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Dynamite TV report for 02/01/2023

By
Paul Hemming
-

Arena: Nutter Center

City: Dayton, Ohio

Last Week’s Rating: 1,003,000 overall; 0.32 in 18-49 demo

This show is loaded.

It’s Wednesday night, it’s Dynamite.  Let’s go.

…..

Hangman Adam Page vs Jon Moxley

Backstory: In short – Mox concussed Page, Page ‘concussed’ Mox, they each have one win over the other & Hangman has vowed to knock out Moxley in his home state

Mox came accompanied by his pops, Dan, and Wheeler Yuta.  Good smattering of boos for Page in enemy territory though he had his fans too.

And wasn’t even allowed to complete his entrance, Moxley attacking on the ramp, introducing Page to the ringsteps and guardrail.  Then got to choking the cowboy with his vest as the crowd loudly chanted his name while the native took the fight into the crowd.

Turning the tables, Page sat Mox on a chair then hit him with a big boot.  The pair continued to brawl, Moxley applied a figure four, Page kicked his way free as the pair finally made their way toward the ring.

Though not before Mox drilled Page in the gut with a chair then attempted to Pillmanize the ankle.  Hangman free’d himself then flung the steel right into Moxley’s face.  The native looked out of it as Hangman dropped him on the same chair via suplex then finally brought the action into the ring: Moxley slumped in the corner as the bell finally rang.

To the middle, yay/boo strikes, Page getting the better of it via headbutt.  Mox fought back via basement dropkick then a leglock.  Already bleeding, Moxley kept the hold until Page got the ropebreak then dropped Moxley via German.  The ref checked the cut above his eye.

Stiff chops in the corner followed, Moxley crashing to the mat as the ref asked if he could continue.  Hangman rained down blows, wiping Moxley’s blood on himself.

Back to the middle, Mox to his feet, a chop battle saw the local getting the better until being snatched into a fallaway slam but managing to counter the springboard clothesline that followed.  Before dragging Page to the apron, the choke applied, looking for a piledriver, the pair see-sawing as they each sought the move, the sequence ending with Page flinging Moxley off his shoulders to meet the ringpost face-first and crash down at ringside.

We rejoined the action atop the buckle: Moxley again on Hangman’s shoulders, an avalanche dvd resulting as Page got two with the first pin of the match.  Page began yelling at Mox to stay down; Mox responded with a slap then a cutter out of nowhere.

The ref got to four with both down as they started slugging once more.  Hard fists from Moxley, stiff chops from Page until Mox began to target the legs with kicks then slipped in the choke, Page backdropped his way out, Mox came back immediately with one of his own.

Seeking a breather, Page fled to the corner, dragging himself up only to be met with a clothesline.  Mox took him upstairs for an underhook suplex (which almost looked like an avalanche Death Rider).  Right into H&A, transitioning into the Bulldog choke but couldn’t flatten Page out so got to stomping then looked for the Death Rider.  Page resisted, Mox took him down into an armbreaker as Page got the ropes with his feet.

Things are heating up.

Mox attacked in the corner, Page elevated him outside then headed topside, Mox avoided an ourihara then hit a stiff clothesline to drop Page at ringside.

Then dragged a deadweight Page toward the timekeeper’s table, both broke free and bashed each other’s chest with synchronized lariats until Page planted Mox through the table via pop-up powerbomb.

Mox just made it back in where a lariat was waiting for him, Deadeye followed, Mox just kicked out.  Page setup a leaping kick, Mox avoided it and came back with a KKL, firing up as he beat Page to his feet.

Another fistfight broke out, into forearms, a rare thrust kick from Hangman, fisherman setup, Mox blocked it, Page turned it into a small-package driver then headed to the apron. Mox was ready, transitioning the Buckshot into a would-be ddt; Page floated out, hit a tombstone then went back to the Buckshot, hitting at the second try.

Mox kicked out.

Page went right to the Bulldog choke, Mox got to his knees then stacked Hangman’s shoulders to snatch the win.

An angry Page complained to the ref afterwards.  Mox couldn’t even stand.

Claudio and Yuta quickly hit the ring to prevent any extra-curriculars.  It didn’t seem like either was done with the other.  Excalibur noted that the victory was not a decisive one for Moxley, so he wasn’t satisfied.

Hope there’s another match for myriad reasons.  Most of all because another win for Page would really help cement the former champ.  This feels like by far the biggest feud of his AEW career which doesn’t say much for his title run.

Didn’t like this as much as their previous match, which I absolutely loved, but still a really good, intense brawl.  Just lacked a little of the crowd intensity and drama on display in the previous meeting.

WINNER: Jon Moxley

Video pushing the TNT title main event.  There will be no rematch whoever wins.

…

Renee interviewed Jamie Hayter with Butcher, Blade & Bunny.  They’ve agreed to no physicality and the sky is blue.

Bunny noted that Hayter doesn’t back down from challenges so challenged the champ to an eliminator match next Wednesday.  Hayter accepted just as they cut to footage of Saraya and Toni Storm beating up Britt elsewhere.  Saraya said AEW was their house.

Not looking forward to that eliminator but at least it served a purpose.

The Acclaimed vs ???

Backstory: None

Caster’s rap called their opponents the ‘bootleg Beverly Brothers’ and made a bunch of other 80’s/you’re old jokes.

Whoever the opponents were (they still hadn’t bothered to tell us and never did) mocked scissoring one another.  The Acclaimed attacked, hit Scissor Me Timbers.  ‘Right in the Nutter Center!’ exclaimed Taz.  Best part of the segment.

Mic Drop.  Win.  Yet another in the endless attempts to jam the Acclaimed onto tv.

The Gunns hit ringside immediately after the ref’s count.  To challenge the champs.

The Acclaimed asked the crowd if the Gunns deserved a shot.  They said no.  Billy got in a huff and left at the four continuing to argue.  The Gunns claimed he was doing exactly what he did when they were kids, walking out.  Then suggested he drown his sorrows in the bottom of a pill bottle like he used to.

Billy made a U-turn.  His mic failed mid-promo.  They’ve really gotta sort that.

He then angrily granted his boys a shot next week.  Speaking of turns…

Went at least twice as long as it needed to and the Acclaimed’s reign is thus far making Jurassic Express’s seem epic.  No fault of theirs.

WINNER: The Acclaimed

Alex Marvez backstage with Jack Perry.  Perry said he’s done with tag team wrestling.  Then vowed to be a singles champ this year.  Short and sweet.

Konosuke Takeshita vs Bryan Cage

Backstory: Takeshita vowed to have Danielson’s back and did so by preventing Cage/MJF from finishing Danielson off last week

Cage’s contract is allegedly up in a few weeks and they seem to be getting their moneys worth by having him lose on the way out.

Takeshita struck early with aTakeshita-line – just ridiculously explosive – then followed with a boot which sent Cage crashing off the apron.  The crowd were at least as into the import as they were Mox.

Cage then blocked another kick and drilled Takeshita into the ringpost via powerbomb.

A sliding dropkick got an early two back inside.

The pair exchanged stiff elbow strikes, Cage blocked a last one then hit the ropes only to be snatched into a blue thunder bomb for two.

Takeshita then launched a vaulting knee which took him over the top; Cage hauled him back in via suplex.

Ads.

Takeshita turned a powerbomb into a hurracanrana to welcome us back, hit a jumping knee to the head then a shotgun dropkick from the middle buckle.  Before attempting to follow up with a German.  Cage shook it off, Takeshita rebounded with a stiff lariat then an impressive stalling German for two.

But in attempting another knee, Cage caught him, buckle bombed him, Takeshita slipped off the shoulders to hit a Liger bomb for another close count.  Cage missed a discus lariat, Takeshita’s landed but Cage responded with a backdrop driver then hit the discus for two of his own.

Then went for the Drillclaw but ate a sheer-drop brainbuster instead, then another, Cage just kicked out with the arm not hooked.  Then hit a thrust kick, hauled Takeshita onto his shoulder then dropped him face-first.  Before hauling the newcomer to the top, where Takeshita turned the tables to hit an avalanche fisherman buster then blast him with a shining wizard to bag the win.

Superb finish.

There are many matches I can’t keep up with and have to finish up later on.  They don’t usually involve guys this big.  This was rapid.  And hard-hitting to boot.

Just a little short and broken up by the break.  Takeshita’s explosion is on the Omega/Ospreay level.

WINNER: Konosuke Takeshita

Renee backstage with the JAS.  Jericho objected to the insinuation that they cheated against Starks.  Sammy introduced the ‘Garcia-Guevara Gauntlet’ – he very deliberately put Garcia’s name first as Garcia thanked him.  First Starks will have to beat Parker, then Menard and then either him or Sammy.  Then he’ll get his match with Jericho.

Sooo exactly the same angle they’re doing for the world title then.  Except against much lesser talents.

Yawn.

…..

The Elite promo from a basketball court.  They agreed to Top Flight’s challenge for next week as Matt Hardy, Stokely et al interrupted.  Ethan Page challenged the Elite to a trios match for Friday against him, Hardy and Kassidy.  Kenny accepted the challenge from ‘whatever you guys call yourselves’.

Still no idea whether the Elite are good or bad guys.  They were again with all the hangers-on and still yelled at Brandon.  And are fighting a mixture of good and bad guys on Friday.

Bryan Danielson vs Timothy Thatcher

Backstory: Danielson’s wrestling here against dr’s advice, with an injured shoulder, against a man who specializes in attacking them and he can’t lose or bye-bye world title shot

Thatcher came out to what would accurately be termed ‘polite applause’.

The announcers put over the Fujiwara armbar as he made his way to the ring.

To absolute silence, Danielson darted quickly for a ropebreak as Thatcher immediately went after the injured shoulder.  Then set to firing Claudio-like uppercuts before ruthlessly driving his knee into the shoulder.

Danielson came back with a dragon-screw, up into a bow and arrow, Thatcher broke it by clawing at the shoulder then stomping and knee-ing away at the injured joint.  BD hit yes! kicks in the corner, running dropkick, Thatcher quickly broke up the flurry – you know how by now.

Crowd still doing little more than breathing as the break beckoned.

You’ll never guess which body part Thatcher was targeting as we returned.  An overhead throw with the shoulder locked brought two.

Excalibur pushed the Jay Briscoe tribute show on YouTube and Honor Club.

Thatcher took Danielson upstairs, attempting the previous suplex avalanche-style.  The crowd finally woke at a Danielson flurry, headbutts knocked Thatcher to the mat, a shotgun dropkick hit but the Dragon further injured his shoulder in so doing.

Thatcher launched more uppercuts, Danielson fought back briefly.  Thatcher then stood still for ages so Danielson could kick him.  A backslide got two for Danielson, a stiff kick to the head bagged another before firing H&A elbows, into a sleeper.  Thatcher again used the injured shoulder to free himself.

Crushing the ref in the corner as he did.  Both collapsed to the mat as MJF made his way to ringside with the diamond ring ready.  Takeshita, dressed in street clothes, came flying out of nowhere to intercept him and they brawled to the back.

Back inside, the ref awake, Thatcher locked in the Fujiwara, Danielson got the break with his leg.

I’m so bored.

A belly to belly followed, Danielson avoided a second and hit a German, then a busaiku knee for the win.

Perhaps if Thatcher was more credible I might’ve enjoyed this but given that the result was inevitable, this was just dull.  The crowd seemed to feel the same way.

Cut to MJF and Takeshita still brawling backstage.  A bunch of guys finally broke them up as Renee interrupted to announce the two would face off in a world title eliminator next week.  Per Tony Khan.

WINNER: Bryan Danielson

Swerve and co. video package.  He was angry at Dustin Rhodes for taking his time in front of his cameras on Rampage.  Since he can’t get rid of Dustin yet, he wants rid of another example of nepotism – ‘that means you Brian Pillman Jr.’.  He then asked if his guys agreed, finally naming the second of them – ‘Tench’ – I think?

‘Hoodies up’.

…..

MJF interrupted a Rush promo to offer Danielson’s next opponent a case full of money.  There are five more to come if Rush further injures Danielson.  He also said to win by any means necessary.  This wasn’t all that clear.

Rush cut a long, angry promo at MJF.  Jose translated as ‘deal’.  MJF noted that Rush didn’t have to like him, just get the job done.

Jade Cargill vs Red Velvet, TBS Title, Jade at 49-0

Backstory: After leaving the Baddies, Velvet’s vowed to be the ‘one’ in Jade’s record

A flurry from Red saw Jade head outside where Leila fixed her hair.  Back inside, Cargill dropped Velvet on the back of her head via suplex as the ads arrived.

Her record so desperately in the balance that she was doing push-ups as we returned, Jade ate a dropkick then kicks to the legs but responded with a pump kick for two.

Kiera Hogan flung Leila into the steps at ringside, allowing Velvet to hit a kick to the head and get a visual pin but only two from Aubrey by the time she turned round.

Red then locked in an armbreaker, Jade hauled her up, twice, to hit Jaded.

She then carried her small daughter backstage.

So what exactly are we supposed to be interested in here?  The matches aren’t good, credible opponents are nil and the killer heel who we’re supposed to want to see lose has a cute daughter who she loves.

WINNER: Jade Cargill

Backstage, Renee was getting an update on Britt, who kept insisting she was fine.  Soho interrupted to check on her; Britt thought the timing was strange, calling Saraya and Storm ‘(Ruby’s) girls’.  Soho denied this and left.

Was wrong about this angle.  They haven’t mentioned WWE and the will she/won’t she story involving Ruby and the two factions is as interesting as the women’s division has ever been.

Darby Allin vs Samoa Joe, TNT Title, No Holds Barred

Backstory: Joe feels Allin ‘stole’ ‘his’ title and threatened to take everything from Darby in this rematch

Allin flew down the aisle rocking a hoody with tacks in it.  Joe responded by dropping him with his arm wrapped in a towel to protect it.  Then ripped away the hoody, stomping away in the corner, going immediately for a table which blocked his view as Allin came flying through the ropes to dropkick it into his mush.

Joe then flung Allin so hard at the barricade that his knees smashed the top of it before he crumpled to the floor amongst the fans.

Joe, bleeding from his right eye, then dragged him up the steps before slamming him down on them.  Flesh on stone.

Break time.

Back in the ring as we returned, Darby was as usual being beaten and battered.  A knee to the gut dropped him to the mat where Joe began working on his neck.

A brief flurry from the smaller men left Joe staggered in the corner.  But it was a ruse.  Joe planted Allin with an absolutely wicked STO as he attacked.  Following up by booting him off the apron then grabbing another table.  Joe looked for the Clutch, Allin countered via jawbreaker then flung chops – so Joe flung him over the top.  Just tossed him.  Like a ball of paper.

Still Darby crawled his way back in.  So Joe grabbed a pair of chairs, positioning them back to back before dropping Darby onto them via belly to back.  Then pausing to smile at his handiwork.

Joe next thought powerbomb, Allin threw powder, landed a code red for two, hit an over the shoulder stunner before putting his hoody back on and heading upstairs for a tack-aided Coffin Drop.  Joe kicked out.

Allin then brought a knife out.  Not joking.  And began to cut all the ropes connecting the canvas to the main body of the ring.  All of them.

He then removed the mats, exposing the wooden boards beneath.  Before launching himself at Joe, who stepped away, and Allin crashed through the table Joe had propped up previously.  A powerbomb on the tack-Jacket followed, Allin gouged the eyes to buy time then went to work on the big man’s back with a chair.

Before heading up top once more, Joe used the ref to crotch Allin then hit a Muscle Buster onto the exposed wooden boards to win back his title.  A good chunk of the crowd cheered.

This was absolutely brutal.

The King of TV is back!

Before he could celebrate for long, Wardlow returned, sans ponytail.  He readied a Symphony but Joe slipped free and headed for the aisle.

Can’t say I’m excited about re-visiting Wardlow as TNT champ after all Joe and Darby have done to refurbish it.

WINNER: Darby Allin

…..

Next Rampage:

  • Swerve Strickland vs Brian Pillman Jr.
  • The Elite vs Ethan Page, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy
  • Rush vs Christopher Daniels
  • Toni Storm and Saraya in action

Next Dynamite:

  • Rush vs Bryan Danielson
  • The Elite vs Top Flight & AR Fox, Trios Titles
  • Jamie Hayter vs the Bunny, Eliminator Match
  • The Acclaimed vs the Gunns, Tag Team Titles
  • MJF vs Konosuke Takeshita, Eliminator Match
  • Ricky Starks vs Angelo Parker

…..

Overall impressions

Have to be honest, I struggled to get invested tonight.  After that opener, there was nothing that grabbed me in a night full of good wrestling.

Because I want more stories.  And outside of Hangman/Mox and the women, there are no good ones.

Danielson/MJF feels very flat and repetitive.  I’ve had enough of it already and there’s a month to go.  Ditto Starks and Jericho. Not remotely interested in the Gunns.  Or Wardlow.

I want more things I must tune in for to find out what happened.

Check Out

  • Jon Moxley vs Hangman Page
  • Darby Allin vs Samoa Joe (a little brutal for my taste but a wild beating with Darby taking a bunch of crazy bumps)

Thanks for reading.

TNT champion battles ROH TV champion tonight on Dynamite

By
Colin Vassallo
-

The TNT champion and the ROH TV champion will be going head to head tonight on Dynamite with the TNT championship on the line.

Darby Allin will be defending his gold against former TNT champion and current ROH TV champ Samoa Joe in the main event and this will be a no holds barred match. Jade Cargill is also looking to extend her winning streak when she defends her TBS title against Red Velvet.

Two other huge matches will see Jon Moxley taking on Hangman Page and Bryan Danielson against former NXT star Timothy Thatcher. Also tonight is Konosuke Takeshita vs Brian Cage and AEW Tag Team champions The Acclaimed will be in action.

Raw rating for 01/30/2023

By
Colin Vassallo
-

The post-Royal Rumble Raw on Monday drew a total of 2,114,000 viewers, down 230,000 viewers from the 30th anniversary episode. But taking that show away, it’s been the most-watched show since August 1, 2022.

Raw started with 2,219,000 viewers in the first hour and then dropped to 2,168,000 viewers in the second hour, before ending the night with 1,955,000 viewers.

In the 18-49 demo, Raw was #1, #2, and #3 in the top 50 cable chart for the night with 0.66, 0.65, and 0.60 respectively for an average of 0.64, down 0.06 from last week. Raw beat everything on cable and network television and was #1 overall for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)

Dwayne Johnson to present at The Grammy Awards this Sunday

By
Colin Vassallo
-

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was not at the Royal Rumble but he will be at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

The Recording Academy today announced that Johnson will be on stage to present the most prestigious award in music this Sunday, February 5 starting at 8PM ET on CBS.

“An absolute honor to present the most prestigious award in music,” Johnson wrote on social media. “What a stage. What a night. What a celebration of music and amazing performances!”

Johnson’s involvement at WrestleMania at this point is highly unlikely despite the many rumors that he would be at the Rumble and face Reigns in April. Triple H said in the post-show press conference that Johnson is extremely busy and doesn’t want to half-ass something with WWE, noting that Johnson has an open door policy with them and is free to come in at any time.

Sami Zayn trashes The Bloodline merchandise!

By
Colin Vassallo
-

In his first post since turning on The Bloodline at the Royal Rumble and then receiving the ass whopping of a lifetime, Sami Zayn uploaded a photo of a few Bloodline merchandise, still wrapped in plastic, being placed next to a bin outside on the curb.

A Survivor Series chair, a framed photo of him sporting the Uce t-shirt and Uce in the background, a framed photo of Reigns and The Usos, a framed photo of The Usos, Reigns, Sikoa, and himself from the Survivor Series War Games, and a big canvas photo of all of them together with Paul Heyman signed individually can all be seen next to the bin.

Zayn, who smashed Roman Reigns in the back with a chair at the Royal Rumble, then paid the price for his actions. Jey Uso did not participate in the beating, leaving him conflicted and walked away from the rest of his family.

The next chapter in the Bloodline storyline will continue this Friday on Smackdown.

Nikkita Lyons undergoes successful surgery for torn ACL and meniscus

By
Colin Vassallo
-

NXT favorite Nikkita Lyons yesterday underwent successful surgery to repair both her ACL and meniscus which were torn.

Lyons announced the surgery on social media, adding a photo of herself in a hospital bed as she came out from under the knife.

“Surgery was a success. Thank you deeply to the WWE Universe, my Lyon Pride for all the love and support you show. I’ll be back stronger than I’ve ever been,” she wrote, before thanking the surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

The 23-year-old from Las Vegas was written off NXT television last week after she was attacked in the parking lot at the WWE Performance Center. Her attacker was not revealed although they did show Zoey Stark leaving.

She is now facing up to nine months out as she starts her rehabilitation.

https://twitter.com/nikkita_wwe/status/1620524153177772032

Rampage rating for 01/23/2027

By
Colin Vassallo
-

Rampage on Friday night on TNT drew 458,000 viewers, down 6,000 viewers from the prior week’s show. Rampage did a 0.14 in the 18-49 demo, up 0.01 from last time around and placed #22 on the top 50 cable chart for the night.

Smackdown rating for 01/27/2023

By
Colin Vassallo
-

The Royal Rumble go-home episode of Smackdown pulled in 2,544,000 viewers on FOX last Friday night, an increase of 287,000 viewers over the prior week. While it did not beat the episode when Cena returned in terms of viewers, it beat it in the 18-49 demo as last Friday Smackdown did a 0.67 rating, up 0.12 from last week. Smackdown was #1 across all television for the night. In the overnight numbers, hour one had 2,525,000 viewers and hour two had 2,340,000 viewers. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)

Carmella and Rick Boogs return on Raw

By
Colin Vassallo
-

Carmella and Rick Boogs returned on Monday Night Raw last night following several months on the sidelines.

Carmella has been out since August following a head injury she sustained during a non-televised live event. However that was only the beginning, as a month later she suffered a miscarriage and then she got pregnant again, only to suffer another miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy.

Boogs returned after being injured for over nine months, an injury he suffered during a tag team match with Shinsuke Nakamura against The Usos on night one of WrestleMania 38. Boogs tore his quadriceps and patella tendon during the match and had to undergo surgery.

While Boogs wrestled his first match against The Miz on Raw, Carmella will have to wait until next week to step back in the ring as she goes for a shot to be part of the women’s Elimination Chamber match.

Ripley chooses Flair as WrestleMania 39 opponent

By
Colin Vassallo
-

Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley has chosen to go after Charlotte Flair’s Smackdown Women’s title at WrestleMania. The match was made official last night on Raw.

This will be a rematch from WrestleMania 36, where Rhea Ripley suffered a defeat at the hands of Flair and lost the NXT Women’s title. Ripley was the one who tried to get Flair to choose her rather than the Raw or Smackdown Women’s champion and Flair did just that, taking her title away in the process.

Ripley already won the Raw Women’s title at WrestleMania, two years ago at WrestleMania 37 when she defeated Asuka on night two.

A Raw woman challenging for the Smackdown title will be interesting in this case as Ripley is part of Judgment Day, a faction which is tied to the Raw brand.

Ricky Starks joins Cody Rhodes at the Royal Rumble

By
Colin Vassallo
-

AEW star Ricky Starks accompanied Cody Rhodes to the Royal Rumble and was hilariously picked on a CCTV-type picture which leaked on the Internet.

After the image was leaked, Starks had a five-star reaction.

“Damn they bought back GTV,” he wrote, adding a laughing emoji.

GTV is an old angle from the Attitude Era days where several hidden-camera videos were being broadcast without knowing who was behind them. The angle eventually led to nothing.

Starks and Rhodes are big friends and the up-and-coming AEW star considers Cody a mentor.

Raw commentator Kevin Patrick joins Apple’s MLS broadcast team

By
Colin Vassallo
-

WWE Raw commentator Kevin Patrick, whose real name is Kevin Egan, has been picked up by Apple to form part of the new Major League Soccer broadcast team.

He was part of 31 new additions to the massive broadcast team who will be doing commentary, analysis, and studio shows covering the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Egan, listed under his real name, is forming part of the “best in class analysts” but his profile makes no mention of him working for WWE.

“Kevin Egan, originally from Dublin, Ireland, has spent the last 10 seasons broadcasting MLS matches on television with both the Chicago Fire and Atlanta United. During this time Egan also acted as a play-by-play commentator and studio host for beIN Sports, Turner Sports, ESPN and CNN International,” reads his profile.

He took over the Raw commentary duties from Jimmy Smith in October 2022.

Pat McAfee reveals original plan for the Royal Rumble

By
Colin Vassallo
-

During yesterday’s Pat McAfee Show, WWE commentator Pat McAfee revealed that he was originally supposed to return as part of the Rumble match but wasn’t fit enough to compete.

McAfee cited a rough schedule over the past several months and he didn’t feel like he could get enough proper training in place to be worthy of an entry in the Rumble.

Pat said that being out of shape, he didn’t want to disrespect anyone or the match and didn’t want to steal a spot from someone else.

“When you’re in there, there’s a lot of danger, there’s a lot of shit that can happen,” McAfee said. “I told them, ‘Hey…I’m not going to be able to be in good enough shape for the Rumble, don’t want to disrespect the Rumble or anything like that.”

McAfee also revealed that the private jet had issues and left late and he only arrived at the Alamodome 30 minutes before he appeared on camera.

Michael Cole, who also joined McAfee on the show yesterday, went through what happened and how he was left in the dark and said he didn’t know if they were ever going to see him back in WWE due to the many changes in his life.

Three qualify for U.S. title Elimination Chamber match

By
Colin Vassallo
-

Three of the five challengers going for the United States title inside the Elimination Chamber were revealed last night on Raw.

Seth Rollins, Johnny Gargano, and Bronson Reed all qualified after winning their matches against Chad Gable, Baron Corbin, and Dolph Ziggler respectively. There are two more spots open in the match, as the final spot goes for the reigning champion Austin Theory.

Next week on Raw, Damian Priest takes on Angelo Dawkins and Elias faces Montez Ford to determine the last two entrants in the match.

This will mark the first time that the United States title will be defended inside the Elimination Chamber.

Women’s Elimination Chamber match to determine #1 contender for Raw title

By
Colin Vassallo
-

The number one contender for Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s title will be decided next month inside the Elimination Chamber.

With Ripley choosing Flair as her opponent for WrestleMania, Belair remains without a challenger but it will not be long before she learns who she will be facing on the show.

The Royal Rumble final four, excluding Ripley, have automatically qualified for the match. That means Raquel Gonzalez, Asuka, Liv Morgan, and Nikki Cross all have their ticket punched for the Chamber in Montreal. The other two participants will be decided in qualifying matches.

Next week on Raw, Candice LeRae, Carmella, Piper Niven, and Michin will square off in a fatal four-way to determine who will be the fifth person in the match.

Monday Night Raw TV report for 01/30/2023

By
Joe Adams
-

Arena: BOK Center
City: Tulsa, OK

Raw opens with the video package of Cody Rhodes along with the ending of the Royal Rumble.

Cody then comes out for an in-ring interview. Cody says at 19 he had a dream to be WWE Champion and he wouldn’t write a letter to his 19 year old self to change anything that lead him to this point in his career. He also said at the beginning of his theme song, wrestling has more than one royal family and he has to face another one in Roman Reigns. Cody tells Roman after WrestleMania he can be the Tribal Chief, he can be the head of the table but on that night the one thing he won’t be is the WWE Undisputed Universal Champion.

The Judgment Day come out (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor). Finn asks if he is going to rip him off and Dominik said Cody ruined the Royal Rumble match because he was supposed to win. Priest says Cody is a kiss up and golden boy to get number 30. Mysterio says Cody owes him an apology. Cody asks Dominik if he is trying to scare him? Cody then says he had respect for Dominik’s dad and Dominik says he has no respect for anyone’s dad, not even yours. Cody then challenges Dominik to a match tonight.

Before the Judgment Day leaves the arena, Edge comes out and attacks them, Cody comes out of the ring and goes after Dominik.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match which will be for the United States Championship

Seth “Freakin” Rollins VS. Chad Gable

After a pedigree with a bad knee, it was Rollins who got the win.

Winner: Seth “Freakin” Rollins

Iyo Sky VS. Candace LeRae

LeRae rolls up Sky but the referee was delayed getting Dakota Kai out of the ring. As he freed up from that, Bayley is on the other side on the apron, LeRae hits her down but gets rolled up by Sky for the pin

Winner: Iyo Sky

A recap of the women’s Royal Rumble is shown.

Rhea Ripley is out to announce who she plans on facing at WrestleMania after winning the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble. She challenges Charlotte Flair since she was the one that put Rhea in her place 3 years ago. Now she is ready to put Charlotte in her place.

Seth Rollins was interviewed by Cathy Kelly and he was excited about the Elimination Chamber and when she asked him about his thoughts on being tossed out of the Royal Rumble by Logan Paul, Seth just got quiet and walked away.

Qualifying match for the Elimination Chamber

Baron Corbin VS. Johnny Gargano

Gargano countered Corbin’s the end with a roll up and got the win.

Winner: Johnny Gargano

VIP Lounge segment with host MVP and special guest United States Champion Austin Theory. Theory gets in the ring and sits down on the couch and props his feet up and MVP says make yourself comfortable young man. The discussion turns to Bobby Lashley and Theory said Lashley is going to get torn apart by Brock Lesnar. Lashley gets in the ring and goes right after Theory. MVP was helping Theory up with his cane saying you asked for this and Lashley ends up spearing MVP.

The Miz is now out complaining about not being treated with respect. Adam Pearce comes out and interrupts The Miz and said someone has been beating down his door all day long for an opportunity and he announces the newest member of Monday Night Raw roster, Rick Boogs. Miz then complained he was in a suit. Pearce said you’re the one that is always telling everyone how great you are, get a referee out here, this match is official.

Rick Boogs VS. The Miz

Boogs squashed the Miz.

Winner: Rick Boogs

Bayley is out next and started talking about Becky Lynch and their issues are behind them now and Becky comes out and tells Bayley to shut up and calls her a stupid fool. Becky says she didn’t need to win the Royal Rumble this year she has already done that, and she just wanted to make sure Bayley and her girls didn’t win. Bayley says she doesn’t like her and she is not good enough to be in the ring with her again and she is not even good enough for her husband Seth “Freakin” Rollins and the only reason he married her is because he knocked her up. Becky says she thought they were only fighting over wrestling which all started 10 years ago in NXT in Orlando.

Becky says give me that steel cage match once and for all. Bayley says no. Becky says I thought you would say that…hold on! Becky then pulls out an already injured Dakota Kai. Bayley finally said you can have your match but you may want to go check on your buddy Iyo still in the back.

Adam Pearce is interviewed and announces that since Rhea Ripley has chosen Charlotte Flair to wrestle for WrestleMania, the Raw Women’s Championship match has been left up to him to see who will face Bianca Belair. He announced that there will be an Elimination Chamber match to determine who will face Bianca at WrestleMania and the last four ladies that were in the Royal Rumble have already qualified Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan and Nikki Cross.

Chelsea Green comes in and interrupts Pearce complaining about accommodations.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying match up next.

Dolph Ziggler VS. Bronson Reed

Reed picks up the win after a splash off the top rope.

Winner: Bronson Reed

Carmella is interviewed by Cathy Kelly and she says she is going to win the 4 way match next week. Asuka comes up and just laughs at her while blue liquid comes out of her mouth.

Byron Saxton interviewed Rick Boogs and is happy to be back as he talks with Elias and The Street Profits. Byron announced that Dawkins faces Damian Priest and Montez faces Elias for qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber next week and they begin to playfully argue.

Cody Rhodes VS. Finn Balor

Edge comes out and takes out Damian Priest, then spears Dominik Mysterio on the floor. Ripley then attacks Edge and Beth Phoenix comes out and spears Ripley. In the ring, Balor goes for the Coup De Grace but is distracted by Edge which leads to Cody hitting three Cross Rhodes on Balor for the win.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Rhodes to kick off Raw, Ripley to pick WrestleMania opponent tonight

By
Colin Vassallo
-

The two Royal Rumble winners – Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley – will be on Monday Night Raw tonight as the fallout from the Rumble and road to WrestleMania continue.

Rhodes will be kicking off Raw, his first appearance on the show since the Raw following Hell In A Cell in June 2022. Cody will be going after the Undisputed WWE Universal title at WrestleMania and posted a photo of the Winged Eagle WWE title on his Instagram today.

There were some rumors a few weeks ago that WWE were going to split the main world titles again and Cody would be going only after the WWE Championship but the situation should be more clear after tonight’s Raw.

Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley will be making her decision on who she’s going after at WrestleMania. Her two choices are Bianca Belair and the Raw Women’s title or Charlotte Flair and the Smackdown Women’s title.

Ripley was on the receiving end of being picked by Flair when she won the Royal Rumble in 2020 while Ripley held the NXT Women’s title. Flair successfully beat Ripley at WrestleMania 36 in front of no fans during the COVID pandemic.

Two huge Rumble highlights pull in over 20 million views for WWE

By
Colin Vassallo
-

Two highlight reel moments from the Royal Rumble have generated crazy numbers for WWE on social media.

The main event angle where Sami Zayn turned on the Bloodline and smashed Roman Reigns with a chair across his back generated over 20 million views across all WWE platforms, becoming WWE’s most-watched clip of 2023 so far.

Meanwhile, the insane high-flying spot between Logan Paul and Ricochet during the men’s Royal Rumble match amassed 26.5 million views across WWE and Paul’s platforms.

United States title to be defended inside the Elimination Chamber

By
Colin Vassallo
-

The United States title will be defended inside the Elimination Chamber next month in Montreal, marking the first time that the title will be up for grabs in the gimmick match.

Typically, WWE reserves the men’s match for either one of the main titles or else to crown the #1 contender for the title that the Royal Rumble winner doesn’t pick. With both major titles held by Roman Reigns, it was decided to put the U.S. title on the line, continuing to elevate the only Raw brand men’s singles title.

Qualifying matches to determine who will be Austin Theory’s opponents will kick off on Monday Night Raw tonight, with the first two matches – Seth Rollins vs Chad Gable and Baron Corbin vs Johnny Gargano – already announced.

A women’s Elimination Chamber match will also take place.

The main event is expected to be Roman Reigns versus hometown boy Sami Zayn.

Royal Rumble 2023 breaks records for WWE

By
Colin Vassallo
-

WWE today announced that the 2023 Royal Rumble became WWE’s highest-grossing and most-viewed Royal Rumble in company history.

The event set a new all-time gate record at more than $7.7 million, far surpassing the previous Royal Rumble high in 2017 by more than 50 percent. Viewership of the event saw a 52 percent increase versus the previous record set in 2022.

In addition, the 2023 Royal Rumble broke all-time venue merchandise and sponsorship records.

Merchandise sales were up 135 percent versus the record set in 2022. Royal Rumble sponsorship revenue was up nearly 200 percent versus 2022 and featured the first-ever sponsored match with Mountain Dew Pitch Black and sponsored countdown clock with Applebee’s.

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