Recapping American wrestling since 2013. Not only following the current stuff in WWE, Impact and ROH but also going back in time and doing stuff from back then as well.
During TikTok's New Year's Eve party livestream, WWE made a special appearance. As Angel Garza presents a rose to Lana, The New Day show up...and so does R-Truth, whose mind is still stuck in 2019. Unfortunately for R-Truth, so does a referee...and Angel Garza gets the schoolkid pin in on R-Truth to win the 24/7 Championship! Also, Xavier Woods' trombone gets destroyed...again.
And this won't be the last time the title changes hands...
In memory of Jon Huber "Luke Harper", 1979 - 2020.
This week's episode is a New Year's Special, where we look back on the best matches of 2020. Matches and moments include:
Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch; February 13, 2020
A-Kid, Amir Jordan, Aleah James, "Bomber" Dave Mastiff, Kay Lee Ray and Mark Andrews wish the fans a happy new year.
Ashton Smith, Amale, Gallus, Isla Dawn, Wild Boar and Noam Dar wish the fans a happy new year.
Sam Gradwell briefly reviews 2020, and mentions how he learned celestial navigation and how to fish with his bare hands before returning to NXT UK to rattle heads in 2021.
We hear from Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley), who test a few cocktails named after NXT UK tag teams (and one named after themselves) before saying that the fans got a taste of them this year and will get more in 2021.
Jinny, Ilja Dragunov, Kenny Williams, Primate, Dani Luna, Joseph Conners, referee Chris Sharpe, Jack Starz and Nina Samuels wish the fans a happy new year.
Next week: Supernova Sessions with special guest Ben Carter!
Saxon Huxley, Piper Niven, Levi Muir, Oliver Carter, Xia Brookside, Rampage Brown, Tyson T-Bone and Eddie Dennis wish the fans a happy new year.
In two weeks: A-Kid vs. Walter for the NXT UK Championship! Next week: Piper Niven vs. Jinny! The winner becomes #1 contender for the NXT UK Women's Championship!
Jordan Devlin vs. Tyler Bate; NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II
In memory of Jon Huber "Luke Harper", 1979 - 2020.
Bronson Reed beats Isaiah "Swerve" Scott.
Shotzi Blackheart is the 2020 Breakout Star of the Year. We hear from Shotzi, who says that 2020 has been a wild, fun and absolute dream of a year and that she is letting the good times roll into 2021.
In footage from earlier today, Johnny Gargano is scared at the sight of a black cat in the hallway.
Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake) beat Breezango (Tyler Breeze and Fandango) after Fandango tweaks his left knee during the match. After the match, Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) show up wanting to pick a fight with Grizzled Young Veterans. When the referee holding them back leaves, Ever-Rise run away when Grizzled Young Veterans leave the ring.
The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong) are the 2020 Tag Team of the Year. Adam Cole says there has been no slowing down, then says he and Roderick Strong will represent the team in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic next year.
Xia Li and Boa finish their training, and receive a black mark don the center of their faces from their master. Someone in a mask blows smoke at them, then everyone walks into a bright light. Xia Li and Boa return next week.
Mercedes Martinez beats Valentina Feroz.
Io Shirai is the 2020 Female Competitor of the Year. Shirai thanks the fans for voting her the best of the best in a talented women's division.
Adam Cole is the 2020 Male Competitor of the Year. Cole says he did everything he said he would do, and that he could not have done it without the Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong). He says that when he wins next week, this award will mean that much more.
Pete Dunne beats Roderick Strong.
The 2020 Match of the Year is Finn Balor vs. Kyle O'Reilly for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver 31. Finn Balor tells General Manager William Regal to keep his award so he can deliver O'Reilly his award. On the way out, he meets Pete Dunne, who wants to face him for the title. Finn tells Dunne to get in line.
Next week: Timothy Thatcher vs. Tommaso Ciampa in the Fight Pit at NXT New Year's Evil!
Finn Balor heads to the ring. Finn talks about his match with Kyle O'Reilly for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver 31 being Match of the Year, saying Kyle surprised a lot of people that night, but not him, and proved he belonged in the ring with him. Kyle O'Reilly shows up, and Finn Balor tells him to take the trophy, as he has the NXT Championship and three steel plates in his jaw to remind him. O'Reilly says the trophy proves he belongs at the top in NXT. O'Reilly says he does not want it either, as it is a participation years and that he has been "participating" for fifteen years and wants the real prize. He says that next week, the NXT Championship will be prove everything is worth it and will come home with him. Finn tells him he will do everything in his power to make him suffer for breaking his jaw, and that he will make him pay and drag him all over the mat. Suddenly, Karrion Kross and Scarlett show up. After speaking in Irish, Scarlett says that what is in the ring belongs to them and that regardless of who wins, their fate is sealed. Kross says that doomsday is here, then Damian Priest stands behind him and starts a brawl with Kross. Both men go through a fence, then brawl their way to the tech area in the back, where both men go through a table while Scarlett watches.
We hear from Rhea Ripley, who talks about her friendship with Raquel Gonzalez before saying Raquel is not the same person she knew. She says they were there for each other until ego got in the way. Rhea Ripley says that their years of friendship have led to nothing, then the Last Woman Standing match between them for next week is announced.
Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Raul Mendoza) are in the ring. Santos Escobar says that they had a fantastic year, then Santos says he is here to dominate and this is what he has done. As he says that General Manager William Regal has looked for a challenger, nobody can touch him and Regal will not be able to find anybody who belongs in the ring with him. Escobar says his reign will continue in 2021, then The Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado) shows up. Lince Dorado tells Santos Escobar he does not own lucha libre, but Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde take exception to this. Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado fend off Wilde and Mendoza, then referee Drake Younger shows up and says that a tag match between The Lucha House Party and Legado del Fantasma has been made official.
The Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado) beat Legado del Fantasma (Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza).
The 2020 Future Star of the Year is Austin Theory. Theory says that his award prove he has truly found the way, then says Johnny Gargano will break his curse tonight. Gargano tells him not to say "curse" as he takes his jar of Gargano Whey and throws it at a mirror, breaking it. Gargano decides to head to the ring before things get worse, and unknowingly walks under a ladder on his way out.
Io Shirai is the 2020 Overall Competitor of the Year. Shirai thanks the fans once again.
Johnny Gargano beats Leon Ruff to retain the NXT North American Championship against Leon Ruff. After the match, Dexter Lumis is seen on a platform, and Gran Metalik vs. Santos Escobar for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship is official for NXT New Year's Evil.
The show starts with the entire AEW roster on the stage. The bell is tolled ten times in honor of Jon Huber aka Brodie Lee, who passed away this Saturday at the age of 41 from a non-COVID related lung issue. Brodie's wife Amanda and their two sons are at the center of the stage. (Nights One and Two of New Year's Smash are pushed back one week to allow for a celebration of life show where members of The Dark Order team with other members of the AEW roster in every match.)
We hear from Jon Moxley, who says that he has never had a harder time coming up with words in front of a camera than right now. Moxley describes Brodie Lee as a man who liked to stir the pot and as a man who brought joy to the locker room, and says that Brodie enjoyed being a husband and father more than anything else. He says that pro wrestling is a community and not just a sport, and that everybody supports one another when the chips are down, and that tonight, the life of a human being will be celebrated and will hopefully inspire someone to slow down and smell the roses, as every day he spent with Brodie is now all the more special.
Chris Jericho guests on commentary for tonight's episode.
Colt Cabana and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) beat Matt Hardy and Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy). After the match, The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowen) show up, but SoCal Uncensored stop them before Max Caster can say anything. The Young Bucks and Colt Cabana soon send The Acclaimed retreating.
We hear from Darby Allin, who talks about when he first met Brodie Lee in AEW and how he found out that there was no with Brodie. Darby mentions that he had wanted to wrestle Brodie Lee prior to his passing.
Before the next match, Eddie Kingston tells Brodie Lee that he loves and misses him, and while this match is for Brodie, he will prove that The Dark Order is nothing without Brodie.
The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) and Lance Archer beat Eddie Kingston, The Butcher and The Blade. (In this match, Archer wears a white tanktop, blue jeans and a bandanna in the back pocket much like Brodie Lee's "Luke Harper" character in WWE. Also, Evil Uno pays tribute to Brodie Lee at the start of the match by booting Eddie in the face as the referee checks Eddie for weapons before the bell rings.) After the match, everyone on the winning team, including Jake "The Snake" Roberts, hits Eddie Kingston with forearms.
We hear from Dax Harwood, Arn Anderson, Colt Cabana and Bryce Remsburg about their memories of Brodie Lee as a loving husband and family man.
"Hangman" Adam Page and The Dark Order (Alex "3" Reynolds and John "4" Silver) beat The Inner Circle (MJF, Santana and Ortiz). (Before the match begins, Reynolds and Silver throw papers at Santana and Ortiz in a reference to Brodie Lee throwing papers at people on Being The Elite, with Adam Page doing it after the bell rings.) During the match, Wardlow clotheslines Reynolds, then Erick Redbeard (formerly known as Erick Rowan in WWE) shows up and fights Wardlow all the way to the back. Shortly after this, MJF rips the mask off of Brodie Lee's son (referred to as "-1" throughout the show) in the front row, and gets a Kendo stick shot to the head for his efforts. After the match, a tearful Erick Redbeard reappears in the ring with a sign saying "Goodbye for now, my brother, see you down the road."
We hear from Eddie Kingston, who says that he will miss Brodie Lee and tells Brodie Lee's sons that their father is not gone as long as they are alive and they remember his teachings, and calls Brodie Lee a warrior who took care of and loved his kids.
Anna "99" Jay and Tay Conti beat Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Penelope Ford with a Queenslayer to Penelope Ford. (During the match, it is revealed that Anna Jay's number of "99" comes from Wayne Gretzky, as Brodie Lee was a big hockey fan.) After the match, Tony Schiavone interviews Baker, who says she is sick and tired of the conspiracies around here and says that tonight's match was rigged. Suddenly, Thunder Rosa runs into the ring and attacks Baker, and Reba and a bunch of referees have to separate both women.
Next week: Special guest Snoop Dogg! Rey Fenix vs. Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship! Jon Moxley returns! Abadon vs. Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's World Championship! The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) and SoCal Uncensored vs. The Acclaimed and TheHybrid2! Jake Hager vs. Wardlow! Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Sydal! Chris Jericho guests on commentary! In two weeks: "The Machine" Brian Cage vs. Darby Allin for the AEW TNT Championship! Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Thunder Rosa! PAC vs. Eddie Kingston!
We hear from Chris Jericho, who describes Brodie Lee as a giant with an intelligent, wise and sarcastic sense of humor and of the best in-ring performers he had ever seen as he talks about how he helped bring him to AEW, where he proved he could be a main event star. He also talks about how his silver lab Oakley loved Brodie Lee even though Oakley is not known for being very friendly to other people.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, Orange Cassidy and Preston "10" Vance beat Team Taz ("The Machine" Brian Cage, "Absolute" Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs) in the Brodie Lee Jr. Six-Man Dream Match (so called because Brodie Lee Jr. aka "-1" is a fan of 10, Orange Cassidy and Cody Rhodes, and has picked all three of them to be in this match) after referee Bryce Remsburg stops a steel chair fight between Arn Anderson and Taz. After the match, Team Taz and Hook get in the ring and gang up on Cody, then the lights go out. When they come back on, Darby allin shows up from the stands, then the lights go out again. When they come back on a second time, Sting also arrives from the same door that Darby Allin came out of. Darby and Sting stand with 10, Cody and Cassidy as Taz and the rest of his team stands down.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes is in the ring. He talks about a Samuel Johnson quote that he feels encapsulates Brodie Lee: "You can judge a man's character by how he treats somebody who can do him no good." After hearing so many stories from so many people about Brodie Lee, he says there is no other wrestler anywhere who had such a one-on-one connection like Brodie Lee, who he calls "a beautiful man" who leaves behind a beautiful legacy before bringing out Brodie's older son, Brodie Lee Jr. aka "-1," who arrives with his mom and Brodie's wife Amanda, Tony Khan and Preston "10" Vance. -1 places Brodie Lee's boots and a purple bandana in the center of the ring as tribute, and is presented with the AEW TNT Championship by Tony Khan, who declares -1 "TNT Champion for life." Tony Khan thanks the fans for coming out tonight for Brodie Lee and his family before presenting a video tribute to Brodie Lee featuring "Ol' 55" by Tom Waits. (Afterwards, it is revealed that Brodie Lee Jr. has signed a contract with AEW that will allow him to work with the promotion when he is of age, and that the current design of the AEW TNT Championship will be retired and that a new design will be introduced later. Also, Tony Khan has purchased the rights to "Ol' 55" by Tom Waits in perpuity so that the tribute can last forever.)
This week's episode is Part 2 of the best of 2020. Matches and moments include:
We look back on Slammiversary, which is the Moment of the Year.
We hear from Willie Mack, whose New Year's Resolution it to keep going in professional wrestling and take it as far as he can.
Willie Mack vs. Ace Austin for the X Division Championship at Rebellion
We hear from Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz, who want the Knockouts Tag Team Championships in 2021.
We hear from Kimber Lee and Deonna Purrazzo. Purrazzo considers Taya Valkyrie's challenge for the Knockouts title at Hard To Kill interesting due to Taya's accolades, and when she defeats Taya, she can be the longest reigning Knockouts Champion. She accepts Taya's challenge, and says that when her next masterpiece is revealed, Taya's fate will be sealed.
We hear from Rich Swann, who plays guitar as he says he wants to bring Impact to the highest level in 2021.
We look back on Rich Swann's 2020.
We hear from Jordynne Grace, who resolves to respond to people on Twitter less in 2021.
The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) winning the Impact World Tag Team Championships from The North ("All Ego" Ethan Page and "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander)
We hear from Johnny Swinger, who wishes a happy new year to "Bill Watts down in Tulsa."
Backstage, Acey Romero finds Crazzy Steve, who tells Acey that he was on the bride's side at the wedding and that he heard a noise from the groom's side before telling him to talk with Johnny Swinger. Acey then finds a detective's hat.
We look back at Wrestle House.
Manik vs. Rohit Raju for the X Division Championship; Final Resolution
We hear from Brian Myers, who doesn't make New Year's resolutions as you should be at your best all the time.
We look back on "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock's induction into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame.
We hear from Eddie Edwards, who says that he sets steady goals rather than new year's resolutions to stay on a solid path.
The five-way elimination match between Eddie Edwards, Eric Young, Trey Miguel, Ace Austin and Rich Swann for the Impact World Championship at Slammiversary is 2020 Match of the Year.
Eddie Edwards thanks the fans for making Slammiversary's five-way match the match of the year as well as everyone at the front office in Impact, and hopes that it can happen again in 2021.
"Absolute" Ricky Starks guests on commentary for the next four matches.
Rey Fenix beats Vary Morales.
Penelope Ford beats Lindsay Snow.
The Dark Order (Alex "3" Reynolds and John "4" Silver) beat Shawn Dean and Tyson Maddux.
Anna "99" Jay beats Jazmin Allure with the Queenslayer.
It's time for The Waiting Room. After stating that she cannot wait to see "The Machine" Brian Cage fold Darby Allin like origami, says that nobody's world title matches compares to AEW and mentions that Jon Moxley could not make a baby announcement without "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes stealing his spotlight, Dr. Britt Baker welcomes Matt Sydal as a guest onto the show. After briefly talking about his slip off the top turnbuckle in his AEW debut, Sydal talks about his recent win streak before saying he will make the ring his realm in his upcoming match against Cody Rhodes. Suddenly, Reba gets a letter from TBS aksing Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. to hang a poster of The Go-Big Show. They do, then Matt Sydal gives Cody a third eye on the card after saying that Cody does not like to share the spotlight.
Team Taz ("The Machine" Brian Cage, "Absolute" Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs) beat Ryzin, Nik Comoroto and James Tapia.
"Pretty" Peter Avalon guests on commentary for the next match.
Griff Garrison beats Fuego del Sol. After the match, "Pretty" Peter Avalon congratulates Griff Garrison with a signed 8x10, but Garrison refuses it.
Proud 'n Powerful (Santana and Ortiz) beat TNT (Terrence and Terrell Hughes).
Sammy Guevara beats Aaron Solow. After the match, Guevara says this is not only another win for him and The Inner Circle, but his ten-year anniversary as a professional wrestler following countless amounts of work on the independents and what will become even more work proving doubters wrong in AEW.
Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) beats Ariel Levy and El Curevo de Puerto Rico.
"The Librarian" Leva Bates beats Madi Wrenkowski with an inside cradle after superkicking a book into Madi's face when Madi mocks her.
Matt Sydal beats Danny Limelight with a La Magistral Cradle.
Tay Conti beats Vertvixen.
The Gunn Club (Billy, Austin and Colten Gunn) beat Royal Money, Baron Black and Mike Verna after Baron Black and Mike Verna give Colten a beatdown to break up a pinfall attempt. After the match, Austin Gunn makes it clear that if you jump one member of the Gunn Club, "we beat your ass."
"Absolute" Ricky Starks guests on commentary for the next match.
SoCal Uncensored ("The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) beats TheHybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans). After the match, The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowen) run into the ring and atack SoCal Uncensored along with TheHybrid2, then The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) run TheHybrid2 and The Acclaimed out of the ring.
In memory of Jon Huber "Luke Harper", 1979 - 2020.
Drew McIntyre shows up to start tonight's show. McIntyre talks about his 2020 in WWE, then thanks the fans for rallying behind him and motivating him through the year before looking to the future, starting with the match he will have next week between either Keith Lee or Sheamus. Suddenly, Sheamus shows up. Sheamus says he kept up his end of the bargain in last week's match, then says they are a week away from making history after fifteen years. Sheamus says nobody brings a more physical game than him, and he will kick Keith Lee's head off before starting 2021 right. Keith Lee then shows up and notes that Sheamus kicked him in the face despite McIntyre vouching for Sheamus, and says McIntyre's word is just as good as Sheamus'. Keith Lee says every fiber in his body wants to beat him, but he wants an apology from Sheamus. Sheamus confronts Keith Lee for questioning his friendship with McIntyre, and McIntyre calls for a referee before saying he will still be champion next week. As Keith Lee confronts McIntyre for saying this, he is Brogue Kicked by Sheamus.
Keith Lee beats Sheamus to face Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship next week.
Backstage, Elias plays guitar backstage while Jaxson Ryker sits close by.
Gran Metalik beats The Miz - still downtrodden from losing the Money In The Bank contract - with a Sunset Flip.
Backstage, Elias and Jaxson Ryker are interrupted by "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos. Styles says he is trying to listen to Mozart but cannot hear over Elias' guitar. Elias mocks Styles for his age while Styles mocks Elias for his guitar playing, threatening to end his career by breaking his fingers.
"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beats Dana Brooke with the Kirifuda Clutch. After the match, Baszler puts the Kirifuda Clutch on Mandy Rose as she checks on Dana.
It's time for Alexa's Playground. Alexa says she has not seen The Fiend since things got "a little heated" and TLC and that he could be waiting for Randy Orton to return to her playground. When Alexa asks Randy Orton to come down to the playground, Orton's entrance theme plays, but Orton fails to show. Orton then shows up at the Firefly Fun House instead. Orton boots Huskus the Pig Boy off a table, then throws Mercy the Buzzard at Abby the Witch before saying that if The Fiend comes back, he will have nothing left to come back to but Alexa when he shows how sick and demented he truly is. Orton grabs Ramblin' Rabbit, then notices the picture of Wyatt's house being burned before tearing Ramblin' Rabbit apart. Alexa then challenges Orton to come to the ring. Orton, feeling this is when The Fiend returns, accepts.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Charlotte Flair. Charlotte mentions Nia Jax injuring her arm six months ago, and that last week, she beat Nia Jax in a tag team match. She says that she is ready to face Nia Jax one-on-one, and says that while Nia Jax is a feared competitor, she is betting on herself. Charlotte says that in 2021, she will climb to the top like always, then Asuka shows up and says that Nia Jax is not ready for Charlotte.
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles beats Elias.
Mustafa Ali beats Ricochet with the Koji Clutch after Ricochet fends off Retribution. After the match, Mustafa Ali gives Ricochet a chance to erase all his regrets and a chance for a new outlook and beginning by joining Retribution. Ricochet refuses and hits Mustafa Ali with the Recoil before rolling out of the ring.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Nia Jax. Nia says that Charlotte Flair is smart to fear her. She plans to end Charlotte's climb to the top on the first rung of the ladder, take back the Women's Tag Team Championship and enter the women's Royal Rumble and win. "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler loves the last idea.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Drew McIntyre. McIntyre looks forward to giving the Legends a title match they will not forget on Legends Night last week, and says that Keith Lee has the spark to reach the top. While he is happy for Keith Lee, he will still be champion after next week.
Charlotte Flair beats Nia Jax by disqualification after "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler gets physically involved in the match. After the match, Nia and Shayna attack Charlotte until Asuka runs into the ring.
In footage from earlier today, The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander) scare a guy out of his wits as he uses his smartphone.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews Angel Garza, who says his first year on Raw has had its ups and downs, but with a new year comes new beginnings. Suddenly, R-Truth bumps into Garza as he runs away from other Superstars, and the rose falls to the ground where it is trampled.
Backstage, Jeff Hardy, Matt Riddle and The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) celebrate Big E winning the Intercontinental Championship. Kofi and Woods plan to take the Raw tag team titles and have a triple championship picture with Big E. Matt Riddle proposes the team name of "The Positively Hard Bros" between the four of them, and after Kofi and Woods head to the ring, "Baked on Pancakes" is also an option.
Before the next match, Bobby Lashley declares entry into the men's Royal Rumble.
The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander) the team of Jeff Hardy, Matt Riddle and The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) with a Hurt Lock to Jeff Hardy. After the match, The Hurt Business attack the losing team, but Riddle gets the last word with a Final Flash on Lashley.
Backstage, The Miz and John Morrison are met by Adam Pearce, who hands the Money In The Bank contract back to Miz after Morrison cashed in and not Miz. After Pearce leaves, Miz and Morrison celebrate.
Alexa Bliss shows up, followed by Randy Orton. Orton demands to know where The Fiend is, then Alexa says this is about her and not The Fiend. She leaves the ring, grabs a gift box and brings it to the ring. Alexa opens the box, and inside is a gas can and a box of matches. Alexa then place these two objects in front of Orton and challenges Orton to light her on fire like he did The Fiend before laying down in the center of the ring. When Orton stands there, Alexa gets up and pours a line of gasoline to where she laid, then tells Orton to light the match and immolate her. Once again, Randy stands there, much to Alexa's irritation. Alexa then pours a ring of gasoline around herself, then says Orton does not have the guts to light her on fire and that he is nothing more than "a little bitch" before pouring gasoline on herself. Orton asks Alexa if she thinks he won't do it, then grabs the box of matches as he tells her he wants to do it, but wants to process the whole thing as he enjoys watching people suffer. As Orton continues to toy with Alexa, the arena gradually goes dark, then Orton lights a match. Before he can do anything with it, the arena goes completely dark and the show ends.
Raw Talk: The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) pay tribute to Jon Huber (aka Brodie Lee/Luke Harper).
Raw Talk: Asuka hates Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler.
Here are the top ten momemnts from tonight's show!
Jay Briscoe opens four presents which will dictate his tag team partners, as he is the captain for his team in tonight's ten-man tag team match. Jay opens four presents, but does not reveal who his tag team partners are.
We hear from Eric Martin and Ken Dixon, two six-year veterans who are recently. Martin has been in the ROH Dojo for a year, while Dixon has recently lost last year's Top Prospect Tournament. Dixon says he knows how to crank it up when needed, and Dixon says he looks forward to beating people up and getting paid for it. We then hear from Dante Caballero, who left Puerto Rico to become a professional wrestler, and Joe Keys, another five-year veteran who first met Caballero and Dixon in the MCW training camp. Caballero talks about his and Keys' history as both tag team partners and opponents, and Keys says that he and Caballero were humbled by the ROH roster and learned to start over again from Jonathan Gresham. Caballero and Keys look forward to winning this match and getting elevated, as they have earned their spot and they are not losing it.
Dante Caballero and Joe Keys beat Ken Dixon and Eric Martin in a ROH Dojo Challenge match with a high angle Boston Crab from Keys to Dixon.
Mark Briscoe, who is the captain of the other team in tonight's ten-man tag match, opens four presents which dictate who his tag team partners will be. Much like Jay, Mark does not reveal who his partners are.
Brian Johnson guests on commentary for the next match (and gifts Caprice Coleman and Ian Riccaboni with "Bozo 1" and "Bozo 2" shirts, respectively).
Jay Briscoe's partners are "The Mercenary" Flip Gordon, Brian Milonas (now known as "Brawler Milonas"), John Walters and PCO. Mark Briscoe's partners are The Beer City Bruiser, Dak Draper, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams and Dalton Castle.
Jay Briscoe, "The Mercenary" Flip Gordon, Brawler Milonas, John Walters and PCO beat Mark Briscoe, The Beer City Bruiser, Dak Draper, "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams and Dalton Castle in a Christmas Surprsie ten-man tag match.
Todd Keneley and David Marquez welcome everyone to the 500th episode of Championship Wrestling From Hollywood.
Richie Slade beats Jordan Clearwater to win the Hollywood Heritage Championship after a masked ring photographer attacks Clearwater from behind with the Heritage title as Flex McCalleon argues with the referee. After the match, the masked ringside worker gets into the ring and unmasks, revealing himself to be Jack Banning, who puts Clearwater in a guillotine choke. Blake Troop leaves commentary as referees try to break the hold.
Before the next match, Howdy Price announces that tonight's match is a handicap match and brings out "The Western Roughneck" Jesse James.
Levi Shapiro retains the United Television Championship as he and "The Western Roughneck" Jesse James beat Dan Joseph in a two-on-one handicap match. After the match, Howdy Price loads Shapiro's glove so that Shapiro can knock Joseph out. Shapiro then pins Joseph while Price makes the count.
Heather Monroe and Halston Boddy beat Ruby Raze and Cece Chanel to save the women's division after Halston throws confetti at Ruby Raze, who has just been inadvertently hit with a top rope cross body by Cece Chanel when Heather Monroe dodges it.
Chase Parker beats Samir Singh after Sunil Singh's distraction and Samir's attempted cheap shot from behind with a clapboard fails.
We hear from Curt Stallion, who says he did not think it would take until 2021 to get the Cruiserweight Championship match he earned. He congratulates Santos Escobar for ducking and dodging him this far, but he is taking time away from him. He says that he collects his debt, and that he will be repaid with the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Mansoor beats Raul Mendoza after Mendoza's knee gives out upon landing on his feet on a Phoenix Splash attempt.
Roman Reigns retains the WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens in a steel cage match after Jey Uso handcuffs Owens to a cage wall, keeping Owens from escaping and allowing Reign to casually walk out of the cage to keep the title.
Asuka and Charlotte Flair show up. Before they can say much, Bayley shows up. Bayley says that while Asuka and Charlotte have been impressive, so has she, as she has held the longest-reigning SmackDown Women's Champion. Suddenly, Sasha Banks shows up. As Sasha says she is impressive as the current SmackDown Women's Champion, Bianca Belair shows up and says she is "the EST of WWE." Then, Carmella shows up with Reginald. Carmella insults everyone else, which causes Sasha and Bianca to get angry with her.
Asuka and Charlotte Flair retain the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships against the team of Bayley and Carmella and the team of Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair in a Triple Threat Elimination Tag Team Match after Bayley and Carmella take Sasha Banks out of the equation.
Backstage, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) run down what is in the rest of tonight's show when they overhear Sami Zayn chew out a member of the social media team for announcing tonight's lumberjack match. When The Street Profits mention that they have a gift for him, Sami Zayn eases off on them, then gets angry with them when the gift contains a black T-shirt saying "I was Intercontinental Champion."
Jey Uso attacks Daniel Bryan on the ramp before the next match. After the match, Daniel Bryan decides to continue on with the match.
Daniel Bryan beats Jey Uso with the running knee after Jey misses a superkick and lands on a leg that he hurt earlier in the match.
Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Daniel Bryan, who says that he is looking forward to new goals and pursuits and that he has never won a Royal Rumble. He then announces his entry into the 2021 Royal Rumble Match. Suddenly, Sami Zayn shows up and says Daniel Bryan has had it out for him and that everything is happening because Daniel Bryan stooged to management to make it happen. He says that while he will go out and successfully defend the WWE Intercontinental Championship successfully, karma will take care of Daniel Bryan at Royal Rumble, and that when karma does catch up to Daniel, he will laugh in Daniel's face. After Sami leave,. Daniel chalks all that up to Sami not getting a PlayStation 5 for Christmas.
Big E beats Sami Zayn in a Lumberjack Match to become WWE Intercontinental Champion for a second time after Apollo Crews and other wrestlers catch up with Sami as he tries to leave the match and escape to the backstage area.
Talking Smack: Daniel Bryan promises to take down Roman Reigns.
This week's episode is a 2020 highlights video. Matches and moments include:
The Broserweights (Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle) vs. Mark Andrews and "Flash" Morgan Webster from the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic; NXT, January 15, 2020
Tyler Bate, Xia Brookside, Jordan Devlin, Amale, Levi Muir, Aoife Valkyrie, Tyson T-Bone, and "Flash" Morgan Webster wish the fans a merry Christmas.
A-Kid, Isla Dawn, Joseph Conners, Pretty Deadly (Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley), Piper Niven, Sam Gradwell, and Eddie Dennis wish the fans a merry Christmas.
We hear from Jinny, who says that this year has shown how the NXT roster has had faith in the brand and has seen her return stronger than ever, and that 2021 will provide a clean slate and become her year as she puts the women's division and becomes champion. Jinny then wishes everyone a merry Christmas.
We hear from "Bomber" Dave Mastiff, who jokingly addresses the Christmas wishes of some of the NXT UK Superstars - and Triple H - as "Banter Claus."
Mark Andrews, Ashton Smith, Aleah James, Amir Jordan, Dani Luna, Kenny Williams, and Oliver Carter wish the fans a merry Christmas.
Nina Samuels, Gallus, Noam Dar, Rampage Brown, Jack Starz, Wild Boar, Sid Scala, Saxon Huxley, and Ilja Dragunov wish the fans a merry Christmas.
Joe Coffey vs. Walter for the NXT UK Championship; NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II
The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho and MJF) beat Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin) after Jake Hager pulls Darius Martin off the ropes on a springboard move from the outside. After the match, Jake Hager says it has been two weeks since The Inner Circle came together as a team, and since then, they have won, because every member of the group has done their job except for Wardlow. Hager says that Inner Circle is the real family business, and says that while Wardlow is an asset, he is also an asshole. Hager then announces that he has spoken with Tony Khan and has gotten a match with Wardlow for next week.
We see a music video from The Acclaimed for a song called "Buck Hunt," where Max Caster makes fun of them for quitting Twitter and accuses them of kissing wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer's ass for star ratings.
Tony Schiavone interviews Sting in the ring. Sting says he knows he has come full circle with his return to "the jungle" and TNT, and he is happy to see that "the jungle" is still thriving and alive and that he can still be a part of it. Sting says that he remembers "looking for the break" and watching a match with Dusty Rhodes, and he remembers Dusty giving him a more colorful appearance and putting him in a match with Ric Flair. He then says that when he saw Cody Rhodes in the ring and what he was doing in AEW, he just could not stay away and wanted to be a part of it. Suddenly, Team Taz shows up, and Taz says Sting is all about himself and that he is tired of Schiavone building him up. Ricky Starks also mentions that Sting keeps sticking his nose in their business, and says he will get hurt playing around in "this jungle." Taz says he has four hungry tigers ready to bite Sting's head off, and as they approach the ring, the lights go out. When they come back on, Darby Allin is in the ring. Taz decides to take the high road, and says that "The Machine" Brian Cage will tear Darby's head off when they square off for the TNT title in two weeks. Cage, not wanting to wait, has to be held back.
We hear from MJF, who meets with Proud 'n Powerful. MJF apologizes to Ortiz, saying that his grandfather recently passed from cancer and that he knows how hard it is and that he is here for him. Santana shakes his hand, and tells MJF to keep his head up. After Santana leaves, Ortiz also shakes his hand.
Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy, Marko Stunt) beats The Dark Order (Alan "5" Angels, Preston "10" Vance, Colt Cabana). After the match, Tony Schiavone interviews Jurassic Express. Marko Stunt says it feels good to be back on Dynamite, then FTR and Tully Blanchard show up on the video screen. Tully says they are the tag team of the year, and since Jurassic Express wants to beat them and make a name for themselves, they have two weeks to prepare. He says that business is now personal and that FTR is coming for the tag team gold, and that dinosaurs will not keep them down. Tully also tells Marko that if he gets involved, he will have a flashback from the '80s.
Backstage, Alex Marvez interviews Don Callis and Kenny Omega in a nearby hotel. Callis says he does not understand how Tony Khan lets wrestlers run amok in WWE, and says that it needs to stop, as Omega is world champion and they do not get dictated by talent. Omega tells Rey Fenix that he choked everywhere he has been as of late, and asks what will happen if he faces somebody who despises him, saying he may not just hurt him and will put him out for good before Impact Wrestling takes him back. Omega says guys like him get titles while he gets titles, and tells him he will see him next week at New Year's Smash.
Eddie Kingston guests on commentary for the next match.
PAC beats The Butcher after Lance Archer shows up and confronts Eddie Kingston, distracting The Butcher and allowing PAC to hit a superkick followed by the Black Arrow for the win.
We hear from Jade Cargill, who congratulates Brandi Rhodes on her new child, then says everything will be better with Brandi not being around. She then demands an opponent worthy of her time after Shaquille O'Neil called out Cody Rhodes, and says time is ticking.
Tony Schiavone interviews Kip Sabian and Miro. Sabian says his wedding with Penelope Ford will be a big deal for the fans, as they cannot wait for their wedding after seeing their support. Before he can announces when the wedding will take place, Best Friends' (Chuck Taylor, Trent, Orange Cassidy) entrance theme plays, then it is revealed to be a joke before the video screen shows Trent being put in an ambulance, with Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor joining him on the ride. It is then announced that the wedding will be a beach wedding and it will take place at Beach Break on February 3rd.
"The Natural" Dustin Rhodes beats Evil Uno. After the match, Dustin Rhodes rejects Evil Uno's offer to join The Dark Order and hits him with a pump kick. Stu Grayson lays out Rhodes, and he and Evil Uno take out Lee Johnson and QT Marshall when they try to assist. Johnson gets back up, however, and hits them with a double drop kick.
Tony Schiavone interviews Shawn Spears. Spears says he is more talented than 95% of the roster as well as everyone else, and says that management has pushed him into a slot where he isn't and into a road that he has been down before. When Schiavone asks him if he has considered he is the problem, Spears takes offense and says he will come back to AEW when he feels like it.
Dasha Gonzalez interviews Hikaru Shida before the next match, but Shida is soon attacked by Abadon.
Hikaru Shida beats Alex Gracia after briefly giving Abadon a beatdown. After the match, Shida confronts Abadon with a Kendo stick, and Abadon yanks the stick away from Shida before the two of them brawl.
Next week: The return of Jon Moxley! Abadon vs. Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's World Championship! In two weeks: Brian Cage vs. Darby Allin for the TNT Championship! Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Sydal!
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowens).
Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch retain the NXT Tag Team Championships against Drake Maverick and Killian Dain in a Street Fight.
The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Austin Theory) decorate a Christmas tree and put up the stockings as Johnny Gargano plays piano. After a No Way Jose joke, Austin Theory is gifted with "The Gargano Whey," a wryly-named whey powder.
We see a video package for Kyle O'Reilly vs. Finn Balor for the NXT Championship at NXT New Year's Evil.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Tyler Rust and Malcolm Bivens. Bivens says Rust had a great debut last week, and that he will prove he is "a diamond in the Rust."
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott beats Jake Atlas in a rematch. After the match, Atlas refuses to shake Swerve's hand due to Swerve's gloating.
Mackenzie Mitchell interviews Adam Cole. Cole says Kyle O'Reilly's strategy has changed and that his next match with Finn Balor will be different. As he and Roderick Strong say that O'Reilly will become NXT Champion, Velveteen Dream shows up. Dream says that O'Reilly is "the head of the snake" around here, and after calling Cole "a cheerleader," Cole slaps Dream in the face before telling him The Undisputed Era (Cole, Bobby Fish, O'Reilly, Strong) has no leader and that he will beat him into the ground tonight.
We hear from Timothy Thatcher, who says that he should be grateful that Tommaso Ciampa wanted to fight him. He says that the lesson was not complete after TakeOver, and when he challenged Ciampa, Ciampa disrespected him by walking away. After saying that Ciampa does not like guys who talk tough with their mouths, he says that he will take liberties with Leon Ruff before stating that he wants to fight Ciampa.
Rhea Ripley beats Dakota Kai. Before the match, it is announced that as per General Manager William Regal on Twitter, Raquel Gonzalez has been banned from ringside for this match at Raquel's request. Near the end of the match, Raquel Gonzalez shows up to watch the match from the stage. After the match, Raquel gets in the ring and has a staredown with Rhea Ripley as referees show up and demand they not have a physical confrontation. Despite their protests, both women brawl, and referees have to separate them.
The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Austin Theory) continues to open Christmas presents. Indi Hartwell gets a PlayStation 5...almost. Gargano claims the PS5 for his own, but the gift that is really inside is the family nickname that she has proven worthy of: Indi Wrestling. Candice LeRae makes an independent wrestling joke saying "I support you...I support Indi Wrestling."
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Toni Storm, who says that she called her shot and beat Rhea Ripley last like she said she would. Storm then says she is going to take the NXT Women's Championship from Io Shirai, as Shirai is afraid of her due to the fact that she is the one woman she cannot beat, and that the NXT Women's Championship is not Shirai's only problem; her second problem will be her.
Bronson Reed returns next!
We see Xia Li and Boa go through more training and torture for their master.
Bronson Reed quickly beats Ashante "Thee" Adonis.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Io Shirai, who says that she has heard what Toni Storm had to stay before making her way to the ring. Shirai sits in a steel chair in the middle ring and calls out Toni Storm. Storm's entrance theme plays, but Shirai is attacked from behind by Mercedes Martinez. Martinez also throws Shirai into the announce table hard enough to break the front of it.
The Way (Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Austin Theory) continues to open Christmas presents. Candice LeRae gets a broken wheel that is from Shotzi Blackheart's destroyed tank, which Gargano found in a junkyard. As The Way wishes everyone a merry Christmas, Theory spits out whey powder.
Leon Ruff beats Timothy Thatcher with an inside cradle after Thatcher tries to call out Tommaso Ciampa. After the match, Thatcher attacks Leon Ruff, then Tommaso Ciampa shows up and hits him with Willow's Bell. He then tells Thatcher that if he wants a fight, he will see him in the fight pit.
We hear from Damian Priest, who says that Karrion Kross blindsided him after telling him to face him like a man, and that Kross will not be as bad as he thinks he is when he punks him out in front of the world.
We see Dexter Lumis draw a picture about Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez's Last Woman Standing Match at NXT New Year's Evil.
Tyler Rust beats Ariya Daivari by submission.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Leon Ruff, who says that he has just had a chat with General Manager William Regal and received a rematch for the NXT North American Championship. He says that next week, he hopes Johnny Gargano does not break his curse when he becomes a champion again.
We hear from Karrion Kross, who says that Damian Priest fancies himself the life of the party and likes to get into trouble. He says that Priest made a big mistake questioning his manhood and making smartass comments to Scarlett. Kross considers Priest "an interesting roadblock" to taking back what he truly never lost, and Scarlett tells Damian Priest that doomsday is coming.
Voting is now open for the 2020 NXT Year End Awards!
Adam Cole beats Velveteen Dream. During the match, it is announced that Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne is official for next week following an attack on Strong from Dunne at ringside earlier in the match.
Josh Mathews and Scott D'Amore host the first of two parts of the best of 2020. Moments and awards include:
Trey Miguel vs. Ace Austin for the X Division Championship, Hard To Kill
Chris Bey meets with Rohit Raju after meeting with Impact management, and tells him that he is now in Rohit Raju's X Division Championship against Manik at Hard To Kill after "finessing" his way into the match, making it a three-way dance.
Ace Austin is X Division Superstar of the Year. He says that despite only being in the X Division for four months before moving on to the World title picture, it does not surprise him that he was inevitably picked and that he should come back to the X Division one day.
We hear from Brian Myers, who says he hopes to put Impact Wrestling back on the map and make it more relevant.
The Impact roster looks back on this year's Slammiversary.
The Good Brothers ("The Big LG" Doc Gallows and "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson) vs. The North ("All Ego" Ethan Page and "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander) for the Impact World Tag Team Championships, Turning Point
The North ("All Ego" Ethan Page and "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander) are the Impact Tag Team of the Year. Ethan Page tells Josh Alexander that they are tag team of the year two years in a row and that he is sorry for everything that has gone on as of late as he tells him that they needed this news. We then hear from Josh Alexander, who says that this award could be enough to get them back and that they could be tag team of the year for a third time, as they are the best tag team in the world. When he calls Ethan back, howevr, he gets Karate Man instead.
We hear from Rich Swann, who plays guitar while talking about Christmas traditions.
Jordynne Grace vs. Deonna Purrazzo in a 30-minute Iron Man Match for the Impact Knockouts Championship, Emergence
We hear from Taya Valkyrie, who congratulates Deonna Purrazzo for leaving her mark in her short time in Impact but reminds her that they had yet to meet in an Impact ring until she and Kimber Lee cost them the Knockouts Tag Team Championships. She tells Deonna to come get her if she wants to, as she will clear her calendar for her, then tells her to face her in the ring at Hard To Kill.
Deonna Purrazzo is the Knockout of the Year. She says that her resume has grown in 2020 since she debuted in Impact, and says that she is as incomparable as the Knockouts division itself as she accepts the award. Deonna thanks the fans for helping her become the best technical wrestler in the world, then says she is on the way to become the greatest Knockouts Championship of all time as 2021 is set to become "the age of the Virtuosa."
We revisit the rivalry between Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan.
We hear from Kiera Hogan and Tash Steelz, who talk about their Christmas traditions of good food and hanging out with family.
Moose vs. EC3 in an undisclosed location, Bound For Glory
We look back at Moose and Willie Mack's meeting in the ring last week.
We hear from Matthew Palmer, a security guard from last week who is really a pro wrestler. After hearing that Moose has said that nobody could not last against him for three minutes, Palmer is accepting the challenge of a three-minute match.
We hear from Johnny Swinger, who says that he opens his gifts first before his wife and kids.
Acey Romero meets with Larry D in prison, who desperately asks for help to get him out. Acey says he has talked with Tommy Dreamer, who wants proof he was set up. Larry D asks who heard somebody spray "Ring Rust." This leads Acey to seek out Crazzy Steve after he asks "Who has a better sense of hearing than a blind man?"
We relive the "Who Shot Johnny Bravo?" murder mystery so far.
We hear from Tony Schiavone and Tony Khan, who talks about Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers' six-man tag match at Hard To Kill, who says he could stop that, but the match is fine with him and Impact is free to send wrestlers to AEW on Dynamite. Schiavone announces the card for tomorrow night's AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash, then Khan says he will tune in to Hard to Kill and expects Omega to win.
We hear from Eddie Edwards, who says that he and his wife Alisha are big Christmas fans, as they put a fake tree up in October followed by a real tree after Thanksgiving.
We look back on Eric Young's return to Impact, his World title matches against Eddie Edwards and Rich Swann, his alignment with Joe Doering and his brainwashing of Cody Deaner.
We hear from Willie Mack, who talks about how he sets up his own "Charlie Brown Christmas"-style Christmas tree every year.
We look back at Don Callis and Kenny Omega's time in Impact so far.
We hear from Don Callis and Kenny Omega. Callis talks about how he, Omega and the Golden Shiek brought restaurant food home for Christmas dinner and Omega wanting to run the wrestling business while still a kid. Omega goes on to say that the AEW World Championship is "the only championship worth a damn," and that he has been often imitated and never duplicated.
Deonna Purrazzo is Impact Wrestler of the Year. Deonna says she has proved she is the greatest technical wrestler in the world, and being the best wrestler in the world is a perfect fit for her. She says it is now time to enter "the age of the Virtuosa."
"Absolute" Ricky Starks guests on commentary for the next three matches.
Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) beat Bear Country (Bear Boulder and Bear Bronson).
"The Native Beast" Nyla Rose beats Tesha Price.
Miro beats Sonny Kiss with a Game Over that has Miro bending Sonny Kiss back further than usual.
It's time for The Waiting Room. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. thanks Tony Khan for fixing the back wall, then hopes that everyone saw the facial that she and Reba gave to Thunder Rosa. She also announces that Sting will be on The Waiting Room. Britt Baker makes fun of PAC for "butchering the English language," and says that Top Flight's (Darius and Dante Martin) fifteen minutes of fame will soon be up because they are fifteen years old. She then introduces SoCal Uncensored ("The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniel and Frankie Kazarian) to the show. Kazarian says that he is not in a mood to laugh right now, as it has been a year since they lost the AEW World Tag Team Championships and they have lost a part of themselves throughout a rotten years, but he always could rely on SoCal Uncensored and Daniels until now. He says that it is Daniels' fault that they lost against The Acclaimed last week and that is has always been on him every time they have lost, and says that being successful is the most important thing to him right now. Kazarian says that he has made friends and has put food on the table because of the business, and says that Daniels is not just his tag team partner, but his brother, his friend and the best man at his wedding for the last twenty years. As Kazarian apologizes for letting professional frustrations get in the way of a personal friendship, Daniels stops him, saying he should not be passionate about what he loves and that he was a fan who became one of the best in the business and his best friend. He tells Kazarian that he has lost the passion that he talked about, as adversity and injuries beat him and ground him down until entering the ring filled him with fear and anxiety. Daniels says he has been falling apart for the last ten months, and says that the last year is a sign that he should walk away before he ruins his own reputation forever. Kazarian tells Daniels he will not walk out with a whimper, for he knows him better than anybody and knows he is a fighter. He tells Daniels to fight by his side one more time, and while they are at the bottom of the tag team division barrel, they will claw their way to the top and become tag team champions, for if they lose once more as a tag team, they are done as a tag team forever. Daniels considers leaving, but tells Kazarian "Let's do it." Kazarian then notices TheHybrid2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) and invites them to the ring for an "SCU ass-beating," then SoCal Uncensored leave.
Thunder Rosa beats Jazmin Allure.
Stu Grayson beats Lee Johnson.
Alex Gracia beats KiLynn King to earn her first win in AEW. Before the match, it is announced that the winner of this match will face Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's World Championship tomrrow night on Dynamite.
"Pretty" Peter Avalon announces that the "Pretty Peter's Pageant Provocation" has been answered by Mike Vernia.
"Pretty" Peter Avalon beats Mike Verna.
Red Velvet beats Vertvixen.
The Dark Order (Alan "5" Angels, Preston "10" Vance, Colt Cabana) beat Fuego del Sol, Aaron Solow and Ray Jaz.
"Legit" Leyla Hirsch beats Madi Wrenkowski with the Cross Arm Breaker.
The Gunn Club (Austin and Colten Gunn) beat TNT (Terrence and Terrell Hughes).
Charlotte Flair heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Charlotte asks what the Thunderdome would be without her, and says that she walked into it a champion as that is what she always is, for nothing has changed in the last six months. She then introduces Asuka to the ring. Asuka says that the "Empress of Tomorrow" is the double champion of today, then says Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler were not ready for her or Charlotte. As Charlotte hints at trying to get a Raw Womens' title shot from Asuka, Nia and Shayna show up. Nia notes that six months may have healed her arm, it did not heal her "robotic voice." She then says that she and Shayna have a list of their own like Santa Claus does, but they hand out beatings like they did to Lana or Kairi Sane. Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke show up and says that Shayna looks like "Rudolph with a nose job" and Nia is missing a pair of antlers before noting they have not lost the Women's Tag Team Championships as they get in the ring. Charlotte then calls for a referee to officiate a match while she and Asuka watch from ringside.
Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beat Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke with a Kirifuda Clutch to Dana Brooke. After the match, Mandy and Dana sends Nia and Shayna out of the ring as they taunt Charlotte Flair and Asuka.
Backstage, The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander) tear the New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) shirt off of a random man's back and put him in a Hurt Business shirt.
It's time for The VIP Lounge. MVP says that if there was ever a night to celebrate with champagne, it would be tonight, and in the most exclusive club in WWE. Shelton Benjamin says that last night, The Hurt Business (MVP, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander) showed why they are better than any other tag team, and Cedric Alexander says the Raw tag team titles have the prestige they deserve. After Cedric says they are surrounded by champagne and custom-made suits, Bobby Lashley says they are a dominant force and that there is not a man alive who can beat him for the United States Championship. MVP then announces that he has hired a photographer to record this moment digitally for eternity, and as The Hurt Business poses for the camera, R-Truth poses behind them with the 24/7 Championship, and a gaggle of Superstars and a referee chase after him. Jeff Hardy and Matt Riddle show up, and Matt Riddle congratulates The Hurt Business before telling them don't need to spend so much money on champagne and the club and that they should just relax at home. He also says there is no reason to spread negativity, for they are all the same, but MVP begs to differ. Jeff Hardy says there are more important things than status or money and that character matters more than anything. Jeff then says that if they are to win tonight, then they must do it with something that The Hurt Business can never buy: faith.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Angel Garza, who gives her a rose before saying that he will be thinking of her while wrestling Drew Gulak, and that after the match, she can interview him under the mistletoe.
Angel Garza beats Drew Gulak.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews AJ Styles, who says that he was absolutely livid with The Miz for costing him the WWE Championship. He wants to know what The Miz has to say for himself, and that it had better be good.
It's time for Miz TV. The Miz says he had a chance to etch his name in the history books last night, but he failed himself and his family. He then introduces "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, who shows up with Omos. Miz tells Styles he invited him to the show to explain himself, and says that Styles would have taken advantage of the opportunity much like he would have. Styles tells Miz he is selfish and incompetent, and cost him the WWE Championship after cashing in. After Styles says they both lost because of him, The Miz says he has dedicated himself to get the respect he deserved and become WWE's poster child, but nobody respects him. He says that the WWE Championship would change all that and let him take Raw to new heights. He then says that he cannot do this now, and all he can do is make this right and apologize, as both of them were robbed last night. Miz admits they both lost because of him, then presents him an opportunity to co-star in The Marine 7. When Omos has more of a presence on the poster than AJ and John Morrison is not even on it, Omos says there is no defending John Morrison for cashing in, and Styles and Morrison threaten to beat each other up. Miz then says Omos is right and that Morrison cashed in and not him, and demands that he be given the Money In The Bank contract back. Drew McIntyre shows up and says he will be taking Miz, Morrison and Styles out, not each other. McIntyre then says he had a little celebration "with the lads" with a few pints as they laughed at Styles' holiday story from last week before reading a sequel called "The Nightmare After TLC." Sheamus and Keith Lee show up from out of nowhere to recite the story with McIntyre as they surround the ring, but they forget "the finish" and decide to make a new finish in the ring with a brawl. Chairs get thrown around and Morrison gets thrown out of the ring, but Styles drop kicks Keith Lee into Sheamus, causing Sheamus and Keith Lee to argue with each other until McIntyre stops them.
Backstage, Keith Lee and Sheamus continue to argue, and Drew McIntyre have to stand between them once again. He tells Sheamus to cool down, then tells Keith Lee that it was an accident and that they need to be on the same page.
T-Bar beats Ricochet after Ricochet attacks Mustafa Ali. After the match, T-Bar tells Ricochet that Retribution is his ally, not his enemy, and that he either join them or have his existence ended.
In backstage footage from earlier today, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) congratulate The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) for beating them on Sunday and says they will win tag team gold again. Kofi says he lost pieces of teeth in their match, and that a man is known by how he bounces back upon defeat.
The Hurt Business (MVP and Bobby Lashley) beat Matt Riddle and Jeff Hardy with a Hurt Lock to Jeff Hardy.
The Miz and John Morrison argue with "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos backstage.
Elias and Jaxson Ryker are in the ring. Elias talks about the 2020 that he has had, saying it has been a whirlwind, then thanks his fans and says that his music changes people's lives, and that Jaxson Ryker has been reborn in the universal truth. Before Elias can say much else, The Lucha House Party shows up.
Jaxson Ryker beats Gran Metalik. During the match, Elias sits on the top rope and plays guitar and sings, but Metalik catches Elias and hits him with a hurricanrana only for Jaxson Ryker to hit him with a sit-out choke bomb for the win.
Randy Orton shows up. Orton says that in his life, he has been called many things - sick, twisted, deranged and demented - and proved them all after burning The Fiend alive. He says that The Fiend is no man and that he is not normal. He says that he enjoyed every second of watching The Fiend burn, then kneels down in the spot in the ring where The Fiend laid and says that if he closes his eyes, he can see and smell it, as the scent of burning flesh has a tendency to linger. Orton then says he did not sleep because the voices inside of his head that he has been accustomed to for years were gone, and all he hears is the sound of The Fiend gasping for his last breath as the fire grew hotter and higher. He says that The Fiend is gone and no more, and he is the "evil son-of-a-bitch that took him out." Suddenly, the lights gradually go out, and Orton has the foresight to leave the ring. When they come back on, there is a swing set and a rocking horse in the middle of the ring, and Alexa Bliss is on the swing. Alexa invites Orton to play with her, then jokingly states The Fiend could be anywhere. She then says that The Fiend is not here, as if he was absorbed into the ring mat and buried under the ground. She then says that The Fiend is home, but if The Fiend comes back, it will be to her playground, and it will be like nothing Orton has seen before. The lights go out again.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce. Evans says they wanted the next match, and Peyton says it would not have happened if they did not take initiative. Both of them agree they will not take hand-outs. After Lacey heads to the ring, Peyton tells Sarah that the match was all her.
Charlotte Flair and Asuka beat Lacey Evans and Peyton Royce with a Figure Eight to Peyton Royce.
In footage from last Friday, Titus O'Neil and the Bullard Family Foundation gives away a car, which is one of five given away over the weekend.
Backstage, The Miz tries to get his Money In The Bank contract back when "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles and Omos approach and Styles hangs up Miz's phone.
Drew McIntyre, Sheamus and Keith Lee beat "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, The Miz and John Morrison in a Holiday Street Fight with a Spirit Bomb to Miz after Omos puts Morrison through a table. After the match, Sheamus hits Keith Lee with a Brogue Kick to end the show.
Raw Talk: Ricochet says something needs to change.
Daniel Bryan, Otis, Chad Gable and Big E beat King Corbin, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura and Sami Zayn in an eight-man tag team match on the kick-off after Big E has Sami Zayn alone in the ring.
Drew McIntyre beats "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles in a TLC Match to retain the WWE Championship, even after The Miz cashes in the Money In The Bank briefcase to make the match a Triple Threat Match.
Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Paul Heyman. Heyman says his favorite sport other than WWE is NASCAR due to the crashes, and says that wrestling is a dangerous enough profession as it is due to people getting hurt. He then says that someone will get hurt badly tonight, and that someone is Kevin Owens at the hands of Roman Reigns.
Sasha Banks retains the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship against Carmella with the Banks Statement despite interference by Carmella's assistant and sommelier Reginald Thomas.
Backstage, Billie Kay meets with Asuka and offers her headshot and resume, and offers to become Asuka's tag team partner. Asuka then tells her the position has been filled and that she is not ready for Asuka.
Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods). Kofi Kingston says this match with The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) won't be any different from the rest, and Xavier Woods says that they are about to face the "big match New Day" tonight.
The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) beat The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) to become the WWE Raw Tag Team Champions after Cedric Alexander tags himself in to hit the Lumbar Check on Xavier Woods, this time with success.
Royal Rumble is live on WWE Network on January 31st!
Leaked audio of Sami Zayn yelling at somebody for ruining the Sami Awards is re-played after originally being played during the kick-off. Sami Zayn confronts Kayla Braxton, who refuses to reveal her sources. Sami is furious, saying he is the only person with ethics around here. (The leaked audio is a direct reference to Tom Cruise's recent chewing out of two crew members on the set of Mission Impossible 7 for violating on-set COVID-19 regulations.)
Before the next match, it is announced that Lana has injured her elbow and knee and is currently being evaluated. Asuka's partner is then revealed to be Charlotte Flair, who has not been seen on WWE programming in months.
Asuka and Charlotte Flair beat Nia Jax and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler to become the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions!
Backstage, R-Truth and Big E laugh at Sami Zayn for his audio leak, and Big E says he has nothing to do with it. Sami Zayn calls Big E "a joke who has been trading water ever since he went solo," and Big E tells Sami he will see him soon if he keeps playing.
Roman Reigns retains the WWE Universal Championship against Kevin Owens with a low blow on the ladder in a destructive TLC Match that also saw constant interference from Jey Uso.
This Friday on SmackDown: Big E vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship!
Randy Orton beats "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt in a Firefly Inferno Match. After the match, Orton pours gasoline on The Fiend's body and lights it on fire with a match.
