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.
It is revealed that Mackenzie Morgan has been attacked with a steel chair backstage and is out of the Trios Tournament finals.
Dustin Starr interviews The Hollywood Clique at the announce desk. "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock says Dustin Starr blames him for everything, and when Dustin mentions that Diana Taylor is conspicuous by her absence, Blaylock and the Clique all insist they had nothing to do with the attack on Mackenzie Morgan. Blaylock then addresses the upcoming Grind City Rumble, and says Van Viciouss is not only going to win the whole thing and that he and the Clique will be in movies. When Dustin doubts this, Blaylock chalks it up to jealousy. Blaylock says that the Clique are "good people" and that the fans need to listen to them.
Van Viciouss beats Kid Wrestling. After the match, Dustin Starr interviews "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock, who says that Van Viciouss won fair and square, then he and Viciouss agree that Viciouss will win the Grind City Rumble before Blaylock plugs his "Dustin Starr Sucks" hat.
Martin - accompanied by Jennifer Justice - beats Ray Collins.
We look back on Jerry Jarrett's appearance in Memphis Wrestling.
Dustin Starr interviews "The Best of the Best" Austin Lane at the announce desk. Lane calls Matt Williams' bluff, saying he did nothing but hire people to hurt him. He then says he was not gone because he injured him, but because he was helping out in his community. He then says he is glad to be back, then says that while Big Jack is a bad man, he was undefeated for Memphis Wrestling's first year and he won the second Grind City Rumble, and that Big Jack has no heart like he does. He then dares Big Jack to take one more paycheck from Matt Williams and bring Matt Williams to the ring with him as he challenges him to a match, and says that when he is done with Big Jack, it will be one job Big Jack should never have taken.
The Golden Savages (Gio Savage and Cassandra Golden) beat The Skimahorns (Brad Skimahorn and Uncle Mikey) after it becomes apparent that Brad Skimahorn would rather not cooperate with Uncle Mikey anymore. After the match, Mikey and Brad argue, and Brad shoves Mikey down. Dustin Starr interviews Mikey and Brad, and Brad says everything was fine and he and Briar Skimahorn were on top of the world before Uncle Mikey showed up and the fans started cheering for him. He says it is about him, not Mikey, and calls him "Mid-Card Mikey" while calling himself "Main Event Bradley." Brad storms off, and Mikey says he and the fans are still here for Brad even if his head is not on straight.
"The Chosen One" Zay Washington makes an unscheduled appearance with a desecrated Memphis Wrestling Internet Championship. Dustin Starr interviews him at the announce desk. Zay says he has been cheated and made into a fool for the last few months, then says he is here to "beat somebody's ass" and that they know who they are. He then issues as open challenge for the Internet Championship. Tim Bosby answers.
Tim Bosby beats "The Chosen One" Zay Washington to become the Memphis Wrestling Internet Champion! Justin Case and "Problem Child" Aaron Roberts show up shortly after the start of the match. Later in the match, Justin Case distracts the referee so Aaron Roberts can hit Zay Washington in the back of the head with a can of spray paint. This allows Tim Bosby to hit an avalanche belly-to-belly for the win and the title. After the match, Aaron Roberts and Justin Case attack Zay Washington, and Tim Bosby watches on before deciding to have nothing to do with the beatdown. Afterwards, Aaron Roberts produces a pair of scissors and cuts Zay Washington's hair.
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviews Keith Lee when Shane Taylor suddenly shows up and asks Keith Lee what is up with him leaving family before stating the business between them is far from over and that they settle it at Final Battle. Shane Taylor leaves, then Swerve Strickland shows up, and Keith Lee asks Swerve if he can even count on him before he himself leaves.
We see the aftermath of Preston "10" Vance turning on The Dark Order.
Renee Paquette interviews The Acclaimed ("Platinum" Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) and "Daddy Ass" Billy Gunn in the ring. Bowens mentions what happened with Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal, then says they are either jealous because everyone loves The Acclaimed or because they want a tag team title shot, then tells Lethal and Jarrett to wait in line. Bowens then says that there has been a tag team that has been worthy of a title shot for a long time, and that the people want them to fight the best. Suddenly, The Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn) show up. Austin says that if The Acclaimed want the best ag team in the world, then they are looking at them. Suddenly, Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh, and Sonjay calls Austin and Colten "a couple of ass boys." Sonjay then says that The Gunns will see why they are the best tag team in AEW when they beat Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy), then Billy Gunn interrupts and insists that when they want the best, they mean the best. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) then shows up. The Acclaimed and FTR then shake hands in the ring.
We see a video package about the feud between Hikaru Shida and The Bunny.
Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett beat Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy).
In backstage footage from earlier today, Renee Paquette interviews Saraya. Saraya says she had chills at Full Gear after five long years of thinking she would never wrestle again and that she was glad to have her brother in the front row. She says that Full Gear was a special moment for the women's division across the board, and while she is proud of everyone, she wants the women's world championship soon.
Athena beats Dani Mo. After the match, Athena tosses Dani Mo out of the ring and continues to attack her on the ramp before throwing her into the ring steps. Referees have to force her to head to the back, but not before Athena knocks Dani Mo into the steps again and nearly attacks Aubrey Edwards again.
We hear from "Rock Hard' Juice Robinson, who challenges Samoa Joe for the Ring of Honor World Television Championship at Final Battle. He says that Joe may be the king of television now, but kings get dethroned.
Mark Henry interviews The Factory and Best Friends. QT Marshall wants his first championship opportunity to have no shenanigans, then says Best Friends take nothing seriously after seeing them dressed like lumberjacks. Danhausen, Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta brandish axes and ask QT Marshall if this is funny. Orange Cassidy then ask if axes can be brought to the ring. Mark Henry says "absolutely not." Orange Cassidy asks for a few more seconds to speak, but Mark Henry declares it time for the main event.
We hear from Darby Allin, who says that he has settled all his scores and that he wants the TNT Championship again. Darby says that the match will happen with Wardlow and Sting banned from ringside so it is truly one-on-one, and that he is not leaving without the TNT title.
Orange Cassidy retains the AEW All-Atlantic Championship against QT Marshall in a lumberjack match despite interference by Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford near the end of the match. (Two of the lumberjacks are Kevin Thorne - complete with the vampire get-up - and Nate Webb, neither of whom are mentioned on commentary on TNT and only on FITE.) During the match, "All Ego" Ethan Page and Matt Hardy have an argument after Hardy simply rolls Orange Cassidy back in the ring, and Ethan Page sends Matt Hardy back to the back and threatens to fire Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy) if they head to the back with him. After the match, Orange Cassidy brawls with Kip Sabian on the ramp as all the lumberjacks brawl with each other. The lights then go out, and when they come back on, The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, Buddy Matthews, Julia Hart) is in the ring and on the ramp. The House of Black lay out whoever they can get their hands on, and Serpentico is hit with the Dante's Inferno after Malakai Black tells Buddy Matthews and Brody King not to attack Ortiz. The House of Black then go after everyone else to end the show.
Backstage, Joe Gacy spreads the word of The Schism (Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, Jagger Reid, Ava Raine) to Akira Tozawa. A scared Tozawa leaves, then Joe Gacy preaches to Cedric Alexander when he shows up. Gacy then that in another world and another time, he would have welcomed him with open arms, but things are a little different as he promised The Schism that he would win tonight and make an example for the greater good. Cedric says Gacy is making a lot of assumptions of victory and promises that he cannot keep, but Joe Gacy simply thanks Cedric for his sacrifice and leaves, with Cedric wondering what Gacy meant by "sacrifice."
Cedric Alexander beats Joe Gacy after during the backspring lariat and rolling him up for the pin and the win. After the match, Joe Gacy extends his arms as if for a hug, but Cedric simply leaves the ring.
Backstage, Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) interviews Johnny Swinger (Johnny Swinger). Swinger says bringing the gold home would mean more money and more women with a title that was made for him, then says that Mikey Swinger is watching from the hospital and tells hiim that he will bringing the Exciting Division Championship home.
"The Mysterious" Mr. E (Jackson Stone) beats Lazer after pushing the referee away so he can spit a liquid into Lazer's face.
The introduction to the show sets the stage for Rival Survival '85. Giuseppe Scovelli Jr. (Josh Mathews) tells his father Giuseppe "Pops" Scovelli Sr. (Scott D'Amore) that he knows the financial toll that Impact Provincial Wrestling Federation is taking on him, and says that he has an idea to save the company: selling his shares in the company to Walter Chestnut (David Penzer), whom Pops does not trust. Pops says that he has cut a television deal with a superstation known as "AXS." Giuseppe Jr. mentions that he has already sold his shares in the company, and Pops says that he will get the shares back if his team of IPWF wrestlers can beat Chestnut's team of wrestlers from Great Lakes Unionized Wrestling (GLUW) in a four-on-four match called the "Rival Survival" match, but if his team loses, then he will sell his shares of the comapny to Chestnut. Pops still insists that they will keep the company and it will live forever. Meanwhile, Walter Chestnut says that the Scovellis have no idea how to run a wrestling company, but he does, and now he wants the company and the television deal. He says GLUW is "a thousand times better" than IPWF, then introduces his team.
As the ring announcer announces the main event, IPWF's resident doctor Ross shows up and mentions something to the ring announcer. The ring announcer then mentions that "Downtown" Danny Brown (Willie Mack) will not be here tonight because his tires were slashed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Giuseppe Scovelli Jr. then shows up and admits that he got his family's company into trouble, then says that he will be on the IPWF team and that the company will live forever.
Rapid Delivery Pete (Rich Swann) beats Monty Moonlight (Zicky Dice) when Moonlight tries to use Pete's pizzas as a weapon only to sent head-first into the pizzas with a drop toe hold.
Backstage, Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) interviews Bill Ding (Trey Miguel). Bill Ding measures Petticoat before saying that he is not an "evil architect," the only evil person is Jack Hammer (Andrew Everett) and that his designs are flawless. He says he will climb the pole and clock Jack Hammer out for good.
Bill Ding (Trey Miguel) beats Jack Hammer (Andrew Everett) in a Clock Out Match. (In this match, a hole puncher is one pole and a time card is on the other; one must get both the hole puncher and the time card and punch a hole in the time card to force their opponent to clock out for good.)
Otto Ottoman (Tom Hannifan) interviews Walter Chestnut (David Penzer) and Team GLUW ("The Devil Demon" Devon Demon [Crowbar], Neptune [Shera], Manfred the Mad Mammal [The Beer City Bruiser], Lord Humongous [Big Kon]). When asked if he is responsible for the slashing of Downtown Daddy Brown's (Willie Mack) tires, Penzer takes it as character assassination and asks why he would assassinate a vehicle when he has Team GLUW at his side. He then says that if there if anyone who does not believe that he will own IPWF after they win, all they have to do is look at Team GLUW, then boasts that he will win and become the new owner of IPWF. Team GLUW then puts a GLUW (Great Lakes Union Wrestling) banner over the IPWF logo on the apron, then Walter Chestnut says that after his team wins, Giuseppe Scovelli Jr. will be lucky if he sells programs at his spots shows and that Ottoman will be fired.
Before the next match, The $304,000 Man (R.D. Evans) says that fortune favors him now that Pierre Trudeau is gone as Prime Minister, then tells Georgia Cobb that fortune does not favor her, as just like McGruff the Crime Dog takes a bite out of crime, her opponent - Wanda the Werewoman (Savannah Evans) will take a bit out of Cobb and leave her howling at the moon.
Georgia Cobb (Jordynne Grace) beats Wanda the Werewoman (Savannah Evans) after knocking The $304,000 Man (R.D. Evans) off the apron.
It's time for Tunnel of Love. Ladybird Johnston (Jessicka Havok) interviews Tori Nailbiter (Rosemary). Johnston questions Tori's decision to go from being a rock 'n roller to a pro wrestler, but Tori says she wants to do this, for when one conquers the rock 'n roll world, the only thing better than music fans are the fans of IPWF. Johnston says that ever since Tori has decided to become a pro wrestler, everyone has fought tooth and nail over who wants to be her manager and asks Tori whom she will pick. Suddenly, "The Hit Maker" Sebastian Baker and usty Iron (Gia Miller) show up. Sebastian says that rock 'n roll legends are better than "North Carolina nobodies," and that he knows both the rock 'n roll and wrestling business before telling Toni she belongs in The Hit Factory. He says he has done wonders for Rip Rayzor ("Inevitable" Ace Austin) and Rusty Iron since they joined, then asks Toni "Whaddya say?" Toni mentions Rip Rayzor losing a match and going to jail for attempted murder, which Rusty Iron takes offense to before saying she will iron out her disrespect when she joins The Hit Factory. Toni says Sebastian needs her more than she needs Sebastian, and that she has no intention of joining The Hit Factory before saying she has already made her choice. Sebastian says nobody knows rock 'n roll and the wrestling business like he does, then Toni says she will bring them out later tonight when she meets "Rusty Pinkeye" in the ring. Rusty Iron storms off.
Backstage, Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) says that he would never let Great Lakes Unionized Wrestling put their banner on the ring apron, then interviews Brian "Bone" Crunchin (Brian Myers) after we see backstage footage of Crunchin finding out that GI Broski (Matt Cardona) has been laid out by The Sunday Morning Express (Editor-In-Chief and The Paper Boy [Chris Sabin and Jack Price]) from last week. Crunchin says that GI Broski will be out for over a month after being hit by a bicycle, then says he has tried to find a replacement for GI Broski but could not find one. He then says he will go at this one alone.
Before the next match, The Paper Boy (Jack Price) tells Editor-In-Chief) Chris Sabin that the people of North Carolina don't know how to read, then Editor-In-Chief says that tonight was supposed to be a tag team match, but the card is subject to change and GI Broski (Matt Cardona) is not here tonight. He then says Broski is "chicken" and not actually hurt, then dares Brian "Bone" Crunchin to take them on solo so he can find out why The Sunday Morning Express always gets the scoop.
Brian "Bone" Crunchin (Brian Myers) beats The Sunday Morning Express (Editor-in-Chief and The Paper Boy [Chris Sabin and Jack Price]) in a two-on-one handicap match. During the match, "The Dynamic Dude" Shane Douglas (Shane Douglas) jumps in to become Crunchin's tag team partner and help Crunchin win the match.
We hear from The Leaping Lords (Duncan and Declan [Archibald Peck and Matthew Rehwoldt]). who come from a long line of lords. Declan says they will leap over the competition to the tag team championships and that they will be in action next week.
Before the next match, Monsieur Baguette ("Speedball" Mike Bailey) introduces himself to the crowd before saying that Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a dump and that the people are nothing, and that he will teach them to live, laugh and make love to a woman before demanding his opponent so that he may teach him a lesson.
Monsieur Baguette ("Speedball" Mike Bailey) beats "Ornery" Otis Oates (Deaner) after grabbing a broom from underneath the ring, throwing it into the ring and distracting the referee so that he can hit Oates with a loaded baguette containing a metal pipe.
Otto Ottoman (Tom Hannifan) makes fun of Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) before interviewing 1980 Rookie of the Year Tommy Dreamer (Tommy Dreamer). He says feuds in wrestling are started over a simple thing and how a fight over a parking space led to him getting laid out in the parking lot, then talks about how Pelvis Wesley (Heath) and Colonel Corn (John E. Bravo) have been running the territory for a long time and have put a bounty on him, and how he got a call from "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes telling him he has his back if he needs him. Dreamer says he told Dusty that he would take care of this on his own, then says that if he does not beat Pelvis Wesley, he will leave IPWF forever. However, if he wins, he will get five minutes in the ring with Colonel Corn and take it to him like it has never been taken to him before.
Tommy Dreamer (Tommy Dreamer) beats Pelvis Wesley (Heath) after Wesley almost inadvertently knocks Colonel Corn (John E. Bravo) off the ring apron. As per pre-match stipulation, Tommy Dreamer gets five minutes in the ring with Colonel Corn.
Colonel Corn (John E. Bravo) beats Tommy Dreamer. During the match, Dreamer gets Corn in the Cobra Clutch, but Pelvis Wesley (Heath) gets on the ring apron and pokes Dreamer in the eye. Colonel Corn ends up on top of Dreamer when Dreamer falls, and inadvertently gets the pinfall victory.
We hear from The Auto-Bodies (Smokey Muffler and Busty Transmission [Mickie James and ODB]). Smokey mentions that they have a match tonight against Volcanic Activity (Lucy Luau and Tina Tiki ["The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw and Tasha Steelz]), and Busty says that all she saw was four flat tires. Smokey says that Volcanic Activity have not been passing their emissions inspections and need to get it together, and Busty says they need an oil change. Smokey says that Volcanic Activity have a few lugnuts loose if they think they have a chance against them.
The Auto-Bodies (Smokey Muffler and Busty Transmission [Mickie James and ODB]) beat Volcanic Activity (Lucy Luau and Tina Tiki ["The Quintessential Diva" Gisele Shaw and Tasha Steelz]) after Smokey Muffler hits Lucy Luau with a wrench.
Backstage, Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) interviews Gisueppe "Pops" Scovelli Sr. (Scott D'Amore), Colt McCoy (Eddie Edwards), Frank the Butcher (Rhino) and Tim Burr (Josh Alexander). Pops tells Walter Chesnutt (David Penzer) may be able to pull stuff with his son Giuseppe Scovelli Jr. (Josh Mathews) because he is wet behind the ears, but IPWF has the very best and Giuseppe Jr. will make things right, because Chestnutt and GLUW do not have a chance against them. Colt McCoy guarantees that Chestnut is the one who slashed "Downtown" Daddy Brown's (Wille Mack) tires and is a true scumbag who will knock people out with his bad breath, eat his boogers and put his gum on the seat for someone else to sit on. He says Chestnut cannot be trusted to run IPWF. Tim Burr says they fight for IPWF and chop down "the GLUW monsters," and Frank the Butcher asks if someone said "chop" before leading a "chop" chant.
"Bully" Biff Knuckles (John Skyler) is the mystery third opponent in the IPWF Exciting Division Championship Match.
Johnny Swinger (Johnny Swinger) beats "Fleet Feet" Keaton Fox (Jason Hotch) with an inside cradle as he has "Bully" Biff Knuckles (John Skyler) in a figure four leg lock to become the first-ever IPWF Exciting Division Champion! During the match, Knuckles steals one of Fox's trainers and puts it in his backpack, but Swinger grabs it out of the backpack and throws it back to Fox.
Before the next match, Tori Nailbiter reveals her new manager: "Rock 'n Roll" Ricky Morton (Ricky Morton).
Tori Nailbiter (Rosemary) beats Rusty Iron (Gia Miller) after "Rock 'n Roll" Ricky Morton (Ricky Morton) beats up "The Hit Maker" Sebastian Baker (Jimmy Jacobs) at ringside while Tori Nailbiter keeps Rusty Iron from striking with a foreign object.
Otto Ottoman (Tom Hannifan) interviews Sonny Sanders (Sami Callihan), shows up with his head in bandages. Ottoman says he is glad that Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) is not doing the interview, as there would be an interviewee who cannot speak and an interviewer who cannot see. Sanders says he is in a bad mood, and he tells the fans to keep their mouths shut and not to test him. He says he is done being disrespected after DJ 2Large (Moose) broke his jaw, then Dexter Petticoat shows up and goes after Otto Ottoman before chasing him to the back. Sanders then re-introduces himself before introducing his newest talent acquistion: "The Real Nature Boy" Buck Humphrey (Kaleb with a K), accompanied by "The Perfect 10" Baby Doll (Baby Doll). Humphrey says he has heard that Ric Flair has been travelling around the Mid-Atlantic calling himself "The Nature Boy," then says that if he wants to steal something from him, he can still something from Flair, and he has "The Perfect 10" as his valet. He also says that he is like the Energizer Bunny and that he keeps going and going, and that in 40 years, people will still be chanting his name, unlike Flair. Humphrey says he will make Winston-Salem, North Carolina "Humphrey country" starting with DJ 2Large before repeatedly yelling "Wow!"
DJ 2Large (Moose) beats "The Real Nature Boy" Buck Humphrey (Kaleb with a K). During the match, "The Perfect 10" Baby Doll (Baby Doll) distracts the referee so that Sonny Sanders (Sami Callihan) can hold DJ 2Large down so that Humphrey can hit 2Large with Sonny's tennis racket. This backfires when DJ 2Large ducks and Humphrey inadvertently whacks Sonny in the head with the rack, allowing 2Large to hit the discus lariat for the win. After the match, DJ 2Large dances with Baby Doll before heading backstage with her.
Next week: The Leaping Lords (Duncan and Declan [Archibald Peck and Matthew Rehwoldt]) vs. Xcessive Force (Pummel and Plunder [D'Lo Brown and Fallah Bahh])! Dexter Petticoat (Crazzy Steve) vs. Otto Ottoman (Tom Hannifan) in a First Blood Match!
Team IPWF (Colt McCoy [Eddie Edwards], Tim Burr ["The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander], Frank The Butcher [Rhino]), Giuseppe Scovelli Jr. [Josh Mathews]) beat Team GLUW ("The Devil Demon" Devon Damon [Crowbar], Neptune [Shera], Lord Humongous [Big Kon], Manfred The Mad Mammal [Beer City Bruiser]) in an eight-man elimination tag match to save IPWF and keep it in the hands of the Scovelli family. During the match, Giuseppe Jr. goes down with a hurt ankle early on, and Giuseppe "Pops" Scovelli Sr. (Scott D'Amore) subs for him late in the match. Tim Burr is also eliminated for using his axe against Lord Humongous. Near the end of the match, Colt McCoy inadvertently takes out the referee with a corner splash, but Giuseppe Jr. counts the double pinfall for Colt McCoy and Pops to get Team IPWF the win. After the match, Colt McCoy gets his hands on Walter Chestnut (David Penzer), and gets him in the ring where he puts Chestnut's dollar sign medallion around McCoy's neck before slamming Chestnut down with a Falcon Arrow. McCoy and Pops then floss with the GLUW banner on the ring apron before Frank the Butcher chops the banner in half and Tim Burr blows his nose on it to end the show.
In backstage footage from earlier today, Kelly Kincaid interviews Tayvion Heights. Tayvion says he was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado and trained to be a Greco-Roman wrestler, which leads to him being an eight-time team member for Team USA, a Worlds Bronze medalist and a 2020 Olympian. He says Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo will get stacked, because he is here to play for the A-team.
The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Solo Sikoa) head to the ring to start tonight's show. Before the next match, Sami Zayn declares that The Bloodline levelled up at Survivor Series, but Jey Uso reminds Sami Zayn that tonight is about him, as he was the MVP and the fans were chanting for "Sami Uso." Jimmy, Jey and Sami all do the handshake before The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch) show up. Sheamus says he hates to beat the bollocks out of a fellow ginger, then says it is fight night.
Sami Zayn beats Sheamus after Jimmy Uso tries to get in the ring, allowing Jey Uso to hit a Superkick on Sheamus in the midst of a three-on-two brawl between the rest of The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa) and the rest of The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland and Butch).
We hear from Santos Escobar, who says that Legado del Fantasma (Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro, Zelina Vega) has thrived since entering SmackDown and that he will make sure the World Cup is in the hands of a perfect enterprise, as it will shine a light on Mexico and lucha libre. Zelina Vega says that this will prove that Santos Escobar is the best that the business has to offer, and that when Escobar is Intercontinental Champion, it will give Legado del Fantasma a position of power in WWE. Escobar then says that it is time for Ricochet's fairy tale story to come to an end.
Backstage, Megan Morant interviews Kofi Kingston. Kofi Kingston declares for the men's Royal Rumble match, then predicts that Ricochet will win the World Cup tonight. Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser then show up and says Kofi's opinion doesn't matter and that he and Xavier Woods are online more than in the ring. Kofi cuts to the chase and says he is ready to take any member of Imperium (Gunther, Kaiser, Vinci) on, then Gunther shows up and says he will take him on tonight.
We hear from Bray Wyatt, who says that these days, everyone is sophisticated and has manners, but once upon a time, we were all animals. He then says nobody wants to talk about the primal instincts everyone has so as not to be labelled as freaks. Bray Wyatt says he did not attack LA Knight, then says that if he did do it, everyone would know, because there would have been nothing of LA Knight left.
Before the next match, Emma is met by Madcap Moss. Emma admits that five years is a long time to be gone from WWE, but Madcap Moss says it does not matter how long she has been gone and that she helped make the change that changed the game. He then tells Emma that she belongs here, then Emma kisses Moss before heading to the ring.
"The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beats Emma with the Kirifuda Clutch after knocking her off the top rope. After the match, Baszler attacks Emma again, but as she is about to stomp Emma's elbow, Shotzi runs into the ring and fights Baszler. Baszler gets the upper hand, then prepares to stomp Shotzi's arm before Raquel Rodriguez shows up. Baszler leaves the ring as Raquel gets in.
We see a vignette of Lacey Evans training with fellow Marines in an attempt to go back to basics. (WWE thanks the U.S. Department of Defense in the lower-left corner.)
We hear from Ricochet, who says that winning the World Cup means everything, and if this is the route that he has to take for his rematch against Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship, then he will be the winner of the World Cup.
Gunther beats Kofi Kingston. During the match, Braun Strowman shows up and takes out Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci.
Backstage, as The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn) head out for the night, Jimmy Uso tells Sami Zayn to take Solo Sikoa with him as he has made enemies. After Sami and Solo leave, Jimmy and Jey Uso agree that they can trust Sami, then Sheamus shows up and attacks them with a shillelagh.
Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky) head to the ring. Bayley talks about how the three of them were in the WarGames cage for 95 minutes and 19 seconds and that it does not matter to the fans who cheered for Becky Lynch, who won after being in the cage for "a cup of coffee." Bayley then says nobody in the SmackDown roster wanted to step up to them, and as the longest-reigning women's champion in SmackDown history, that disappointed her. As Bayley says Damage CTRL are here to be role models, Liv Morgan shows up and says Bayley has a problem with the SmackDown women's division and that she is here to address it by fighting a three-on-one brawl. Liv gets past Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky to get to Bayley, but the numbers game takes over. Suddenly, Tegan Nox makes a sudden return to WWE and fights off Damage CTRL until the numbers game takes over once again. Suddenly, Liv Morgan strikes back with a Kendo stick, and Tegan Nox hits Bayley with the Shiniest Wizard.
We hear from Karrion Kross and Scarlott. Kross says the universe is one giant storm of chaos and randomness, and that he has embraced this truth while others struggle with it. He says that this puts others in places they do not want to be, and that he had to teach Drew McIntyre and Madcap Moss not to walk against the wind. He then says it is time to take someone else into the eye of the storm: Rey Mysterio.
We hear from Uncle Howdy, who says that he knows Bray Wyatt and how he feels, and that it is all fiction. He then says "Revel in what you are."
Zelina Vega guests on commentary for the next match (which lasts until she gets ejected for arguing with the referee after Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro get ejected for interfering in the match).
Ricochet beats Santos Escobar to win the World Cup Tournament and win the World Cup. After the match, Ricochet holds up the World Cup, then Gunther shows up to end the show.
This week on The SmackDown LowDown: The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch)! Shotzi and Raquel Rodriguez! Ricochet!
In a preview of Throwback Throwdown III, Ladybird Johnston (Jessicka Havok) beats Miss Bea Haven (Alisha Edwards) in IPWF.
Bully Ray heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Bully Ray admits that he is a little nervous, not for himself, but for the fans, as he is from New York and they are from Kentucky and the fans might not understand him. He threatens to smack a kid in the front row in the face and threatens to beat up someone else for holding a "F U Bully" sign, then asks the fans why they are angry for him when he did nothing wrong and did what he said to everyone he would do. He also says that he told "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander that if he shook his hand, he accepted the match, which is what Josh Alexander did. He then says that does not bother him because Alexander is a great professional wrestler and a credit to Impact Wrestling and the business. Bully admits that Alexander reminds him of Kurt Angle, and tells the fans that he agrees with them, but says that as good as Alexander is in the ring, he is not smart like him, and Bully Ray says that he is one of the smartest guys in the entire industry. He then says that Josh forgot who he was and that the fans forgot who he was, then tells everyone that he ran Hulk Hogan out of Impact Wrestling and beat Sting to ensure he could never challenge for the Impact World Championship again. He then says that he "screwed Brooke Hogan" and put Dixie Carter through a table, then says that he "built this frickin' place," and asks why Alexander would allow his wife to be in the same building as him and put her in harm's way by putting her that close to him. Bully Ray then says that Josh Alexander will be out for a few weeks due to the trauma of what happened at Over Drive, then tells Alexander to take as long as he needs as long as he shows up at Hard To Kill. As Bully says that he will be a three-time Impact World Champion, Rich Swann runs into the ring and attacks Bully Ray, even as Bully tries to get out of the ring. Bully and Swann's match then starts early.
Rich Swann beats Bully Ray by disqualification after Bully Ray hits Swann with a chain. After the match, Bully Ray grabs a chair and chases the referee away before hitting Swann with the chair. He then tears up the "F U Bully" sign in the front row before hitting Swann with the chair again. More referees show up, but Bully Ray threatens them all with the chair before striking Swann a third time. He then pulls a zip tie out from underneath the ring and ties Swann's left wrist to the bottom rope. As Bully is about to hit Swann with the chair again, Tommy Dreamer shoves Bully Ray, knocking the chair out of Bully's hands as he tells Bully Ray to knock it off. Dreamer then confronts Bully Ray in the ring, then Bully Ray confronts Dreamer for standing up to Swann and shoves him down. Bully grabs the chain as Scott D'Amore shows up, and D'Amore confronts Bully. D'Amore hits Bully with his jacket, and even goes so far as to unbutton his cuff links. Bully is about to hit D'Amore with a chair when Dreamer steps between them, and D'Amore throws things at Bully and overpowers the referees just to try to get to him. As D'Amore tries to destroy the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Trophy and grabs a chair, Bully Ray tries to get on the microphone, but D'Amore calls him "a piece of shit." Bully Ray tells D'Amore he agrees that he is "a piece of shit," and reminds D'Amore he hired him. D'Amore throws a steel chair at Bully as Bully walks up the ramp, and Bully stands on the ramp and smiles.
We hear from Trey Miguel, who says that people are not happy with him and that he doesn't give a damn, and that he did what he did best and got back what is his. He says that people see the past in the X Division Championship, then says that it is time to see the future in it by spray painting his logo on the front plate with neon green spray paint.
Moose beats Bhupinder Gujjar. After the match, Moose attacks Gujjar and throws him out of the ring, then asks the fans if they know who he is before saying he is the guy who told everyone who Bully Ray. He then says all the "Kentucky fried idiots" did not listen to him when he said that Bully Ray would screw "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander like he did at Bound For Glory, then says he did not lose at Over Drive because he was right. Moose then says he does not want to hear Bully Ray's name and does not want to hear the fans say his name, which inadvertently summons Joe Hendry. Moose asks Hendry what he is doing in his ring, and Hendry tells Moose he called him out. Moose says he was talking about Bully Ray and was handling serious business, but Hendry reminds him of the "say his name" bit. Moose says the fans may be here to have a good time, but he is not in the mood, and he threatens to attack Hendry if he does not leave. Hendry says he knows a cry for help when he sees one. Moose goes for a cheap shot, and while Hendry blocks it, Moose hits the pump kick.Hendry gets right back up, and when Moose rushes at Hendry, Hendry dodges, and Moose runs into a Gargoyle Spear by a now-recovered Bhupinder Gujjar.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews "Speedball" Mike Bailey. Bailey says that if it were not for Kenny King, he would be X Division Champion again. He knows what it is like to be a current and former champion, and it will not be that way for long. He says that Kenny King does not faze him, and that his goals in Impact Wrestling remain exactly as they are.
We see a video package for Mickie James vs. "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo.
Frankie Kazarian beats Steve Maclin by disqualification after Maclin hits him with a chair. After the match, Maclin continues to attack Kazarian with the chair and screams "Where's my damn World title shot?" He then hits Kazarian with a K.I.A. into the chair.
Backstage, Tasha Steelz cannot believe she and Savannah Evans lost the tag team titles and wants to know where Savannah was. Savannah says she was trying to keep her from being pinned. Tasha takes this as Savannah thinking she has everything all figured out, then tells her that she can be the one to face Taya Valkyrie next week while she sits back so Savannah can supposedly show her how it is done.
Backstage, Gia Miller interviews Eddie Edwards, who says things have changed and that PCO has paid for what he has done. He then says the last year has taken a toll on his marriage and that it is important for him to bury the past. He refuses to talk about PCO further, and says he does not regret anything he has done in the past year because he did it all to build a better future for himself in Impact Wrestling that he is now focused on. When Eddie leaves, he is confronted by Delirious.
Backstage, Heath and Rhino are met by The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley). Both teams agree that The Motor City Machine Guns deserve an Impact World tag team title shot, and Rhino says that he will rip the Guns apart. Heath laughs and says "I love that man."
Mickie James beats "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purrazzo after Deonna grabs Mickie's tights only for Mickie to roll her up and grab Deonna's tights in response, continuing "The Last Rodeo." After the match, Jordynne Grace shows up. She says she knows that Mickie James wanted to work her way back to the top, then says nobody can dispute that she has done exactly that. She says that both of them have taken care of their business, and says it is time that they face off for the first time ever for the Knockouts World Championship at Hard To Kill. Mickie shakes Jordynne's hand, then both women have a staredown.
We see Eric Young and Deaner in the prison they have been seen in in the past. Deaner and Eric Young look back on why Deaner joined Violent by Design. Deaner says he wanted to eliminate the sickness, which is signified by failure. When Eric Young asked if he would do anything to eliminate the sickness, even if the sickness was in the room they were in, Deaner hesitates, then says yes. Eric Young says "As would I." Both of them then fight over a shiv in the center of the table. Deaner asks why he has done this, and Eric Young says they have been beset by failure. Deaner says they can fix this, and Eric Young says he can do that by killing the sickness. Deaner grabs the shiv, and Eric Young tells him to eliminate the sickness and embrace the violence. Deaner then stabs Eric Young with the shiv, and we see Deaner with blood on his hand and his face. Deaner smiles a twisted smile, and the show ends. (Shortly after the vignette airs, it is announced that the vignette was indeed made to remove him from Impact storylines, as he was returning to WWE.)
