Tag: Nia Jax

Nia Jax hopes NXT GM Ava becomes WWE main roster authority figure

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nia Jax is proud of the work her cousin Ava is doing in NXT — and Jax hopes to see her join the WWE main roster in a similar role one day.

Since the start of 2024, Ava (Simone Johnson) has been featured as the on-screen general manager of NXT. It’s a role that she transitioned into after initially starting her NXT career as a wrestler. She signed with WWE in 2020, continuing the pro wrestling legacy of her father The Rock, grandfather Rocky Johnson, and great-grandfather Peter Maivia.

Jax told TV Insider in a recent interview that she feels Ava has really grown into her NXT role. She would like to see Ava on the main roster working as an authority figure.

“I’m so proud of her. She has really come into her own,” Jax said. “Who would have thought just being the NXT general manager she would just shine in? I even said to her the other day, ‘This year has been so good for you.’ I feel her confidence has gotten bigger. She is running that show and with ease. I can’t wait to see where it goes. I want to see her up here on the main roster, possibly doing a similar role as well.”

The NXT roster is on the road this week with tonight’s episode taking place at Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jax is preparing for a tag match at WWE Elimination Chamber in Toronto this Saturday, where she’ll team up with Candice LeRae against Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus.

Trish Stratus & Tiffany Stratton challenge Nia Jax & Candice LeRae for WWE Elimination Chamber

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A tag team match has been proposed for next month’s Elimination Chamber.

After Nia Jax and Candice LeRae assaulted both Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown, Stratus met with Stratton backstage and proposed that the two team together to solve their issues at Elimination Chamber. Stratton liked the idea, saying it would be Tiffy Time and Trishy Time. Announcers said it would need to be approved by Nick Aldis.

Earlier in the show, Stratus was interviewed in the crowd and said she would be at Elimination Chamber in Toronto. Later, while Stratton was defending the WWE Women’s title against Nia Jax, the ref called for the bell after LeRae blatantly interfered in the match. The two teamed up on Stratton as Stratus attempted to make the save. However, she was laid out by Jax who squashed her in the corner.

As the segment ended, Charlotte Flair came to the ring and sat down on a chair next to a recovering Stratton. It was there that Flair announced she would be challenging Stratton at WrestleMania 41.

WWE SmackDown live results: Women’s title defense, Elimination Chamber qualifiers

Posted on by Joseph Collins

A WWE Women’s title match will headline tonight’s SmackDown from Washington, DC, as Tiffany Stratton defends against former champion Nia Jax.

Stratton famously cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Jax on the first SmackDown of 2025 to win the gold. Jax now gets her opportunity to regain it after unsuccessfully challenging Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s World title last month. It will be Stratton’s second title defense.

In an men’s Elimination Chamber qualifier, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest will face former Universal Champion Braun Strowman and Jacob Fatu in a three-way. The winner will join John Cena, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul who have already qualified.

In a women’s Elimination Chamber qualifier, reigning WWE United States Champion Chelsea Green will take on Naomi. The winner will join Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss and Bayley.

Following his surprise return last Friday to attack Cody Rhodes, Solo Sikoa will appear tonight.

**********

Live from Washington, DC.

Wade Barrett read from the Constitution to open the show.

Nia Jax arrived in the building! Tiffany Stratton arrived in the building! Braun Strowman arrived in the building! Damien Priest arrived in the building! Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga arrived in the building! Well when you’ve got three hours to fill, showing everyone arriving in the buidling is one way to fill it.

Vic Joseph replaced Joe Tessitore tonight on commentary, joining Wade Barrett. Man, Corey Graves can’t catch a break.

– Recap of last week’s show, focusing on the main event tag math and the return of Solo Sikoa. 

Cody Rhodes Interview. Cody Rhodes came out to talk Elimination Chamber and who his opponent at WrestleMania 41 might be. There was already a light chant for CM Punk coing in the crowd before Rhodes started polling the crowd about potential opponents, based on who is already in the Chamber. Logan Paul got boos. CM Punk (Cody’s good friend, apparently) got cheers. Drew McIntyre got boos. John Cena got cheers. Cody said it won’t be Solo Sioka, which brought out Drew McIntyre for some reason.

Drew was sad because Cody didn’t put enough emphasis on Drew’s name. Drew ran down his résumé, which includes two Elimination Chamber wins and three world titles and a nearly year long stint in 3MB (okay, I added the last one). Drew is also one of the few men that has pinned Cody since he’s returned to WWE, and Cody hasn’t forgotten.

This brought out Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga. The crowd was crazy into Fatu, who is “all gas no breaks” tonight. He’ll run through Damian Priest & Braun Strowman, then the Elimination Chamber, and bring the WWE title back to his family. Drew suggested DC wanted to see him fight Jacob… but he’s already got a spot in the Chamber, so he’s leaving Jacob Fatu to Cody. Cody is alright with that. All Jacob has to do is win tonight, and win in the Chamber, and he can get a title shot.

Just then, Solo Sioka arrived in his car. Fatu has family business to discuss with Sioka. Cody will let Fatu get the first word with Sioka, but he promised to get in the last.

– Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu were looking for Solo Sikoa in the back.

– Wade Barrett talked with Trish Stratus (who was in the front row) about the Elimination Chamber.

Namoi (w/ Bianca Belair) defeated Chelsea Green (w/ Piper Niven) for a spot in the Women’s Elimination Chamber (8:27)

Namoi hit a meteora for a near fall. Green dropped to the floor, and caught Naomi with a pump kick when she followed her to the outside.

After a long commercial break (during which Green controlled the bout), Naomi hit Green with a crossbody off the top. Naomi hit a bulldog and a scissor kick to get a near fall. Naomi hit an ugly heat seeker, but missed a split legged moonsault. Green hit an ugly Rough Rider for a near fall. Green dropped Naomi with a backstabber for a near fall. Green tried to come off the top with an Unprettier, but Naomi slipped out and caught Green with a kick out of the corner. Naomi then hit the split-legged moonsault for the pinfall. Naomi advanced to the Chamber. Half the match took place in the picture-in-picture.

– Sami Zayn sent in a video from home about being laid out by Kevin Owens’ package piledriver. Zayn thought friendship meant being concerned when your friend is laid out on the floor. Zayn believes Owens definition of friendship is pushing Cody off a ladder to help Owens win a match. Zayn doesn’t know when he’ll be cleared, but when he is Sami and Kevin Owens are going to go at it again.

– WWE 2025 Hall of Famer Michelle McCool was shown teaching aspiring wrestlers finishers like the triangle choke in a preview for the new A&E Series “LFG.”

The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Los Garza (Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo)

We got about a minute of action before the show cut to a commercial. After the break, Sabin got the hot tag and got a near fall on Carrillo with a cradle. A dropkick off the top from Sabin into a flatliner got a near fall. Garza held Shelley in a powerslam while Carrillo put Sabin on Garza’s shoulders, then Carrillo sprung off the ropes with a springboard kick. Carrillo went for a moonsault but ate Shelley’s boots. After a planch on the floor, Sabin and Shelley hit the Skull n Bones on Carrillo and got the pinfall. The three minutes of the match after the break was “all moves.”

– Damien Priest introduced himself to the Smackdown audience via a vignette.

– WrestleMania in Vegas is 64 days away!

– Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga found Solo Sikoa, dressed in all white. Sikoa owned up to letting the family down by losing the ula fala to Roman Reigns. Sikoa seemingly threw his support behind Jacob Fatu in the chamber. “I love you, Jacob.” The crowd reaction told me that’s not probably not a good thing for Jacob Fatu.

Shinsuke Nakamura Interview. Nakamura got the “What?” treatment from the crowd while he bemoaned his lack of competition for the US Championship. It doesn’t take long for LA Knight to respond (By the way, I loved Knight’s mental health shout-out last week). Knight cut a great promo on his way to the ring about all the ways he’s been screwed over on his way back to a US Title match. Then The Miz showed up. Miz called the crowd “not smart” and “basic” and was about to deem himself the only worthy contender. But Knight cut off Miz before he can go into his “list all my accomplishments” promo. Knight suggested Miz start his own farewell tour, and the crowd agrees. Miz started mock crying (and mocking Knight’s mental health shout-out). Knight said Miz and Drew McIntyre are running “neck and neck” as the biggest “crybaby b!tches.” Miz called his shot for the US Title. Knight’s response: “Dude, you suck.” Actually he said a lot more but that was the best line. Knight went for the BFT, but Miz escaped. Nick Aldis came out and made Miz v. Knight for TONIGHT, and man this was a lot of talking for a contender’s match for a secondary title.

LA Knight defeated The Miz, obstensibly for a shot at the US Championship (10:14 aired)

We joined the match in progress after a commercial, and Knight caught Miz with a powerslam for a near fall. Nakamura was still lurking around ringside. Miz took control with all his best kicks and chinlocks. And what looked like a poor man’s version of the hammer and tong elbows the Blackpool Combat Club used. Knight backdropped Miz to the floor, then followed him out with a sliding dropkick. Knight smashed Miz’s head into the announcer’s table. Nakamura distracted Knight, and Miz took control by sending Knight into the ring stairs.

After another commercial, Knight hit a neckbreaker, followed up with a snap powerslam, and landed a big elbow for a near fall. Miz tripped Knight up on the middle turnbuckle, and hit an avalanche clothesline and flatliner out of the corner for his own near fall. Miz went for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Knight dropped out of it into a cradle for a near fall. Miz hit a DDT for a near fall. Knight ran into a boot from Miz, but then hit the BFT out of nowhere. Knight then hit an elbow off the top rope (springing from the middle rope) for the pinfall.

After the match, Knight and Nakamura had a staredown while Nakamura held up his US Title Belt.

– Alexa Bliss wished Nia Jax luck in her Women’s Title match later tonight. Also there was some Wyatt video interference/hidden message during their brief backstage segment.

– In the back, Miz got an offer for some training from Andrade. Then Carmelo Hayes showed up to say how no one respects “us” (he and Miz), but walked away from Miz’s offer to form a tag team.

Carmelo Hayes defeated R-Truth (2:20)

This was set up by a segment backstage where Hayes apologized for showing “Tozawa that I’m ‘him.'” “No you’re not. You’re Carmelo. Tozawa’s Tozawa.”

Hayes jumped Truth to start, and cut off his John Cena-inspired comeback with a superkick. Hayes escaped a Attitude Adjustment from Truth, then came off the top with a scissor kick to get the pinfall.

– Highlights from the Eagles Super Bowl victory parade were shown to give WWE the opportunity to sell those WWE/NFL Championship belts.

– The Street Profits still want the smoke. But they’re being all dark and angry about it. This is followed by DIY and Pretty Deadly chatting in advance of their WWE Tag Team Championship match next week. This all seems to be buidling to some kind of 18-way tag team title cluster at WrestleMania.

– Kevin Owens sent in a promo shot in his car. Sure, Sami’s neck is hurt, but Kevin is feeling real pain. And he’s wearing a Bret Hart jacket! Owens promised to show Sami real pain in Canada. Cleared or not, Kevin Owens challenged Zayn to come find him at Elimination Chamber.

– Charlotte Flair settled into a seat backstage to watch the next match.

Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax (w/ Candice LeRae) by disqualification to retain the WWE Women’s Championship (16:59)

Charlotte watched the match from the back, looking at the television from a non-ridiculous angle.

Jax ragdolled Stratton to start. Stratton cartwheeled out of a toss, but got caught with a pop-up headbutt for a near fall. Jax tried a hip attack against the ringpost, but Stratton escaped and hit a handspring elbow. Jax dropped Stratton with a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Slam and legdrop from Jax get another near fall. Jax went for the hip attack against the ringpost for a second time and did not miss, then dropped an elbow for a near fall.

After a commercial, Stratton fought her way out of a chinlock. Stratton and Jax went for some kind of powerbomb into a sunset flip spot, but it went very badly. At least no one landed on their head. Jax caught Straton going for a second handspring elbow and just dumped her, then dropped a leg on her ribs for another near fall. Jax put Stratton on her shoulders for a super Samoan Drop, but Stratton slipped free, tripped up Jax, and came off the top with a double stomp for a near fall.

Stratton went to the top, but Jax tripped her up, setting up a super Samoan Drop for a near fall. Jax dropped a leg off the middle rope for another near fall as Charlotte watched on from backstage.

After another commerical break, Stratton hit a moonsault to the floor on Jax. Stratton is getting huge babyface reactions here. Back in the ring, Stratton hit a swanton bomb for two. Stratton tried to pick up Jax for a Samona Drop, but fell under Jax’s weight. Jax went for the Banzi Drop, but Straton got out of the way in another clumsly spot. Stratton went for the prettiest moonsault ever, but LaRae ran in to cause a disqualification. LaRae got a chair, but Trish Stratus ran in to make the save. Stratus got squashed by an avalanche from Jax. Jax then leveled Stratton with another legdrop as a gaggle of officials (and Jason Jordan) broke up the attack.

As Jax and LaRae went to the back, Charlotte Flair came out. Stratton was laid out in the ring and Flair took a mic and a seat in the ring. “The Queen chooses YOU! I’ll see you at WrestleMania.” Tiffany Stratton v. Charlotte Flair is official for WrestleMania.

A Development in the “Jade Situation.” Nick Aldis borught in the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bianca Belair and Naomi, to show a video, shot on a cellphone and sent in anonymously. This will shed some light on who attacked Jade Cargill. But all the video showed was Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez walking around near where Jade Cargill was being placed into an ambualnce. This definitively proves (to Naomi and Bianca, anyway) that Morgan and Rodriguez were responsible. Although I gotta say it looked like Naomi was a little nervous while the video was getting queued up. Naomi and Bianca are now headed to Raw to confront Morgan and Rodriguez.

– Backstage, Trish Stratus and Tiffany Stratton agree to team up against Nia Jax and Candice LaRae at Elimination Chamber. “It’ll be Tiffy and Trishy Time!”

– Drew McIntyre gave Jimmy Uso some advice about his terrible career, but at least he married up, right? Uso gave McIntyre a superkick for his troubles.

– Backstage, Braun Strowman shouted about being a world champion five years ago, but nobody remembers. Yeah, we all want to forget those terrible empy arena shows, Braun.

Next week on Smackdown: DIY v. Pretty Deadly for the Tag Team Titles and Jimmy Uso v. Drew McIntyre.

Damian Priest pinned Braun Strowman in a Triple Threat Match also featuring Jacob Fatu to advance to a spot in the Elimination Chamber (16:15)

Wade Barrett did his own version of “this match makes me glad I retired” like Gorilla Monsoon used to. Strowman hit Fatu with a boot to start. Priest and Fatu knocked Strowman to the floor with a double shoulderblock. This left Priest and Fatu one on one for a bit. Fatu hit Priest with a running elbow. While Fatu and Priest were brawling, Strowman ran in with a crossbody, then sent both Fatu and Priest to the floor with clotheslines.

After a long split-screen break, Strowman pulled Fatu out of the ring and threw him against the dasher boards. Fatu sent Strowman into the ring steps, then went back into the ring to deal with Priest. Priest stunned Fatu with an eblow strike and took him down with a spinning heel kick. Priest knocked Strowman off the apron after a superkick. Priest tried for an old-school ropewalk on Fatu, but Strowman caught Priest with a choke, and Fatu pulled Priest into a Samoan Drop. Fatu hit a swanton bomb on Priest for a near fall.

Fatu went for another Samoan Drop, but Priest escaped. Fatu hit a superkick, then set up Priest for a superplex. Strowman ran in and they did the stacker-superplex powerbomb spot, and USA had to censor “Holy Sh!t” chants from the fans.

Strowmand hit Fatu with clotheslines and a massive back bodydrop. Fatu dropped to the floor, where Priest gave him a flatliner against the commentator’s table. Strowman pounced Priest over the table, then chokeslammed Fatu on the table and is that table made out of the New Japan tables because after all that it didn’t break.

Back in the ring, Fatu retook control on Strowman, hitting him with a series of hip attacks against the turnbuckles. Fatu procured a chair (which the crowd cheered for). Fatu wrapped the chair around Strowman’s neck for another hip attack, but Strowman caught him with a boot (Fatu slowed up noticably to set up the boot). Strowman wrapped the chair around Fatu’s neck, but before he could crush him, Solo Sioka came up out of nowhere to catch Strowman with a Samoan Spike! Sioka was in all-black, sneaking in to help like he used to for Roman Reigns.

This brought out Cody Rhodes to cut off Sioka. Tama Tonga showed up to rescue Sioka and Sioka accidentally took out TONGA with another Samona Spike. Fatu jumped out of the ring to get in Sioka’s face about hitting Tonga. This gave Priest the opportunity to clothesline Fatu into the Timekeeper’s area and out of the match. Rhodes hit Sioka with a Cross Rhodes on the floor. Back in the ring, Strowman went for a powerslam on Priest, but slide out and hit the South of Heaven on Strowman to get the pinfall. Damien Priest advances to the Elimination Chamber.

After the match, Cody and Damien shook hands and gazed into the WrestleMania sign.

Seems like Sioka and Jacob Fatu are heading to a WrestleMania match. And this show would have probably been better at two hours. Felt like a lot of filler.

Bayley joins WWE Raw roster, Penta set for action

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The WWE Raw women’s division has gotten a significant new addition.

Ahead of tonight’s show, WWE posted a video with general manager Adam Pearce announcing that Bayley is now part of the Raw roster. She will be in action tonight against Nia Jax, who is still a SmackDown wrestler. The two got into it last week when both appeared on Raw. Jax declared for the women’s Royal Rumble match during that appearance.

In storyline, a transfer window is currently open in WWE that allows talent to change brands. The window opened in advance of Raw’s Netflix premiere.

Tonight’s Raw is the third episode on Netflix. WWE has also announced that, following his debut victory against Chad Gable last week, Penta will be in action tonight. His opponent has not been announced.

Here is everything that has been confirmed for the episode:

WWE Raw (Monday, January 20) —

  • Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Jey Uso appears
  • New Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria appears
  • JBL appears
  • The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) in action
  • Pure Fusion Collective vs. IYO SKY & Dakota Kai
  • Sami Zayn to address the WWE Universe
  • Bayley vs. Nia Jax
  • Penta in action

Two matches added to WWE SmackDown card

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Update —

Also confirmed for tonight’s SmackDown is a singles match with Carmelo Hayes taking on Jimmy Uso.

**********

A tag team match has been added to the WWE SmackDown lineup for tonight.

Bianca Belair & Naomi will team up against Nia Jax & Candice LeRae on tonight’s show from San Diego, California. Though Belair & Naomi are the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, this will be a non-title match.

One week after Tiffany Stratton betrayed Jax and cashed in to become the new WWE Women’s Champion, there was a number one contender’s match on SmackDown last Friday to determine Stratton’s first challenger. Jax, Belair, and Naomi took part in the match but lost out to Bayley, who will get her title shot against Stratton tonight.

LeRae is aligned with Jax and interfered in last week’s match trying to help her win.

Here is everything that has been announced for SmackDown tonight:

  • WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton defends against Bayley
  • Solo Sikoa returns
  • Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Los Garza (Angel & Berto)
  • Non-title match: Bianca Belair & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Jimmy Uso

Wrestling Observer Live: Fumi Saito talks Wrestle Kingdom 19

Posted on by Jim Valley

In the middle of two big Tokyo Dome shows, that means a special edition of Wrestling Observer Live.

Journalist and Pacific Rim podcast co-host Fumi Saito joins me from Tokyo to give his first person perspective of last night’s Wrestle Kingdom 19. We talk all the results and give our thoughts on the matches.

Stateside, it’s a new year with a new hour added to WWE SmackDown with the first three-hour show of 2025 featuring a WWE Women’s title change

Plus, the 2026 Royal Rumble is going international and I explain why the location shouldn’t surprise you.

All that and more awaits you below.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

WWE SmackDown live results: Women’s title match, Bloodline six-man tag

Posted on by Colin McGuire

On the first WWE SmackDown of 2025 and with a return to three hours, WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax will defend her title against Naomi on a sparsely announced card as of this writing.

Jax defeated Naomi in November to retain her title, but the champion was part of a losing effort last week as she teamed with Tiffany Stratton & Candice LeRae and came up short against Naomi, Bayley & Bianca Belair.

In a trios match that will main event the show, the OG Bloodline (Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & Sami Zayn) will face The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga) in Jimmy’s first match since breaking his toe at Survivor Series.

WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura will go one-on-one with Andrade in a non-title match. Nakamura defeated Andrade in November after Andrade ran into an exposed turnbuckle. To receive a future title shot, Andrade must win tonight.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 PM Eastern.

**********

– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as footage of Phoenix aired. Cole then threw to last week’s developments regarding Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. Afterwards, Cody made his entrance inside the arena. He was dressed in a suit.

The Cody Rhodes promo

This was pretty good. Cody continues to show good fire in his program with Owens and I get a kick out of both Owens and McIntyre never really being wrong in their logic for why they have issues with the babyfaces. That said, it felt like McIntyre’s words here were dripping in foreshadowing and I think that extends beyond the attack Owens showed up to execute, so it should be compelling to see how things play out between Drew and Cody over the coming weeks. Speaking of weeks, with four of them left until the Royal Rumble, I wonder how they’re going to stretch out Owens and Cody beyond simple pull-aparts each week. In some ways, it’s already a bit stale, considering how much those two worked with each other in 2024. It’d be nice if they found a way to freshen things up going into their ladder match.

Cody took in a bunch of cheers and then shouted “Phoenix” before saying they all want to talk about the same thing. He said WWE is on the cusp of changing everything and it starts tonight by SmackDown going three hours. Cody referenced Raw going to Netflix and said his excitement was tempered because he cannot be involved because he is not cleared to wrestle because of Kevin Owens. Cody noted that management was concerned about him even being there at all, but at the Royal Rumble, he will compete with Owens in a ladder match. Drew McIntyre’s music then hit and McIntyre walked out through the main entrance.

McIntyre took his time stepping into the ring, but he got there. McIntyre stepped towards Cody and … hugged Cody. Cody looked confused. McIntyre said he wasn’t there to hurt Cody; he was there to help Cody. McIntyre said Cody is about to screw up his entire life’s work and Drew is looking out for him. McIntyre said right now is the best generation of wrestlers WWE has ever had and Cody is the quarterback of it all. McIntyre noted how he knows what it’s like to want to compete, but management won’t let that happen. McIntyre said he can see that Cody needs a friend and Cody interrupted McIntyre.

Cody asked Drew if he wanted to help him and Drew said yes – because he always tells the truth. Cody said he and McIntyre are kindred spirits in the way they left WWE and came back for success. Cody listed off other ways they are the same, but essentially said it didn’t matter because Cody said he didn’t believe McIntyre. Cody then invited McIntyre to “come and get it.” McIntyre said he was telling Cody the truth again – he wasn’t there to hurt Cody; he was there to help Cody. Drew stepped out on the apron and told Cody he needed to watch his back. McIntyre stepped off the apron and Owens attacked Cody from behind. McIntyre slowly walked to the back.

Owens and Cody brawled in the ring and Cody briefly had control. Officials ran out to separate the two and Cody broke away to leap at Owens. Owens found himself on the outside of the ring and the two jawed at each other from afar. Owens was pushed back up the entranceway by the officials. Cody sold head pain in the ring as he scowled at Owens. Cody’s music hit to end things.

**********

– The Bloodline was shown arriving to the building earlier in the day. Naomi and Bianca Belair got the same treatment. Ditto for Nia Jax and Andrade.

Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Andrade [8:48]

It was nice to see the crowd rally behind this match by the time these two went to the finish. As for the body of the bout, it was fine enough. I’m not too much of a fan of Andrade continuously taking losses, but I’ve been whining about that for long enough in this space now that I should probably stop. I like the freshened up Nakamura a little more each time I see him. His entrance is plodding, but effective and even the face paint kind of/sort of works. This was nothing near the level of some of their matches years ago, but a solid TV match is a solid TV match and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Nakamura went at Andrade to begin the match, but Andrade rebounded quickly and hit a moonsault onto Nakamura, who was on the outside, about 40 seconds into the match, the show went to a commercial break. The show returned and Andrade was working a comeback, including a leaping elbow. Andrade fired up the crowd, but ran into a knee from Nakamura. With Andrade draped over the second rope, Nakamura landed a German Suplex before heading to the top and hitting a knee to Andrade’s head. Nakamura then ripped off the top turnbuckle covering.

Andrade dropkicked Nakamura into the exposed buckle and followed it up with a Meteora, which earned Andrade a two-count. Andrade went to the top and landed his double miss-then-make moonsault for a good near-fall. Andrade set up for The Message, but Nakamura countered … only for Andrade to land a spinning back elbow for a very good near-fall that actually looked like it should have been a three count. Andrade placed Nakamura on the top rope, but Nakamura blocked a super-plex attempt and slammed Andrade’s head on top of the ring post. Nakamura hit the Kinshasha from there and got the win.

Almost instantly after Nakamura was announced as the winner, LA Knight’s music hit and Knight pounded on Nakamura. Knight went for a BFT, but Nakamura escaped and walked away. Knight grabbed a microphone and said one way or another, he will collect what’s owed to him, which is the U.S. title. Knight then did his catchphrase to end the post-match shenanigans.

**********

– Apollo Crews were walking backstage and ran into Pretty Deadly. Santos Escobar showed up with Legado Del Fantasma and accused Pretty Deadly of lying to his faction. Los Garza then half-attacked Pretty Deadly before Nick Aldis showed up and broke things up. Aldis then told Pretty Deadly they needed to have a chat.

– Aldis was shown talking to Pretty Deadly after a commercial break and asked about who attacked the Street Profits. #DIY showed up and Aldis said all four wrestlers were on thin ice. #DIY told Pretty Deadly that it’s important they leave Phoenix as tag champs later tonight. Gargano then said “Yes, boy,” and the Pretty Deadly duo were excited.

Michin defeated Piper Niven [6:57]

A seven minute match that lost nearly three minutes to commercials. Add all the hours you want, WWE; some things will never change. This was fine for what it was and I don’t really have an issue with them running things back between Green and Michin. I don’t know how you top a Dumpster Match, if you go a stipulation route between the two, but maybe the booking minds have something good in mind.

Michin ran at Niven to start the match, but Niven caught her and ran Michin into a corner. Michin came back and took Niven down on the outside of the ring. Things were going well for Michin until Niven caught her and hit a sidewalk slam before the show went to a commercial break. The show returned and Michin had control after landing a Bulldog. Michin went for Eat Defeat, but Niven countered and went for a Cannonball, but Michin moved and hit one of her own. Michin saluted Chelsea Green mockingly and hit a Pele Kick on Niven for a two-count.

Michin went to the top, but Niven moved and landed a Piper Driver on Michin for a two-count. Niven set up for a Vader Bomb, but Michin got her feet up. Michin followed that up Eat Defeat and got the win.

**********

– Paul Heyman was shown entering the arena as the show went to break.

– A Naomi vignette aired when the program returned.

The Paul Heyman/Bloodline segment

This was a good go-home segment for the Tribal Combat match on Monday, especially if Roman was never going to show up. I also like touch that had Sikoa never get physical with Heyman. Does that mean Heyman might be in cahoots with Sikoa and his version of the Bloodline now? Probably not, but I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t feel like a swerve is coming one way or another on Monday. Also: Man, this show missed Paul Heyman. He makes good things great and great things can’t-miss. I don’t know why they didn’t advertise his appearance beforehand. Makes you wonder if a Reigns appearance might have been in play up until the final minutes. Then again, there is more Bloodline later on in the show.

Heyman walked into the ring and did his “Ladies and gentlemen …” thing. Heyman said he wanted to set something straight – on Monday, they will find out who is the real Tribal Chief. Heyman said Roman Reigns and Heyman trained Solo Sikoa to become the next Tribal Chief – but not right now. Heyman then recalled everything that happened at WrestleMania 40 and said Sikoa sized the moment and stole the Ula Fala from Reigns’s bag. Heyman called Sikoa a “twisted son of a b#@!.”

Heyman said Sikoa went out and found a band of filthy animals who don’t belong in pro wrestling. He said Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, who aren’t welcome in the United States and cited Jacob Fatu as someone who isn’t even welcome in the United States prison system. Heyman said on Monday, there must be a winner and there must be a loser. Heyman said the only Tribal Chief Roman Reigns will win on Monday. Heyman started to walk out of the ring and Sikoa’s music hit. Out came Sikoa, who was alone.

Sikoa stood across from Heyman in the ring and the crowd chanted “OTC!” Heyman said he was about 10 seconds away from pissing in his pants because the last time they did what they were doing, Sikoa had Heyman put through a table. Sikoa put out his hand for Heyman’s microphone and Heyman gave Sikoa the mic. “Solo sucks!” chants began. Sikoa told Phoenix, Arizona to acknowledge him and the boos broke out.

Sikoa said it was time for Heyman to come to terms with the truth. Sikoa said Heyman owes CM Punk a favor and now Sikoa was asking Heyman for a favor – to hold the Ula Fala during Monday’s Tribal Combat match. Sikoa said if Roman wins, Heyman will put the Ula Fala around Roman’s neck and Sikoa will acknowledge Roman as the Tribal Chief. However, Sikoa said when he beats Roman – and he will – Heyman will have to put the Ula Fala around Sikoa’s neck and that will mean he owns Heyman and Heyman will be Sikoa’s Wise Man forever. At that point, Sikoa said, Roman will have no choice but to finally acknowledge him.

Heyman received the microphone back from Sikoa and Heyman laid the microphone down in the mat before leaving the ring. Sikoa’s music hit to end the segment.

**********

#DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) fought Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) to a no-contest for the WWE Tag Team Championship [10:52]

The was perhaps the best MCMG WWE TV match thus far and the crowd responded as such. That’s promising because as I’ve been saying for the last couple weeks in this space, Shelley and Sabin simply have not been able to find a crowd to give a hoot about them when they make their SmackDown entrances. This was a step in the right direction. I don’t mind the copout finish – this was a tag title match that wasn’t even advertised ahead of time – but I say that only with the caveat that these two teams get more time somewhere down the line and can truly have an opportunity to move a live crowd, which it felt like they were about to do here. The other end of that? Please don’t make this a four-way ordeal that includes Pretty Deadly and Angel and Berto.

Ciampa and Sabin started the match. Sabin quickly gained the upper hand with an arm drag. Shelley tagged in and MCMG kicked Gargano to the outside. Sabin tagged in and MCMG landed a double clothesline on Ciampa. While running the ropes, Gargano tagged himself in and that led to Ciampa and Gargano being on the outside. Sabin leapt through Shelley’s legs and hit a suicide dive on Gargano and Ciampa. The show then went to a commercial break.

The show returned and the heels were on the offensive until Ciampa ran into a leaping kick from Sabin. Shelley received the hot tag and Gargano tagged in as well. Shelley landed a neck-breaker on Gargano for a two-count. Sabin tagged in the two hit stereo splashes on Ciampa and Gargano, who were on the outside. Back in the ring, Shelley tagged in and MCMG worked a series of double-team moves on Gargano before a pin attempt that Ciampa broke up.

Sabin and Ciampa traded strikes in the middle of the ring. Lots and lots of super-kicks were had by everyone all four wrestlers were down in the middle of the ring. Ciampa and Shelley wound up being the legal men and Ciampa chopped the hell out of Shelley. Shelley returned the favor. Sabin tagged in and MCMG landed a fury of double-team moves on Ciampa. MCMG went for Skull And Bones, but Pretty Deadly ran out and distracted MCMG. #DIY took advantage and it looked like Gargano was going to get the win after a super-kick, but Shelley kicked out at the last tenth of a second. Los Garza ran out to chase Pretty Deadly away and right as MCMG looked as though they might win, the brawl between Pretty Deadly and Los Garza spilled into the ring and that ended the match.

**********

– Nia Jax and Candice LeRae were talking in the locker room and Jax wondered where Tiffany Stratton was. Jax then told LeRae to make sure Bianca Belair doesn’t interfere in her match later.

– Sami Zayn was walking backstage and ran into Carmelo Hayes. Zayn talked about how Melo ran away last week and Melo said Zayn could “get this work.” Jey and Jimmy Uso showed up and asked Melo if they have a problem. Melo kind of pouted and left. Zayn walked away to get ready for the main event and the Usos ran into Kevin Owens, who told the Usos they need to watch their backs.

– Cody was walking backstage and Aldis walked up to him. Aldis said Cody seems like he’s hellbent on not making it to the Royal Rumble. Aldis pleaded with Cody to think about his future. Aldis said if Cody won’t do that, Aldis will do that for Cody. Cody said Aldis is the boss, but Cody is the champ, and because of that, he deserves the ability to call his shot. Cody said if he sees Kevin Owens or anyone who looks like Kevin Owens, he will “drop them on site.”

Nia Jax defeated Naomi to retain the WWE Women’s Championship [19:32]

Naomi started quick with a pair of kicks. Naomi went for Jax’s legs, but Jax rebounded and toyed with Naomi as a response until a drop-toe-hold took Jax down. Naomi was on the apron and Naomi kicked Jax in the head, but Jax came back with a headbutt that took Naomi to the floor. Jax posed in the ring and the show went to a commercial break.

The show returned and Naomi got caught only to be slammed by Jax for a two-count. Naomi tried to fight back, but Jax cut her off with a bodyslam and an elbow drop for a two-count. Jax worked a rear chin-lock and that was broken up when Jax ran Naomi into the ring post. Jax crushed Naomi’s head against the ring post and a two-count from Jax came after that. Jax lifted Naomi, but Naomi rolled into a sunset flip and a pin attempt. Jax hopped up and clotheslined Naomi.

Jax set up for her finisher, but Naomi kicked Jax’s leg and followed that up with a double-stomp and her split-leg-drop for a two-count. Jax ran at Naomi, but Naomi moved and Jax ran into the ring post. Jax found herself on the outside and Naomi landed a suicide dive before rolling Jax back into the ring. Naomi landed a series of double axe-handles. Naomi hit an enziguri and an impressive Samoan Drop for a good near-fall.

Naomi set up for a split-legged moonsault, but Jax cut Naomi off and put her in a Tree Of Woe. From there, Jax hit a leg drop from the second rope for a good near-fall. Jax set up for her finisher again, but Naomi pulled Jax off the ropes and landed a Tornado DDT for another good near-fall. Naomi planted Jax with a draping DDT for another good near-fall. The show then actually went to yet another commercial break at about the 13-minute mark of the match.

The show came back and Naomi landed a Blockbuster for a two-count. Out of nowhere, Naomi slammed Jax for a great near-fall. Belair and LeRae started brawling on the outside of the ring while Naomi went for a submission. Jax broke it and threw a tag title at Belair to break up the outside brawl. Jax went to the second rope and Naomi cut her off … until Jax countered with an attempted powerslam from the second rope, but Naomi countered that with a slam of her own.

Tiffany Stratton’s music hit and Stratton finally looked like she was going to cash in, but instead, Stratton hit Naomi in the head with her briefcase. After that help from Stratton, Jax hit her finisher on Naomi and got the win.

Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax to become the new WWE Women’s Champion [0:04]

Finally. It felt like it was coming tonight, and I hoped it was coming tonight, and the crowd hoped it was coming tonight, and damn it, if they would have ended the segment with Stratton simply helping Jax retain, every single viewer on television and in the arena would have screamed about how this whole story jumped the shark … but it didn’t. I loved it. The crowd loved it. Actually, I loved everything about this, including the match between Naomi and Jax, who had another really good wrestling match before all the MITB stuff. Better yet, they were given almost 20 minutes, so for those of us not all that happy that SmackDown added an hour to its programming, the ability to give matches like this almost 20 minutes is a fruitful tradeoff. Naomi and Jax worked their asses off. If you watch one thing from this episode, it’d be this match. The Heyman promo is a strong No. 2, to boot. Really good stuff here. It’s fun when SmackDown gets fun, and that doesn’t happen as much as it used to these days. Kudos to everyone involved.

After the match, Jax tried to attack Belair and Stratton hit Jax with her briefcase to an enormous pop. Belair hit a KOD on Jax and Stratton threw Belair over the commentary table. Stratton then officially cashed in with Jax out. Stratton hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever and within four seconds, Stratton was your new WWE Women’s Champion. The crowd went nuts.

**********

– A vignette setting up the Bloodline match on Monday aired.

– The Bloodline was shown walking backstage and Jacob Fatu kept screaming “I love you, Solo!” Fatu said he was going to show the world what happens when the world doesn’t acknowledge the one and only Tribal Chief. Sikoa’s music hit and the trio walked to the ring for the main event with about 35 minutes left in the program.

– Byron Saxton caught up with LA Knight backstage. Knight said he was talking to Nick Aldis about why he attacked Nakamura. Knight said he returned the favor when it came to how Nakamura attacked Knight every week before their U.S. title match last year. Knight then announced that next week, he will take on Nakamura for the United States Championship.

– The Usos and Sami Zayn made their way through the concessions stands and the crowd to make their entrances for the main event.

The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga) defeated Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso & Sami Zayn [22:37]

The outcome was predictable, if only because Sikoa is the one going into a Very Important Match at WWE’s next Very Important Event. But that didn’t take anything away from the finish, which I thought was kind of clever, with Jey thinking he had the thing won and Sikoa using the Spike to get the victory. I probably could have done without the McIntyre appearance near the end, but lest we forget: Raw on Netflix is coming and he has a match with Jey Uso. Anything over 20 minutes felt like a bit too much here, especially with the extended entrance from the babyface team, and because of that, it felt like this would have probably been a better dark match, but who am I to judge. In all, a fine-enough main event (though Tiffy’s cash in would have probably made for a better moment to end the show, if we’re being honest). Three hours, eh? We’ll see.

All six men stood in the ring and brawled immediately to start the match. Sikoa and his Bloodline found themselves on the outside of the ring and the show went to a break. Back from the break, Jey worked Fatu’s arm until Tonga was tagged in. Jey and Tonga locked up and Tonga got the best of Jey at first. Jey came back by whipping Tonga into a corner and Zayn tagged in to hit a double axe-handle from the second rope on Tonga. Jimmy tagged in and kept control for the babyfaces until Sikoa interfered and whipped Jimmy’s neck across the top rope.

Sikoa tagged in and worked over Jimmy. Before long, Jimmy got the upper hand and tagged in Zayn, who fired up against Sikoa, complete with a clothesline. Zayn came off the middle rope, but Sikoa caught Zayn and hit Zayn with a Spinning Solo. The show then went to a commercial break. Back from the break, Sikoa hit a Samoan Drop on Zayn. Zayn fired back with a chop, but Sikoa came back with a chop of his own. Tonga tagged in and worked a wild ground and pound on Zayn.

Fatu tagged in and landed a hip attack on Zayn. Sikoa tagged in and headbutted Zayn. It wasn’t long before Zayn hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Sikoa, out of nowhere, and got the hot tag to Jey. Tonga tagged in as well, but Jey controlled Tonga with kicks, punches and chops. Jimmy tagged in and the Usos hit stereo enziguris. Jimmy and Jey then faced Fatu, who was clotheslined over the top rope. Jey hit a pop-up neck-breaker on Tonga for a good near-fall.

A brawl broke out on the outside of the ring while Tonga DDT’d Jey for a near-fall inside the ring. Fatu tagged in, but Jey super-kicked him and tagged in Zayn, who tagged in Jimmy. Jey, Jimmy and Sami hit hip attacks on Fatu and Zayn and Jey landed suicide dives on Tonga and Sikoa. Jimmy, inside the ring, hit an Uso Splash on Fatu for a two-count. Fatu super-kicked Jimmy and went to the top, where Fatu hit a splash and a moonsault on Jimmy, but Zayn broke up a pin attempt.

Fatu threw Zayn over the top rope and set up Jimmy for something, but Jimmy ran Fatu into a corner. Jey tagged in and Jimmy and Jey hit a double super-kick for a two-count. Drew McIntyre then walked out with no music or anything of the like. Jey was distracted before he hit a suicide dive on McIntyre. Jey went to the top, but missed a splash on Fatu. Fatu followed that up with a pop-up Samoan Drop for a nice near-fall. Sikoa tagged in and Jey super-kicked Sikoa. Jey speared Fatu, but Fatu wasn’t the legal man. After Jey hit a splash and went for a pin, Sikoa returned to the ring and hit the Samoan Spike on Jey for the win.

The show ended with a rundown of the Raw on Netflix card and The Bloodline standing tall in the ring.

Women’s Championship match booked for first WWE SmackDown of 2025

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The WWE Women’s Championship will be on the line on the first SmackDown of 2025.

As revealed during this week’s episode, WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax will defend her title against Naomi on the Friday, January 3 SmackDown.

Naomi was the challenger in Jax’s most recent televised defense as well on the November 15 SmackDown. Naomi, Bayley, and Bianca Belair scored a victory over Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae in a trios bout on Friday’s SmackDown.

A non-title match with future championship implications is also official for the January 3 SmackDown.

United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura will take on Andrade in a non-title tilt on next week’s episode, with Andrade positioned as a potential next title contender should he come away with a victory.

The Street Profits could also be in line for a WWE Tag Team title match next week after defeating Legado Del Fantasma’s Angel and Berto on this week’s SmackDown, with Michael Cole pushing on commentary that the Profits could be next in line, although that has yet to be made official.

The announced card for the Friday, January 3 WWE SmackDown:

  • WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax defends against Naomi
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Andrade

Wrestling Weekly: WWE & AEW year in review, Worlds End predictions

Posted on by Victor Sosa

Image: WWE

As the year draws to a close, Les Thatcher & I look back on 2024 in both WWE and AEW as well as our predictions for AEW’s Worlds End PPV this Saturday.

Thanks for listening and Happy New Year~!

Click here to listen (sub needed)

WWE SmackDown live results: Women’s Tag Team title match

Posted on by Colin McGuire

The WWE Women’s Tag Team titles will be on the line on WWE SmackDown tonight, taped last week in Hartford, Connecticut.

With Jade Cargill out due to an injury, Bianca Belair will now team with Naomi to defend the titles against reigning WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Naomi filling in for Cargill was approved last week by general manager Nick Aldis.

Johnny Gargano, one half of WWE Tag Team Champions #DIY, will go one-on-one with Alex Shelley, part of former champs the Motor City Machine Guns. It will be their first singles match since 2016.

The show is expected to feature the fallout from last weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event when undisputed WWE World Champion Cody Rhodes defeated Kevin Owens and then was taken out with a package piledriver after the broadcast ended.

The new Bloodline are also expected to make their presence felt tonight in addition to a surprise rematch from a recent SmackDown bout.

**********

– A video recap of Saturday Night’s Main Event opened the show.

– Bianca Belair and Naomi were shown walking backstage. Ditto for Nia Jax, Candice LeRae, Motor City Machine Guns and #DIY. Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline then made their entrance.

The Bloodline segment

I really like the Drew McIntyre wrinkle here. Between him and Kevin Owens, the modern day Paul Levesque heel is one that actually appears to be smarter than everyone around them and is simply sick and tired of being sick and tired. Who can’t relate to that? As such, it’s hard not to at least empathize with people like McIntyre and Owens, which isn’t historically what a heel should be … but hell: Welcome to the Triple H Era. Anyway, a strong verbal exchange to open the show. Sikoa has improved so much on the mic between when he started leading his version of the Bloodline and the current day.

Sikoa stood in the ring and told SmackDown to acknowledge him. Everyone booed and chanted “OTC!” Sikoa said Roman Reigns sat on his boat and challenged Sikoa to a Tribal Combat match and the crowd gave Sikoa the “What?” treatment. Sikoa stopped and said instead of saying “What?” they need to acknowledge him. The crowd went back to booing and chanting “OTC!” Sikoa proceeded to accept Reigns’s challenge for the Jan. 6 Raw on Netflix. Sikoa said he will walk out as the Tribal Chief and the Head Of The Table. Sikoa looked into the camera and told Reigns that after Jan. 6, Roman could hop back on his boat and head back to the island of irrelevancy.

Drew McIntyre’s music hit and McIntyre slowly walked out of the entranceway. McIntyre took his time getting into the ring. McIntyre grabbed a microphone and stared at Sikoa. Sikoa said he was really happy when McIntyre kicked Jimmy in the face last week. Sikoa then said Drew better have a damn good reason for why he’s interrupting him. McIntyre said he wanted to beat Sikoa within an inch of his life. McIntyre wondered if Sikoa ever wondered when Drew would come for him. McIntyre noted how Sikoa cost McIntyre the world title at Clash At The Castle and caused his family pain and misery.

However, McIntyre said that Sikoa was the only one in his family who had the balls to stand up to Roman Reigns. McIntyre wondered what he should do. McIntyre told Sikoa needs to take Roman Reigns out for good. After Sikoa does that, McIntyre said he and Sikoa could finish their business. Jimmy Uso appeared with a crutch and attacked McIntyre out of nowhere. Those two fought into the crowd and LA Knight’s music hit. Apollo Crews, Andrade and Knight ran to the ring and attacked Sikoa, Fatu and Tonga. The show then went to a commercial break.

The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga & Jacob Fatu) defeated LA Knight, Andrade & Apollo Crews [16:39 of TV time]

Goodness, gracious. A SNME video package and all Bloodline business took up the first 35 minutes of the episode. And I don’t even think we saw the full match as there was some questionable editing that popped up here. I wonder how this played with the (presumably) tired live crowd last week. Now for the real question: Is it time to wonder who LA Knight pissed off yet? The guy somehow gets over, stays over for at least a couple years, finally gets a title run, loses that title a few months later, and is now … teaming with Andrade and Apollo Crews to lose to Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline? That a bit suspect. Anyway, the match here kind of dragged (even with the editing), but it got the job done in terms of getting Sikoa a win before heading into his showdown with Reigns in a couple weeks on Raw. Fatu felt less dominant here, which was a tiny bit disappointing. Maybe an off night? Maybe a conscious booking decision? Here’s hoping for a bounce back soon.

The match was joined in progress and Crews was working over Tonga, complete with a press slam. Knight tagged in and hit a swinging beck-breaker on Tonga. Andrade tagged in and chopped Tonga. Crews then tagged back in and the two hit back elbows on Tonga for a two-count. Andrade tagged back in and kicked Tonga, but Tonga fought back a little until Andrade took Tonga down and Fatu ended up on the outside with Tonga. Crews tagged in and the two landed dual splashes on Fatu and Tonga. Knight went to the top rope and taunted Sikoa, who stayed away from the scene.

Back inside the ring, Crews attempted to keep the upper hand, but Tonga tagged in Fatu and Tafu took Crews out with a leaping elbow. The show then went to a commercial break. The show returned and Sikoa had control over Crews. Fatu tagged in and bodyslammed Crews. Fatu went for a running splash, but Crews got his knees up and and tagged in Andrade, who came in and took out Fatu. Andrade hit a Meteora on Fatu for a two-count. Andrade went to the top and landed the miss-then-not-miss a moonsault spot for a two-count.

Sikoa tagged in and Fatu fired up, lifting Andrade for a scary-looking spot as Sikoa helped Andrade over the top rope. At some point, Fatu tagged back in, but the program showed a replay of the scary spot, so nobody saw it. In any case, Fatu hit a pop-up Samoan Drop on Andrade inside the ring as the show went to another commercial break. The program returned and Fatu kept his dominance up over Andrade until Fatu went for a hip attack in a corner and Andrade moved. Ultimately, Andrade got the hot tag to Knight, who ran in and stomped on Tonga.

Knight clotheslined Fatu and hit a running knee on Tonga. Sikoa got involved, but Knight hit a neck-breaker on him. Crews tagged in and landed a splash from the top rope for a two-count on Tonga. Out of nowhere, Nakamura showed up and took Knight out while Crews worked a Crossface on Tonga. Sikoa broke that up and things broke down. Sikoa officially tagged in after dragging Tonga to their corner. Sikoa hit a hip attack, Spinning Solo and a Samoan Spike on Crews to get the win.

**********

– MCMG were interviewed backstage by Byron Saxton. Alex Shelley said he had one thought – payback. Chris Sabin chimed in and noted how Gargano showed them who he truly is. Shelley said he was going to make sure Gargano knows he made the biggest mistake of his life. Sabin looked like he was going to accompany Shelley to the ring, but Shelley told Sabin to hang back for the match.

– A video package chronicling Chelsea Green’s win on SNME aired. After that, Green was interviewed by Saxton after SNME on Saturday night. Green said she always knew she’d win and she’s worked her entire life to be an overnight success. Green said it was “red, white and green.” Saxton talked about the historical significance of the win. Green said she is in the history books, where she belongs. Green brought up being released be WWE and being passed up by WWE in the past. Green said she was going to go to Disney World to celebrate.

– Graves threw to a video package chronicling the Kevin Owens/Cody Rhodes developments from SNME.

– Owens was shown in a dark place somewhere in a building. He said what happened after SNME was not his fault. Owens said there were a lot of people to blame for it and he was screwed out of winning the championship. Owens said what happened to him was a tragedy and travesty. Owens said he should be standing there the Undisputed WWE Champion, but he’s not. Instead, he took Cody’s belt and he’s not going to give it back until he gets what he wants. Owens said he hasn’t snapped yet and it can all get a lot worse. Owens said nobody wants him to snap. Owens said what happens next is on WWE officials including Nick Aldis and Triple H.

– Gargano and Ciampa were talking backstage. Ciampa said it surprised him that Shelley is dumb because MCMG can’t win the tag titles back in a singles match. Gargano said Shelley wants his revenge and Ciampa needs to stay in the back for his match against Shelley. Ciampa told Gargano to “go get him” and said he wouldn’t move a muscle.

The Grayson Waller Effect with Braun Strowman

Close your eyes. Picture this segment. Whatever you see or whatever you think you’d see – that’s exactly what it was.

Waller welcomed everyone in and Theory made his presence known as well. Waller said his guest is the first transfer to Friday nights on SmackDown: Braun Strowman, who walked out dressed as Santa Claus. Stowman threw gifts into the crowd on his way to the ring. Once in the ring, Strowman faked going to give Waller a gift, but instead, he didn’t. Waller said Strowman helped “all the poor people in Hartford,” and Strowman responded in anger before sitting down.

Waller talked about how he invested a lot of money into his new talkshow set. Waller said he was surprised Strowman would come on the show, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense because he realized how much he’d want to be around A-Town Down Under. Strowman appeared agitated. Waller offered up the ultimate alliance – Strowman and A-Town Down. Strowman slammed his hand on the GWE desk and Carmelo Hayes’s music hit. Melo walked out with a microphone.

Melo said everyone knows his match against Strowman last week wasn’t fair. Melo said nobody can humble greatness and told Strowman he wanted to run it back “right here, right now.” Strowman said he’s show Melo what The Braun Effect is. Strowman threw some fake palm trees at Melo and a referee walked to the ring for a presumed match between Strowman and Melo – after a commercial break.

**********

Carmelo Hayes defeated Braun Strowman via count out [3:32]

Eh. I can’t say I’m a fan. Melo just can’t help but find himself in series of matches against people. At the very least, this will be a best of three with Strowman, but who knows – maybe they’ll get to best of seven and LA Knight will be the special guest referee for that seventh match. Back to this match. Strowman just came back. He was obviously protected here because a fluke count out loss is almost meaningless, but the whole thing just felt unnecessary and boring (in terms of booking, at least). Bah humbug.

Hayes started the match by kicking Strowman’s leg. Braun no-sold it. Hayes punched Strowman, but that just seemed to make Strowman angry. Hayes slid to the outside and Strowman chased Hayes around the ring. When the two got back into the ring, Melo cut Strowman off, but Strowman shoved Hayes off. Strowman threw Melo back into the ring, but Melo kicked Strowman’s leg again. Melo then jumped into an attempted chokeslam, but Melo countered by planting Strowman. Strowman got up and ran at Hayes, but Hayes pulled the top rope down and Strowman went to the outside.

Hayes ran around the ring, but Strowman took Melo down once Melo ran into Strowman. Melo leapt at Strowman, but Strowman caught Melo. Strowman threw Melo back into the ring, but nobody noticed the count was at nine. So, with Melo back in the ring, Strowman was on the outside as the referee counted to 10. So, Hayes got the win via count out. Hayes then ran through the crowd and Strowman chased Hayes.

**********

– Nia Jax and Candice LeRae were talking backstage and Tiffany Stratton walked into the frame. LeRae told Stratton to stay away from ringside during their tag match later. Stratton walked away looking dejected.

– Melo was shown walking backstage and ran into Legado Del Fantasma. Strowman showed up and asked Santos Escobar where Melo was. Angel pointed Strowman in a direction and Strowman ran into Pretty Deadly. Hayes then attacked Strowman with a chair and took Strowman out, but Strowman got up and kept walking with his mad face on.

Johnny Gargano defeated Alex Shelley [10:03 of TV time]

As I write this, we are about 20 minutes from this episode of SmackDown concluding and this has to be the most uninspired WWE television show of 2024, tape delay or not. My goodness. This match was weirdly uninteresting. Two very good wrestlers combining for a cold-as-ice bout that never clicked into any gear – not just the often-referenced “next gear,” but any gear at all. The whole thing was disappointing at best. The #DIY/MCMG thing just isn’t working and someone somewhere needs to figure out how to get both teams in a different direction.

Shelley backed Gargano into a corner and pounded on him until Gargano worked his way out and chopped Shelley. Gargano ran towards Shelley, but Shelley moved and gained control. It didn’t last for long because Gargano came right back and stomped on Shelley. The pace, early on at least, was slower than expected. With Gargano on the apron, Shelley hit a neck-breaker and then kicked Gargano in the head. Shelley followed that up with a running knee outside the ring. The show then went to a commercial break.

Back from the break, Gargano had control back inside the ring. Gargano went for a slingshot spear, but Shelley got his leg up and kicked Gargano. The two then traded chops. Shelley went for an arm bar, but Gargano countered into a roll-up for a two-count. Shelley planted Gargano and went back to work on Gargano’s arm. Shelley then chopped Gargano repeatedly. Gargano came back and kicked Shelley twice before running Shelley’s head into the second turnbuckle for a two-count.

Gargano went for a Gargano Escape, but Shelley got to his feet and before long, planted Gargano face-first into the second turnbuckle. Shelley went to the top, but Ciampa showed up and distracted Shelley. Sabin walked out and chased Ciampa away. In the meantime, Shelley hit a cross-body from the top, but Gargano rolled through and held Shelley’s tights to get the win.

**********

– Saxton interviewed Belair and Naomi guerrilla position. Naomi said she has Belair’s back forever and she said she knows how important the tag belts are to Belair and Cargill and she’d do everything in her power to make sure they win. Naomi then made her entrance for the main event.

Naomi & Bianca Belair defeated Nia Jax & Candice LeRae to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship [11:05]

I don’t know what was up with Jax appearing to be busted all types of open near the end of the match because right before the show ended, we saw Jax again and there was barely any blood to be found, but that looked nasty for a second. Either way, this was a pedestrian main event on a less-than-pedestrian SmackDown. I don’t mind taped shows, but this felt so much like everyone was mailing it in on the basis of the holidays that these two hours were a hard watch. I guess this means Naomi is officially a world tag team champion now, so it should be interesting to see what happens when Cargill rejoins the conversation. For now, this was a completely missable episode of SmackDown. Driving around to look at Christmas lights never felt more appealing.

Belair and LeRae began the match and Belair threw LeRae across the ring. Belair then lifted LeRae, but LeRae got out of it and tagged in Jax. Belair worked a headlock and then kicked Jax. Naomi tagged in and Naomi landed the split splash on Jax while Belair hit her moonsault on Jax. That was good enough for a two-count. Jax almost instantly got up and took Naomi out. From there, the show went to a commercial break.

The show returned and Belair had control until Jax tagged in and hit a Samoan Drop on Belair for a two-count. Jax went to work on Belair’s back. Belair ran at Jax, but Jax moved and Belair hit the ring post. Jax worked on Belair’s neck, but Belair fought out of it, but Jax kept Belair cut off from Naomi. LeRae tagged in and hit a missile dropkick on Belair before following that up with a Senton off Jax’s back. All of that earned LeRae a two-count.

Jax tagged back in and grabbed Belair’s braid. Belair somehow wiggled away from Jax and LeRae after there was some miscommunication amongst the heels and Naomi received the hot tag. Naomi hit an X-Factor on Jax for a two-count. Jax ran at Naomi, but Naomi moved and Jax hit the ring post. Naomi tried a split-legged moonsault, but Jax moved and set up for her finisher, but Naomi got up and hit a powerbomb on Jax, whose head was super busted open. Belair landed a 360 splash on Jax, but only got a two-count.

Stratton appeared and walked down to ringside. LeRae hit a Tornado DDT on Belair, but Naomi saved a pin attempt. Jax jawed at the referee, so the ref didn’t see the tag between Naomi and Belair. Jax grabbed the MITB briefcase from Stratton, but the ref stopped Jax from using it. Back in the ring, Naomi hit the split-legged moonsault on LeRae to get the win. After the match, Belair officially handed Naomi her tag title and the babyfaces posed in the middle of the ring. They then posed on the second rope with their belts as the show went off the air.

WWE Raw live results: Survivor Series go-home show

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: November 25, 2024
Location: Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ

**********

Show Recap — 

Joe Tessitore announced a sold-out crowd for Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. Bianca Belair and Naomi, Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton, Ludwig Kaiser, Bron Breakker, the War Raiders, and Judgment Day arrived at the arena. Tessitore said the other WarGames competitors would be banned from ringside for the Belair vs. Jax advantage match. 

Survivor Series on Saturday begins at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT.

Gunther and Damian Priest segment 

Jackie Redmond interviewed Gunther in the ring. Redmond aired a replay of Gunther’s failed blindside attack on Damian Priest last week. Redmond said it feels like we’ve seen a different side of Gunther since he lost to Cody Rhodes and she reiterated the points made by Priest. 

Gunther struggled to find the words and was interrupted by Priest before he could respond. Redmond was about to leave, but Priest asked her to hand her microphone to Gunther first. Priest wanted to see if Gunther had grown a set over the last week. 

Priest figured Gunther wanted us to believe that the old Gunther was back, but they both knew that wasn’t true. His killer vibe was gone. Gunther used to say whatever he wanted to anybody, and they wouldn’t dare make a move. 

Gunther had accomplished a lot in his career but Priest knew that his insecurities were because he had never had to face a problem like Priest. Priest wondered what would happen to the Ring General when he lost to a guy from the street. 

Gunther still struggled to find the words. He turned his back to leave but instead decked Priest with the mic. Gunther hammered away at him and cleared the announce table but Priest shoved him into the ring post and gave him a Razor’s Edge through the table. Priest posed with the belt and chucked it onto the fallen Gunther. 

********

Bianca Belair told Naomi that Jade Cargill was banged up and would be out for a while, but they would go after whoever did it once they figured it out. Naomi said they first needed to find a fifth member for WarGames. 

Iyo Sky showed up and suggested Kairi Sane. Belair liked Sane but wasn’t sure about adding more Damage CTRL. Naomi suggested Bayley, but Belair liked that even less. Naomi and Sky plead their cases until Rhea Ripley showed up. 

Ripley didn’t care who their partner was as long as they could hold their weight and stay out of her way (to go after Liv Morgan). Belair sarcastically applauded her leadership. Belair left and told them to figure it out. 

********

Tornado tag team match: Julius & Brutus Creed defeated Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee (10:45) 

LWO was on offence early, but when Dragon Lee went for a double foot stomp off the ropes onto Brutus, Julius leaped to the top rope and hit a superplex. Moments later, Rey went for a 619, but Julius clobbered him with a clothesline. After a break, Julius hit Rey with a 450, but Dragon Lee broke up the cover and hit a tornado DDT but Brutus broke up that cover. 

The Creeds setup Dragon Lee for a superplex, but Rey tripped them by hitting Julius with a 619. Lee followed with a double foot stomp on both guys. Rey hit Brutus with a diving splash but Julius blocked Lee’s dive and drove him into the side of the ring. Rey set up Julius for a 619, but Brutus got in his way. 

Rey tossed Brutus toward the referee, and Brutus accidentally on purpose distracted the ref. While the ref was distracted, Gable appeared on the apron and twisted Rey’s mask around so he couldn’t see. Julius put Rey in a schoolboy for the pinfall win.

(If you haven’t been watching, they’ve been leaning in on Brutus acting like a goof. He pointed and cackled at his opponents several times during this match and after they won. I suppose it’s telling that Julius got to hit most of the flashy offence and got to pin Rey.) 

*******

They aired the return of Paul Heyman and CM Punk on SmackDown and focused on how many views the video received. 

Cody Rhodes will be on Jimmy Fallon on November 28th. 

********

Judgment Day met in the back. Liv Morgan seemed worried about WarGames but Finn Bálor tried to cheer her up. R-Truth showed up to agree with Bálor. Truth was hiding from “Butch.” Bálor told him to get out. Truth was upset and said Thanksgiving was off. He left. 

Bálor was upset now. He told Morgan that her team needed to get the advantage, considering their opponents in WarGames. He was upset with Dom, too, but wanted to be positive. He was happy that Dom and Carlito softened up the War Raiders last week. They were good team players, and that teamwork would help him and JD McDonagh remain tag champs. Morgan and Rodriguez would win WarGames, and it would be a great week for Judgment Day. 

Bálor was about to say something about listening to him leading to success but McDonagh cut him off to say they were one big, happy family. Bálor agreed. (McDonagh likely cut him off because he could tell Bálor was about to say something the rest of Judgment Day wouldn’t like.) 

********* 

Non-title match: Ludgwig Kaiser defeated Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker via disqualification (8:56) 

Bron was looking good early, but when he went for a running spear around the ring, Kaiser dodged it, and Bron crashed into the corner of the announce table at one hundred miles an hour. After a break, the crowd chanted, “Let’s go, Bron,” and he came back with a Frankensteiner. He went for a spear, but Kaiser hit an enziguri. 

Kaiser left the ring and was attacked from behind by Sheamus for the DQ. Bron confronted Sheamus as officials ran down. They began taking swings at each other and Kaiser joined in as they went to break. 

— All three men continued to brawl after the break. A pissed-off Adam Pearce marched out to announce a triple threat match for the title at Survivor Series. 

(The crowd popped when he initially made the announcement because it seemed like the match would be tonight, but he mentioned Survivor Series at the end.) 

********

[SECOND HOUR] 

They aired a longer video recap of the Bloodline angle from Smackdown. 

Interview with Sami Zayn and The Usos 

Cathy Kelley interviewed Sami Zayn, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso in the back. Zayn admitted they were shocked at Heyman’s announcement of CM Punk. Zayn never imagined their partner would be Punk. 

He called Punk a complicated guy, and anyone who has known him has a complicated history with him, including Roman Reigns. Punk and Reigns would sit down and talk on Friday. Zayn wanted to trust Punk but wondered if he could. Jimmy was sure they could trust him because they trusted the Wise Man. 

Jey Uso cut a fiery promo saying he would whoop Jacob Fatu’s ass on Friday, and they would all go to war on Saturday. 

********

Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh defeated The War Raiders to retain the World Tag Team Championships (9:54) 

They went to break a minute into the match with the Raiders in control, but Judgment Day was in control anyway after the break. They targeted Erik’s previously injured neck, and McDonagh gave him a neckbreaker. Ivar eventually got the hot tag and he ran wild on McDonagh. They hit McDonagh with an assisted powerslam, but Bálor (barely) broke up the cover. 

Dom and Carlito ran out and leaped on the apron, but Erik and Ivar knocked them off. The referee watched this all transpire. The Raiders hit McDonagh with War Machine, but Dom put McDonagh’s foot on the rope for a rope break. The ref saw this, so he ejected Dom. 

Dom wouldn’t leave, so Erik knocked him and Carlito over with a tackle. With the ref distracted, Bálor knocked Ivar off the top and he fell onto the ropes. McDonagh cradled Ivar for the pinfall win. 

(This wasn’t much of a match and it was another tag match tonight that ended with the heels cheating to win on a ref distraction. The only other match so far tonight ended in a DQ.) 

******* 

The New Day’s 10th-anniversary celebration was announced for next week. Big E was all over the video but only Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were in the graphic. 

Woods and Kingston were in Gorilla. Woods wanted to squash whatever beef they had over the past few months. They said they loved each other, and Kingston was proud of everything they’ve accomplished. Woods said next week would be the greatest night of their career. Kingston was excited to show everyone what they were all about tonight. 

******** 

Vanessa Hudgens was shown at ringside. 

Otis & Akira Tozawa (w/Maxxine Dupri) defeated Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods (1:07) 

Despite seemingly making up early, New Day were on different pages as soon as the bell rang. They couldn’t agree on who started the match. Kingston started but Woods immediately tagged himself in. Otis nailed him with a back elbow and Tozawa hit him with a diving senton for the pinfall win. The crowd seemed surprised at the finish. 

(Before this, Otis’ last televised win was on NXT about a year ago. I believe this was his was his first win on Raw or Smackdown since July of 2023.) 

— Kingston and Woods argued all the way to the back. The camera followed them to the back, where they finally imploded.

Woods said Kingston was wrestling like garbage. Kingston said he’s been trying to help Woods for weeks. Woods took every opportunity and fumbled them. He fumbled his title shot and his crown. There was a reason he and Big E didn’t let Woods call the shots—because he was too reckless. 

Woods said Kingston was too gutless to take his shot and only did it when Woods joined them. Kingston became champion because of him.

Kingston said he was already a Hall of Famer before they ever met—that’s why Woods came to them, not the other way around. There was a reason Woods still hasn’t won a singles championship. Woods has never been a world champion because he wasn’t good enough. 

Woods said he was good enough to fight for Kingston and take beatings for him. The people believed in him, just like he did, and that led to KofiMania. They handed it to him, but he pissed it away in six seconds to Brock Lesnar. 

Kingston seemed ready to fight him if he were anyone else, but Woods knew he wouldn’t do it no matter who it was. Kingston said, “I’ll see you at the reunion, brother.” Woods responded, “See you at the anniversary.” Kingston left. 

(These guys were great here, and the crowd was into this.) 

********

The Miz frantically approached Final Testament and warned them that he saw the Wyatts. Karrion Kross wasn’t concerned after Miz said they didn’t see him. Kross was ready to play games with the Wyatts. Kross told Scarlett to stay in the back and out of danger. The rest of them left, and AOP dragged Miz with them. 

Scarlett looked in the mirror and saw Nikki Cross standing behind her. The camera suddenly cut away. 

After a break, Miz and Final Testament ran into Pete Dunne (after they couldn’t find the Wyatts). Dunne wondered if they saw Truth. Miz said no and invited Dunne to beat up Truth on his behalf. 

They went back to their locker room but found Scarlett on the floor. Scarlett was out of it and she attacked Kross, not realizing who he was at first. He consoled her as she told him it was Nikki Cross who attacked her. The camera panned out to show, “Everyone has something to lose,” written on the mirror in red lipstick. 

*******

Women’s Intercontinental Championship announcement 

They aired a clip taped earlier tonight (before Raw went on the air) of Pearce making an announcement. He introduced the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (a white strap with plates identical to the other version). A tournament will begin next week to crown a new champion. No names were announced. 

******** 

There was a Solo Sikoa video promo pushing Friday’s advantage match and Saturday’s WarGames.

********

Nia Jax met with Tiffany Stratton, Candice LeRae, Morgan, and Rodriguez. They were full of confidence with the other team down one member. Jax was ready to squash Belair. 

WarGames advantage match: Bianca Belair defeated Nia Jax (11:07) 

Jax took control ahead of an early break by chucking Belair into the barricade. Belair fought back but Jax avoided a standing moonsault and hit a leg drop for two. Jax followed with a diving leg drop off the middle rope for two. 

With Jax standing on the middle rope again, Belair press slammed her down and hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Jax responded with a Samoan drop and went to the middle rope for an Annihilator, but Belair brought her down with a German suplex. Jax ripped off the top turnbuckle cover in the process. 

Jax splashed Belair into the exposed turnbuckle and gave her a Samoan drop onto the announce table (which didn’t break). Jax saw that this wasn’t enough for a count-out, so she drove Belair into the steel steps. 

Jax posed on the middle rope, ready to celebrate, but Bayley ran out and tripped her. (The spot was supposed to be Jax falling face-first into the exposed turnbuckle, but that didn’t really happen.) Jax was down and Belair hit a 450 splash for the pinfall win. 

Belair and Bayley smiled at each other as the show ended.

WWE SmackDown live results: Two championship matches

Posted on by Colin McGuire

After picking up a series of high-profile wins in recent weeks, Naomi will get her shot at Nia Jax’s WWE Women’s Championship on tonight’s SmackDown from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Naomi defeated Jax on the October 11 edition of SmackDown and also picked up a win over Tiffany Stratton the week prior.

In other championship action, WWE Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) will defend their belts against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins). This will be the first time the two teams have ever faced each other.

Also slated for tonight is the beginning of the inaugural Women’s United States title tournament. First up will be a triple threat between Bayley, Candice LeRae, and B-Fab.

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes is slated to kick off the episode. He was last seen riding in an ambulance with Randy Orton last week after Kevin Owens landed a much-discussed piledriver on Orton.

**********

– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as footage of Nia Jax, Naomi, the Motor City Machine Guns and the Street Profits entering the building from earlier in the day aired. The show went to the ring, where Cody’s music hit.

The Cody Rhodes segment

Cody showed good fire here and it was nice to see Aldis get some significant live television time in front of the crowd. Because Code-Man (I still can’t believe Cody referenced Orton calling him Code-Man out loud here) appeared in fighting clothes, I sort of thought we’d either get a match or a brawl of some sort, but maybe he’s already on his way to Georgia for College Gameday by the time these words even hit the internet. Either way, it was good logic for why he’s so fired up about Owens doing what he did to Orton and I still commend everyone involved, including the company, for selling the piledriver’s danger as a move. This wasn’t special, but it moved the story forward and sometimes, that’s all you need.

Cody made his entrance not in a suit, and instead in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Cody looked angry and focused as footage from last week’s piledriver angle was shown. Cody said, “Kevin Owens, you have crossed quite the line,” and then called for Owens to come to the ring. Nothing happened, so Cody yelled for Owens to appear. Nick Aldis, instead, walked to the ring with a microphone. Aldis said he knew Cody was angry and Aldis noted how Orton has severe cervical trauma.

Aldis explained how and why the piledriver has been banned in WWE for so many years. Aldis said Owens crossed a line last week and until things are figured out, Aldis cannot have Owens at the shows. Cody said Aldis was giving Owens what he wanted and instead, Aldis should let Cody handle things. Cody kept going on and Aldis stopped Cody from talking. Aldis asked Cody if he thought it was about money because he knew it wasn’t about money. Aldis said if he gives the roster an inch, they take a mile. Aldis said Owens cannot be at the shows until the situation is resolved internally.

Cody questioned “internally?” Cody asked Aldis to “be real,” and said he knows Aldis is a wrestler and a good man. Cody asked Aldis if he was the one in the ambulance with Orton and how Aldis would react. Cody referenced his celebration at WrestleMania 40 and how Orton told Cody he was proud of him and it was a moment he’d cherish forever. Cody noted how it bothers him Owens is saying Orton’s injury is because of Cody, so Cody said if he can’t handle his business in a WWE ring, he wondered what Aldis expected Cody to do. Cody told Aldis the ball is in Aldis’s court and Cody won’t be waiting long. Cody dropped the mic and Cody’s music hit to end the segment.

**********

– Backstage, Jimmy Uso was walking and ran into Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. Jimmy said Roman Reigns was on the way and he wants everyone to meet in the same room together later. Zayn said there was someone he could ask when it came to who the fifth member of their team could be at War Games. Zayn told the Usos he’d catch them later.

Bayley defeated Candice LeRae & B-Fab to advance in the Women’s United States Championship tournament [9:54]

This was clearly designed to get B-Fab over as a wrestler – as opposed to her usual gig as a manager – and it mostly worked. B-Fab, for her part, did a great job showing up when she was called upon and LeRae and Bayley seemed more than happy to give her the spotlight as much as they could. As such, good work all around. I had my guard up for a LeRae upset because she seems to be getting a mini-push, but there’s only one first women’s U.S. champion, so Bayley going far in this tournament – and potentially winning it – would make sense if that’s what the creative minds choose to do. On the way, though, both Bayley and LeRae were able to elevate B-Fab, and that was a good thing.

LeRae dropkicked Bayley’s knee and that took Bayley outside. B-Fab then slammed and clotheslined LeRae for a two-count. B-Fab kicked LeRae and Bayley got back into the mix. B-Fab then double-clotheslined Bayley and LeRae right before the show went to a commercial break. The show returned and Bayley was working over B-Fab, complete with an elbow to the back of B-Fab’s neck from the second rope. That was good enough to get Bayley a two-count, but LeRae broke up the pin attempt.

The women traded blows as they fought on their knees. B-Fab and Bayley teamed up on LeRae until LeRae clotheslined the babyfaces and the match reset. LeRae went to the top and B-Fab cut her off. LeRae fought B-Fab off, but Bayley was able to get the upper hand on LeRae. B-Fab got up and involved and the sequence ended with LeRae hitting a cross-body on Bayley for a two-count. B-Fab slammed LeRae for a two-count and Bayley returned to the mix, where she ran into an inverted neck-breaker from B-Fab, which earned B-Fab a two-count.

Bayley came back with a Bayley-To-Belly on B-Fab, but LeRae reappeared and almost stole a win. LeRae went for a moonsault, but B-Fab moved. Before long, B-Fab slammed Bayley and kicked LeRae to the outside. B-Fab went for another kick on Bayley, but Bayley rolled B-Fab up and got the win.

**********

– Sami Zayn was shown talking to LA Knight backstage, but we couldn’t hear what they were saying. Knight then walked to the ring for his U.S. title open challenge.

– Footage of The Rock on The Tonight Show from earlier this week aired. Turns out, The Rock is GW’s Entertainer Of The Year.

– B-Fab was shown backstage and Chelsea Green and Piper Niven walked up to her. Green said when her and Niven because the first-ever U.S. women’s champion, maybe they’d let B-Fab hold it someday. B-Fab said the two of them couldn’t hold the title at the same time and Michin walked into the frame with a kendo stick. Green and Niven left quickly.

– LA Knight made his entrance and had a microphone. The crowd cheered “LA Knight!” Knight said “Let me talk to ya!” and the crowd loved it. Knight said everyone is looking for his U.S. title. Knight said Zayn asked him to join the Bloodline Civil War. Knight said it wasn’t his fight and he doesn’t need it or want it. Knight said if the Bloodline just destroyed each other, he’d be fine with that. Knight said he wasn’t going to defend his belt two times a year like Logan Paul did, and instead called to action the U.S. Championship open challenge. Santos Escobar walked out flanked by the rest of Legado Del Fantasma.

Escobar grabbed a microphone and asked Knight why he couldn’t say something cool and interesting. Escobar told the crowd it sounded like they were from a different planet. Escobar said it should be, “Es. Co. Bar. Si!” Escobar said it’s time for someone to shut Knight up. Escobar since Elektra Lopez is going to bring the women’s U.S. title to LDF, Escobar wants to do the same for the men. Knight said he already beat Escobar, so he could give Berto a shot. Berto attacked Knight and the show went to break, so it looks like we’ll join the match in progress soon.

LA Knight defeated Berto to retain the United States Championship [4:00 of TV time]

The match was fine for what it was, but, man I liked the post-match stuff with a retooled Nakamura. That was great. First, it’s good to see him back, and second, it’s even better to see him with a new, more ominous coat of paint. I’m very, very interested to see how Knight and Nakamura work together moving forward. Here I was, wondering if Knight was going to keep spinning his wheels as a champion with no real challengers, but Nakamura changed that instantly. Good stuff.

The show returned and Berto had control over Knight. Knight went for his leap-to-the-top rope spot and in a rare turn of events, hit it. The development didn’t matter, though, because Berto pushed Knight off the top and eventually worked an abdominal stretch. Knight fought his way out of it and clotheslined Berto over the top and to the floor. Knight repeatedly slammed Berto off the commentary table. Knight rolled Berto back into the ring and landed a DDT for a two-count.

Berto came back with a roll-up and a kick and dragged Knight to a corner. Berto went for a moonsault, but Knight got a leg up. Knight followed up with a pop-up slammed, but Berto moved when Knight went for an elbow. Berto perched Knight on the top rope and set up for a super-plex, but Knight fought Berto off and landed the top rope elbow drop. Knight hit the BFT after that and got the win.

After the match, Nakamura appeared out of nowhere, wearing facepaint and looking kind of cooler than he’s looked in a long time in WWE. Nakamura laid Knight out and walked away.

**********

– The Usos were talking backstage and Zayn approached them saying it wasn’t looking good for finding a partner. The three then walked into Roman Reigns’s dressing room and the show went to a break.

– A video hyping the Royal Rumble in Indianapolis aired.

– The Usos and Zayn were standing in Reigns’s locker room and Reigns finally walked in. Zayn said they had been to Raw and SmackDown and there is nobody who wants to work with the Bloodline. Jey asked Roman if he “made that call.” Solo Sikoa’s music hit and Sikoa and his Bloodline made their entrance ringside. Roman stood up and left his dressing room. Zayn and the Usos followed him.

The Bloodline segment

I’m still not a fan of Seth Rollins being the fifth man for Roman’s team – there’s just too much history to ignore for this viewer and to shoehorn Rollins in based solely on the idea that he hates Bronson Reed with the passion of a thousand red hot suns doesn’t do it for me for more reasons than I have the space to type tonight. Still, this was a good brawl segment and a good beatdown from the heels. WWE has done good by Reed since he came back over from New Japan and this furthered that winning streak. Michael Cole sounded like he wondered if this meant Reed would join Solo’s Bloodline for good after all this resolves itself at War Games, but that won’t be the case … right?

Solo told Milwaukee to acknowledge him. The crowd booed heavily. Roman’s music hit instantly and Reigns walked out with Jimmy, Jey and Sami. The teams stared each other down as Roman’s group hopped onto the apron. The teams brawled and Jey hit a dive onto most of Solo’s Bloodline. Fatu took back control for the heels and Sikoa set up for a Samoan Spike on Zayn, but Roman speared Sikoa. Zayn then landed a dive onto everyone except Fatu. Alone in the ring were Fatu and Roman and boy, the crowd was there for it.

Fatu distracted Roman and Bronson Reed showed up to take down Roman. Reed and Fatu stared at each other and Reed landed a splash on Roman. Fatu followed that up with a hip attack on Roman. Jey, Jimmy and Zayn tried to fight back against Reed and Fatu, but the heels were too much. Fatu landed a moonsault on Zayn and Reed hit a Tsunami on Jimmy. Roman, on the outside of the ring, took out Tonga Loa. Reigns hit a series of Superman Punches on everyone … until Sikoa hit a Samoan Spike on Reigns … and Fatu followed that up with a moonsault … and Reed followed that up with a Tsunami. Finally, WWE officials ran out to break things up. The heels stood tall to end the segment.

**********
– Kevin Owens posted a video on social media and Michael Cole threw to it. Owens said he got to the arena, but he was turned away for what he did to Orton last week. Owens said it was messed up because all he did was show up when Orton told him to show up. Owens said he got a call from Aldis asking Owens to be at next week’s SmackDown in Salt Lake City. Owens said he shouldn’t show up, but he will and he will do so for himself. Owens said when he shows up, he will just be doing his job.

Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) via DQ [7:58]

Lots of (misguided?) male aggression in the SmackDown tag team division these days. The Profits are pissed. Ciampa is looking to murder people. The Machine Guns, meanwhile, are simply just the peaceful new guys. They didn’t ask for any of this. Anyway, I’m not a fan of these types of finishes, but I actually prefer this over the Profits taking another loss. Both teams looked good and I like the chippiness of Montez Ford these days. MCMG continue to struggle to elicit a meaningful response from the live crowds and that’s concerning, but maybe a program like this, where everyone around them is just angry as hell (and aren’t going to take it anymore), can help get the champs some reactionary momentum.

Ford and Sabin started the match. Ford looked series and worked kind of/sort of like a heel. Sabin hit a pair of arm-drags and Shelley tagged in. The two hit a series of double-team moves, but they were good enough for only a couple one-counts. Ford fired up and hit a strong clothesline. Shelley rolled to the outside and Dawkins shoulder-blocked Shelley over the commentary table as the show went to a commercial break.

The show returned and Shelley continued to receive punishment. Quickly, Sabin received the hot tag, however, and Sabin took out both Profits. The action spilled outside and MCMG tried their damndest to get the crowd fired up. Back inside the ring, Shelley planted Ford after Sabin dropkicked Ford in the back of the head. Sabin tagged in, but before long, the Profits regained control and set up for their finisher. With Ford on the top rope, Ciampa showed up and attacked the Profits. Gargano showed up late and tried to pull Ciampa away from everyone. Ciampa then shoved Gargano to the ground and left the ring.

After all the commotion, MCMG tried to shake hands with the Profits and Dawkins leveled Shelley. The Profits angrily left the ring to end things.

**********

– Naomi was shown in the back and Bayley showed up. Naomi congratulated Bayley on her win earlier in the night. Bayley told Naomi she can’t trust IYO SKY and Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair walked in. Bianca is still unhappy with Bayley after all these months and she made it a point to remind everyone of that. Cargill told Naomi that if anyone interferes, Cargill and Belair have Naomi’s back.

– Next week, Bianca Belair, Chelsea Green and Blair Davenport will wrestle as part of the women’s U.S. title tournament. Plus, Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes will go face-to-face.

Nia Jax defeated Naomi to retain the WWE Women’s Championship [12:08]

This was very good – especially the last five minutes. It was one of those cases where you start the match knowing there is no chance of a title change and by the time you get to the end, you are convinced the title should have changed hands a couple times over. Those women worked super hard to get it there and boy, did it pay off. Whatever it was Naomi pulled off as a counter from the top near the end of the match was quite the visual. Even better, Naomi was kind of/sort of protected in the loss and they could run this back, no problem. The end of the show with Roman calling the Wise Man was a lot of fun. Here’s hoping we see Heyman soon. His presence in the Bloodline saga has been noticeably missed since Roman came back. This was a strong final 20 minutes of the program, so if you only have 20 minutes to spare, use the fast-forward button accordingly.

Jax had control early and sort of just toyed with Naomi, swinging her around and landing a splash in a corner. Jax went for an elbow, but Naomi moved and followed that up with a kick to the head. Naomi then hit her split leg drop. Jax clotheslined Naomi and threw Naomi to the outside. Naomi executed a sunset flip, but Jax came right back with a clothesline and a one-coun. Jax worked a chin-lock. Jax missed a strike and Naomi briefly tried to come back, but Naomi ran into an elbow from Jax, who then pounded Naomi’s head into the mat. Jax, in a wild move, lifted Naomi and hit what appeared to be a very stiff headbutt. Naomi popped up and got Jax to the outside, where Naomi hit a suicide dive. The show then went to its final commercial break of the night.

The show returned and Jax took down Naomi for a two-count. Jax landed a headbutt to Naomi’s back. Jax then worked a single-leg crab. Jax went for a powerbomb, but Naomi kind of turned it into a Destroyer for a two-count. Naomi then kicked Jax in the head and hit a cross-body from the second rope. Naomi followed that up with an enziguri. Naomi hit the Rear View out of nowhere, but it resulted on only a near-fall. Naomi ran at Jax, but that meant she ran into a pop-up Samoan Drop from Jax.

Jax set Naomi up for her finisher, but Naomi stood up and dumped Jax to the floor. Naomi then hit a cross-body block on Jax on the outside. Backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez were shown attacking Cargill and Belair. Back in the ring, Tiffany Stratton attacked Naomi while the referee was checking on Jax. Jax went to the second rope, but Naomi cut Jax off. It didn’t matter because Jax went for a body-slam from the top, but Naomi countered it into … something … and that earned her a near-fall.

Bayley ran out and attacked Stratton and Naomi rolled up Jax for a good near-fall. Naomi ran Jax into a ring post and hit a split-legged moonsault on Jax for a very good near-fall. Naomi went to the top and Candice LeRae attacked Bayley at ringside. As a result, Jax hit a Samoan Drop from the top and followed that up with her finisher for the win.

After the match, Stratton, LeRae and Jax stood tall in the ring. The show cut to Reigns in his dressing room. Reigns had his cellphone and said “Call … the wise man.” A response said “the number you have reached is not in service; this is a recording.” Roman dropped his phone as a dial tone rang and Roman looked all types of upset as the show went off air.





WWE Crown Jewel 2024 poster revealed, top matches advertised

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The top matches for WWE Crown Jewel 2024 are already being advertised.

WWE makes its return to Saudi Arabia with Crown Jewel being held in Riyadh on Saturday, November 2. On social media today, Saudi official Turki Alalshikh shared the PLE poster — which is promoting that Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther and Nia Jax vs. Liv Morgan will take place.

These matches will determine WWE’s first-ever Crown Jewel Champions. At Bad Blood over the weekend, Paul “Triple H” Levesque unveiled the Crown Jewel title belt and announced that, in a new annual tradition, the WWE Champion and World Champion in the men’s and women’s divisions will face off in singles matches at Crown Jewel. Though their belts will not be on the line, the winners will be recognized as the Crown Jewel Champions for that year.

Before Crown Jewel, Gunther has a World Heavyweight Championship defense against Sami Zayn on Raw tonight (October 7).

WWE Women’s Champion Jax and Women’s World Champion Morgan retained their titles at Bad Blood with respective victories over Bayley and Rhea Ripley.

Rhodes did not defend his Undisputed WWE Championship at Bad Blood. Instead, he teamed with Roman Reigns to defeat Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu. The Rock then made his return to WWE at the end of the show.

Nia Jax vs. Bayley Women’s title match set for WWE Bad Blood

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Bayley is heading to Bad Blood.

The former Women’s Champion has a chance to reclaim the title from Nia Jax at Bad Blood on October 5 in Atlanta. She defeated Naomi to become the new number one contender, connecting with the elbow off the top rope for the win. After the match, Bayley attempted to shake Naomi’s hand but Naomi instead left the ring, appearing upset with the loss.

Two weeks ago Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton challenged Naomi and Bayley to a match where if they pinned her or Stratton, they would get a title match at Bad Blood. But if Jax or Stratton pinned either of them, whoever lost would have to leave SmackDown. Naomi and Bayley ended up both getting the pin on last week’s SmackDown, leading to a disputed finish. The number one contender’s match was then set for this week’s show.

Towards the end of SmackDown, it was also announced that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill would be hosting next month’s premium live event.

Here is the updated lineup for Bad Blood:

WWE Bad Blood 2024 (Saturday, October 5) —

  • Hell in a Cell match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu
  • Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against Rhea Ripley
  • WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax defends against Bayley
  • Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
  • Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill to host

WWE adds tornado stipulation to SmackDown tag match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has added another stipulation to Bayley & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton on tonight’s SmackDown.

The stakes of the match are — if the babyface team wins — whoever scores the pinfall or submission will challenge Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship at Bad Blood. If the heels win, the member of the babyface team that loses the fall will have to leave SmackDown forever.

In addition to those stipulations, WWE has now announced that Bayley & Naomi vs. Jax & Stratton will be a tornado tag match. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis explained that, with this stipulation, the match is more fair because neither Bayley nor Naomi can refuse to tag out or refuse to tag in.

With Stratton’s help, Jax won the WWE Women’s Championship from Bayley at SummerSlam. Stratton currently holds the women’s Money in the Bank briefcase.

Bad Blood is taking place from Atlanta on Saturday, October 5.

Here’s the updated SmackDown lineup for tonight:

WWE SmackDown (Friday, September 20) —

  • United States Champion LA Knight defends against Andrade
  • Tornado tag match: Bayley & Naomi vs. Nia Jax & Tiffany Stratton (If Bayley & Naomi win, whoever scores the fall will challenge Jax for the WWE Women’s Championship at Bad Blood. If Bayley & Naomi lose, whoever loses the fall must leave SmackDown forever)
  • Footage of Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns Georgia Tech angle will air
  • Apollo Crews vs. Giovanni Vinci