While not directly advertised to appear officially, The Undertaker did show up at NXT last night in the final segment of the broadcast, his first appearance on the black and gold brand.
Taker came out to confront Bron Breakker, who had just announced himself as the only “bad ass” in WWE. The lights went out and Undertaker’s gong hit the speakers followed by Kid Rock’s American Bad Ass song. Taker rolled out on a bike and then got in the ring for a face-to-face with the former NXT champion.
Breakker screamed in Taker’s face as the only bad ass around here and Taker admitted that he had been watching him for a long time and one day he was going to be a very special talent.
“It’s just one thing…it ain’t today,” Taker said before dropping Breakker with a right hand. He then grabbed Breakker by the throat and chokeslammed him much to the enjoyment of the crowd and Carmelo Hayes, who sat down in the corner with a big grin on his face.
“Young fella, you see I’m gonna give you a little advice. There’s always an older, bigger, badder, bad ass waiting around the corner,” The Undertaker told Breakker as he laid in the ring. “You just met the baddest of them all.”
The Undertaker then posed with Carmelo Hayes to end the show. After cameras went off the air, Taker and Hayes did the Brothers of Destruction pose at the top of the stage to send everyone home happy.
AEW Dynamite tonight comes to us from the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, MO. After last week drawing 800,000 & 0.28 in the 18-49 demo. That’s the lowest audience since May; there was also a lot of DVR weirdness and such.
Anyway, some pissing contest we have going tonight right? My urine’s got no ads! Well mine’s got no ads and goes ten minutes longer! My God.
*****
We’ll start with the ‘Buy In’ even though there’s nothing to buy. Since I’m nothing if not thorough. Or possibly because Danielson & Suzuki had a beast of a clash on one of these a couple years back. Reader’s choice.
From the ramp, RJ City and Renee really emphasized this was the ‘biggest Dynamite in history’, pushed the ad-free thing and overrun. Also fairly sure Renee called BCG the ‘Gang Gang Bang’, so maybe knows something we don’t.
To Schiavone, Excalibur and Taz who threw to:
Edward Kingston vs Murder Granpa (NJPW Strong & ROH Titles)
Backstory: None
Suzuki got his full extended theme and a big pop. Crowd shots tight again. Fans equally happy to see Herr Kingston. Loud ‘Eddie’ chants.
Bell rings, the two in opposite corners, more chants for Kingston as he immediately pulled his singlet down and the test of manhood commenced: flesh smacking, dudes yelling, crowd clapping as Suzuki asked for one to the face. Smiling through it to chants of ‘Suz-u-ki’ and knocking Eddie down via open palm.
Lifting him up to land a straight right, Kingston’s legs wobbly before again collapsing. Then going to work on the champ’s fingers. ‘Mur-der Gran-pa!’ from the crowd as he dismissively kicked Eddie against the ropes. Then back to the chop fight – as Jarrett and all his goons were shown watching – from the serious and sublime to the stupid & s*****.
Kingston made the mistake of flipping off the vet and saw the offending finger mauled. Yet more stiff chops, Kingston coming out better, Suzuki stumbling to the corner in pain, machine guns next, Suzuki walking through them to the center.
(Rather than sell the physicality, Excalibur made a catering joke about steak. Which’d be fine if he wouldn’t have done the exact same thing on broadcast television.)
Again he walked through machine guns, screaming ‘hit me!’ until being backed to the corner again, wild swing missing, exploder suplex from Kingston for two. Suzuki came back – boot in the corner, stiff kick with Eddie on his knees, the champ fired up, popped back up into a seated position, Suzuki nailed another kick to the chest, rinse and repeat, count of two for Suzuki.
Chest bright red, Suzuki beckoned the champ to throw even more chops: another battle ensued – Suzuki cackling maniacally, throwing forearms, Kingston firing up; Suzuki landed a flurry in which there was not a hint of daylight, Kingston hit the deck. Schiavone mentioned there hadn’t been many pin attempts – Excalibur quipped, ‘Is JR here?’.
They then showed Jarrett and etc. Again.
Back to Kingston stuck in a choke, Gotch-style coming, Kingston tilted his weight, back body drop, Uriken, two only. Kingston in disbelief. Suzuki drop stepped behind, took another Uriken and kicked out at one. With authority. A third Uriken, Suzuki’s head dropped but nothing else. Ducked a fourth, took a fifth, then an enziguri and northern lights bomb as Kingston retained.
Very physical, a good watch but a little chop heavy.
Back to Jarrett and etc. Poor Eddie.
Suzuki struggled back into the ring, the two came to the middle, crowd chanting for the vet, who clapped the champ, fired another chop to the chest, Kingston reciprocated, then the two hugged. Unique. And entertaining. Hard to think of a bigger disparity in wrestling than going from this to Jarrett.
Kingston hit the announce booth and told us watching to not ‘be idiots’ so we should ‘watch Dynamite’. He wrapped Taz in a big, sweaty hug. Then flipped off RJ and high-fived Renee. Very fun, a little house show-y, like we’re getting a peek behind the curtain.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Tony Khan with an announcement. An ‘unfortunate one’ – Moxley isn’t cleared. Fenix will defend the title – Hook wandered in to say it should be against Cassidy. Khan agreed, asked Orange what he thought – Cassidy feigned being disinterested but when pushed made it clear he wanted the match.
He wished Khan happy birthday; Hook gave Khan a Dorito. Glad they’re being careful with Mox, who wasn’t cleared as of Sunday so tonight always seemed a risk.
Dynamite Starts Here
Christian Cage in the truck to intro the ‘biggest Dynamite ever’; fitting since he’s the biggest star. As for the next contender to his title – if Swerve wins he cost their team at All In; Danielson thinks he’s the best – Cage’s title says otherwise. And Copeland/Luchasaurus is main eventing.
Well that’s a shame. There was me wondering which out of BD/Swerve or White/Page would close the show.
Cage claimed it was him who’d got the show to be ad free since he’s such a big star – nice touch – he barked at the guys in the truck to start the show, they did.
Bryan Danielson vs Swerve Strickland
Backstory: Winner faces Christian for the TNT Title on Collision
Interesting to see how this goes down. Assume Danielson wins but that’d hurt Swerve after a big win. My guess is he and Page cost one-another tonight. Excalibur now said ’30 mins plus’ would be commercial free.
‘Swerve’s House’ chants as the two locked up, Danielson wrestling Strickland to the mat, pinning his shoulders for early one-counts. Strickland reciprocated, Danielson monkey flipped free – the two locked eyes, crowd clapping, nice start.
The two rolled through leg lock attempts, duelling chants, to their feet, Swerve got the rope break then paintbrushed Danielson. Not smart. Danielson hit back harder. Strickland landed on his feet out of a monkey flip, a dropdown tripping BD, crucifix pin for two, the pair rolling in and out of small packages, tilting their weight back-and-forth for a series of close counts.
Reset. Crowd clapping again, TiA starting early.
Back to a lockup, Danielson got the break this time, Swerve shot to the gut, Danielson landing on the apron out of a suplex, Swerve vaulting over to eat Danielson’s boot and stiff chops, the pair throwing heavy, clasping the rope with their off-arm until Strickland dumped Danielson against the apron via side slam, dropping to ringside, Danielson tumbling after.
Before throwing BD back inside, diving elbow to the back of the neck off the top, knee drop, pin, quick kickout. Danielson sent to the corner, Swerve firing rights and lefts to the gut, off-the-shoulder powerslam right into a brainbuster, pin with his knees on the chest for two.
The way Strickland stacks moves together so smoothly is great to watch.
Chinlock in the middle, Danielson back elbow to escape, boot up in the corner but caught by Strickland who dropped the vet across his knee via backbreaker. To some cheers. Back up top for a 450, Danielson got the knees up, Strickland to ringside to recover, the vet following via leaping knee off the apron, beckoning the quiet crowd to make some noise. Swerve sent back in, BD to the top, shotgun from upstairs, both guys selling, Danielson favoring his ribs/side.
The vet up first, Strickland on his knees, you know what’s next – yes! kicks, round kick, cover, two. To the corner, chops from the vet before being whipped across, kip off the buckle, duck under; Swerve caught him with a kick to the gut, Danielson to the outside, Swerve came after him, Danielson slipped back in looking for a tope, Swerve met him with a forearm as he arrived through the ropes.
Then set Danielson hanging from the top buckle over the apron – Swerve Stomp. I give Nana a lot of crap but that cackle’s excellent. Back up there, second Stomp coming, Danielson rolled through into a half crab, dead center. The vet switching into a heel hook, Swerve screaming before finally grabbing the rope.
Danielson now upstairs, Swerve caught him up there, superplex coming – right from the top, Dragon slipped behind, crotching the youngster then dumping him via belly to back off the buckle. Danielson of course landing with his broken arm under Swerve, selling it as he clambered to his feet: head kicking time – wrist captured, angry stomps to the face, Swerve no sold, climbing to his knees until a vicious flurry sent him back down, into the LeBell Lock, other arm pinned, Strickland used his legs to get the break.
More yes! kicks in the corner, running dropkick coming, another coming when Danielson dropped clutching his ribs/liver, House Call, Swerve Stomp, kickout at 2.9! Had me there.
The vet ran at Swerve in the corner and was snagged into a killer off-the-shoulder slam right in the corner for another close call. Sigh – Nana to the apron, Aubrey desperate for some company, Swerve grabbed a weapon. Hangman hit the scene to take the crown away, to some boos, Danielson countered the JML Driver into a rollup for two, busaiku knee for the win.
What a match. That was a belter. Built brilliantly, Danielson now insisting on ‘wrestling’ early after being criticized by Saber and selling his side. And built the Page/Swerve feud with not-too-awful booking. At least the interference wasn’t solely to ‘protect’ someone.
Winner: BD
Another Samoa Joe package – suited, booted, cigar and whisky once more – he introduced himself as the ROH tv champ, while clips of him destroying people played. On Collision, his path to titles starts: ‘take what I want from anybody I want to… (Saturday) I begin my ascension towards greatness’.
Another really effective package with good music adding to the mood. Excalibur talked about MJF having a bigger and bigger target on his back. As he should, it’s about time someone wanted the damn belt.
Powerhouse Hobbs vs Chris Jericho
Backstory: Hobbs joined the Callis Family last week, laying out Jericho & Omega
Tough act for these two to follow. Seems like they want their biggest names out early to grab audience while there are no ads.
Jericho rushed the youngster and was quickly beaten down. Whip to the corner, boot up from the vet before running out into a Spinebuster, didn’t get the pop they probably expected, crowd didn’t seem to know that’s his/one of Hobb’s finish(es). Jericho kicked out. Boos as Callis joined – ‘FU Callis’.
Hobbs shots from the mount, another Spinebuster. Hobbs grabbed him by the throat, yelling at the vet, big headbutt, Jericho tried to fight back, a single shot to the back laid him down, another Spinebuster. Taz keeps saying Hobbs never liked Jericho. As Callis yelled ‘hurt him’ from outside.
Hobbs choked the Ocho with his boot, the vet stumbled up into another Spinebuster. He dragged Jericho up, the vet fired a few shots, running shoulder, a second, no dice; he was flung to the corner, avoided a charge, Codebreaker for two.
Another Spinebuster, again with no cover. Hobbs yelled at Jericho to quit. Crowd very quiet here, beginning to clap now as Jericho got to his feet, slipped behind, kick to the knee, chop block, seeking the Walls, struggling to turn the big man, finally doing it to a cheer, sitting back, Hobbs struggling, turning his weight to free himself, to his feet, tree slam for a close count.
Shots from the mount. This has gone too long now. It’s very repetitive. And slow. Perhaps not the best way for AEW to use their ad-free time.
Hobbs hit another slam then pinned Jericho with a nonchalant cover.
So this time last year, Jericho put over Action Andretti. It’s what comes next for Hobbs that counts. But Jericho did everything he could here to make Hobbs a monster. And while it went a little long this was clearly supposed to emphasize Hobbs as a force to be reckoned with. And did.
Per Excalibur, Kenny Omega wasn’t cleared to be here after that beating last week. Otherwise no mention of a chair shot to the head or his condition.
Winner: Powerhouse Hobbs
Crappy comedy time. Cole is still at Strong’s house. He complained that he’s been there since last week, he needs to get surgery; they yelled at him to cut the grass. Cole just did it. Struggling on that scooter thing while they told him he missed a spot.
Cole said he had to go home and change – they gave him a ‘neck strong’ tee. They had a giraffe toy since it’s neck strong too. Cole asked why there was no cell service or tv. Strong said tv was the devil.
Cole said he’s off to get surgery now. He got up, Strong yelled ‘ADAAAM’ again. He just needs one more thing. Cole grimaced cause he’s going to do whatever it is cause he’s a damn moron.
This suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked. It’s not funny and makes Cole look dumb. There’s being nice and then there’s being stupid.
Rey Fenix vs Orange Cassidy (International Title)
Backstory: Cassidy replaces Mox who isn’t cleared
They showed Cassidy winning the belt from Pac last year. He brought his empty backpack with him. The pair ran to fight in the middle, Fenix hit a pair of lariats, but hurt his back looking for a German, springing to the top though for a rope walk punt that missed to the degree the announcers debated if it’d hit.
Frogsplash to follow, count of two. Fenix trying to win early since he’s hurt. Again he couldn’t carry Orange on his shoulders, he rolled outside favoring his back – Cassidy flung him aggressively into the barricade, then up and over it. The announcers talked about Cassidy’s eyes.
He kept shoving the champ’s back into the ringpost, took a weak baseball slide but then tripped Rey who smacked hard on the apron on his back. Cassidy to the top, Fenix landed a rolling uppercut straight out of Streetfighter – low duelling chant from a quiet crowd – as Cassidy fought Rey off to land a diving ddt then tornado ddt for a near fall.
Punch coming, Fenix hit back with a thrust kick, but hurt his back again looking for his rolling cutter, Beach Break for two. Punch readied again, hit, Mouse Trap for the win. Which says Mox ain’t coming back anytime soon.
Because going back to this after concluding it so well is a little strange.
Confetti fell, an emotionless Cassidy stared at his belt until the Best Friends, Rocky Romero and Hook came to greet him, he dapped them up.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Backstage with RJ and Toni Storm. Black and white again. She said there isn’t enough ‘cinemaaaa(r)’ so she’s made a film called ‘Lover’s Lament’. It’s a silent film because who needs all the other fuss when we have ‘faaaaace’.
Cut to the film with old-timey music. She awoke in a chair, showing her legs. Then kept running off and back on screen – it’s a fixed camera with a single shot. She then ran on the spot. Might have been dancing. If it was it was deliberately bad. She kept nearly falling over, pretended there was a fly buzzing around then pretended to be driving a car and had to hit the breaks hard.
She then collapsed back into the chair.
This isn’t meant to sound patronizing: A+ for effort. She put her all into that. It was vaguely amusing and added a little to her character.
Wardlow vs Matt Sydal
Backstory: None
Sydal was already in the ring, Wardlow plucked him out the air then hit a bunch of powerbombs. We may have seen this before.
The slight twist now is he’s now winning by ref stoppage then leaving through the crowd.
Winner: Wardlow
Renee backstage for an update on Jericho. Daniel Garcia came to check on him. Matt Menard wasn’t happy at this. He told Garcia, ‘we’re better than this’. Garcia looked torn but followed Menard. So that’s going in circles too.
We did not get an update.
Switchblade Jay White vs Hangman Adam Page
Backstory: White is 3-0 vs Page, promised to show MJF how a real champion does it
Psyched for this. BCG came with Jay – on trikes. Enjoy these guys more each week. We were shown White stealing MJF’s belt last week. On the subject, where the hell is he? Shouldn’t the show have started with that? Him demanding his belt? Shouldn’t someone stealing the world title be headline news?
The other BCG members stood back against the barricade in a neat line after being ordered to by their leader. White held the belt in Hangman’s face, said Page would never take it, slapped him then fled outside. As he does basically every match.
Back in, lockup, Page rushed him to the corner, break. White again slapped him and headed out, Page launched a vaulting cross body onto him then jawed at the BCG.
Ads.
Back to stinging chops from the ‘champ’. Excalibur used that overused ‘dream match’ phrase again. As Page struck back with a big right but had his leg caught into a dragon screw. White mockingly played the air guitar a la Tanahashi.
Page blocked a suplex, White hit another hard chop, floated over, Page landed rights and chops then plucked White out of the air into a DVD. Crowd clapping as both climbed to their feet, Page again on top in a slugfest, White got a quick blow but was caught into a fallaway, kip-up, gorgeous running shooting star, for two. Page selling his knee heavily.
The Bucks are with Omega too apparently.
White again headed out, Page tried another vaulting cross body and hurt his knee further but snatched Jay up to powerbomb him against the apron. Another inside bagged two, White dragged up, almost out of it as the crowd chanted ‘Cowboy S’. White blocked Deadeye by targeting the knee, grabbed the leg again, Page blocked a dragon screw but was suplexed into the ropes/corner.
White then hit a kneebreaker onto the apron.
They had to put all the damn ad breaks in this one. It’s good but we missed how Page hurt his knee and the thread of the match is being lost a little.
Back to both atop the buckle, Page headbutt, fallaway from the top, White down but Page landing on his knee, unable to capitalize. TiA from the crowd.
Hangman up first, White raked the eyes into the corner, Page got a boot up but hurt his knee again in so doing, deep uranage from White for two, into a chinlock, sleeper suplex coming, blocked via Page elbow, White down, Page to the apron, White ran towards and snapped Page’s leg against the middle rope.
White took him upstairs looking for a uranage, Page snapped White’s head against the buckle instead, Ourihara time, of course landing on the knee once more, limping as he flung White back in and the crowd yelled about his excrement again.
Buckshot coming, White ran to the other side of the ring to escape then landed a German with a bridge for two. Chopblock to the knee, sleeper suplex, Page rolled straight back up, big lariat to White, Page to the apron once more, Buckshot coming, his knee buckled on the landing, into a Bladerunner which he blocked, hit Deadeye, BCG took the ref for just a second, which was all White needed to kick out.
Such a crutch.
All of BCG then hit the apron, Nana turned up with the crown, White used the distraction to rollup Page. Nana fled up the ramp, Page couldn’t run on his knee.
MJF comes out
Max had very kindly decided to politely wait till now to come out yet was apparently steaming mad, yelling for them to cut his music. He demanded White look at him and called him an SOB then demanded his belt back. Excalibur said it meant more to Max than anything in the world. (So why has White had it a week without anything from MJF?)
White said no-one wanted to hear from Max. He called the ‘BBB’ the Bang Bang Belt. The crowd chanted STFU. White said he was going to give it back till they were so rude. Max said he knows what White’s like cause he used to be the same. They both know he could ‘give a shit’ about the rest of the BCG, he’s using them.
But unlike White, he tries to be a better man. It’s hard, he hates it, but it’s working because he no longer wants to punch out the mirror and has earned the fans’ respect. There are two things he cares about – his brother Adam Cole – who needs surgery. And the other… White calls it a belt; it’s Max’s legacy because it makes him the best in the world.
If White didn’t have goons with him he’d have already beaten White up and taken his belt back. Though he knows how good White is and one day will be champ, but that day is not today. He again demanded White give back ‘what you have not yet earned’.
White asked how just asking for it back was earning it. That’s not how it works. You have to win it. And Max has that match coming up at Full Gear. Where he’ll fail. But if he can’t wait, he could just come down and take it. But he has no friends so he won’t. But if he can find three people, he can try and take his belt back.
Juice took the mic to say next week is the Diamond battle royal thing and he’s entering to whup MJF’s ass and take everything he loves. Then give him a present – he had a pack of quarters with ‘Friedman’ written on them. (That’s disgusting. Always comes off as desperate when companies use angles like this)
Max snapped, threw the mic down and threatened Robinson he’d kill him if he brought those quarters near him.
Very mixed on this. Both were very good on the mic and made the belt seem important. On the other, there’s the already mentioned stuff about taking so long to come out – actions over words. And the bottom-rung xenophobic cheap heat.
Lastly, this company sucks at hooks: why not tease this at the top of the show or show MJF arriving intent on getting his belt back instead of people mowing the lawn or dancing in black and white? There’s definitely a place for other stuff but none of it should supersede the world championship.
Winner: Jay White
Speaking of, more Toni Storm. ‘Act 2’.
This time the music was more suggestive. And she was sort-of performing a striptease but ended up getting annoyed at her jacket and just throwing it off. She then pretended to make out with the camera, the music then stopped for a while, she crawled suggestively toward the camera and was talking all the time though we obviously couldn’t hear it.
‘The End’.
Miss Storm’s very attractive so neither of these were a complete waste but two of these on one show’s probably overkill.
Saraya vs Hikaru Shida (Women’s Title, Ruby Soho banned from ringside)
Backstory: Shida won a shot on Rampage in a match you never saw any of unless you watch Rampage
Off the top of my head, this is the best worker Saraya’s been paired with in a singles since returning; be interesting to see how good it is. Her theme’s a banger at least.
Saraya yelled ‘loser’ then shoved Shida who launched a flurry. Saraya went for the rope break then took a cheap shot. Before wailing on Shida in the corner; the challenger returned the favor, avoided a charge, hit a running knee and enziguri. Saraya staggered outside yelling for Ruby.
Then walked round ringside for a bit jawing with fans. Back in to an exchange of shots from the mount, each having their turn on top. Saraya missed a kick, Shida got a torture rack-style backbreaker, dumped the champ down then placed her hanging off the apron for her running knee strike.
Someone in head-to-toe black came out with the spraypaint, Excalibur wondered if it was someone from production. Of course it was Ruby. Shida blocked the paint, sprayed Ruby with it, Toni Storm came out to smack Soho with her shoe and chase her away. Saraya got a cheap shot from behind to bring the break.
Nothing much so far, your usual gaga-filled Saraya match.
Back to an exchange of rights, Saraya missed a lariat and took a running knee, ten in the corner, twenty even. Missile dropkick from the middle buckle, two count. Saraya then dragged Shida off the top to land back-first on the apron and spill outside. The challenger fought back with a – thankfully very safe – stalling German on the apron. And hit a knee back inside for two.
Excalibur yelled ‘she’s gonna do it!’, just in case you thought she might win.
While we were being shown a replay, Saraya blocked the Katana, took a question mark kick, Shida to the top, she just jumped down to be kicked – then took a Knightcap. But kicked out.
Crowd behind her. As they tend to be despite her disappearing from tv all the time. Saraya grabbed a kendo stick, the ref took it, she sprayed Shida instead and hit another Knightcap, Shida kicked out. She hit a Falcon Arrow then bagged the win after going back and forth with rollups.
Not much of a match even without the relentless interference. Hopefully Shida can hang on to the title and have some good matches.
Winner: Hikaru Shida
Excalibur told us Jericho had gone to the hospital to be checked for internal injuries.
Schiavone then revealed AEW were donating 50,000 toys for Christmas to Toys for Tots. That’s nice work. Even nicer if it’s done quietly.
During the break, Callis was with Takeshita. He asked for time to talk and had been denied his requested ten minutes. So – in homage to Sammy – took a sharpie and drew blood on a sign of Omega being hit with a screwdriver. Takeshita held up signs saying ‘Hobbs destroyed Omega’, ‘then Jericho’, the Family are out for revenge and Guevara will be back soon. ‘You will pay for what you did to him’.
The crowd were silent for this.
*****
MJF with Renee. He politely said he’s not in the mood to be interviewed and needs to talk to his ‘boy’ and get some advice. He begged Cole to pickup, Cole answered to say he’s still at Roddy’s. Max rolled his eyes and said he needs help too – BCG have taken his belt, Joe’s on the warpath – Cole then cut out mid-way through saying Roddy needed something.
The Acclaimed turned up and Caster volunteered them to help MJF. The champ walked off. Billy asked why he’d volunteered all of them for that, Bowens said Max was ‘sus’. Caster said he’s known Max ten years and is his friend and likes when he plays hard to get.
Presumably they’re setting Caster up to be the man in the mask since he’s coming off like such a geek in these. If he’s not, they are doing him no favors.
Luchasaurus vs Adam Copeland
Backstory: Saurus attacked Edge Saturday (& apparently broke a finger in so doing)
If they have ten mins and maybe more overrun, this one’s going long for a match with no build and such a clear winner.
Cage came out with Saurus and did his usual cheap heat while 800,000 people not from the locality sat and watched. AEW haven’t mentioned all night that Cage promised to give Copeland his answer – they’re so bad at building hooks.
Cage took veiled shots at (the?) Judgment Day, saying Edge had tried to be a leader; Cage is a father. And though Copeland asked him to team last week, that same help wasn’t there while he was being held back and Copeland was being ‘pushed to the moon’; why didn’t Copeland want to team up again back then?
He said his career was on the up, he’s the biggest star in the business and Copeland needs him more than he needs Copeland. Cage then made his usual remark about someone’s relatives – implying he and Beth had a thing and he’d take care of Copeland’s girls.
I’m out. Same old ish and more insider stuff.
As was Copeland, who flew to the ring, Nick Wayne followed, grabbed his boot, Saurus hit the Extinction Lariat (to the back of the head), Copeland crumpled, holding his neck.
They did the really lame heel attacks ‘before the bell’ and ref asks babyface if he’s good to go thing. If Copeland is that damaged after a lariat, he probably should retire. Saurus hit a tombstone then beat Copeland round the ring. Cage sat watching from the top of the ramp.
Crowd exceptionally quiet.
Saurus hit a bodyslam; Excalibur said we could be watching Copeland’s last match…’ever’. They seem to be going with ‘Cope’ judging by the commentators. ‘Cope’ came back with a couple lariats but was smacked in the corner. Saurus hit a kick, ‘Cope’ landed outside.
Ads. Questionable booking here: exceptionally similar to Hobbs/Jericho, which the crowd also sat through silently.
Copeland finally landed a low dropkick and diving ddt off the apron to interrupt several long minutes of Luchasaurus setting up ringsteps. To the top, splash/cross body across the back of Luchasaurus. Saurus came back by booting Copeland off the top buckle then looked to suplex him off onto the ringsteps he set up earlier.
Copeland fought back, ten shots to the back, crowd chanting along – they do want to participate but this isn’t giving them much. Copeland hit a superplex down into the ring, both down, ref counting, Copeland first up. In a night full of interference, Wayne placed a chair against the buckle since the ref was obsessed with Cage walking down the ramp. Copeland speared himself into the chair but kicked out of a pin attempt. Then ducked another Extinction Lariat.
He tried to spear Saurus off the apron, was goozled, chokeslam to the stairs coming, Copeland dropped down and snapped Saurus against the ropes, then used the steps as a springboard to just about hit a Spear. Wayne again on the apron, Copeland grabbed the belt off Cage and hit Luchasaurus, who thought Cage had done it, Copeland hit a Spear to end Jericho vs Keith Lee’s only competition for most boring main event of the year.
Wayne immediately chop-blocked Copeland, Bryan Danielson came out but took a boot from Saurus. Claudio and Yuta came to even things up; the Mogul Embassy came down and a brawl ensued. Hangman hobbled down to help, his brawling still more energetic than that match while selling his knee.
WWE is promoting tonight’s NXT as the “biggest and greatest NXT of all time” with several main rosters stars appearing as they go head-to-head with Dynamite in hopes of getting that elusive “W” in the ratings.
Three matches have been announced so far, with the mega main event featuring Carmelo Hayes vs Bron Breakker with John Cena and Paul Heyman in their respective corners.
Also, former NXT Women’s champion Asuka returns to take on another former NXT Women’s champion in Roxanne Perez, and Butch, Ridge Holland, and Tyler Bate team up to take on Gallus in a six-man tag team match.
Plus, Cody Rhodes will be on hand for a major announcement and The Undertaker is also being teased to be appearing on the broadcast.
Just like Dynamite, the first 30 minutes of NXT will be commercial free.
Dynamite is live on TBS tonight as it presents Title Tuesday and goes head-to-head with NXT. AEW President Tony Khan is hyping this as “maybe the best card ever” and just like their competitors, AEW is throwing everything including the kitchen sink for this show.
Two title matches including Rey Fenix defending the AEW International title against Jon Moxley and Saraya defending the AEW Women’s title against Hikaru Shida are on the card and headlining the show will be Adam Copeland and his first match in AEW against former TNT champion Luchasaurus.
Other matches announced are Jay White vs “Hangman” Adam Page, Swerve Strickland vs Bryan Danielson in a #1 contenders match for the TNT title, and Powerhouse Hobbs takes on Chris Jericho.
Collision on Saturday night had 353,000 viewers, up 26,000 viewers from last week’s record low. Collision started an hour earlier than usual due to WWE Fastlane head-to-head. The show drew 0.09 rating in 18-49, up 0.01 from last week and placed #47 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
AEW President Tony Khan is taking his X game to a whole new level leading up to tonight’s important Dynamite and NXT head-to-head battle.
Apart from constantly posting pretty much the same message on X every few hours, Khan responded to someone who told him that he’s not watching Dynamite, calling the AEW President “bucko.”
“Ok, we won’t see you tomorrow night for Title Tuesday #AEWDynamite then,” Khan responded, adding a GIF which says “Who gives a f*ck?”
Someone else resounded to that message saying that if “Sir Vince McMahon” did that, many AEW fans would be crying non-stop and furious.
“If Sir Vince McMahon said this, it would be the least of his alleged misdeeds,” quipped Khan, before once again plugging tonight’s Dynamite.
Khan then also responded to a report posted by Haus of Wrestling which said that “Triple H and Shawn Michaels look to send Tony Khan a message.”
Khan, who seemingly hasn’t slept for a few days, responded to that one as well, saying that he has a message for them, plugging tonight’s show and adding a photo of “Bald Asshole” spray-painted on a door!
Tony Khan turned 41 years old today and is pretty riled up for tonight! Happy birthday, Tony!
The WWE (World Wrestling Federation) is instantly recognizable to wrestling fans and beyond the world over.
As the largest wrestling body on the planet, the corporation is worth almost $7 billion. It generates an annual revenue of over $1 billion and is estimated to have around 1.5 billion fans scattered across the globe.
Although the WWE company is now listed on the stock market, its beginnings were humble and filled with tribulation. This article outlines the company’s history and how it has become a world leader in the entertainment industry.
Capitol Wrestling Corporation
The beginnings of the WWE can be traced back to 1953 to a wrestling promotor called the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC). Although there is some dispute over who the exact founder was, it is accepted that it was either Jesse McMahon (a famous professional wrestler) or his son, Vincent J. McMahon.
Airing its first show in January 1953, CWC quickly became popular and soon joined the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Together, the companies were responsible for a massive drive in wrestling promotion and the subsequent increase in the sport’s popularity.
In just a few years, CWC had expanded massively and was responsible for almost 70% of all booking decisions made by the NWA. However, this relationship was short-lived, and after a dispute about booking athletes for an NWA World Heavyweight Championship, CWC left the NWA.
After leaving the NWA in 1963, the CWC officially renamed itself the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). This name change was in branding only, and CWC remained the legal entity that handled all operations.
World Wide Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Federation
Under the new name WWWF, the company was very conservative in how it promoted wrestling. One of the most visible examples is that it only aired fights monthly—in contrast to other promoters at the time, which offered weekly or bi-weekly events.
Despite showing fewer fights, the WWWF quickly became popular and soon secured a TV contract that brought even more exposure to the brand. As the promoter grew, the arguments that caused the rift with the NWA were forgotten, and the WWWF officially rejoined the group in 1971.
Vincent K. McMahon joined events as the group grew, and he began working as a commentator. He also made several appearances as a ring announcer. Thanks to his hard work and guided by his father’s vision, the WWWF grew exponentially. In 1979, the group underwent another name change to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). When asked why, the group responded that the change was for marketing reasons.
A year later, in 1980, the WWF was officially incorporated under the new umbrella of Titan Sports Inc.—a company founded by the younger McMahon. Continuing operations, the group purchased CWC Ltd. two years later and once again pulled out of partnership with the NWA.
This move set the group up for their 1984 campaign to completely revolutionize wrestling throughout the country—and later, the world. This development spurred an incredible expansion in national and international promotions.
Part of this expansion was pilfering wrestlers from other promotors, including the NWA and AWA (American Wrestling Association). Among these was Hulk Hogan, one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE history.
Another reason for the wrestling boom during this time was the launch of WrestleMania in 1985. Promoted on MTV and featuring celebrities like Cyndi Lauper and Muhammad Ali, the event drew in thousands of fans and became the cornerstone of WWF.
World Wrestling Federation Goes Public
After the initial popularity boom, the WWF went through multiple ups and downs, particularly when it entered a rivalry with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) for Monday night viewers. Called the Monday Night Wars, the rivalry helped bring the WWF back from the brink of insolvency.
By 1999, the WWF had recovered massive market share due to its so-called Attitude Era, which featured exciting rivalries and future wrestling legends like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker. McMahon became synonymous with the brand by entering the spotlight during this time. The brand’s explosive growth continued thanks to new athletes and a return to regular TV programming.
Soon, the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and valued at around $172.5 million. Bolstered by its listing, WWF decided to purchase ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) after the latter declared bankruptcy in 2001. This acquisition turned the WWF into the largest promoter of wrestling worldwide.
World Wrestling Entertainment
A year after this milestone, the World Wildlife Fund sued the growing group over a trademark dispute over the acronym WWF. After losing the lawsuit, the wrestling behemoth once again changed its name. Stating that the new name was symbolic of its dedication to entertainment, its official title became World Wrestling Entertainment.
After the rebranding, the WWE seemed unstoppable and continued attracting viewers in the US and far beyond. Alongside regular programming, the brand signed multiple licensing agreements that spurred the creation of video games and branded merchandise. Following examples like Nolimit games in creating unique entertainment, the brand has been increasingly featured in iGaming and beyond.
Through these deals and continued viewership growth, the company seemingly faced no obstacles to its meteoric rise. In 2022, however, the brand was rocked by controversy regarding an affair that resulted in Vince McMahon stepping down from the group’s leadership.
Replaced by his daughter, Stephanie, the group showed consistent growth until the start of 2023. At this time, rumors spread that the company was listed for sale. Just ten days into the new year, Stephanie stepped down, and her father returned to WWE, again assuming the position of executive chairman.
This move allowed him to be part of the negotiation process that saw WWE merge with UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). The merger formed a new holding company, TKO Group Holdings, and went public on the New York Stock Exchange in April. At the time of listing, WWE was valued at $9.1 billion.
In the new group, Endeavor (the UFC’s holding company before the merger) holds 51% of the shares, while WWE shareholders control 49%. The new agreement is the first time since the group’s establishment that the McMahon family does not hold a controlling stake in the company.
Continuing to operate WWE and UFC as separate entities, the WWE has remained the ultimate authority in wrestling even after the merger was finalized in September 2023.
Rampage drew 365,000 viewers on Friday, up 38,000 viewers from the prior week. The show had a 0.12 rating in the 18-49 demo, down 0.01 from last week and placed #15 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
WWE employee Rich Hering, who in 2021 was honored with the Warrior Award, has retired after more than 50 years working for WWE.
Hering was the Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Risk Management and the company wanted him to stay on according to a report by PWInsider.com. But following five decades and the merger with Endeavor, Hering decided to call it a day. Hering led a team which dealt with state athletic commissions as well as government affairs as well as security at WWE.
The Warrior Award recipient has been with the company for so long that his first boss was actually Vince McMahon Sr!
When caring for our well-being, knowing where to start can often feel overwhelming. With the new year in full swing, now is the perfect time to create a wellness regime that best suits your needs and goals. Whether it’s improving your mental health or focusing on physical fitness, there are various items you can include in your regime to help you achieve a healthy and balanced lifestyle. From meditation and yoga to nutrition and skincare, establishing a holistic approach to your well-being can profoundly affect your mind and body. With that said, here are seven suggestions to consider incorporating into your wellness regime this year.
Here Are The 7 Things To Include In Your Wellness Regime
1. Regular exercise
This year, I am determined to live a healthier lifestyle, and regular exercise is at the top of my wellness regime. It improves physical health, and exercise is a great way to improve mental health and boost mood. Whether taking a brisk walk, trying a new fitness class, or hitting the gym, there are endless options for moving the body and reaping the benefits of a consistent exercise routine. By including regular exercise in my wellness regime, I commit to bettering myself and setting a positive example for those around me. So here’s to a healthier, stronger, and happier year ahead!
2. Balanced diet
Maintaining a balanced diet is an important goal for a healthy lifestyle, but it’s especially essential during these challenging times. With a pandemic still raging and more people working remotely, indulging in unhealthy snacks or skipping meals can be tempting. However, adding a balanced diet to our daily routine is key to ensuring we stay on top of our wellness game this year. A diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can provide our bodies with the necessary nutrients to function at their best. So, whether by meal prepping or experimenting with new healthy recipes, consciously prioritizing a balanced diet can have immeasurable benefits for our overall well-being.
3. Adequate sleep
We’ve all heard the phrase “beauty sleep,” but getting adequate sleep goes beyond achieving a glowing complexion. It’s essential to overall health and wellness. With hectic schedules and endless responsibilities, it’s easy to neglect getting enough restful sleep. However, this year, make it a priority to include adequate sleep in your daily wellness regime. It will improve mood, memory, and focus and contribute to a stronger immune system and a lower risk of chronic health issues. So, put down that phone, turn off the TV, and prioritize getting the restful sleep your body needs. Your overall well-being will thank you for it.
4. Mindfulness practices
Mindfulness practices are becoming an increasingly popular aspect of many people’s wellness regimes, and for good reason. Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can profoundly impact your overall well-being. Mindfulness can be practiced in various forms, such as meditation, breathing exercises, and even yoga, by focusing on the present moment and being fully aware of your surroundings. Furthermore, mindfulness practices can also aid in fostering better relationships and improving overall emotional regulation. So, if you’re looking to enhance your well-being this year, consider adding mindfulness practices to your daily routine. And don’t forget to check out examples of discounts offered by kratom companies for additional support in promoting relaxation and awareness. Additionally, you can Buy Red Dragon Kratom Capsules online for added convenience.
5. Social connection
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle and miss out on the important things that keep us healthy and happy. That’s why I’m making a concerted effort to include social connection in my wellness regime this year. Whether grabbing a coffee with a coworker, calling a friend for a chat, or attending a community event, making time for connection is vital to overall well-being. With the added tension of the pandemic, social connection has become even more crucial to maintaining well-being. So, let’s all take some time to reach out to those around us and build the connections that we need to thrive.
6. Time outdoors
As we embark on a new year, many of us are creating wellness plans and trying to incorporate healthy habits into our daily routines. While proper diet and exercise are important considerations, there’s one element that can often be overlooked: time outdoors. From taking a walk during lunch break to hiking through a local park on the weekends, spending time in nature has been shown to have numerous physical and mental benefits. It can boost our mood, improve our focus, and even decrease our risk for chronic diseases. So why not make a pledge to include more time outside as part of your wellness regime this year? You may be surprised at the positive impact it can have on your overall well-being.
7. Regular check-ins with healthcare professionals
Taking care of our physical and mental health is essential to living a fulfilling life. Regular check-ins with healthcare professionals are a crucial part of our wellness regime that we often overlook. These appointments provide us with valuable insights into our health status, potential risk factors, and the necessary steps to maintain or improve our well-being. From routine check-ups to managing chronic conditions, healthcare professionals can offer personalized and evidence-based advice to help us make informed decisions about our health. By including regular check-ins with healthcare professionals in our wellness regime, we take an active role in our health and create a foundation for a healthier, happier future.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating a wellness regime into your daily routine is essential to ensuring a healthy lifestyle. Throughout the year, you should include several key items in your wellness plan to ensure you feel your best. From a healthy diet and consistent exercise routine to prioritizing mental health and seeking support when needed, each of these seven items can contribute to an overall sense of well-being and inner peace. So, take some time to evaluate what works best for you and commit to prioritizing your health and wellness this year. Remember, making small changes and consistently being mindful of your well-being can lead to significant lifelong benefits.
The Fastlane go-home episode of Smackdown drew 2,319,000 viewers, up 16,000 viewers from the prior week. The show drew a 0.64 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.04 from the previous show. Smackdown nearly doubled the closest competitor on TV on Friday night and was #1 across both network and cable television for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
The first match for Crown Jewel next month was made official last night as Seth Rollins will be defending his WWE World Heavyweight title against former WWE champion Drew McIntyre.
McIntyre laid out the challenge to Rollins last night on Raw and the champion accepted, with the match later being made official for the next premium live event.
Crown Jewel takes place on Saturday, November 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is the second show of the year from the Kingdom.
McIntyre has been really unlucky with his WWE title reign as both of them came during the pandemic and has never won or defended the big one in front of fans.
Originating in Mexico, Lucha Libre has quickly risen to be one of the top wrestling styles in the world. Fans who enjoy betting on fights often turn to drapuestas.com for the most competitive odds at the best free sportsbooks in Spanish. Although Lucha Libre’s history goes back to 1933, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that it started making huge waves in the US sports scene. Today, Lucha Libre’s impact on global wrestling is unmistakable. Major wrestling platforms like WWE and AEW showcase Lucha Libre’s talent to massive audiences. But amidst all the excitement, the question remains: who are the standout legends of Lucha Libre?
Rey Mysterio
Embodying the rich tradition of Mexican wrestling, few names in lucha libre resonate as powerfully as Rey Mysterio. T The 48-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history and has been a household name since switching from WCW to WWE in 2002. The star has won huge prizes throughout his career, including the Cruiserweight Championship on three occasions. However, his landmark achievement came at WrestleMania 22, as he defeated Kurt Angle and Randy Orton to win the World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Mysterio would later win the title once again in 2010, defeating Big Show, CM Punk, and Jack Swagger in a Fatal 4-Way match.
He would also win the WWE Championship in July 2015, but he would lose the gold just hours later against John Cena. Mysterio continues to be a prominent figure on WWE television, having battled against his son Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania this year, and been involved in feuds against Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest throughout 2023.
Eddie Guerrero
There remain few more popular Lucha Libre wrestlers in history than the late great Eddie Guerrero. The first-generation son of Gory Guerrero is still considered to be one of the most influential wrestlers in history, having inspired stars that he worked with, such as Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Ric Flair. After beginning his career in Mexico, Guerrero competed for four years at New Japan Pro Wrestling, before moving to the United States to join Extreme Championship Wrestling. That was his gateway into the WWE, and he joined the main roster in 1995.
Guerrero won the United States Heavyweight Championship in 1996, before landing the Intercontinental Championship in 2001. After various feuds against Jericho, X-Pac, and Chris Benoit for the title, he dropped the belt at WrestleMania X-Seven. Guerrero later returned to WWE in 2002 and would win the WWE Championship at No Way Out in 2004, defeating Brock Lesnar. However, Guerrero sadly passed away in November 2005, stunning the world of wrestling into a state of mourning.
Mil Mascaras
One of the first legendary Lucha Libres to grace the wrestling ring came in the form of Mil Mascaras. He remains one of the most famous wrestlers in the history of the business and is still regarded as the first true legendary Lucha Libre that showcased the style of wrestling to an international audience. He helped transcend the style and helped inspire every wrestler that came through using the style. Mascaras remains a huge star in Mexico and has starred in over 20 films throughout his career. His identity remains a secret, and he has never been unmasked throughout his career.
He was honored for his achievements in 2010 after being inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and two years later, he was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on through his sons, as the Mascaras family remains one of the most prominent in the industry. Among his bloodline include former WWE champion Alberto del Rio, Don Caras, and Sicodelico Jr.
Conclusion
The future of Lucha Libre wrestling has never appeared so bright, as the legacy left behind by the stars of yesteryear continues to ensure that newcomers to the biggest companies in the wrestling industry are given their opportunity to shine. That has been evident in recent years with Rey Mysterio bringing through new and emerging wrestlers from the discipline, including his son Dominik, and giving platforms on the main roster to superstars such as Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega, and Joaquin Wilde. The future of the sport certainly looks to be in safe hands with the emergence of Lucha Libre wrestlers continuing to come through at both WWE and AEW.
Just hours after WWE announced that the first 30 minutes of NXT will be commercial free, AEW President Tony Khan countered with the same announcement saying that Dynamite will also be commercial free in the first 30 minutes on TBS.
In addition to that, there will be a Buy In show on the company’s Facebook, X, and YouTube starting at 7:30PM ET with Eddie Kingston defending the ROH World and NJWP Strong Openweight title against Minoru Suzuki.
And that is not all! Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful adds that AEW secured a 10-minute overrun on TBS and the broadcast will end at 10:10PM ET.
Out to the ring first is the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Seth said after the adrenaline wore off Saturday night, he was quickly reminded how broken his back really was and he has got to be honest with everyone that being your world heavyweight champion has been an honor and after an “thank you Rollins” chant, Seth says we are just getting started.
Drew McIntyre comes out and Seth asks Drew if he wants title match and Drew shook his head yes. Rollins said he wanted a night off and he is ready to go. Drew said relax the party is still on and eventually someone is going to jump you from behind and I am here to look you in the eye and tell you I want the match at Crown Jewel.
Seth asked the crowd how the match sounded for Crown Jewel and Seth accepted Drew’s challenge.
As Seth played to the crowd and watched Drew walk to the back, Damian Priest attacked Seth. Drew turns around and as Dominik was running out with the briefcase, Drew stopped him and gave him a Glasgow Kiss and throws the briefcase toward the back of the stage as Seth rebounds and clotheslines Priest over the top rope.
The New Day in the back getting ready for their match Ivar and Kofi in a Viking Rules Match next.
Kofi Kingston VS. Ivar *Viking Rules Match
Valhalla tried to dive on Woods on the outside, but Woods ducked and Valhalla went over the railing. Ivar squashed Woods against the railing. Inside the ring Ivar puts Kofi through a table. Ivar then lands a moonsault onto Kofi for the win.
Winner: Ivar
Byron Saxton interviewed Shinsuke Nakamura and asked Nakamura about the match, but Nakamura did not answer him. Ricochet comes running in and says there you are you piece of crap and starts beating on Nakamura.
Damian Priest has JD McDonagh up against the wall yelling at him with his hands around his neck. The rest of Judgment Day come in and he is blaming JD. Finn says enough and as JD went to says something Finn yelled at him to shut up that he had enough from him this weekend. Priest then turned his anger to Finn and Rhea asking where they were. Finn said he was with Rhea and they were talking to Pearce, and they have a rematch for the titles next week. Priest says he still has Drew to deal with and Rhea told him to worry about next week and the contract and Rhea then yells at JD to handle Drew and Priest says part of him still wants to break JD in half after Drew is done with him so good luck, now get out.
Raquel Rodriguez VS. Nia Jax
During the match Rhea Ripley comes in and throws Rodriguez and attacks Nia. Raquel comes back after Rhea, but Rhea sent her outside and Shayna Baszler comes in and argues with Rhea and ends up laying Rhea out in the ring.
Winner: No Contest
Drew McIntyre in the back and Seth comes in and says he got the match official. Drew says he doesn’t want a replay of the Bloodline on Smackdown with the Judgment Day and Seth says you don’t have to worry about the Judgment Day because they can’t take this title from me, and neither can you.
The new Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Main Event Jey Uso and The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes come to the ring next with Michael Cole in the ring. Cole asked Cody about where this lies in his plans of finishing his story. Cole keeps talking about Cody almost winning the championship and is that going to be your story?
Before Cody could answer the second time, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens came out. Sami tells Cody congratulations and Jey he is happy for them. He feels it should be he and Kevin holding those titles. Kevin says he doesn’t have mixed emotions, he doesn’t like seeing them holding those titles and he wants those titles back. He would love to challenge them for the titles tonight. But he knows they won’t accept because Jey couldn’t handle losing those titles to them twice. Cody says Kevin you are wrong because we do accept, and we can do it tonight on Monday Night Raw.
Alpha Academy getting ready for Gable’s match for the number one contender match for the Intercontinental title. Reed comes in and says Gable is getting his hopes up for nothing because he is getting the title shot.
As Ricochet was coming out for his match Nakamura attacks him.
Ricochet VS. Bronson Reed VS. Chad Gable in a number 1 contender’s match for the Intercontinental Championship.
As Gable suplexed Ricochet Reed picked Ricochet up and slammed him onto Gable he then hit both men with a senton, Reed then goes to the top and hits a tsunami on Ricochet and gets the win and the title match next week.
Winner: Bronson Reed
Becky Lynch is interviewed and is ready for her title defense against Tegan Nox tonight and Xia Li comes in and asked when her turn was to get a chance and Becky says she isn’t hard to find.
Drew McIntyre VS. JD McDonagh
With Dominik at ringside, it was Drew with the Claymore that got the win.
Winner: Drew McIntyre
Priest and Rhea were watching on TV, and Priest just threw his hands up and Rhea says she has an idea and walks away.
Wade Barrett interviewed Tommasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, Imperium came in and attacked them.
A video of Tegan Nox is shown and then she is interviewed backstage. Natalya comes in and says she is proud of her, and she was born to do this.
Ricochet is in the back looking for Nakamura and Pearce stops him and says he can’t have anymore of what happened earlier so he had Nakamura escorted out of the building and next week it will be Ricochet VS. Shinsuke Nakamura in a falls count anywhere match.
Becky Lynch VS. Teagan Nox for the NXT Women’s Championship
Great match but it was Becky who locked in her Disarmher for the victory.
Winner and Still NXT Women’s Champion: Becky Lynch
Candace LeRae and Indi Hartwell were talking to Adam Pearce and Rhea Ripley comes in and demands Pearce gives her a match with Shayna Baszler next week.
Tegan Nox in the back and Natalya comes in and tells her she did amazing. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter also come in and try to cheer her up. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven comes in and she tells Natalya never interfere with me again or else and Natalya says or else what and Piper says you will have to deal with me. Natalya says name the time and the place and Piper says right here next week.
Jey Uso is getting ready for his match and Drew McIntyre comes in and says he sees right through him and when he shows his true colors, he hopes to be there to drop him. Sami Zayn comes in and says we are all good here and Jey says I appreciate you having my back but tonight it’s go time and Sami says you don’t have to tell me twice and walks away.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS. Main Event Jey Uso & The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes for the undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships.
Jey holds up Kevin and Cody hits Kevin with a Cody Cutter like a 1D move and they retain the titles.
Winners and Still Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions: Main Event Jey Uso & The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes
After the match all four men shake hands and Kevin Owens and Jey Uso even share a hug and handshake and Kevin raises his arm as Raw goes off the air.
As if tomorrow’s NXT isn’t a big deal already, WWE today announced that the first 30 minutes of the show on USA Network will be commercial free.
NXT will go head-to-head with Dynamite for the first time in a year and both shows are being loaded to the max as the competition heats up and NXT trying to get a win over AEW in the ratings in a very long time.
Apart from the commercial-free aspect, NXT will also most likely have a bigger overrun and with John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Paul Heyman, Asuka, and The Undertaker all set to appear, the expectations are huge to pull in a big number.
AEW is countering with a Title Tuesday episode of Dynamite and Adam Copeland’s first match in the promotion.
PWInsider.com is reporting that it is believed within WWE that Triple H has been given creative control back by Endeavor, with the website using the term “knighted” by the powers that be to run the creative side of the company again.
While Vince McMahon in the past has said that he was only going to be involved in the bigger storylines, lately McMahon has inserted himself deeper and deeper into creative and made several changes to scripts while working remotely.
McMahon no longer attends WWE live events in person unless they are big shows like WrestleMania.
The feeling now is that Triple H is back in charge moving forward and it’s a decision that is being welcomed by many.
While still Executive Chairman of TKO, McMahon surrendered control of WWE once the merge completed and no longer has the final say when it comes to business decisions.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash revealed on his Kliq This podcast that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Nash, who says he goes to the dermatologist every three months, blamed 25 years of “laying in tanning beds” for the diagnosis.
He explained that three weeks ago, he went to the dermatologist again and as she was looking at his face, she told him there’s something that wasn’t there before. A biopsy later, the skin cancer diagnosis came in.
“They said there’s like a basal cell is what it is. It’s not really a fast growing cancer but it’s almost like a planter where it kind of has seeds,” Nash explained.
The 64-year-old has already undergone a procedure to have it removed.
“They pull back and they show me this wound and then he takes a pin and makes this fu*king crucifix on my face,” Nash said about the procedure.
Nash admitted that the instinct to live, something that maybe we realize it’s not there, kicked in when they told him what he has.
“When it goes down and you hear that you’ve got cancer and they’re gonna have to do this procedure, all the sudden, all you want to do is live,” Nash said. “That’s just your primal, mammal, instinctual survival bullshit that’s hardwired that you don’t realize is there.”
Tickets for the 2024 Royal Rumble will go on sale on Friday, October 20 starting at 10AM ET, with a pre-sale going live a couple of days before.
Tickets for the Rumble start as low as $25 and will be available for purchase at royalrumble.com. To learn more about registering for presale opportunities, please visit https://www.wwe.com/royalrumble-2024-presale.
In addition, Royal Rumble Priority Passes are available now through WWE’s exclusive partner On Location at https://onlocationexp.com/royalrumble or by calling 855-346-7388, giving fans the opportunity to purchase ticket packages before they go on sale to the general public. Priority Passes give fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment, including premium seating, all-inclusive pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise, deluxe accommodations, and more.
The 2024 Royal Rumble takes place on Saturday, January 27 from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
WWE today announced that Fastlane, which emanated from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, became the most-watched and highest-grossing Fastlane in company history. The premium live event set new Fastlane records for viewership, gate and sponsorship.
Viewership for Fastlane was up 71% versus the previous record set in 2021. The sold-out show marked the largest gate ever for any Fastlane, up more than 31% versus the previous record set in Cleveland in 2016, and became the highest-grossing WWE event ever held in Indianapolis.
In addition, Fastlane sponsorship revenue was up 60% versus the previous record set in 2021.
