Daily Update: WWE Raw, Bruce Prichard, Dominik Mysterio

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Highlights of the current issue:

  • Match and performer of the week
  • TKO COO Mark Shapiro talks WWE and UFC business and changes they are thinking about
  • Future of the house show business and why breaking even should be okay
  • Injury rate in WWE and AEW and does the schedule make a difference
  • His thoughts on the PFL taking over Bellator
  • Upcoming media rights deals to be made
  • Ideas for UFC’s streaming service
  • How much UFC is making for certain overseas shows as well as WWE
  • When deals are up
  • Change in the look of the WWE ring
  • Running shows in the same city in the same weekend
  • What is the median income of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the level of education of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • What is the ethnic makeup of the viewers of all the different promotions
  • A look at All In 2024 ticket sales
  • A look at NXT Deadline and the interest level
  • A look at the Tokyo Sports MVP and its top candidates and why the person who should win has little chance to win
  • Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
  • The most detailed look at the TV ratings, with competition, how each segment did, how the audience has changed over the past year and demo breakdowns
  • AEW and former WWE star headed to Arena Mexico
  • Plight of arrested wrestling star ends up in Mexico president press conference
  • Stardom PPV coverage and build to the Sumo Hall show
  • All Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • New Japan tag team tournament coverage
  • AEW star will headline major NOAH show
  • Updates on Okada
  • Notes on Iron Claw movie
  • Former WWE tag champ retires
  • Sukeban coverage
  • Former WWE announcer working with Trump
  • Great match on indie show
  • U.K. promotion running April show in U.S.
  • Major show with big names in U.K. next week
  • TNA return ticket sales
  • More on the firing of Kevin Sullivan by AEW
  • Update on Continental Classic
  • Von Erichs and AEW
  • Tony Khan talks Sting’s retirement and Ric Flair
  • Khan talks future of Bryan Danielson
  • Danielson talks CM Punk
  • Ticket sales to upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • AEW star on show in Vietnam and why
  • Final Battle rundown
  • Why Montreal didn’t do well for AEW
  • Injury updates
  • Update on buys for last two PPVs
  • How much money did the UFC owners pay themselves as compared to the fighters
  • Dana White laughs at Bellator sale to PFL
  • Former UFC champion arrested for allegedly punching his brother
  • Average ticket sales for AEW & WWE
  • More on multiple WWE firings
  • Royal Rumble notes
  • Update on WWE and Giulia
  • Changes in WWE TV schedule
  • Notes on newcomers to NXT
  • Notes on the new WWE signings
  • Rundown of WWE arena events

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Monday Update

Garrett and I will be up early tonight covering Raw, the Women’s MVP of 2023, Impact secret signing, AEW financials and other topics. 

Raw tonight is the final WWE show before an eight-day break for the holidays. Raw is live from Des Moines. Smackdown on Friday was already taped. Raw on 12/25 and Smackdown on 12/29 will be taped best of shows and then regular tapings will return on 1/1. The NFL game tonight is the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) vs. Seattle Seahawks (6-7). C.M. Punk is not scheduled on tonight’s show as best we can tell. He was never advertised although people not following closely after last week would certainly assume he would be on. Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will be building up their match in two weeks, Gunther defends the IC title against Miz, and if Miz doesn’t win, he can’t challenge Gunther for the title again, Damian Priest & Finn Balor defend the tag titles against The Creeds, Piper Niven & Chelsea Green defend the women’s tag titles against Katana Chance & Kayden Carter and R-Truth vs. JD McDonagh in the annual Miracle on 34th Street fight.

I haven’t heard officially that Bruce Prichard isn’t backstage tonight, but he either has or will be getting shoulder surgery and will be away from backstage for a while recuperating.

PWInsider reported Dominik Mysterio having signed a new deal. Rey Mysterio has as well.

Mascara Dorada beat Rocky Romero to win the Historic welterweight title on Friday’s Aena Mexico show. Match was said to be great. Andrade returned on that show teaming with Soberano Jr. & Angel de Oro over Atlantis Jr. & Star Jr. & Mistico which led to challenges of Soberano Jr. vs. Atlantis Jr., coming off them being a tag team, and Mistico vs. Andrade. Andrade talked about matches with Mistico, Volador Jr. and Atlantis Jr. Press attention was way up due to Andrade. Attendance was up, but not by a lot. He’s back on Friday teaming with Brillante Jr. & Espanto Jr. against Magia Blanca & Magnus & Volador Jr., so that’ll start him with Volador.

On Friday’s Smackdown, the Reigns-Orton showdown peaked at 2,405,000 viewers and 0.59 per Wrestlenomics. It stayed pretty strong until a drop in the last 45 minutes, but the main event with Orton vs. Jimmy Uso did pick up to 2,155,000 viewers and 0.54. 18-49 was well below what the shows have been doing in recent months but total viewers was a good number.

In pretty significant sports business news, John Ourand left Sports Business Journal as the biggest name writer for that publication to join Puck.

QT Marshall sent in a video to AAA that was on its TV this weekend which would indicate he’s going to continue working there. Harley Cameron was also in the video.

El Hijo del Vikingo was shaken up in his Friday match with Black Taurus, but worked the next night as part of the ROH tapings teaming with Komander.

MLW is looking at signing new talent, running more shows and bonusing talent. It’s been pretty much acknowledged within WWE that they got money in the settlement and apparently a significant enough number for MLW to upgrade, but the only way that actual number would be released would be by TKO in an SEC filing if the number is significant to WWE. Remember, a number significant to MLW is very possibly not significant to WWE.

Pandemonium Pro from last night in Los Angeles: Ishmael Vaughn & Aaron Solo b Fuego del Sol & Alan Angels, Brian Cage b Jordan Cruz, Honest John won over Robert Martyr, Vinny Pacifico, Richie Coy, Jake Painter and Chris Nastyy, Nyla Rose & Serpentico b Dark Sheik & Anton Woorhees to win the tag titles, Trish Adora b Aspyn Rose, Miyu Yamashita b Mike Bailey (said to be a super match with awesome kicks back and forth and crowd on fire), Wicked Wichett b Jack Evans, Taya Valkyrie b Brooke Havok, Sandra Moone won over Masha Slamovich, Akira and Sonico (said to be fun with the couples working together), Johnny Hollywood (TV) b El Hijo del Vikingo in a non-title match after head-butting him with a bicycle helmet that Valkyrie threw in. (thanks to Chris Champol)

UFC 297 has 17,652 tickets out for the 1/20 show in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena. It’s 1,503 tickets shy of capacity per WrestleTix. It’s the show headlined by Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title

AARP magazine has a mention of Andre the Giant playing Bigfoot in the $6 Million Man TV show in the 70s.

Dominik Mysterio trolls CM Punk with AEW clip

The 13-year rivalry between CM Punk and Dominik Mysterio is heating up. 

Punk vs. Mysterio is advertised for WWE house shows on December 26 at Madison Square Garden in New York and December 30 at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles.

Punk promoted the Los Angeles show while on commentary at a Cage Fury FC event on Friday and took a shot at his upcoming opponent in the process.  

Punk said:

Come out to the KIA Forum, watch me beat up Dirty Dominik. I’ve been wanting to punch this kid in the face since he was eight years old. Now he’s legal and I’m going to destroy him. 

Mysterio responded to Punk on Monday by posting a video of Punk slipping off the top rope during a match in AEW. He captioned the post with, “Punch me like this please…@CMPunk #bestintheworld.”

The clip is actually from Punk’s last match at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles. He was teaming with FTR against The Gunns and Max Caster. Punk had broken his foot moments before the match began when he did a stage dive into the crowd. He ended up having to vacate the AEW World Championship as a result. 

Punk and Dominik’s bad blood dates back to a 2010 angle involving Punk and Rey Mysterio. The Mysterio family, including Dominik and Aalyah, were often featured in the storyline, including a famous segment when Punk sang Happy Birthday to Aalyah. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQarNESkB4c

Report: Dominik Mysterio recently signed new WWE contract

It appears that Dominik Mysterio recently signed a new contract that will keep him in WWE for years to come.

PWInsider reported on Monday that Dominik signed a new WWE deal “a month or so” ago. One source told PWInsider that it’s a five-year deal, while another source confirmed the deal but did not know the length of it.

As part of The Judgment Day with Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh , Dominik has become a heat magnet with WWE crowds this year. Shawn Michaels told The Ringer’s Cheap Heat podcast earlier this month that he believes Dominik is WWE’s MVP of 2023.

“I have nothing but admiration for that young man,” Michaels said. “He has been a stud for us.”

Dominik has been featured on the WWE main roster and in NXT this year. He dropped the NXT North American Championship to Dragon Lee at NXT Deadline earlier this month. Dominik’s father Rey Mysterio was at ringside cheering for Dragon Lee in that match.

On WWE’s holiday house show tour, Dominik will be facing CM Punk in a pair of matches. Dominik vs. Punk is set for Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 26 and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on December 30.

CM Punk announced for two WWE Holiday Tour house shows

Update —

It’s also been announced that CM Punk vs. Dominik Mysterio will take place at WWE’s Holiday Tour house show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday, December 26.

**********

CM Punk will be in action when WWE’s holiday house show tour comes to Los Angeles later this month.

The Kia Forum in Inglewood, California announced today that Punk will face Dominik Mysterio at WWE’s Holiday Tour house show at the venue on Saturday, December 30. It was previously advertised that Dominik would be facing Cody Rhodes in a Last Man Standing match at the event.

Punk hasn’t wrestled any matches since returning to WWE at Survivor Series. He’s made two appearances on Raw, one on SmackDown, and one at NXT Deadline.

Last night, Punk officially joined the Raw roster. Punk also declared that he’ll be competing in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match.

WWE appears to be building to Punk challenging Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. Punk and Rollins had their first face-to-face confrontation last night.

Punk also had a brief interaction with Dominik and the rest of Judgment Day on Raw.

Dominik wrestled at NXT Deadline this past Saturday, losing the NXT North American Championship to Dragon Lee.

The Kia Forum is the same arena where Punk suffered a broken foot during an episode of AEW Dynamite in June 2022.

Two matches added to WWE Raw lineup

Two matches have been added to the lineup for this week’s WWE Raw. 

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Tegan Nox & Natalya, and The Creed Brothers vs. Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh are now scheduled for the show. 

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced the news via Instagram on Saturday. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C0XpPQiJ3R7

One-half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Chelsea Green, offered her thoughts in the comments section of Pearce’s post. 

“OHHH BLAH BLAH BLAAAAAAAH about these womens tag teams. The people care about US and only US,” Green wrote. 

Monday’s edition of Raw takes place from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York. Six matches and one segment have been announced for the show. 

WWE Raw December 4, 2023, announced lineup:

  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins defends against Jey Uso
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn
  • Two-out-of-three falls: DIY vs. Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci)
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Nia Jax
  • Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs. Tegan Nox & Natalya
  • The Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) vs. Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh
  • Cody Rhodes to address Shinsuke Nakamura

Shawn Michaels calls Dominik Mysterio the ‘MVP of WWE this year’

Shawn Michaels has nothing but admiration for Dominik Mysterio.

During an appearance on The Ringer’s Cheap Heat podcast, Michaels discussed what it’s been like to have Dominik in NXT. Michaels called Dominik the “MVP of the WWE this year” for the work he’s done both in NXT and on the main roster. Michaels said a lot was put on Dominik early in his career, but he’s grown a lot and become a hell of a performer.

To me, Dominik Mysterio – MVP of the WWE this year. Every time he comes here, I look at him and I say, ‘Hardest working man in show business.’ He has just been an iron man for us. And again, I can’t speak to what he does on the main roster, but he has just done everything we have asked of him. He’s done it professionally. He’s done it admirably. Done it to the best of his ability. Yes, do I think it’s been to his advantage because a lot was put on him early and he, you know, he probably didn’t get the opportunity to develop, you know, behind the scenes as much as other people had and he had to do it out there in front of the world and probably got judged harshly for it? But I’m telling you, I have nothing but admiration for that young man. He has been a stud for us. And again, I think from a company standpoint, everybody would agree with me. He got a lot put on him early, and I think he’s grown a lot in this last year. I think he’s become a hell of a performer as well, when everything is said and done. But it’s hard for me not to admire the young man who’s worked so hard for us.

Michaels said Dominik has been a joy to work with professionally and he appreciates that more than anything else.

I tell Rey [Mysterio] every time I see him, he’s a great performer and everything else, but you’ve raised a really wonderful young man there. And I hope that means a lot to him. Because he really is. I admire him a great deal as a young man.

Dominik is the current NXT North American Champion. It’s the second time he’s held the title this year.

At NXT Deadline on December 9, Dominik is defending his North American Championship against Wes Lee. Lee earned the title shot by defeating Johnny Gargano, Bronson Reed, and Cameron Grimes in a fatal four-way match on NXT this Tuesday.

Dominik was part of the men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series last weekend. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik, JD McDonagh) & Drew McIntyre lost to Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn & Randy Orton. Orton then defeated Dominik in a singles match on Monday’s episode of Raw.

Logan Paul attends UFC 295, shouts out Dominik Mysterio

Logan Paul was on hand for UFC 295. 

The new United States Champion was shown with his title belt on camera during Saturday’s pay-per-view. Paul held up a “shout out” message to Dominik Mysterio on his phone as well, although he misspelled Mysterio’s first name. 

Paul was not the only celebrity in Madison Square Garden for UFC 295. Donald Trump entered the arena flanked by Dana White, Kid Rock, and Tucker Carlson before the show got underway. 

Paul defeated Rey Mysterio to win the United States Championship at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh on November 4. It was just his eighth professional match and fifth singles match. His record is 3-2 in singles with wins over The Miz, Ricochet, and now Mysterio. Paul’s losses were to Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. He teamed with The Miz and defeated Rey & Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 38 and also participated in the 2023 Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank matches. 

Wes Lee returns, attacks Dominick Mysterio on WWE NXT

Wes Lee made his return to NXT TV on Tuesday, zeroing in on Dominik Mysterio.

After Mysterio successfully defended the title on Tuesday’s Halloween Havoc, Lee attacked Mysterio, making it clear he wanted another shot at the championship that Mysterio had defeated him for. He held the championship in the air to end the segment.

Lee was last seen losing to Ilja Dragunov in a match that was set to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship back on the September 12 edition of NXT. After the match, he was seen leaving the arena, saying that he had cleaned out his locker and that he was ‘done’. Dragunov went on to win the NXT Championship at No Mercy on September 30, which he has held since then.

Back in July, Mysterio had defeated Lee to win the North American title for the first time. He ended up losing the title to Trick Williams at No Mercy, but it won back days later in a rematch.

Dominik Mysterio regains North American title on WWE NXT

Just as quickly as he lost it, Dominik Mysterio regained the NXT North American Championship on Tuesday.

Mysterio defeated Trick Williams on NXT thanks to the entirety of the Judgment Day appearing and frequently interfering towards the end. JD McDonagh, who has attempted to curry favor with the group, also interfered. Williams attempted to ward all of them off, but a belt shot by Balor ultimately sealed his fate, allowing Mysterio to become North American Champion for a second time following a frog splash.

At Saturday’s NXT No Mercy, Williams defeated Mysterio in a match that didn’t have Ripley or other members of Judgment Day in his corner. On Monday’s Raw, Ripley made her return after an absence and told Mysterio he’d get another shot at the title on Tuesday. She threatened Mysterio, however, by saying that if he didn’t bring the title home, to not bother coming home at all.

On Tuesday’s show, Carmelo Hayes offered to be in Williams’ corner. Williams rejected the offer, saying he won the title by himself and would retain the title on his own.

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from No Mercy

NXT moves on from No Mercy and starts the build to Halloween Havoc tonight.

A new North American Champion was crowned when Trick Williams defeated Dominik Mysterio last Saturday. Tonight, Dominik gets his rematch for the title. If Dominik doesn’t win the championship back, he’ll have to answer to Rhea Ripley. Ripley has warned Dominik not to come home without gold.

It’s the start of a new era for NXT with Ilja Dragunov as champion. Dragunov won the title from Carmelo Hayes at No Mercy.

Becky Lynch retained her NXT Women’s Championship at No Mercy by defeating Tiffany Stratton in an extreme rules match. Despite not currently being cleared to compete due to an arm laceration, Lynch is scheduled to kick off tonight’s show.

The 2023 NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament begins tonight. The winner of the tournament earns a future title shot.

After Gallus cost him a chance to become Heritage Cup Champion, Butch teams up with Tyler Bate against Mark Coffey & Wolfgang tonight. A grudge match between Gigi Dolin and Blair Davenport is also set. Dolin vs. Davenport was originally supposed to happen last week, but Davenport instead took Dolin out in a backstage attack.

The show begins with a recap highlighting NXT No Mercy from last Saturday. 

NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch opens the show with her entrance to the soundstage. “The Man has come around to N-Bex-T,” declares the champ. The live studio audience chants “N-X-T.”

Lynch mentions she is not medically cleared to wrestle after her successful title defense at No Mercy. Lynch notes her opponent, Tiffany Stratton is also not cleared to wrestle tonight because on Saturday, as Lynch puts it, they “beat the ever-loving piss out of each other.”

Lynch says she would not have it any other way, as she wants to give her all when defending the title. She goes on to basically talk about how she is a fighting champion, and she is eyeing night one of the Halloween Havoc special for another title defense.

Lyra Valkyria suddenly interrupts Lynch’s monologue, and Valkyria gets in the ring with Lynch. Valkyria tells a story from June 2014, when Lynch made her NXT debut. That is the first episode of NXT that Valkyria watched, and she began training to wrestle that week. Valkyria says Lynch’s debut help “kick start” Valkyria’s career.

Valkyria asks Lynch is she know what she mean to Irish wrestling fans. Valkyria keeps putting Lynch over, mentioning that Lynch grew up not from from where Valkyria is from, and Lynch went on to be one of the first women to main event WrestleMania. Fast forward, and Valkyria was standing beside Lynch in the main event of No Mercy.

Valkyria then says she is also wondering what it would feel like to stand face-to-face with the champ. Lynch begins to agree with Valkyria when they are interrupted by Indi Hartwell. 

Hartwell comes to the ring bragging on herself, and Hartwell notes she never lost the NXT Women’s Championship. Lynch is not the only one that can come home. Now, Hartwell is back for something she never lost. 

Yet another interruption as out comes Roxanne Perez. She is booed by the studio audience. Perez cuts a great promo challenging Lynch, and Perez vows to take back her title at Halloween Havoc.

This all leads to Lynch booking a triple threat match tonight with Lynch on guest commentary. The winner of the three-way gets a title shot on the first night of Halloween Havoc.

A video package hypes the participants in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament.

Tyler Bate & Butch defeated Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey)

Bate pinned Mark Coffey, as Bate and Butch get a rather dominate win. Gallus jump the babyface duo after the match, leading to Ridge Holland running in for a save. 

Bate and Butch clear the ring and stand tall as the show cuts to a commercial break. The show returns with Bate in trouble, after Joe Coffey interferes by hitting Bate with a cheap shot. Hot tag to Butch, and he cleans house.

Butch drops Mark Coffey with a shining wizard, and Butch pounds him forearms doing a Sheamus spot. Butch then does a plancha to outside on Joe Coffey. As Butch gets back into the ring, he is cut off by Mark Coffey. However, Bate is able to soon tag in and come to the aid of Butch.

Butch moonsaults off the middle turnbuckle to the floor on Wolfgang. Moments later, Bate dives over the top rope on Wolfgang. Butch tags back in for the finish. 

Butch and Bate partner up for a double team hip toss/powerbomb combo. Bate then covers Mark Coffey for a three count. Immediately after the pinfall, in comes Joe Coffey to get Gallus’ heat back. Wolfgang and Mark Coffey join in, and they outnumber Bate and Butch. Gallus is administering a beatdown when Ridge Holland runs down to even the odds.

Holland helps Bate and Butch in clearing the ring of Gallus. This seems to clearly set up a six-man tag match.  

New NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov comes to the ring for his first live appearance on television since winning the title at No Mercy. Dragunov addresses the audience.

Dragunov puts over the former champion, saying Carmelo Hayes brought the fight to him at No Mercy. Dragunov can barely stand, but he stands. Even in pain, Dragunov stands before the audience as their champion. He promises to take the title to another level, and vows to protect his promise with his life.

“Long live the czar,” Dragunov declares just before he is interrupted by another new champion. Wouldn’t you know it, someone interrupts. 

New NXT North American Champion Trick Williams get in the ring to confront Dragunov, while the audience chants “WHOOP THAT TRICK!” 

Williams thanks Dragunov for him showing Williams something in himself when they wrestled several weeks ago. Williams now has gold and says he is only going up from here. Dragunov tells Williams that he is proud of him. Dragunov drops Williams catchphrase, and the studio audience pops.

Out comes former NXT champ Carmelo Hayes, who limps out to the ring to confront the two new champs. Hayes is upset with Williams for thanking Dragunov. Hayes claims he has encouraged Williams for much longer, and Hayes declares he is proud of Williams.

Hayes tells Williams that winning the title is one thing, but defending it as another. Hayes tries to defend his comment when Dragunov interjects. Dragunov then bows out so Williams and Hayes can talk. Before they can hash things out, Dominik Mysterio is out to interrupt. 

Williams insults Mysterio then jabs about “Mami.” Mysterio and Williams bicker when Hayes says he was Williams’ back tonight. Hayes says he will be in Williams corner tonight. Mysterio responds by asking Williams if he is still in Hayes’ shadow. Williams then declines Hayes’ offer to have him in the corner. Hayes says he won the title by himself, and he will defend it on his own.

Lyra Valkyria defeated Indi Hartwell and Roxanne Perez in a number one contender’s tripe threat match

Valkyria pinned Hartwell to win the match. Kiana James runs in just for the deciding pinfall, and James attacks Perez. 

The match goes through a commercial break. All three got to shine at times. Valkyria especially got to shine in the later stage of the match. She is knocked out of the ring.

Perez has Hartwell rolled up for a pin when Kiana James runs in to pull Perez out of the ring. James attacks Perez, but James eats a superkick from Lynch at ringside. Meanwhile, Valkyria recovers and climbs the turnbuckles. Valkyria leaps off the top rope with a Superfly splash on Hartwell, and Valkyria hooks a leg for a pinfall. 

After the match, Lynch gets in the ring with Valkyria when out comes Tegan Nox. She is Lynch’s next challenger, facing the “The Man” on Raw this coming Monday night. The winner of the match defends against Valkyria on night one of Halloween Havoc.

Bron Breakker meets up with Carmelo Hayes in a backstage skit. Breakker is playing mind games with Hayes, trying to lure Hayes to the dark side of the force. 

Baron Corbin confronts NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov in a backstage skit where Corbin vows to win the NXT title. In doing so, Corbin insults and belittles Dragunov, which leaves the champ seething in anger.

Gigi Dolan pinned Blair Davenport

Dolan pinned Davenport with a roll up in a grudge match.

This match was supposed to happen last week, but they shot an angle where Davenport attacked Dolan. In turn, Dolan returns the favor by jumping Davenport before the bell in there match this week.

Dolan was a house of fire from the start, until Davenport cuts her off. Dolan eventually fights back. The fight spills outside the ring as they brawl around the announce desk. Davenport grabs a metal folding chair, but Dolan is able to dodge a chair shot. 

Dolan fires up as they get back into the ring. After a near fall, Dolan rolls out to retrieve the folding chair. Dolan goes to swing the chair, but the referee steps in. Davenport is able to get the chair, and she goes to swing it, but the ref stops her by grabbing the chair. Dolan then rolls up Davenport with a schoolgirl for a pinfall. 

Davenport gets her heat back by fishhooking the ref, as Davenport screams that this is not over.

McKenzie Mitchell is trying to interview Kiana James, who is on the phone with someone. James tells them she is wiring money, and it will be worth their time. Sounds like a good old fashioned Harley Race “take the money” bounty. This leads to James revealing that Asuka is returning to NXT for a match next week.

James cuts a promo on Roxanne Perez, saying she will not give Perez another chance to win the title. That is reason for the run-in earlier. James then reveals Asuka as the opponent for Perez next Tuesday. If Perez wins, then she faces James in a match.

Participants in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament are introduced in front of the live studio audience. Those being introduced include Lola Vice, Dani Palmer, Arianna Grace, Jaida Parker, Jakara Jackson, Karmen Petrovic, and the two women kicking off the tournament — Kelani Jordan and Izzi Dame.

Kelani Jordan defeated Izzi Dame in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament 

Jordan pinned Dame after a split-leg moonsault in the first tournament match.

Duke Hudson and Andre Chase run into Thea Hail and Jacy Jayne as the two women are warming up backstage for their match. Chase asked if he and Duke could help Thea Hail with her match tonight. Hail scoffs at the notion, but Jacy Jayne surprisingly things it is a good idea. Jayne even leads them in a Chase U chant. Odd indeed.

Coming back from a commercial break, another vignette airs teasing the debut of Brian Pillman Jr. 

Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne (with Andre Chase & Duke Hudson) defeated Elektra Lopez & Lola Vice

Hail submitted Lopez with a kimura. Hail and Jayne looked pretty dominate as a team in winning, as Chase and Hudson look on. 

Carmelo Hayes says he had a phone call with John Cena. Hayes reveals that Cena will be in Hayes’ corner next week, when Hayes faces Bron Breakker in a match on NXT next Tuesday. 

Dominik Mysterio defeated NXT North American Champion Trick Williams to win the title

Mysterio pinned Williams after interference from Judgment Day. JD McDonagh also ran in. There were a lot of smoke and mirrors, but it was still an entertaining match. WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley was in Dom’s corner the entire match. Finn Balor and Damian Priest would emerge later in the bout.

The match goes through a split-screen commercial break. After returning from the break, out comes Damian Priest and Finn Balor of Judgment Day. They were seemingly there to motivate Dom, as Ripley had also told him to bring the title back home or do not come home at all.

Dom is able to work over Williams, only for Williams to soon fight back. Ripley slides the women’s title belt into the ring, and Williams bends over to pick it up. Dom rushes in to DDT Williams on the title belt, and Dom slides the belt out of the ring. Yet, Williams gets a shoulder up to break a count.

Dom dials up a 619, and Dom goes to follow up with a frog splash. Williams gets his knees up, and a moment later he delivers a jumping knee strike. JD McDonagh suddenly runs in, and he is sent packing by Williams.

Priest slides his Money in the Bank briefcase into the ring, and Dom goes to use it as a weapon. The referee plays tries to get the briefcase from Dom. The briefcase was a red herring, as Balor jumps on the apron and hits Williams with a belt shot. Williams falls face down on the mat, and Dom follows up with a frog splash. Dom then covers Williams for a three count, and the former champ has regained his title. 

Paul Heyman cuts in with a pre-taped promo that closes the show. Heyman announces that WWE Champion Roman Reigns will be in Bron Breakker’s corner in his match against Carmelo Hayes, who has John Cena in his corner.

Next week is a super loaded show on NXT, in what is possibly the most star-studded lineup in the history of the NXT brand. 

Trick Williams wins North American title at WWE NXT No Mercy

At NXT No Mercy, Trick Williams scored the biggest victory of his career so far.

Williams defeated Dominik Mysterio on Saturday night to win the NXT North American Championship. Dominik had been champion since winning the title from Wes Lee this July.

Dragon Lee served as the special guest referee for Williams and Dominik’s title match. At one point, Dominik took Dragon Lee out with a superkick after Williams moved out of the way. Another referee came down but was also inadvertently laid out. Dominik tried to take advantage of the situation by hitting Williams with the North American title belt, but Williams avoided it and dropped Dominik with a knee strike. Dragon Lee then woke up in enough time to count the pin for Williams.

WWE shared footage of Shawn Michaels congratulating Williams backstage after his victory.

This is the first title that Williams has ever held. A former college football player, he signed with WWE in 2021.

Williams earned the North American title shot at No Mercy by defeating Axiom, Dragon Lee, and Tyler Bate in a fatal four-way match on NXT this past Tuesday.

Williams and NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes were shown arriving together on the pre-show for No Mercy. Hayes is defending his NXT Championship against Ilja Dragunov at the event.

Fight Game: NXT No Mercy & AEW WrestleDream previews

John LaRocca and I are back with a brand new Fight Game Podcast.

We opened up the show talking about the latest twists and turns with the MJF and Adam Cole angle, including the cliffhanger at the end with Jay White.

Some of the other things we talked about:

  • Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio and how it was the highest-rated segment in 18-49 on WWE Raw
  • Full NXT No Mercy preview
  • Trick Williams’ performance of late
  • Hangman Adam Page’s super inside promo on Dynamite
  • Full AEW WrestleDream preview

We also discuss our first ever music concerts in the latest “Getting to know your podcasters” segment. 

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Two championship matches added to WWE NXT No Mercy

Trick Williams is heading to No Mercy.

Williams won a four-way match on Tuesday’s NXT to earn a North American title match at WWE No Mercy this Saturday, defeating Dragon Lee, Axiom, and Tyler Bate. The finish had Lee headbutting Williams, who rebounded off the ropes sending Bate to the floor. He ended up falling over Axiom, pinning him to become the new number one contender.

Mustafa Ali had originally been slated to face Mysterio for the title, but was released last week from WWE. A three-way match was made on this week’s NXT to determine a new challenger. However, after Williams quickly defeated Joe Gacy, he walked into Shawn Michaels’ office and asked to be put in the three-way, a request that was granted.

Later, after Mysterio and Dragon Lee had a confrontation, it was announced that Lee would be the special guest referee for the title match.

A four-way NXT Tag Team title match was also agreed to. After Tony D’Angelo & Stacks held a meeting with Bronco Lima & Lucien Price, The Creed Brothers, and Angel & Humberto in their favorite restaurant, a fatal four-way match was agreed to for No Mercy.

Here is the updated card for Saturday’s event:

  • NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes defends against Ilja Dragunov
  • Extreme rules match: NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch defends against Tiffany Stratton
  • NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio defends against Trick Williams (Dragon Lee will be the special guest referee)
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo & Stacks defend against Bronco Nima & Lucien Price, The Creed Brothers, and Angel & Humberto in a fatal four-way match
  • NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar defends against Butch
  • Baron Corbin vs. Bron Breakker

Dominik Mysterio reacts to Mustafa Ali’s WWE release

At NXT No Mercy later this month, Dominik Mysterio was scheduled to defend his NXT North American Championship against Mustafa Ali.

Plans for that match changed on Thursday when Ali announced that he’s no longer with WWE. A round of roster cuts were made that day, with the releases coming after Endeavor’s acquisition of WWE was made official.

While being interviewed on In The Kliq, Dominik was asked about Ali’s departure and the other releases. He responded:

Yeah, it’s a very unfortunate situation that very talented people have to go through situations like this. But at the end of the day, it’s out of our control. We just do whatever we can to put our best foot forward. But as far as No Mercy goes, I’m just going to have to wait and see who my opponent will be.

Dominik is defending the NXT North American Championship against Dragon Lee on Raw this coming Monday. Ali was scheduled to appear on the episode prior to his departure.

Dominik retained the North American title against Ali and Wes Lee in a triple threat match at NXT Great American Bash this July.

NXT No Mercy is being held in Bakersfield, California on Saturday, September 30. The show will air live on Peacock/WWE Network.

WWE NXT live results: Becky Lynch appears, Carmelo Hayes vs. Dominik

The Man comes around to NXT tonight for her first appearance on the show since becoming the champion.

In last Tuesday’s main event, Becky Lynch defeated Tiffany Stratton to win the NXT Women’s Championship. This is Lynch’s first-ever reign with the title. 

She’s promised to be a fighting champion, and then went on to successfully defense over Natalya on Raw last night. 

WWE has also announced that Lynch will kick off tonight’s episode of NXT.

A non-title clash between NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes and North American Champion Dominik Mysterio also highlights tonight’s action.

The Group A winner in the Global Heritage Invitational will be determined when Tyler Bate and Butch face off. A Group B match between Joe Coffey and Duke Hudson is also set. Coffey is the current leader in Group B.

Plus, Lola Vice will compete in a singles match against Roxanne Perez.

Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

The Man comes around…

NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch enters the soundstage at the Performance Center in Orlando. The live studio audience greets her with a big pop and chants of her name.

The champ exclaims, “The Man has come around to N-Becks-T!”

Lynch says her world tour continues, “because we bring the fight every damn night!”

No matter the name, same game. Lynch name drops Gigi Dolan, Elektra Lopez, Thea Hail, and Roxanne Perez, in a rhyme similar to Lanny Poffo fame.

“I’ll be here a while, and I go the extra mile,” raps Becky, “So how about we have a scrap, Ivy Nile.”

Lynch name drops a few more before saying she is the mountain to climb,  “welcome to the big time.” 

The studio audience chants Becky’s name, and she thanks them. Lynch says it feels good to be back and represent the fans. 

Lynch then brings up the former champion, Tiffany Stratton. 

“‘Tiffy Time’ is over, ” proclaims Lynch. With that, the studio audience chants “Becky Time.”

Lynch promises that Stratton will get a rematch for the title, even if “she may be an idiot, and she may be an arsehole,’ but…”

Out comes Stratton to interrupt and interject. Stratton talks about how she deserves a rematch. Stratton acknowledges Lynch is a main eventer and a top star, but “I am Tiffany STRATT-TAN!”

Lynch rolls her eyes. Stratton challenges Lynch to a title match tonight. The audience starts a “YES” chant, and Stratton immediately heels on them. She says the match is not happening tonight. 

“These losers cheered me every week up until you came here,” Stratton says to Lynch. “I want a bigger match on a bigger stage.”

By that she means Bakersfield, California.

Lynch says Stratton can have the rematch she wants, but the results will remain the same. Not because Stratton is not good enough, rather she is not “hungry enough” to regain the match.

Lynch accuses Stratton of being entitled, and what it comes to is who wants it more. Stratton has a smart alec remark. Just she begins to ramble, Lynch says instead of going “word for word with The Man, we got punch for punch.”

Lynch lunges towards Stratton and a brawl ensues. Kiana James jumps in to attack Lynch. James hold Lynch so that Stratton can try to hit Lynch with a metal folding chair. Lynch escapes and fights back. “The Man” grabs the chair and swings it at the fleeing heels. This would lead to a handicap match as the main event for later tonight.

NXT Tag Team Champions Tony D’Angelo and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo talk cuisine, an they try to decide on their next challengers. They decide to let the teams fight it out. What a concept.

Ilja Dragunov is being interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell when in walks Lynch. She asks Dragunov is she can interrupt, and be obliges her. An angry Lynch glares into the match as she challenges Kiana James and Tiffany Stratton to a two-on-one handicap match tonight.

Kelly Kincaid interviews Noam Dar and Meta-Four in a wacky skit I assume is based on The Matrix or something. This went way over my head. Luckily, out comes Butch to interrupt. He has a match coming up after the commercial break, but first another skit.

NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio has a confrontation with Trick Williams. Mysterio likens him getting out of his father’s shadow with Williams playing second fiddle Carmelo Hayes. Mysterio trying to cause dissension.

Butch defeated Tyler Bate in a Group A match in the Global Heritage International tournament

Butch pinned Bate to conclude a really good bout. The win gives Butch two more points, giving him a one point lead over Bate in the overall standings. Thus, Butch advances to the tournament final by one point.

They wrestled through a commercial break, and teased going to a time limit draw. Under 60 second as Bate goes for his signature corkscrew senton, but Butch gets his knees up to block. 

Butch with a Bitter End, but Bate kicks out as the clock ticks down to under 30 seconds. Butch then does a modified tombstone version of a Bitter End, and he coves Bate for a three count. With the win, Butch earns the most points overall in his group, meaning he advances to the finals. 

Updated Group A standings:

  • Butch – 5 points
  • Bate – 4 points
  • Axiom – 1 point
  • Charlie Dempsey – 0 points

In a pre-taped skit, Thea Hail goes shopping for a new wardrobe alongside Jacy Jayne. Hail tries on several outfits, but Jayne says she needs more leather. They finally settle on an outfit, but viewers do get to see it yet. The reveal will happen at a later date.

Duke Hudson (with Andre Chase) defeated Joe Coffey (with Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) in a Group B match in the Global Heritage International tournament 

Hudson played spoiler, after pinning Coffey with a schoolboy roll-up. The match was kept short. The reason for that would be revealed later on, as Hudson and Coffey go on to wrestle in a another match later on tonight.

Coffey needed a win to advance, and Hudson was the “bracket buster” in Group B. Although there was no actual bracket, Hudson’s win did make him part of a three-way tie atop the Group B leaderboard. 

Just before they were going home, Coffey lands a missile dropkicks. He then follows up with a “Glasgow Sendoff” and an attempted discus lariat. Hudson ducks the clothesline, and Hudson rolls up Coffey for a pinfall. 

Updated Group B standings:

  • Joe Coffey – 4 points
  • Nathan Frazier – 4 points
  • Duke Hudson – 4 points
  • Akira Tozawa – 0 points

Kelly Kincaid is interviewing Frazier for his reaction to the three-way tie. Frazier assumes that means a triple threat match. Kincaid gets word that the three-way is happening later tonight. An excited Frazier runs off to get ready.

Roxanne Perez defeated Lola Vice

Perez pinned Vice with a cradle. In the closing moments of a short match, Perez countered a submission to pin Vice. Perez went for Pop Rocks, and Vice had countered with the submission attempt, but Perez had a counter of her own. Vice worked the arm during the match.

Perez would later in a backstage skit ask to be Becky Lynch’s partner tonight, but Lynch politely decline the offer. 

In a vignette, Eddy Thorpe challenges Dijak to a strap match. The angle is a modern version of the “Indian strap match” gimmick, without all the cultural appropriation of years past. The strap match is later made official for next Tuesday.

NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes vs. NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio in a non-title champion vs. champion match ended in a no-contest

Ilja Dragunov was doing guest commentary at ringside when he ran in a rage. Dragunov hits both Hayes and Mysterio, so I am assuming the match was ruled a no-contest. 

Gorilla Monsoon would often say after a match, “let’s get the official word.” The ring announcer would then give an official result. That was so quaint. None of that here. We are just left to wonder and speculate as to the official word. So, I just assume no-contest. 

Hayes was posing as part of his entrance when he is ambushed by Msyertio. “Dirty Dom” poses with the NXT title, and that fires up Hayes. The bell to start the match eventually sounds.

Hayes pummels Dom, and Dom is begging off as the show cuts to a commercial break. The match continues after the break, with Dom eventually cutting off Hayes. Not for long, as Dom eats a codebreaker. 

Hayes climbs the turnbuckles, and he slips. Hayes tumbles off the turnbuckles, and he falls to the floor. Looked as if Dom was supposed to trip him up, but Hayes slips before that.

Reversing a whip, Hayes sends Dom sailing over the announce desk into the lap of Dragunov. After taking a bump in a chair, Dragunov is hit again when Dom sends Hayes crashing into Dragunov for a double noggin knocker. Dom rolls Hayes back into the ring, and Dom then slaps Dragunov across the face. That would awaken a beast.

An enraged Dragunov storms into the ring to attack Mysterio. After inadvertently getting hit by Hayes moments earlier, Dragunov inadvertently gives Hayes a finisher. Meanwhile, Dragon Lee runs down to superkick Mysterio. 

Joe Gacy and Ava proposition Trick Williams in a skit. Though it could have been taken as something from a late night Cinemax movie, I assume Gacy and Ava were actually trying to recruit Williams into their cult. Maybe there is a movie about that too.

Andre Chase gives Duke Hudson a pep talk in another skit.

Lucien Price, Bronco Nima and Scrypts are playing a dice game in a stereotypical inner city skit, and they win a load of cash. They count their winnings and brag on themselves.

McKenzie Mitchell interviews Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. They accept a challenge to a match against Price and Nima.

Joe Coffey defeated Duke Hudson and Nathan Frazier in a triple threat tie-breaker for Group B in the Global Heritage International tournament

Coffey pinned Hudson to win the match. In winning, Coffey advances to the tournament final next week.

Like of a lot of tripe threat matches, there was a lot going on at times. Lots of nifty high spots as well. They went through a commercial break, before wrapping up with an action-packed finish.

Hudson teases another roll-up flash pin on Coffey, but Coffey kicks out this time. All three go on to do a flurry of high spots down the home stretch. Near falls galore, with several pins being broken up by the odd man out.

In the closing moments, Coffey tossed outside the ring by Hudson. Frazier cuts off Hudson, and Hudson is spiked by a Frankensteiner. Hudson with a wacky sell. Frazier follows up with a Phoenix Splash, and Frazier goes for a pin cover. The pinning attempt is broken up by Coffey, and he throws Frazier over the top rope.

After knocking Frazier off the apron, Coffey hits Hudson with a discus lariat. Coffey then covers Hudson for a pinfall, and Coffey wins Group B block. Butch against Coffey is set for the tournament final.

Mustafa Ali is interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell. Ali is in a self-professed “uproar” over a North American title match booked for Raw. Ali cuts a heel promo on both Dominik Mysterio and Dragon Lee, as they have match set for Monday night. Ali is upset someone he beat gets a title shot before him. Ali vows to deal with both of them Monday on Raw.

Josh Briggs barges in while Brooks Jensen and Fallon Henley are watching footage from their loss last week. Briggs blames Henley for him and Jensen suffering the loss. Briggs and Henley argue over Myles Borne. These three have become a dysfunctional group of friends. I guess no one told them life was gonna be this way…

Baron Corbin comes in to ask what they are arguing about, except Corbin does not want an answer. He just wants them to shut up. Briggs smarts off to Corbin, and they have words. This looks to set up a match between Briggs and Corbin.

Announced for next week is a contract signing between Hayes and Dragunov for the NXT Championship bout at No Mercy. Also made official is a strap match with Dijak against Eddy Thorpe.

NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton & Kiana James in a non-title handicap match never happens

James and Stratton are seen planning something in a backstage skit before the match. Turns out the plan was to jump Lynch before the bell in a sneak attack. Stratton and James both ambush Lynch during the champ’s entrance.

Lynch is being double-teamed when Lyra Valkyria runs down to make a save. Seems like that would be a disqualification due to outside interference, but the bell had apparently not sounded yet. No official start to the match before the melee.

Stratton and James do not like the odds being even, so they turn to leave. They are chased down by Lynch and Valkyria. The bell finally sounds, beginning an impromptu tag match. The sudden change in booking is supposedly at the “discretion” of the referee. “Poetic license” is more like it.

NXT Women’s Champion Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria defeated Tiffany Stratton & Kiana James

Valkyria pinned James to win the match. Valkyria gets the rub. An angle after the match has Stratton attacking Lynch with a folding chair.

The babyface team is on a roll as the show cut to its final commercial break. Lynch is being worked over as the show returns from the break. Stratton goes for her Muta elbow, but no one is home.

Hot tag and Valkyria jumps into the ring. The two heels bump and feed into Valkyria onslaught. Moments later when Valkyria goes for a springboard, Stratton trips her up from outside the ring. Stratton was not the legal woman at the time. 

Vic Joseph played it up on commentary as Stratton getting away with something nefarious. Give me a freaking break, dude. When is that ever an issue these days ?

James deadlifted Valkyria for a powerbomb. Stratton follows up with a senton bomb on Valkyria. Lynch jumps in to break up a pin cover. That was supposed to be her team’s one save. Why not talk about that rule, Vic?

Lynch with a double slop drop on Stratton and James. Lynch goes to apply an armbar on James, but James escapes the hold. Manhandle slam by Lynch, and Lynch tags out. Valkyria leaps off the top rope for a flying body press, and Valkyria covers James for a three count.

Stratton grabs a metal folding chair, and she attacks Lynch after the match. Lynch gives her back for Stratton to hit her with the chair. Stratton retrieves the NXT title belt, and Stratton’s poses with the women’s title. 

As Stratton goes to leave, Lynch gets to her feet. Lynch is given a house mic. Stemming from the attack with the chair, Lynch announces an “extreme rules” stipulation her title rematch against Stratton at No Mercy.