Date: October 5, 2024
Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA
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Show Recap —
PRE-SHOW
Megan Morant and Sam Roberts hosted the preshow from a studio, not live in Atlanta.
There was a time-lapse video of the crew putting together the Hell in a Cell cage. CM Punk was shown greeting fans, Drew McIntyre was shown checking out the cage, and the Bloodline arrived.
Peter Rosenberg, Jackie Redmond and Cathy Kelley were live at State Farm Arena. Rosenberg spoke to some fans while Redmond and Kelley ran down the HIAC match.
Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest (wearing a Killswitch Engage t-shirt) and Judgment Day arrived at the building.
There was a video about Larry. CM Punk’s dog.
Tonight’s “hosts” Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi arrived.
There was a pre-taped interview with Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio.
There was also a pre-taped interview with Nia Jax. She spoke sincerely and came across like a babyface. She talked about her time in NXT and said her time away from WWE was the best thing that could have happened to her. She also put over Bayley but looked forward to not having to deal with her for a while after tonight.
There was a video of the top five HIAC moments. Edge, Sasha Banks, and Chris Jericho were all included.
There was a video package for the Bloodline/Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Big E, Redmond and Rosenberg spoke about the match.
I’m glad it was only an hour but this was still an even more pointless pre-show than usual.
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(The Sportsnet stream in Canada has been choppy the entire pre-show and it’s continued into the main show.)
BAD BLOOD 2024 MAIN CARD
Samantha Irvin sang God Bless America.
Triple H walked through the back. Michael Cole said he has a historic announcement.
Cody Rhodes arrived at the arena with Metro Boomin in an old Crown Victoria.
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi welcomed us to Bad Blood. They wore matching red outfits.
Cole and Corey Graves are tonight’s announcers.
Bill Goldberg (and his son Gage) and Killer Mike sat ringside.
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The opening match started at 6:16 pm ET.
Hell in a Cell match: CM Punk defeated Drew McIntyre (31:16)
This was terrific.
McIntyre sent Punk into the cage and the crowd chanted for tables two minutes into the match. Punk grabbed a table and a chair but McIntyre used the chair on Punk. McIntyre used his boot to smush Punk’s face into the steel steps.
McIntyre grabbed a wrench out of a tool box but Punk ducked it and stabbed McIntyre’s head with it. (The crowd reacted like it was a fork.)
McIntyre ripped the legs off the table and tried to use it as a weapon but Punk ducked it again and choked McIntyre with it. He also slammed McIntyre onto the upside-down table—flat onto the metal legs. Punk tried stabbing McIntyre with the legs but McIntyre escaped.
Punk went after McIntyre outside the ring but McIntyre dropped him with a Claymore Kick. McIntyre lawn-darted Punk into the side of the cage, which didn’t look fun for Punk.
In fact, Punk came up bleeding quickly. There was a somewhat significant amount of blood on Punk’s face and body and on the mats. McIntyre smashed his face with the steel steps and stomped his head onto the top step.
McIntyre told Punk he would end his career and his wife would leave him. McIntyre stabbed Punk’s wound with the wrench.
The crowd rallied behind Punk who fought back but McIntyre cut him off with an overhead suplex. McIntyre set up for Claymore but Punk slipped out of the ring. McIntyre went after Punk but Punk bonked him on the head with the toolbox (which made a great noise).
Blood streamed from McIntyre’s face. Punk repeatedly hit McIntyre on the head with the toolbox. Punk hit a bulldog and GTS but McIntyre fell out of the ring before he could make a cover.
Punk got McIntyre back in the ring but McIntyre nailed him with a Claymore Kick for a nearfall.
McIntyre, whose face is covered in blood, missed a Claymore and Punk put him in a Sharpshooter. McIntyre hit Punk with the wrench until he let go.
Their sweat had wiped some of it away but both men still had blood on their faces as they exchanged strikes. (McIntyre has tons of blood in his hair.) They collapsed and the crowd chanted “This is awesome.”
McIntyre gave Punk a vertical suplex off the apron through a table and the crowd popped big.
McIntyre grabbed the larger section of steel steps and placed it in the ring. He sold his back as he struggled to get them in. Before McIntyre could use the steps, Punk nailed him with GTS for a nearfall.
McIntyre gave Punk a White Noise onto the steel steps for a two count. Punk caught McIntyre in an Anaconda Vice. McIntyre wanted to use the wrench to escape but Punk grabbed it and hit him with it instead.
McIntyre, bleeding even more from the top of his head, got on his knees and pleaded with Punk. Punk, as he said in his promo, wanted McIntyre to beg but McIntyre gave him a low blow.
McIntyre grabbed a bag, presumably with thumbtacks, and emptied the contents onto Punk. It wasn’t thumbtacks, but dozens of beads from a bracelet.
McIntyre went for Claymore but Punk ducked and McIntyre landed ass-first into the edge of the steel steps. That looked pretty brutal.
Punk wrapped a chain around his knee, shoved beads down McIntyre’s mouth, and hit a GTS for the pinfall win.
— Punk celebrated but collapsed as he walked up the aisle. Adam Pearce and medics ran out to tend to him. Punk got to his feet but eventually allowed medics to tend to him. They gave him oxygen but he removed it and walked on his own. Punk posed on the stage.
Not only was this really great, but Punk will benefit from a standout performance like this.
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(I don’t know if this was only on Sportsnet, but about halfway through the match, there was a long period here where we could hear both the English commentators and commentators in another language simultaneously. They eventually fixed it and it seems like the previous stream issues were resolved as well.)
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Jacqueline, Lilian Garcia and Booker T were shown in the crowd.
Kelley interviewed Belair, Cargill and Naomi in a suite. (Belair, Cargill and Naomi switched from red to blue outfits.) There was a party in the suite with fans and a few active and former wrestlers. Jey Uso, DDP and X-Pac were among them.
Naomi gave Jey a shout-out and wished Bayley luck in her match. Belair sarcastically wished Bayley luck as well.
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Nia Jax defeated Bayley to retain the WWE Women’s Championship (14:12)
Jax dominated for the first few minutes. She set up for her finisher but Bayley got underneath and set up for a powerbomb. Jax countered into a “hurricanrana.” It was a bad idea and didn’t look good, not that I fault Jax for it.
Bayley hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the corner and a diving elbow drop for two. Jax charged at Bayley outside the ring but she moved and Jax crashed into the steel steps. Bayley hit an elbow drop off the steps.
Jax softly powerbombed Bayley onto the top of the steel steps and not-so-softly chucked her into the barricade. Jax followed with a Samoan drop for two. Bayley followed with her own Samoan drop for two.
Referee Jessika Carr wound up prone between them and Jax fell on top of her.
With everyone down, Tiffany Stratton ran down with her briefcase. Stratton woke up the referee as Jax sat up like the Undertaker. Jax confronted Stratton who tried reasoning with her. Bayley used the distraction to apply a rollup for a nearfall.
Bayley went to the top but Stratton chucked the briefcase at her. Bayley threw it back but the distraction allowed Jax to give her a middle rope Samoan drop. Jax followed with Annihilator for the pinfall win.
(They worked hard and tried to go at a faster pace but that resulted in some odd spots. It certainly wasn’t boring.)
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There was a video with Bianca Belair and Cardi B plugging next year’s two-night SummerSlam.
There was an Xavier Woods video plugging a new Dragon Ball video game.
X-Pac, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson were shown in the crowd.
Quavo, Lil Baby, and Metro Boomin were also in the crowd.
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Cole reminded us that Triple H has an announcement coming.
Damian Priest defeated Tag Team Champion Finn Bálor (12:50)
Bálor entered wearing a mask and had his “F” logo painted under his left eye.
There was a good spot early on where Priest caught Bálor with a right hand as he came off the top. Bálor sold it great and Priest sold it like he hurt his hand, and the announcers sold it big too.
Bálor took control anyway but Priest fought back with strikes and a falcon arrow for two. Priest avoided a slingblade and hit a clothesline for two. Priest used kicks but Bálor responded with a Pelé Kick. Priest followed with a Razor’s Edge for two.
Bálor escaped the ring so Priest shoved him over the announce table. Priest gave Bálor a Razor’s Edge onto the ring apron. (This didn’t get a big reaction because the fans probably wanted the table.)
Carlito ran out to distract the ref while JD McDonagh attacked Priest. Bálor hit a dropkick and Coup de Grace for a nearfall. The crowd chanted “Yeet.”
Bálor tried to use a chair but Priest kicked it into his face. Priest also wiped out Carlito and McDonagh. Bálor hit Priest with a headlock elbow drop. Bálor hit a Coup de Grace twice on a hunched-over Priest.
Bálor tried one more Coup de Grace but Priest avoided it and hit a chokeslam for the pinfall win.
This was good enough but could’ve been a TV match.
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Triple H was shown working in Gorilla position. (It’s weird to me that they show the booker working on the fake wrestling show.)
They plugged Raw and thanked Metro Boomin for tonight’s theme song.
Triple H announcement
Paul “Triple H” Levesque entered. Hunter said it’s hard to believe it was 30 years ago that he was living up the road while “terrorizing” WCW. He announced a sellout crowd of 16,092. He also called this the largest arena gate in history.
Hunter plugged Crown Jewel, which actually got some boos. (It’s rare any announcement they make gets booed these days.)
Hunter said the event would feature the WWE Champion facing the World Champion — both for the women and the men. The titles would not be on the line but there would be a definitive winner.
The winner would be crowned as Crown Jewel champion with a new belt (that will likely be temporary). He unveiled a very large title belt which has “50 carats of diamonds.” (He only unveiled one belt even though there should be one for men and one for women.)
Gunther interrupted. He said Bad Blood should have its world champion. (Yes, his match against Zayn should have been on this show instead of Raw.)
Gunther wanted to talk about the legends in the crowd. The crowd chanted for Goldberg and, in fact, that’s who Gunther wanted to talk about.
Gunther mentioned his comment to Bret Hart that Goldberg was his childhood hero. That was a lie. The best wrestler on earth couldn’t be impressed by a one-trick pony like Goldberg. Gunther told Gage that Goldberg must be a better father than wrestler.
That pissed off Goldberg who jumped the barricade. A dozen security guards and Pearce stopped him from getting in the ring.
Sami Zayn ran out to attack Gunther but officials and security got between them. Gunther bailed and the crowd chanted for Zayn.
Hunter raised Goldberg’s hand and he posed for the crowd.
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DDP, Mickie James and Scott Steiner were in the crowd.
There was a stupid segment back in the suite. Metro Boomin was with Belair, Cargill and Naomi. Kelley was about to interview him but they were all grossed out by the smell of Chelsea Green. She didn’t understand why they were grossed out. Belair told her she stinks. Green was about to leave with Piper Niven but Niven said she was staying.
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Morgan and Dom entered in their lowrider.
Women’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley defeated Liv Morgan via disqualification — Liv Morgan retains [Dominik Mysterio suspended in a shark cage] (14:33)
The shark cage was suspended over the aisle, not the ring. Ripley was amused because not only was Dom claustrophobic, but he was afraid of heights too.
Ripley was in control until Morgan targeted her leg. Morgan legitimately missed a chop-block and Ripley made sure not to sell it. Morgan tackled her by the leg and stomped it in response. Ripley fought back and hit a Northern Lights suplex for two.
Morgan went back after Ripley’s leg and slammed it against the post. Morgan shoved Ripley into the barricade and hit her with a sunset flip powerbomb into the barricade. Morgan followed with a Codebreaker off the ropes for two.
Morgan went for Oblivion but Ripley countered by rolling through. Ripley tried a Rip-tide but her leg gave out and Morgan hit a crucifix bomb for two.
Morgan did Eddie Guerrero’s shuffle and tried three amigos but Ripley blocked the third suplex and hit a Razor’s Edge.
Former prison inmate Dom picked the cage door lock and opened the door. Ripley went to the top and noticed the door was open. She brushed it off knowing he had nowhere to go (because the cage was elevated). She Yeeted and hit a frog splash for two.
They fought outside near Dom and Ripley gave Morgan a Rip-tide.
Dom was concerned and it seemed like he would jump for it but he somehow got caught upside down because his leg was wrapped in a chain. (It was a good-looking spot because it seemed like Dom was doomed.)
Dom was hanging upside down and helpless so Ripley killed him with a kendo stick.
Raquel Rodriguez attacked Ripley from behind for the DQ. Rodriguez planted Ripley with a Tejana bomb. She actually placed Morgan over Ripley for a cover but the match was already called off.
(This all fell flat. The match itself was good but it felt like the crowd was waiting for something to happen with Dom at the finish. They only lightly booed when it was Rodriguez who interfered.)
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The University of Arkansas marching band played Cody Rhodes to the ring. Cole called this the biggest match of Rhodes’ life, which is a lie.
The Georgia Philharmonic played Roman Reigns to the ring.
Roman Reigns & Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defeated Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu (25:50)
Roman Reigns is back and they had themselves a Roman Reigns match.
Rhodes started against Fatu. Rhodes quickly hit some big offence but Fatu no-sold it and Sikoa entered (without a tag). Reigns entered to even the odds and the crowd chanted, “OTC.” The crowd chanted, “F-ck you, Solo.”
Sikoa tagged in. Reigns tagged in. The crowd cheered. Sikoa had the edge but Fatu entered as soon as Reigns got some offence. Fatu hadn’t tagged in but the distraction allowed Sikoa to deck Reigns from behind.
Sikoa hit Reigns with a running hip attack. Fatu tagged in and hit a much more intense-looking hip attack. Fatu missed a Stinger splash and went face-first into the ring post.
Reigns made a hot tag to Rhodes who hit Fatu with a powerslam, jabs, bionic elbow and Cody cutter. A Sikoa distraction allowed Fatu to hit a pop-up Samoan drop. The match slowed to a crawl as the Bloodline worked over Rhodes.
Rhodes fought them off and tried a hot tag but Fatu yanked Reigns off the apron. (This was shot well because for a moment it seemed like Reigns dropped down on purpose.)
Fatu went for a senton bomb but Rhodes got his knees up and finally made the hot tag to Reigns who hit Sikoa with clotheslines and a big boot.
Sikoa blocked a Superman punch and went for the Samoan spike but Reigns countered into a crucifix pin for two. Reigns hit a Superman punch for two.
Reigns set up for a spear but Fatu superkicked him. Fatu and Sikoa superkicked Reigns. Fatu hit Reigns with a moonsault and Sikoa followed with an Uso splash but Rhodes broke up the cover.
Rhodes cleared the announce table and sidestepped Fatu who crashed through the barricade. Fatu got up quickly and started chucking chairs at Rhodes. Rhodes hit him with a Cross Rhodes but he wouldn’t stay down.
Rhodes hit consecutive superkicks, knocking Fatu on the announce table. Rhodes went to the top and splashed him through the table. The crowd chanted “This is awesome.”
Reigns and Sikoa exchanged right hands in the ring until Reigns hit a Superman punch.
Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa appeared and the distraction allowed Sikoa to hit a spear for a nearfall. The crowd chanted “Yeet.”
Another man in a hoodie showed up at ringside. He superkicked Tonga and Loa. It was Jimmy Uso. The crowd erupted.
Reigns speared Sikoa for the pinfall win.
— Roman Reigns and Jimmy Uso hugged after the match.
Rhodes got to his feet with his belt and had a staredown with Reigns until Reigns left with Jimmy.
The Bloodline attacked Rhodes as Reigns and Jimmy were leaving. Jimmy encouraged Reigns to help Rhodes, so they did. Jimmy superkicked Loa and Sikoa. Reigns gave Sikoa a Superman punch. The Bloodline bailed.
Reigns picked up the WWE title belt and looked at it longingly before handing it to Rhodes.
The Rock entered.
Rock had his own title belt. He remained on the stage as Reigns, Rhodes and Jimmy watched from the ring. Rock raised his eyebrow and raised his finger in the air.
Rock did a throat-slit gesture before leaving to the back.
