WWE crowns new World Tag Team title number one contenders

There are new number one contenders for the WWE World Tag Team Championship.

Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro of the LWO won a triple threat number one contender’s bout on Monday’s WWE Raw to earn the right to be the next challengers for the World Tag Team Championship.

Wilde pinned Kofi Kingston of The New Day in Monday’s contest to cement the LWO as next in line to face The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and JD McDonagh for the Tag titles.

No date has been set for the title match, with the two-night SummerSlam on August 2 and August 3, or an upcoming episode of Raw both possibilities.

Balor and McDonagh defeated The New Day for the titles on the June 30 Raw to kick off the duo’s second reign with Raw’s Tag titles. Balor also has two prior WWE Tag title reigns to his credit alongside former Judgment Day member Damian Preist.

The build to SummerSlam continued on Monday’s Raw, with our full report from the show available here.

Joaquin Wilde says he’s ‘good’ after being knocked out during WWE Speed match

Joaquin Wilde is “good” after being knocked out during a match.

The LWO member was wrestling Lexis King in a WWE Speed match that was taped right before Raw went on the air. Fan footage showed Wilde being checked on by WWE’s medical staff as the match came to a stop.

Wilde later posted an update on his condition on social media.

“Never been knocked out cold before. So alot to process right now. But im good no worries,” he wrote.

Wilde and tag team partner Cruz Del Toro have only been used sparingly on main roster programing, with both of their last appearances being part of the Andre the Giant battle royal back in April. Another LWO member, Rey Mysterio, is out of action after suffering a groin injury on the same show.

Del Toro and Wilde are currently scheduled to team with fellow member Dragon Lee to face Octagon Jr., Aero Star, and Mr. Iguana at Worlds Collide this Saturday.

WWE Main Event results: The Creed Brothers vs. LWO

WWE Main Event this week took place at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Monday.

Alba Fyre w/Isla Dawn defeated Ivy Nile (5:17)

Ivy Nile looked good here as she controlled the match bell to bell, but a mistake at the end meant she picked up the loss.

Nile was able to show off both her strength and improving in-ring work in this one as Fyre let her take control. The highlights were a delayed suplex, complete with squats, as well as a belly-to-back suplex that left them both gasping for air.

Dawn was essentially just there to distract and she did so twice, once early on and then again later to play into the finish. 

A chinlock partway through slowed things down but did go to show that this crowd likes Nile. WWE probably needs to pay attention to that, because she for sure has a lot to offer.

The finish made Nile look pretty stupid, though, as Dawn hit the apron to distract her and, after Nile took her out, she got nailed from behind and finished off with the Gory Bomb to give Fyre the win.

For those keeping count, the loss here means that Nile is without a singles win since February and only has two wins to her name in all of 2024. She has certainly looked a little better than those stats would indicate.

The Creed Brothers defeated LWO (Joaquin Wilde & Dragon Lee) (7:22)

This was a solid rematch from last week to leave these two teams evenly booked. The Creeds remain wildly entertaining, but this one never really got to that level.

It has felt a little jarring to see The Creeds being beaten on this show over the last few months. You have, in Julius and Brutus, raw talent that can provide you with some frankly jaw-dropping moments. That isn’t supposed to be hyperbole, it’s just how it is. Why they are being beaten is just as questionable as why they aren’t mainstays on a main roster show right now.

They kind of booked this match like a mirror of last week. LWO took the early going and nailed The Creeds with stereo dives over the top rope, instead of what they did last week where The Creeds took us to the ads on top.

The Creeds have been significantly more cocky of late, with Brutus attempting a pin with one foot on Lee in this one. But eventually, the tide turned and Wilde got the hot tag. He used a smooth-looking tornado DDT on Julius that brought Brutus back in.

The finish saw Lee get taken off the top rope and Wilde get knocked off the apron so that Julius could superplex Lee and Brutus could hit the Brutus Bomb for the win.

A possible rubber match next week would be good and it will be interesting to see which way they book it. Based on this, it seems like LWO will get the nod, but we will stay tuned to find out!

WWE Main Event results: The Creed Brothers vs. LWO

This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts before Monday’s episode of Raw.

Pete Dunne w/Tyler Bate defeated Akira Tozawa (4:55)

This was a fun sprint that could easily have gone longer and topped the show.

Dunne and Bate have had a lot of appearances on Main Event recently, but they went with a solo bout here for Dunne. It seems kind of a waste when you could have a really hot tag match to kick things off, but they clearly wanted the Creeds to go up against LWO later on.

Tozawa and Dunne went to the mat early as Dunne used his slow methodical approach to counteract Tozawa’s desire to fly all over.

Dunne was pretty heelish here and the crowd could sense that and so started to back Tozawa even more. Tozawa is very likable anyway, but they rallied behind him as he used a snapmare, shining wizard and dropkick off the second rope to take Dunne down.

Tozawa ducked a clothesline and used a German for a near fall before he tore his shirt and went wild.

Tozawa nailed Dunne with an enzuigiri and then went up top and hit his senton, but Dunne put his knees up to block it and so, instead, the finish was Dunne using the Bitter End to get his arm raised.

LWO (Joaquin Wilde & Dragon Lee) defeated The Creed Brothers (6:19)

This was a good, solid tag match that saw The Creed Brothers lose yet again. It seems odd to be beating them at all, but Wilde and Lee looked good here.

Joaquin Wilde had made his Main Event debut last week in a loss to Tozawa, but he was back this week on the winning team with his tag partner Dragon Lee. It was Lee’s turn to be the debutant this week and he looked excellent.

The early going was slow, but just before the break, Julius hit Wilde with three overhead belly-to-bellies that the crowd rightly went nuts for. His athleticism really is something else.

After the ads, it was all the Creeds. They cut the ring in half and beat up Wilde before Brutus slapped on the dreaded chin lock to bring the tempo down and rest.

Wilde got out and eventually got the hot tag to Lee who came in all guns blazing. He got Julius in the tree of woe and stomped him, before taking out Brutus off the apron with a tope. Wilde was then the one to get the win, coming off the top with a 450 splash to get it done.

The Creeds are now finding the wins to be few and far between. They are being booked as entertaining jobbers at this point, as they have had only two wins since early March.

WWE’s Cruz Del Toro undergoes surgery

WWE’s Cruz Del Toro will miss time after undergoing surgery. 

Del Toro posted a photo to Instagram Thursday revealing that he underwent surgery in Homewood, Alabama at the Birmingham Surgery Center to repair an unspecified injury. In the post, Del Toro is wearing a cast on his left arm. 

The LWO member was last in the ring on the April 5 SmackDown show, participating in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. 

Many WWE talent commented on Del Toro’s post offering well wishes including Natalya, Michin, Adam Pearce, and Byron Saxton. 

Del Toro and his LWO tag team partner Joaquin Wilde have been splitting time between the SmackDown and NXT brands in recent months, taking part in both the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in NXT, as well as the WrestleMania Tag Team title qualifying tournament on SmackDown.

Del Toro’s post reads: 

A special thank you to Dr. McKeon and the team at Birmingham Surgery Center for their care, the surgery was a success.

Thank you for your messages of support and good wishes. I will be back soon and better than ever.

Like someone said… #todayisdayone

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C56gn-LPXZg

Two teams advance in WWE WrestleMania qualifying tournament

New Catch Republic and Legado del Fantasma have advanced in SmackDown’s tournament to help decide Judgment Day’s WrestleMania 40 challengers.

Damian Priest & Finn Balor will be defending their Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles in a six-pack ladder match at WrestleMania. On Friday night, a tournament began to determine which SmackDown teams will be in the ladder match. Two matches in Bracket One took place on SmackDown. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate) defeated Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson). Legado del Fantasma (Angel & Humberto) defeated The LWO (Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro).

Dunne & Bate vs. Angel & Humberto will be the finals of Bracket One. The winning team advances to the six-pack ladder match at WrestleMania.

WWE hasn’t announced when Dunne & Bate vs. Angel & Humberto will be happening.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. AOP (Akam & Rezar) and The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory are the matches for Bracket Two. Both will take place on SmackDown next Friday.

On Raw this coming Monday, there will be three qualifying matches to determine Judgment Day’s other challengers for the six-pack ladder match. Raw’s qualifying matches are:

  • The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Alpha Academy (Otis & Akira Tozawa)
  • DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed)
  • R-Truth & The Miz vs. Indus Sher (Veer & Sanga).

Priest & Balor have held the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles since October 2023.

Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia is hosting WrestleMania 40 on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

LWO qualify for WWE NXT Tag Team title number one contender’s match

The first team has qualified for the WWE NXT Tag Team title number one contenders triple threat match set for April 2. 

The LWO’s Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro defeated OTM’s Lucien Price & Bronco Nima on Tuesday’s episode of NXT to qualify for the number one contenders match. 

Two additional qualifying matches are set for the March 19 edition of WWE NXT. The winners of those bouts will take their place in the number one contenders match on April 2. 

The winner of the triple threat match on April 2 will go on to challenge WWE NXT Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin of The Wolf Dogs in a title match at NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 6 in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. 

Stand & Deliver will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on April 6. The current lineup for that show is below: 

WWE NXT Stand & Deliver, Saturday, April 6, 11:30 a.m. Eastern time —

  • NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov defends against Tony D’Angelo
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin defend against the winners of a triple threat number one contenders match set for April 2

Rey Mysterio had been working hurt for months before knee surgery

Rey Mysterio had been working hurt for months before his match with Logan Paul at Crown Jewel. 

Mysterio recently underwent surgery on his knee and is expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks. 

On today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, our own Dave Meltzer noted that Mysterio had been dealing with a torn meniscus for three months, confirming an earlier report from Haus of Wrestling. 

“The deal with Rey is he’s going to be out for six to eight weeks. He had a torn meniscus for three months but the idea was because of the Logan Paul match, and also the angle, but mainly the Logan Pual match being in Saudi, he wanted to stay,” Meltzer said. 

“Basically, the deal was he was going to stay for Saudi to lose to Logan Paul and then immediately do the angle with Santos, which felt rushed because they had to do it that way.”

On Friday’s SmackDown, Santos Escobar attacked Mysterio, dropkicking the steel steps into his knee. The angle was done to set up a group vs. group rivalry. 

“It’s going to be group vs. group and it’s going to be Santos with partners against Rey with partners,” Meltzer continued. “I don’t know what they are going to do with the LWO name, which side gets it, maybe they’re going to feud over the name.” 

“Carlito will be with Rey and Santos will be with, at least right now, Cruz (Del Toro) and Joaquin (Wilde). I don’t know where Zelina is going. So, that’s the situation there.” 

Wrestling Observer Live: Is turning on Rey Mysterio too predictable?

It’s Wrestling Observer Live Saturday with Jim Valley. 

It finally happened, Santos Escobar turned on Rey Mysterio. Can you still get heat if everyone turns on Rey Mysterio? Not to be outdone, Asuka then turned on Bianca Belair and Charlotte and joined Damage CTRL. What does this mean for Survivor Series? 

We also have Shingo Takagi channeling Stan Hansen at New Japan Lonestar Shootout, Rampage, Collision, and thoughts on being live at AEW Dynamite and Ring of Honor in Portland including Mark Briscoe, The Gunns and more. It’s another packed show, check it out!

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Carlito returns to WWE at Fastlane

Carlito is back in WWE. 

The former Intercontinental, United States, and Tag Team Champion returned to the company at Saturday’s Fastlane event as the LWO’s mystery partner in a six-man tag team match against Bobby Lashley & The Street Profits. 

Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar of the LWO began the trios match with a two-on-three disadvantage, but Carlito made a late entrance for the bout and picked up the win for his team with a backstabber on Montez Ford. 

WWE posted a link to new Carlito merchandise, typically a sign that of a contractual agreement. 

PWInsider and Fightful are among outlets who have reported that Carlito has been signed to the company for some months and was awaiting creative plans for a debut. 

Prior to Fastlane, Carlito’s last WWE appearance came at Backlash in May in Puerto Rico where he Savio Vega, and the LWO helped Bad Bunny secure a victory over Damian Priest. 

Carlito was also a surprise entrant in the 2021 Royal Rumble, and worked a tag match on the ensuing Raw. The 44 year-old’s original main roster WWE run lasted from 2004 to 2010.

LWO to have mystery partner at WWE Fastlane

The LWO will have a mystery partner for Saturday’s Fastlane match.

On Friday’s SmackDown, The Street Profits attacked Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde during a Bobby Lashley vs. Rey Mysterio match, with Lashley picking up the win. Later backstage, Mysterio told Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega that Toro and Wilde would be unable to compete on Saturday’s show. After Escobar asked Mysterio what they could do, Mysterio said he was going to make a phone call.

The match was set up last week when Lashley and The Street Profits attacked Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar after Mysterio defeated Escobar to retain the United States title. As they were recovering in the trainer’s room, Mysterio issued the challenge for Saturday’s Fastlane.

Here is the updated lineup for Saturday’s Fastlane:

  • Last man standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins defends against Shinsuke Nakamura
  • WWE Women’s Championship: IYO SKY defends against Asuka and Charlotte Flair
  • Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles: The Judgment Day defend against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso
  • John Cena & LA Knight vs. Solo Sikoa & Jimmy Uso
  • Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, and ??? vs. Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits

WWE SmackDown video highlights: LWO defeat The Usos

Friday’s SmackDown was a bad night for The Usos.

In the main event of the episode, Jimmy & Jey Uso lost to the LWO’s Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar. Escobar pinned Jimmy to get the victory with help from Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn.

Owens & Zayn were out for revenge after being attacked by The Usos earlier in the show. The Usos were going for a double splash when Owens made his way out to cause a distraction. That allowed Escobar to take out Jey Uso. With the referee’s attention turned away, Zayn pushed Jimmy off the top rope. Mysterio hit a 619 and Escobar followed with a splash to get the win.

Roman Reigns was shown looking upset with The Usos after their loss.

Reigns also berated The Usos earlier in the night for getting involved in a face-to-face segment between Owens & Zayn and Reigns & Solo Sikoa. While Reigns was cutting a promo on Zayn, The Usos launched a sneak attack on the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions. Reigns was angry that The Usos ruined his plan. There was then a moment where Reigns accidentally bumped into Sikoa as he was leaving the ring.

Reigns & Sikoa are challenging Owens & Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team titles at Night of Champions on Saturday, May 27. Before the pay-per-view, there will be a KO Show segment with Reigns & Sikoa on SmackDown next Friday.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn go face-to-face with Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa

Roman Reigns berates The Usos

Pretty Deadly make their SmackDown in-ring debut against The Brawling Brutes

Zelina Vega vs. Asuka

Bianca Belair makes the save for Zelina Vega

AJ Styles appears on The Grayson Waller Effect

LA Knight turns against Rick Boogs after their loss to The Street Profits

Cameron Grimes is going to the moon

Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn vs. Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon

Damage CTRL challenge Raquel Rodriguez to a match next week

Sheamus silences Austin Theory with a Brogue Kick

Paul Heyman tells The Usos that Roman Reigns forgives them

The LWO vs. The Usos

SmackDown fallout: LA Knight says he didn’t lose — Rick Boogs did

SmackDown fallout: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn are ready to dominate SmackDown

The Usos vs. LWO announced for next week’s WWE SmackDown

The Usos will face Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar of the LWO on next week’s WWE SmackDown. 

After receiving a verbal put-down from Roman Reigns on this week’s episode, WWE revealed that Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso will look to rebound on next week’s show as they face Mysterio & Escobar of the LWO. 

Following up on this week’s announcement that Reigns & Solo Sikoa will challenge Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn for the Undisputed Tag Team titles at Night of Champions, Reigns & Sikoa will have a face-to-face segment with Owens & Zayn on next week’s SmackDown.

After being called up from NXT in the recent WWE Draft, Pretty Deadly’s Elton Prince & Kit Wilson will make their SmackDown in-ring debut on next week’s episode against Butch & Ridge Holland of The Brawling Brutes. 

Another new SmackDown star in Grayson Waller will bring his Grayson Waller Effect talk show segment to the show next week, with AJ Styles as his guest. Styles defeated Bobby Lashley in a World Heavyweight Championship tournament semifinal bout in the main event of this week’s episode. 

The lineup for next week: 

WWE SmackDown, Friday, May 19 —

  • The Usos vs. The LWO’s Rey Mysterio & Santos Escobar
  • Pretty Deadly’s Elton Prince & Kit Wilson vs. The Brawling Brutes’ Ridge Holland & Butch
  • The Bloodline’s Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa face-to-face with Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
  • The Grayson Waller Effect with guest AJ Styles

LWO members get matching tattoos ahead of WWE Backlash

Members of the Latino World Order got matching tattoos ahead of Saturday’s Backlash event in Puerto Rico.

WWE’s social media showed a short video of Rey Mysterio, Zelina Vega, Cruz Del Toro, Santos Escobar, and Joaquin Wilde all getting matching tattoos of the LWO logo.

On Twitter, Escobar showed a picture of the new tattoo:

Members of the LWO are in action Saturday at Backlash. Zelina Vega will challenge Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. Bad Bunny, who wore a LWO shirt on SmackDown on Friday, will face off against Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight.

The LWO, which originally was a stable in WCW between 1998 and 1999, was resurrected just prior to WrestleMania, when Rey Mysterio gave Legado Del Fantasma LWO t-shirts. Since then, the stable has feuded with The Judgment Day, with Mysterio and Vega teaming up to defeat Dominik Mysterio and Ripley on SmackDown Friday.

WWE SmackDown video highlights: Bad Bunny joins the LWO

In front of a red hot crowd in Puerto Rico, WWE finished building to Backlash on last night’s SmackDown.

The episode included an appearance by Bad Bunny ahead of his street fight against Damian Priest at Saturday’s pay-per-view. Bad Bunny led the Latino World Order out to make the save when Judgment Day attacked Rey Mysterio last night.

Rey & Zelina Vega defeated Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley in last night’s main event. Judgment Day attempted a beatdown of Rey after the match, but Bad Bunny and the LWO were able to put a stop to that. Bad Bunny, who was wielding a kendo stick, went face-to-face with Priest. But before the two could fight, Dominik got involved. That gave Priest time to get away while Bad Bunny struck Dominik with the kendo stick.

The show went off the air with Bad Bunny accepting an LWO T-shirt.

SmackDown also featured an appearance by Cody Rhodes, who delivered one final message before facing Brock Lesnar at Backlash. Rhodes vowed that Puerto Rico will be the place where he gets back on the road to finishing his story and claiming his kingdom.

More coverage from last night —

WWE SmackDown video highlights —

Judgment Day confront the LWO

Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows vs. The Viking Raiders

Video package looks at WWE’s European tour

Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez save Bianca Belair from Damage CTRL beatdown

Solo Sikoa says The Usos better do their part at Backlash

The Street Profits vs. Imperium

Recap of Cody Rhodes’ feud with Brock Lesnar

Puerto Rico is where Cody Rhodes gets back on the road to finishing his story

Matt Riddle is ready to dismantle The Bloodline

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karrion Kross

SmackDown’s NXT draft class of 2023

Cameron Grimes challenges Baron Corbin to a match next week

Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega vs. Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley

Bad Bunny joins the LWO

SmackDown fallout: Bad Bunny and the LWO stand tall

SmackDown fallout: Rey Mysterio feels like he’s at home when he’s in Puerto Rico

SmackDown fallout: The O.C. are back in full force