Shawn Michaels addressed the superkick being used more prominently in today’s wrestling landscape, and revealed that Dolph Ziggler reached out to ask for permission to use the move as his own.
Michaels discussed the impact of the signature finishing move during an appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony Podcast . He noted that many wrestlers go into training with a specific idea in mind about what their finishing move will be like. He proceeded to talk about his own move, Sweet Chin Music and revealed his reaction when Ziggler called him to ask for permission to use it.
“I can remember with Sweet Chin Music, the Superkick, it was a couple years after I retired and getting a phone call. One guy wanted to use it. ‘Is it okay?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, it doesn’t matter to me’. I want to say I think it was Dolph Ziggler. And I just thought like, ‘Sure, I’m not there anymore'”
“I didn’t want to be an old timer that stopped the progression and the evolution of the business,” said Michaels. “I ran into that a lot. ‘Kids are killing the business, you’re going too fast’. I didn’t want to be one of those kinds of guys. And so once I said yes to that one, it was like sort of opening a floodgate. I don’t know. I guess, I’ll say this. I’m always happy because that question comes up in darn near every interview I do. I still feel like the move is always still gonna be synonymous with me, which I’m appreciative of. And I think to myself, if I’m laying there on my deathbed and my biggest problem in my life is that too many people are using the damn Sweet Chin Music, come on now. That’s hardly anything to complain about.”
His tenure with WWE spans nearly four decades. Since 2018 Michaels has been a contributing figure in NXT’s brand development as a writer and producer. In 2022 he was promoted to Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative following Triple H’s exit.
The AEW World Champion is set to wrestle a member of the TNA roster.
Nic Nemeth vs. MJF has been announced for Create-a-Pro Wrestling’s event on May 1 at the All Sportz Melville in New York. The official poster for the event features TNA’s Frankie Kazarian, The System, AEW’s Kris Statlander and more.
“@Myers_Wrestling just hit me up and said this clowns down to throw hands. See ya there Nicky” posted MJF
This comes barely a few hours after MJF’s blatant rant on X about Nemeth’s regular criticisms on Busted Open Radio. It ignited in January this year and MJF issued multiple challenges to Nemeth. MJF mocked Nemeth’s early WWE career when he was a part of Spirit Squad. He further ridiculed him by citing he was shifting focus on his upcoming match against Kenny Omega at AEW Dynasty since he only faces the best the industry has to offer.
MJF trained at Create A Pro Wrestling Academy by Brian Myers and Pat Buck. He signed with AEW in 2019 and has established himself on the roster.
Meanwhile, Nemeth is signed to TNA Wrestling but after the MJF incident cited his contract permits him with the flexibility to compete on any promotion.
Nemeth was signed to WWE from 2004 to 2023. During this time he was a Money in the Bank winner and a two-time World Heavyweight Champion among his other accolades with the company.
.@Myers_Wrestling just hit me up and said this clowns down to throw hands.
Nic Nemeth is staying with TNA Wrestling as the promotion enters a new era on AMC.
On Busted Open Radio this morning, the former Dolph Ziggler confirmed that he has signed a new contract with TNA. Nemeth called the decision a “no-brainer” and said he’s looking forward to the future. He first arrived in TNA in 2024 under a handshake agreement and has been a World Champion and Tag Team Champion while with the company.
“I am happy to be with TNA. My contract is signed,” Nemeth said. “Everything is official now.”
Nemeth praised the behind-the-scenes structure in TNA, including Carlos Silva, Tommy Dreamer, and Hunter Johnston. He also spoke very highly of the work Lance Storm is doing for the company as a producer.
In November 2025, Nemeth returned to WWE for a match in the Last Time is Now tournament. He stepped back into his Dolph Ziggler persona for one night, losing to Solo Sikoa in the opening round. It was Nemeth’s first time wrestling for WWE since his September 2023 release.
Nemeth called tonight a “monumental” moment for TNA with Impact debuting on AMC. Airing from 9-11 p.m. Eastern time, the episode is being headlined by a TNA World Championship match between Frankie Kazarian and Mike Santana. Nemeth could potentially factor into the title picture with the Call Your Shot trophy that he currently possesses.
An appearance by WWE star AJ Styles is also set for tonight’s Impact. The show is being held in Garland, Texas at the Curtis Culwell Center.
Nic Nemeth’s surprise return to WWE was almost announced by the company ahead of time.
On Raw at Madison Square Garden this Monday night, Nemeth had his first match as Dolph Ziggler in more than two years, facing off against Solo Sikoa against in The Last Time is Now tournament. It was a one-night-only return for Nemeth as Sikoa advanced in the tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent.
Nemeth’s appearance on Raw was not announced in advance, though — despite his best efforts — it did leak online a few hours before the show. He’s happy that it was mostly still a secret for fans, though, with Nemeth saying that initial plans were actually for WWE to announce a tournament bracket weeks ago that would have revealed the participants.
“A few weeks ago when I was told, it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re going to have you in this thing and we’re going to announce it ahead of time. They’re going to like show brackets or something.’ And I go, ‘Oh my God, that’s such a bad idea.’ I go, ‘Is there any way we’re not doing this?’ They’re like, ‘No, look.’ They go, ‘There might be something they’re going to put out today, it’ll be on social media. Maybe retweet or something.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I hope this doesn’t happen.’ And nothing happened,” Nemeth said on his SiriusXM Off The Ropes show with Jonathan Coachman.
Nemeth — now a star for TNA Wrestling following his release from WWE in 2023 — and Matt Cardona were the two biggest surprises of the opening round of the tournament. Rusev, Sheamus, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Gunther, and Sikoa have advanced so far: The two remaining first-round matches will take place on SmackDown this Friday: Penta vs. Finn Balor and Bronson Reed vs. Carmelo Hayes.
The tournament winner earns the right to face Cena in his final match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.
Nic Nemeth had a lot of fun in his one-night-only return to WWE.
Reprising his role as Dolph Ziggler, Nemeth returned to WWE on Monday night for a Last Time is Now tournament match against Solo Sikoa. It was Nemeth’s first time competing in a WWE ring since he was released by the company in 2023. The night was a special one for Nemeth, who reflected on the experience during an appearance on Busted Open Radio this morning.
“Insanely fun and awesome and cool,” Nemeth said about his return. “I had to hide out all day, which was fun. In 20 years, I got to watch so many people hide or hide under the ring or sit on a bus somewhere — I never got to do the hiding. So I had all black on, and I put like a ski mask over my face and sunglasses. And they pulled me into the loading dock inside of the building. Then I got walked in and I got to hide out for like 5 or 6 hours. You know, once someone comes and visits you then a couple more people come to visit you. And then my brother goes, ‘Oh, I just found out online and it’s official that it’s you.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, great.’ So it took a solid hour of people poking their head into wave to like put it online somewhere and some ‘journalist’ [reported it].
“But, like, it was awesome. The in-between for a lot of stuff was Bob Roode, who was a badass wrestler and we got to tag together. And he’s the agent, and he’s even better at agenting than he is in the ring. And he’s still jacked, and awesome, and great. It was so cool to have him, like, going back and forth between him before we figured everything out. Surreal moment.”
Nemeth said he first found out about the surprise appearance 2-3 weeks ago. With Raw taking place at Madison Square Garden, it felt like all the different pieces fell into place to create something special.
“All these different pieces all added up to like — I was excited, but it’s wrestling, we have these egos, we’re crazy,” Nemeth said. “I go, ‘I hope they remember.’ Because otherwise, what am I doing here? And then the music hits and you get that 1/1000th of like, ‘Okay, they do. All right. Let’s go to work.'”
Though they were a bit pressed for time, Nemeth feels like he and Sikoa delivered with their match. It saw Sikoa pick up a victory to advance to the next round in the tournament to decide John Cena’s final opponent.
“Solo was on point, great the whole way, so easy to work with,” Nemeth said. “But I really think, in the time allotted, we crushed it. We gave everybody everything we could have. We gave the ups and downs of it. And, man, was the crowd there. It was a beautiful thing. It always flys by, but, like, it flew by. Really wanted to soak that in a little bit more.”
In his post-WWE career, Nemeth competes for TNA Wrestling and is also a regular host on SiriusXM’s Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7 channel.
Sikoa and Gunther both advanced in the Last Time is Now Tournament on Monday’s Raw. The updated schedule for the tournament can be seen here.
Solo Sikoa’s mystery challenger has been revealed.
Sikoa was booked to face a surprise opponent on Monday Night Raw in The Last Time is Now tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent. That opponent has now been revealed: former WWE world champion Dolph Ziggler. The two fought in a competitive back-and-forth match, but ultimately the head of MFT won, advancing to the next round of the tournament.
Ziggler signed his first WWE contract in 2004. He debuted on the main roster as “Nicky” in the Spirit Squad in 2005, then re-debuted under the Dolph Ziggler name in 2008. He went on to win a multitude of championships and achievements, including two World Heavyweight Championships and the 2012 Money in the Bank match. He left the company in September of 2023.
Following some brief appearances using his real name of Nic Nemeth with New Japan Pro Wrestling, he signed with TNA Wrestling in January of 2024 and went on to win their world tag team and world heavyweight titles. He main evented TNA’s Turning Point app special last Friday night and is still carrying the Call Your Shot Gauntlet trophy in TNA.
Nearly two months after making his surprise NJPW debut, Nic Nemeth will finally make his in-ring debut for the promotion later this month.
The road to get there began with the former Dolph Ziggler’s release from WWE last September — ending a 19-year run with the company and a bevy of title runs behind him.
Many fans were surprised at the release given his longevity in WWE. However, it wasn’t long after that he would go on to surprise people with his next moves.
The first surprise came on January 4th when Nemeth made his NJPW debut at Wrestle Kingdom 18, appearing with his brother, Ryan. During the post-event press conference, Nemeth attacked then-new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay. Now, Nemeth is set to challenge Finlay as part of night one of The New Beginning event in Sapporo on February 23rd.
In our talk that you can watch above on YouTube, I asked Nemeth what his confidence level was heading into the match, knowing people are going to critique whether or not he belongs in an NJPW ring.
“Yeah, that goes through my head every day and I’m not even kidding,” he said.
“…That confidence, even for those three-minute matches the last year in WWE, I could have been smoking a cigarette and like texting somebody and go, ‘And still crushing it.’ But in this case, I’m very nervous.”
Nemeth said that he considers this a glorious and huge opportunity and one he views as a “sink or swim” moment.
“It is a big deal, no matter who you are or what you’re doing. That is huge. This opportunity, If I go out there and give it like a C+ or an A- minus effort, I don’t belong there and that might get exposed right away. I’m nervous about it. Like I said, I’m confident, but every day I go, ‘This is the big one here.’
He went on to say that this opportunity will either tell the entire world he’s full of crap and a big phony or that he still has it for several more years.
“At 43, (after) 19 years of wrestling, you’re not supposed to be totally standing up straight, feeling better than you ever have. But I do and I can’t wait to continue to keep doing things.”
The end of his WWE run
Nemeth said that for nearly 11 of the 19 years that he was in WWE, he was constantly waiting for that call ahead of WrestleMania when he wasn’t booked in hopes that it may be his moment.
“You pitched your ideas, you left your heart out there. But, sometimes it’s show business. It doesn’t work out.”
He said that in the last five years he became the guy where if you needed someone for an emergency main event, he would be there. However, that role came with some pros and cons. On one hand, he realized he was good at his job and lucky to have that position and the respect of the locker room.
But on the other hand, he wanted more.
“There’s some respect in that from the locker room, but I hate it because everybody wants to be the world champ. Everyone in their mind, I hope, thinks that they are the best, thinks they should be main eventing WrestleMania, thinks they should have the company on their back. Not everybody should, but everybody should feel that way because if you don’t, then what the hell are you doing here?”
He shared that he actually pitched leaving WWE for a few months or more and that they would agree but then call him right back immediately.
“It would be different if I was hobbling around or if I didn’t get reactions or wasn’t good at my job. I would be happy to take a backseat and help people out. But I’m sitting around six days a week not working basically in the prime of my career. So let’s get going. And so I said, ‘How about this? How about I leave for six months? How about I leave for a year?’ How about I get the hell out of here?’ But even a couple of years ago when they said yes, the next Sunday I’d get a phone call, saying, ;Hey, we need you.’ It’s great.”
He said for the last few years, most of the time he was only needed for a four or five minute match and even then, most of the match would get cut and that it was more of a position for an enhancement talent, not someone who was being paid millions of dollars to be there.
“If we have 90 seconds or three minutes, I really feel like we should have an enhancement talent here — not a guy you’re paying millions of dollars to.”
Nemeth said his sentiments about that fell on deaf ears for about two years until he decided to write an email to everybody in charge. Only Vince McMahon responded.
“…Finally I wrote a really, really, really heartfelt, really long, mostly positive but some negative, six-page email to everybody in charge. Vince was the only one to write me back and he said, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this. Let’s talk.’
He said he offered to fly to Stamford, Connecticut, the next day if needed but McMahon said he needed a few weeks to figure it out.
“I said, ‘Ok, but I gotta leave. Let’s talk about how.'”
Two weeks after the initial email and the email conversation with McMahon, Nemeth was released.
The former Dolph Ziggler wrestled the first match of his post-WWE career on Sunday’s TNA TV taping in Las Vegas. He’s also scheduled to make his WWC debut in Puerto Rico next weekend and his NJPW in-ring debut next month at New Beginning in Sapporo.
Nemeth spoke with TNA’s Sam Laterna following his appearance at Hard to Kill. During the discussion, Nemeth said he feels fortunate that multiple promotions reached out to him following his WWE release.
Nemeth said:
I had a lot of time to think in the last three, four, five, six months, to where, what can I do to extend my legacy but also have an entirely different chapter, a different mindset, a different person? And I said, I really feel like I’m a wanted man because the day I left my last job, I’m so lucky that I had so many people reach out, not to say thank you or whatever, none of that stuff, congrats. A bunch of people reached out instantly and said, ‘We want you here’ and I go, man, it is great to feel that. I’m very fortunate and lucky.
He continued:
This is so exciting for me that I want to bounce around. You’re going to see me on the independents, you’re going to see me back showing up, hitting Puerto Rico this weekend and bouncing around.
I hope I can make that work to where it’s like I show up somewhere, everybody’s better because I was there and now you want to come back next time because you know I’m coming back again. I want to do that as many possible places as I can and there’s a million people out there that I want to get in the ring with.
Nemeth wrestled Zachary Wentz of the Rascalz at the TV taping. TNA has yet to announce when the match will air. Spoilers from the show are available here.
Nic Nemeth opened up about his WWE departure in a new interview.
The former Dolph Ziggler appeared on Monday’s edition of Busted Open Radio and said he had been preparing to leave the company for months before his release. Nemeth even said he sent emails to “the boss” saying it was time for him to move on.
Nemeth said:
I’ve been preparing for this so long and getting things ready to go that I wasn’t like ‘What? What do I do now?’ It was I was planning this along for half of this entire last contract with WWE.
He continued:
It wasn’t out of the blue. I had sent a few emails to the boss for the last six months definitely saying ‘I have to move on somewhere else, can you let me do this?’ And eventually, without exact back and forth, that’s how it worked out.
Nemeth appeared with his brother Ryan Nemeth at Wrestle Kingdom 18 last week. He attacked David Finlay backstage and appears to be positioned to challenge for the new IWGP Global title.
Nemeth continued to talk about what he would like to do in his post-WWE career.
I’m really looking forward to… the things I do behind the scenes or in the ring that I have the last 20 years in WWE, bringing that to several different places. And maybe even as a hired gun bouncing around and just saying, ‘Here’s what I pitched to WWE 20 years ago, for me to be the modern day Ric Flair who shows up in a territory and makes something happen and steals the show with their champ without even knowing who the hell he is and then moves on to the next town. So, hopefully something like that, which I’ve been really looking forward to for a long time.
The appearance on Busted Open Radio is available in the player below.
After appearing alongside his brother, Ryan Nemeth, at Wrestle Kingdom earlier today, the former Dolph Ziggler posted a short video to social media.
The video features Ziggler fighting off zombies and concludes with him superkicking the head off one before dramatically putting on a pair of sunglasses and saying, “Groovy.” The words “Wanted Man” then appear on the screen before it goes to black.
After attacking Finlay, Ziggler then cut the following promo:
Professional wrestling is about honor and believing in yourself, and something bigger than you, a championship, which means you are the one that strapped the entire company and the world on your back. This title, this brand new championship, this global championship means more to me and I have never even been here. You want to be a champion, you want to be a leader, you stand up for it, you stand up for what’s right, and you do the damn thing and you set an example for the rest of the dam world. If you want to be the best, you back it up, and if you’re not, I’m going to stomp on your ass and take this championship to the top where it belongs.
Ziggler has also been announced for a WWC show in Puerto Rico on January 20. He is scheduled to wrestle Ray González.
The 43-year-old was released from WWE in September after having been with the company since 2004 and wrestling over 1500 matches.
The former Dolph Ziggler and Ryan Nemeth were at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on Thursday.
Ziggler, who was identified as Nic Nemeth, and his brother made their way to ringside prior to the IWGP Tag Team & Strong Openweight Tag Team title match. After David Finaly defeated Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley to become the first IWGP Global Champion, he and Ziggler had a confrontation, having to be seperated by security.
Ziggler was released by WWE shortly after the sale to Endeavor went through on September 21 of last year. His first match since being released by WWE will take place on January 6 at WWC Dia de Reyes in Puerto Rico, where he’ll face Ray Gonzales.
Ryan Nemeth has made appearances for AEW, though has only wrestled sporadically in recent months. His last match was on the November 4 edition of ROH on HonorClub, where he and Peter Avalon lost a an eight man tag team match along with Lee Moriarty and Shane Taylor against Action Andretti, Darius Martin, and The Infantry. Ryan was also a regular on Being the Elite before the show ended late last year.
Nic Nemeth, the former Dolph Ziggler, will debut for the World Wrestling Council next month.
On Sunday, Lucha Libre Online published a video of Ziggler challenging Ray González for a match at WWC Euphoria on January 20 in Puerto Rico.
A translation of the post reads:
The two-time World Heavyweight Champion in WWE, The Most Wanted Man, Nic Nemeth, will have his first fight in Puerto Rico. His selected opponent, The Greatest of all time in Puerto Rico, Ray González. Will Mr. Raytings accept the challenge?
WWC presents Three Kings Day, on Saturday, January 6 at 6:00 pm at the Mayagüez Sports and Recreation Palace. Euphoria, on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 8:00 pm at Pepín Cestero in Bayamón. Tickets are on sale at Rayting Mini Market at the Bo. Mameyal in Dorado. If you buy your ticket at Rayting Mini Market you get a photo with Ray González
El dos veces World Heavyweight Champion en la WWE, The Most Wanted Man, Nic Nemeth, tendrá su primera lucha en Puerto Rico. Su oponente seleccionado, El Más Grande de todos los tiempos en Puerto Rico, Ray González. ¿Aceptará el reto Mr. Rayting? 👀
Ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. That’s right, WWC Euphoria Puerto Rico, baby! The most wanted man in professional wrestling today, the hottest free agent, and I am laying it down, baby. I’m laying down a challenge in Puerto Rico for Mr. Ray-tings, Ray González. You think you can step foot in the ring with me and go toe-to-toe with the best damn thing going today?
On January 20, WWC Euphoria, Mr. Ray-tings, the most wanted man Nic Nemeth is coming for you, if you got the guts.
Ziggler has also been announced for MCW Fan Jam 2 on February 4 in Joppa, Maryland, although it’s not clear if he will be wrestling at the event.
Ziggler was released from WWE in September after having been with the company since 2004 and wrestling over 1500 matches.
The Rock would chime in later in the day, re-posting a Sportskeeda infographic listing Ziggler’s career accolades:
Just seeing all these releases now. These days so f’n tough for the ones who gave their all to our crazy world of pro wrestling. Like @HEELZiggler. What a decorated @WWE career and I’ll always be a supporter and fan. Can’t wait to see what he (and everyone) does next… #onward
Just seeing all these releases now. These days so f’n tough for the ones who gave their all to our crazy world of pro wrestling. Like @HEELZiggler. What a decorated @WWE career and I’ll always be a supporter and fan. Can’t wait to see what he (and everyone) does next… #onwardpic.twitter.com/uc5vXNxxNk
A total of 20 talents either announced their release or that they were no longer with WWE on Thursday, the first mass release event since Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE was finalized last week.
Ziggler was arguably the highest-profile name let go, as he was a former two-time World Heavyweight Champion, former NXT Champion, and former Money in the Bank winner among a long list of WWE accomplishments.
On the eve of Money in the Bank, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns returns to SmackDown for the first time since being superkicked by The Usos two weeks ago.
Reigns will team with Solo Sikoa on Saturday against Jimmy & Jey Uso in what’s being billed as the Bloodline Civil War.
Also slated for tonight are two title matches. Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens defend against Pretty Deadly, while Asuka defends her WWE Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair.
Also on tonight’s show: Logan Paul appears on The Grayson Waller Effect, Bayley puts her Money in the Bank spot on the line against Shotzi, LA Knight, Santos Escobar & Butch collide in a triple threat match, and Ridge Holland faces Austin Theory. If Holland wins, he’ll be in contention for a shot at Theory’s United States title.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– The show opened with a graphic remembering Droz, who died Friday.
– Michael Cole welcomed everyone in to open the show. We then got a recap of the what happened with the Bloodline two weeks ago. Wade Barrett and Cole ran down the card for the evening.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn defeated Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) [11:07]
This was a very fun opener that was taken to a higher level thanks to the hot London crowd, which was both welcome and expected. It still feels like Zayn & Owens don’t have any legitimate contenders to take the tag straps off them, but we’ll see how the rest of the summer plays out. Owens selling his leg was interesting and I wonder if that means he’ll be selling it moving forward and it will put the team’s matches in doubt. For now, these four worked really well together and Pretty Deadly have come a long way in a short amount of time on WWE’s main roster.
Zayn and Wilson started the match with Zayn getting the best of things at first before Wilson worked a side head-lock. Zayn came right back with an arm-drag and took back control. Prince got in a cheap shot on Zayn, which gave Wilson control. Prince tagged in and took Zayn to the outside, where Prince slammed Zayn off the commentary table. The show then went to a commercial break.
Back from break, Wilson covered Zayn for a two-count. Wilson worked a side head-lock on Zayn. Prince tagged in, but Zayn almost instantly got the hot tag to Owens, who came in and stomped Prince. The action spilled to the outside and Owens landed clotheslines on both members of Pretty Deadly. Back in the ring, Owens hit a cannonball on Prince. Owens went to the top and landed a Swanton and pinned Prince until Wilson broke it up.
Owens went for a Stunner, but Prince pushed Owens away and Owens was selling a leg injury. Prince worked Owens’s leg and Wilson tagged in to land a Dirty Martini for a two-count. Prince tagged in and landed a double-team move for a two-count. Zayn broke up the pin and Owens suplexed Prince to get the hot tag to Zayn, who landed a Blue Thunder Bomb on Wilson for a two-count. Wilson was the recipient of an Exploder and a Helluva Kick and Zayn pinned Wilson for the win.
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– Adam Pearce was talking backstage until Sheamus interrupted him. Ridge Holland spoke up and Pearce told Holland he can face Austin Theory later tonight. If Holland wins, he’ll get a shot at the U.S. Title. Austin Theory’s music then hit and we went back to the ring.
Austin Theory defeated Ridge Holland [2:56]
The story here was Holland had a bad throat and Theory’s dropkick hit Holland in the throat for a win. But … three minutes? Really? The finish felt like it came out of nowhere and it was even more bizarre considering how hot the crowd was for Holland and the Brutes. So the match was fine for what it was, but it didn’t last long enough to leave much of an impression.
The two locked up to begin the match. Holland had control early. Holland landed a long-stalling suplex for a one-count. Theory got control with a kick to Holland’s leg. Holland fired up and hit a series of suplexes on Theory. Eventually, Theory found his way onto the apron and that led to Theory hitting a roll-through dropkick for the win.
After the match, Theory attacked Holland until Sheamus ran out for the save.
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– A Karrion Kross vignette aired with Kross calling AJ Styles out. Kross said he beat Styles in only three moves. Kross said next week will be checkmate for Styles.
– A video recapping the Bloodline saga aired.
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Bayley defeated Shotzi to keep her spot in the Money In The Bank match [3:31]
In a weird way, it was easy to think this could go either way because SKY was the one to accept the challenge for Bayley, but in hindsight, of course Bayley was going to keep her spot in the MITB match because my guess is we see the implosion of Damage CTRL Saturday afternoon. Still, Shotzi didn’t look like she might suffer a catastrophic injury here, so that’s a win all around.
Shotzi had control early. Bayley rolled to the outside and Shotzi dove to the outside, taking out IYO SKY, who accompanied Bayley. Back in the ring, Bayley it a Bayley-to-Belly for a two-count. Shotzi hit a DDT as the crowd, two minutes into the match, was still doing the Bayley chant. Shotzi hit a step-up enziguri. Shotzi tweaked her knee while doing it and Bayley came back with a roll up and a two-count. Shotzi hit a reverse bulldog and went for a pin, but SKY put Bayley’s foot on the rope for the break. Bayley then landed the Rose Plant for the win.
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– Shotzi confronted Bayley backstage after a commercial break and Bayley, along with SKY, suplexed Shotzi onto a table before cutting Shotzi’s hair.
The Grayson Waller Effect with Logan Paul
The crowd booed both guys to begin the segment. Paul said his dreams won’t end until the WWE Champion is “gold around my belt.” So, there’s that. Paul said he might not even ever cash in the briefcase if he wins it and almost instantly, LA Knight’s music hit. Knight received a massive pop had a microphone in his hand. Knight said Paul was given a lot while wasn’t given anything. Knight said Paul was standing in his ring. Paul was booed as soon as he started talking. Paul made fun of Knight for wrestling for 20 years in a lackluster career. Paul told the crowd they were drunk and to go home after they chanted for LA Knight.
Santos Escobar’s music hit and Escobar came to the ring in an LWO shirt (London World Order). Escobar said they have to get one thing straight, there’s going to be two MITB winners in the LWO. Butch’s music hit and Butch ran to the ring and took out Paul. Paul and Butch fought over the commentary table as the show went to break.
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Butch defeated LA Knight and Santos Escobar [3:34 of TV time]
This was fine enough, but I have no idea how long the actual match was because it started during the break. As such, this was a triple threat that had a lot of potential on paper, but it was clear this was only going to be used to set up the MITB match. That in mind, it worked. Knight is so gosh darn over that if he doesn’t go over at MITB, I think London burns. Probably not. But, really. At some point, the WWE decision-makers are going to have to take notice and it feels like the most obvious time is Saturday in London.
The match started during the commercial break, and when the show came back, Knight hit a DDT on Escobar as the crowd went nuts for him again. Butch landed a German Suplex on Escobar before Knight hit a wild back suplex on Butch for a two-count. Escobar landed a running knee on Knight. Eventually, Knight hit his leaping elbow for a two-count on Escobar. Knight went to the outside to jaw with Paul. Escobar took out Paul and hit Knight with a knee. Escobar went to the top, but ran into a bunch from Butch. Butch hit the Bitter End for the win.
After the match, Butch set up a ladder, but Knight cut Butch off. Then Paul cut Knight off. Then Butch cut Paul off. Butch then climbed up and grabbed the MITB briefcase to pose for the crowd.
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– AJ Styles spoke backstage. Styles accepted Kross’s challenge from earlier in the show.
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Charlotte defeated Asuka via DQ [7:32]
Ehhh. I want more from these two. You had to know we wouldn’t get a clean finish, but the match itself wasn’t much to write home about. I’m a huge fan of Asuka’s work and while Charlotte seems to be hit or miss, she always seems to show up for Asuka. Throwing a nothing-happening match like this out there is at least a tiny bit disappointing. This must mean we’re working toward a triple threat at SummerSlam between Belair, Asuka and Charlotte for the WWE Women’s Championship. That’s fine. But on our way there, it’d be great if these one-on-one matches ceased. It’s a waste of talent.
Bianca Belair was sitting in the front row with a ticket. The two opened by exchanging strikes. Charlotte tried to pin Asuka a few times, but Asuka was under the ropes. Charlotte hit Asuka in the face with a kick, but Asuka came back with a BackStabber before the show went to a commercial break.
Back from break, Asuka went for the arm bar, but Charlotte got out of it. Asuka rolled up Charlotte for a two-count. Charlotte landed a spear, which was enough for a two-count. Asuka went to the outside and Charlotte climbed to the top rope. Charlotte went for the moonsault from the top and just barely nicked Asuka on the way down, but Asuka sold it. Charlotte hit some chops and tried a boot, but Asuka moved and Charlotte hit Belair, who was in the crowd. Belair regrouped and jumped the rail to attack Asuka and end the match.
After the match, Belair attacked Charlotte and laid her out. Belair hit the KOD on Asuka, slamming her onto the commentary table, but the table didn’t break. Because of that, Belair did the same with Charlotte and the table still didn’t break. Belair stood tall to end the segment.
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The Bloodline Segment
After stalling, Paul Heyman gave Roman Reigns a microphone. Reigns told London to acknowledge him. Reigns said it’s been a long time. Reigns said for two years, he’s allowed his cousins to say “We the ones.” Roman said the truth is they ain’t the ones and only Roman is the one. Roman reiterated he is the head of table. Roman said a family that “betrays you sucks.” Roman talked about giving the Usos a second chance, and he said he will give the Usos an infinite amount of chances. All the Usos have to do, he said, is come out and apologize and move on.
On cue, the Usos’s music hit. Jimmy said they are past apologizing. Jimmy said that now it’s about consequences. Jey said once Roman loses, Roman will be the only one out. Jey said Roman won’t be the Tribal Chief anymore after he loses. Jey and Jimmy said they both don’t want to be Tribal Chief. The Usos said they got someone in mind and the crowd chanted Solo. Roman and Solo had a stare down. Roman told everyone to shut up and the Usos laughed. Jey climbed onto the apron. Roman jawed at Jey. Jey face-palmed Roman and Jimmy super-kicked Roman. The four brawled. Security ran down to break it up and Roman hit Jey with a Super Punch. Roman beat up security … but then Jey hit a splash over the top rope onto Roman and the group to close the show.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, before Monday’s Raw. It featured two really good matches that made for a very watchable show.
Nikki Cross defeated Zoey Stark (6:27)
This was good, but probably went much longer than it needed to. The crowd was into Cross as Stark played the heel here.
Although a rest hold is the one thing I detest more than anything in these short Main Event matches, Stark at least used a cravat which played into the story of the match. Stark seems to have a good ring IQ as she and Cross worked well together.
Cross trapped Stark between the ring and the apron and smashed her which the crowd seemed to love. They also cheered when she dodged a third consecutive charge to the corner. Cross used a dropkick to the knee followed by a bulldog to get some separation.
Cross went up top, but Stark had it scouted. She hit Cross with a high kick to bring her down off the top rope and then used a baseball slide for a near fall.
Cross reversed Stark’s attack and came off the second turnbuckle with a tornado DDT. She held on and picked Stark back up to plant her with a neckbreaker to get the win.
Dolph Ziggler defeated Tyler Bate (9:28)
This was very strong, particularly in the last few minutes. Ziggler can work with anyone and Bate has very much become the same. It was a class act all round that marked Bate’s Main Event debut.
This was Ziggler’s first Main Event outing in over a year, but his first singles match on this show since 2020. It was February 2022 when he was last here with Robert Roode. With Roode having gone under the knife at the end of last year for spinal surgery, Ziggler has had to work solo of late.
The crowd was very much into this as you would hope. They did some mat work early on and did the cool spot that Curt Hennig used to do where he would get slapped and sell it by spitting out his gum so it looked like he’d lost a tooth. Ziggler has it down to a tee.
After the commercials, Ziggler was in full flow, posturing for the crowd. He covered Bate with an arm flex and then did a handstand during a rear chin lock.
Bate got the hope when he kicked out of the Famouser and caught the superkick that Ziggler went for. They got a ‘this is awesome’ chant going after Bate used an airplane spin for a near fall. Getting that chant is almost entirely unique — no one ever gets that kind of reaction on this show.
The finish was Bate going for the Tyler Driver ‘97, but Ziggler flipped him over his back and nailed him with a superkick for the win. Bate sold the kick so well here and Ziggler celebrated like he had won an absolute epic.
The work that Bate and Ziggler did buried on a show with such limited viewership is a disgrace, but goes to underline two things: Ziggler is criminally underutilized these days and Bate has a massive future ahead of him.
