After being gone for several months, Natalya returned to WWE on last week’s Raw, making the save for Lyra Valkyria and Zelina Vega after they were attacked by Stark, Sonya Deville, and Shayna Baszler. Valkyria and Vega had repeatedly been attacked by the Pure Fusion Collective in the weeks prior, leading Valkyria to come up with a plan for the trio in Calgary.
Additionally, WWE announced that Sheamus would be facing Pete Dunne. Bitter about his days being known as ‘Butch’ as part of the Brawling Brutes, Dunne has made it a point not to let anyone call him by that name anymore, going as far as attacking his former friend due to the resentment.
Natalya has commented on what led to her recent three-month absence from WWE programming.
The 42-year-old returned to the company on WWE Raw this week as the mystery partner of Zelina Vega and Lyra Valkyria in a win over the Pure Fusion Collective. It was her first match since the June 4 edition of NXT.
Natalya revealed on Growing Up Von Erich with Kristen & Hollie Von Erich yesterday that there were multiple reasons for her absence, including needing a “mental reset,” eye surgery, and a couple of secret projects she’s been working on.
“I took a little time off this summer and the company was so great about it,” she said. “They were like ‘Take as much time as you need.'”
“It’s really changing so much in the best way and the culture is so different now. Like, our boss, Triple H, he is such a cool boss. I just recently got eye surgery to correct astigmatism in my eye and I needed a little bit more time off to get that done. He’s like, ‘Go get your eyes fixed.’ He’s like ‘Don’t even worry about it, go take care of yourself.'”
She later added:
“I had my last match in June so it was not even three months but I took a little break because I was like, I need a little mental reset. Like, I just need some time to regroup, recalibrate, refocus. Again, it was for my mental health because it’s one thing to be healthy and fit on a treadmill, or you look great, or you got abs, but if your head isn’t right, you can’t do any of the fun stuff.”
Natalya also mentioned during the conversation that she has been working on a few projects related to the Hart family history of late.
“I’ve still been sworn to secrecy about it so I won’t give out spoilers but there’s two different things that I’m working on and again, it’s about keeping the Hart family name alive,” she said.
With my family right now looking at old pictures❤️ Here’s one with Seiji Sakaguchi, Tatsumi Fujinami, and Antonio Inoki with my grandfather at the Pavilion in Calgary, 1979. They all worked for my grandfather in Stampede Wrestling. pic.twitter.com/ynKJqABijE
Elsewhere in the conversation, Natalya discussed the shared history between the Hart and Von Erich families, which, unfortunately, includes a lot of tragedy.
“I still think to this day it would be so cool if Owen was still here and he could help me or we could talk about wrestling,” Natalya said. “And I know you guys probably feel that same way too about your family. Like, it would be so cool to be able to bond with them and share your hopes and dreams and fears and the goods and the bads of life. But, I think about Owen every day. It was just a really, really hard time for our family but I love that he is being celebrated. His wife Martha, his son Oje, and daughter Athena, they are doing everything they can to keep his legacy alive.”
My very first time in a @wwe ring was in 1997 at the IN YOUR HOUSE Canadian Stampede PPV in Calgary. It was the last time my whole family was together. Last night was a full circle moment, being back in that same building, with @BretHart, The Hart family and my @wwe family.… pic.twitter.com/NheGt6W4rj
Other topics discussed between Natalya and the Von Erichs include Stu Hart training Fritz Von Erich in the dungeon, Natalya being Lacey Von Erich’s first opponent, and more.
Natalya says WWE Raw on Monday was a night she’ll cherish forever.
The show took place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in her hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and featured an appearance by her uncle, Bret Hart. The venue was technically where Natalya first stepped into a WWE ring when she joined the rest of her family to celebrate The Hart Foundation’s victory at 1997’s In Your House: Canadian Stampede.
Natalya reflected on her “full circle” moment in a social media post on Tuesday:
“My very first time in a @wwe ring was in 1997 at the IN YOUR HOUSE Canadian Stampede PPV in Calgary. It was the last time my whole family was together. Last night was a full circle moment, being back in that same building, with @BretHart, The Hart family and my @wwe family. Performing in Calgary means so much to me because it’s where it all began for the Harts. It was a night I’ll cherish forever.”
My very first time in a @wwe ring was in 1997 at the IN YOUR HOUSE Canadian Stampede PPV in Calgary. It was the last time my whole family was together. Last night was a full circle moment, being back in that same building, with @BretHart, The Hart family and my @wwe family.… pic.twitter.com/NheGt6W4rj
Natalya was revealed as the mystery partner of Zelina Vega and Lyra Valkyria in their match against the Pure Fusion Collective. It was her first match since her win over Izzi Dame on the June 4 episode of NXT. She reportedly signed a new multi-year deal with WWE in late June.
Appearing as the surprise mystery partner alongside Zelina Vega & Lyra Valkyria in a trios match on Monday’s Raw, Natalya secured the win for her side against Pure Fusion Collective’s Zoey Stark, Sonya Deville, and Shayna Baszler, tapping out Stark with a Sharpshooter.
It was the first match in WWE for Natalya since a June 4 NXT bout against Izzi Dame, and the first since the longtime WWE star reportedly inked a new multi-year WWE contract.
It was a big night for Neidhart/Hart family lore, as Natalya’s uncle Bret Hart made a rare WWE appearance on Raw in an interaction with Gunther, then again with Natalya in a backstage segment following her victory. Monday’s show was at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, longtime home to the Hart Family dynasty.
Despite a potentially hot free agent market, Natalya is reportedly staying in WWE.
PWInsider first reported on Saturday that the 42-year-old had re-upped with the company followed by Fightful confirming afterward, adding she has signed for multiple years and that it was completed in late-June before her existing deal expired. We have been unable to confirm the reports independently.
At the end of May, our Dave Meltzer reported that Natalya’s deal was coming up soon — one of several up in the first half of 2024 that included Becky Lynch, Ricochet, Dijak and Chad Gable. Gable re-signed with WWE, Ricochet decided to part ways, Dijak wasn’t offered a new contract, and Lynch remains a free agent that is expected to re-sign at some point.
The daughter of Jim Neidhart and niece of Bret and Owen Hart first signed with WWE in 2007 and worked in developmental before being officially called up in 2008. With some short visits back to NXT in-between, she has been on the main roster since that year, winning the then-Divas title once, the then-SmackDown Women’s title once, and the Women’s Tag Team titles once with Tamina.
She, along with husband and current WWE producer Tyson Kidd, were also big parts of the popular Total Divas reality show that aired on E! Network from 2013-2019.
Several WWE stars have their contracts slated to expire soon.
– Tomorrow (June 1) is the final day of Becky Lynch’s current contract with WWE. Last weekend, Lynch dropped the Women’s World Championship to Liv Morgan at King & Queen of the Ring. She then lost to Morgan again in a steel cage match on Raw.
Lynch will now be taking time off from WWE. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that her absence is expected to be a “very extended” one:
Lynch’s contract expires on 6/1. As many speculated really since Mania, she is going to be taking time off. My gut says that was the plan after her loss to Ripley, but when Ripley was injured, they brought her back in a short program to get over Morgan and have Morgan win the title from someone credible to build Morgan up for the Ripley program. It was described to us as not a retirement, but a very extended absence.
– Meltzer confirmed that Natalya’s contract is also up soon. Natalya has been offered a new deal by WWE but has not signed it yet:
Natalya’s contract also expires soon. She’s been offered a new deal but as of this week hadn’t signed it.
Recently, Natalya has spent time competing in NXT in addition to being on the Raw roster.
Since turning heel last month, Gable has been strongly pushed as a challenger for Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn. There haven’t been any signs that Gable will be leaving. A new faction with Gable and The Creed Brothers has looked to be in the works.
Ricochet is the inaugural WWE Speed Champion and is involved in a feud with Bron Breakker and Ilja Dragunov on Raw.
In an interview with Comicbook.com last week, AEW star Will Ospreay said he believed Ricochet’s WWE contract might be up soon. Ospreay, who wants to wrestle Ricochet again, said he thinks the way WWE has utilized Ricochet is “appalling.”
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Kiana James defeated Ivy Nile (6:46)
This was a good little opener from the two NXT Level Up graduates and the crowd seemed into it which helped as they went longer than you would expect from a Main Event curtain jerker.
Nile is now 32 and so six years James’ senior, but despite her relatively young age, James continues to look good here with Nile quite a generous opponent.
The early going was James trying to avoid the chase from Nile and they did some mat work until Nile showed off her strength to an appreciative crowd with a vertical suplex that had some serious delay.
It felt like it could go either way here with Nile putting in a strong showing, but James was typically plucky, avoiding the charge so that James was posted. They started to trade some two counts as they went to the finish.
It kind of came out of nowhere, which is probably an issue with the pacing of the match, but after a gut-wrench from Nile for two, James essentially just got Nile into the corner to set up for the 401 K.
Natalya defeated Alba Fyre (w/ Isla Dawn) (7:07)
Natalya continues to be the veteran on the women’s roster who gets a great reaction wherever she goes and the Sharpshooter is still a finisher that is very much over here 2024.
As is often the way in these matches at the top of the show, they tend to take a break quite jarringly early into the bout, but as a result, really get into their grove after the ads.
Much like I have said before in these reviews, Natalya’s matches follow a particular pattern these days. She spends her time looking to hit her Sharpshooter and, realistically, it makes a ton of sense: why wouldn’t you just try to lock in your most dangerous move to get the thing won as soon as you can? Perhaps that’s an oversimplification of wrestling psychology, but when you’re only given seven minutes every other week, I like that logic very much.
Fyre is a feisty competitor and looked to do anything she could to avoid getting trapped in the submission. Dawn was also employed well on the outside, looking to disrupt things as much as she could, and this played into the finish.
After Natalya used a high cross for a near fall, Fyre went outside and this allowed Dawn to get involved. Natalya tried to lock in the Sharpshooter on Dawn, but she still had the wherewithal to shove Fyre into Dawn so that she was taken out.
Natalya finally reversed a roll-up attempt into her finisher and Fyre tapped to give Natalya a win that went over very nicely with the Greenville crowd.
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw and all the latest wrestling news with Wrestling Observer Radio.
Raw tonight is from Hartford, CT. It’s an eight match show and some of these matches would be great with enough time so we may have a heavy wrestling show. Announced for tonight are Zoey Stark vs. Ivy Nile, Shayna Baszler vs. Zelina Vega, Lyra Valkyria vs. Asuka, Natalya vs. Iyo Sky, Rey Mysterio vs. Kofi Kingston, Ricochet vs. Ilja Dragunov and Gunther vs. Sheamus. All are first round in the single elimination King and Queen of the Ring tournaments. CM Punk is scheduled to be at the show but that doesn’t mean he’ll be on the show, but with McIntyre wrestling he could play into that match. The show had 9,200 tickets out as of earlier today. It won’t be close to sold out as for TV the XL Center would hold 14,000.
Natalya said she is dedicating the match to Owen Hart, her uncle.
The NBA has the Pacers vs. Knicks at 7 p.m. Eastern and Nuggets vs. Timberwolves at 10 p.m., both on TNT. ESPN has Bruins vs. Panthers NHL playoffs at 7 p.m. Both TNT games will handily beat Raw, but Raw should beat the NHL by a significant margin.
Dynamite on Wednesday goes against Vancouver vs. Edmonton, which is actually a big deal since the show is in Edmonton. They aren’t going to get any significant walk-up since the Oilers are the biggest thing in Edmonton. Plus, there is a viewing party in Edmonton that will draw about 20,000 people (the game is in Vancouver) and it’s near the arena AEW is running. Traffic getting to the show won’t be bad. Traffic leaving could be bad unless people stay for the ROH tapings.
Dynamite has announced Adam Copeland vs. Brody King for the TNT title, Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Baretta, an interview with Serena Deeb and a Christian Cage and Swerve Strickland face-to-face segment.
We’re looking for your thoughts on WWE Backlash and NJPW Dontaku day two, so you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match for each show to [email protected]
WWE house show from last night in Aix-En-Provence, France:
Bobby Lashley b Santos Escobar
Austin Theory & Grayson Waller b Street Profits to keep the tag titles
Bayley vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Naomi for the women’s title was a no contest when Chelse Green & Piper Niven interfered and Jade Cargill made the save
Bayley & Cargill & Naomi b Niven & Green & Stratton
AJ Styles b Johnny Gargano
Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga b Kevin Owens & Randy Orton
Cody Rhodes b Shinsuke Nakamura to keep the WWE title
Basic house show, good main event, Orton and Rhodes were the two most popular. We were told this crowd was very easy and was super loud just like the prior two nights. (thanks to Joe Alexandre)
An angle was shot on today’s All Together Now show at Budokan Hall that leads to Kaito Kiyomiya defending the GHC title against Gabe Kidd on 6/16 in Yokohama. Also coming out of the show is a 5/22 match with Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. Jake Lee & Tadasuke on the NOAH show at Korakuen Hell.
TKO will announce WWE and UFC financials on Wednesday.
The final episode of this season’s Dark Side of the Ring is tomorrow night covering Black Saturday on July 14, 1984, 40 years ago, when Vince McMahon purchased Georgia Championship Wrestling without the knowledge of several of its owners, including Ole Anderson, who was running the company at the time. I’m on the show. Gerald Brisco is as well, who was one of the owners who sold it to McMahon and ended up working for WWE for decades.
The Iron Claw movie starts streaming on Max on Friday.
Today is also the 40th anniversary of one of the most famous pro wrestling matches of all-time, when Kerry Von Erich beat Ric Flair at Texas Stadium to win the NWA world title.
Lucha Boom Wrestling from Friday night in Detroit: El Dragon b Ren Jones, Alex Shelley b Shane Sabre, Cobarde b Ryan Matthews & Chung, Joe Coleman & Karam b Mark Wheeler & Joe Demaro, Mil Muertes b Silas Young (thanks to Leonard Brand)
House of Glory from last night in New York: Daniel Garcia & Isaiah Kassdy b Aerostar & El Dios del Inframundo (formerly Drago), KC Navarro b Raheem Royal to keep the cruiserweight title, Violette b Sexy Star to keep keep the women’s title, Charles Mason NC Jay Lyon, Mike Santana b Psycho Clown to keep the men’s title, Penta b Laredo Kid. Laredo Kid subbed for the injured Fenix (thanks to Sam Rosenthal)
UPW from Saturday night in Marquette, MI: Judge Jesse won over Great Tiger, Gio Bronco, Ricardo Rodriguez and Chivas Blanco in a ladder match, Headbanger Thrasher b Ric COaurdiea, Shark Boy won Mike Shaw Memorial Battle Royal, Gangrel b Pete B Beautiful, Melvin Hayes & Shockwave the Robot b Ghetto Gear Solid-DQ, Sampson b Mad Man Fulton, Homicide & Hernandez & Romeo Valentino b J-Sinn & The Duv & Bobby V, Ken Anderson b Joey Avalon to win the heavyweight title, Sampson b Anderson to win the title. Jimmy Hart was also at the show (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Elias will appear on the 5/18 Empire State Wrestling show at the Buffalo RiverWorks. Using the name Elijah, he will face John McChesney.
Spring Breakin’ 2024 concludes with week two taking place tonight.
For the first time ever, there will be a women’s NXT Underground match. Natalya and Lola Vice are facing off in the MMA-inspired matchup. It pits a Hart Dungeon graduate against a former Bellator MMA fighter.
In addition to Natalya, main roster wrestlers Ivar, AOP, and The O.C. are set for action as well.
Ivar and AOP are both challenging for titles. It will be Oba Femi vs. Ivar for the North American Championship and Nathan Frazer & Axiom vs. AOP for the NXT Tag Team titles.
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. the debuting Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe, Thea Hail vs. Jacy Jayne, and Shawn Spears vs. Ridge Holland round out the announced match lineup.
We’ll also get Trick Williams’ first appearance as NXT Champion. He defeated Ilja Dragunov for the title in last week’s main event.
Dragunov is among the wrestlers who were called up from NXT in the WWE Draft.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The new era is a common theme in recent months on WWE television for a variety of reasons. From the start, this episode of NXT feels like a new era. With that, out comes new NXT Champion Trick Williams for his first appearance in NXT as the brand’s new top men’s titleholder.
In his monologue, Trick acknowledges and thanks former champ Ilja Dragunov. Williams wishes him luck, and tells him to do his thing. Because seemingly no monologue in NXT can go uninterrupted, Lash Legend is out to interrupt the victory speech.
Legend walks to the ring while also congratulating Trick on winning the title. She ask him to help her get into the ring, and he holds the ropes open for her. She fans herself with the envelope in her hand, as Trick circles with elevator eyes. Lash calls Trick the “hottest superstar” in the brand.
Trick stops her to remind everyone the last time they met in a ring, she tried to smack him in the face. Trick inquires, “Now I got a little gold around my waist, and you want a little taste, don’t ya’?”
Lash says not to go there. Trick responds with sexual innuendo related to Reese’s Cups. Lash says that Trick should no she doesn’t even like Reese’s Cups. She like Kit Kat bars. Tricks replies, “Let me break you off then.”
Lash continues to fan herself with the envelope. She says that is enough, and she has something for him. What she has in the envelope is the truth. Lash goes on to tell Trick he should enjoy his title run for now, because it will all come crashing down. Lash adds that “things are going to get really hot.”
Lash leaves the ring. We still do not know what is in the envelope.
A vignette focuses on Arianna Grace trying to teach Gigi Dolan how to be a pageant queen. The main joke here was Dolan burping, and Grace being appalled by it.
NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defeated Ivar to retain his title
Femi pinned Ivar to retain the title in what was a hoss fight. Ivar led the way, and they had a really good match. Ivar took some big bumps, and he flew around like crazy.
Ivar starts off hot, and he does a somersault senton off the apron. No luck on a leap off the top rope, but Ivar still manages to catch Femi with a twisting powerslam. Femi fights back and the fight spills outside again, where they do a stunt smashing through a piece of the barricade. From there, the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
The fight continues during the break, and there are even more high spots when the show returns from commercials. Ivar leaps off the top turnbuckle, and he somersaults to the floor on Femi. Ivar is soon cut off again, but he kicks out for a near fall.
Femi is running wild with smashes into a corner, until he eats a leg lariat. Near fall for Ivar, but it was Femi’s turn to kick out. They continue trading near falls. In a feat of strength, Femi picks Ivar up for a Samoan Drop. Moments later, the mighty Ivar jumps off the top rope with a massive moonsault press. Femi gets a foot on the break the count.
To set up the finish, they do an electric chair spot where Femi falls back with Ivar on Femi’s shoulders. Femi then hulks up, and he powerbombs Ivar. Three count later, and still…
Thea Hail is flanked by her Chase U pals as she heads to the ring for her match tonight. Hail is pumped up. Fallon Henley is also there, but she is bummed about not getting drafted, among other things. Jacy Jayne is in Henley’s head. Hail still wants Henley in her corner, and Henley agrees. Hail then enters through the crowd for her grudge match that is up next.
Thea Hail (with Andre Chase, Duke Hudson, Riley Osborne & Fallon Henley) defeated Jacy Jayne (with Jazmyn Nyx)
Hail submitted Jayne with a Kimura lock. Fallon Henley took a bullet for Hail, which led into the finish. In an angle after the match, Henley turns on Hail and attacks her.
Jayne gets heat on Hail as they wrestle through a split-screen commercial break. When Hail ends up outside the ring, Nyz tries to interfere by attacking Hail. She ducks a lariat from Nyz, and Henley jumps in to take the bullet. Nyz goes for a Pele kick, and Henley takes the kick instead of Hail.
Hail then gets back into the ring, where she traps Jayne in a Kimura lock. Jayne taps out, and Hail wins via submission.
Hail celebrates in the ring with Chase U, while Henley sells her face from the kick. As they go to leave, Henley stops Hail. Henley then smacks Hail with a right hand. Hail sells big, and Henley saunters away. She stops briefing to exchange glances with Jayne.
Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe are the focus of a video package that hypes their debut match, which is up next.
Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows defeated Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe
The Good Brothers win by pinfall after Igwe takes a Magic Killer. Gallows then covers Igwe for a clean pinfall. Dupont & Igwe were given several video packages ahead of their debut match, and then they lose clean in the middle of the ring via pinfall. Please make it make sense. Dupont & Igwe could have started with a lot of momentum in a big push. Instead, they lose their first match.
The WWE Draft is the focus of a video package. More specifically, draft picks where NXT talents gets called up to the main roster is the main focus. No only do the draft picks gets recognition, the video package puts over the coaches at the Performance Center. Johnny Moss, Alex Winkler Robbie Brookside and Williams Regal comment on cultivating the future of WWE.
NXT GM Ava is in ring to announce a ladder match, which will determine the first NXT Women’s North American Champion. Ava announces the ladder match will take place at NXT Battleground. Beginning next week, the women’s roster will take part in a combine. The top 12 in the combine then have qualifying matches to determine the slots for the ladder match.
Because seemingly no monologue in NXT can go uninterrupted, out comes Jaida Parker to interrupt Ava. Parker gets in the ring, while saying she will demolish everyone other woman in the locker room. Parker is then interrupted, as Sol Ruca comes to the ring to confront Parker. Next to interrupt is Ariana Grace, followed by main roster talent Michin.
Michin declares she will enter the combine. Grace cuts off Michin’s promo, leaving to Michin smacking her. A wild melee erupts. It’s a Gordon Solie Pier Sixer, as the a bunch of the women’s roster rush the ring for a big brawl.
Ridge Holland defeated Shawn Spears
Holland pinned Spears, after a Holland’s DDT finisher. Holland also delivered an exploder suplex to set up the finish, which played into a spot where Spears did that same on Holland weeks ago. Holland wins the grudge match
The match went through a commercial break, and it felt like just another match on the show despite how much TV time was devoted to the feud.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Ava argue in a backstage skit. Perez is upset she did not get drafter, and Ava explains she was immune from the draft because Perez was a titleholder. That upset Perez even more, and she storms off. Ava says they will have to talk sometime later. This skit seemed to serve little purpose, although it leads to a skit that closes the show.
Wes Lee and Josh Briggs exchange words in another backstage skit, setting up a match between the two. Ivar is also there, and he tells Lee that Ivar is not done with Femi yet.
Paul Ellering cuts a promo for the Authors of Pain, ahead of their tag match that is up next. AOP grimace and show their mean faces, doing their best Road Warriors act.
The D’Angelo Family is riding around in a SUV, and they are planning Tony D’Angelo strategy when he challenges for the Heritage Cup.
NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier & Axiom defeated The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar with Paul Ellering, Karrios Kross & Scarlett) to retain their titles
Pete Dunne & Tyler Bate interfere, allowing Axiom to win with a schoolboy roll-up. The babyface champs in their first defense retain thanks to outside interference. The booking on this show remains perplexing in terms of getting people over. Regardless, this was a decent enough tag match in spite of the screw-job finish.
Skirmish before the bell, as they brawl. The babyfaces clear the ring and do dives, as they shine at the start. The bell officially rings to start the match, and AOP are quickly in control. The heel monsters work over Frazier, and the match goes through a commercial break. Heat on Axiom as the show is returning from the break.
Hot tag to Frazier, and he explodes with a flurry of moves at a rapid pace. Nevertheless, Frazier is soon cut off. Tandem offense by AOP, which led to a near fall and shocked facial expressions when the babyfaces kicked out.
Scarlett interferes at one point, so the referee ejects both her and Kross, who had also jumped on the apron. Ellering is allowed to stay. Meanwhile, AOP toys with Axiom. Tyler Bate & Pete Dunne suddenly appear at ringside, and they interfere by booting Akam & Rezar. Axiom then scores a three count with a schoolboy cover.
Thea Hail is flanked by Chase U in the trainer’s room. In walks Ridge Holland, who is wearing red. Everyone is in school colors. Foreshadowing or nah? Anyway, Holland and Andre Chase have a cordial chat.
Meta-Four cut a promo where Noam Dar invites Trick Williams to be a guest on Supernova Sessions next week. If Williams accepts the invite, Dar promises to reveal the contents of the envelope that Lash Legend had earlier in the show.
The heel turn of Fallon Henley continues, as Henley tells Kelani Jordan that Henley will now put herself first. Very unoriginal idea for a heel turn, since we have seen similar motivations on NXT before in other angles.
Edris Enofe & Malik Blade are talking about the broken mirror skit from last week, when in walks Brinley Reece. She brought black cats for them to play with. The joke is black cats bring bad luck, adding to the bad luck brought by the broken mirror. Maybe they will walk under a ladder next week. Not sure how this gets them over as anything more than a mid-card comedy act, especially considering Enofe & Blade have lost clean so many times.
Down comes the ropes, as preparations are made for the Underground. Surrounding the ring is a bunch of other people on the roster, forming a human cage around the ring like they are lumberjacks. They pound on the mat, and they take bumps when the two women crash into them, but the do not otherwise factor into the match.
Lola Vice (with Shayna Baszler) defeated Natalya (with Karmen Petrovic) in an Underground match
Vice won via referee stoppage, after Vice knocked out Nattie with a back fist. Interference by Shayna Baszler cost Nattie the match. This match worked for what it was, but it seemed way overbooked.
Do not confuse the Underground gimmick with Josh Barnetts’ Bloodsport. The Underground is way more WWE. Did not take them long to get into pro wrestling spots. There is still a lot of grappling. Nattie takes a bump outside, just before the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break.
Later, the fight spilled outside the ring again. Nattie takes a bump on the announce desk. Moments later, Nattie is sent crashing into the ring post. Vice applies a triangle choke, but Nattie escapes the hold. Vice applies another choke. Nattie finally escapes by rolling out of the ring, where Nattie delivers a spinebuster to break the guillotine choke.
Nattie rams Vice’s leg into the ring post, and Nattie does a takeoff on Bret Hart’s ring post figure-four spot. Nattie applies a knee bar with Vice’s legs tied around the post. Baszler walks over near them, and Petrovic jumps on Baszler’s back before she can interfere.
Back in the ring, Baszler interferes to tray blocking Nattie from applying a sharpshooter. Nattie fights off Baszler, and she tosses Baszler out of the ring. Nattie then goes on to apply a sharpshooter. With Vice trapped in the sharpshooter, Baszler basically takes a hostage. Baszler grabs Pertrovic in a Kirifuda Clutch. Nattie breaks the hold and goes after Baszler. Nattie pummels Baszler, and Nattie sends Baszler crashing into the barricade.
For the finish, Nattie gets back into the ring. Baszler is on her feet again, and she grabs Nattie’s foot. The interference and distraction by Baszler is enough for Vice to catch Nattie off guard. Nattie kicks free from Baszler’s grasp, only for Nattie to turn around and walk into a spinning back fist delivered by Vice. Nattie sells like she is out cold, as Vice is pummeling her with ground and pound. The ref jumps in to stop the match, awarding the win to Vice.
Closing the show is a backstage skit with GM Ava and NXT Women’s Champ Roxanne Perez. Ava reveals to Perez that her next title defense is next week against Chelsea Green. Popping in for a quick promo, Green basically vows to win the gold. Green tells Ava she is the nest, and Green remarks she will love it here in NXT.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada before Monday’s episode of Raw.
Natalya defeated Xia Li (4:38)
Natalya winning in Montreal makes all the sense in the world and she was over with the crowd here who appreciated her getting her hand raised.
It’s matches like these where you can really tell that there are new hands at the wheel. Not that long ago, they would have done some pathetic nod to the Montreal Screwjob to further water down its impact and have Natalya lose, embarrassingly. This was not the case here, though, thankfully.
What perhaps hasn’t changed, however, is how expendable talent can be to the company. Not three days after this show was taped, Li was let go and so this turned out to be her last match in her current run with WWE.
Like most Natalya matches, it was built around her hunting for the Sharpshooter. Li worked over her left leg, though, as though it would be a way to stop her from being able to lock in the submission finisher.
After a series of back-and-forth roll-up attempts, Natalya ducked Li’s Cyclone Kick attempt and then pounced to lock in the Sharpshooter for the win.
Ludwig Kaiser defeated Otis (5:57)
Ludwig Kaiser continued to impress in singles action, while Otis clocked up another loss, making it two defeats in as many weeks for him on Main Event.
The early going saw Kaiser try and fail to lift Otis but then was able to dodge a charge so that Otis posted himself. Kaiser then used a dropkick to send Otis to the outside and they went to the ad break.
Kaiser postured to the crowd a lot as if he had this one in the bag and so with cheap heat came the inevitable turnaround of fortunes as Otis nailed him with a power slam.
The live crowd enjoyed Otis’ shirt rip and his caterpillar which gained him a near fall when Kaiser got his foot on the bottom rope.
In the end, Kaiser raked Otis’ eyes which was enough to allow him to set up for his running kick finisher and get the win.
Not quite what you would expect here as it felt a little short and it seemed likely that Otis would get the win, but it’s now perhaps more interesting to see what they do with him after Chad Gable turned on Sami Zayn.
A Stand & Deliver rematch for the Tag Team Championship is one of two new segments set for Tuesday’s WWE NXT.
WWE revealed in a social media post from storyline NXT GM Ava that The Wolf Dogs (Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin) will once again defend their NXT Tag Team Championship on Tuesday’s episode against Nathan Frazer & Axiom.
The Wolf Dogs vs. Frazer & Axiom for the NXT Tag titles kicked off the main card at Saturday’s Stand & Deliver event, with the champions retaining.
Another segment was announced for Tuesday’s NXT show during Monday’s Raw episode.
After NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defeated Indi Hartwell on Raw, she was confronted by Natalya in a backstage segment. Natalya promised to see Perez on NXT tomorrow. Perez later confirmed a confrontation with Natalya on the show in a WWE digital exclusive.
NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov also made his debut on Monday’s Raw after WrestleMania, declaring for the WWE Draft in the process.
Ava also appeared on Raw and implied that NXT will also be drafting talent to their roster in this year’s WWE Draft set for April 26 on SmackDown and April 29 on Raw.
The lineup for Tuesday’s WWE NXT:
NXT Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Baron Corbin defend against Nathan Frazer & Axiom
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped before last Monday’s Raw in Brooklyn, New York, featuring the usual pair of bouts.
Blake Howard and Brian “Road Dogg” James were on the call with less than great results. Howard didn’t do anything to enhance the action and James was not good, often interrupting Howard.
It’s the case of a good talker being expected to also be good on commentary. However, as Liam Neeson knows, it takes a man/woman with a unique set of skills to do both.
Chelsea Green defeated Natalya
This was a rematch from several weeks ago when Green picked up a win on this very show, and their fourth-ever singles match. Green had an interesting week overall after claiming she was kicked out of a Brooklyn hotel due to staff thinking she was an escort.
The two brawled all the way up the entranceway at one point with Natalya battering Green’s head into any inanimate object that existed. After she regained the advantage, Green used a referee distraction to surprise Natalya with a a Zig-Zag and nearfall.
Natalya rallied with some clotheslines and went for the Sharpshooter, only to get countered. A nearfall exchange followed and Green eventually got the rollup pin with a handful of tights.
This is Green’s third straight singles win and her fifth straight on Main Event.
It’s wild that Mahal was part of this whole kickoff for The Rock returning and main eventing night one of WrestleMania 40 — something to remember for your wrestling trivia nights. This was his first match anywhere in nearly two months.
These two have wrestled twice before: both in 2020, once on Raw and once on Main Event. Mahal is 2-0 in those matches as you might imagine.
As you might expect, the size difference between these two was played up early with Mahal dominating with exciting rest holds and such.
After getting beat up most of the match, Tozawa made his comeback, nearly getting the win off a missile dropkick. After ripping his shirt Hulk Hogan-style, he went to the top again but missed a senton bomb and got nailed with a big boot. Mahal then got the win after hitting the Khallas (Million Dollar Dream lock into a slam).
It’s Mahal’s second straight win (both on Main Event) while Tozawa has been winless in TV/house show matches since February.
That concludes a heel-friendly edition of Main Event. We’re onto WrestleMania.
For the second straight week, Natalya will be appearing on WWE NXT.
WWE has announced that Natalya will accompany Karmen Petrovic for her match against Lola Vice on NXT this Tuesday night. Natalya is repaying the favor after Petrovic was in her corner last week.
Natalya made a surprise appearance on NXT last Tuesday, answering Vice’s open challenge. Vice lost the match when Natalya dodged a kick and pinned her with an O’Connor Roll.
Petrovic, who is feuding with Vice, came out to ringside during the Natalya vs. Vice match. In a post-show interview, Petrovic said Natalya has been kind, supportive, and always there for her since Petrovic started at the Performance Center.
“I had a million questions coming into the industry, and she’s been nothing but helpful from day one,” Petrovic said. “So I knew I had to be in her corner tonight, especially when it comes to Lola Vice.”
I had the best time at @WWENXT last night. It’s always been one of my favorite places in the world to wrestle. I’ve had some of the most special moments of my career there. I was really overwhelmed by the love that was shown to me and by how impressive @lolavicewwe is in the ring. Can’t wait to see what’s next
This week’s NXT is the go-home show for Stand & Deliver. Here’s everything that’s been announced for the episode:
WWE NXT (Tuesday, April 2) —
Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes face-to-face
NXT Tag Team title number one contender’s match: Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro vs. Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson
The WWE main roster veteran accepted an open challenge from Lola Vice on Tuesday’s show. During the match, Karmen Petrovic came out to confront Vice, as the two have exchanged words in recent weeks. Natalya ducked a strike by Vice and countered with an O’Connor roll for the win. Natalya then celebrated her win with Petrovic on the outside.
Vice last year won the NXT Women’s Breakout tournament, earning herself a championship match. She chose to cash in during a match between Lyra Valkyria and Roxanne Perez at Vengeance Day back in February. Vice ended up being pinned by Valkyria. Earlier this month, Petrovic and Vice confronted one another backstage, with Vice calling Petrovic “basura”, or trash.
In recent months, Natalya has been teaming with Tegan Nox, where they have been unsuccessful in capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. Natalya’s last appearance on Raw was back in February when she lost an Elimination Chamber last chance battle royal, which was won by the returning Raquel Rodriguez.
This week’s WWE Main Event was taped at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina before Monday’s episode of Raw.
A good episode this week, made better by some funny bits on commentary and a decent match at the top of the show.
Zoey Stark defeated Natalya (4:40)
They gave the win to Stark in this one which didn’t have too much going for it. She and Natalya worked well together and the crowd was into a little by the end, too.
The early going was very much back and forth. You could tell that Howard and James were looking for things to say, with James discussing how you pronounce ‘cravat’ at one point.
And there were more than enough cravats in this one, unfortunately, which is not what the crowd wants to see when Natalya is in the ring.
The crowd got behind her when she hit a snapmare and basement dropkick onto Stark, as she looked like she was tipping the balance in her favor.
As she was looking for the Sharpshooter, Stark kicked Natalya off her and then pulled her down, using the tights, into a roll-up to snatch the win.
After the match, they shook hands and Natalya hugged her, raising her arms with Stark in celebration.
Giovanni Vinci defeated Apollo Crews (5:58)
A debut win on Main Event for Giovanni Vinci here was fun to watch. There was a smoothness to how these two worked together, which is impressive given their size.
Giovanni Vinci looked a million bucks as he came out here to debut. They played up his role in Imperium, but he can certainly work so it would be good to see him in more singles action like this.
Crews had a little streak of wins in recent months on this show but has lost his momentum. The suggestion was that a win here might give him a shot at Gunther, but realistically he’s a long way from that right now in storyline.
Vinci used a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Crews as we went to the ads, but afterward Crews managed to grab some separation as he hit a delayed German suplex on Vinci as they both went down.
Crews then went through his moveset, hitting a stinger splash, gorilla press slam, followed by a standing moonsault.
Vinci countered with a fireman’s carry roll into the corner and a second rope moonsault, but Crews kicked out at two and it was clear at this point that Vinci was bleeding from the nose.
When he comically slapped away the offer of a tissue from the ref, he went to the finish, hitting Crews with a brain buster and celebrating with a cheeky smile.
It would be good to see these two go at it again next week, because they were pretty great together.
