Royal Rumble 2023
Date: January 28, 2023
Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Attendance: 51,338
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves, Pat McAfee

As usual, it’s hard to believe that a year has passed since this show and now we get to see how it holds up. There are of course two Royal Rumble matches, plus Kevin Owens getting another title shot against Roman Reigns. The bigger story though is Sami Zayn, who has been having some issues with Reigns, his Bloodline boss, coming into the show. Let’s get to it.

Musician Hardy talks about knowing what it takes to become someone. We get some previews of the show’s big matches. Well as many big ones as you can on a card with five matches. Hardy says when you get the chance, kick the door down.

The announcers welcome us to the show….and Pat McAfee is here as a surprise commentator. Graves is FURIOUS and Cole sounds shocked that he’s here. Cole isn’t sure how McAfee could be here when he talked to him on Face Time earlier today. McAfee: “Yeah I lied straight to your face.” Graves’ reaction alone is worth a listen as he won’t stop yelling.

Men’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals with Gunther in at #1 and Sheamus is in at #2. Believe it or not, they go straight to slugging it out with a collision not getting anywhere. Gunther tries to toss him out so Sheamus rakes the eyes for the break. The Irish Curse isn’t enough to get rid of Gunther and it’s the Miz in at #3. Since it takes about thirty seconds to get to the ring, Gunther is back up and trying to toss Sheamus before Miz can even get inside. Miz finally runs inside and gets chopped down by Gunther, leaving Sheamus to hammer Gunther in the corner. Sheamus and Gunther try to toss each other until Kofi Kingston is in at #4.

Kingston high crossbodies Miz and Gunther and kicks Sheamus in the face for a bonus. Back up and Sheamus sends him to the apron but can’t get rid of him just yet. No one can get rid of anyone else so Johnny Gargano is in at #5. The slingshot spear hits Kofi and there’s an enziguri to Miz. For some reason Gargano loads up some forearms to Miz’s chest, only to have Sheamus glare him away. Some kicks to the face put Miz out, leaving a bunch of people to go after Gunther.

Xavier Woods is in at #6 and New Day starts to clean house on everyone else. Kofi and Woods tease fighting each other but do a….we’ll call it a dance I guess. Karrion Kross is in at #7 and goes after Woods (after another rather slow entrance, which is starting to become an issue as it takes time for anything to happen). Gunther BLASTS Kross with a clothesline but he’s right back up, meaning it’s time for a slugout with Sheamus. Chad Gable is in at #8, who gets into an amateur match with Woods, who for some reason thinks this is a good idea.

Gable German suplexes Woods down but gets decked by Kofi as Drew McIntyre is in at #9. The reverse Alabama Slam sends Gargano down onto Gable as commentary mocks Sheamus and McIntyre’s team name, which may or may not be an adult film company. McIntyre Claymores Kross out and gets to trade chops with Gunther. Santos Escobar is in at #10, giving us Gunther, Sheamus, Kingston, Gargano, Woods, Gable, McIntyre and Escobar at the one third mark. Escobar goes after Gable but has to slip out of Sheamus’ forearms to the chest.

Angelo Dawkins is in at #11 and McAfee seems rather intrigued. Gunther kicks Woods out but Escobar saves Gunther from Kingston for some reason. Kingston hits a pop up double stomp to Gunther’s chest, only to be sent outside and onto a chair. The idea is for one foot to stay on said chair…but yeah he’s out anyway. Not that it matters as Brock Lesnar is in at #12 and smashing is likely to ensue. The suplexes start fast and there go Escobar, Dawkins and Escobar.

We get the Lesnar vs. Gunther staredown and the fans REALLY like that one. Since we don’t have enough power in there at the moment, Bobby Lashley is in at #13. Lesnar suplexes Gunther but walks into a spear from Lashley, who takes down almost everyone else. A clothesline gets rid of Lesnar, which somehow didn’t set up a Wrestlemania rematch. Baron Corbin is in at #14 as Lesnar wrecks ringside.

Lesnar also wrecks Corbin, including an F5 on the floor. Things slow down in the ring and it’s Seth Rollins in at #15. Rollins throws Corbin inside and quickly eliminates him, which has McAfee very happy. Sheamus and Rollins slug it out as Otis is in at #16. Otis gets to run some people over as commentary makes sumo references. Rey Mysterio is in at #17…or not as he doesn’t show up. Rollins gets rid of Lashley in a bit of a surprise and here is Dominik Mysterio, with Rey’s mask (suggesting an attack) in at #18.

Otis is tossed during the entrance as commentary yells about how much they can’t stand Dominik. After Dominik finally gets in, Elias is in at #19 (McAfee is a big an) and goes after a variety of people. This includes breaking a guitar over Gunther, because that is a good idea. A simultaneous Claymore and Brogue Kick put Elias down and what’s left of him is eliminated.

Finn Balor is in at #20, giving us Gunther, Sheamus, Gargano, McIntyre, Rollins, Dominik and Balor. Dominik and Balor get together to dump Gargano but get stared down by Sheamus and McIntyre. Booker T. is in as a surprise at #21 and fires of some kicks into the Spinarooni. Then Gunther eliminates him without much trouble. Sheamus and McIntyre beat on Gunther (who has a cut on his back) as Damian Priest is in at #22.

That doesn’t go anywhere so it’s Montez Ford in at #23 and taking his time to get to the ring. Ford goes after the Judgment Day and is quickly tossed by Priest. Edge is in at #24 and yeah that gets a big reaction. Judgment Day gets speared down and Edge tosses Priest and Balor without much trouble. Dominik breaks up a Rollins vs. Edge showdown, allowing Judgment Day to pull Edge out as well.

Austin Theory is in at #25 but he pauses to get in as Edge has to beat up Judgment Day near the entrance. Cue Rhea Ripley to jump Edge but Beth Phoenix pops up to spear her down. Theory finally gets in and Omos is also in at #26. Sheamus and McIntyre are waiting on him but they get dropped without much effort. Gunther is the only one left to go after Omos but the chops only have so much effect. With Omos as the only one standing, Braun Strowman is in at #27.

Strowman staggers Omos with a right hand and puts him out with a running clothesline for the big elimination. Theory is sent flying into the corner and it’s Ricochet (Strowman’s partner) in at #28. Strowman uses Ricochet as a projectile but gets pummeled but Sheamus and McIntyre. The two of them get together and forearm him in the chest, with Gunther making a weird save. Gunther can’t get rid of McIntyre or McIntyre….but he can eliminate both of them at once. Wrestling is weird for you.

Logan Paul is in at #29 (big reaction) and gets jumped by almost everyone left in the ring. Paul gets away and hits a heck of a Buckshot Lariat on Ricochet but Gunther gutwrenches Paul to the apron. That’s broken up so Paul has to slug away at Strowman, who powerslams him down. Ricochet adds the shooting star but Paul is sent through the ropes instead of over.

Cody Rhodes is in at #30, giving us a final grouping of Gunther, Rollins, Dominik, Theory, Strowman, Ricochet, Paul and Rhodes (that’s a nice number for a final grouping). The pace picks up and Rhodes hits the Cody Cutter on Theory. After firing the weight belt into the crowd, Rhodes has to counter Three Amigos into Cross Rhodes. Dominik is out and Ricochet cuts Gunther off. Ricochet and Paul wind up on opposite aprons and springboard in at the same time for a heck of a mid air collision.

Cody and Ricochet get rid of Strowman but Theory dumps Ricochet to get us down to five (Rhodes, Theory, Rollins, Gunther and Paul, with the latter on the floor). The Stomp hits Theory and Rollins gets rid of him, giving us the Rhodes vs. Rollins vs. Rhodes staredown. Gunther breaks that up and gets double teamed, including a pair of Pedigrees. Rather than dumping Gunther, they fight each other but both miss finishers.

Then Paul comes back in and dumps Rollins as we’re down to three. Rhodes ducks the big right hand and hits Cross Rhodes on Paul for the elimination, leaving us with Rhodes vs. Gunther. Rhodes strikes away but the Disaster Kick is clotheslined out of the air. Gunther puts him on the top to stand on his throat and put him on the apron. Rhodes goes up top and gets toss superplexed right back down.

That’s enough to start Rhodes’ comeback and the Cody Cutter connects, setting up a running clothesline to put Gunther on the apron. Rhodes goes after the leg ad hits Shattered Dreams but Gunther is back with the running dropkick. The powerbomb plants Rhodes again as Gunther looks to be on fumes. The sleeper on the apron has Rhodes in more trouble, only to have Rhodes pull him outside as well. Back in and Rhodes is chopped out of the air but he’s fine enough to hit Cross Rhodes. A running clothesline finally gives Rhodes the win at 1:11:40.

Rating: A-. This was a pretty awesome Rumble with Gunther having the career making (because his career wasn’t made yet) performance. He was virtually unstoppable and only went down when someone who was in the match for almost an hour less took him out. Other than that, you had Sheamus and McIntyre as the monster pairing who kept fighting with everyone. The star power was strong and the action was very good, making this a great match with an excellent final sequence to boot. Heck of a Rumble.

We recap Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight. Wyatt was back after a long hiatus and wants to be respected. Knight isn’t impressed and violence has ensued.

LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt

This is the Mountain Dew Pitch Black match, which means neon lights and anything goes. Knight charges at him to start and gets hammers down, setting up the big toss into the corner. It works so well that Wyatt throws him out of another corner, meaning it’s time for a breather on the floor. Knight manages a whip into the steps but Wyatt sends him over the barricade.

Wyatt loads up a suplex off the steps but Knight drives him through the announcers’ table, with all of the neon stuff popping up or a weird visual. With Knight bailing into the ring, Wyatt throws a toolbox inside as well, seemingly hinting at violence. Back in and the BFT is blocked so Knight hits him with a kendo stick. Not that it matters as Knight charges into Sister Abigail for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: D. To say things have changed in the last year is a major understatement but there isn’t much of a way around the fact that this match wasn’t very good. It was a bunch of slow motion fighting and then the finish came pretty much out of nowhere. The lights were a different way to go and I’m sure WWE liked the check it brought, but the match was rather nothing.

Post match Bray puts on another mask and Knight runs away, with some kendo stick shots not having any impact. Wyatt catches him near the production area and gives him the Mandible Claw. Then Uncle Howdy pops up on top of a platform and dives onto Knight, with flames coming out of the hole. Then full size versions of the Firefly Funhouse characters look down from the platform.

Tonight’s attendance: 51,338.

Raw Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Bianca Belair

Bliss, who has been more evil as o late, is challenging. Belair powers her around to start and hits a running shoulder in the corner, followed by the right hands in said corner. Back up and Bliss gets in a few kicks of her own, setting up a backbreaker with feet into Belair’s back for the extra pain. The chinlock slows Belair down and it works so well that Bliss grabs it again.

This time Bliss says “you couldn’t just leave it alone could you”, which apparently wakes Belair up to hammer away in the corner. The handspring moonsault gives Belair two and some frustration is starting to set in. Bliss gets in another shot and slowly hammers away, setting up the jumping knees to the chest. A backsplash gives Bliss two but Belair has had enough of this and KOD’s her for the pin to retain at 7:34.

Rating: C. This version of Bliss was only going to go so far as the original “SHE’S EVIL” stuff wasn’t quite interesting. Asking fans to care for the warmed up leftovers didn’t help and it was on display here. Then you have Belair, who has cleared out the women’s division and needs a big name to come after the title. Not a terrible match, but it could have been on Raw without missing much.

Post match Belair leaves and Bliss is left in the ring, where a video of her evil days plays, complete with Uncle Howdy asking if she feels in charge. Then she would to on maternity leave and none of that would go anywhere, thank goodness.

Women’s Royal Rumble

90 second intervals and Rhea Ripley is in at #1 and Liv Morgan is in at #2. They stare each other down to start until Ripley hammers her down. A running boot drops Morgan and a delayed suplex puts her down again. Dana Brooke is in at #3 (naturally looking Barbieish) and missile dropkicks both of them down. A hiptoss into a basement dropkick hits Morgan and Brooke manages a superplex.

With Ripley down in the corner, Emma is in at #4 and grabs a neckbreaker to put Ripley down again. Everyone goes after Ripley and Shayna Baszler is in at #5 as the entrants seem to be going rather quickly here. Baszler goes after Ripley before beating up Morgan and Brooke. The arm stomp has Brooke in more trouble and it’s Bayley, who rips up a sign on the way to the ring, in at #6. Morgan is right there with Oblivion to Bayley but can’t get rid of her. More brawling is on and it’s B Fab in at #7.

Some stomping doesn’t do much for B Fab as Ripley easily tosses her out. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is in at #8 and gets to clean some house, even taking Ripley down with a spinning headscissors. Dakota Kai is in at #9 and poses with Bayley, but a bunch of women beat him down. Iyo Sky is in at #10, giving us all of Damage CTRL, with a lineup of Ripley, Morgan, Brooke,, Baszler, Bayley, Perez, Kai and Sky.

The rest of Damage CTRL has to be saved and Sky flips around a lot. Brooke helps Emma get back in but it’s Damage CTRL tossing Brooke out. Damage CTRL kick out Emma and Perez and it’s the returning Natalya in at #11. Bayley cuts Natalya off before she can get revenge on Baszler (who put her on the shelf) and we slow down a good bit. Candice LeRae is in at #12 and hits a step up backsplash on Bayley. Baszler hammers on LeRae in the corner before getting slapped by Natalya.

The running boot misses or Baszler and Natalya sends her to the apron, only to have Baszler come back with the Kirifuda Clutch. Damage CTRL gets rid of both Baszler and Natalya as NXT’s Zoey Stark is in at #13. Stark strikes away, including a nasty looking kick to Ripley’s face. A springboard corkscrew splash hits Ripley but it’s way too early for Stark to put her out. Xia Li is in at #14 and cleans house as well, only to have Damage CTRL cut her off. LeRae fights back but Sky shoves her off the top for an elimination.

Becky Lynch is in at #15 and wants revenge on Damage CTRL for taking her out in a cage on Raw. House is quickly cleaned but Bayley sends Becky outside (not eliminated). The rest of Damage CTRL gets on Becky and throw her into the barricade/over the announcers’ table. Tegan Nox is in at #16 and gets to clean house again. Nox and Morgan beat on Stark but can’t get rid of her as Asuka, to a big reaction, is in at #17.

She unmasks as the evil clown and everyone is scared, allowing Asuka to rapidly clean house. Bayley and Asuka have a big staredown, with Asuka unloading with a variety of strikes. Bayley is sent to the apron but manages a neck snap for a breather. Asuka kicks Nox out and Piper Niven is in at #18, meaning it’s likely time to wreck some people. A running seated crossbody hits Morgan and Bayley as Tamina is in at #19.

That means a Tamina vs. Niven staredown and slugout but Lynch is back in to clean house. The returning Chelsea Green is in at #20, giving us Ripley, Morgan, Bayley, Kai, Sky, Stark, Li, Lynch, Asuka, Niven, Tamina and Green. Ripley tosses Green in about three seconds and Becky eliminates Kai and Sky, only to be eliminated by Bayley (the fans REALLY react to that). Morgan dumps Bayley right at Becky’s feet and the fight is on again. Damage CTRL and Becky brawl into the crowd and Zelina Vega is in at #21 (cosplaying as a character from Street Fighter 6 in a promotional deal).

Li and Vega strike it out on the apron until Vega kicks her to the floor. Vega’s middle rope Codebreaker hits Piper and Raquel Rodriguez is in at #22. A quick clothesline drops Ripley and a spinning slam hits Asuka. Vega is back up to kick away at Rodriguez, who puts her on the top. Michin is in at #23 and gets to fire off a bunch of kicks as a trend continues. Niven fights off a bunch of people trying to eliminate her and Lacey Evans is in at #24.

Evans’ slingshot Bronco Buster hits Morgan in the corner and a legsweep takes Stark down. Michelle McCool, in the front row, is in at #25 and gets to beat everyone up at once, including the Faithbreaker (Styles Clash) to Vega. McCool gets rid of Tamina and Indi Hartwell is in at #26. That goes nowhere so Sonya Deville is in at #7 and gets rid of Stark. Asuka and Deville kick away at each other until Evans cobra clutches Vega out. Shotzi is in at #28 with a high crossbody to Rodriguez and Niven. Deville eliminates Hartwell and Nikki Cross is in at #29.

Cross gets to beat up various people and she throws her jacket down for a bonus. With the ten second countdown not even starting, Nia Jax is in at #30, giving us a final grouping of Ripley, Morgan, Asuka, Niven, Rodriguez, Michin, Evans, McCool, Deville, Shotzi, Cross and Jax. Everyone stops to wait for Jax, who, believe it or not, runs her mouth and fights everyone but Rodriguez off. Rodriguez gets thrown down but a bunch of people go after her, with Ripley….managing something close to the Riptide.

Everyone gets together to toss Jax and Rodriguez clotheslines Evans out. Asuka pulls Rodriguez into the armbar but Asuka moves on to kicking Deville off the apron for an elimination. Ripley gets rid of McCool and Michin eliminates Shotzi. Niven LAUNCHES Michin onto Shotzi to get us down to six, with Niven belly to back suplexing Rodriguez. For some reason Niven goes up, allowing Rodriguez to kick her out as Ripley gets the Iron Woman record.

The Tejana Bomb to Ripley is countered, with Ripley tossing Rodriguez and then sending both Asuka and Cross to the apron. Morgan knocks out Cross and we’re down to Ripley, Morgan and Asuka. Ripley is sent to the apron but headbutts Morgan and pulls her out to the apron with her. Asuka joins them and mists Morgan, allowing Ripley to kick Asuka out. Morgan Codebreakers Ripley down but she hangs on and pulls Morgan out for the win at 1:01:08 (earning the Stick Stickly seal of approval).

Rating: C. I ran out of ways to say “and then this wrestler came in and they beat a bunch of people up and then nothing happened and then someone else came in.” The double Iron Women thing didn’t do much as Ripley was doing her thing here and there while Morgan was barely around. The Women’s Rumble has a tendency to be rather top heavy and that was the case here, with the Damage CTRL run, along with Becky and Ripley, being the only interesting part. It was the Ripley show and she was kind of laying around (as you tend to do in an hour long run) and that didn’t make for a good Rumble.

Hardy performs to kill some time.

We recap Kevin Owens challenging Roman Reigns for the World Title. This is much more about whether or not Sami Zayn is really part of the Bloodline or just their lackey. On the other hand, Reigns is sick and tired of Kevin Owens so it’s time to get rid of him once and for all. Zayn has insisted that he’s in the Bloodline, and even Jey Us, who never believed him, isn’t sure about Zayn anymore. Reigns has told Zayn’s final test is at the Royal Rumble, where he has to show whose side he is really on.

WWE Universal Title: Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

Reigns, with Paul Heyman and Sami Zayn, is defending. They circle each other to start until Reigns hits a quick clothesline. Back up and Owens scores with an elbow to the face before stomping away at Reigns in the corner. There’s the Cannonball as Zayn is starting to look worried at ringside. Reigns rolls outside and there’s the backsplash to crush him again. Back in and Reigns hits a release Rock Bottom for two, followed by the apron boot to the face for the same.

The chinlock goes on for a bit but Owens fights up and drops Reigns again. The frog splash gives Reigns two but he’s back with a sitout powerbomb. Back up and the Superman Punch gives Reigns two more, only to have Owens send the spear into the post. Owens hits the Swanton for another near fall but botches a springboard moonsault attempt. The second attempt misses, allowing Reigns to hit a spear for another near fall.

Naturally the referee gets bumped and more naturally, there is no one to count as Owens hits the Pop Up Powerbomb. Reigns goes low to cut Owens off again and tells Zayn to throw in a chair. That goes rather slowly, allowing Owens to come back with a Stunner or a rather near fall. Zayn is breathing a sigh of relief as Heyman glares at him and the two inside slowly get up.

Another Pop Up Powerbomb is countered into a Superman Punch (that was cool) and another spear gets another two. Owens rolls outside where Zayn tells him to stay down, only to have Reigns spear Owens through the barricade. Rather than covering though, Reigns sends him head first into the steps, followed by another spear to retain at 19:13.

Rating: B-. It was a good, hard hitting fight but there was absolutely no drama as to the winner because we have been flat out told that this is all about Sami Zayn. Owens was trying, but he was just the designated challenger here and there was no way around it. Reigns could only make you believe he was in so much danger and it showed pretty badly. Not a bad match whatsoever, but the opening bell started the countdown to the spear.

Post match Reigns holds on on Zayn getting his lei, as instead he has the Usos destroy an already out of it Owens. The beating continues, including a chair being wrapped around Owens’ neck for the running Umaga attack from Solo Sikoa. Owens gets handcuffed to the ropes for some superkicks as the fans chant for Sami. Reigns grabs the chair and yells at Owens, but Zayn gets in between them, saying Owens is done.

Reigns thinks about it and then holds the chair out to Zayn, who doesn’t want to do it. Zayn: “I don’t want to.” Reigns: “I think you should.” Zayn takes the chair as Reigns shouts about how he loves Zayn while Owens keeps trying to hold him back. Does Zayn want to go do the Jackass stuff again? Zayn stands behind Reigns and slowly holds up the chair, with Reigns turning around and saying PULL THE TRIGGER. Reigns calls out Zayn for crying and shoves him in the face a few times, shouting that THIS IS MY WHOLE LIFE.

With that, Reigns turns to look at Owens again, and with the fans chanting for him, Zayn blasts Reigns in the back with the chair to one of the loudest pops you will ever hear. Jey Uso looks at Zayn and can’t believe what is going on but never touches him. Instead Jimmy superkicks Zayn down and destroys him, with Sikoa adding the Spike. Reigns tells Jey to get in on this but a broken Jey rolls to the floor and leaves without touching anyone. Reigns destroys Zayn with the chair and forearms tot he head, ripping the Honorary Uce shirt off of him to end the show.

I didn’t catch it live but as has been pointed out: that was the same way Seth Rollins turned on Reigns to end the Shield, which ties the whole story together. Reigns was so betrayed by the Shield that he turned to the only people he could trust, his family, to avoid it happening again but then the one person who wasn’t blood, turned on him. That is some top level storytelling and the fans reacted to it as a result. For wrestling, this was Shakespeare, and the tag match at Wrestlemania and then Jey siding with Jimmy was incredible, but they just couldn’t find a way to wrap it all up, at least within the next year.

Overall Rating: B-. As usual, the Royal Ruble is one of the most unique shows of the year as it is built around two matches. The first Rumble was great and the second was…well not, but this year had a special bonus. The post main event angle was an instant classic and set things off for the next several months. The show is not great and the women’s Rumble is weak, along with the other non-Rumble matches, but the two good parts carry the show far enough.

Results
Cody Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble last eliminating Gunther
Bray Wyatt b. LA Knight – Sister Abigail
Bianca Belair b. Alexa Bliss – KOD
Rhea Ripley won the women’s Royal Rumble last eliminating Liv Morgan
Roman Reigns b. Kevin Owens – Spear

Ratings Comparison

Men’s Royal Rumble:

Original: A-
2024 Redo: A-

LA Knight vs. Bray Wyatt

Original: D+
2024 Redo: D

Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss

Original: C-
2024 Redo: C

Women’s Royal Ruble

Original: C
2024 Redo: C

Kevin Owens vs. Roman Reigns

Original: B-
2024 Redo: B-

Overall Rating:

Original: B
2024 Redo: B-

Yep, more or less the same as the original.

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Smackdown
Date: January 17, 2025
Location: Perchanga Arena, San Diego, California
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

We’re getting closer to Saturday Night’s Main Event and that means we should be in for a bigger push towards the show. Other than that, Cody Rhodes is still dealing with Kevin Owens, which could make for a nice build here. Bayley is getting a title shot against Tiffany Stratton so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The announcers are in the crowd to welcome us to the show as we see some people coming to work.

Here is Rey Mysterio to get things going. Rey is glad to be in his hometown and announces that he is entering the Royal Rumble. He won the Royal Rumble in 2006 and went on to become World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania. Mysterio is impressed by the competition this year but here is Kevin Owens, with the Winged Eagle belt, to interrupt. Owens says he respects Mysterio more than anyone in wrestling, but Owens has done some great things over the course of his own career.

There is one more thing he wants to do though: face Rey Mysterio. Like say at Wrestlemania for the WWE Title. Mysterio points out that Owens isn’t the champion right now, but if things line up, he would love to face Owens at Wrestlemania. Owens goes on a rant about how he’s the real champion and the fight is on, with Mysterio clearing the ring. Of note: Owens is wearing a shirt saying “The Canadian Son Of A Security Systems Technician.” This man is incredible.

Naomi and Bianca Belair still have no word on who attacked Jade Cargill, but Belair makes it clear that they’re cool. Belair even wraps her hair up so Naomi can’t get taken out again.

Nick Aldis makes Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens for tonight. Cody Rhodes comes in to say he’ll have Mysterio’s back but Rey has this. That’s cool with Rhodes, but Aldis has something new to add to the Rhodes vs. Owens title match at the Royal Rumble. Rhodes will sign when Owens does.

Candice LeRae/Nia Jax vs. Naomi/Bianca Belair

Non-title. LeRae gets in a cheap shot to start fast on Belair but she’s back up with a running shoulder. Belair launches LeRae onto Jax at ringside and we take an early break. Back with LeRae pulling Belair down by the hair and Jax pulling Naomi off the apron just in case. Belair manages to get up top for a high crossbody and that’s enough for the tag off to Naomi to pick up the pace.

A quick split legged moonsault gives Naomi two but Jax is back up with a Samoan drop. LeRae tags herself in and hits a backsplash, which isn’t as impressive as the one Jax adds. Jax’s legdrop hits LeRae by mistake and with Jax sent outside, Naomi hits the Bubba Bomb for the pin at 10:35.

Rating: C. This was kind of a weird one with a bunch of things going on and it didn’t quite work. The focus here seems to be on LeRae and Jax having issues, which is going to cause some problems down the line. I’m not sure where it’s going, but LeRae is not exactly feeling on Jax’s level. Not a great match either, but odds are we’ll be getting into whatever is going on with Jade Cargill and the champs sooner than later.

Earlier today, Bayley was in a mostly empty arena and talked about how important it would be to win the title back. She has been champion before bu she never reached her potential so tonight it’s time to get up to the next level by beating Tiffany Stratton.

Michin and B-Fab are in the back when Piper Niven interrupts, saying that it’s clear for Chelsea Green to come in. Green comes in to brag about her success and the result is B-Fab against Niven tonight.

Jimmy Uso is ready for Carmelo Hayes.

Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes

Before the match, Hayes mocks Uso’s lack of solo success, only for Uso to steal his sunglasses and hammer away. Hayes is back up to stomp away in the corner and avoids the running Umaga Attack. A suplex to the apron drops Hayes though and Uso hits a dive onto the announcers’ table as we take a break.

Back with Uso missing a Whisper In The Wind, allowing Hayes to grab a springboard reverse DDT (cool) for two. A double clothesline gives us a double near fall before the pop up Samoan drop gives Uso two. The Superfly Splash is countered into the First 48 (nice) for two but Uso spears him down. Cue the Bloodline to jump Uso for the DQ at 11:52.

Rating: C+. They were getting going here and there was something to it but the ending is what makes sense. The Bloodline is going to want revenge on a lot of people and Uso is certainly on their list. Uso doesn’t have much of his own going on at the moment and this is probably about as big as he’s going to get anytime soon.

Post match the Bloodline takes out Uso and drops Hayes for a bonus. Cue Solo Sikoa who, after a break and a lot of booing….drops the mic and leaves. Fatu says he’s tired of the disrespect and says no one can touch him. If people think he’s crazy, he’s just getting started. Cue LA Knight to go after both of them, which goes as well as expected. Braun Strowman comes in for the real save.

Legado del Fantasma is ready to face the Motor City Machine Guns tonight and they will take the respect.

Los Garza vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Elektra Lopez is here with Los Garza. Shelley headlocks Angel to start but gets caught in a reverse Beverly Bomb (there’s your old school move name…assuming that’s what it was called). It’s already off to Sabin for the Dream Sequence but some stereo strikes take him down. We take a break and come back with a Gory Bomb/slingshot flipping cutter (cool) getting two on Sabin.

A missed charge allows the tag back to Shelley though and house is quickly cleaned. Berto gets caught in the corner with the Guns working on the knee, setting up stereo Figure Fours on Los Garza. Those are broken up and something like a springboard kick to the face Hart Attack drops Sabin for two. Everything breaks down and here is Pretty Deadly, whose interference doesn’t work so well. The Skull And Bones finishes Berto at 11:59.

Rating: B. Good action packed match here and maybe even a few bonus points for the interference not mattering. What matters the most here is that the Guns are on their way back to the title scene and that should be a big one. Perhaps either at the Royal Rumble or Saturday Night’s Main Event. Also one more note: I love that Shelley will usually pump his fist or something similar after he gets a pin. The point is to win a match so yeah, he should be excited that his team won.

Kevin Owens (now in a Rey Mysterio shirt) won’t sign the contract until Randy Orton signs.

Piper Niven vs. B-Fab

Chelsea Green is here with Niven, who powers B-Fab down to start. Back up and B-Fab kicks her in the face for two, followed by a Maivia Hurricane for the same. There’s a pump kick to the floor, where B-Fab takes out Green as a bonus. Back in and the Piper Driver finishes B-Fab in a hurry at 2:16.

Post match the beatdown is on but Michin makes the save.

We get a tribute to Bob Uecker, who really was good when he was around. He was awesome on commentary for the six man tag at Wrestlemania III as he was asking good questions and breaking stuff down like no other celebrity would do.

We look back at Tiffany Stratton winning the Women’s Title a few weeks back.

Stratton is ready to beat Bayley because she doesn’t have to recreate moments. Right now, she is those moments. Nice, short stuff here.

Rey Mysterio vs. Kevin Owens

Owens back him into the corner to start but gets armdragged for his efforts. A wristlock doesn’t work well for Owens either but he knocks Mysterio outside for an early breather. Back in and Mysterio snaps off an anklescissors, only to get dropped for a backsplash. They go outside again, with Mysterio getting in a hurricanrana, setting up the sliding splash and we take a break.

Back with Mysterio fighting out of a chinlock and avoiding a charge to send Owens into the post. A sitout bulldog gives Mysterio two and the spinning DDT gets the same. Owens drops him again and hits an (Eddie Dance) frog splash for two of his own because Owens knows how to do mean things like that. Mysterio comes back with a Code Red for two more, only for Owens to hit a heck of a Stunner for another near fall. The Swanton hits raised knees though and a 619 lets Mysterio go up. Owens gets smart by bumping the ropes and the pop up powerbomb is good for the pin at 15:35.

Rating: B. I’m not sure if there is any surprise that two people with so much talent had a good match. They were trading big spots here and Owens got to get crafty to win. At the same time, you can feel the difference between the old days when someone would get embarrassed in their hometown and here, as Mysterio lost a good, competitive match. That’s a world of difference and it helped boost Owens up on the way to a title shot.

Post match Owens loads up the package piledriver but Cody Rhodes (who is officially medically cleared) runs in for the save.

Post break, Nick Aldis yells at Cody Rhodes, saying next week at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Rhodes and Owens will sign the new contract. As a bonus, Shawn Michaels can be the moderator.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows, including Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu on Saturday Night’s Main Event.

DIY yells at Pretty Deadly, telling them to get serious. With DIY gone, Apollo Crews comes in to say he told them so, only for DIY to beat them down.

Video on Charlotte, who is apparently rather rich. And coming back.

Smackdown Women’s Title: Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton

Stratton is defending. Feeling out process to start with Stratton getting out of a headscissors but backing away in a hurry. Stratton runs her over and flips away but has to block the Bayley To Belly. Bayley knocks her outside and we take an early break. Back with Stratton pulling her into the post and working on the shoulder. Bayley gets to the apron, where she is taken down by the arm again for another crash.

Stratton charges into an elbow though and a ram into the apron gives Bayley two. A hard forearm cuts Bayley off though and a running hip attack sends her into the apron for a nasty crash. Somehow Bayley is back with the Her To Belly on the floor and we take another break.

Back again with Stratton going to the arm again, setting up a Swanton and a powerbomb for two. They head outside again where Bayley gets in a suplex, only to be distracted by former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez (who Bayley brawled with this week on NXT). Back in and another Bayley To Belly gets two and a sunset bomb sends Stratton into the corner for two more. The Rose Plant is countered into an Alabama Slam and the Prettiest Moonsault Ever finishes for Stratton at 20:05.

Rating: B-. I was a bit surprised at the ending as I was expecting Perez to get involved but she just stared at Bayley and then Stratton retained clean. That’s a good win for Stratton to pick up as she is going to have to build herself up after basically stealing the title. Good first defense here, and Perez vs. Bayley is likely coming sooner than later as a bonus.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a wrestling heavy show and it worked well here, with multiple strong matches which filled in a lot of time. The three hour run time is still taking some getting used to, but what matters the most is that some people are getting a chance to show what they can do. Pretty awesome show here, with some stuff that I want to see getting advanced and some solid matches to back it up.

Results
Naomi/Bianca Belair b. Nia Jax/Candice LeRae – Bubba Bomb to LeRae
Jimmy Uso b. Carmelo Hayes via DQ when the Bloodline interfered
Piper Niven b. B-Fab – Piper Driver
Kevin Owens b. Rey Mysterio – Pop up powerbomb
Tiffany Stratton b. Bayley – Prettiest Moonsault Ever

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Smackdown
Date: January 10, 2025
Location: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Commentators: Wade Barrett, Joe Tessitore

It’s a bit more back to normal this week and that should be nice to see. The big story here is a United States Title match between Shinsuke Nakamura and former champion LA Knight. Other than that, we have some fallout from Monday’s Tribal Combat where Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a rather lengthy recap of Raw.

Here is Paul Heyman, who is rather proud that Roman Reigns is once again the one and only Tribal Chief. Now he gets to announce what is next for Reigns, and invites Cody Rhodes out here to hear it. Heyman says that Rhodes has earned the respect of everyone, from the people to Heyman to Reigns himself. That is why Reigns wanted Rhodes to hear this in person: Reigns wants his title back and he’s winning the Royal Rumble to get there.

Rhodes doesn’t seem to have any issue with this but here is Kevin Owens to interrupt. Owens couldn’t believe it could get worse, but then Rhodes SHOOK THE ROCK’S HAND! Rhodes has already gone everywhere and now he is willing to let Reigns get a title shot? That’s enough for Rhodes, who runs into the crowd for the brawl, leaving the Bloodline to corner Heyman. Jimmy Uso runs in for the save so Heyman can escape but a chair shot just angers Fatu. Rhodes runs back in for the real save.

Post break Jacob Fatu yells at security but gets thrown outside by LA Knight. Commentary isn’t sure that was wise.

Women’s US Title: Michin vs. Chelsea Green

Green, with Piper Niven, is defending. The threat of Eat Defeat takes Green outside in a hurry so Michin grabs a Tarantula instead. They go outside where Greens ends her into the barricade and we take a break. Back with Michin fighting out of a chinlock, only to get caught in the same thing.

A belly to back suplex takes Green down for a breather and Michin hurricanranas her way out of the corner. The Cannonball gets two on Green but her lifting Downward Spiral gets the same. Michin goes after Niven (now in a Secret Service look) and hits a high crossbody on Green, who rolls through and grabs the trunks to retain at 8:43.

Rating: C+. Green and Niven are a good choice for a villainous pair as they could frustrate a lot of challenges for a long time. What matters here is that Michin has one more reason to get a rematch after more cheating. I’m not sure how that could go, but at least they have that as an out if necessary.

Post match Niven drops a backsplash and Michin is crushed.

We look at the tag teams arguing after last week’s title match went haywire. Nick Aldis makes some matches, likely with title implications.

Los Garza vs. Pretty Deadly

Garza clears the ring to start and hits some dives, followed by Garza’s rolling moonsault for two on Wilson back inside. A running knee against the ropes rocks Wilson but Prince makes a blind tag to neckbreaker Berto out to the floor. We take a break and come back with Berto missing an enziguri but diving over for the tag anyway. Angel’s high crossbody gets two on Wilson, who starts screaming for DIY to come help them. That doesn’t happen so Prince gets crotched on top and it’s a double swinging gorilla press slam (FTY) to pin him at 8:55.

Rating: C. This was something of a weird match as Los Garza are kind of faces but still in a heel stable and beat the resident goofy villains clean. That wasn’t the best thing in the world but at least they didn’t waste a lot of time here. Perfectly nice match here, and I could go for Los Garza moving up a bit.

US Title: LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura is defending. Knight powers him into the corner to start and grabs a swinging neckbreaker but Nakamura bails out to the floor. A running knee rocks Knight for a change but he’s right back with a backdrop over the top. Nakamura gets rammed into the announcers’ table, only to come back with some postings as we take a break. Back with Knight winning a slugout and hitting the spelling elbow for two. Knight is almost sent into an exposed buckle but Nakamura is back with the sliding German suplex.

With Nakamura up top, Knight jumps the corner for the top rope superplex and a near fall of his own. Since nothing else is working, Knight goes Colt Cabana (you never go Colt Cabana) with the Billy Goat’s Curse (reverse Boston crab), sending Nakamura over to the rope. Nakamura kicks him down for two but the running knee hits the exposed buckle. The BFT knocks Nakamura silly, only for the Bloodline (minus Solo Sikoa) to run in and take out Knight for the DQ at 14:08.

Rating: C+. This got a pretty good deal of time and it worked out rather well with a logical ending. What mattered here was having Knight look strong and possibly move on to something else, as he has already won the US Title and can go up the ladder a bit. That might not be what we are seeing here, but at least they are doing something different.

Post match Knight gets crushed, including the triple jump moonsault. Jimmy Uso and Cody Rhodes make the save and Rhodes wants the tag match for tonight.

We recap Tiffany Stratton cashing in the Money In The Bank briefcase last week to beat Nia Jax and win the Women’s Title. This might as well have had a big sign that said FILLER.

Motor City Machine Guns vs. A-Town Down Under

Waller punches Shelley in the face to start and it’s off to Sabin, who gets caught in a cravate. An armbar keeps Sabin in trouble but he’s right back up to trip Waller off the apron. The big dive is cut off and we take an early break with Shelley in trouble. Back with Shelley fighting out of a chinlock and handing it back to Sabin to strike away.

Sabin hits a dive onto both of them but Waller drops Shelley back inside. A dive is broken up though and everything breaks down, with the Dream Sequence hitting Waller. With Theory being sent outside after a rather nasty crash, Skull & Bones finishes Waller for Shelley at 12:06.

Rating: B-. I could have gone for more of this as the two teams were beating each other up and got going near the end. The Guns are best known for their fast paced matches and looking as good as anyone around, but at the same time, the villains were more than able to hang in there, which was something of a surprise.

Pretty Deadly isn’t happy with DIY not coming out there but Johnny Gargano explains the idea of “HEAT”. The title shot is totally coming. With DIY gone, Apollo Crews mocks Pretty Deadly for being dumb.

Here is Tiffany Stratton for her big celebration. She hits the catchphrase and claims that she was playing dumb with Nia Jax the entire time. Now she wants some respect on her name and to know what time it is (5:11am EST by my watch) but here is Jax to interrupt. Jax threatens violence and says time’s up but here is Bayley to interrupt. Bayley thought Stratton was stupid and knows that Jax is stupid and thinks she should get the first title shot. Cue Naomi and Bianca Belair but Jax says no one cares about Naomi. The brawl is on and Stratton gets to interrupt. Nick Aldis pops up to make a four way #1 contenders match.

Bayley vs. Nia Jax vs. Naomi vs. Bianca Belair

It’s a brawl to start with Bayley being sent outside, leaving Jax to (mostly) suplex both of the other two. Jax bails to the floor from the threat of the other three before pulling Belair outside for a ram into the barricade. Bayley goes after Naomi inside but Jax pulls Bayley outside for another crash. Belair hammers on Jax until Bayley breaks up the cover before a Tower Of Doom leaves all four of them down.

We take a break and come back with Jax being knocked out to the floor, leaving the KOD and Bayley To Belly to be broken up. Naomi is back up with the split legged moonsault for two on Jax and everyone tries to pin Jax in a row. Cue Candice LeRae for a distraction, leaving Naomi and Belair to hit dives to the floor. Back in and Belair takes over on Bayley but LeRae breaks up the KOD. That’s enough for Bayley to Rose Plant Naomi for the win at 17:18.

Rating: B-. This got some time and was working well, with Bayley getting the win to move on to what should be a nice first defense for Stratton. I’ll take that over another Jax vs. Bayley match, which has kind of been done to death at this point. Not a great match or anything, but it did what it needed to do.

Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso are ready to go. Rhodes leaves and Carmelo Hayes comes in, only for Uso to mock Hayes for throwing up so many bricks (as in misses, which Hayes says never happens).

Bayley is excited for her title shot, which is next week.

Cody Rhodes/Jimmy Uso vs. Tama Tonga/Jacob Fatu

Rhodes works on Tonga’s arm to start before it’s off to Jimmy, tho is taken into the wrong corner. A pop up Samoan drop cuts off Jimmy’s comeback attempt and we take a break. Back with Tonga working on Jimmy’s leg and then gabbing a nerve hold. Fatu adds a heck of a running Umaga Attack in the corner but Jimmy knocks him off the ropes.

A Whisper In The Wind is enough to set up the tag off to Rhodes, who hits a dive onto both of them. Tonga grabs a running DDT for two but he gets caught in a PowerPlex. Fatu makes the save and here is Kevin Owens to distract Rhodes. The chase is on and Jimmy is left alone, with the triple moonsault finishing him off at 12:18.

Rating: B-. Standard main event style tag match here with the interference being a good way to get the Bloodline a win after the big loss on Raw. I’m not sure where things are going for the team but this is the kind of thing that at least gives them some stability. Rhodes vs. Owens is already set so this was just another step in getting ready for their match.

Rhodes and Owens fight off and go through a table to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the show as it set up some stuff for the future and gave us good action at the same time, but the problem here is it felt long. Maybe it’s knowing that the show isn’t going to be going three hours permanently or they don’t know how to do it yet, but I could go for something a bit less stretched out. Figure out that problem and this show is that much better.

Results
Chelsea Green b. Michin – Rollup with trunks
Los Garza b. Pretty Deadly – FTY to Prince
LA Knight b. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ when the Bloodline interfered
Motor City Machine Guns b. A-Town Down Under – Skull & Bones to Waller
Bayley b. Bianca Belair, Nia Jax and Naomi – Rose Plant to Naomi
Tama Tonga/Jacob Fatu b. Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens – Triple moonsault to Uso

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Smackdown
Date: December 20, 2024
Location: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

It’s the last Smackdown before Christmas and that means we are taped from last week. Therefore we might not get much more in the way of fallout from Saturday Night’s Main Event, which saw Cody Rhodes retain the Smackdown World Title over Kevin Owens. However, Owens attacked Rhodes after the show and stole the title belt. Let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

We open with a long Saturday Night’s Main Event recap. We also get a clip from after the show, with Kevin Owens giving Cody Rhodes a package piledriver.

Here is the Bloodline for a chat. Solo Sikoa saw Roman Reigns sitting on a boat and challenging him to Tribal Combat on the January 6 Raw. Sikoa suggests that instead of saying WHAT, the people here need to acknowledge him. If Reigns wants to take the Tribal Chief to war, let’s do it, with everyone else being left behind. Sikoa promises to use violence to make Reigns acknowledge him…and Drew McIntyre interrupts.

Sikoa says he better have a good reason for this, with McIntyre saying he’ll make this quick because he’s sick being this close to Sikoa without fighting him. McIntyre wants to know if Sikoa stays up at night, wondering when McIntyre is coming for him. Sikoa cost him the WWE Title at Clash At The Castle, but now he stood up to Roman Reigns. McIntyre wants the business with Reigns finished, and then the two of them can finish their business. Cue Jimmy Uso to pull McIntyre to the floor and beat him with a crutch. McIntyre bails into the crowd with Jimmy in pursuit and it’s time for a six man.

Bloodline vs. Apollo Crews/LA Knight/Andrade

The Bloodline is cleared out before the bell and we take a break. Back with Crews gorilla pressing Tonga and dropping him hard in an impressive feat. Knight comes in with a neckbreaker and it’s off to Andrade for the chopping. Andrade sends Tonga to the floor, setting up stereo dives with Crews. Knight teases one of his own but just glares at Sikoa instead. Fatu comes in to wreck some havoc and we take a break.

Back with Crews still in trouble but he manages to get over to Andrade. The pace picks up and Andrade sends Fatu into the corner for the running knees and a near fall. The double moonsault gets two but Fatu shrugs off a kick to the head and hits a pop up Samoan drop. We take another break and come back again with Fatu missing a charge in the corner, allowing Knight to come in and clean house.

There’s a neckbreaker to Sikoa and Crews comes in for a frog splash to Tonga, setting up a crossface. Cue Shinsuke Nakamura to drop Knight and Sikoa is smart enough to drag Tonga over for the tag. The running Umaga Attack into Spinning Solo into the Samoan Spike finishes Crews at 16:31.

Rating: B-. This got some time and that made the Bloodline feel like they were sweating a bit more than usual. Crews being the one to take the fall makes sense and Nakamura interfering makes Knight’s team’s loss feel a bit less bad. Nice, long opener here with Sikoa looking like a force for a change.

The Motor City Machine Guns want revenge on Johnny Gargano. Alex Shelley has to do this one on his own, which Chris Sabin accepts.

We look back at Chelsea Green beating Michin to become the first Women’s United States Champion.

Green is glad to win the title and make it about red, white and green in a nice line. She should have been here a long time ago, but now she’s off to Disneyland.

We look at Kevin Owens losing to Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event but taking him out after the match/show. Owens then stole the Winged Eagle belt and has said that what happens next is on WWE’s hands.

Johnny Gargano is ready to prove himself to Alex Shelley. Tommaso Ciampa is willing to stay in the back as well.

It’s time for the Grayson Waller Effect with Braun Strowman, dressed as Santa Claus to throw presents to the fans. Waller (with Austin Theory) is worried about Strowman wrecking the new threat but Strowman isn’t impressed. The villains pitch the idea of Strowman joining up (“The brains and the braun!”) but Strowman is absolutely not interested. Cue Carmelo Hayes to interrupt to say he wasn’t ready last week. He might lose, but he’ll never quit. Hayes wants to run it back with “this big dumb Santa Claus b****.” Strowman wrecks the set and a match is made.

Braun Strowman vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes starts slowly and bails to the floor, with the cheap shot on the way back in slowing Strowman down. Strowman picks him up with one hand for a beal from the apron back inside though, meaning it’s time to start the beating. Hayes slips out of a chokeslam and actually knocks Strowman outside, where Strowman hits a big boot. For some reason Hayes slaps him in the face and gets tossed back in….and Strowman is counted out at 3:29.

Rating: C-. This wasn’t meant to be much of a match but rather a way to have Hayes get under Strowman’s skin without pinning him. That’s all it needed to be as Hayes is doing well with his pesky stuff, which should set up something nice down the line. Not the best, but it did what it needed to do.

Tiffany Stratton is ready to be ringside for Nia Jax and Candice LeRae winning the Tag Team Titles, but LeRae suggests that Stratton go get ready for the celebration. Stratton isn’t pleased.

Braun Strowman goes looking for Carmelo Hayes but gets distracted by Pretty Deadly. Hayes uses the distraction to chair Strowman in the leg and run off.

Alex Shelley vs. Johnny Gargano

Cole goes over their history together, even name dropping JT Lightning for a name I never thought I would hear in WWE. Gargano chops away in the corner to start but Shelley runs him over with a forearm. Shelley sends him to the floor for a slingshot stomp to the arm, setting up a running knee as we take a break.

Back with Gargano’s slingshot spear being cut off by a kick to the face. A standing Sliced Bread gives Shelley two and he chops away, only to walk into a superkick. Gargano sends him face first into the middle buckle for two more but the Gargano Escape is blocked. The referee tries to separate them so Gargano hits Shelley in the face. Shelley gets in a Downward Spiral into the corner but cue Tommaso Ciampa. Chris Sabin cuts him off but Gargano rolls through a high crossbody and grabs the tights for the pin at 10:03.

Rating: C+. This was a nice match between two people who have a nice history together. What matters the most here is that Cole made that story clear, which made the match feel important. The ending felt a bit flat though, as Gargano used some cheating to win. That fits what he’s been doing, even if it just kind of happened without feeling all that interesting.

We look at the Netflix Kickoff event, with a bunch of showdowns and promos, including Logan Paul officially moving to Raw.

January 6 Raw rundown.

Naomi and Bianca Belair are ready to retain the Women’s Tag Team Titles. They’re friends forever.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Naomi/Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax/Candice LeRae

Naomi and Belair are defending. LeRae elbows Belair in the face to start and gets gorilla pressed for her efforts. Jax comes in and gets dropkicked as Tiffany Stratton is watching in the back. A moonsault/splits splash combination hits Jax but she runs Naomi over as we take a break.

Back with Jax cranking on Belair’s arms and then sending one of those arms into the post. Belair fights out of a chinlock and dives for a tag, only to get powered back into the corner. LeRae comes in for two off a step up backsplash but Jax accidentally knocks her down. That’s enough for the tag off to Naomi and the pace picks up.

An X Factor gets two on Jax but the slit legged moonsault misses. Jax accidentally headbutts a post though and gets busted open, leaving Belair to hit a 450. LeRae makes the save but here is Stratton as LeRae tornado DDT’s Belair. Naomi makes a save of her own so Jax tries the briefcase, which is knocked into her face. Naomi hits a knee to LeRae and adds the split legged moonsault to retain at 11:05.

Rating: B-. Naomi substituting in for Cargill is less than ideal given the titles’ history but it’s better than vacating them or something like that. It helped to give them a win here, even with the briefcase getting involved. Good match here and it had a bit of time to make things work, even if the Stratton cash in stuff has been tiresome.

Overall Rating: C+. For a taped show which couldn’t really do much in the way of the main event scene, I liked this well enough. You’re not going to get very far with so much of the focus on everything other than the World Title, but at least they had a good opening segment. They seemed to understand that the audience wasn’t going to be the strongest this week and it’s ok to burn off a week like that under the right circumstances.

Results
Bloodline b. Apollo Crews/LA Knight/Andrade – Samoan Spike to Crews
Carmelo Hayes b. Braun Strowman via countout
Johnny Gargano b. Alex Shelley – Rollup while holding tights
Bianca Belair/Naomi b. Nia Jax/Candice LeRae – Split legged moonsault to LeRae

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Smackdown
Date: December 13, 2024
Location: XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

We’re a day away from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that should make for an important night on the way there. One of the biggest stories coming out of last week was DIY winning the Tag Team Titles with Johnny Gargano going full on villain. Other than that, the Bloodline is still lurking around so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is a limping Jimmy Uso (thanks to a broken toe at Survivor Series) for a chat. Uso said WarGames didn’t get him but it did get his toe. WarGames meant everything to him because even though he fights with his family, they’ll fight together and throw up the one’s. So that’s behind them, so what is in front of them?

He and his family have been doing this for years and they have been pretty successful. He’s even proud of Jey Uso and the YEET! Then there’s Solo Sikoa, who he might not like but he’s proud of him. So what’s next for Jimmy? He’s not sure. Maybe the Royal Rumble, the US Title or even the WWE Title. He may have one big toe, but he’s here…and so is Drew McIntyre with the Claymore.

A Christmas themed Tiffany Stratton is warming up when Candice LeRae and Nia Jax come in to give her a pep talk.

Nick Aldis yells at Drew McIntyre when Bianca Belair and Naomi come in. Aldis tells McIntyre to stay in his office and then tells Belair she is going to have to relinquish the Tag Team Titles. Naomi offers to step in and be her partner, with Aldis reluctantly agreeing, saying they have to be ready to defend the titles as soon as next week.

Women’s US Title Tournament Semifinals: Tiffany Stratton vs. Michin

Stratton knocks her down to start but Michin grabs a double leg and hammers away. A hurricanrana out of the corner drops Stratton again but Stratton faceplants her on the apron. We take a break and come back with Michin rolling away before the Prettiest Moonsault Ever can launch.

Michin kicks her down and hits a springboard DDT for two. The Tarantula has Stratton in trouble but she flips away and grabs an Alabama Slam for two of her own. A Regal Roll sets up the Prettiest Moonsault Ever but Michin rolls away…and right into the moonsault, which doesn’t count as she rolled away. Eat Defeat gives Michin the fast pin at 8:22.

Rating: C+. The ending didn’t help things and commentary tried to cover it as well as they could but it looked pretty bad. Other than that, Michin beating Stratton is almost weird to see, as Stratton has been pushed fairly strong in recent months while Michin has only been building momentum in recent weeks. Michin should make for a good underdog in the finals though and that’s always a nice role to have filled.

We look back at Johnny Gargano going evil to win the Tag Team Titles last week.

DIY (in black and white) talk about getting cheated in Gargano’s hometown but he promised to do whatever it took to set things right. Then the Motor City Machine Guns were handed a path to the titles so last week, Gargano did what he needed to do to get the titles back. And it was fun.

We look at the Bloodline beating down LA Knight and Andrade last week.

Roman Reigns, with Paul Heyman, talks about how this has been a rough year. They were running everything not too long ago but then they lost everything. Four years ago, Solo Sikoa wasn’t here when Reigns earned everything. That’s why he wants Tribal Combat on January 6, where he can take everything back and everyone can acknowledge him.

There will be a Raw On Netflix Kickoff Show next week. Of note: Logan Paul is advertised despite saying he was retired earlier this week.

Legado del Fantasma complains to Nick Aldis about everyone being attacked so maybe they should go to Raw. Aldis says go call them so Carmelo Hayes comes in, where he is told he’ll find out who he is facing in the ring.

Carmelo Hayes vs. ???

And the newest member of Smackdown is….Braun Strowman. Hayes panics and gets knocked down to make it even worse. The running powerslam is broken up and Hayes misses a charge into the post, allowing Hayes to get one, with the kickout sending him flying. Now the running powerslam can finish for Strowman at 1:28.

LA Knight is always ready to handle his business he didn’t want to get involved in WarGames when he was asked. That wasn’t his business, but now Solo Sikoa has gotten in his business and in the way of his US Title. That’s why tonight, Sikoa’s face is going to get in the way of Knight’s fist.

Solo Sikoa vs. LA Knight

The Bloodline is here with Sikoa. Knight wins a slugout to start and hits a discus lariat, followed by a running clothesline to the floor. Sikoa is back up with some rams into various things but Knight manages a whip into the steps. Knight hammers away on the announcers’ table but Sikoa Samoan drops him back inside.

A middle rope bulldog gets Knight out of trouble and his dropkick through the ropes hits Tonga, allowing Sikoa to hit Swinging Solo onto the announcers’ table as we take a break. Back with Sikoa trying a Superman Punch and getting suplexed down for his efforts. Knight stomps away in the corner but stops to dive onto the rest of the Bloodline. Back in and a Side Effect drops Sikoa and the top rope elbow gets two. That’s enough for Jacob Fatu, who grabs Knight for the DQ at 11:20.

Rating: B-. It was hard to imagine Sikoa being challenged to Tribal Combat next month and losing here, but at least Knight didn’t get pinned. It’s fine to fight against the top heel stable and get taken out by the numbers game so this could have been a lot worse for Knight. He might even get a tag match or something to follow this up so it’s a bit of an upgrade for him, at least for the time being.

Post match the beatdown is on, with Apollo Crews and Andrade’s save attempts not working.

Braun Strowman runs into Pretty Deadly, who offer him a spot in their musical (oh yeah that’s a thing). With Pretty Deadly running off, A-Town Down Under come in and offer him a guest spot on the Grayson Waller Effect. Sure.

Women’s US Title Tournament Semifinals: Bayley vs. Chelsea Green

Piper Niven is here with Green. Bayley plants her down to start in a hurry and a rollup gets an early two. Green’s rollup gets her own near fall but Bayley is back with a basement clothesline for two more. Niven sweeps the leg though and Green stomps on Bayley’s back as we take a break. Back with Green hitting an enziguri and rolling Bayley up for two. We hit the chinlock and go split screen for a quick preview of the Mufasa movie.

Back to full screen and they go to the apron (nice timing on the chinlock for the break) where Bayley hits a Stunner over the middle rope. A hanging suplex to the floor has Green in more trouble, followed by a belly to back for two. Bayley hits a running knee into a sunset bomb into the corner for two but Green (who has lost the flowers in her hair, meaning she can’t go to San Francisco) is back with a Rough Ryder. Niven pulls Green outside so Bayley dives onto her instead. That earns her a toss over the barricade, followed by the Unprettier to give Green the win at 12;12.

Rating: C. This was good enough but points for pushing Green forward. I’m not sure if she is going to win the title but it’s nice to see her getting a chance to do something. She has more than earned the chance to do something on her own (or with Niven behind her) and it’s not like Bayley is going to be hurt by losing to anyone.

The Motor City Machine Guns are not happy with DIY because they can’t believe what Johnny Gargano did to them. Now it’s a fight and Gargano will learn that next week.

Shinsuke Nakamura talks about how there has been a shift which will see the weak dragged into the light. LA Knight had something he never deserved and will never get it again. Nakamura is imminent.

Nia Jax consoles Tiffany Stratton but Candice LeRae comes in and says she and Nia have a Women’s Tag Team Title shot next week. With Jax gone, LeRae says Stratton just might not be a singles wrestler.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

Michael Cole brings out Cody Rhodes for a chat with….Kevin Owens, who joins us from his car. Owens can’t believe how Rhodes is willing to use his friends to finish his story. The reality is Rhodes is as bad of a friend as he is a son and brother. The other reality is that Rhodes was always more interesting as Stardust.

Rhodes knows Owens has more zingers up his sleeve but goes to the back to deal with him in person. Owens jumps him from behind and they fight into the arena and into the ring. Security tries to break it up and Owens gets in a belt shot to end the show. Of note: Owens was wearing a Stardust shirt, as that man’s shirt closet must be amazing. Good brawl here, and it feels like a pay per view main event, which is quite the impressive feat for a television special.

Overall Rating: B-. The best thing I can say about this show is I want to see what happens tomorrow night. This show was designed to make Saturday Night’s Main Event more interesting and it pulled that part off. The action itself here wasn’t great, but it was good enough to move things forward. This show wasn’t the one that mattered, but rather the show that set up the ones that matter. Nice job on that front, with tomorrow being the important night.

Results
Michin b. Tiffany Stratton – Eat Defeat
Braun Strowman b. Carmelo Hayes – Running powerslam
LA Knight b. Solo Sikoa via DQ when Jacob Fatu interfered
Chelsea Green b. Bayley – Unprettier

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AND

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Smackdown
Date: December 6, 2024
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re done with Survivor Series and the big story is that Roman Reigns and his version of the Bloodline beat the new Bloodline in WarGames. Other than that, Shinsuke Nakamura is the new US Champion and we are just over a week away from Saturday Night’s Main Event. That’s going to need some more work so let’s get to it.

Here is Survivor Series if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the Smackdown matches from Survivor Series.

Commentary recaps the three injuries in WarGames, including Bronson Reed with an ankle injury/broken foot, Tonga Loa with a torn bicep, and Jimmy Uso with a broken toe. All three are out indefinitely.

The Bloodline beats up Apollo Crews and security on the way into the arena.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. Rhodes gets right to the point by talking about Kevin Owens at Saturday Night’s Main Event but American Made cuts him off. The transfer window is opening up and Nick Aldis has been talking about bringing Chad Gable to Smackdown. You have to remember that the people here in Minnesota are gullible so you have to explain things to them.

Gable wanted to be like Rhodes and he can dress like him, but there is more to it than that. The other thing Gable realizes is that Rhodes is a terrible friend, just like Otis. Rhodes is the definition of superficial because he only cares about what people think of him. That has Rhodes thinking and he brings up Gable’s time as Shorty G, but he’s looking at Stardust.

Rhodes lost last year at Wrestlemania and it made him think things could go wrong. What happens when things go wrong for Gable? That doesn’t go well for Gable, who says he would take Rhodes out if not for the suit he’s wearing. Rhodes cuts to the point and issues the challenge for tonight, but he’s got Kevin Owens on his mind, which is bad for Gable. This was a rather lengthy exchange for a match that probably didn’t need it.

Commentary confirms that the transfer portal is indeed open and wrestlers can move. No word on how long or when that might happen.

Bianca Belair and Naomi are in the back and they’re both banged up after WarGames. Naomi leaves for her match when Chelsea Green and Piper Niven come in to mock Belair for the loss in the tournament. Belair thinks Niven might have taken Jade Cargill out so the brawl is on, with Green going after Belair’s bad ribs.

Jesse Ventura is here. Yeah that works.

Women’s United States Title Tournament First Round: Tiffany Stratton vs. Elektra Lopez vs. Naomi

Lopez throws the banged up Naomi to the floor to start so Stratton, in Minnesota Vikings colors, tries a cheap shot. That doesn’t work either as Lopez drops her, followed by another knockdown to Naomi. Stratton is back up and cartwheels over Lopez, setting up a basement dropkick for two. The handspring elbow hits Lopez but Naomi is back in with a high crossbody to Stratton.

Naomi steps onto Stratton’s back in the corner but falls over the top, thankfully catching herself for a nice save. A double springboard Stunner (it only kind of works) sends the villains outside but Stratton is back up with a double stomp to crush Naomi on the apron. Back in and Lopez gets a half crab on Stratton before planting Naomi for two.

A Blue Thunder Bomb gives Lopez two on Naomi with Stratton making a last second save. Back up and they strike it out until Naomi hits the Rear View on Stratton…but here is Candice LeRae for a distraction. Lopez breaks up the split legged moonsault so Naomi settles for a layout reverse DDT. Now the moonsault hits but Stratton breaks it up, meaning the Prettiest Moonsault Ever can finish Lopez at 7:15.

Rating: B-. The fans were behind Stratton here and the three of them knew it, making the match a lot more interesting. Stratton got to be the big hometown hero here and the moonsault at the end looked great. At the same time, Lopez came off like a star and something of a wrecking machine, at least until the end.

Commentary talks about the tournament but we go to the back where the Street Profits (challenging for the Tag Team Titles tonight) have been attacked. Nick Aldis goes to deal with this and runs into the Motor City Machine Guns, who are told the match can’t happen. Johnny Gargano pops up to say DIY can take the shot, with the Guns agreeing. The match is made, but Aldis says to tell Tommaso Ciampa to not make him regret this.

Bianca Belair vs. Piper Niven

Chelsea Green is here with Niven. Belair powers her into the corner to start as Cole talks about Jell Roll. A slam attempt just hurts Belair’s bad ribs an Niven’s basement crossbody makes them even worse. The pace slows down and Belair is sent into the corner, setting up a Boss Man Slam for two. We take a break and come back with Belair fighting out of an abdominal stretch but getting crushed with some backsplashes. Belair fights up again and manages a choke but Niven flips her down again.

Another splash misses for Niven though and Belair sends her into the corner over and over. A high crossbody gives Belair two and a spear gets the same, leaving her rather frustrated. For some reason Belair tries the KOD, earning herself a scary Saito suplex. Niven charges into a spinebuster but Belair’s handspring moonsault hits knees. Back up and the Piper Driver gets a heck of a near fall so Belair takes her into the corner. Green gets pulled in before Belair somehow manages a KOD (GEEZ) onto Green for the pin at 12:17.

Rating: B. I got pulled way into this one and that they were trading big shots until the end. Belair getting to pull off the KOD with bad ribs might have been a stretch but I was almost cheering her by that point so I’ll call it a success. They got into a groove here and it was one of the better matches I’ve seen on regular Smackdown in a bit.

We look back at Shinsuke Nakamura’s return and subsequent US Title win at Survivor Series.

We look at Team Ripley winning the women’s WarGames match.

Bianca Belair is walking through the back (and passing Nick Aldis talking to Dominik Mysterio) and runs into Naomi. She’s sick of Tiffany and Candice LeRae but Byron Saxton comes in to say Piper Niven has an alibi for the Jade Cargill attack. Belair and Naomi are going to find out who did it.

Here is Shinsuke Nakamura for a chat…but LA Knight interrupts before anything can be said. Knight doesn’t think much of Nakamura as the US Champion because that title belongs to him. The challenge is on for the rematch but Nakamura just stands there. Knight says the only thing Nakamura has done to his face is spray that mist so he puts the sunglasses on (makes sense), only for Andrade to interrupt.

Knight says this is his title and Andrade can have the first shot…..but here is the Bloodline to take out Knight and Andrade. Nakamura backs away from the violence (with goo streaming out of his mouth), leaving the Bloodline to take out Andrade and Knight again. Solo Sikoa says the Bloodline isn’t done and even though they’re down two soldiers, step up and take a shot.

Anyone who steps up will get taken out because he’s tired of not being taken seriously. Sikoa is still the Tribal Chief and still the head of the table, so everyone is going to acknowledge him. It’s really nice to see the Bloodline get away from Roman Reigns and company, but dang this feels like a downgrade.

Tommaso Ciampa says Johnny Gargano getting them this title shot doesn’t fix everything. We’ll see how that goes if they win the titles.

Kevin Owens isn’t happy with having to be in Minneapolis for a sitdown interview with Michael Cole. He never wants to be in this town, especially for something with MICHAEL COLE. Owens is at the arena, so come find his car and have a chat.

Tag Team Titles: Motor City Machine Guns vs. DIY

DIY is challenging. Sabin grabs Ciampa’s arm to start and it’s off to Shelley for a running dropkick. We hit the chinlock for a bit before Ciampa is knocked outside and we take an early break. Back with Shelley hitting a jawbreaker and ducking Ciampa’s boot, which hits Gargano by mistake. The Fairy Tale Ending is blocked and Sabin comes back in with a high crossbody for two on Ciampa.

A middle rope knee/backbreaker combination into a Downward Spiral/enziguri combination gets two more on Ciampa, but he fights back up for a knockdown of his own. Ciampa tags Gargano in but then yells at and shoves him. Gargano shoves Ciampa down and tells him to get out, only to get small packaged for two. Shelley Downward Spirals Gargano into the middle buckle but Ciampa distracts the referee. Gargano goes low on Sabin and superkick Shelley. Ciampa is rather pleased (Gargano: “Well that worked!”) and Meet In The Middle gives DIY the titles back at 10:40.

Rating: B-. This might not have been a classic but the turn went well, as Gargano finally embraces the evil and has success as a result. Odds are Ciampa or DIY took out the Profits earlier as it would fit, though dang I’m not sure how well DIY fits as dastardly villains. For now though, they get the titles and have some ready made challengers, so it’s a nice start.

Post break Candice LeRae celebrates with DIY, as Tommaso Ciampa calls his family.

Michael Cole has gone to the parking lot and found Kevin Owens’ car (hint: it’s the one with Owens inside) where Owens insists that they talk here. Owens hasn’t been allowed to go into an arena since Bad Blood and laughs at the idea of Cole wanting to do an unbiased interview. Cole talks about being a big Owens supporter but Owens goes off about Roman Reigns trying to end his career. Cody Rhodes called him an egomaniac but who has THREE SETS OF PYRO for his entrance???

Cole brings up the Usos and Sami Zayn helping Reigns, sending Owens into another ran about how he doesn’t care about the Usos. He’ll cross that bridge with Zayn when they get there, but Cole doesn’t understand this because he doesn’t have friends. Cole tells Owens to look in the mirror. Owens: “Ok. I see a handsome man who is completely right.” Owens tells him to leave his rental vehicle right now and, with Cole out, an annoyed Owens drives off. As usual, Owens knows how to make the obvious sound good and Cole is good as the realistic voice.

Nick Aldis talks to Gunther, but Carmelo Hayes comes up and doesn’t approve. With Gunther gone, Hayes asks why Aldis doesn’t have time for him. If Aldis can’t find a place for him, Monday Night Melo sounds good to Hayes. Aldis says that not having to deal with Hayes sounds like something that deserves balloons and a cake. He has something planned for Hayes…and then walks off.

Cody Rhodes vs. Chad Gable

Non-title and the rest of American Made is here too. Gable grabs a waistlock to start and Rhodes has to kick him away for an early standoff. A delayed gordbuster puts Gable down but Ivy Nile cuts off a springboard attempt. Gable gets in a dragon screw legwhip and wraps the leg around the post as we take a break.

Back with Rhodes escaping the ankle lock but getting his leg dropkicked out for two. The top rope headbutt gives Gable two but the moonsault is broken up, allowing Rhodes to hit an inverted superplex to leave both of them down. Rhodes fights up and hits the powerslam, followed by the Disaster Kick. The Cody Cuter connects but the Creeds pull Gable to the floor. American Made gets ejected, allowing Rhodes to grab a rollup for two.

Gable goes back to the leg and takes Rhodes’ boot off, setting up the ankle lock. That’s broken up with a roll through and the Cody Cutter connects again. Cross Rhodes is reversed into ankle ankle lock, sending Rhodes to the ropes. Gable breaks up Cross Rhodes again and goes up top, only to miss the moonsault. Cross Rhodes finishes Gable at 12:26.

Rating: B. Gable got in more than I was expecting before being taken down here and that’s a nice way for him to go. It was a good, back and forth match with both of them working well. Gable taking out Rhodes’ leg sounds like a calling card for Kevin Owens, who knows how to go after an injury. Nice main event here, with Gable helping move Rhodes up a bit.

Post match Kevin Owens is here to stomp on the bad ankle. Referees and agents can’t keep them apart and the fight keeps going as the show ends.

Overall Rating: B+. You had two rather good matches plus some angle advancement on the way to Saturday Night’s Main Event. The Gargano turn and title change just make things feel that much more important and this was a rather engaging show. Smackdown is clicking right now and that is always nice to see. Pretty great show this week.

Results
Tiffany Stratton b. Elektra Lopez and Naomi – Prettiest Moonsault Ever to Lopez
Bianca Belair b. Piper Niven – KOD
DIY b. Motor City Machine Guns – Meet In The Middle to Sabin
Cody Rhodes b. Chad Gable – Cross Rhodes

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.

Survivor Series 2024
Date: November 30, 2024
Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

It’s WarGames night and that should be enough to carry the evening. In this case we have the men’s and women’s version, but there are also three title matches to fill out the card. That should be more than enough, as the card is looking rather excellent all things considered. Let’s get to it.

The opening video looks a the two WarGames matches, with the other matches not really being important enough to warrant much time.

Since we’re going to have two of them, here are the WarGames rules:

• Two wrestlers start and fight for five minutes.

• After five minutes, the team with the advantage (as determined before the match) gets a three minute advantage.

• The teams alternate until all ten are in and then it’s first pin/submission to win.

The cage is lowered.

Women’s WarGames

Naomi, Iyo Sky, Bayley, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair
Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Candice LeRae

Bayley is a last second replacement for the possibly injured Jade Cargill. Jax and Bayley start things off with Bayley bouncing off of her but being smart enough to avoid a charge. They go between the ring where Bayley loudly calls for an elbow and is then elbowed in the face. Bayley takes her into the other ring and goes up for a super hurricanrana before taking off some weird shoulder pad to whip Jax.

That gets taken away and a running hip attack sends Bayley back into the first ring. Jax runs her over and it’s Naomi, wearing a freaking birthday hat, is in, albeit after grabbing some weapons (including a toilet seat). Naomi steps on her in the back then slides under a clothesline and helps double team Jax down. Jax gets the kendo stick but is knocked into the corner, where the toilet seat is put on her face for the Stinkface.

Jax gets double backdropped and it’s…well it was going to be Tiffany Stratton but Candice LeRae comes out of the cage instead. Some chair shots put Bayley and Naomi down and the slow beating begins. LeRae lays Bayley over some open chairs for a Lionsault and it’s Belair coming in (after getting a trashcan, a fire extinguisher, a table and a chair) to even things up. Belair drops LeRae onto the turnbuckle and puts Jax into the corner.

A dropkick sends a chair into Jax’s face in the corner (she was nice enough to hold it) and Tiffany Stratton is in to give the villains the advantage again. A handspring elbow connects and a middle rope G9 hits Belair. Naomi takes a chair from Jax and knocks her down with some not so great chair shots. Sky is in next and grabs a painted trashcan, which she uses a string to tie around her back. That’s broken up though with LeRae cutting her off, leaving the trashcan on top of the cage.

Sky and Stratton take turns flipping around until Sky chairs her down. Jax is back up to run Sky over and it’s Raquel Rodriguez coming in to a limited reaction. After taking her required time to bring in weapons, Bayley and Belair jump Rodriguez. Jax breaks that up and the villains wreck everyone until Ripley (in red for once, plus a horned mask) is in to complete her team. Naomi is back up with a double Rear View and almost everyone lays around a lot.

Rodriguez and Jax get beaten up in the corner and Ripley headbutts Jax down, leaving her as the only person standing. Morgan is in to complete the field and brings in a baseball bat, with Ripley taking the mask off, revealing black eye paint. Morgan’s big swing misses and the beatdown is on but Jax makes the save. Ripley is held for a bunch of bat shots to the ribs and the handcuffs are brought out, with Ripley managing to fight them off.

Sky and Bayley make the save and it’s a parade of shots to the face to put people down. Bayley gets caught with a Samoan drop as Sky and Stratton climb to the top of the cage. They both do flip dives (Sky with the trashcan) and everyone is down. Stratton pulls out the briefcase and teases a cash in but Sky makes the save with a fire extinguisher. Rodriguez is handcuffed in the corner and Belair drops LeRae face first onto the turnbuckle.

A legdrop gets two on Belair but Jax gets powerbombed through a table. Morgan grabs a baseball bat for some shots but Belair takes it away. A quick Oblivion onto a chair hits Bayley but Rodriguez saves Morgan from Riptide. Morgan’s Codebreaker sends a chair into Ripley’s face before they go up top. Ripley powers her up into a super Riptide through the table and Morgan is done at 38:03.

Rating: C-. They had some moments which worked, but my goodness this did not work very well. It was a mixture of a lot of blown spots, people standing around waiting for their spots, too many weapons, and just too much time overall. This is a match that would have been far better as a run of the mill Survivor Series elimination match, if nothing else as it would suit the styles better. Just way too long here and too much standing around waiting or screwing up stuff that didn’t need to be so complicated. This was possibly the weakest WWE WarGames match yet and that’s not nice to see.

We recap LA Knight defending the US Title against Shinsuke Nakamura, who returned and attacked Knight to jump back into the title picture. Mist was blown too and Knight was partially blinded.

US Title: LA Knight vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Knight is defending and Nakamura has a very Samurai style entrance. Nakamura strikes away to start but Knight is back up with the stomping in the corner. A middle rope elbow to the back gives Knight two but Nakamura elbows him in the face. Nakamura’s basement dropkick rocks Knight but he ducks a spinning kick to the face.

The torture rack slam plants Nakamura and Knight puts him up top, where it’s an overhead belly to back superplex to drop Knight on his face. Knight knocks him back down though and hits the jumping top rope elbow…for no cover. Instead Nakamura rolls between the rings and grabs a reverse DDT onto the steel plate. Kinshasa gives Nakamura the title back at 9:52.

Rating: B-. I can go with the result, as either of them coming out with the title would have gone well enough. Nakamura coming back to lose wouldn’t have made a ton of sense, but it’s still a bit surprising that Knight lost the title so soon. For now though, it’s the right way to go and odds are the feud isn’t over yet.

Alpha Academy sell t-shirts, but Otis has forgotten his pants.

We recap the Intercontinental Title triple threat. Sheamus wants the one title he’s never had, Ludwig Kaiser wants to prove himself, and Bron Breakker wants to fight everyone.

Intercontinental Title: Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser

Breakker is defending. Kaiser is sent outside fast to start and grabs a chair but Breakker knocks him down. Breakker gets in a shot to Sheamus’ knee but Kaiser is back up to put the chair in the corner. Sheamus and Breakker hammer away on Kaiser in the corner but he cuts off both of them with running dropkicks on the floor. Breakker flies in with a shoulder to drop Kaiser though and then runs Sheamus over for a bonus.

Sheamus gets hammered down as well and Breakker does the Scott Steiner pushups back inside. Back up and Sheamus knocks him down but Kaiser is right there to take Sheamus to the floor. A powerbomb is broken up and Breakker hits a huge clothesline from the apron onto the announcers’ table to take both of them out. Breakker sends Sheamus over the barricade, where he rises up for some forearms to their chests.

The double clothesline off the barricade has Sheamus in control but Kaiser grabs the shillelagh. Sheamus drops him with ease and goes inside to slug it out with Breakker. The Celtic Cross gives Sheamus two but Breakker is back with the Frankensteiner. Sheamus avoids a charge into the chair in the corner though and the Brogue Kick connects, only for Kaiser to pull the referee out.

Kaiser unloads on him with the shillelagh but Sheamus is back with the knee to the face for two. Kaiser hits a Regal Roll on Sheamus and hits him in the bad ribs, setting up the wind up DDT. Breakker spears the heck out of Kaiser and does it again to Sheamus for the pin at 14:22.

Rating: B+. This was what I wanted out of a match like this, with Breakker looking like an absolute freak of nature. I could have seen any of them leaving with the title here and that is a great feeling to have on the way in. Sheamus almost has to win the title one day just to pay off the buildup, but for now it’s Breakker’s time and that’s what it should be. Heck of a match here.

We recap Gunther defending the Raw World Title against Damian Priest. This is more about the wrestler vs. the brawler, with Priest getting inside of Gunther’s had by messing with his confidence.

Raw World Title: Damian Priest vs. Gunther

Gunther is defending. They go technical to start with Priest grabbing an armbar and knocking him outside. Back in and Priest fires off some kicks, followed by a faceplant but Priest’s shoulder gives out on him so Gunther can have an opening. Gunther starts in on on the arm and takes it outside for some rams into various things. Back in and Gunther slowly starts kicking away at the arm, seemingly being happy that he is getting to take the fans out of this.

The double arm crank has Priest screaming but he fights up and scores with a kick to he head. Back up and Priest hits the running elbow in the corner into the lifting Downward Spiral for two with just the one arm. The arm gives out on the Razor’s Edge attempt though and Gunther grabs a sleeper. That’s broken up so Priest hits a super hurricanrana into the Razor’s Edge for two.

South Of Heaven is loaded up but the arm gives out, allowing Gunther to grab a Kimura. Priest gets over to the rope for the save but Gunther knows Priest is in trouble. Gunther takes his time going after him, allowing Priest to come back with a clothesline for a delayed two. Priest goes up top but has to shove Gunther down, only to crash out to the floor. Cue Finn Balor with a Coup de Grace off the steps to crush Priest, allowing Gunther to grab the sleeper for the win at 19:13.

Rating: B-. It was good enough but the ending being almost the same as the one from Summerslam didn’t help things. You can only get so much out of doing something so similar, but this does at least get Gunther past Priest and on to whomever is next. That’s a good thing to accomplish, as Priest can have his big blowoff with Balor once and for all.

Here’s what’s coming on various shows.

We get NFL style intros for the participants in the main event.

We recap the men’s WarGames match. The new Bloodline is running roughshod over Smackdown so Roman Reigns, the Usos and Sami Zayn have risen up to fight them. The Bloodline got Bronson Reed to help them, so Reigns called Paul Heyman to get CM Punk’s help. The idea is that if the Bloodline isn’t stopped here, they can’t be stopped.

Men’s WarGames

Bloodline/Bronson Reed
Roman Reigns, Usos, CM Punk, Sami Zayn,

Jey and Tama start things off and they take their time going after each other. Jey starts swinging away but misses an enziguri, allowing Tama to hit a sliding lariat into a powerslam. The slingshot hilo connects and Tama hits a splash before going for a cover out of instinct. Another basement lariat misses and Jey hits the running Umaga Attack in the corner. Bronson Reed is in next and he grabs a bunch of chairs, with Jey throwing them at Reed.

Some of them stagger Reed but he knocks another out of the air. Tama is back up and Jey gets dropped, with Reed hitting a big backsplash. Jey gets crushed again but it’s Jimmy Uso coming in to even things up. Jimmy doesn’t even bother with weapons but starts striking away and runs both of them over. Tama is sent into the cage and the Usos hammer away in the corner. Reed is sent into the cage as well and it’s….Jacob Fatu in on Solo Sikoa’s orders.

As he tends to do, Fatu wrecks everything in sight (well everything not on his team at least), including running Jimmy over. Jey is held up and taken down with a flipping slam and it’s all Bloodline. CM Punk is ready to enter, but Roman Reigns cuts him off and has Sami Zayn go in instead. Zayn hammers on Reed in the corner and stomps on him in between the rings. Fatu pulls a high crossbody out of the air but Jimmy hits a superkick to make the save, setting up the big hug with Zayn.

Fatu’s implant DDT plants Jimmy though and the Bloodline is in control as Tonga Loa comes in. Some tables are thrown in and the Bloodline slowly hammers away as the pace lowers a lot. Fatu hits a springboard moonsault and Jimmy is sent into the cage. Roman Reigns is ready to come in but CM Punk walks in front of him to even the score again. Punk looks back at Reigns, who shakes his head, before Punk grabs a toolbox. A bunch of toolbox shots to the head stagger the Bloodline and Fatu is dropped onto the toolbox…but he pops up and hits the Samoan drop to plant Punk.

Zayn is beaten in the corner and it’s Solo Sikoa in to complete the Bloodline. Sikoa slams the door onto Zayn’s head and then does the same thing to the Usos. A chain is brought in and the Usos are stacked up for Fatu’s double springboard moonsault. The Tsunami crushes Zayn as Sikoa is rather pleased. Punk tries to get up but gets beaten down, leaving Sikoa to use the chain to lock the door (Sikoa: “HEY ROMAN! YOU AIN’T GETTING IN HERE!”).

Reigns comes to the cage but can’t get in through the door so he climbs the wall and punches away to get inside, even diving onto all five at once. All ten get up and Reigns goes to glare at Punk. Cue Paul Heyman to say work together…and sure we’ll do that. We get the ten way slugout between the rings with the Bloodline getting beaten down. The Usos hit stereo Superfly Splashes on the Tongas.

Fatu and Sikoa wreck the Usos and go to slug it out with Reigns and Punk. Reigns ducks the Samoan Spike and spears Punk by mistake, allowing Sikoa to hit the Samoan Spike for two. Reed hits the Death Valley Driver but Fatu messes up the springboard moonsault and hurts his knee. Reigns is back up with a low blow to Fatu and a spear to Sikoa but Reed hits a superkick. Reed puts him on the table and climbs the cage (uh oh) but Punk makes the save, leaving Reed to crash through the table (which exploded).

Fatu breaks up the big handshake but gets Superman Punches. Sikoa hits a pair of Samoan Spikes but Jey makes the save, suddenly remembering that he’s in the match. The Usos superkick Fatu and give him the 1D, followed by Zayn’s Blue Thunder Bomb to Tama. Jimmy goes all the way to the top of the cage and, eventually, hits a Superfly Splash to drive Fatu through the table. Sikoa is left alone, leaving him t turn down the chance of acknowledging Reigns. A parade of finishers into the spear gives Reigns the pin at 41:55.

Rating: B. As usual, this match was far longer than it needed to be, but they didn’t rely on the weapons nearly as much as they did in the opener. At the same time, there was way too much laying around waiting to get something else going. That meant making the match go longer than it needed to and that is the case with almost every WarGames match. The ending felt like a pretty strong closing of the door on Sikoa, but there is a very good chance that the story could keep going. For now though, the good guys needed a win and then got one.

Post match Reigns and Punk show respect and Punk hugs Heyman, saying he’ll ask for the favor one day. Works for Heyman. The winners pose together to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. As usual, this show was built around two matches but in this case only one of them worked. The main event was rather good while the opener was pretty weak. The good thing is the three matches in between boosted up the rest of the card, making a good show that was done in about three and a half hours. The heroes won in the two major matches, which is a nice feeling at a bigger show. Good stuff here, with the main event working as well as it could have given the circumstances.

Results
Naomi, Iyo Sky, Bayley, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair b. Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Candice LeRae – Super Riptide through a table to Morgan
Shinsuke Nakamura b. LA Knight – Kinshasa
Bron Breakker b. Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser – Spear to Sheamus
Gunther b. Damian Priest – Sleeper
Roman Reigns/Usos/Sami Zayn/CM Punk b. Bloodline/Bronson Reed – Spear to Sikoa

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It’s time to go north of the border as we’re in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the match and as has been the case for a few years now, the show is centered around WarGames. We have a men’s and women’s edition, with the men’s centered around the Bloodline civil war, with CM Punk and Paul Heyman being added in to really spice things up. That should be enough to make the show work so let’s get to it.

Intercontinental Title: Bron Breakker(c) vs. Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser

This is the continuing saga of Sheamus trying to finally win the Intercontinental Title, which has been set up for years now before WWE actually pulls the trigger. That opens up the possibility of WWE going there this time around, though I’m not sure if that is what they’re going to do. Breakker holding onto the title is certainly a possibility, but Kaiser has been ding some very nice work recently as well.

I think I’ll go with Breakker retaining here as you don’t want him losing the title again so soon, but at the same time, I wouldn’t be stunned to see Kaiser steal the belt. Sheamus almost has to win the title at some point, which could make for a heck of a WrestleMania moment if that is where they want to go. For now though, I’ll take Breakker to retain, as it’s the best option at the moment.

United States Title: LA Knight(c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Here we have the other midcard title match, which is a bit less complicated, as Nakamura returned and went after the title, even misting Knight in the eyes. Knight isn’t happy and is ready to fight, as is Nakamura most of the time. Knight is in a weird place as he’s a fighting champion but this feud was just kind of dropped into place out of nowhere with little connection between them. On the other hand, Nakamura has been gone for months so he needs something to do.

I’m not sure what to do here but I’ll go with Knight retaining the title, possibly via DQ, as I don’t think this is it for the two of them. Knight shouldn’t be losing the title so soon but Nakamura shouldn’t be losing his first big match back. We’ll say Nakamura mists Knight again for the DQ to set up a rematch where Knight can go over clean, but for now they do something to extend the story.

Raw World Title: Gunther(c) vs. Damian Priest

This is a rematch from Summerslam where Gunther beat Priest for the title, albeit with help from Finn Balor. This time around it should be a bit more of a straight up match, though in this case Priest is getting inside Gunther’s head. Gunther seems to be questioning whether he can actually beat Priest, who has shown that he is capable of winning a fight rather than a match.

That being said, I can’t imagine the title changes here, as Gunther seems poised for some major matches going forward. We’ve already seen Priest having a major run with the belt so he can lose here to give Gunther the clean (well likely cleaner) win that he didn’t get at Summerslam. I’m not sure what is next for Priest at the moment, but he doesn’t need to get the title back. Yet.

Women’s WarGames

Now we get to the focal point of the show, as a pair of ragtag groups come together in the biggest team match that WWE has all year. Bayley is a last minute replacement for the (possibly) injured Jade Cargill and that has the radar going up. Someone attacked Cargill and there is a good chance that the attacker will be revealed during the match. That very well may cost the team, and odds are that’s where this goes.

I’ll take Team Jax to win here, likely through some kind of betrayal when the attacker reveals themselves. Bianca Belair herself would be a likely way to go (likely, not necessarily logical), with Naomi possibly taking the fall. Either way, this is going to be about what happened to Cargill and odds are we find out a big piece of that puzzle this week, especially with the last minute change having to take place.

Men’s WarGames

This is the big one though, as CM Punk and Paul Heyman are back to help cut off the Bloodline once and for all. I’m not sure how that is going to go, but at the end of the day it is going to be the latest chapter in the big drama. Heyman very well could turn on Reigns or they could fight off the Bloodline again. Either way, we could be in for something rather big, which is the point of the whole thing.

I think I’ll go with Reigns and company winning here, just because the team has been beaten down so many times lately. At some point they have to win something back and beating the Bloodline in WarGames would be a good place to start. I’m not sure where it goes from here, but for now, the Bloodline takes a loss, likely with one of the Tongas getting pinned to help preserve Sikoa’s status.

Overall Thoughts

This show is absolutely stacked, with three title matches and a pair of WarGames matches. That’s a pretty good lineup for one night and I want to see how it goes. We’re getting into the interesting time in WWE’s calendar as we have this, then two weeks before Saturday Night’s Main Event and then it is time to get ready for the Royal Rumble. This show is both part of the end and part of the beginning and the pieces are there for a rather awesome show if everything goes as planned.

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Smackdown
Date: November 29, 2024
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the go home show for Survivor Series and we’re taped after last week’s show. This week still has some implications for the pay per view as we’re going to need a replacement for the injured Jade Cargill in WarGames. That and the rest of the show will probably get some featured time so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of CM Punk and Paul Heyman returning to save Roman Reigns and company last week.

Here is Team Rhea Ripley, now with Bayley replacing Jade Cargill, for a chat. Ripley talks about how the team isn’t a bunch of friends, but they all have someone they want to get their hands on in WarGames. The rest of the team (Naomi, Bayley, Iyo Sky and Bianca Belair) agree but Team Liv Morgan interrupts.

Nia Jax brings up all of the other team’s past issues, with Morgan accusing Bayley of attacking Jade Cargill. Ripley cuts her off and says Morgan is going to have to face her. Various threats are made and the brawl is on in thee aisle. And on the stage. Some in the ring too. Security and referees make the save. Bayley makes as much sense as anyone else but there is always the chance that she’s up to something nefarious

Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura, now with some face paint, strikes away in the corner but gets taken down with a middle rope crossbody. That doesn’t get him very far as Nakamura hammers away again but Nakamura kicks him down, with the fans being rather pleased. Nakamura goes up and gets knocked to the floor with a springboard dropkick, setting up a moonsault to drop him again.

We take a break and come back with Andrade elbowing him in the face and grabbing a dragon screw legwhip. Nakamura catches him on top but gets elbowed down, setting up the double moonsault for two. Andrade misses a shot to the face but ducks Kinshasa, setting up the spinning backfist to the face for two more. Two Amigos connect, with the third suplex sending Nakamura into the corner. The running knees in the corner miss, with Nakamura pulling them turnbuckle off to make the crash even worse. Kinshasa finishes for Nakamura at 10:34.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of win that Nakamura needed to show that he’s still quite the threat, including possibly being able to take out LA Knight at Survivor Series. That’s the right way to present him and the match worked here, with Andrade putting in some effort. Nakamura looking good was the point though and him winning the title isn’t out of the question.

Post match LA Knight runs in to jump Nakamura but gets mist in the face.

Nick Aldis bans the Bloodline from ringside for Jacob Fatu’s WarGames advantage match.

Tommaso Ciampa rants at Johnny Gargano about how things have changed and now he wants to get the Tag Team Titles back. Gargano has one more week to figure this out or it’s Ciampa’s way.

Kevin Owens explains his history with the Bloodline, with everything he’s been through, only for his former friend, Cody Rhodes, to TEAM WITH ROMAN REIGNS. Now it’s time for revenge, with the title match being set for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Cody Rhodes vs. Carmelo Hayes

Non-title. Before the match, Hayes says Owens was right about Rhodes turning his back on his friends. Who needs enemies when you have friends like Rhodes? They lock up to start before trading rollups for two each. Hayes manages to knock him to the floor and then gets in a dropkick to the knee on the way back in. Rhodes is fine enough to hit a Disaster Kick and we take a break.

Back with Rhodes hitting a delayed superplex but Hayes grabs a spinning faceplant for two. Rhodes goes in a new direction with a running powerslam into a Figure Four, with Hayes making the ropes in a hurry. Hayes goes for the knee and breaks up the Disaster Kick but has to get out of a Cross Rhodes attempt. The Cody Cutter works better and now Cross Rhodes finishes Hayes at 11:17.

Rating: B. They started slowly but the pace picked up and it turned into a nice, fast match near the end. That’s all it needed to be, with Hayes being a good enough test for Rhodes. With Saturday Night’s Main Event coming up for Rhodes, he’s going to need to get in the ring time and Hayes has been needing something to do anyway.

Earlier this week, Paul Heyman held a sitdown interview with Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Naturally Punk showed up late to get on Reigns’ nerves, eventually showing up to say he’s here for Heyman rather than Reigns. That doesn’t work for Reigns, who doesn’t like anything about Punk.

Heyman says it’s over without Punk, and if Punk doesn’t help, he’ll be next for the Bloodline. United, at best, they survive. Punk still doesn’t care about Reigns but he’s here to avenge Heyman. If Reigns wants to revisit this after Survivor Series one on one, Punk is all ears. For now though, their wise man owes Punk a favor. Punk leaves and Reigns asks Heyman about the favor. Heyman will tell him if they get through WarGames. Well that’s ominous, and now we get to see where it goes from here. In other words, more good drama.

Women’s United States Title Tournament First Round: Piper Niven vs. Michin vs. Lash Legend

Chelsea Green is here with Niven, who gets hit in the face to start. Niven is fine enough to faceplant Michin and splash her for two with Legend making the save. A dropkick sends Niven to the floor and Michin sends Legend outside with a hurricanrana. That means a Lionsault to take the other two down but here is B-Fab to cut off an interfering Green. Legend kicks the distracted Niven in the face and we take a break.

Back with Niven hitting Michin with a cannonball and Legend having to make a save. Legend backbreakers Michin and chokeslams Niven for two (that was impressive), followed by a powerbomb for two on Michin. A super Piper Driver is broken up and Niven misses a middle rope backsplash misses, allowing Legend to hit the Lash Extension. Michin comes off the top for the save though and steals the pin at 10:19.

Rating: B-. As has been the case recently, Legend got to showcase her power here and it worked very well, with her throwing Niven around being rather impressive. Michin’s rise up the ranks continues and she is a dark horse to win the title. Niven was good as the monster to offer some issues, but Michin winning was a good way to go.

LA Knight is still ready for Shinsuke Nakamura, mist or no mist.

Survivor Series rundown.

Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso give Jey Uso a pep talk but Nick Aldis says it’s one on one.

Jey Uso vs. Jacob Fatu

For the WarGames advantage. Fatu shoulders him down to start and chokes in the corner. Back up and a running clothesline sends Fatu outside, where he tosses Jey into and over various things. We take a break and come back with Jey fighting out of a nerve hold and sending him into the corner. Fatu misses a charge into the post, setting up the running Umaga Attack for two.

Back up and Fatu plants him down, setting up a handspring moonsault for two of his own. The pop up Samoan drop gets two more but a Swanton hits raised knees. The Superfly Splash gives Jey two and Fatu rolls outside, with a suicide dive knocking him over the announcers’ table. Fatu Samoan drops him onto the announcers’ able (THUD), setting up the springboard moonsault for the pin at 13:49.

Rating: B-. This is what it should have been, as Fatu was making his singles debut and got to smash his way through someone with quite the level of success. Beating Uso feels like a big deal and it even has an impact on WarGames. This was a great way to get Fatu in the ring on his own for the first time and he more than held up his end.

Overall Rating: B+. This was a heck of a show, with nothing but good matches and an intense as heck Reigns/Punk/Heyman segment. I want to see what is going to happen at Survivor Series and that is a great feeling to have less than a day before the event. WWE is getting really good at hitting their stride before their big shows and they are doing it again here with an awesome Smackdown before Survivor Series.

Results
Shinsuke Nakamura b. Andrade – Kinshasa
Cody Rhodes b. Carmelo Hayes – Cross Rhodes
Michin b. Piper Niven and Lash Legend – Lash Extension to Niven
Jacob Fatu b. Jey Uso – Springboard moonsault

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Smackdown
Date: November 22, 2024
Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

We’re just over a week away from Survivor Series and the card still needs some help. Right now we have the women’s WarGames match and the Raw World Title match set, but the men’s WarGames match still needs an extra name. Maybe that, plus some other things, get set up this week so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap, focusing on Roman Reigns and company needing help against the Bloodline.

Here are the Bloodline and Bronson Reed to get things going. Solo Sikoa does his usual thing and requests that Roman Reigns meet him in the ring tonight to accept terms of surrender. Then Reigns and the Usos can acknowledge him. And that’s that for a fast opening sequence.

Women’s United States Title Tournament First Round: Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Blair Davenport

They trade rollups to start until Green clotheslines Davenport out to the floor. Green’s middle rope sunset flip gets two on Belair, who is back up with a slingshot dive to drop Green outside. Davenport is back up with a shot of her own though and we take a break. Back with Green hitting a Rough Ryder on Belair but getting stomped down by Davenport.

Belair suplexes Davenport for two with Green making the save, earning herself some shoulders in the corner. Green superplexes Davenport, who gets crushed by Belair’s 450, with Green’s stolen cover only getting two. We cut to the back where someone has knocked Jade Cargill through the windshield of a car, which is enough for Belair to run off to help her. The Unprettier gives Green the pin on Davenport at 9:50.

Rating: C+. Green advancing is nice to see as there is a chance that she could wind up winning the title in a nice surprise. Other than that, this was more about the Cargill attack, which could lead into something interesting with WarGames right around the corner. Other than that, Davenport was pretty much just there to take the fall, which is about all she’s doing at the moment anyway.

Post break Belair gets in the ambulance with Cargill as Bayley and Naomi aren’t sure what to do. It still isn’t clear who attacked Cargill.

United States Title: LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar

Escobar, with the rest of Legado del Fantasma, is challenging. Hold on though as we get a video from Shinsuke Nakamura, talking about how Knight is scared of everything and this is the beginning of his end. Escobar jumps Knight from behind to start fast and knocks him to the floor for the slingshot dive.

We take a break and come back with Escobar kicking Knight in the head for two, setting up the seated armbar. Knight fights up and hits the slingshot shoulder before grabbing the jumping neckbreaker for two. The jumping top rope elbow is loaded up but cue Nakamura for a distraction. Escobar takes Knight down and hits a frog splash but doesn’t cover. Instead the Phantom Driver is loaded up but Knight reverses into the BFT for the pin at 8:04.

Rating: C. They kept this short and to the point, as Knight gets to add another win to his resume. Nakamura is coming for Knight soon enough though and there is a good chance that we’ll be seeing it at Survivor Series or Saturday Night’s Main Event. For now though, Knight gets a quick boost, with a nice counter to let him retain the title.

Post match Nakamura runs in and lays Knight out.

We look back at Tommaso Ciampa costing the Street Profits their Tag Team Title shot.

Johnny Gargano asks the Motor City Machine Guns for a Tag Team Title shot but they think the Street Profits deserve another shot. The Profits come in and don’t think much of Ciampa. All this did was show me that the Profits are giants compared to Gargano and the Guns.

Nia Jax doesn’t know anything about who attacked Jade Cargill.

Cody Rhodes is told Kevin Owens isn’t here but doesn’t buy it.

Here is Rhodes for a chat. Rhodes doesn’t believe that Kevin Owens isn’t here so cue Owens (in a sleeveless tuxedo shirt) to say he deserves the Rhodes suit treatment (as Rhodes is in workout gear rather than his usual suit). Owens doesn’t get why Rhodes is upset when everything is his fault. Rhodes is ready to fight as Owens comes to ringside to rant about how Rhodes teamed with Roman Reigns after Owens spent years fighting the Bloodline.

Reigns needed help and Rhodes teamed with him so everything is his fault. Rhodes goes on a rant about how this is all on Owens, who always has to self sabotage himself. Owens has all of the accolades and is a great star but he doesn’t realize it. Rhodes beat him at Bash In Berlin because, as always, Owens couldn’t pull the trigger. He pulled the trigger later, but it was on the wrong guy.

Rhodes issues the challenge for Saturday Night’s Main Event but Owens gives him the “on my time” response. Owens says he hates Rhodes, though Rhodes says Owens hates himself. Rhodes won’t wait to cross any line when they finally fight. This was a good laying out of the whole story and Rhodes was selling the emotion rather well.

Roman Reigns, the Usos and Sami Zayn aren’t sure what to do for WarGames. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins’ names are floated but Reigns shuts them down. Reigns says the four of them can do it themselves so Zayn is in, but wants to know what the plan is going to be. Even Reigns doesn’t know this time.

Cody Rhodes is storming through the back and doesn’t like Carmelo Hayes saying Rhodes had that coming. Shoving ensues.

Bayley/Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton/Candice LeRae

Nia Jax is here with the villains. Naomi slugs away at Stratton to start and snaps off a running hurricanrana. That means Stratton needs a breather on the floor, with Jax’s distraction letting LeRae get in a cheap shot. Bayley is in with a dive onto Stratton and we take an early breather. Back with Bayley in trouble and Stratton drawing Naomi in to cut off a tag attempt. LeRae and Stratton get in an argument though, with LeRae having to make another save. Bayley fights up but Jax pulls Naomi off the apron for the DQ at 7:46.

Rating: C. This was more about the villains arguing than anything else, which is a big deal with WarGames just over a week away. I’m not sure what to expect from the match, but having Jax get involved here to avoid someone take a fall is a good idea. They weren’t given the chance to do much here but it kept the bigger story moving well enough.

Post match the beatdown is on but Iyo Sky runs in for the save. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez come in to jump Sky but Rhea Ripley runs in with the kendo stick to clean house.

Montez Ford vs. Tommaso Ciampa

Ciampa misses a charge into the corner to start and Ford hammers away, setting up a quick dropkick for two. Back up and Ciampa hits a knee to the ribs, only to be sent to the floor for the big flip dive. A hard knee to the face sends Ford off the apron though and we take a break. Back with Ford powerbombing him out of the corner and grabbing a belly to back suplex. The standing moonsault gives Ford two, with Ciampa’s swinging neckbreaker getting the same. The Fairy Tale Ending is cut off but Ciampa knees Ford out of the air. Ciampa tries the Fairy Tale Ending again, only for Ford to reverse into a cradle for the pin at 7:52.

Rating: C+. They packed in a good bit of offense here and it made for a good enough match, though I’m a bit surprised that Ciampa lost clean so soon after his recent rampage. One would think that it would lead to Ciampa doing something better but maybe it leads to DIY splitting and moving n to something better. Ford continues to look good on his own, though he seems to be sticking with the tag team for the time being.

Post match Ciampa stays on Ford but Angelo Dawkins and Johnny Gargano run in to break it up. Ciampa shoves Gargano down so the Motor City Machine Guns run in to really break it up. Ciampa asks Gargano whose team he is on.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Here is the Bloodline to get the answer from Roman Reigns and company. Cue Reigns, the Usos and Sami Zayn for the big showdown but Solo Sikoa says he still loves all four of them. If they join the Bloodline, the team can run the company for decades. Reigns has no fifth man and no wise man, so join the team or die where you stand….and Paul Heyman is back (in a red shirt with no tie). There is no way to do WarGames 5-4 because that math does not make sense to the Wise Man.

That’s why he has a fifth man….and CM Punk is back. The big brawl is on with the Bloodline being cleared out, leaving Reigns and Punk to have a big staredown, with Heyman between them for the awesome visual. The fans think this is awesome and…well yeah. It was going to be Punk, Rollins or on a long shot, Lesnar, and Punk is the (arguably) the most interesting of them all.

Overall Rating: B. This was a show where the wrestling was nowhere near as important as the talking and it worked well. The point of this show was the big ending with Punk and Heyman returning, but the Rhodes/Owens segment worked well too. They did a nice job of making things more interesting for Survivor Series and probably some other shows, and that’s the kind of show that can be the most interesting around. Good stuff here, with the big angle at the end being what the match needed.

Results
Chelsea Green b. Bianca Belair and Blair Davenport – Unprettier to Davenport
LA Knight b. Santos Escobar – BFT
Bayley/Naomi b. Tiffany Stratton/Candice LeRae via DQ when Nia Jax interfered
Montez Ford b. Tommaso Ciampa – Cradle

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