Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 3, 2023

Triple H heads to the ring to start tonight's show. After praising WrestleMania for living up to its name, he thanks every performer that has ever graced a WWE ring and put their body on the line every single week and the staff and crew that make WWE's events possible, those behind the scenes for making the spectacle of what WWE does possible, and of course, the fans. He says that when WWE makes the news, that is all everyone wants to talk about, and says that the WWE that everyone loves and put over 160,000 to the rafters last weekend is going nowhere and they will be there week in, week out, venue after venue, because they are WWE, then, now, forever and together. Triple H then asks the fans to help him acknowledge one more person: Roman Reigns, who shows up with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa. Triple H shakes hands with all three men as he heads to the back and they head to the ring. After Roman demands that Hollywood acknowledge him, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes shows up. Cody says he knows what he wants to talk about and admits that today is turning out a lot differently than he and a lot of people thought it would, then acknowledges that Roman was the better competitor. Cody also states while the world is watching, he knows Roman knows Roman has skated by on many matches and that he had Roman. Cody then says that he already knows what to talk about and that it is all down to one word: rematch. Roman lets Heyman speak, and Heyman says he was thinking on behalf of Roman when exactly Cody would like this "hypothetical" rematch. Cody bluntly proclaims "Tonight." Heyman says "No rematch, not tonight, not in Puerto Rico, not at SummerSlam, not at Survivor Series, not at Royal Rumble, not at Madison Square Garden, not at San Francisco." As the crowd chants "Bullshit," Heyman says this is called "calling the shots" from living on the island of relevance, but Cody says he is not in a normal mood for that after last night, and if Roman refuses to do a rematch, they can do a tag team match and at least do something. Heyman consults with Roman, then declares that he has been authorized by the Tribal Chief that his challenge is accepted, assuming that the partner - someone who wrestled this past weekend is willing to team with him - forfeits any chance at the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. After Heyman mockingly asks Cody who he wants to talk about now, Brock Lesnar shows up. Roman gently holds Solo Sikoa back before they and Heyman leave the ring.

Omos quickly beats Omos.

Backstage, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) meet with Paul Heyman. Heyman says that Roman Reigns has stepped outside to talk to Solo Sikoa about strategy and that Roman appreciates their contributions last weekend and that the food on the plane is ready. After The Usos leave, Paul Heyman re-enters Roman's locker room, and he can be heard saying "I took care of it, my Tribal Chief."

Cathy Kelley interviews Bad Bunny at the front row. Bad Bunny says he is happy to be the host of Backlash in Puerto Rico this year. He says that tonight, he is just enjoying the show as the fan, but he is grateful for everything.

Rey Mysterio heads to the ring. Rey says that this has been an emotional week after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and thanks the fans for welcoming him with open arms and making this possible, and thanks Bad Bunny for the help last night. Suddenly, Austin Theory shows up and says the both of them deserve a little respect, as they both did what they said they would do at WrestleMania after he beat a legend and Rey beat "the product of his own bad parenting." The crowd chants "You tapped out!" as Theory says the difference is because Rey is too busy correcting the past, and says the fans tapped out because they didn't believe in him like Dominik Mysterio did not believe in Rey. He then says that John Cena told him that the fans would eat him alive tonight, then asks the fans where it is at before saying he does not suck because he beat John Cena, which leads to a "Cena" chant. Theory says Cena is not here because he is a part-timer, then says that the fans should be cheering Rey's name at the top of their lungs because he is just like Cena, and that he will beat him too and make him part of the collection. Rey tells Theory that all he will be collecting is his teeth after he hits him with the 619. This starts a match.

Austin Theory beats Rey Mysterio after Rey knocks an interfering Dominik Mysterio off the ring apron. After the match, Dominik hits Rey with mounted punches, then looks and points at Bad Bunny before confronting him at the front row. Dominik turns away, then Bad Bunny punches him when he goes for the cheap shot. Damian Priest then grabs Bad Bunny and throws him over the barricade, telling him he should not have gotten involved. Bad Bunny shoves Priest, then decks Dominik again before Priest lays him out. Priest then clears the announce table before choke slamming Bad Bunny, despite Corey Graves warning hm that this will cost him a lot of money. Dominik then gets in the ring and stomps Rey Mysterio before leaving with Priest. Rey then checks on Bad Bunny along with members of Bad Bunny's entourage, and Rey has to call for paramedics.

Backstage, WWE official Adam Pearce chews out Damian Priest for striking Bad Bunny, but Priest tells him that if Bad Bunny was not really his friend, Pearce would really have a reason to be angry.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn head to the ring. As the fans chant "You deserve it," Owens declares that they deserve the tag team titles but that the fans deserve them, too. The fans then chant for Sami, who says that it has been a crazy year for him, having gone from a match with Johnny Knoxville to becoming a tag team champion, and thanks the fans for making this possible. Sami then states that he knows that Los Angeles loves to celebrate, and Owens says that while this is pretty good, nothing says celebration like a good fight and giving his all. He also states that there are those in the locker room who want to make a name for themselves against the new tag team champions, then lays down an open challenge. The challenge is answered by The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford). Montez Ford congratulates Owens and Sami for winning the tag team titles, then Angelo Dawkins that he and Montez are also coming off a WrestleMania victory. Montez says they have put down stamp after stamp, but nobody knows their names.

The cast of Bel-Air on Peacock is seen in the crowd.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn beat The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford).

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Seth "Freakin'" Rollins. Rollins says he is feeling good after hitting "The Stomp Heard 'Round To The World" and sending Logan Paul and KSI back to the wasteland of social media, then says something about tonight is missing and realizes that the party is in the ring. Seth Rollins then heads to the ring. After the commercial break, everyone is still singing Rollins' entrance theme as Rollins leaves.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bobby Lashley. As he mentions not having a WrestleMania match, Bronson Reed shows up and says they are like uncle and nephew and that Lashley taught him how to lose, and that the student will eventually beat the teacher. As Lashley wants to fight Bronson, Bronson says that school is out tonight and that Lashley will eventually learn his lesson before leaving. Mustafa Ali then shows up and says that Lashley needs to learn how to think "positive-Ali" and not take no for an answer. Lashley comes to the conclusion that he should change his thinking and should not take no for an answer, then take someone into the ring before beating them up and make that someone Ali, which he does, much to Ali's surprise. Lashley then throws Ali around and throws him into the ring, starting an impromptu match. The match end in seconds after Lashley makes Ali tap out to the Hurt Lock.

Backstage, Roman Reigns asks Paul Heyman if The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) are gone. Heyman says they have gone to the jet, then Roman asks Heyman if he knew that Brock Lesnar would be here. Heyman says this is usually when Lesnar takes six to nine months off, then Roman asks how this could happen. Heyman says that he had no idea that Lesnar would answer the challenge despite not getting another chance at the undisputed title, and that Lesnar has nothing to lose. Roman says he will smash Lesnar and Cody Rhodes again, then he will tag Solo Sikoa so they can see who is ready now.

Bianca Belair heads to the ring. Bianca says that she is still Raw Women's Champion, and that he cannot be "The EST" without stepping into the ring, and that Asuka is definitely one of the best and most dangerous women she has stepped into the ring with. After thanking Asuka for pushing her to be the toughest she can be, Rhea Ripley shows up and says Bianca walks around calling herself "The EST" when she is the luckiest in WWE after she decided to challenge Charlotte Flair instead of her. She promises Bianca that they will get back to this and that she will beat her like she beat Charlotte at WrestleMania, then Bianca says Rhea made her decision for a reason and she wants to get in the ring with the best, including Rhea. Bianca tells Rhea that one day, when Rhea is ready, they will really see who is the best of the best. Rhea leaves the ring as if she is looking forward to this, then Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan show up for the next match.

Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan beat Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky) to earn a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

The Miz is in the ring. Miz says he was hoping not to take on four people in three matches, especially after being surprised by Snoop Dogg, then says WrestleMania is over and that he is done with surprises. Suddenly, Matt Riddle returns for the first time in months. Suddenly, Matt Riddle returns for the first time in months. After Riddle asks the fans if everyone missed him, The Miz hits Riddle with a cheap shot and stomps him in the corner, then Riddle lays Miz out and hits him with the Bro Derek.

It is announced that Bad Bunny has been taken to a local medical facility for a separated shoulder.

Backstage, Byron Saxton interview Becky Lynch, Lita an Trish Stratus. Trish says being involved in a multi-generational face-off and beating Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky) was amazing, and Lita says that she is still on a high and that the three of them are just getting started. Becky says that after nine months of dealing with Damage CTRL, she can think of no better thing to do than elevating the women's tag team titles and beating Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan next week.

Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa vs. "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar ends as soon as it begins. When the match begins, Brock immediately hits Cody with two F-5s, steps on Cody's throat, then hits him with a release German suplex before running him into the barricade. After a vertical suplex into the timekeeper's table, Lesnar rings the ring bell before hitting Cody with a chair and throwing it into the ring. Lesnar then takes the ring steps and smacks them right into Cody, then throws them into the ring. He then hits Cody with another F-5, this time into the announce desk, and chases WWE official Adam Pearce away before getting Cody back in the ring and sending him into the ring steps with a fourth F-5. Lesnar then stands over a downed Cody on the ring steps before pretending to leave, turning around, chasing officials off, grabbing a chair and hitting and choking Cody with the chair. Lesnar then finally leaves the ring, and officials check on Cody. As paramedic bring out a stretcher, Lesnar comes back and flips off everyone in the ring to end the show.

Here are the highlights for tonight's show!

This week on Raw Talk: Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan! Bronson Reed! Austin Theory!

Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!

After Dark Elevation - AEW Dark Elevation recap for April 3, 2023

Action Andretti beats Nick Comoroto with an Oklahoma Roll.

Skye Blue beats Angelica Risk.

The Gates of Agony (Joseph Kaun and Toa Liona) beat The Qrown (Leonis and Maximus Khan).

Julia Hart beats Kelsey Heather with Hartless.

Kip Sabian beats Leon Ruffin.

Lance Archer beats Bryce Cannon.

The Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn) beat The Infantry ("The Captain" Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo) in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match. After the match, Tony Schiavone interviews The Gunns. Austin sings "Na Na Hey Hey (The Goodbye Song)" to FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) before asking who is an "Ass Boy" now. Colten Gunn says that 3:10 to Yuma will end FTR's career in AEW before saying that the "asshole" chant targeted at them fell out of fashion over twenty years ago.

WrestleMania 39, Night Two - The LIVE Results

Jimmie Allen performs "America The Beautiful."

Kevin Hart introduces us to the show in Sunday's cold open.

The Miz and Snoop Dogg are in the ring. Miz and Snoop welcome everyone to the show, and Miz mentions the new champions that were crowned last night before announcing that three titles are on the line tonight. Snoop says that legends are being made, then Miz and Snoop get the show started.

We are introduced to the Spanish announce team.

Brock Lesnar beats Omos.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey and "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler beat the team of Natalya and Shotzi, the team of Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green and the team of Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in the women's WrestleMania Showcase Fatal 4-Way with an arm bar from Ronda to Shotzi.

Bobby Lashley heads to the ring, then poses with the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy as the show heads to Xavier Woods. By the time the Xavier Woods segment is done, Lashley has left.

Xavier Woods predicts the winner of Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus vs. Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship with WWE 2K23. McIntyre wins, with McIntrye winning 42% of the time.

Titus O'Neil guests on commentary for the next match.

Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus in a Triple Threat Match.

Before the next match, Asuka is accompanied by four look-alikes, while Bianca Belair is introduced to a series of young dancers with ponytails much like Bianca's known as "The Divas of Compton."

Bianca Belair retains the WWE Raw Women's Championship after countering the arm bar into the K.O.D. after narrowly avoiding Asuka's blue mist. With this victory, Bianca's title reign extends beyond one calendar year.

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and TV sportscaster Al Michaels are seen in the front row.

The Miz and Snoop Dogg are in the ring. Miz announces that tonight's total attendance is 81,395. The total two-night total is 161,892. Miz brings up Snoop Dogg putting him in an impromptu match with Pat McAfee while wearing a $10,000 suit. After Snoop asks if he wants to do it again, Miz says that he was not ready and that George Kittle made it a two-on-one handicap match. Snoop Dogg says "My bad," then Miz says that he does not go into the studio and tell him how to rap, and that Los Angeles is his city. Snoop corrects him, saying this is "our city" and "our WrestleMania," then introduces Shane McMahon. Snoop Dogg asks Shane McMahon to take care of The Miz, then brings out a referee for an impromptu match. The Miz says his suit for tonight is even more expensive, but Snoop does not care as Shane McMahon hits Miz with some jabs. Shane soon comes down on his knee wrong and injures it, and as Shane is checked on, Snoop Dogg gets in the ring and punches Miz in the face before chewing Miz out for getting Shane injured and punching Miz out again. Snoop Dogg then hits his own version of The People's Elbow to win in Shane McMahon's stead.

Before the next match, Edge comes out to a much darker entrance before reverting to his usual entrance halfway down the ramp. Finn Balor comes out as "The Demon," this time with purple mixed in the usual body paint colors.

Edge beats Finn Balor in a brutal Hell In A Cell Match (with red and purple painted weapons) with a Con-Chair-To.

Backstage, Kayla Braxton interviews Bianca Belair, who says it felt amazing to defend the WWE Raw Women's Championship in front of over 80,000 people and that the title has been everything to her as she has faced powerful opponents. The Divas of Compton then show up and chant for Bianca.

The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2023 appears on the stage, with Andy Kaufman's family representing Andy Kaufman and Tim White's family representing Tim White.

Before the next match, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes is met by his family in the front row, and Cody hands his weight belt to Brodie Huber, the son of the late Jon Huber (also known as Luke Harper). (Brodie has also appeared in All Elite Wrestling as "-1.") Roman is then played to the ring by a sextet of professional pianists.

Roman Reigns retains the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes after Paul Heyman gets on the apron so that Solo Sikoa - who was ejected from ringside earlier for hitting Cody in the back with a weight belt - can come back in a hoodie to hit Cody with a Samoan Spike as he has Roman in consecutive Cross Rhodes, allowing Roman to hit the Spear to retain. (After the match, someone throws a rubber chicken into the ring, and the image of a rubber chicken lying next to a downed Cody will go viral.)

Here are the full highlights for tonight's show!

Championship Gold - Championship Wrestling presented by CarShield recap for April 2, 2023

"The Golden Boy" Jordan Clearwater demolishes Jason Levi, hitting him with the Midas Touch, the Golden Sleep and the Goldi-Lock in a matter of a few minutes. After the match, Clearwater brags about what he has just done and says Invictus Khash could not have won the Red Carpet Rumble or beat "Raymond Jackoff," "Little Willie Mack" or Guy Cool or be in the United Wrestling Network without him. He says that Invictus Khash will be crying tears in the desert sun and wishing he was half as good as he was, then Khash shows up and attacks Clearwater. This starts a brawl that makes it way to the back.

Backstage, Jeremy McPeet interviews "Outlandish" Zicky Dice, who bullies McPeet out of the shot and says that he was not invited to the Red Carpet Rumble and that he is about to become UWN's new outlandish champion after beating Danny Limelight.

Johnnie Robbie beats Danielle Kamela.

We get a closer look at Invictus Khash's recent career highlights in the United Wrestling Network leading up to his Red Carpet Rumble win.

Backstage, Jonny Loquasto talks to "Pretty" Peter Avalon about Bateman, saying he is at a loss with him. Avalon says Bateman is a psychopath and a lone wolf who is attacking people, and that he wants to fight Bateman. Loquasto says he and the committee have no idea what to do with Bateman, and that he is talking to him first. Avalon makes it known that he wants a fight with Bateman, and Loquasto tells him he and the committee will make it happen.

Danny Limelight retains the United World Championship against "Outlandish" Zicky Dice after Slice Boogie tries to stop Zicky Dice from using the championship as a weapon to buy Limelight some time and hit the Symbiote DDT for the win.

WrestleMania 39, Night One - The LIVE Results

Becky G sings "America the Beautiful."

Kevin Hart introduces everyone to the show in the cold open.

The Miz and Snoop Dogg are in the ring. Miz says he and Snoop Dogg are the perfect tag team to start off WrestleMania as they have a lot in common, even though his accomplishments seem to pale in comparison to Snoop's. Snoop then says it is not about them tonight, but those competing, and Miz says that everyone will see the best of the best competing tonight.

We are introduced to the Spanish announce team.

Before the next match, several Make-A-Wish Kids whose wish is to go to WrestleMania are on the stage when John Cena makes his entrance.

Austin Theory retains the WWE United States Championship against John Cena after the referee gets knocked down by Theory's feet as Cena tries to keep Theory on the ropes on an Attitude Adjustment attempt and Theory hits a low blow as the referee is down followed by the A-Town Down.

Titus O'Neil guests on commentary for the next match.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat the team of Braun Strowman and Ricochet, The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik), and Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) in the men's WrestleMania Showcase Fatal 4-Way after Dawkins gets the knees up for a Shooting Star Press off the top rope by Ricochet and holds Ricochet down in an inside cradle position so that Montez Ford can hit Ricochet with a splash from the top rope to win.

Before the next match, Xavier Woods has WWE 2K23 predict who will win between Seth "Freakin' Rollins and Logan Paul. Rollins wins.

Before the next match, Logan Paul comes halfway down the ramp on a zipline and is accompanied by someone dressed as a bottle of Prime energy drink, and Seth Rollins is played to the ring by an orchestra conductor.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins beats Logan Paul. During the match, the person in the Prime energy drink costume pulls Logan Paul out of the ring and is revealed to be fellow influencer KSI, and KSI mocks Rollins as Logan is about to splash Rollins through the Spanish announce table only for Rollins to pull KSI on the table so that Logan Paul hits him instead. Near the end of the match, Logan Paul goes for the Coast To Coast, but Rollins superkicks him out of the air and hits him with The Stomp to win.

Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus receive a black-and-white, comic book style introduction before the next match.

Becky Lynch, Lita and Trish Stratus beat Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky).

Bad Bunny guests on Spanish commentary for the next match.

Before the next match, we see footage of Dominik Mysterio being taken out of a jail cell and being brought to a corrections van. The corrections officers then bring Dominik - who is suddenly wearing a Rey Mysterio-style mask - to the ring for his match, which he later takes off. (Dominik Mysterio's entrance also uses B-roll footage from the Auschwitz Memorial Museum, which the museum itself will harshly condemn.) When Rey Mysterio makes his entrance, he heads to the ring in a low rider driven by Snoop Dogg.

Rey Mysterio beats Dominik Mysterio in a match that sees Dominik disrespect his family and get slapped by his mother Angie, Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro) showing up as the Latino World Order for one night to take out Finn Balor and Damian Priest for getting involved and Bad Bunny stopping Dominik Mysterio from using a long link of chains as a weapon in the match just before Rey gets the win.

Backlash is live on WWE Network and Peacock on May 6th from San Juan, Puerto Rico!

George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers is seen in the front row.

Rhea Ripley beats Charlotte Flair with a Riptide off the middle rope after sending Charlotte Flair face-first into the top of the ring post to become WWE SmackDown Women's Champion! Charlotte Flair is seen smiling at Ripley after the match. (The match is the first women's match in WrestleMania history to have a female referee and a female ring announcer, and with this win, Rhea Ripley collects all of the available women's titles in WWE, making her the 5th women's Grand Slam Champion in WWE history and the fastest to do it in 1,200 days, having started with the NXT Championship on December 18, 2019.)

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Austin Theory. Theory says he did what he said what he do and made John Cena believe, then asks "Do you believe in Theory now?"

The Miz and Snoop Dogg are in the ring, and The Miz announces that tonight's attendance is 80,497 people. Snoop then says that the only thing that would be better is if The Miz had a match tonight. The Miz says he agrees and that he put out an open challenge on social media, and that nobody responded because everyone is afraid of him and because everyone knows he is the toughest man here. Suddenly, Pat McAfee shows up. Miz says there is nothing more he would rather do than whup McAfee right now, but he is the host and he cannot make matches official. McAfee tells Miz his "tiny balls" are showing, then says there are 80,497 people here and one of them has to be able to do it. Snoop says he can make the match happen as a host of WrestleMania, then a ref shows up and the match happens.

Pat McAfee beats The Miz beaten in an impromptu match. During the match, The Miz has decided he has had enough, then shoves San Francisco 49ers football player George Kittle on the way out. George Kittle climbs the barricade and clotheslines The Miz. McAfee then hits The Miz with a Swanton Bomb to the outside before he and Kittle get Miz back in the ring. Pat McAfee then hits Miz with a punt for the win.

WrestleMania 40 will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Lincoln Financial Field in April 2024!

Lil Uzi Vert performs before The Usos' (Jimmy and Jey Uso) entrance.

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn beat The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) following three Helluva Kicks from Sami Zayn to Jey Uso to become the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions! After 623 days, The Usos' record-breaking tag team title run - first with the SmackDown titles, and later with the Raw titles - has come to an end. (With this victory, Kevin Owens becomes a Grand Slam Champion, 16th under the new format and 23rd overall.)

Here are the full highlights from tonight's show!

Stand & Deliver 2023 - The Results

Andre Chase Univesity (Andre Chase, Duke Hudson, Thea Hail) and Tyler Bate beat The Schism (Joe Gacy, Rip Fowler, Jagger Reid, Ava Raine) in an eight-person tag match to reclaim control of Andre Chase University. During the match, The Schism briefly manage to get Duke Hudson on their side, but he tears the shirt that they offer him in half to allow Chase University to get a psychological advantage on The Schism that turns into a win.

Indi Hartwell beats Zoey Stark, Gigi Dolin, Tiffany Stratton, Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez in a ladder match to become the NXT Women's Champion after Dexter Lumis makes a surprise appearance and helps her up the ladder. During the match, Jacy Jayne shows up and punches Gigi Dolin off the ladder, saying that this is her time.

Daniel Cormier is seen in the crowd before the next match.

Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) retain the NXT Tag Team Championships against The D'Angelo Family (Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo) and The Creed Brothers (Julius and Brutus Creed) after Stacks tries to pin Wolfgang only to be pulled out of the pinfall attempt from the outside by a returning Joe Coffey, who has not been seen since last year.

Backstage, Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) recaps the show so far, then second-guess the idea of interviewing a focused Bron Breakker.
Wes Lee retains the NXT North American Championship against Ilja Dragunov, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh and Axiom in a Fatal 5-Way Match with a Cardiac Kick to both Dragunov and Dragon Lee.

Backstage, Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) entertain the idea of interviewing Carmelo Hayes in his dressing room, but Trick Williams shows up and says that Bron Breakker is not ready for Carmelo Hayes and that today is the day that the world knows that Carmelo Hayes is Him.

Johnny Gargano beats Grayson Waller with Garga-No Escape in an unsanctioned match that also sees Candice LeRae smack Waller with a Kendo stick. After the match, Gargano and Candice celebrate with Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis.

Backstage, Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo take tonight's loss hard when Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson and Elton Prince) show up. D'Angelo says it was not their night, but he and Stacks are not quitters, despite Stacks saying he let him and the family down and D'Angelo telling him that they are a team. Pretty Deadly then say they are the only team to beat Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang), then D'Angelo and Stacks nearly brawl with them before referees arrive.

Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn beat Fallon Henley and Kiana James to become the NXT Women's Tag Team Champions after Kiana James tells Brooks Jensen to give her her purse in order to win and Jensen does not do it.

Carmelo Hayes beats Bron Breakker to become the NXT Champion! During the match, Trick Williams is ejected after saving Carmelo from a Torture Rack. Later on in the match, Bron Breakker sends Carmelo Hayes into the referee during a Spear, and while Carmelo taps to the Steiner Recliner, the referee is down. Trick Williams shows up and breaks the hold by blasting Bron Breakker in the back of the head, then revives the referee in time for a near-fall. Hayes then hits the First 48 on Breakker followed by Nothing But Net to win the title. After the match, Bron Breakker personally hands the NXT Championship to Carmelo Hayes and raises his hand in a sign of respect.

Memphis Thing - Memphis Wrestling recap for April 1, 2023

The show begins with K-Toomer making his way to the ring through the crowd, with an escort by Big Dan, and Dustin Starr interviews K-Toomer at the announce desk. K-Toomer says opportunities do not come too often and that he should be standing here the Heritage Champion, but someone wanted to make a name at his expense. When he hears that "The GunShow" Brett Michaels and Maurice The Strong is the main event, K-Toomer says the real event is when he shows up and raises hell, because The Circuz (Barnabas the Leader and Maurice the Strong) have no idea what they have done.

Dustin Starr interviews The Hollywood Clique ("Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock, Van Viciouss, Jason Vain, ake and Elwood) at the announce desk. "Hollywood" Jimmy Blaylock says that Diana Taylor has been avoiding him like the plague and has not been returning his calls, and wants her to call him. He also brags about getting rid of "Casanova" Colton Cage was the best thing to happen to the Clique. Van Viciouss says he stayed true to his word and got rid of Colton Cage, and that Colton Cage will never show his face in Memphis Wrestling again. Viciouss then demands an opponent.

In footage from earlier today, "Big Trouble" Ben Bishop intimidates a few people at the WrestleCenter, including one person who shakes his hand when he asks people to shake his hand.

The L.A. Hustlers (Notorious Bradley and Ruffshot Lamont) beat The Hollywood Clique (Van Viciouss and Jason Vain) after "Casanova" Colton Cage shows up with a chair, distracting the Clique and allowing Bradley to hit a big boot for the win. After the match, Dustin Starr interviews Colton Cage, who says that everyone has seen the saga unfold and that a year ago, "Hollywood" Jimmy Clique promised him everything but proved he was nothing more than a con artist. He says that he and Van Viciouss were supposed to be co-stars, yet he was always the stunt double despite doing what he was supposed to, and that he was there so that Van Viciouss could get everything. When that did not happen, Blaylock snapped on him, and he had to leave the Clique. He also says that the five-on-one beatdown given to him by The Hollywood Clique is not the end of the story, and that the real final scene will be the end of Jimmy Blaylock.

Dustin Starr interviews Coliseum Coalition co-founder Marvin Stockwell, who says that Mayor Jim Strickland wants to tear down the Mid-South Coliseum and replace it with a soccer stadium, and while 901 FC is loved by the fans, the Coalition would like the stadium to be built somewhere else. Reverend Ash Taylor shows up with Jennifer Justice (dressed as a nun) and Bulletproof Bruce, and says the Mid-South Coliseum will be replaced with "a righteous refuge," as Memphis needs a chance to play, not a ruin of idols. He then says that they will destroy the Coliseum, starting with Marvin Stockwell, then "Big Swole" Justin Cole shows up. He says Memphis is a mecca for wrestling and that Mid-South Coliseum is "the Carnegie Hall," then says that if Ash Taylor wants to take Stockwell out, he will have to go through him. Reverend Ash Taylor says they will fight Big Swole on their time, then he and his congregation leave.

Action Jackson beats "Remarkable" Ryan Rembrandt.

We hear from Derrick King and Alan Steel, who talk about Ray Ray Sanders getting hurt in last week's street fight and how professional wrestling is not ballet. There is no time table on Ray Ray Sanders' return, but Steel says Ray Ray has a lot of fight. Derrick King says that when Ray Ray Sanders comes back, he will be coming for vengeance. We then see footage from after the match where Ray Ray Sanders is helped to the back.

Backstage, Big John Dalton meets with Mackenzie Mitchell and tells her to be careful and watch her back, as Matt Williams and Storybook Prince Gaston have a nasty plan for her.

Cassandra Golden retains the Memphis Wrestling Women's Championship against Mackenzie Morgan when she manages to get her foot on the rope and Mackenzie Morgan argues with the referee over the rope break.

"The GunShow" Brett Michaels vs. Maurice the Strong ends before it can begin when K-Toomer shows up to raise hell as promised. Brett Michaels steps aside and sends the referee away so that K-Toomer and Maurice can brawl, and despite a brief distraction from Barnabas the Leader, K-Toomer comes out on top.