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.
El Hijo del Vikingo beats Dinamico. After the match, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio shows up on the TitanTron and congratulates El Hijo del Vikingo, then says that next week will be different and that he can bring his entire family, as he will not become anything in this life. He tells El Hijo del Vikingo that he will show him that he is a real champion and the king of the luchadors.
We hear from Flammer, who brags about being the greatest and longest reigning champion in AAA as well as being included in WWE 2K26, and that it is time she is recognized as one of the greatest in WWE. She wants to now where the competition and the challengers are, and issues an open challenge to any woman on Raw or SmackDown to take the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship from her only to warn them that they will fail and end up in flames.
Santos Escobar beats Mr. Iguana, Psycho Clown and Abismo Negro in an Rey de Reyes qualifier. During the match, El Fiscal shows up as Abismo Negro is about to hit Psycho Clown with the Martinet, and El Fiscal and Abismo Negro brawl their way into the crowd. Soon after, Psycho Clown hits Santos Escobar with the Psycho Driver, but The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik) show up and gang up on Psycho Clown. Pagano shows up and strikes The War Raiders with a shinai. Mr. Iguana and Santos Escobar are the only two men left in the match, but Santos Escobar gets his hands in both of Mr. Iguana's eyes to hit the Hands of Destiny for the win and to qualify for the Rey de Reyes tournament.
Backstage, Pagano and Psycho Clown are psyched to defend the AAA World Tag Team Championships against The War Raiders (Ivar and Erik). All of a sudden, Psycho Clown cannot find Murder Clown. Pagao says Murder Clown was with him in the locker room, and the two of them head back to the dressing room where Psycho Clown asks Pagano if he knows something. Pagano asks Psycho Clown if he is accusing him of something when they hear something drop in a toilet stall. They look in one of the bathroom stalls, but find nobody. They then hear a toilet flush in the other stall. Murder Clown comes out of the bathroom, and the two of them are relieved.
El Grande Americano I beats La Parka after turning La Parka's mask backwards before hitting the Chaos Theory suplex for the win. After the match, Santos Escobar shows up and glances as the Rey de Reyes sword, then El Grande Americano II shows up and stares down El Grande Americano I.
FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Dezmond Xavier). Mark Briscoe makes his way to the ring to guest on commentary for the next match as FTR and Stokely Hathaway head to the back.
Backstage, Anthony Bowens meets with Hook and says that he can be a killer. Hook has Bowens take the camera from Shibata and follow him and Shibata around as they choke a random guy out for wanting to join The Opps (Hook and Shibata) and having no way to get out of the Redrum.
Mark Briscoe guests on commentary for the next match.
Daniel Garcia beats Tommaso Ciampa after Garcia goes up to Mark Briscoe and shoves him by the face, causing Garcia to whip Ciampa into Briscoe when Briscoe comes after him. After the match, Ciampa gets angry at Briscoe and refuses to shake his hand. As Brisco leaves, FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) and Stokely Hathaway show up, and Briscoe gets back in the ring to stand alongside Ciampa. Ciampa and Briscoe leave, and in a call back to NXT TakeOver: Chicago, Ciampa sends Briscoe head-first into the video screen before hitting him with a running knee and washing his backside with Briscoe's bandanna.
We see a video package for "The Alpha" Konosuke Takeshita vs. Claudio Castagnoli later tonight.
Swerve Strickland beats Gravity, even ripping Gravity's mask during the match.
In backstage footage from after Dynamite, we hear from Kris Statlander, who says that she will only speak when she needs to, and now, she needs to. She says she and Thekla have beaten each other once, but once is not enough, and at Revolution, they will have two out of three falls and Thekla's killing is coming twice.
We hear from "The Toxic Spider" Thekla, who asks when the challenger dictates what the match is and that she is not doing the two out of three falls match, but quickly reconsiders after asking what makes Kris Statlander think she can beat her twice, and says that Statlander wears sunglasses and all leather because she cannot look her in the eye anymore and wants to be like her. Thekla then says Thunder Rosa should have listened to her, and now she has sent her back to Tijuna, then tells Statlander to take her own advice and quit while she is alive, for everything Statlander is afraid of is everything she is.
We see a preview of AEW Close Up with Jon Moxley.
Dalton Castle guests on commentary for the next match.
Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy) beat The Swirl ("Vanilla Baby" Blake Christian and "Big Shotty" Lee Johnson), La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush and Dralistico) and The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) in a $200,000 four-way tag team match.
Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews JetSpeed ("Speedball" Mike Bailey and "The Jet" Kevin Knight). Knight calls Wednesday one of the hardest nights of his career because he came close to becoming AEW World Champion. He knows that more opportunities will come to him, but he also feels like he let Jet Set Rodeo (Speedball, Knight, "Hangman" Adam Page) down when he cost them the World Trios Championships. Speedball says they all lost, and while Hangman's situation with MJF made things more difficult, everything is good now, for at Revolution, they will team with Mistico and take back the World Trios Championships from The Don Callis Family ("The Protostar" Kyle Fletcher, "The Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada, Mark Davis). Speedball says that he has what it takes to hold two championships and beat Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Championship. Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana show up, and Strickland wants to know why Knight does not know what it took, as he does not apply the pressure when he has his foot on the opponent's neck. Swerve tells Knight that if he wants to face killers, he must become one.
In backstage footage from earlier today, Renee Paquette interviews The Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron) when Megabad (Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford) and Lena Kross go on the attack.
Lena Kross and Megan Bayne beat Timeless Love Bombs ("Timeless" Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa) after "The Problem" Marina Shafir attacks Toni Storm.
Backstage, we hear from Mark Briscoe. Briscoe says he has known Tommaso Ciampa for a long time, and ever since Ciampa showed up in AEW, something felt off until Ciampa did what he did to him tonight. He says that this was the Ciampa that he remembered and expected. He blames himself for not trusting his instincts and letting his guard down, then calls Ciampa a coward for jumping him and aligning himself with FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler). He then challenges Ciampa and FTR to a six-man tag team match against himself and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson).
The Dogs (Gabe Kidd, "100 Proof" Clark Connors and David Finlay) beat Cosmo Orion, GMO Kaminari and Jaden Monroe.
"Timeless" Toni Storm shows up. She says that all "The Problem" Marina Shafir talks about is competition, yet the only one with a set of ovaries willing to fight alone is Jon Moxley. She says that she and Shafir are going to Hollywood and she wants everyone banned from ringside so it is just the two of them with nobody to stop them. She then wants the AEW Women's World Championship back before telling Shafir that she will see her at Revolution.
Jon Moxley guests on commentary for the next match.
"The Alpha" Konosuke Takeshita beats Claudio Castagnoli after Hechicero stops Claudio from using the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship as a weapon. After the match, Takeshita and Jon Moxley have a staredown, and when Hechicero punches Moxley - which causes Takeshita to stop Hechicero, telling him that it is not necesssary and that he can beat Moxley - this starts a brawl that continues until the end of the show in which Castagnoli and Shafir are also involved.
We see Sarah Schreiber's interview with Blake Monroe from earlier this week.
We see Blake Howard's interview with Kelani Jordan from earlier this week.
We see Sarah Schreiber's interview with Lola Vice from earlier this week.
Blake Monroe beats Jaida Parker in a street fight after introducing a black bag full of diamonds into the match by dumping them on the mat, throwing a few diamonds into Jaida's eyes, and then hitting the Glamour Shot into the diamonds for the pin and the win.
Ricky Saints meets with "All Ego" Ethan Page, saying The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, "The Smoke Show" Ricky Smokes, Jackson Drake) was there when he was attacked by Joe Hendry while Ethan Page was in the back. Ethan says he needed to clear his mind, and now his mind is on tonight's match. Ricky says Joe Hendry will play every card in the book to keep the NXT Championship in the book, and he wants Ethan's help. Ethan promises Saints that he will be there for him, and Saints thanks him as he pictures the both of them as champions together.
Tony D'Angelo shows up in a yellow-and-black convertible outside...or so DarkState (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin) thinks. It proves to be a decoy, and the real Tony D'Angelo shows up and attacks DarkState with a crowbar before getting himself and Lennox alone in the building. This leads to a brawl around the building that also sees OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price) going at it with DarkState on the outside and the entire locker room trying to break it up before the match finally makes it into the ring.
Tony D'Angelo beats Dion Lennox with a Spear and a spinebuster following a brawl that goes all over the building before ending up in the ring.
Tatum Paxley beats Izzi Dame to win the NXT Women's North American Championship after nearly punching Shawn Spears off the apron after Izzi kicks out of a hurricanrana pin. Izzi charges after Tatum afterwards, and Tatum dodges, causing Izzi to inadvertently knock Spears off the ring apron. Tatum soon counters a lungblower with a backflip, and is able to hit Cemetery Drive to win the match and the title.
Backstage, Blake Howard interviews OTM (Bronco Nima and Lucien Price). Bronco Nima says that they only attacked DarkState (Dion Lennox, Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin) because they have been a dark cloud over NXT since they showed up, and ays they can change all of that. Lucien Price says that DarkState will find out that their actions will have consequences, and Bronco Nima says that they are not done, especially when DarkState hold the tag team titles. Lucien Price then says "It's time to go eat."
Interim General Manager Robert Stone is in the ring. Robert Stone introduces Jacy Jayne, who shows up with Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid, to the ring. Jacy Jayne says that Stand & Deliver is around the corner, and she will be walking into it as NXT Women's Champion. She says that the fans used to call her a transitional champion, but things have been quiet lately as the fans have been eating their words. Jacy says she knows how the business works and has been through all the ups and downs in the business, and admits that she was paranoid that she would be released. She talks about how she was in last year's kick-off match, and should be in the main event this year. Jacy predicts that she will be in the main event of WrestleMania next year and facing whoever is champion before bragging about beating Sol Ruca in six seconds and coming close to beating Zaria until Sol Ruca got involved. Robert Stone interrupts, saying this is about finding Jacy's next opponent, and is about to mention Zaria when Zaria shows up and addresses Jacy saying she had her beat, calling Jacy "delusional." She says she is not champion and has no opportunities because of Sol Ruca, and demands another shot at the NXT Women's Championship. Fallon says Zaria and Sol Ruca are not Jacy's problem, and that Zaria has no one to blame but herself over her jealousy over Sol Ruca. Lainey Reid says Zaria should blame someone else, because every time Zaria gets the opportunity, she fails. As Zaria further confronts Jacy, Sol Ruca shows up and says that Jacy and Zaria's souls will be hers soon. Sol Ruca says Jacy Jayne has problems proving to everyone that she is good enough, and says that Zaria has underestimated how much she knows her. She says that neither woman is touching the NXT Women's Championship, because it is hers. Robert Stone makes Sol Ruca vs. Zaria vs. Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women's Championship official for March 17th. Jacy, Fallon and Lainey attack Sol Ruca, then Zaria pulls the three of them off Sol Ruca to confront Sol herself. Sol Ruca hits the Sol Snatcher on both Jacy and Zaria, but she gets laid out by Lainey Reid before Lainey, Jacy and Fallon stand tall in the ring.
Backstage, Charlie Dempsey is approached by Lexis King, Uriah Connors, Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo and Arianna Grace. Dempsey is not interested in joining, but Lexis says that Dempsey is one of them as their fathers were champions who paved the way for them only for outsiders to take their spots. He says this is a side quest for them while this is their birthright, and asks Dempsey when he will run away from who he is and embrace it before the four of them leave. Tavion Heights takes offense to this, and proposes that the two of them have a one-night revival against Lexis King and Uriah Connors. Dempsey accepts the proposition.
Lola Vice beats Kelani Jordan in an NXT Underground Match by TKO after Kelani Jordan mouths off at Lola Vice's father in the front row only for Lola to hit her with a backfist and knock her out.
NXT Stand & Deliver is live on Saturday, April 4th on Peacock in the United States and Netflix internationally!
Backstage, Jacy Jayne is not happy with the Triple Threat Match for the NXT Women's Championship. Lainey Reid says that Jacy Jayne will figure this out, and when reminded anything goes in a Triple Threat Match, Lainey Reid says she will take care of Sol Ruca on Tuesday. Fallon Henley mentions that she has a Women's Speed Championship match that night, and Jacy tells Lainey that she had better get the job done.
Joe Hendry retains the NXT Championship against Ricky Saints. During the match, "All Ego" Ethan Page shows up and grabs the NXT Championship, and after Hendry nearly pins Saints, tosses the title into the ring only to throw it to far so it stops near Hendry. Both men grab the title, and the ref takes it away. Saints hits a kick to the groin followed by the Satellite DDT, but Hendry kicks out. Hendry soon goes for the Standing Ovation, but Saints nearly whips Hendry into the referee in the corner. Hendry stops himself and hits a mule kick to the groin that the referee cannot see, then hits the Standing Ovation to win and retain.
In footage from after last week's show went off the air, Frankie Kazarian is about to hit "The Gift" Ray Sanders with a Kendo stick with assistance from Tim Bosby when "The Wanted Man" Nic Nemeth suddenly shows up to save Sanders.
Dustin Starr interviews "The Wanted Man" Nic Nemeth at the announce desk. Nemeth says he was passing through on the way to Nashville, Tennessee and he had to stop by to watch the main event when he noticed Frankie Kazarian, and calls Kazarian out so he can have a match with him. Tim Bosby shows up instead of Kazarian, and takes his jacket off to reveal a shirt with an arrow pointing up at him saying "New King of Memphis." He says Kazarian is not here and says Nemeth was his favorite wrestler growing up and he wanted to be him. He then grew up and realized that being like Nemeth is being second best, and if Nemeth wants to make a challenge, then they can face off in the ring. Nemeth accepts, but he wants the Heritage Championship on the line. Bosby says he will not back down and that he will show everyone that he is new king of Memphis Wrestling.
In footage from earlier today, Matchmaker King Cobra makes it to the building in a GMC Sierra and is told there is a package for him, but that it is too big to bring into the building. King Cobra finds a crate with the words "Deliver to Memphis Wrestling, Eli Knox, 4-11-26."
The Bizness Dawgs (Tim Grind and Lil' Homie) retain the Memphis Wrestling Tag Team Championships against The Hollywood Clique (Jay Smooth and Kale) after Tim Grind hits Kale with "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock's cane from the top rope after Secret Service distracts the referee and Xya Wolfe tries and fails to stop Blaylock from interfering in the match.
We hear from Diana Taylor, who warns Nixi XS that she will show her why she is the real Memphis Wrestling Women's Champion. After the match, Nixi XS shows up and says she is the real Women's Champion. Both women stare each other down raising their respective championship belts.
Diana Taylor retains the Memphis Wrestling Women's Championship against Judy Lee.
We hear from "The Problem" Aaron Roberts, who says it took Justin Case's help for Zay Washington to beat him despite his broken ankle. He says that Washington is not good enough to run the play on his own, and if Washington wants a decisive win, then they will have a no-disqualification match. Roberts says that when he is done, he will get his hands on Justin Case for five minutes and prove he is just another bum running his mouth.
We hear from K-Toomer, who says that he is not mad with anyone but himself. He says that he is the best in the business that nobody gave the keys to, as he does not run the game the way everyone else wants him to. He says that he is the Master of Fatjitsu, and that he is the meanest and the baddest.
Dustin Starr interviews Mike Anthony at the announce desk. Mike Anthony asks the fans to forgive him, then says enough is enough. He tells Tim Bosby that he warned him, and says that he was right. Anthony declares he is on a warpath and that Bosby and Frankie Kazarian's asses belong to him. Main Event Bradley and Mama Money show up. Bradley says that CJ Money has run away from home, and Mama Money wants CJ to come home. Bradley says that a child is missing, yet Anthony is out here crying about a championship. Bradley says that Anthony sounds like he is looking for a fight, and Anthony accepts Bradley's challenge only to be attacked from behind from Bradley.
Mike Anthony beats Main Event Bradley.
Big Mama confronts Raven Black for attacking Xya Wolf. Raven says that Big Mama has been MIA and that she has been attacked in the last week, but Big Mama says she did not teach her to act like this and that she needs a lesson.
Xya Wolf beats Raven Black with a crucifix pin. After the match, Raven Black attacks and curb stomps Xya Wolf before continuing to attack her. She then grabs a metal folding chair to hit Xya Wolfe, but Big Mama shows up and stops her from using it. Raven Black retreats.
Marko Stunt guests on commentary for the next match.
"The King of Pow" Chris Lexx beats VaShawn Harvey to win the Cobra Cup Finals and the Cobra Cup after VaShawn Harvey brings the Cobra Cup into the ring to use as a weapon only for senior official David Knight to take it away. VaShawn then tries to wrap his chain around his hand to use as a weapon only for Chris Lexx to counter with a backslide pin for the win and the Cobra Cup.
Randy Orton makes his way to the ring to start tonight's show. Orton says a lot has to have happened since he was gone, and that ever since he started in this business, John Cena has always been on the top of the profession, but is now "a bottom for The Rock," giving a whole new meaning to "rock bottom." He welcomes everyone to the show, then says Cena has been one of his few friends as their careers paralleled. He also says that Owens has been one of those friends and that they have both done vile things and crossed lines to get things done. Orton says he has done it in the name of the business, and while he respects and admires Owens as a wrestler and his road to WWE, it is "Owens, the man" that he has a problem with. Orton says to never underestimate a jealous man's ability to destroy another man, and says that this matches Owens perfectly. He says Owens tried to end Cody Rhodes' career because of the Undisputed WWE Championship. Owens also addresses the history between Owens and Sami Zayn and how Owens dropped Sami's head on the concrete, and says Owens tried to end Sami's career because Sami was becoming a bigger star than him. Orton also addresses Owens dropping him on his head while he was protecting his friend, and talks about how "enough" never satisfied Owens before stating that he has defied the odds to come back to WWE and that Owens has pissed him off. Orton then addresses going for his trademark punt on Owens and how he liked the voices in his head talking to him again and telling him to kick Owens in the head so hard that his family could not recognize his face. He then proclaims that he will, in short order, prove that Pat McAfee is "only the second greatest punter in WWE."
In footage from earlier today, General Manager Nick Aldis and Tiffany Stratton are interrupted by Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. As Chelsea complains about having to defend her title, Tiffany tells her and Piper to shut up. When Piper asks if they are being censored, Tiffany says yes, then challenges Piper to a match. Aldis makes it official.
Tiffany Stratton beats Piper Niven. After the match, Tiffany is hit from behind with a chop block by Charlotte Flair, who then puts Tiffany in the Figure Eight. Three referees have to show up to get Charlotte to release the hold.
General Manger Nick Aldis recounts the events between The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley), #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince), The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) and Los Garza (Angel and Berto). He states that The Street Profits will get their title shot against #DIY, while the Machine Guns, Pretty Deadly and Los Garza will face each other in a Triple Threat tag team match to decide the next #1 contender.
Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) beat The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) and Los Garza (Angel and Berto) in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match to become #1 contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championships after Elton Prince pins Chris Sabin with a backslide pin.
Tonight's attendance is 16,728. Members of the Philadelpha 76ers basketball team are seen in the front row.
The Roman Family are the recipients of tonight's Cricket Seat Upgrade.
Bianca Belair heads to the ring. Bianca says she should feel on top of the world for winning in the Elimination Chamber and focusing on WrestleMania, but it is hard when one's friends are fighting. She says that she and Jade elevated the women's tag division and that Naomi not only stepped in to keep it from going to waste, but became her best friend. Bianca says she does not feel that Naomi would do this, but she feels like she is going crazy and losing her friends while also being accused of being part of this, and she wants answers now. Naomi shows up wearing a neck brace and heads to the ring. Bianca wants to know what is going on, and Naomi says this is not what it looks like. She says she had Bianca's back and that Jade Cargill's attack is background noise compared to what should be happening, but Bianca wants a straight answer. Naomi says that she felt that Jade Cargill was piggybacking off of Bianca Belair the whole time and succeeding off of Bianca's efforts and talent while she was pushed to the side. She says she let them get their flowers, but she never cared about Jade. Both women start yelling at each other, and Bianca demands the truth and a straight answer or else she will walk out of the ring and Naomi will never see her again. After some hesitation, Naomi says "I did it." Naomi says she did it for the both of them, but Bianca still cannot believe what she is hearing and says this hurts so badly because she loves Naomi. She tells Naomi she has said enough and that their friendship is done. Naomi keeps apologizing and telling Bianca that she did this for her as Bianca slowly and sadly walks her way off the ramp. She then says she should have punched Jade sooner and harder, for every time she tries to step up and stand up for herself, everyone turns on her, and says Bianca is no different before calling her "an ungrateful bitch." Jade Cargill is then seen arriving at the arena, where she heads to the ring while Bianca heads to the back. Jade chases Naomi, and she soon gets her hands on her and beats her up. Jade soon hits Naomi with Jaded in the middle of the ring.
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says everyone is shocked about John Cena's recent actions even though he warned everyone, and that Damian Priest ended his last chance of getting to WrestleMania. He says that thanks to Priest, he has nothing to give but violence and that it starts with "the black sheep of the family" in Jimmy Uso.
It is announced that Lex Luger will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Charlotte Flair. Charlotte says she warned Tiffany Stratton that she would be everywhere after the fun and games were over and that Tiffany did not listen. She says the women's division is oft and that she has to remind everyone that there are levels to this. B-Fab shows up and confronts Charlotte, who says that nobody compares to her, for her comments, but B-Fab says everyone wants their own legacy and is not interested in bowing down to her. Charlotte says everyone eventually bows down, then challenges B-Fab to a match next week so she can show her.
Braun Stromwan beats Solo Sikoa by disqualification after he is attacked by Tama Tonga. After the match, Braun Strowman fights back, then Jacob Fatu shows up. Strowman and Jacob brawl in the ring, and Jacob gets the upper hand before Strowman catches the tope suicida and choke slams Jacob into a commentary table chair. Jacob recovers almost immediately and hits Strowman with a shoulder tackle off the table before taking the brawl into the crowd and the tech area. Jacob then goes for a Samoan Drop on the top of some crates, but Strowman fights out of it and choke slams Jacob through some tables below. Somehow, despite officials showing up to check on Jacob, Jacob gets up under his own power.
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews LA Knight. Knight says it was "all gas, no brakes" on Jacob Fatu going through a table and that Jacob is out of the picture as he faces Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship. He says he needs one time to smack Nakamura back to factory settings and one moment in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to do it. He says that Philadelphia will the birthplace of his title reign rebuilt, then says he has dealt with it all and has stood tall. He then says Old Glory needs better representation as of late, and hopes that the shadows have been good to Nakamura, because he will not be. Knight then proclaims that after tonight, everybody will be pledging allegiance to the new United States Champion.
Backstage, Chelsea Green - dressed like Cactus Jack - tells Piper Niven that she needs her help tonight, then Zelina Vega shows up and says that whoever is Women's United States Champion is her next target. Chelsea drags Piper to the ring as she demands Piper get it together.
Chelsea Green retains the WWE United States Women's Championship against "Michin" Mia Yim after a woman in a black hoodie pulls Michin out of a pinfall attempt and attacks her. The woman reveals herself to be Alba Fyre, and after the match, it is revealed that Alba Fyre is now Chelsea's second "Secret Hervice" agent.
Backstage, Santos Escobar chews Angel and Berto for letting another opportunity slip through their fingers, and demands better of them. Santos leaves, Angel says he has a point, then leaves. Andrade then shows up and tells Berto that he deserves better.
It is announced that TKO, Dana White and Turki Alalshikh have partnered to begin a new boxing promotion.
"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring. Cody addresses what happened to him at Elimination Chamber and admits he had to fabricate a lie to his daughter and state that he ran into a wall before stating that The Rock, Travis Scott and John Cena acted as a metaphorical wall. He talks about how he drove Cena from town to town for two years and tried to get as much knowledge out of him as he could, and talks about how everyone viewed Cena as a hero. Cody says he will eventually tell his daughter the truth and tell her how John Cena, who told everyone to never give up, eventually gave up. He then apologizes for any language the fans may have heard, then wants to know why Cena did what he did. Cody expects that Cena will give an answer as only he can and will feel bulletproof, infallible and justified afterwards, then tells the fans about how his father was afraid to wrestle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania even though Cody himself was cheered for there even when he was not on top. He talks about how John Cena celebrated with him, his friends and his family at WrestleMania 40 when he and how Cena told him "It gets heavier every day," and then says the WWE Championship is not heavy enough. He says Cena is convinced that his successor would be just like him and that he convinced he is the last of his kind when he was not, yet here he is, with the title feeling like it weighs nothing. He says that if Cena wants some, he can come get some.
Backstage, The Miz and Carmelo Hayes meet with General Manager Nick Aldis and says SmackDown needs a hard-hitting interview with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes for this year's WrestleMania main event for "Melo Don't Miz TV." Carmelo, at first an unwilling party to this, gets the idea to ask Cody why he fumbled the bag at the one-yard line and rejected The Rock's offer. When Carmelo mentions Randy Orton coming back after four months of playing Fortnite, Randy Orton shows up, says Fortnite is for kids and that he was playing Elden Ring, and gets a match with Carmelo next week.
Drew McIntyre beats Jimmy Uso. After the match, McIntyre is about to head back into the ring when he is suddenly attacked by Damian Priest. Officials have to pull Priest off of McIntyre, and Priest tells McIntyre that it is "on sight" before Superkicking Priest. Officials have to hold Priest back again as McIntyre is left laying and Priest vows to keep beating McIntyre up.
We hear form Shinsuke Nakamura, who will soon have to accept reality and that the United States Championship has passed him by and is now in his possession. He allows him one last chance at his championship, and that there is no better location for the death of Knight's dreams than Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He says he will beat Knight and continue to be the champion Knight could never be after Knight begs for mercy and finds none.
Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa). Gargano says the tag team division is on fire, but there is one best tag team in the world and it is them. Ciampa says all the tag team want what they have and can fight over who is "2A and 2B" all they want, and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) have a new attitude and revenge on their mind. Gargano says they are getting in the ring not with greats, but with the best, and their dreams are already dead. Ciampa then has a moment of silence for The Street Profits' dream of becoming the next WWE Tag Team Champions, which is ruined by Byron.
LA Knight beats Shinsuke Nakamura to become the WWE United States Champion! During the match, Nakamura tries to use a metal folding chair as a weapon, but Knight stops him from doing so. He then decides to use the chair as a weapon in retaliation, but referee Charles Robinson refuses to let him do this. Knight puts the chair down, but Nakamura fights back and grabs the chair again. Charles Robinson stops Nakamura from striking Knight with the chair, and Knight charges at Nakamura only to nearly crush Robinson in the corner. Nakamura then spits red mist at Knight's face, but Knight ducks and the mist blinds Robinson instead. From there, Knight and Nakamura continue to go at it, and Knight eventually hits Nakamura with a BFT on the metal folding chair before shoving the chair out of the ring. Another referee shows up and counts the pinfall, and LA Knight becomes WWE United States Champion for a second time to end the show.
We look back on Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson in a ladder match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Against All Odds 2011.
Gia Miller interviews Cody Deaner for Around the Ring. Cody Deaner talks about raising money for children's charities and being a motivational speaker for kids at schools after coming from a very small town and becoming a successful professional wrestler.
We look back on The Hardys (Jeff and Matt Hardy) vs. The Colons (Eddie and Orlando Colon) from last night's show.
Tasha Steelz beats Maggie Lee (who has previously performed on Xplosion as Maggie Moore) following the interference and distraction by The Great Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch).
Mustafa Ali beats Kevin Knight. During the match, The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch) show up after Kevin Knight takes out Mustafa Ali's personal security, but KUSHIDA and Chris Sabin show up and brawl with The Good Hands. As the brawl goes on, John Skyler tries to introduce the X Division title as a weapon, but as Sabin knocks Skyler down to take it away, Mustafa takes out Sabin, then blasts Kevin Knight with the title belt as the referee is dealing with the brawl. After the match, The Good Hands hold Kevin Knight down so that Mustafa Ali can hit a top rope 450 on Kevin Knight's arm. Alex Shelley soon runs in with a crutch and chases Mustafa and The Good Hands away.
We see a video package of the feud between Xia Brookside and Tasha Steelz and the events leading up to Xia vs. Tasha vs. Jordynne Grace for the TNA Knockouts World Championship at Sacrifice.
Backstage, Kevin Knight is checked out in the trainer's room, where he finds out he will not be cleared in twenty-four hours. Alex Shelley says he will take his place, but this leads to an awkward conversation revolving around KUSHIDA throwing in the towel at No Surrender.
Ash by Elegance beats Angel Blue.
We hear from Steve Maclin from his hotel room. He says "The Wanted Man" Nic Nemeth is nothing but a phony and a liar who does not want to work from the bottom to the top and show up when he wants when he is here week in and week out, and says Nemeth fears him and keeps ducking him. He says that if Nemeth will not show up, then he will not show up, and as he dares Nemeth to face him at Sacrifice, he is suddenly attacked in his hotel room. We then find out the attacker is none other than Nic Nemeth.
Before the next match, John Skyler says time split when Mustafa Ali showed up and showed the difference between his vision and Chris Sabin's, then says The Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and KUSHIDA) should split up as a tag team when they lose to The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch).
Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and KUSHIDA) beat The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch) with the Hoverboard Lock from KUSHIDA to Skyler.
We hear from Dirty Dango, Alpha Bravo and Oleg Prudius. Dango says the three of them will dominate TNA and its tag team division and go down in the TNA Hall of Fame, then plugs his wrestling school. Dango then wonders why "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander wears headgear and says that the "indy mark nerds" will want to join their wrestling school when they see him in the main event.
Backstage, The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch) apologize to Mustafa Ali before Mustafa tells them that he has underestimated Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and KUSHIDA) and that he needs to re-think their match at Sacrifice. He then replaces The Good Hands with The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake). Mustafa thanks The Good Hands for their service, then he, his personal security and The Grizzled Young Veterans leave.
Dani Luna beats Masha Slamovich.
PCO quickly beats Alan Angels. After the match, Kon comes after PCO with a metal folding chair. This leads to a brawl between both men, and Angels tries to reunite with Kon only for Kon to snap his neck. Both PCO and Kon then brawl with chairs, then brawl their way to the back.
We hear from Crazzy Steve. He says what who he is is simple, but what he is is more complicated. He says he is a artist, wrestler and teacher or the delicate art of misery, and that one must instill hope only to take it away. He says that this is why he defends the Digital Media title when he gets in the ring, and regardless of his opponent, the story of their life will be their death.
Eric Young heads to the ring. Eric says Sacrifice is not just a show name, but a way of life, and that he has given his heart and soul to TNA and will do it again, and would give a thousand lifetimes to stand where he is standing now. He says that he desires the TNA World Championship and that Moose is holding it, and guarantees that he will keep coming forward, and while Moose may be one of the best to ever do it while all is said and do it and may destroy him, the dead don't get deader, and he will play for keeps. Moose shows up and calls Eric a world class maniac, as he has "all the stupid idiots" believing "all the bullcrap" that is coming out of his mouth, yet he has been in TNA for a very long time, and at Sacrifice, his time is over. He says Eric can bring all his passion and determination, but the outcome will still be the same and he will still be TNA World Champion. Moose says he has done his homework and that he knows Eric loves a good fight much like he does, and says they might as well go at it right now in a New Orleans street fight. He teases getting in the ring, but decides against it, saying that is not how the system works. Eric is suddenly attacked from behind by Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards. Myers and Eddie hold Eric down so that Moose can hit him with the Spear, then Alisha Edwards shows up with a chain and hands it to Moose. Moose wraps it around himself and his right shoulder and hits Eric with another Spear to lay him out, then goes for one more before ABC ("Inevitable" Ace Austin and Chris Bey) show up with metal folding chairs and chase The System (Eddie, Alisha, Myers, Moose) away.
"The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander beats Dirty Dango after Dango misses with Down 'n Dirty and Alexander makes him tap to the ankle lock.
Red Velvet beats "Legit" Leyla Hirsch to advance to the semifinals of the ROH Women's World Television Championship Tournament.
Backstage, we hear from The Infantry ("The Captain" Shawn Dean and "Bad News and Tattoos" Carlie Bravo) and Trish Adora. They plug their new merchandise, and as they do, they also perform The Outrunners' (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) poses in response to them using their Boot Camp finisher.
Abadon beats Judie Azul. During the match, Mercedes Martinez shows up to get a closer look at the match and taunt Abadon, and Abadon taunts Mercedez as they hit the Black Dahlia for the win.
Backstage, Spanish Announce Project (Angelica and Serpentico) confront Maria Kanellis-Bennett. Angelico says his knee is back to 100% and demands a fight with Cole Karter and Griff Garrison, but Maria says she gave them the night off and that they do not fight losers, and tells them to win a match before they even consider accepting their challenge.
"Big Shotty" Lee Johnson beats Jon Cruz.
"The Native Beast" Nyla Rose beats Airica Demia.
The Infantry ("The Captain" Shawn Dean and "Bad News and Tattoos" Carlie Bravo) beat the team of Jack Carthweel and Gringo Loco, The Workhorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry) and Spanish Announce Project (Angelico and Serpentico) in a Four Corners Survival Tag Team Match. After the match, Maria Kanellis-Bennett shows up on the stage
Tiffany Stratton introduces the fans to tonight's show and matches with "Tiffany's Epiphanies."
Tony D'Angelo beats Dijak in a Jailhouse Street Fight after Stacks stops Dijak from slamming the cage door on D'Angelo, allowing D'Angelo to fight back with a crowbar before throwing Dijak into the cage and slamming the door in Dijak's face.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Roxanne Perez. Roxanne says she feels pretty anxious. She admits that Meiko Satomura will test her, but she has done everything she can do to prepare for her biggest title defense. She says that Satomura is a living legend and that not many people have a win over her, and that she needs to beat her to walk into Stand & Deliver as NXT Women's Champion.
Backstage, Josh Briggs meets with Kiana James concerning Fallon Henley and Brooks Jensen. Josh tells Kiana that he wants Jensen to be happy and that he is terrified of making a mistake, and that Kiana will have to take the lead. As he does, he notices the roses on Kiana's desk, but Kiana takes away the name tag and hides it. Kiana agrees things have not been the same as of late and that despite a series of acquisitions that fell into her lap, a make-up date is in order.
Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) is in the ring. Mark Coffey says it is one thing to talk tough about thing, but another thing to say it to their face, and Wolfgang joins Mark Coffey in calling Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) out. Pretty Deadly show up. Instead on showing up on the stage, however, Pretty Deadly show up on the balcony. Wolfgang asks what it will take for Pretty Deadly to meet them in the ring, and Elton Prince says they want the NXT tag team titles. Elton Prince says that they were robbed of the NXT tag team titles and cannot live without them, then Mark Coffey mentions Pretty Deadly roughing them up before laying the tag team titles on the mat and daring them to take them. Pretty Deadly head to the ring, but Wolfgang forces them over the ropes and into the ring for a beating until Pretty Deadly retreats.
We hear from Lyra Valkyria. She mentions Stevie Turner's randomizer mentioning her, and while knowledge is power, she is not her for information, but for a battle. She also addresses Roxanne Perez and Meiko Satomura, saying that she looks forward to facing either of them.
We hear from Ilja Dragunov, who says that the eyes are the window to the soul, except JD McDonagh has no soul and only gets happiness from hurting people both in body and in spirit. He then proclaims that McDonagh will never break his will.
Dragon Lee is seen in the crowd.
Bron Breakker and The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) beat Indus Sher (Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, Sanga). Carmelo Hayes guests on commentary during the match.
Backstage, Matt Bloom asks "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels if he is sure he wants to appear on The Grayson Waller Effect, but Shawn says he has to do this.
It's time for The Grayson Waller Effect. Grayson Waller says there is no time for questions and that it is all about him and his guest, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, who heads to the ring. After Grayson says he is more of a Bret Hart guy, Shawn admits they were cool at one time, but now Grayson hates him. Grayson says that after winning the Iron Survivor Challenge, he says he would take over NXT and that he does not care what people think about him. He then accuses Shawn of treating him the same way Vince McMahon treated him back in the day and has held him back, then asks why. Shawn says he cut the reins loose a long time ago, and reminds him that he lost at Vengeance Day. He says that what happened at New Year's Evil was not Grayson's fault, but he took his shot at Vengeance Day and missed, and he only has himself to blame. Grayson says Shawn only sits at gorilla position because Triple H had a heart attack, but Shawn says he stepped in because he needed to after everything Triple H did for him, and while Triple H was in charge then, he is the one directing the ship now. Grayson says the ship has sailed and is sailing right into an iceberg, then says he would not be surprised if his name ended up on a cut list after WrestleMania, and says that without him, NXT is nothing. Shawn says Grayson thinks he is bigger than the brand and that NXT was built on a collective and not one person, and that Grayson is just a part of the brand. Grayson reminds Shawn that he acted like an individual in his career and wonders when "Captain Team Player" showed up. Shawn says that when he stepped into NXT, he knew that it was special, but Grayson Waller says that NXT is the same people in the same clothes every week and that he is sick of not getting the treatment he deserves. Shawn dares Grayson to run him down like he has been run down for 40 years, but warns him not to run the NXT brand into the ground. When Grayson asks if it pisses Shawn off and Shawn says yes, Grayson tells Shawn to do something about it and fight him. Shawn takes his jacket off and says people have wanted him for their WrestleMania dream match and that Grayson thinks he is something special, but Grayson is "just a guy doing it in 2023" and nothing would thrill him more than to whip his ass at Stand & Deliver. He then says the reality is that there is someone who wants to whip his ass more and believes in NXT more than he does, and that his opponent at Stand & Deliver is not going to be Shawn, but Johnny Gargano. Johnny Gargano shows up, runs into the ring, and beats Grayson up until he retreats.
Gigi Dolin beats Jacy Jayne. After the match, Jacy Jayne attacks Gigi Dolin, then grabs a steel chair and wraps it around Gigi Dolin's head. Referees run in as Jacy Jayne goes up top to stop things from getting worse.
Backstage, Brooks Jensen and Fallon Henley talk and apologize to each other. Josh Briggs shows up and brings up the roses on Kiana's desk, but Jensen is more interested about Kiana. Kiana James calls Brooks Jensen. Meanwhile, Fallon Henley has the feeling that Brooks Jensen did not send Kiana roses, and Josh Briggs wonders what they are going to do.
Bron Breakker heads to the ring and calls out Carmelo Hayes, who shows up. Carmelo says it is time for their paths to finally cross, and says that both of them want a match for the NXT Championship. Breakker says he could not agree more, as they have both on their separate paths and he has kept tabs on him. Carmelo says he kept tabs on Breakker, as he always made it a point to watch him. Breakker mentions a meeting Shawn Michaels had with them telling them that the new NXT was theirs for the taking, and Carmelo says they have both got their own. Breakker then says there is nowhere else to go, and Carmelo tells Breakker to put the NXT Championship on the line and that he will see him at Stand & Deliver. Carmelo then says that he is secondary to no one, and Breakker says that at Stand & Deliver, they shall see.
Andre Chase and Duke Hudson meet with Tyler Bate and Thea Hail as Tyler leads Thea in meditation. Tyler tells Chase that they have made some progress, then wishes Andre Chase luck on his match tonight. Meanwhile, Hudson thinks meditation is "snake oil."
Joe Gacy beats Andre Chase after Thea Hail confronts Ava Rayne at ringside.
We hear from Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, who perform a full moon ritual as Alba brings up the rifts in teams in the women's tag team division and says that she and Isla are unrivaled as they get closer to claiming their lot next week.
Backstage, Thea Hail apologizes to Andre Chase for tonight's loss, and Andre Chase congratulates her for standing up to Ava Rayne. Duke Hudson finally butts in and says that Chase University is now a joke and an institution of losers who celebrate failure, then storms off.
Backstage, McKenzie Mitchell interviews Wes Lee, who talks about the rush to face him in last week's open challenge only for Nathan Frazer to face him and the commotion that came with it, and says that next week, it is happening again. Axiom shows up and says it will be the two of them for the North American Championship, and Wes Lee says that if Axiom can get to the ring first, he knows that they will tear it up.
Roxanne Perez retains the NXT Women's Championship against Meiko Satomura with a roll-up to counter Scorpio Rising. After the match, Satomura personally hands the Women's Championship to Roxanne Perez and raises her hand, then Roxanne collapses. Referees run in, then call for medical staff. The referees then ask where the EMTs are. Both Meiko Satomura and Booker T watch in the ring as EMTs bring in a stretcher, and even "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up to check on Roxanne, who is fitted with a neck brace and administered oxygen as she is taken to an ambulance.
"The Machine" Brian Cage beats Bad Dude Tito with the cloverleaf with the boot to the head.
Before the next match, Jake "The Snake" Roberts - who has not been seen in some time - introduces "The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer.
"The Murderhawk Monster" Lance Archer beats Cody Chhun and Guillermo Rosas in a two-on-one handicap match.
Konosuke Takeshita beats Jack Cartwheel.
Big Bill beats Julius Coleman (who also goes by the name of Ju Dizz).
Willow Nightingale beats Zoe Dubois. After the match, Athena shows up and tries to attack her with the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship, but Willow hits her with the pounce and raises up the Women's World Championship. Athena then punches Dubois in the face, then Willow nearly chases Athena to the back.
We see highlights of Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar from Madison Square Garden this past Saturday. We see highlights of Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar from Madison Square Garden this past Saturday. As Brock Lesnar gets his hands on Paul Heyman, Roman hits him multiple times with a chair and the ring steps, busting him open before hitting him on top of the steps before lifting up both the WWE and WWE Universal Championships in front of a downed Lesnar. (When footage of this is uploaded to Instagram by WWE, it soon becomes the most-viewed Instagram video in WWE history.)
Kevin Owens and Seth "Freakin'" Rollins head to the ring to start tonight's show. Rollins says he and Owens are moments away from becoming the new WWE Raw Tag Team Champions, and Owens says that 2022 has been tough for them so far and that whenever they come close to WrestleMania, something beyond their control keeps WrestleMania from happening. Rollins says that their luck changes tonight because they will be taking the titles and going to WrestleMania, then asks Owens what WrestleMania would be like without them. Owens says he cannot and will not think about it, then says that he he and Rollins have to perform at "the dump known as Dallas, Texas" and that only being with Rollins will make it bearable. After footage from the last two weeks of how they got to tonight's match is replayed, Owens says that momentum is on their side and he and Rollins are undeniable, and that they will punch their ticket to WrestleMania as undeniably as Dallas and their opponents suck. Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) show up, and Chad Gable calls Owens' and Rollins' victory "erroneous," a joke and a fluke. Gable says he is an Olympian and has a Master's degree, and if anyone should be competing at WrestleMania, it should be him and Otis. Gable says that they will and retain the Raw tag team titles, then Kevin Patrick interviews RK-Bro (Matt Riddle and Randy Orton) backstage. Riddle says that tonight is the most important night of his career and that they must win, and Orton says they have worked too hard and too far to not regain the titles.
RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Matt Riddle) beat Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) and the team of Seth "Freakin' Rollins and Kevin Owens to become the WWE Raw Tag Team Champions after Riddle tosses Rollins out of the ring following a double-team from Rollins and Owens on Chad Gable to pick the bones of their handiwork and take back the Raw tag titles. After the match, Kevin Patrick interviews RK-Bro. Riddle says they are going to WrestleMania. Orton says he has been doing this for twenty years and has never had as much fun as he is right now, and calls Riddle his friend, saying he would not do this with anyone else as Riddle is his only friend before he says they are going to WrestleMania.
Backstage, Kevin Owens is distraught over tonight's loss.
In backstage footage from earlier today, Reggie gives Dana Brooke a good luck kiss when Dana asks him to. Meanwhile, Tamina gives Akira Tozawa a good luck kiss backstage that he will not forget, and Tozawa says "That's a lot of luck!"
Dana Brooke retains the WWE 24/7 Championship against Tamina after Dana Brooke breaks out of a Boston Crab and reverses it into a sit-down pinfall attempt. After the match, Akira Tozawa says Dana cheated and that the real winner is "The love of my life, Tamina." Akira closes his eyes and expects a kiss afterwards with his arms outstreched, but Tamina puts them down. The crowd chants "Kiss him!" as Tamina almost leaves the ring, then Tamina blows Tozawa a kiss and leaves.
Backstage, Kevin Patrick tries to interview Seth Rollins, who does nothing but stare into space before becoming heated over tonight's loss.
The Miz heads to the ring. Miz says that he is back home in Cleveland, Ohio, then calls the "Miz" chants from his hometown crowd "respect." He then brings out Logan Paul. Logan says it is good to be home and an honor to be Miz's tag team partner at WrestleMania before mentioning his high school wrestling past and that Cleveland made him the man he is today. Miz says that if he followed in his father's footsteps, he would have been flipping burgers at Mr. Hero, but Dominik Mysterio followed in Rey Mysterio's footsteps and got a WWE contract before he was ready. Miz says he has earned all of his accolades and his WWE contract, unlike Dominik, then says that he is booed while Rey is cheered when it comes to cheating to win. Logan says Rey is a legend while Dominik rides on his coattails, and says he and Miz kick ass. Miz then brings out someone with close ties to Cleveland in Jerry "The King" Lawler, who comes out to a Cleveland Browns jersey (as he usually does in the city). Lawler talks about his history with the state of Ohio in the Cleveland Browns and how he was in Cleveland when the Browns won the NFL Championship in 1964, then asks the fans what they would think of having a WrestleMania in Cleveland. The fans cheer. Logan likes the idea, but Miz is not so sure, saying that while he loves Cleveland, it is not exactly "a WrestleMania city," which gets him booed. He also says the only pyro that Cleveland can handle is when the lake is on fire. He also says that he does not live in Cleveland anymore and that whenever anyone finds sports success in Cleveland, they end up leaving, and that Cleveland will never have a WrestleMania because "winners leave Cleveland."
Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Tommaso Ciamp and Bron Breakker. Bron Breakker says he is taking everything in and is excited to be here. He says tonight is a dream come true and that he is grateful to be on tonight's show, and that he will take full advantage of tonight's match. Ciampa says that Dolph Ziggler talks a big game and has everything except the NXT Championship, then says they have beaten him and Robert Roode before and that they will do it again.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews The Street Profits. Montez Ford says four weeks is enough time to secure a match at WrestleMania, then says that they have beaten RK-Bro before and that if anyone deserves a tag team title shot, it is them. Angelo says Alpha Academy can head to the back of the line and that Chad Gable is taking Otis' money, and Montez says Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens look like kids who have been cut from their parents' trust funds. Montez then says that anyone with the Raw tag team titles will have to contend with them.
We see a video package of Bron Breakker.
Tommaso Ciampa and Bron Breakker beat The Dirty Dawgs (Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode). After the match, Ziggler says Ciampa and Breakker pulled one over on him and Roode, but says that the second Breakker turns his back on him and looks at Ciampa, he will strike and win the NXT Championship while Breakker's world crumbles around him.
We see a video package for Omos.
Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Omos, who asks how many victims he has to dominate for a WrestleMania match and says he will take his WrestleMania moment even if it means destroying everyone until there is nobody left.
WrestleMania 38 is 26 days away!
Omos beats Apollo Crews. After the match, Commander Azeez checks on Apollo Crews when Omos gets back in the ring. Both men have a staredown before Omos leaves.
It is announced that after last week's show, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles has suffered a severe neck contusion.
Edge heads to the ring, but when he does, the lights are out and there is a single spotlight on the stage. Edge soon shows up in a black suit and slowly walks to the ring, his entrance theme not playing as purple lights fill the arena. Edge then stands in the middle of the ring and looks around before saying "You think you know me?" He then says AJ Styles does not know him and says that he did what he did to Styles to help him, saying he wants "the best AJ" if Styles wants to face him at WrestleMania. He says that he helped Styles, but at the same time, Styles helped him, as it felt as if his skull cracked open and "the real him" was allowed to fly. Edge says that he has fallen in love with side of himself before he is booed. Edge says he finally feels in control in the ring and in control of everything that can happen in the ring and in the industry, then says he is standing on the mountain of omnipotence and that the view is phenomenal. He then stares deeply into the camera.
Backstage, Kevin Owens paces back and forth before Kevin Patrick interviews him. Owens says he is not as distraught as Seth Rollins, saying he does not have to feel that despair again, as he has had an epiphany. He says his idea will change the WrestleMania landscape, and he will share that idea later tonight.
Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan beat Carmella and Queen Zelina for a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship after Carmella is pre-occupied with Corey Graves at the announce table.
It is announced that Vader will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Finn Balor beats Austin Theory by disqualification after Damian Priest shows up out of nowhere and tosses Finn Balor off the top rope. After the match, Priest powerbombs Finn Balor. After Damian Priest leaves, Austin Theory takes a selfie with a downed Finn Balor after hitting Finn with the ATL.
Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Bianca Belair, who says not to touch her hair. She says she does not need to use her hair as a weapon, but if Becky Lynch wants to grab it, she will use it. She then says that Becky's championship reign will not last forever and that she will walk out of WrestleMania as Raw Women's Champion.
Kevin Owens heads to the ring. Owens admits that he does not have a match at WrestleMania, but he has a way to get there and it depends on the answer he gets for his challenge. Owens says he wants the most stupendous match at WrestleMania, and says the opponent would have to be "some lowlife" from Texas. He dismisses JBL, saying the horns on his limo are more interesting, then says Booker T is a hypocrite for being from Houston but being part of a team called "Harlem Heat" before mocking his "King Booker" gimmick. He also dismisses "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, saying it would be sacrilege for "a proud Canadian" to face "a proud Texan." Owens then says the perfect guest would have to be a broken-down shell of his former self. Owens says nothing would make him happier than to give him a beating and a Stunner before pouring an ice cold glass of milk over his lifeless body. Owens then calls out "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
This week on Raw Talk: The Miz! Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley! Damian Priest!
Daniel Garcia beats Ray Jaz with the Sharpshooter.
"All Ego" Ethan Page guests on commentary for the next match.
Scorpio Sky beats "The Captain" Shawn Dean.
Kris Statlander beats Emi Sakura.
Wheeler Yuta beats Aaron Solo after faking being tripped off the top rope by QT Marshall, who shows up near the end of the match, to get Marshall ejected.
Before the next match, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. says her partner and assistant Reba was brutally attacked by "The Native Beast" Nyla Rose and cannot compete, and that her own doctor's note was not enough to declare Reba medically ineligible. She has, however, gotten with the Jacksonville Jaguars team doctor, who agrees with her that Reba cannot compete. Britt then brings out her replacement partner: Maki Itoh.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Maki Itoh beat Thunder Rosa and Riho after Reba hits Thunder Rosa in the face with a crutch from ringside behind the referee's back.
In memory of Jim Crockett Jr., 1944 - 2021.
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho and MJF).
The Death Triangle (Rey Fenix and PAC) win the Casino Tag Battle Royal after Rey Fenix last eliminates Jungle Boy to earn a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championships. During the match, QT Marshall eliminates himself after "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes confronts him for eliminating The Gunn Club (Austin and Colten Gunn) as they try to eliminate Cezar Bononi.
Backstage, Dasha Gonzalez interviews Paul Wight, who says that only a few people - including the person who is getting signed - know who will be signed soon, and hints that nobody can outwork AEW's newest signee.
Paul Walter Hauser, Diamond Dallas Page and Al Snow are seen in the crowd.
Hikaru Shida retains the AEW World Women's Championship against Ryo Mizunami. After the match, Shida is attacked from behind by "The Native Beast" Nyla Rose, who then tries to attack Mizunami. Shida saves Mizunami, but Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Maki Itoh show up to attack both of them. After Reba hits Shida with a crutch, Thunder Rosa runs into the ring, clearing it out.
Double or Nothing is live on pay-per-view on May 30th!
Backstage, Alex Marvez interviews Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy, who are soon attacked by Miro and "Superbad" Kip Sabian. Miro puts Taylor head-first through a window in a nearby door as he and Sabian drag Cassidy and Taylor to the ring. Miro continues taunting Chuck Taylor, saying he could have made him famous but that Chuck refused, and that he can stop everything right now, but Taylor tells the referee to ring the bell.
Miro and "Superbad" Kip Sabian beat Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy) with a Game Over to Chuck Taylor after Miro shoves Orange Cassidy into Penelope Ford, knocking her off the apron.
Backstage, Alex Marvez interviews Chris Jericho and MJF. Jericho says they should be the tag team champions, and says that despite The Inner Circle being depleted, they will survive and adapt after holding a war council on Dynamite next week. MJF says it is time for change and that change can make The Inner Circle a whole lot better.
"Hangman" Adam Page beats Matt Hardy to win Hardy's first quarter 2021 earnings after The Dark Order takes out Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy) and helps Page hit the Buckshot Lariat. After the match, Page has a group hug with The Dark Order as well as a celebratory beer.
"All Ego" Ethan Page is revealed as the sixth participant of the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match.
Scorpio Sky beats Max Caster, Lance Archer, Penta El Zero M, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and "All Ego" Ethan Page in the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match for a shot at the AEW TNT Championship.
Christian Cage - having wrestled more than a month ago in the men's Royal Rumble Match in WWE this year - is announced as AEW's new big signee. Christian Cage signs the contract in the center of the ring, sets the contract down and reveals his new shirt which reads "Out. Work. Everyone."
Taz guests on commentary for the next match.
Darby Allin and Sting beat Team Taz ("The Machine" Brian Cage and "Absolute" Ricky Starks) in a Street Fight.
Kenny Omega retains the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley in an Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match with the help of The Good Brothers ("The Big LG" Doc Gallows and "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson). After the match, The Good Brothers handcuff Moxley's hands behind his back before taking the boots to him, then Omega attacks Moxley with a barbed wire baseball bat. As this happens, the timer on the ring explosions continues to count down. With one minute left, Omega and The Good Brothers leave, but Eddie Kingston runs in to protect Moxley as the ring explodes. (Strangely, the explosions do not go off as planned.) Medical staff check on Moxley after the match.
Quinn McKay hosts a recap of recent events. Matches covered and other things in the episode include:
Rush vs. PCO for the ROH World Championship at Saturday Night At Center Stage and the events leading up to Villain Enterprises ("The Villain" Marty Scurll and PCO) and the team of Nick Aldis and Rush at Free Enterprise
Rey Horus vs. Brody King at Free Enterprises
Brian Zane lists the top five unlikely tag teams in ROH history (Charlie Hoss and Rhett Titus, Low Ki and Homicide, BJ Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs, Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal, Cheeseburger and Jushin "Thunder" Liger).
Quinn McKay interviews La Faccion Ingobernables (Rush, Kenny King, Amy Rose). Rush considers Kenny King and Dragon Lee his brothers and partners, and Rush and Kenny King consider Nick Aldis "useless." Kenny says that Rush does not need partners, he has brothers, and RUsh says that he can beat "The Villain" Marty Scurll and PCO on his own as he makes ROH his empire.
Villain Enterprises ("The Villain" Marty Scurll and PCO) vs. Nick Aldis and Rush at Free Enterprise
We see a run-down of the card for 18th Anniversary.
Dan Joseph retains the UWN Television Championship against Ice Williams.
We hear from Nikko Marquez, who makes it official that at the Birthday Bash on April 25th, Dustin Starr will have his match against Ray Rosas.
Before the next match, Howdy Price says there is talk of people thinking they can hang with the Price Check Ranch, and tells Levi Shapiro to make the next match quick.
Levi Shapiro beats Jack Banning with the iron claw.
Anthony Idol and Frankie Frank beat Vermin (Johnny Yuma and Kevin Martenson) after The Wolf Zaddies (Che Cabrera and Bad Dude Tito) show up on the stage, distracting Vermin.
Ray Rosas beats Jordan Clearwater with a low blow behind the referee's back followed by an inside cradle to advance to the finals of the PP3 Cup Tournament. During the match, Clearwater hits Rosas with the Midas Touch, but Adrian Quest and Andy Brown pull Rosas out of the ring. Clearwater hits all three men with a splash from the top rope and gets Rosas back in the ring, but Rosas hits the low blow behind the referee's back while the referee is checking on Quest and Brown.
The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) beat TM61 (Nick Miller and Shane Thorne) to advance to the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
In footage from earlier today, General Manager William Regal says everyone is in for a treat as far as the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is concerned. Suddenly, Pete Dunne shows up and says the WWE United Kingdom Championship will stay in the UK. Roderick Strong shows up and tells Dunn he wants a rematch. Then, The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly) shows up, and Adam Cole says Roderick is looking for another match to lose. Pete Dunne reminds Adam Cole he has won nothing since he has showed up, and Regal asks if there is a problem. Cole says there is no problem, and The Undisputed Era leaves.
We hear from SAnitY (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain, Nikki Cross). Eric Young says it takes four fingers to make a fist, and that chaos will rule the universe. Alexander Wolfe says the chaos will continue in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and Killian Dain tells Aleister Black that chaos will win tonight.
Bianca Belair beats Drew Renee.
We see footage from last weekend, where Lacey Evans says that she will show the NXT Universe what she is capable of. She says that Dakota Kai is another sad, classless excuse for a woman. She mocks her for being shaken up after her match with "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler, and says she show how much that arm has healed. Baszler shows up, and Evans leaves. Baszler says she has called out Ember Moon for weeks and has gotten nothing but silence, and says that Ember Moon is afraid to face her.
We hear from Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic) at the WWE Performance Center. Last year they were veal; this year, they are nice, aged beef. They say that none of the other teams are ready from them.
Tommaso Ciampa shows up with a crutch in his hand and a brace around his right leg. Ciampa approaches the ring as the crowd boos him and chants "We Want Johnny!" After he gets in the ring, the crowd continues to boo him, keeping him from speaking. The crowd eventually starts chanting "You Suck!" at Ciampa, then boo him again before he can speak. After another "We Want Johnny!" chant, Ciampa angrily throws the microphone down, puts down the crutch and grabs the microphone again, but he is still booed. Ciampa then throws the microphone down a second time, stands on the apron to watch the crowd sing Na Na Hey Hey (The Goodbye Song) at him, then leaves the ring. He takes a Johnny Gargano crowd from the side and rips it in half. He then gets back in the ring, hits the torn sign with his crutch, then storms off to the stage as the crowd boos him again before leaving for good.
Next week: Adam Cole vs. Pete Dunne for the WWE United Kingdom Championship! SAnitY (Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe) vs. Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic! Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. Heavy Machinery (Tucker Knight and Otis Dozovic) in the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic!
Aleister Black beats Killian Dain with Black Mass after a near-fall on a victory roll to counter the Ulster Plantation.
AJ Styles and Randy Orton make their way to the back at the beginning of the show.
Austin Aries shows up to start the show. He interviews himself, saying he punched Neville in the face because he could. He was injured for three months and sitting on commentary, and to get respect, he punched the toughest man in the room. It was obvious it was Neville...until he showed up. As for what's next for Austin Aries, the "expert journalist" is no more, and the "in-ring expert" is here. Neville shows up, saying that Aries has gone off the deep end. He says Aries acted like a fool behind the commentary table, and that he's not on his level.Aries says he's right, as Neville is A-level and he's A-Double level. Neville says he's "Neville level" and that Aries isn't even near it, and then tells him to go back to the commentary table. Aries says he doesn't have to be at commentary to make jokes, and threatens to make one about chin-checking the champ for a second week. Neville says he doesn't have to raise a finger to get rid of him, and says Aries has made enemies backstage. He won't have to fight him, but if Aries wants a fight, he has a locker room who is more than happy to oblige. Aries says that he's written checks all his life and he's been able to cash all of them. He then issues an open challenge to anyone who wants to fight him.
Rich Swann and "Gentleman" Jack Gallagher meet Noam Dar in the locker room. Noam Dar asks about the flowers from last week. They haven't seen them. He asks them to watch his match to see how to get a woman like Alicia Fox.
"Gentleman" Jack Gallagher and Rich Swann beat Ariya Daivari and Noam Dar. After the match, a delivery guy shows up again, this time with chocolates. Noam Dar tells the delivery guy he's late, takes the candies and gives Alicia Fox the chocolates before saying she's sweeter than all the chocolate in the world.
It is announced that Austin Aries will take on Tony Nese in his 205 Live debut.
Tom Phillips interviews The Brian Kendrick. Kendrick says Akira Tozawa is "not learning," and if he wants a fight, he's got it.
Before the next match, The Brian Kendrick says he is a man of his word, and gives him a fight: but against A Bryan Kendrick, not The Brian Kendrick. He then teaches him Lesson Six: "Always read the fine print."
Akira Tozawa beats A Bryan Kendrick.
Dasha Fuentes interviews Neville.He says Austin Aries will regret his career decision. He says the fans have suffered Aries' jokes on commentary, and now Aries will suffer the consequences. He then says that whoever becomes #1 contender for his title next week will have their work cut out for them at WrestleMania.
Austin Aries beats "The Premiere Athlete" Tony Nese in his 205 Live debut.
Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan start tonight's show. Daniel Bryan says that Randy Orton should get an opportunity at Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania, while Shane says the shot should go to Styles. Knowing that they don't always agree, and knowing that nobody has ever successfully abdicated their spot in the main event at WrestleMania. They had the match to determine who would be #1 contender last week, and AJ Styles beat Luke Harper to earn that spot...then Orton stabbed Wyatt in the back by burning down the Waytt Family compound. This is why they have both come to the decision of having a one-on-one match between Randy Orton and AJ Styles, with the winner going to the WWE Championship match against Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania.
AJ Styles confronts Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan for their recent announcement, and chalks it up to an "anti-AJ conspiracy." He says he will face Randy Orton tonight, as he is not afraid of a viper...or them.
Before the next match, James Ellsworth says he is the "mac daddy" of SmackDown Live and that he will wipe the floor with John Cena before introducing Carmella. After John Cena and Nikki Bella arrive and the next match begins, The Miz and Maryse show up, distracting Nikki.
John Cena and Nikki Bella beat James Ellsworth and Carmella with a double STF, then The Miz and Maryse drag Cena and Nikki out of the ring and lay them out. The Miz then gets in the ring and says he couldn't take it anymore, saying he and Maryse signify true love and not Cena and Nikki, especially after Cena had Nikki sign a contract "to be his contract" on Total Divas. He says Cena is emotionless and does everything for the success of his brand, and that he found the lottery ticket in the form of Nikki. He calls Cena and Nikki's lives "plastic," and says it stops now. Maryse grabs the mic and says "Hey, Nikki! Break that, bitch!"
Renee Young interviews Randy Orton, who says nobody will stop him from facing Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania. He says that if he were AJ Styles, he would just...run.
Curt Hawkins calls out Dean Ambrose, saying Dean started something last week that he couldn't finish. Dean shows up, and lays him out. He then says he was going to call out Baron Corbin, but says he's more of a neutered wolf than a lone wolf as he "doesn't have any testicles" and didn't come to the ring like a man. Corbin appears on the TitanTron and says he comes out only when he wants, and that he can't understand why Ambrose is in a rush to receive a beating. He tells Ambrose that when he does give him a beating, he will take everything from him including the Intercontinental title. Dean then says that if Corbin won't come to him, he'll come to Corbin, and heads to the back.
Dean Ambrose looks for Baron Corbin backstage...
Dasha Fuentes interviews Mojo Rawley, who says he watched Zack Ryder's WrestleMania moment and wants to make one of his own. Mojo then announces he will be the first person from SmackDown Live in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Dolph Ziggler shows up and tells Mojo he isn't owed a WrestleMania moment and that he has to earn one. Mojo reminds Ziggler that he doesn't have one, either. Ziggler tells him not to stretch too hard reaching for the brass ring, then walks away. Curt Hawkins tries to fight Dean Ambrose on the way back, but Ambrose hits Hawkins with Dirty Deeds.
Baron Corbin gets the jump on Dean Ambrose backstage with a human shield and a metal pipe. He then pins Dean Ambrose to the floor with a forklift and tries to choke him out with it, and referees and officials separate both men before checking on Ambrose.
Alexa Bliss and Mickie James show up for Alexa's "Blissertation." Alexa Bliss says Naomi, Carmella or Becky Lynch will face her at WrestleMania. Becky shows up and tells Alexa to shut her face, then tells her she will take back the SmackDown Women's title at WrestleMania. Natalya shows up and tells Becky to step aside, saying she and Alexa had a really good talk last week and came to an understanding, but Alexa tells her that she's the worst there is, the worst there was and the worst there ever will be. Mickie James says Natalya and Becky are ruining the moment and that she will get the title shot, saying they had a deal. Becky is amazed that Alexa just handed Mickie a title shot. So is Natalya, who calls Mickie James "ugly." General Manager Daniel Bryan shows up, gives the Blissertation a failing grade and says Alexa gave him an idea. He makes Alexa defend the SmackDown Women's Championship against the entire Women's Divison on the SmackDown roster. He then sets up a tag match between the team of Alexa and Mickie and the team of Becky and Natalya, and it starts right now.
Alexa Bliss and Mickie James beat Natalya and Becky Lynch after Natalya hits Becky Lynch with a release German Suplex for not tagging her in. After the match, Mickie James hits Alexa Bliss with the Mick Kick for tagging herself in to get the pinfall.
Austin Aries advertises his appearance on 205 Live, saying he will answer the fans' questions about his attack on Neville.
Before the next match, AJ Styles calls SmackDown Live the house that AJ Styles built, and that he has gotten nothing but disrespect from Commissioner Shane McMahon and General Manager Daniel Bryan. He also says that Randy Orton got rewarded for burning another man's house down. He says that Shane, D-Bry and Orton will not keep him from the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania.
Randy Orton beats AJ Styles to become #1 contender to the WWE Championship and face Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania.
On Talking Smack, Apollo Crews announces he will enter the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
After SmackDown Live went off the air, AJ Styles takes his anger out on Commissioner Shane McMahon and the production crew. The footage is then shown on Talking Smack.
On Talking Smack, The Miz continues to go on at length about how unoriginal John Cena is, going so far as to say that Cena stole the Death Valley Driver from Tommy Dreamer for his finisher.
