John Cena will be having his first match of 2022 on the December 30 live episode of Friday Night Smackdown on FOX.
The leader of the Cenation will be teaming up with Kevin Owens to take on Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn in a tag team match.
The match was setup during the broadcast when Reigns informed Adam Pearce to make a tag match with him and Zayn against Owens and any partner of his choosing.
The end of the show saw Cena appearing in a video message, saying that he had gotten a text from Owens who informed him that he had at least one match every year for the past 20 years and this year he had none. Owens then asked Cena if he wants to tag up and take down the Bloodline.
A fired up Cena said that every holiday deserves a surprise and this is a main event that can’t be missed. “Hell yes I’m going to be there. Hell yes I am going to be your partner,” Cena said to a big ovation from the Chicago crowd.
“Cenaclause is coming to town ho ho ho holy sh*t,” Cena continued as he ran off screen!
Sami Zayn looked worried in the ring but Reigns laughed and did not seem that bothered.
Last Week’s Rating: 457,000 overall; 0.11 in 18-49 demo
It’s Friday Night, and you know what that means… it’s time for our Rampage Review!
…..
‘I mean this, this may be the most powerful Rampage we’ve ever done’ were Jim Ross’ words as he greeted us, along with Tony & Excalibur.
Jon Moxley vs Sammy Guevara
Backstory: The ultimate contest between the BCC & JAS; Daniel Garcia is now assigned to Sammy to learn from him
Last time these two met they had a hell of a match, so this should be no different.
The pair already in the ring as we arrived, an aggressive Guevara launched a knee strike which dropped the former champ, following up with stomps, positioning him in the corner where Moxley ducked a chop, struck three of his own and dispatched Sammy at his wife’s feet ringside.
Daniel Garcia was shown watching intently from backstage.
Moxley bowed sarcastically to Tay but paid for it as Sammy struck with another knee; Mox quickly fought back, dropping Guevara balls-first across the railings then clotheslining him back down to earth.
Back inside, Moxley struck with his cutter-out-of-nowhere as Sammy entered then hauled him upstairs. JR repeated that this was ‘one of the most star-studded and compelling Rampages that we’ve ever brought you’ as Sammy was superplexed and Mox got two.
The duo exchanged chops against the ropes, then forearm strikes in the middle, Guevara coming off worse but succeeding when he picked up the pace via his patented series of flips into a dropkick. Heading to the top, Mox cut him off with a back-rake and a bite but slipped down onto the apron, tweaking his knee, allowing Guevara to launch a stomp to take the advantage into the break.
An aggressive Guevara was kicking Moxley around the mat having ripped out his earring during the ads. After continuing to work the leg Mox tweaked, Sammy positioned him in the corner then ground his boot into Moxley’s heavily bleeding ear. Then got to biting, his mouth covered in blood as he came back up.
After briefly mounting a comeback, Sammy put Mox back in his place, leaving him in the ropes and taking the ref so his wife could belt him with a slap to the face. Guevara, mouth still covered in his opponent’s blood, wanted a kiss; Tay had a ‘you bastard’ expression on her face but went with it anyway. All allowing Moxley to strike with a suicide dive leaving all three down at ringside.
Still favoring the knee, Mox fired himself up, hurled ten punches in the corner and snapped off a German. Landing on his feet, Sammy staggered to the corner, avoided a charging Mox, hit an enziguri from the apron then a top-rope cutter for just the second pin attempt so far.
Thinking GTH, Moxley slipped out, setup a powerbomb, Guevara swept the legs, right into the Walls. After nearly getting the ropes, Moxley was dragged back dead center, where he finally twisted onto his back, threw shots to the face and kicked his way free.
Back to forearms in the middle, Guevara launched a flurry but a single shot from Moxley bettered it, right into a curb stomp for a very close two.
About to be dropped through a ringside table, Sammy slipped off the shoulders, hit a thrusting knee and headed back to the top to launch a senton through both Moxley and the aforesaid table. Landing looked like it sucked; he almost undershot it.
Flinging Mox back inside, Guevara went to the top once more for a cross body, Mox rolled through with wrist control, stomps to the head, piledriver, count of two, right into the Bulldog Choke, seemed it was all over, Sammy tilted his weight and bagged two of his own.
After missing a wild roundhouse, Sammy tasted a KKL and seemed set for a Death Rider but flipped out, hit a kick to the injured knee right into a great-looking Death Rider of his own before scrambling back to the top from where he hit a senton atomico. But Moxley still kicked out as Guevara looked shocked.
Desperate, Sammy thought avalanche Spanish Fly; Moxley rolled through as he landed, floated over, Bulldog applied, nowhere to go, Guevara passed out. Garcia was shown shaking his head.
This was great. Easily the best thing on AEW this week. These two have great chemistry and find a way to blend their styles while highlighting the contrast.
After inviting him on Wednesday, Mox grabbed a mic and repeated his offer for Adam Page to come get him some. To a big roar from the crowd, Hangman headed down as the former champs brawled. Loud ‘Cowboy S***’ chant as officials tried to separate them. In the melee, one official ate a Buckshot intended for Mox (at least in theory). Finally, they were just-about separated, Moxley being dragged away through the crowd.
WINNER: Jon Moxley
Saraya commented on the upcoming Hayter/Shida match because she wants that belt. Then addressed Hayter and Britt, mentioning how much talent there is to choose from when it comes to her mystery partner ‘and we’re coming for you.’ (If this isn’t Sasha, they need to announce it ahead of time so whoever the poor girl is doesn’t get Rey Mysterio’d).
…..
In-ring, a beaten up and taped up FTR talked about how they did what they did for the fans, that they owed them for their support this year and that the Gunns spoiled last Saturday for all of them. On Wednesday, they’ll get their vengeance. (Also, Dax legit broke his ‘ass bone’ so I hope that match gets postponed ‘cause that can’t be fun to land on).
…..
Jade Cargill and Baddies package. Leila showed Jade footage of Red looking at Jade annoyed during last week’s tag; Red just stood there as Leila continued sucking up to Cargill.
Britt Baker vs Skye Blue
Backstory: Blue instigated Feud Starter #3, better known as an interrupted backstage promo, on Weds
Baker got her entrance with Blue already in the ring. JR told Tony he didn’t have to do the DMD motion if he didn’t want to. Great line.
A very cute little girl was shown smiling in a Britt Baker tee: can’t do much for Baker’s heel stock.
Blue cartwheeled out of a hammerlock, Baker grabbed a leg-scissors then dropped her via underhook suplex for a one-count. Skye grabbed two with a cradle then hit a kick to the head.
Ads.
A thrust kick got her two as we returned; Britt quickly replied with a slingblade, sit-out facebuster, then grabbed the glove. Allowing Skye to hit her low enziguri.
(At this point, she ‘hit’ the ropes as if going for the lightest of jogs in the park – it’s this stuff which separates the better women’s wrestlers – Hayter, Deeb etc. from those who are good athletes but don’t seem like they’re really in a contest. In fairness, it ain’t just the ladies, Marc Quen does the same thing).
Britt avoided a Code Blue; Skye ducked her head perfectly just in time to get it Stomped.
With Baker refusing to relinquish the Lockjaw, Hikaru Shida whacked her and Rebel with a kendo stick, then stared down Hayter, who kept jawing but left the ring.
WINNER: Britt Baker
JR’s sit-down with a de-masked Preston Vance aired. Vance talked down his former Dark Order friends and -1: ‘Hey kid it’s time to grow up’.
(This is what the fans tune in for, give us that cheap heat baby. Obviously, it’s his first promo and we all have bad weeks, but Vance should not be allowed to speak again until he dramatically improves both his delivery and intensity. He sounded like a nervous groom reading off cue-cards. Not sure taking away the mask does him any favors either as his face was expressionless.)
Wardlow vs Exodus Prime
Backstory: None
Just me or does Exodus Prime sound like an overly-religious Transformer?
Anyway, this one didn’t last long: four powerbombs, three seconds, one winner.
Wardlow called out Samoa Joe afterwards, who replied from backstage. Mocking the ‘Waaardlow’ chant, the ‘King of Television’ presented his terms: he won’t wrestle until they’re out of Texas, meaning the 28th with his TNT title up for grabs. Joe absolutely eclipsed Wardlow with both his charisma and delivery.
WINNER: Wardlow
Orange Cassidy, Dustin Rhodes & Best Friends vs Butcher, Blade, Trent Seven & Kip Sabian
Backstory: Sabian’s been after Cassidy for eliminating him from last week’s battle royal
Very random heel team, including the newly aligned Kip & Trent Seven already bickering during the pre-match promo.
The two Trents did a bunch of yay/boo stuff to chants of Trent/Trent from the crowd, before everything broke down into a mass brawl. A combo military press/kick to the face from B&B on Beretta brought the break.
A roar from the crowd brought us back, Cassidy bagging a tag to Rhodes who played the hits: lariats, drop-down uppercut, snap powerslam, another before launching his father’s jabs and elbow strike.
Subsequent pin broken up by B&B, the duo doubled Orange until Beretta came off the top with a shotgun dropkick. He and Chuck hugged then hit stereo dives but were struck via a Sabian Asai Moonsault. After hitting that and landing on his feet, Kip didn’t get a millionth of the reaction the hug received.
All culminating with the mid-50s Dustin cannonballing his way through the heels.
Clearly the guys had watched that NXT tag last weekend because Cassidy and Danhausen both used the old Eddie Guerrero spot to get the Bunny & Penelope tossed. Though the illegal Danhausen being in the ring and getting hit in the balls by Kip right in front of the ref was fine.
A Sabian knee strike and spinning lariat took out Cassidy, Chuck took out B&B outside, Seven then turned a Beretta superplex into a side slam in mid-air and Dustin just about made the save.
Receiving the tag, he walloped Kip with a Manhattan Drop then a destroyer before preparing to Shatter his Dreams. The ref intervened; Cassidy ‘hit’ the kicks to Kip’s groin instead as the vet and the ref looked equally baffled. After the ref removed Cassidy, Rhodes finally hit Shattered Dreams, then flung Trent Seven in there for good measure before the newcomer ate an Orange Punch and a Bulldog as the vet bagged the win.
Lots of action, a bit all over the place, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
WINNER: Orange Cassidy, Dustin Rhodes & Best Friends
…..
Next Dynamite (Holiday Bash):
Jamie Hayter vs Hikaru Shida, AEW Women’s Title
FTR vs the Gunns
Death Triangle vs the Elite, 5 of 7, No DQ (if it goes to match 6, that’ll be falls count anywhere; match 7 will be ladders)
Next chapter in the Book of Hobbs
Ricky Starks appearance
Bryan Danielson promo
Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland Face-to-Face Meeting (there better be a damn good reason why Lee doesn’t want to just steamroll Swerve)
…..
Overall impressions
The opener was fantastic but also easily the best thing on the show: nothing could follow it. To their credit there was more star power tonight, if not quite to the degree claimed by JR. A main event angle with two former champs is nothing to sniff at and they forwarded several other angles.
Tonight’s Friday Night Smackdown on FOX will feature the return of the Undisputed WWE Universal champion Roman Reigns, who has been off TV since the Survivor Series with a ruptured eardrum.
The show is live from the sold out Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, and the WWE Director of Longterm Creative, Rob Fee, wrote on Twitter, “I wouldn’t miss Smackdown this week. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Matches announced for the broadcast include Gunther vs Ricochet for the Intercontinental title, Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox vs Damage CTRL for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles, and a triple threat tag match featuring Hit Row, Legado Del Fantasma, and The Viking Raiders.
Bray Wyatt’s new WWE theme song, titled Shatter, has been released on Spotify and Apple Music.
The song, performed by Code Orange, made its debut at the Smackdown following the Extreme Rules premium live event in October when Bray Wyatt made his spectacular return to WWE.
“die for me brother. ‘s h a t t e r’ our new theme for @Windham6 is out now,” tweeted the band.
The band also performed the song Let Me In, which was used as the theme song for The Fiend.
In the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer had more details about Mercedes Varnado’s (Sasha Banks) deal with New Japan-Pro Wrestling.
As things stand, the former Raw and Smackdown Women’s champion will be part of the Wrestle Kingdom pay-per-view on January 4 but will not be actually wrestling on the show and rumors are that she will be there for an angle revolving around the IWGP Women’s title.
While her deal will be with NJPW, she will also be appearing on one show for the all-women STARDOM, which is also owned by the same parent company. Varnado has reportedly agreed multiple dates with the Japanese promotion and will become a free agent starting January 1, 2023.
Meltzer writes that when STARDOM’s Rossy Ogawa inquired about getting her on the show, Varnado asked for a lot of money and he wasn’t ready to go ahead with it. But Takaaki Kidani, the CEO of Bushiroad who owns both promotions, was ready to pay the asking price with the idea that she will bring in a lot of new fans from the United States.
Meanwhile, Voice of Wrestling is reporting that Varnado’s deal with NJPW is the biggest per-event agreement NJPW has ever made, so she will not be under a long-term deal, but rather paid for every appearance she makes for the promotion.
Meltzer also adds that Varnado asked for a lot of money to return to WWE and while there was an agreement to return, WWE was not ready to pay her the amount that she wanted, rumored to be in the same bracket of what the company pays Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, the two most-paid female Superstars in the company.
The Winter Is Coming themed episode of Dynamite was a ratings success, drawing 950,000 viewers this week, up 110,000 viewers from the prior week. The show was headlined by MJF vs Ricky Starks in a winner-take-all match. The show did a 0.33 rating in the 18-49 demo and was #3 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. That is up 0.04 from the prior week. This was the most-watched Dynamite since the October 12 episode. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Former ROH World champion Jonathan Gresham has signed with Impact Wrestling and returned to last night’s episode of Impact on AXS TV.
Gresham, who wrestled for the promotion for a few months earlier this year, will have his first match at the Hard To Kill pay-per-view on Friday, January 13, 2023 against Eddie Edwards.
After wrapping up his deal with Impact in March, Grisham signed with AEW and become the undisputed ROH World champion at the Supercard of Honor XV, the first ROH show led by Tony Khan. His time in AEW and the new ROH didn’t last long though as in July, he requested to leave the company and dropped the title to Claudio Castagnoli at the Death Before Dishonor show in the opening match of the show.
NXT, headlined by Mandy Rose vs Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s title, drew 666,000 viewers, up 132,000 viewers from the prior week. The show did a 0.17 in the 18-49 demo, up 0.04, and placed #13 in the top 50 cable chart for the night. This was the best number for NXT since the November 1 episode. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
WWE held two tapings for NXT yesterday at the WWE Performance Center to give staff time off for Christmas.
The December 20 and December 27 episodes, along with matches for Level Up, were taped during the evening. The next time NXT will be live will be on January 3, 2023.
Meanwhile, the December 23 episode of Smackdown will also be taped and will be recorded tomorrow following the conclusion of the live Smackdown from the sold out Allstate Arena in Chicago. After tomorrow, the next live Smackdown will be on December 30 which will feature the return of John Cena.
Interestingly enough, there’s no live Raw set for December 26 and the December 19 broadcast does not mention that it will be a double taping. Taping two full episodes of Raw back-to-back would be a huge task and highly unlikely.
WWE will be having the holiday tour on Boxing Day and there are two shows scheduled, one in Columbus and one in New York.
The next live Raw advertised is on January 2 from Nashville.
Mandy Rose, who was fired from WWE yesterday just 24 hours after dropping the NXT Women’s title, released a small statement on her FanTime website.
“Hey guys, thank you for all the messages,” Mandy wrote. “I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from you guys. And don’t worry the page is still up!”
Rose was promoting her page as mandyrosesacs.com although now the domain points to fantime.com/fitmandyinfo as she removed her WWE name from it.
The content Rose was posting behind her paywall is OnlyFans material and just a few days ago someone leaked a ton of content from her page for the world to see.
It’s interesting to note that her subscription went from $20 per month to $30 per month following her release and her account had an increase of over 3,000 “likes” in less than 24 hours.
AEW had their own Razor Ramon/123 Kid moment last night on Dynamite as Action Andretti defeated eight-time world champion Chris Jericho and earned himself an AEW contract in the process.
In front of a red-hot crowd in Garland, Andretti stunned the wrestling world after he beat Jericho clean with a running shooting star press, sending the crowd into frenzy.
Jericho, coming off a defeat this past Saturday to Claudio Castagnoli where he lost the ROH World title, looked in disbelief as Justin Roberts announced Andretti as the winner.
Andretti walked around the ring and high-fived fans with Jericho still in the middle of the ring looking stunned.
“We’ve just seen a moment that we’ll never forget,” screamed Tony Schiavone on commentary.
AEW President Tony Khan then announced via the usual graphic that Andretti is All Elite.
The 24-year-old made his pro wrestling debut in 2019 and trained with MCW Pro Wrestling. He had four prior matches with AEW, all on Dark.
The remaining matches between the Death Triangle and The Elite in the best of seven series will all be gimmick matches.
Death Triangle won the fourth match last night on Winter Is Coming and now they are 3-1 leading the series. But with their win coming off the use of a foreign object, match five next week has been set as a no disqualification match.
If the reigning champions win the next match, they will retain the titles, but a win for The Elite will extend to match six which is set to be a falls count anywhere match and will take place on the December 28 episode of Dynamite.
If the series is tied 3-3 after six matches, a seventh match will happen on the January 11 episode of Dynamite and will be a ladder match.
Impact Wrestling last week drew 107,000 viewers, up 33,000 viewers from the prior week. The show did a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 demo and was #140 in the top 150 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Last Week’s Rating: 840,000 overall; 0.29 in 18-49 demo
Last week I wasn’t too hard on that Regal explanation. On the assumption that they wouldn’t have been stupid enough to do the whole angle if they knew he was leaving. Well, turns out they were. In which case, the whole thing absolutely sucks.
It made Moxley look dumb and leaves Bryan Danielson defending his heel mentor against a heel champion the fans rarely want to boo.
And they had such an easy out.
Max uses the ring after promising not to: ‘I lied and you were stupid enough to believe it’. He can still clock Regal to set up his exit except now there’s genuine sympathy as Danielson defends his guy. And Ricky Starks could threaten to take away Max’s ‘secret weapon’, the only reason he’s champ right now. It would’ve built the ring up as something MJF desperately wants to keep.
Perhaps with ROH doing its own thing now, creative will improve? Because it needs to.
It’s Wednesday night, it’s Dynamite. Let’s go.
…..
Welcomed by Excalibur and the classic mid-90s NBA theme, Taz and Tony were then introduced as they ran through the card, including casually informing us that Jericho was no longer the ROH champ.
The Elite vs Death Triangle, Match 4 of 7, Trios Titles
Backstory: The Elite snagged a desperate W last time to prevent them going down 3-0
Mixture of boos and people singing along to the Elite’s entrance theme. Fairly fitting given how confusing the Trio and their entourage’s presentation is.
Nick and Penta to start us off – Callus joined on comms – the announcers made a big deal about the Bucks and co. still being 2-1 down.
Interrupting the ‘Cero’ part of Penta’s slogan, Nick grabbed the hands, Penta went for the legs and a takedown before the pair popped right back up. Series of ducks, dives and dodges; Penta setup Fear Factor, Nick countered out into an arm-wringer and hit the buckle for a spinning armdrag off the top.
Bringing Fenix in.
Nick was ready, drop toe hold into the Elite’s corner where Matt sprung in with a legdrop before quickly tagging back out as his younger brother rejoined via hurracanrana, sending Penta over to Pac to tag out. As the Bucks were double-teaming the Brit, Kenny was tagged in – getting a loud ovation from a section of the crowd – double team wheelbarrow/kintaro crusher for two, continuing the focus on Pac’s broken nose.
Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to Pac as the LB’s tried to interfere – Nick took to the sky, selling his ankle after landing, which Taz pointed out on comms.
Rapid start.
Nick didn’t want the tag, Matt in instead, he and Kenny continuing to double team Pac via suplex. The Elite’s whipping boys were shown attending to Nick on the outside, then the ringside doctor.
Matt blocked Pac’s rebound German by grabbing the ropes, until Fenix ran them and kicked him free, Penta then used Pac’s back as a springboard to drop Omega with a slingblade, Fenix followed up with a tope between the ropes as Pac got two on Matt.
After the preceding, Kenny was selling the shoulder which’d kept him out much of last year and Nick had headed to the back. I’d like this much more if they were very clearly the babyfaces – but the crowd cheering everything DT does says otherwise. More muddled psychology.
Matt was in trouble as we returned until catching Rey out of the sky into locomotion northern lights. Mid-rollup-attempt, Penta came in and the northern lights continued – to a big ‘ooooh’ from the crowd. Two count.
Desperate to tag out, Matt had his legs grabbed by Pac but finally brought Omega in – another big cheer – cross body off the top, shot to the face, OWA setup but instead rolled through into You Can’t Escape for a close two.
Omega fighting 3-on-1 with Matt still down, he ducked a shot from Rey, hit an enziguri to Pac, a pair of snap dragons, everybody down but Kenny as the crowd chanted his name. Setting up the V Trigger, Penta interfered, then Pac did the same as the Terminator Dive was being readied – the numbers too great.
Pac launched a pump kick in the corner, Omega replied with an elbow, then a German – Pac landed on his feet, setup a brainbuster which Omega turned into one of his own with Matt ready for the tag until being dropped via Fear Factor on the apron.
Leaving Kenny to be double-teamed by the Bros – Spanish Fly from the top, Made in Penta, inverted frog splash – kickout at nearly three. Pac up for Black Arrow – Omega rolled clear at the last as Nick Jackson returned, begging for a tag, Kenny crawling, big cheer as Nick came in, throwing shots but unable to perform his usual repertoire.
A springboard by Fenix saw him dropped via cutter as Nick begged him to get up and eat a superkick, but the injured foot was caught, Penta blasted it with a hammer as it was still in his brother’s arms and the previously hesitant Rey went straight to a leg grapevine to win dirty.
This was a nice synopsis for the company as a whole atm – great action amidst it not quite being clear who was supposed to be what. Though the crowd – a very good one so far – basically cheered everything except the hammer blow.
Would’ve been a perfect story heading forward if not for two things:
If the Elite are supposed to be the good guys, and this strongly suggested so, they need to ditch the entourage. And if DT are supposed to be heels, well, they ain’t getting any boos.
Lastly, not a fan of a team going up 3-1, basically tells you who’s going to win the rest of the way. While it’s possible Death Triangle will be retaining their titles, they damn sure won’t be doing it before match seven.
Post-match, Omega grabbed a microphone, emphasizing that ‘in sports’ going down 3-1 is basically a death blow. So challenged DT to make next week’s match no-dq.
WINNER: Death Triangle
Straight to MJF with Alex Marvez backstage, who mockingly referred to Ricky’s ‘star-making moment’ last week. It’s nice that he finally made a hit because MJF is ‘batting a thousand’. And Starks wanted to talk about pressure – ‘let’s talk pressure’ – no-one’s routing for him so he has no-one to let down, Ricky on the other hand… Will the Pebble ‘turn into diamond… or will he turn into dust.’
…..
The Acclaimed out but were attacked mid-rap by TNA’s dregs and Satnam Singh. They held Caster for a guitar shot. ‘Scissor this, Slapnut’ – yes, he omitted the ‘Z’, because otherwise this act would be incredibly stale. They held the belts aloft to end the segment.
…..
Video package showing Claudio winning the ROH title via Giant Swing as Schiavone was backstage with the JAS. ‘The Giant Swing is barbaric, it should be banned’, complained Jericho. He then said he was going to take out his anger on ‘some jobber’ ahead of a potential rematch. Then cut Garcia off to tell him he needed more experience and advice: so he now has to do everything Sammy says, starting Friday, when Sammy faces Moxley.
Who did acknowledge that BCC/JAS is over but ‘not for me’.
Are they serious? Daniel Garcia was really getting the crowd behind him, turned back heel what, two months ago? Has done nothing since and now they’re basically doing the same angle. We’re supposed to root for him to turn on them again? Good luck with that.
Brian Cage vs Jungle Boy
Backstory: JB eliminated Cage from the Battle Royal last week, they also showed footage of ‘Big Bill’ taking him last week (that’s W. Morrisey)
First I’d heard of this one.
They showed Cage winning one of the company’s million belts on Saturday (the trios?).
Jungle Boy went right for his springboard armdrag – Cage blocked it – then bounced off Cage as he quickly realized what he was up against. A dropkick and kip-up saw Jungle Boy grabbing his neck. A slow series of shots with JB on the apron led to Cage hauling him back inside via suplex before flexing.
Bicep curls with JB as the dumb-bell were next before the ads broke in.
A series of diving lariats only staggered Cage but a swinging ddt finally dropped him, both guys down as the crowd chanted ‘Jungle Boy’. Uppercut, enziguri, release German out of the corner by Cage, full nelson driver for dessert to bag a two count.
A huge spinning lariat cut-off a comeback, Cage hauled the smaller guy onto his shoulders, JB countered into a destroyer for two, then slipped straight into the Snare Trap. Prince Nana had one leg in the ring but Aubrey fancied a chat instead as Cage was tapping. Jungle Boy ran Cage into Nana before bagging a deep rollup to win.
If he was going to win anyway, it should’ve been clean, especially after being rag-dolled for most of the match.
Grabbing a mic, JB said he’d beaten Luchasaurus, now Cage and next wants ‘the biggest bitch of them all’ Big Bill. He got Stokely instead. Hathaway called him a ‘ho’ before Moriarty and Big Bill beat Jungle Boy senseless.
The crowd were very into Jack; couldn’t have cared less about the heels. Another chokeslam, this time in the ring, ended the segment. Or would’ve, as Hook’s music hit and the crowd erupted. The heels bailed as the youngster hit the ring, helping Jungle Boy to his feet.
This is the first smart booking all night: Hook needs something to do and a leg-up, Jungle Boy needs an edge.
WINNER: Jungle Boy
Mox, Yuta, Claudio backstage – Mox reiterated that last week they’d said they were going to make a statement, and they did – noting that all three were victorious – in a much more colorful and entertaining way than I have, with wild eyes and threatening intensity.
‘You think you’re good; we’re better’ exclaimed Claudio, emphasizing that next year would be their year.
Lastly, Mox noted that there’s ‘one last worm to stomp’ from the JAS. ‘I will stomp your face into a bloody mess and leave you for dead, that’s what we do’ he said as if ordering a burger. ‘And Hangman Page, I always say, you know where to find me. And bring your little Dark Order buddies too’.
So f’n great.
…..
Video package prepping Keith Lee vs Swerve ‘next week’. Swerve doesn’t have friends or family, only ‘affiliates’. Strickland’s a hell of a talker too.
House of Black vs The Factory
Backstory: HOB condemned the entire roster – courthouse style – in a weird promo last week
I miss Malakai’s singles music, seems ages.
Comoroto threw a toothpick at Julia who spat mist in his face. Like a prettier starters’ gun, this kicked off a wild brawl around ringside as Malakai lay in the ring, Raven-style, staring a hole through QT. A single kick to the head did the business.
WINNER: HOB
Video package for Hayter/Shida. ‘Hayter. Hits. Hard’. Good clip, should be the best women’s tv match in a while.
Cut to Britt who was running down Shida until Skye Blue interrupted to challenge her for Friday before leaving. A flustered but still arrogant Baker kept asking Rebel ‘w-was that Skye Blue?’ Before accepting as she walked off – very entertaining.
Chris Jericho vs ‘Some Jobber’ (Jericho’s words)
Backstory: Nada
After cheering him to the ring and singing his song, the crowd chanted ‘You tapped out’ at Jericho. Who flipped them off before paint-brushing Action Andretti. Stomps and chops in the corner followed.
A ‘Let’s go Jobber’ chant broke out, the crowd cheering wildly for a brief flurry, booing Jericho for cutting him off but then counting along with ten in the corner.
A tejeiras and tornillo combo bagged a one for Andretti. Codebreaker, arrogant cover, kickout at two as the crowd went NUTS.
Ads.
Andretti caught Jericho with a boot in the corner – the crowd absolutely erupts every time he does anything, louder than anything else all night – until a poke to the eye cut the youngster off.
A flying forearm was followed by a clothesline, backbreaker/neckbreaker combo – the crowd begging Andretti to win. Until Jericho got the knees up to counter a split-leg, prepared the Judas Effect, Andretti ducked, rollup for two, springboard enziguri, Jericho clotheslined to the outside.
Springboard moonsault to the outside, Jericho rolled back in and caught the youngster in the Walls as it seemed the fun was over.
Until Andretti countered into a pin for another two, kipping up, sloppy sort-of-ddt off the shoulders, running shooting star. 1, 2, 3.
What started off with me barely paying attention transitioned to ‘oh this is fun’, to ‘no way’.
Jericho’s a genius. Beginning by overlooking the youngster in his promo, he masterfully set the stage for this. A great crowd helped a lot.
Don’t know if they actually have big plans for this kid or whether its just a part of the story but damn it was fun.
And for once they actually stuck around for a bit to bask in the aftermath.
WINNER: Action Andretti
Starks cut a very ‘homer’ promo backstage. Promised to win tonight ‘because I have no other options’. He’s been doing what he did last week all his life, ‘in my sleep’. Max has to find validation in ratings, whereas he has people supporting him, rooting for him, a ‘reflection of what you wanna be’. ‘Ricky Starks … do not forget the name, because nobody else, is gonna forget this match.’
Good work again, though not on the level of last week.
…..
FTR package – Showing the Gunns attacking them after their loss on Saturday. Challenged the Ass Boys.
….
Jericho was shown tantrum-ming backstage, screaming ‘I’m the Ocho’ over and over.
….
Clips of Max preparing by lounging around while Ricky was going through a workout.
Ruby Soho vs Tay Melo, Grudge Match
Backstory: Tay broke Ruby’s nose a few months back
Melo booted Ruby off the apron then belted her around ringside before the bell. Soho looked out of it as she agreed to let the match proceed.
A couple belly-to-backs led to No Future as Melo bailed. Halfway up the ramp, Ruby followed her but Tay used the broken nose to drop her.
Break time.
Ruby continued to beat Tay around with lackluster offense until being blasted with a hell of a pumpkick for two. An exchange of chops and slaps culminated in a judo takedown and Gotch-style for another two. Melo setup a Tay-KO, Soho slipped out, knee to the face, Destination Unknown. Win.
Anna Jay marched to the ring straight afterwards, hitting Soho from behind then dropping her ‘on her face’, though it was actually a good distance away from the mat.
I just can’t get into Ruby so my outlook’s probably tainted, seemed a decent enough match.
WINNER: Ruby Soho
Alex Marvez with a medical update on Hangman.
Who said it didn’t seem like he’d be cleared to face Mox ‘anytime soon’. Page recalled what happened that night in October – how he’d answered all the usual questions they give you to test for a concussion – until being handed his phone to check all the texts and calls.
When he opened his phone, there was a picture. ‘Oh is that your son? What’s his name?’ He couldn’t remember. For an hour he couldn’t even remember his son’s name, so he’s been to hell and if Mox wants to take him to hell, ‘I’m gonna take his ass with me.’
Really liked this. Page is great at these serious, emotional promos and it plays into the night he got concussed when Moxley talked about how he hoped Page recovered so he could play with his kid.
…..
Backstage with Dustin Rhodes and the Best Friends to challenge Kip Sabian and Trent Seven. Promised to ‘flatten’ them. Dustin’s such a believable promo.
MJF vs Ricky Starks, AEW Title & Dynamite Diamond Ring
Backstory: Starks has vowed to take everything from Max, winning a tournament and a battle royal to ensure a shot at both of the above on the same night
At least in Texas vs the hometown boy, MJF was booed as he made his way to the ring.
Cagey start: MJF mocked Ricky’s pose, dropped him with a shoulder, strutted over as Ricky dropped down, all setting up Ricky nailing him with a flying shoulder, knocking Max to ringside. Where he set out into the crowd.
Back inside, a slick exchange brought Ricky two two-counts via rollup and backslide. Max crawled for the rope break in the corner, thumb to the eye, then ran Starks into the buckle as he began to target the recently injured ribs. A ribs-first stun-gun continued the assault as the break beckoned.
Locked in an abdominal stretch – rope-assisted – as we came back, the crowd were incredibly hostile to the champ until the ref finally caught Max and kicked the arm, allowing Starks out of the hold.
Excalibur emphasized the diamond ring and its history. Who cares about the world title right?
Both to their feet, Starks fired back: jawbreaker, low dropkick, running elbow in the corner, leaping lariat, swinging ddt, Starks firing up as he setup a Liger Bomb for a close two. First to his feet once more, Ricky setup a Spear, Max moved, Starks hit the buckle and MJF began to target the elbow ahead of the Salt of the Earth.
Allowing him to counter out of Roshambeaux. Both grabbed roll-ups, MJF’s with a handful of tights. A powerbomb into a backbreaker bought MJF two slaps.
An arrogant Max began to toy with Starks until a stiff slap built into a brawl, MJF again targeted the eye to gain the advantage. A rolling elbow strike saw Starks rebound into a Spear but too hurt to capitalize.
The referee at ‘nine’ when Starks crawled into a light cover, MJF had been waiting, rolling straight into Salt of the Earth, Max hooking each limb until Starks last remaining leg reached the ropes for the break. Max went for it again, Ricky hooked a pin for two, the pair mat-wrestling in and out of two counts until Max hauled him up for a powerbomb, Starks slipped out and hit a superkick but couldn’t hit Roshambeaux.
Max hid behind the ref, hit a lowblow, hooked a cover. Held onto his title.
Crowd were into this but not on the level of the Jericho match. And can’t say I disagree: despite how great Ricky’s promo was last week it never felt for a second like he had any chance of winning. Meaning I just couldn’t ‘lose myself’ in it at any point.
In its favor – it was very different to your standard AEW match. Quite slow at times with a focus on good guys and bad guys, cheering and booing, rather than moves.
Just as Max was about to make his way back, Bryan Danielson emerged from the heel tunnel, as he usually does, to go after the heel champ. Danielson had to pretend he couldn’t catch MJF when he nearly slipped.
WINNER: MJF
…..
Next Rampage:
Jon Moxley vs Sammy Guevara
Skye Blue vs Britt Baker
Wardlow will wrestle
Best Friends & Dustin Rhodes vs Kip Sabian, Trent Seven, Butcher & Blade
Next Dynamite (‘Holiday Bash’):
Jamie Hayter vs Hikaru Shida, AEW Women’s Title
FTR vs the Gunns
Death Triangle vs the Elite, 5 of 7, No DQ (if it goes to match 6, that’ll be falls count anywhere; match 7 will be ladders)
…..
Overall impressions
A comedown after last week’s excellent show. The same issues keep flaring up:
Clear heels and babyfaces.
Continuity for both characters and stories (where the hell was Saraya after they announced her second match in five years last week?).
Leading into feuds with wrestlers no-one cares about – Jeff Jarrett/Jay Lethal, Big Bill and the Gunns anyone?
Check Out
the Elite vs Death Triangle
Jericho vs Action Andretti (for the crowd/reaction)
Tickets for the NXT Vengeance Day premium live event went on pre-sale today on Ticketmaster.com using the code WWEAPP or NXTLIVE.
Tickets for the show start at just $23.50 each and there are VIP ringside seats for $500 and other ringside seats starting from $275. The arena holds nearly 20,000 fans but obviously not all seats are for sale and judging from the seating chart, only the ringside and half the lower bowl seats are available.
The show takes place from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday, February 4, 2023.
This marks the first time that an NXT premium live event will take place in the state of North Carolina and the first time since February 2020 that a stand-alone NXT premium live event has taken place outside of the state of Florida.
Adam Pearce, who on Monday “fired” Bobby Lashley, had a change of heart and just 24 hours after the angle was shot, Pearce posted a video on his social media announcing that Lashley was no longer fired.
“I formally rescind Bobby Lashley’s termination and I sincerely apologize for my part in escalating an already volatile situation,” Pearce said in the video.
Pearce said that he allowed his emotion to get the better of him although he was not happy that Lashley attacked WWE officials. He also said that he will be meeting Lashley to discuss the way forward and what punishment he will get for what he did on Raw.
Lashley was pissed that the referee, who twisted his ankle, couldn’t make it in time to hit the pin during his match and then after he lost the match, he confronted the referee. A second referee came down to calm the situation but he got elbowed in the face. That prompted Pearce to run out and he got pushed hard by Lashley.
Kylie Rae, the former AEW and Impact wrestling star had a match on WWE Main Event prior to the live broadcast of Monday Night Raw.
Rae, wrestling under the name of Briana Rae, took on Dana Brooke in a broadcast that will air on Hulu tomorrow.
The 30-year-old signed for AEW in 2019 but then requested her release due to personal issues and later joined Impact Wrestling, where she also left after she no-showed for Bound For Glory in 2020. A month later she said that she was quitting wrestling due to her mental health.
Rae returned to the business in June of last year, signing with the NWA promotion.
She was one of the select indie stars to get a tryout at the WWE Performance Center last week.
Winter Is Coming tonight for AEW as the annual themed show returns live from the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.
The show is headlined by a winner-take-all match between MJF and Ricky Starks as both MJF’s AEW World title and Dynamite Diamond Ring are on the line after Starks won the AEW World Title Eliminator tournament and the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale.
Match four of The Death Triangle vs The Elite also takes place tonight with the reigning champions leading the series 2-1. The only other match announced is Ruby Soho vs Tay Melo while Chris Jericho and House of Black will also be in action.
WWE announced a Summer tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland with five shows at the end of June and beginning of July.
The Raw brand will be going to Liverpool at the M&S Bank Arena on Wednesday, June 28, Sheffield at the Utilita Arena on Thursday, June 29, and Newcastle at the Utilita Arena on Friday, June 30.
The Smackdown brand go to Dublin, Ireland at the 3Arena on Thursday, June 29 and Cardiff, Wales at the International Arena on Sunday, July 2.
Tickets go on pre-sale on Thursday, December 15 at 9AM GMT and go on sale to the general public on Friday, December 16 at 9AM GMT.
Former NXT Women’s champion Mandy Rose has been fired from WWE, less than 24 hours after she dropped the title to Roxanne Perez. The news was initially broken by Sean Sapp of Fightful Wrestling.
Rose, who held the NXT Women’s championship for a whopping 413 days, was the subject of a leak of adult content she was posting on her FanTime.com account where she was selling subscriptions for $20 a month.
WWE Superstars were banned from earning additional money through other third-party websites such as Twitch, OnlyFans, etc and obviously selling adult content was a big no no.
Sapp writes that WWE officials had no other option based on the stuff she was posting on her account.
The 32-year-old was part of the latest season of Tough Enough and signed with WWE in 2015. After a run on the main roster, she was sent back to NXT in 2021 where she found bigger success, leading Toxic Attraction and having a near-record breaking title run.
