, and he talks more trash on the fans. Sammy stands Darby up to ROCK him, then push him around. Sammy drags Darby up and THROWS him into railing! Sammy talks more trash, then walks around commentary so he can take a headset and tell everyone what he’s doing as he does it! He stomps Darby, taunts him, then has to go follow Darby around the way.
Sammy follows Darby into the ring, stands him up, but Darby fires hands! Sammy KNEES low, KNEES again and again, then ROCKS Darby! Darby falls over, but Sammy CHOKES Darby on the ropes! The ref counts, Sammy stops, and Darby coughs and sputters again. Sammy has the legs, he puts Darby under the ring, CATAPULT GUILLOTINE! Darby writhes and coughs again, but Sammy steps out to the apron. Sammy looms over Darby, drags him up by his chain, and Collision returns to single picture. Darby fights the suplex, then blocks a kick to FLIP Sammy! Sammy lands on his feet, but Darby SHOTGUNS Sammy down!
The fans fire up as Darby rises again! Darby has his second wind and he builds speed to DIVE! Into a CUTTER on the floor! Sammy puts Darby back in, Sammy springboards in, but into a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Darby catches Sammy now and the fans fire up! Sammy flails, reaches out, but Darby pushes him down with his body weight! Sammy still endures, crawls forward, and reaches the ROPEBREAK! Darby lets go and the fans rally up again. Fans hope these two “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this has to end somehow. Darby sees Sammy on the apron, and he goes to the corner! Darby climbs, but Sammy rolls to the far side.
Darby hops down, waits on Sammy to stand, and he runs up, but into an eye poke! Sammy hoe up, and he APRON DOUBLE STOMPS Darby down! Cover, TWO!! Sammy is frustrated but he drags Darby up to the top rope. Sammy climbs up to join Darby, but Darby fights the suplex! They trade body shots, and Darby SHOVES Sammy! Sammy backflips through! Sammy is right back up top, SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Sammy crawls to the cover, TWO! Sammy clutches his knee and grits his teeth. Sammy brings the kneepad down to release some pressure, then stands up. The fans rally as Sammy hobbles over to Darby, but Darby JAWBREAKERS!
Sammy staggers, Darby runs up and fires forearms! The fans fire up as Darby roars and runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Darby wobbles, Sammy runs, but Darby blows past! Springboard and COFFIN SPLASH! The fans fire up again as Darby fires fast hands, RAMS low, then hops on, CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! Sammy survives and Darby is stunned! The fans rally up as Darby has Sammy in the dragon sleeper! But Sammy fires knees, snapmares free, only for Darby to ELBOW him away! Darby climbs, but Sammy SUPERKICKS the legs! Torture rack and GO TO HOSPITAL! Darby staggers around, but Sammy torture racks again! GO TO HOSPITAL!!
Darby flops down and Sammy goes to the corner! Sammy goes up top, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Sammy has no words, English or Spanish, but Darby flops out of the ring. Sammy goes out after Darby, and he brings out the other table! The fans rally as Sammy brings it over to set up by ringside. Sammy makes sure it is angled just right before he puts Darby on it. The fans boo, but then Sammy goes to the corner! Sammy climbs, reminds us again that he’s loco, and Sammy SUPER 630s only through the table!! Darby avoids disaster, then he puts Sammy back in! COFFIN DROP!!! Cover, DARBY WINS!
Winner: Darby Allin, by pinfall (still AEW World Champion)
As if his reign wasn’t wild and reckless before, Darby just doubled down with Sammy here tonight! And yet, he’s now set for a showdown with Speedball in Portland! Will no one and nothing stop Darby Allin from doing this again and again? Or is he about to write a check his body can’t cash?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision that not only fed Double or Nothing but did a great job following up ROH Supercard of Honor, assuring fans that ROH does matter after all, despite the lack of building contenders and therefore new champions. I mean, Athena is STILL champion, even when Survival of the Fittest was the best way to dethrone her while protecting her. But good interaction from Athena and Mina ahead of their Owen Hart Cup match, and if Athena is going to still be champion even now, she might as well just be a finalist already. On the other end, it’d be great if Willow also got to the finals to potentially be a two-time Queen of Harts.
Speaking of Willow, great promo with Conglomeration, great match with Red Velvet, but with Velvet still the ROH Women’s World TV Champion, it makes sense that Willow retains her title. Great Six Man Tag from Conglomeration VS Shane Taylor Promotions, and The Conglomeration’s win helps them build momentum towards all their stories. Very good promo from Kyle, very good promo from Death Riders, and I feel like Kyle should at least last the 20 minute time limit to earn his title match with Moxley for Double or Nothing. Meanwhile, Cassidy & Roddy are NOT winning against FTR, FTR has to settle things with Cope & Christian first.
Ciampa going after Briscoe, that whole brawl, and then Briscoe upping the ante for Dynamite, that No Disqualification match is going to be awesome. Very good tag match of Joe & Bowens VS Lethal & Lee, with a good win for The Opps. Very good promo from Joe & Bowens after, and a very good promo from Ospreay, too. Joe VS Ospreay could be a show stealer, but I would think Ospreay wins so that his story with The Death Riders can be part of the Owen Cup. TayJay being back together is great, and I can see them going right at Divine Dominion and easily lasting the five minutes to then earn their title match later on.
Great Six Man Tag of Davis & Dogs VS Rascalz, but with Stadium Stampede looming, naturally Davis & Dogs won to bring momentum for their team. I’d expect The Demand to have their own tune-up for the three-hour super show go-home next week, but they might’ve announced that tonight if that were the case. Very good promo from Lio Rush to further this Jekyll & Hyde/Smeagle & Gollum type of gimmick for him. For those who didn’t watch Supercard (or haven’t read my article on it), Action Andretti turned on Lio Rush and partially blamed Lio’s new dark side for it. RIP CRU, we hardly knew you, but Action VS this Lio is going to be great stuff between AEW and ROH programming.
And of course, another insane instant classic from Darby Allin as he and Sammy use No Count Outs to get hardcore. Good bit of selling from Darby to tease his body giving out on him, but naturally he wins out. They might do a similar spot during his match against Speedball on Wednesday to make it seem MJF has a chance of taking the title at Double or Nothing.
My Score: 8.9/10
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So, Gunther, whaddya wanna talk about?
Gunther didn’t like the way things went last week on SmackDown, but will he still choose to join up so he can challenge Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Trick Williams w/ Lil Yachty VS The Miz w/ Kit Wilson; Trick wins.
- Brie Bella & Paige VS Giulia & Kiana James; Brie & Paige win.
- Carmelo Hayes VS Ricky Saints; Melo wins.
- Damian Priest VS Tama Tonga; Priest wins.
- Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss VS B-Fab & Mia Yim w/ Jade Cargill; Charlotte & Alexa win, by disqualification.
- Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Match: GUNTHER VS Royce Keys; Gunther wins and will challenge for the title at Clash In Italy.
PLAY BY PLAY
Trick Williams is here!
The University of South Carolina fires up and chants for “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” as their hero has returned home! The WWE United States Champion has Lil Yachty and Cocky the Gamecock with him as he goes to the ring. Trick gets the mic, has them cut his music, and says straight outta South Cac and doesn’t know how to act, Trick Willy has come back to Columbia, South Carolina! Representing WJ Keenan High, and the University of South Carolina, he grew up right here on these streets. He remembers driving up Trick Notch Road, cutting right to his favorite restaurant, Kiki’s Chicken ‘n’ Waffles, and he’d get the special sauce! The sauce so good, you gotta eat while standing up!
And ol’ Trick would get the wings, and he’s a big man, 6’5″, 250 pounds, the sauce would drip down past his three chains, his eight abs, and onto his two… lemon pepper steppers! Trick continues by saying playing for the Gamecocks, he had a lot of good days, some not so good days, but his family’s here. And Mama told him, “Boy, you are a king created by God Almighty. Never forget who you are or whose you are, don’t ever let ’em break you!” So from WWE to Kiki’s Chicken ‘n’ Waffles, to Mama, look at the star you’ve created! But then THE MIZ makes his entrance! He is accompanied by Kit Wilson, and the fans boo.
The Miz tells everyone, “Oh my gosh, it’s a homecoming! You even brought out Cocky the mascot! Last week was the Gingerbread Man! Trick, your whole career is starting to look like rejected mascots for my daughter’s birthday party! Is this WWE or Sesame Street? What’s next? Is Big Bird gonna come out? And people say they have trouble taking ME seriously.” Yachty says this is Miz’s problem, coming out here to disrespect Trick Williams in his homecoming to his hometown of Columbia, SC, in front of Trick’s friends and family! Y’all got some nerve! That’s why you got beat up by the Minihausens, and why you’re cursed.
Miz says he is NOT cursed! The fans chant “You Are Cursed!” “Whoop Dat Trick!” Yachty says Miz sounds cursed. Kit shouts, “WAKE UP! WAKE UP! You clearly aren’t understanding what the master is saying, so maybe I will speak to you in a language you can understand: SLAM POETRY!” The fans boo again, but Kit has his notebook out. “Kit Willy” says they wouldn’t last a day on the streets where he grew up. Kit from Buckinghamshire England is gonna lyrically mess you up! “Trick ‘n’ Yachty, you’re two obnoxious folk. That’s two egos The Miz will never stroke. This town is filled with bros and nasty jocks, only to be united by the love of their toxic Gamecocks!”
The fans boo but Yachty says he wants to try that. The fans cheer Yachty on, Trick says hit ’em with it! Yachty says on their tombstone, it’ll read Kit Wilson: Better Known for Assisting The Miz. They already completed this biz, they don’t even know who Kit is, but Kit’s tan got him yellow, like the road to The Wiz. Y’all ain’t handsome as we is, which is why they’re sick. It’d be a shame we show Columbia how to Whoop Dat Trick. Yachty is a diamond platinum artist, he done it all. Oh, they’re made Trick came out with Cocky, cuz Miz has lil’ tiny balls! The fans cheer that! Kit says no, they’re MASSIVE! The fans disagree.
Miz puts his hand up and asks if they know what that means! When his hand goes up, your mouths go shut! He is so sick of this! They’re not bringing Tiny Balls back, there is no curse, and Miz wants to get out of this dumpster fire of a city with their stupid chicken! If Miz lived here, he’d volunteer to move to Tennessee! The fans boo, but Miz says get a referee out here right here, right now, cuz Miz is gonna whoop Trick’s ass in front of his mama! Kit says he’s- TRICK SLAP on Kit! HAYMAKER on Kit! Then Trick ‘n’ Yachty DUMP Kit out! Trick LARIATS Miz up and out! Columbia is thunderous, but will Trick still give Miz the fight he wants?
Trick Williams w/ Lil Yachty VS The Miz w/ Kit Wilson!
SmackDown returns and while non-title, Trick and Miz are indeed having their fight. The bell rings, the two tie up, and Trick powers Miz back with his height as leverage. Miz pulls hair to turn things around, but the ref reprimands and counts. Miz lets off to shove Trick, but Trick SHOVES Miz down! The fans cheer, Miz swings, but Trick dodges to CHOP! Miz headlocks, Trick powers up and out, then Trick hurdles, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and LEAPING LARIATS! The fans fire up with Trick while Miz flounders to the apron. Trick storms over, brings Miz up, but Miz HOTSHOTS back! The fans boo but Miz hurries up to the apron.
Miz climbs up the corner, soaks up that heat, but then the chant of “TINY BALLS!” throws Miz off. Miz leaps, but into a BODY SHOT! Trick fi res haymakers and an UPPERCUT! Trick whips, Miz reverses, then Miz kitchen sink knees! Miz hits a basement BOOT, then he rips off his shirt to show off his own abs. Miz CHOKES Trick on ropes, backs off as the ref counts, but then Miz runs to STRADDLE ATTACK! The fans boo but Miz mocks the Williams family. Miz goes back to Trick to stomp away, but the fans still mock his “TINY BALLS! TINY BALLS!” Miz frowns, runs, but Trick avoids the kick! Trick gets up, JUMP NECKBREAKER!
The fans fire up again as Trick has Miz in the corner. Trick fires haymakers, then winds up to TRICK SLAP! Miz sits down, the fans cheer the mudhole, but Trick stops as the ref counts. Miz staggers to his feet, takes a swing, but Trick ducks it to back suplex. Miz lands out, FIN- NO, Trick arm-drags free! Miz bails out before a Trick Shot can land! Trick hurries after Miz, they cat ‘n’ mouse around the outside, but Trick avoids the dropkick! Trick UPPERCUTS Miz, THROWS him into barriers, then THROWS him into more barriers! Trick puts Miz back in the ring, but Kit UPPERCUTS Trick behind the ref’s back!
The fans boo as Kit hurries away. Yachty warns Kit but Kit flexes and swivels at him. Yachty is upset but Miz WERCKS Trick with a dropkick after all! Miz taunts Yachty, knowing he can’t do anything, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Yachty says yeah, okay, Miz, real tough. Yachty leaves Miz alone, Miz THROWS Trick into barriers! The fans boo and give thumbs down but Miz just drags Trick to his feet. Miz puts Trick against barriers, right in front of Mama & Papa! Miz talks trash, then winds up, but Trick dodges! Trick CHOPS away on Miz right in front of the family! The family cheers Trick on, then he THROWS Miz into the LED apron! Trick then pushes Miz into the ring, stalks him to a corner, and CHOSP! Trick whips corner to corner, Miz stops short, and Miz BOOTS Trick in return! Miz smooths his hair and dusts himself off before he goes back to Trick.
Miz looms over Trick, taunts Mama, and even blows a kiss before he runs. BASEMENT BOOT! Miz then says he has MASSIVE balls, but Yachty don’t believe that. Miz drags Trick up, brings him in, and suplexes, only for Trick to block! Trick fights the lift, then he suplexes Miz up and over! The fans cheer while both men are down! Miz and Trick stir while Yachty and Kit coach each of them up. The fans rally, both men sit up, and Trick fires a haymaker! Miz fires back, SmackDown returns to single picture, and the shots keep going! Miz rebounds to ROCK Trick! Trick rebounds to UPPERCUT Miz! Trick fires haymakers and an UPPERCUT!
The fans fire up as Miz staggers, into the LEG LARIAT! And LEG LARIAT! Then a scoop and SLAM! Trick stands tall, has the wristlock, and the fans cheer as Trick lets his hair down! Cartwheel and ripcord, into the BOOKEND! Cover, TWO! Miz survives and Trick is surprised. The fans rally for Trick and he drags Miz up. Miz throat chops back! The fans boo but Trick returns, only to be sent into buckles! But Trick drops down to victory roll! TWO, then Miz kicks legs out! BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO! Trick survives and Miz is stunned! The fans rally up, but Miz waits on Trick. Trick sits up, into “It Kicks!”
The fans taunt Miz with “Tiny, Tiny Balls~!” but Miz scowls. Miz winds up, but Trick ducks the buzzsaw to roll Miz up, TWO! Miz runs up, into a FLAPJACK! Trick kips up and the fans fire up again! Trick is feeling it, and he aims from the corner. But Kit trips Trick up! Miz O’Conner Rolls, TWO! Trick has it, TWO! Miz catches Trick to the FINALE!! Cover, TWO?!? Miz can’t believe it as Trick survives his best shot! Kit protests on the apron, but this lets Miz sneak out and go looking under the ring. The fans boo but Miz has a kendo stick! Miz sneaks into the ring with it, but Yachty snatches it from Miz! The fans cheer but Kit rushes over!
Kit runs up on Yachty, but Yachty SMACKS Kit! And TOSSES him over the desk! Miz is furious, but here comes Trick! Miz dodges, but the TRICK SHOT finds him on return! Cover, Trick wins!
Winner: Trick Williams, by pinfall
Now South Carolina has another reason to celebrate with Trick! The champ wins in front of his family and friends here in Columbia,
Backstage interview with Carmelo Hayes.
Cathy Kelley is with H1M, saying his in-ring return will be against Ricky Saints. How is Melo feeling? Melo says he’s been gone for a month, but he’s seen SmackDown. Guys like Sami Zayn and Trick Williams are making a mockery of that US Championship, the title that Melo took so much pride putting in the work and building up the prestige. He is listening to the people, they want Melo, so you got Melo. When he shoots, he don’t miss, and he’s aiming for that US Championship, let’s talk about it. But then Ricky Saints steps in and says let’s talk about how Saints didn’t even get a proper welcome from Melo.
Melo asks what Ricky needs a hello for. Melo isn’t running for president, he just wants that title back. Saints says well, the thing is, since Melo was gone on vacay, the world’s different. There are new tenants in the building. Oh, are there? Well, when it comes to the ring, Melo is the landlord, and rent is due! Saints tells Melo to ask Aldis about him, ask Cody Rhodes about him. Melo says he’s looking at Saints and sees exactly what he is. Melo will say something: this place has a funny way of humbling people just like Saints, and even like Melo. It may not happen tonight, but it will happen one day, and that is absolute.
Oh, Melo is going to humble Ricky? Ricky doesn’t need advice. Melo needs a lesson! And the best teacher is right in front of H1M! Saints heads out, and Melo says it’s like looking in a dirty mirror. Melo is ready to get back in that ring, but will he get back to his winning ways?
Nick Aldis talks with Rey Fenix.
The SmackDown General Manager is very proud seeing The Immortal Firebird tear it up in Mexico with AAA. Fenix says he promises he has eyes on something big. Then Aldis looks forward to it. Fenix steps out, but Sami steps in. And Sami says he knows he lost at Backlash, and he is ashamed of himself. He did things very out of character, very underhanded, and the pressure of everyone treating him different got to him. But this is a wake up call, where Sami needs to go back to who he really is. So he is just asking for another rematch for the US Championship so he can do it the right way this time.
Aldis says he appreciates all that, but the thing is, Sami just had his rematch. So what comes next is Sami earning it. E-Earn it? Oh, so everything he’s done isn’t enough? They can go the past couple of weeks, months, or how about even YEARS?! Or is everyone so quick to forget?! Y’know who doesn’t forget? The Ride or Die Sami fans! Sami just wants to redeem himself for their sake. Aldis says no one has forgotten, certainly not him. We all know how good Sami is in the ring. But the thing is, Sami is clearly dealing with stuff, so he needs to go deal with it. Right now, all Aldis is getting from Sami is entitlement.
E-Entitlement?! Sami is about to go off, Fenix tells him to tranquilo. What’s going on with Sami? Sami says nothing! He’s the same guy he’s always been! It’s everyone else around here! Fenix asks what, how? Fenix barely recognizes Sami. Fenix storms off now, Sami grows frustrated, but there’s no water bottles to smack. Does Aldis have a point? Does Sami have to work on himself before he can get back to the gold?
Brie Bella & Paige VS Giulia & Kiana James!
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions know the rosters of both brands are after them, and Cathy Kelley interviews them at gorilla position about it. How do they feel knowing that the target on their backs just keeps getting bigger? Brie says they love it, but yes, it feels like you’re in a shark tank and everyone wants a piece of you. Fatal Influence, even Giulia & Kiana up next. This coming Monday, they defend the titles against Judgment Day. Paige says it has taken them years to get these bad boys, and they refuse to give them up so easily. But in step Irresistible Forces. Nia Jax says they’re rooting for the champs.
Paige & Brie doubt that, but Lash Legend says of course they want Paige & Brie to win. Same for Monday, too. Because then, Saturday Night’s Main Event, the Irresistible Forces get their rematch for the titles Paige & Brie stole. They don’t wanna beat anyone but these two and take back what is theirs. And also- The music interrupts, Brie says sorry, but there’s someone they have to beat. Brie & Paige head to the ring, will SmackDown be all about #ScreamMode?
The teams sort out and Brie starts against #MissManagement. The bell rings, the two circle, and the two tie up. Kiana SHOVES Brie down, then taunts her. Brie brushes that off, resets with Kiana, and they tie up. Kiana KNEES low, then whips Brie to the corner. Brie goes up, under, then BODY BLOWS! Brie clinches to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Brie brings Kiana over, tags Paige, and the fans cheer as the champs double whip. Brie whips Paige in, but Kiana ELBOWS her away! Kiana goes up and over but Paige mule kicks Kiana, then Brie BULLDOGS! Paige KNEES Kiana down, then covers, TWO! Kiana toughs it out but Paige stays on her.
Kiana throat chops Paige, tag to the Beautiful Madness! Giulia suplexes, Paige fights free, but Giulia kicks and kicks and fires hands in the corner! The ref counts, Giulia backs off, but then Giulia jukes the ref to ROCK Paige! Giulia reels Paige in, snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Paige toughs it out but Giulia stays on her. Giulia whips, Paige ducks ‘n’ dodges, then she slips around to mule kick! Paige snapmares Giulia, runs again, and basement DROPKICKS! The fans cheer and Paige fires up, ‘This is MY house!” Paige storms over to Giulia, goes to the apron, and brings her through ropes to KNEE again and again and again!
Paige glares at Kiana, shoves Giulia in, but Kiana then YANKS Paige down! The fans boo but Giulia hurries to POST Paige! Giulia & Kiana are on the same page beating up on Paige, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns as Giulia hoists Paige up top. Giulia then positions Paige just right, SMACKS her, then climbs up after her. Paige fires body shots in return, then HEADBUTTS! Paige SMACKS Giulia off buckles, then goes up, up, and SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMBS! Both women are down and the fans fire up again! Paige and Giulia crawl, reach out, hot tag to Kiana! But then Paige dodges, hot tag to Brie! Brie goes up, up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kiana flounders, Giulia is back, but Brie dodges to KNEE low! Brie fires KNEE after KNEE, then sits Giulia down. “BRIE MODE~!” KNEE for Kiana! KNEE for Giulia!
Brie hits another KNEE on Kiana, then the fans join in on “YES! YES! YES!” Brie fires off Yes Kicks back and forth between her opponents! But Kiana ducks the buzzsaw! Kiana fireman’s carries, Brie slips free to kick and BELLA BUSTER! Cover, Giulia breaks it! Brie TOSSES Giulia out for it, then ROCKS Kiana! And ROCKS her again! Brie whips, Kiana KICKS back, Giulia tags in! Brie dodges Kiana, ROCKS Giulia, but the CODE BREAKER leads to the NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, Paige breaks it! Kiana kicks and TOSSES Paige, then tags back in. Giulia & Kiana drag Brie up, bring her around, but Paige is back already!
Kiana dodges, but that lets Paige TACKLE Giulia out of the ring! And Brie rolls up Kiana! TWO, and Kiana SUPERKICKS Brie! Then STANDING MOONSAULT but onto knees! Brie turns thigs back around, CRAVAT SMASH and Paige is in! RAMPAIGE DDT!! Cover, Paige & Brie win!
Winners: Brie Bella & Paige, by pinfall
Giulia & Kiana came in with a game plan, but the champs pull through! But will Paige & Brie still be champions after Monday Night Raw? Or will Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez bring these belts back to Judgment Day?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Cathy is now with the Women’s United States Champion and says there are an abundance of alliances in the women’s division today. As a singles competitor, where does Tiff see herself fitting into it? Tiff says if she had to guess, she’d be like, “What is-” Wait, Giulia and Kiana shouting kinda distracts her. Well, if those are the kinds of teams Tiff has to go up against, she’ll be just fine. Unlike them, Tiff is just fine on her own. If they wanna play the numbers game, then- Now Chelsea Green steps in. The Hot Mess says she’s been looking for Tiff. And Tiff says yeah, just the person she was looking for, too. Because Tiff was just saying she doesn’t like being partnered up.
Oh, Tiff is talking about Giulia & Kiana, right? Chelsea says yeah, that is so embarrassing. But they’ve been bickering ever since Tiff, the second greatest Women’s US Champion, beat both of them. Tiff says yes, but sometimes some people just aren’t meant to be in a team. And some are just oblivious to that fact. Chelsea says Tiff is so right. That’d never be them! Right, because they’re not meant to be a team. Tiff leaves, Chelsea processes, and Chelsea says that’s just so them. She’s so funny… Chelsea does her best to brush that off, but will she have to accept Tiffy has no time for team-ups?
Cody Rhodes is here!
Columbia sings along with Kingdom as The American Nightmare makes his entrance, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, he has the Undisputed WWE Championship with him, but also a contract folder. Three guesses as to what it’s for. Cody gets his second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro, but he’s busy getting himself some armchairs and a table! The fans cheer as Cody is willing to put in the work to set up his own contract signing! Cody puts the chairs in place, then sets the contract and belt on the table! The fans cheer, and Cody grabs a mic. “Columbia, South Carolina! Whaddya wanna talk about?
“I have all of the formal ingredients for a contract signing! That’s what we got here: a contract for Gunther to come to SmackDown; a contract for a WWE Championship match at Clash in Italy; and that’s what we’re gonna do, folks, right here, right now!” The fans cheer that, and here comes Gunther! Gunther tells Cody, “Do you know how much time and work it took to set up that deal? Do you know how much strategic planning, how much foresight, how much negotiation went into all of this? I mean, we’re talking the roster transfer of the best wrestler in the WWE! And still, and still, you find a way to make it all about yourself. Just like a typical American!”
The fans boo Gunther, but he says he shouldn’t be surprised. He sees it on Cody’s neck every week! When the attention is not on Cody, Cody cries, complains, and finds a way to make it about himself. But not with Gunther! This is Gunther’s deal, this is his title match, and that will be HIS title. So, golden boy, all Gunther needs Cody to do is be professional, address him nicely, and don’t forget to say, “Please.” It’s very simple. Cody repeats back, “Simple? Simple.” Let’s not forget that Gunther is the one who got the drop on Cody, who got Heyman to do him this favor to get the title shot he didn’t even earn, and then Gunther wouldn’t sign in Jacksonville!
And now, Gunther’s basically saying he’s not signing here in Columbia, either! And yes, Cody is the one with a US flag tattoo on his neck, but GUNTHER is the one who is making this weird. So here’s the thing, Cody is making it simple: This is the contract here, in this ring, and he has to come in here to sign it. If Gunther wants Cody to say please, then PLEASE, come to the ring, sign the contract, so that he’s guaranteed to get his ass kicked in Italy! The fans cheer that! Gunther says okay, Cody. He noticed the “please” but Cody didn’t mean it. So Gunther will help Cody rephrase this: Please, Mr. Gunther- WAIT, Royce Keys is here?!
The fans cheer as The Powerhouse steps out on stage, then smirks as he looks at Gunther. “If you won’t sign it, I will!” Royce pushes Gunther aside, goes to the ring, and he looks at the contract. Cody nods and says okay, fair enough. Skip the SmackDown contract, go to the title match. But then Gunther storms in and snatches the pen! Gunther argues with Royce, Royce takes the pen back, but Gunther takes it back again! Royce and Gunther get forehead to forehead and Royce dares Gunther to sign it then! Royce SHOVES Gunther, and Aldis says whoa, this is quite the situation developing here.
But Gunther is right, this whole process was very simple. That is a contract for the title shot at Clash in Italy. It’s supposed to have Gunther’s name on it. But Gunther has yet to sign it, so as far as Aldis is concerned, Gunther’s overplayed his hand and now the shot is up for grabs! So here’s what we’ll do: tonight, Gunther VS Royce Keys, and the winner gets to sign on the dotted line to face Cody for the title! The fans fire up for that! Gunther is furious but this is on him. Cody tells Royce he is proud of him, they’re good friends. But Cody will tell Royce like he is telling Gunther, Cody is easy to find, hard to beat. Royce stares Cody down, but will they meet in Turin, Italy?
MFT watches this from backstage.
Solo Sikoa did not expect that. But listen, the tag titles can wait. They understand the assignment? Tama, do you understand the assignment? Tama nods and Solo says good. R-Truth isn’t cleared to compete tonight, but Priest is still waling. Tama is gonna take him out tonight. And Talla, let’s go talk with Royce. Talla follows Solo as he steps out, and in steps Shinsuke Nakamura. He tells Tama that Nakamura knows Tama’s decision. But then Talla CLOBBERS Nakamura! Talla THROWS Nakamura into road cases, and he says he warned Nakamura! CHOKE SLAM down through a table! Refs and producers rush in, but the damage is done.
Talla leaves Nakamura behind. Did he just take the King of Strong Style off the board? Or will this only bring the wrath of Strong Style down on his head?
Gunther argues with Aldis backstage.
Aldis points out that they had a deal, Gunther didn’t go along with it! He’s the one being unprofessional and going back on his word. That much of Heyman must’ve rubbed off on Gunther, but here’s what he forgot to tell Gunther: Don’t play games with Aldis! As far as Aldis is concerned, Gunther now has to earn his shot! Gunther says Aldis should be thankful he’s even here! Gunther is furious, but he should be blaming himself. Will he now lose his golden opportunity? Or can he topple the Powerhouse before it’s too late?
Carmelo Hayes VS Ricky Saints!
The chase for the US Championship is on, and Melo wants to prove this division is still about workhorses, not show horses! But will he have to show Saints that directly? Or will this be an Absolute victory in Columbia?
The bell rings and Saints fires off on Melo in a corner! Saints CHOPS, then he CHOPS again. Melo pushes Saints, Saints kicks low and CLUBS him! Saints whips, Melo reverses, then drops down to hurdle over. Melo arm-drags Saints, but Saints arm-drags back! Saints avoids the arm-drag, but Melo dodges the dropkick! Melo misses a kick, but he ROCKS Saints to DROPKICK after all! The fans cheer, and Melo stalks Saints to a corner. Melo stands Saints up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS again! Melo brings Saints around, bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS again! The fans cheer but the ref counts, and Melo brings Saints around.
Melo whips, Saints reverses to kick low and CLUB Melo again. Saints wrenches Melo, goes up the corner, and gives a little Old School! The fans are torn, but Saints AX HANDLES Melo, then LARIATS him down! Saints strikes his pose, but he’s stinging from those chops. Saints stands Melo up to CHOP, then he whips Melo to ropes. melo stops himself, then DUMPS Saints out! Melo avoids a shot to then KICK! FADE AWAY JUMPER! Saints tumbles to the floor while the fans cheer Melo. Melo builds speed, FLIES, and down goes Saints! Melo almost overshot his target, but he high–fives fans as he stands up, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Melo grabs his own merch shirt shirt and brings it over to a young fan to give it to them personally. The fans applaud, and Melo CHOPS Saints. Melo puts Saints in the ring, stalks him to ropes, but the ref has Melo hold on. Melo is annoyed, he storms up anyway, but Saints FLAPJACKS Melo to HOTSHOT him off the ropes! Saints then drags Melo up, drags him out of the ring, and scoops to SNAKE EYES off the apron! Saints puts Melo back in, then puts him along the apron for a GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! Saints then taunts the fan Melo gave the shirt to! Saints hurries to get Melo up, but Melo CHOPS him away!
Melo runs up, but Saints BOOTS Melo down! Cover, TWO! Saints is frustrated but he drags Melo up and around. Saints reels Melo in to snap suplex! Saints smooths his hair while he smiles, then he pushes Melo to a cover, TWO! Melo is tougher than that but Saints stalks him to a corner. Saints stands Melo up, whips him corner to corner, then runs up, but into an ELBOW! Melo reels Saints in and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Saints toughs it out, but Melo brings him up to whip. Saints ducks ‘n’ dodges to LARIAT in return! Cover, TWO! Saints is annoyed but he keeps close. Saints brings Melo up, kicks low, then puts Melo in a corner.
Saints fires off haymakers and body shots, but the ref counts. Saints hoists Melo up top, climbs up after him, but Melo CHOPS! Saints ROCKS Melo, Melo ROCKS Saints, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Saints climbs, goes to the very top, but Melo uses that for the SUPER GOURD BUSTER! The fans fire up as Melo then adjusts, aims, and FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Saints survives as Melo hits an almost five-star one of those, but the fans rally up again. Saints goes to a corner, Melo to the other. Melo runs up, FIRST- NO, Saints stops that and ROCKS Melo with a forearm! Then NORTHERN LIGHTS DRIVER! Cover, TWO!!
The fans rally as Melo survives, but Saints clamps onto a chinlock. We get a picture in picture with Pressure: The Untold True Story of D-Day. Saints squeezes Melo tight, enduring the pressure Saints is putting on, and we return to single picture. Saints shifts to have a top wristlock included. Melo still endures, fights up, and the fans cheer as he arm-drags free! SUPERKICK! Melo then SUPERKICKS again! Saints rebounds, Melo fakes him out, and Melo KICKS, to then SUPERKICK after all! The fans cheer Melo on and he takes a bow. Melo waits on Saints, runs up to whip, but Saints reverse. Melo springboards to FLYING LARIAT!
The fans fire up with Melo and he goes to another corner. Saints rises, Melo runs up, DIRTY DIANA! Cover, TWO! Saints survives the facebuster but Melo keeps his cool. Melo rises, Saints staggers, and Melo reels Saints in. Melo suplexes but Saints blocks! Saints fires body shots, suplexes, but Melo cradle counters! They roll, roll, TWO! Saints blocks a kick to BOOT Melo, then whip and scoop, POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Saints shouts in frustration as Melo survives! Saints slaps Melo around, then stomps him. Saints drags Melo up, reels him in, and REVOLUTION- NO, Melo denies the DDT, FIRST 48!! Cover, TWO!!
Saints survives and Melo is beside himself! The fans rally harder and Melo forces himself to go up a corner. Melo wants that game winner, and NOTHING BUT- NO! Saints dodges! Saints runs up, gets Melo, REVOLUTION DDT!! Cover, TWO?!?! Saints is pissed but Melo is showing that championship toughness! Saints reels Melo in, Canadian Racks, but Melo fights it to a fireman’s carry! But Saints slips free, shoves, and then wrenches! Saints whips Melo hard into buckles, then rolls him up, FEET ON ROPES! The ref sees that in time and says NO! The fans boo Saints while he argues with the ref.
Melo rolls Saints up! Cover, AND FEET ON ROPES! Melo wins!!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall
Turnabout is fair play, and Melo snatches one from Saints the way Saints tried to snatch one on H1M! When and where will Melo get his shot at the US Championship?
R-Truth talks with Royce Keys.
Truth tells Royce that he knows he’s getting ready for the biggest match of his career, but Truth wants to thank Royce. And damn, he big. But thanks for helping out with MFT. They’re building a new clubhouse for the New Judgment Day, Royce can fill out an application and Truth will make sure to approve him. Clubhouse? Is Royce gonna be stealing boxes on his day off? Well, Royce will think about it. Royce heads out, Truth says yeah, think about it, dawg. Then Priest walks in and asks what that was about. Truth says Royce can join the Judgment Day 2000, dawg! Uh, Priest isn’t even gonna touch what Truth just said.
But what Priest wants to know is what’s up with Royce. As Priest sees it, Solo has MFT taking everybody out. They took Priest out, they took Truth out, and they even took out Shinsuke. But when Royce is around, he’s not touched. Now, Royce may have Truth’s trust, but not Priest’s. Priest just wants Truth to be careful. Truth says fair enough. And he apologizes for last week, because Priest was right; Truth goes out there, MFT used him to get to Priest. It won’t happen again. Well it won’t happen tonight, because Truth isn’t even medically cleared. Whatever happens happens, but at least Priest knows Truth will be safe.
Priest heads out, Truth says he loves Priest! Will the Archer of Infamy be able to shoot down The Good Bad Guy? Or will Solo’s Right Hand Man get the upper hand here tonight?
Danhausen walks the halls.
And the Very Nice, Very Evil Overlord pushes aside some light stands. He thought he told them to clean the place up. Oh, right, the Minihausens already took their PTO. A call comes in on the old timey phone, and he says yes, the experiment for Backlash was a resounding success. Hey, how’d you get this number? Never call here again! Bye. Wait, is the machine still active? Danhausen says yes, something bigger, better, larger! Danhausen’s life’s work! Wait, is Danhausen doing a Frankenstein!? Danhausen taps on his computer, some sparks fly, but that seems to be a good thing. Just what is he going to cook up next?
Damian Priest VS Tama Tonga!
The WWE Tag Team Champions have been fighting nonstop, and that continues here tonight. Will Priest get payback for what happened last week? Or will MFT make it clear they are still dangerous?
Speaking of dangerous, Tama attacks before Priest is ready! The fans boo and the bell rings as Tama fires off fists in the corner! The ref counts, Tama stops at 4, and he throws his shirt off, only for Priest to grab and THROW Tama! Priest fires off hands of his own, then takes his jacket off. Tama fires back with more hands, then whips, only for Priest to reverse and ELBOW Tama down! Priest hauls Tama up, wrenches and whips, but Tama KICKS back! Priest guzels Tama, Tama breaks free, but Priest ROCKS Tama! Tama rebounds, slides under and trips Priest to a cover, TWO! Priest JUMP ROUNDHOUSES and Tama’s down!
The fans rally as Priest stalks Tama to the ropes. Tama gets away to the outside, but Priest goes out the other side. Priest runs in around the way, but Tama leaps off the steel steps! Tama CLOBBERS Priest first, then soaks up the heat, while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns as Tama has Priest up top, only for Priest to throw body shots. Priest HEADBUTTS Tama, then he drops down to ROUNDHOUSE Tama! Priest steps inside, CLUBS Tama, then lifts Tama in the crucifix! But Tama spins around to have a SLEEPER! Priest stays up to RAM Tama into the corner! Priest throws Tama away, Tama comes back, but Priest ELBOWS him away. Tama ROCKS Priest, then blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! VENENO DDT! Cover, TWO! Tama grows frustrated, but he pie faces Priest around. Tama talks trash, then SMACKS Priest! Priest is mad now and the fans fire up!
Tama swings, Priest counter punches! And counter punches again and again! Priest ROCKS and whips Tama, Tama reverses, but Priest RUNS Tama over! Priest kicks, Tama blocks, but Priest BELL CLAPS and ROUNDHOUSES! Then a clinch for the FLATLINER! The fans fire up while Priest runs up on Tama, ELBOW in the corner! Priest then suplexes for the BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Tama survives but Priest stays focused. Priest winds up the arm, the fans rally up, and Priest runs the ropes, but Tama bails out! The fans boo but Priest just goes back out the side. Priest runs in again, and this time, Priest POUNCES Tama onto the desk!
Tama takes a tumble and the fans fire up with Priest! Priest drags Tama up, brings him around, and puts him in the ring. Priest rallies the fans as he climbs the corner, but he gets wobbly! Tama hits the ropes and that makes Priest fall back! Tama then drags Priest up, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO! Priest survives the ace, but Tama still has cards to play. Tama underhooks Priest, lifts, but Priest fights that to lift Tama! Tama fights, sunset flips, but Priest grabs him by the neck! Priest drags Tama up, but Tama fires elbows! Priest comes back to LARIAT! The straps come down and the fans fire up! Guzel and SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest wins!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall
But then TALLA TONGA BOOTS PRIEST DOWN! The fans boo as MFT are sore losers1 Solo Sikoa prepares his thumb and Talla hauls Priest up! SAMOAN SPIKE!! The fans boo harder as MFT stands over Priest with no one there to save him. But will MFT regret trying to tear down #WepaUp?
Sami Zayn vents to someone.
Aldis calling Sami entitled, for simply asking for a rematch. As if everything Sami has done for this place isn’t enough. He swears, things are changing around here, it is not what it used to be. Y’know who feels it the most? Guys like us. Johnny Gargano is still depressed planking. Sami says remember when wrestling was a thing. When being great at this, giving your all, the fans would always be on your side! You were guaranteed to rise, because cream always rises to the top! Remember when that mattered? Candice LeRae stops Sami here. This is not working. If we’re talking entitled, Candice is entitled to a husband who doesn’t just lie around all day!
But whatever! Candice storms off, Sami says home must be a mess. But don’t listen to that. Don’t listen to the noise. Tune it out. You gotta remember who you are, and whatever you do, don’t let anyone take that from you. Ever! Sami leaves Gargano to his stupor, but then Gargano’s eyes look his way. Is what Sami said getting through to Johnny Wrestling?
Blake Monroe speaks.
“I’m not your hero, I’m The Glamour. The starlet on the marquee, the champagne soaked Cinderella of WWE. And to every woman in that locker room, you’ll see the difference between me and you.”
Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss VS B-Fab & Mia Yim w/ Jade Cargill!
Whether it’s the tag titles or THE title, The Queen & Lil’ Miss Bliss want to get back on top. However, the same can be said about The Storm and her Baddies. Will Fab & Michin remove the obstacles on their path so that they and Jade can take it all? Or will #Charlexa prove they’re more than ready for another opportunity?
But before the match, Jade grabs a mic and tells everyone to wrap it up. “Everybody acts so tough when Jade Cargill ain’t in the building. But when my music hits, everybody seems to get real quiet. You see, Rhea Ripley found that out last week. Pressure busts pipes. And at Clash in Italy, I bust champions, too. The WWE Women’s Championship is coming home with me.” The fans boo and Jade says she loves it. Y’all know why! Because Jade’s #That- WAIT, Charlotte’s entrance interrupts that catchphrase! The fans cheer as Charlotte is then joined by Alexa, and they have mics now. “They don’t wanna hear you talk, babe.” “Cuz this is Flair Country, right?” The fans cheer and “WOO~!”
So here’s the thing, they’ve been doing this dance for a few years now. And last week, Jade finally pissed Charlotte off. So let’s play. Oh, look! The back-up dancers! Where’s Rhea? Funny how someone can talk so loud yet get so quiet when they get pump-kicked in the face. Wow, funny stuff. Aren’t Jade’s back-up dancers supposed to be making Jade look good? What’s going on here? Ow, that was mean, Blisster. But seems they’re here to do Jade’s dirty work. And since they have a match, Charlotte knows Columbia is tired of hearing Jade talk. She knows Charlexa are tired of hearing her talk, and even Jade’s girls are tired of hearing her talk!
So maybe Jade should just take a seat and take some notes. WOO~! Jade says right, okay, well, let’s get the ref out here and let’s take some notes. And please, entertain Jade, because she’s the one getting bored. The match is finally set to begin, but who will win? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns as the bell rings, and Charlotte steps to Mia. They circle, feel things out, and the fans “WOO~!” Charlotte smiles, Mia frowns, but the two tie up. Charlotte waistlocks to SLAM Mia down. Mia fights up to the ROPEBREAK, and Charlotte lets go. Mia bails out, Fab is there to talk it out, but Charlotte gets the fans to “WOO~” again. Charlotte holds the ropes open for Mia but Mia refuses to accept. Charlotte backs away, Mia step sin, and they tie up again. Charlotte waistlocks for another SLAM! Charlotte ducks an elbow, back suplexes, but Mia lands out. Mia CHOP BLOCKS Charlotte, a very Flair move to do!
Mia takes aim and PELES Charlotte down! Mia bumps Charlotte off buckles, talks trash, then bumps her off buckles again. “That’s your queen?!” But then Charlotte bumps Mia off buckles! And CHOPS! Mia hits back but Charlotte GAMANGIRIS! Charlotte scoops but Mia slips free to THROW Charlotte down by her hair! Mia sits Charlotte up to ROCK her, SMACK her, then runs to RANA! Charlotte staggers up, Mia SPIN KICKS Charlotte down! Mia drags Charlotte up, runs the ropes, but Charlotte avoids the dropkick! Charlotte headscissors to THROW Mia around again and again! Charlotte then kips up and the fans fire up!
Mia scrambles away while Charlotte struts, then she tells Jade, “SUCK IT!” Fab tags in, Charlotte tags Bliss. The fans cheer as Alexa dodges Fab to drop toehold, then she SMACKs, ROCKS, KNEES, and SHOTGUNS Fab down! The fans cheer, Alexa KNEES Fab in the back and against the ropes! Alexa snapmares, then INSULT2- NO, Mia gets in the way! Fab dodges the senton to then LARIAT! Fab drags Alexa around, rains down fists, and she talks trash on the fans. Fab steps on Alexa, drags her around, and whips her to a corner. Alexa BOOTS in return, then goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES, but into Fab’s arms! Fab hits a SWINGING SLAM, then covers, TWO!
Alexa survives but Fab has a sinister smile, and Jade likes what she sees while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again as Mia DROPKICKS Alexa! Mia taunts Charlotte, then jukes the ref to sucker punch! Charlotte is furious but the ref stops her, letting The Baddies mug Alexa! But Alexa ELBOWS Fab, dodges Mia, and hurries to her feet. Alexa ELBOWS Mia away, but Mia hurries to grab a wristlock! Mia kicks low, scoops Alexa, but Alexa swings through to DDT! Both women are down and the fans fire up! Alexa and Mia crawl, hot tags to Fab and Charlotte! The fans fire up as Charlotte goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES Fab! The fans “WOO~” as the CHOPS fire off on Mia and Fab, back and forth!
Charlotte just CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, then she runs to LARIAT Fab down! The fans cheer Charlotte, she talks trash on Jade, and she scoops Fab for the EXPLODER! Then a kick to Mia, for an EXPLODER! Charlotte kips up, tells Jade to “SUCK IT!” again, then flexes as she steps on Fab. Charlotte goes up, up, but Jade distracts her! Fab YANKS Charlotte down! Fab BOOTS Charlotte to the corner, tags Mia, and Mia goes up! MISSILE DROPKICK! Mia hurries to drag Charlotte back over, tags Fab back in, and The Baddies DOUBLE BOOT! High stack, Bliss breaks it! The fans fire up as Bliss hurries away.
Jade is frustrated but Mia HOTSHOTS Charlotte behind there’fs back! B-Fab O’Conner Rolls, TWO! And Charlotte has th elegs! FIGURE FOUR, but she has to let go as Mia runs up! The elbow drop misses, and Charltote LARIATS Mia up and out! Fab waistlocks, Charltote switches, but Fab elbows free! Alexa tags in, Fab wrenches to HOOK KICK Charlotte! Fab whips, Charlotte goes up and out to BOOT Mia! BOOT for Fab, and Bliss is there! Mia YANKS Charlotte from the apron while Bliss hits TWISTED SISTER DDT! Cover, but Jade YANKS Alexa out, then DCKS her!
Winners: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, by disqualification
Jade didn’t want her team losing so she goes and hands Charlexa the win instead! Mia drags Charlotte up, but Charlotte CHUCKS Mia over the desk! And then she BOOTS Fab outta the ring! Now it’s just Queen and B1tch! Jade stands down, so Charlotte goes to check on Alexa. When and where will these two alpha females finally fight it out?
Fatal Influence watches this backstage.
Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid are not exactly impressed, but Cathy Kelley steps in for a quick interview. Ever since these three arrived on SmackDown, they’ve made quite the impact. Did the rest of the locker room expect them to be this impactful this quickly? Fallon says in this business, you’re either predator or prey. And let’s be honest, they’re at the top of the food chain. Plus, all these so-called teams act like best friends, but The Influence knows that deep down, no one can stand each other. As for The Influence, it is the complete opposite. They’re a unit, loyalty is their currency. And soon enough, it will pay dividends when they’re draped in gold.
As for the rest of the locker room, take this as a warning: It is only a matter of time before you fall at their feet! The Influence heads out, will SmackDown soon be completely under their control?
Charlotte & Alexa regroup backstage.
Last week, Charlotte tolerated Rhea, and she is really working hard on being a team player. Where is Rhea this week? Alexa gets that, but they’re still outnumbered. Fatal Influence, Irresistible Forces, The Baddies. Charlotte says they’ve been outnumbered for like six months! Alexa says they need help. Charlotte thinks on how to put this. Does she look like an “I need help” kind of person? She doesn’t think so. Alexa says no, she isn’t, but they are outnumbered, and Rhea still owes them. Alexa has an idea, just trust her. Well, Alexa’s gotten Charlotte this far. The Queen follows Alexa’s lead, but just what is the plan?
Solo finds Royce preparing backstage.
Solo claps and says, “Aight. Aight. Yeah, big match tonight, huh? Big match tonight against Gunther. Now listen, I can help you beat Gunther. Hmm? I can help you become champion. How does that sound? I know you like that, right? But look, don’t listen to Jacob, okay? Listen to me, follow me. Me and you can be running SmackDown and taking over everything. Because I hate to see whatever happened to Shinsuke happen to you.” Royce puts down the resistance band and tells Solo that he’s got this, aight? Aight. But spoilers, Jacob said the same thing. Solo leaves, Royce scowls, but will Royce prove to everyone that he has the keys to success all on his own?
Undisputed WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Match: GUNTHER VS Royce Keys!
Der Ring General perhaps hypocritically accused The American Nightmare of making everything about himself, but his arrogance almost completely cost him his golden opportunity. Will Gunther now earn the match he wants with Cody Rhodes? Or will Royce take everything that he wants?
SmackDown returns Gunther waits in the ring. Gunther talks trash on Royce, even as Royce makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Royce manages to power Gunther back. Gunther turns things around in the corner, the ref counts, and Gunther pie faces Royce. “Who you think you are, huh?!” Royce SHOVES Gunther down! Gunther bails out, the fans fire up, but the ref keeps Royce from going after Gunther. Royce dares Gunther to come back, but Gunther takes his time. They circle, but then Gunther bails out. The fans boo but Gunther seems to need another breather.
Royce waits on Gunther, the ring count climbs, but Gunther storms back inside. The two circle, then approach, but Gunther kicks Royce low. Gunther headlocks, Royce powers up and out, and the two RAM shoulders! Royce makes the pecs dance, but Gunther CHOPS! Gunther headlocks but Royce endures the grind. Royce powers up, powers out, and RAMS shoulders with Gunther again! Royce runs to RAM Gunther! Gunther rebounds to RAM Royce, but Royce rebounds to RUN Gunther over! The fans fire up as Royce storms up, but Gunther CHOPS! Royce shakes it off?! Gunther CHOPS again, and now Royce is getting mad!
Gunther CHOPS, but Royce grabs that arm! Royce fires forearms on Gunther, then JABS in the corner again and again! The ref counts, Royce whips corner to corner, but Gunther BOOTS back! Gunther runs, but Royce scoops him! The fans fire up for the OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO! Gunther bails out, the fans boo, but Royce dares Gunther to come back again. Gunther has some blood in his teeth, has he finally met a man that makes him the underdog? Royce then goes out after Gunther, whips him into barriers, and Gunther falls in a heap! The fans fire up again as Royce storms over. Royce high-fives fans, then whips Gunther into more barriers!
Gunther sputters as Royce walks over to him. Royce refreshes the count, then drags Gunther up. Royce whips Gunther over the desk! The fans fire up again while Gunther sputters on the floor, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Royce drags Gunther up, shoves hm into barriers, then again refreshes the ring count. Royce whips Gunther, but Gunther reverses, and Royce hits steel steps hard! The ref hurries to check Royce while Gunther rolls into the ring. Royce is somehow able to continue, so the ring count starts again. Gunther staggers around while the count climbs, and Royce sits up at 5 of 10. Royce crawls at 7, drags himself up, and Gunther wants the count to go faster! Royce lunges in at 9.9! Gunther storms over to Royce, and KICKS his arm! Royce writhes, but Gunther drags him from the ropes. Gunther KNEE DROPS on the arm!
Royce writhes again, clutching the elbow, but Gunther paces. Royce fires a body shot, a haymaker, and repeat! Royce backs Gunther down, but Gunther wrenches the bad arm to CLUB it! Royce drops down, but Gunther clamps on a top wristlock! Gunther puts on the pressure, but Royce fights up, up, and scoops! But Gunther cranks on the bad arm! Royce still tries, but Gunther fights free of the scoop, to UPPERCUT the bad arm! Royce falls to his knees while Gunther soaks up the heat. Gunther paces around Royce, then stalks Royce to ropes. The ref has Gunther stay back, but then Gunther stomps Royce’s shoulder!
Gunther hauls Royce up, winds up, and short arm LARIATS! Royce stays on his feet, and as SmackDown returns to single picture, Gunther short arm LARIATS again! Royce is still up, Gunther tries again, but Royce dodges! Royce LARIATS Gunther down! The fans fire up for Royce while he and Gunther rise again. Gunther CHOPS and Royce falls! The fans boo but Gunther just soaks up that heat. Gunther paces around Royce, drags him up, and reels him in. Royce blocks the suplex! Royce tries to suplex, but Gunther blocks! Royce powers up, but Gunther wrenches out to CHOP! Gunther tries again, but Royce suplexes after all!
The fans fire up while both men are down again! Both men rise, and Royce fires shots with the good hand. Royce whips, Gunther reverses, and Gunther KNEES low! Gunther whips and KNEES again! Gunther then reels Royce in, and CHOPS him down! Cover, TWO! Royce toughs it out and Gunther scowls, but the fans rally again. Gunther TOSSES Royce out, then soaks up more heat. Royce crawls as the count climbs, but Gunther steps out to the apron. The ref reprimands but Gunther stomps Royce’s arm. The fans boo as Gunther taunts Royce. Royce stands, Gunther runs up, but Royce blocks the kick! And he YANKS Gunther from the apron!
Royce carries Gunther to the desk! WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM on the desk! And again! And again! Then Royce hauls Gunther back into the ring! The fans rally up as Royce runs, but Gunther BOOTS him! Gunther runs, but Royce avoids the boot! Gunther is stuck on the rope, Royce SPLASHES! Royce whips corner to corner, Gunther comes back, LARIAT! Gunther hurries up a corner, but Royce meets him up there! SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down! Royce crawls to a cover, TWO! Gunther survives and now Royce has some blood in his teeth. Royce drags himself up, the fans rally harder, and Royce storms his way over to Gunther.
Royce LARIATS but Gunther stays up. Royce LARIATS back and forth, front and back, but Gunther ducks one to SLEEPER!! Royce gasps, reaches out, but Gunther drags him down! Royce flails, reaches out, and the fans rally as hard as they can, but Gunther just squeezes tighter! Wait, SOLO is here? Solo coaches Royce to keep fighting, and it’s working! Royce has his second wind! Royce powers up to his feet, but Gunther CLUBS him and reels him in! But Royce BACKDROPS free! Gunther LARIATS, Royce LARIATSW, repeat! Then Royce dodges to LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Royce fires those sandwiching LARIATS again!
Royce winds up to LARIAT, and down goes Gunther! Cover, TWO!! Gunther survives but Solo tells Royce to keep going. Royce SPLASHES Gunther, whips him corner to corner, then SPLASHES again! Royce scoops, but Gunther slips free! SLEEPER!! Royce is fading again, but Solo keeps shouting for him to fight! Solo gets the fans to cheer harder, that’s new… Royce fights up again, fires body shots, but Gunther CHOPS! And CHOPS! Royce rebounds to POUNCE Gunther, but into the ref!! Solo says now’s the time! Royce brings the straps down, but Solo sends a chair in! The fans boo, but Royce does think about it.
Royce CHUCKS the chair at Solo! But then Gunther CLUBS Royce! And he LARIATS! Then a GUNTHER BOMB!! Cover, Gunther wins!
Winner: Gunther, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Championship)
Solo tried to help Royce, but their, uh, difference of opinion, just cost Royce. Will Solo have to apologize profusely to the Powerhouse? Meanwhile, Gunther has the shot at Cody he wanted, and he tells Cody that there is nothing he can do about what’s coming for him in Italy! But while Gunther has tunnel vision with the camera, Cody slides in! CROSS RHODES!! The fans cheer the champ, and Cody “welcomes” Gunther to SmackDown! Will the American Nightmare survive the Austrian Anomaly when they Clash in Italy?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown to pivot from Backlash and head for Clash In Italy. While it was pretty clear we were getting Cody VS Gunther, I really like how they made it official here. Cody making his own contract signing segment was great, and Royce getting involved was really good. There have been a handful of occasions where someone found an opening to hijack a contract signing, and then that main event match was awesome. I also liked how Solo was almost a Face here, supporting Royce in fighting Gunther. But because Solo is still Heel, he insisted on cheating to win, and that screwed Royce up.
Depending on how badly Truth is hurt, if he’s really hurt to begin with, I feel like we need a Six Man Tag of Priest, Royce, and Nakamura VS MFT, and that is the moment Tama breaks away from Solo. As such, that was a really good match from Priest VS Tama, good win for Priest, but of course MFT beats him up with Truth is unable to even go ringside, and Nakamura was already taken out by Talla beforehand. Meanwhile, it sounds like we’re getting more Six Woman Tags while sorting out contenders for Rhea’s title. Jade lets #Charlexa win just so she could do some damage, but clearly Rhea will help out again so settle things with The Baddies.
Very good promo from Brie & Paige with Nia & Lash before that very good tag match. Obviously Giulia and Kiana are falling apart at the seams, but it was also good stuff to have them cameo in Tiffany’s promo with Chelsea. Maybe teams wouldn’t need to break up and others form if TKO & WWE didn’t cut some legit talent that could’ve been in the tag division, but corporate greed can never be defeated. But if nothing else, Tiff will surely face Chelsea, Giulia, and Kiana for the US Championship, probably in a Fatal 4 Way of some kind.
Speaking of US Championships, great stuff for Trick in his homecoming. Miz & Kit stepping up was good stuff because it let Yachty show off his own skills, and then Trick gets a great win in front of his hometown crowd. Melo VS Saints was awesome, too, great win for Melo. A Trick VS Melo feud would be great stuff, but also feels like SummerSlam level stuff, so there need to be some feuds to hold them over until then, and if we get more of Trick VS Miz, more of Melo VS Saints, mixing and matching while getting others in the conversation, that’d be great stuff. Night of Champions could even be an opening for a Fatal 4 Way of their own.
And Sami continues to do great things with his anti-Face, anti-Heel character work. He tries to show his good side when asking nicely, but his bad side comes out pretty quickly after he doesn’t get his way. Him talking to Gargano is great, too, and it feels like they’re using this to snap Gargano out of his funk, too. And if this doesn’t lead back to the US title, I could see this work leading Sami to the top title in time for a SummerSlam match.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Today In Pro Wrestling History: May 17th
There's a few interesting events in the article today, but one is the starting point for the longest World title...
Former WWE Star Reveals How Company Tests Wrestlers for an “Attitude Problem”
A former WWE star took to social media to explain, in brief, how WWE evaluates its talent to determine whether...
WWE Backlash Match Sparks “Clone War” Debate in Wrestling Community
Wrestling fans and insiders are abuzz after a match at WWE Backlash was accused of “copycatting” a formula previously used...
Thekla Says AEW Became the “Perfect Fit,” Citing Tony Khan in Decision to Re-Sign
AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla revealed that Tony Khan’s promotion has become the “perfect fit” for her, a realization that...
Swerve Strickland Targets ROH Champion Bandido Ahead of Owen Hart Cup Match
AEW’s Swerve Strickland fired several warning shots at ROH World Champion Bandido as the two prepare to collide in the...
Ronda Rousey Reflects on WrestleMania 35 Main Event, Cites Lack of Preparation Time
Ronda Rousey has opened up about her feelings surrounding the historic WrestleMania 35 main event, calling it a career-defining moment...
Matt Hardy Reflects on Kofi Kingston’s WrestleMania 35 Triumph and the New Day’s Influence
Matt Hardy praised Kofi Kingston’s emotional WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 35, calling the KofiMania run a defining moment for...
Kit Wilson Opens Up About Emotional Toll After Being Left Off 2026 Royal Rumble
WWE’s Kit Wilson admitted he struggled emotionally after being left off this year’s Royal Rumble card, saying the omission from...
Kevin Nash Slams TKO’s WWE Stewardship, Says Only One Thing Would End His Involvement
Veteran Kevin Nash has publicly criticized TKO’s handling of WWE, taking aim at the promotion’s current direction under Paul Levesque...
Jeff Jarrett Says Orange Cassidy Excels at Mixing Character and In-Ring Work
AEW veteran Jeff Jarrett praised Orange Cassidy as the standout performer in modern wrestling when it comes to blending distinctive...
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