Two non-title matches involving tag team champions are set for Monday’s episode of Raw.
WWE has announced that Raw Tag Team Champions The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) will face The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander) in a non-title match on Monday’s Raw. Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will also face Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke in non-title action on the show.
The Hurt Business confronted The New Day in a backstage segment on Raw this week and said they have their sights set on The New Day’s Raw Tag Team titles.
Baszler, Jax, Rose, Brooke, and Lana are the wrestlers who will be on Team Raw for their five-on-five elimination match against Team SmackDown at Survivor Series. Bianca Belair is the first wrestler to qualify for Team SmackDown.
Rose & Brooke began teaming together last month after both were moved to Raw. They argued with Baszler & Jax on Raw this week after Baszler & Jax claimed to be the leaders of Team Raw.
Jeff Hardy vs. Elias in a Guitar on a Pole match has also been announced for Monday’s Raw.
The Raw team for the women’s Survivor Series elimination match has been set.
WWE officials Pat Buck and Adam Pearce announced on tonight’s Raw that WWE Women’s Tag Team champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler and the team of Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose would be part of the women’s Survivor Series elimination match. They then announced a fatal four way match would determine the final participant.
The match involved Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, and Peyton Royce. The finish had Royce taking out both Evans and Cross with a German suplex off the turnbuckle, but Lana pulled Royce out of the ring and pinned Cross to win the match, making her the fifth and final member of the team.
After the match, Lana went to celebrate with her new teammates. She hugged Nia Jax, but Jax held on and put her through the Raw announce table for the sixth time in as many weeks.
The Women’s Tag Team title match that was originally scheduled for Clash of Champions has been rebooked for tonight’s episode of Raw.
WWE has announced that Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will defend their titles against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan on Raw tonight. The match was supposed to take place at Clash of Champions on September 27 but was pulled from the card. WWE announced that Baszler & Jax weren’t cleared to compete.
Dave Meltzer reported last week that Baszler & Jax did not test positive for COVID-19 but both were in contact with someone who did test positive.
Jax tweeted last night that she and Baszler would be returning on Raw: “Guess who is going to be on #RAW tomorrow night, kicking some ASH, retaining some titles, with a fresh weave and looking DAMN GOOD! I’ll give you a hint…NOT my tag partner. I mean, she will be there, but she won’t have a fresh weave.”
Baszler & Jax became the Women’s Tag Team Champions by defeating Bayley & Sasha Banks at Payback this August. Riott & Morgan were set up as their Clash of Champions challengers by defeating Peyton Royce & Billie Kay in a number one contender’s match.
Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke defeated Natalya & Lana on Raw last week and did an interview later in the show saying they’re coming for the Women’s Tag Team titles after Riott & Morgan get their title shot.
A six-man tag match with Drew McIntyre & The Street Profits facing Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode has also been announced for tonight’s Raw. Plus, WWE is hyping that Kevin Owens has invited Bray Wyatt to Raw tonight to appear on a KO Show segment. Owens will face The Fiend on SmackDown this Friday.
Prior to tonight’s Raw, WWE gave an update on the situation with the Women’s Tag Team titles.
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax were supposed to defend their titles against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan at Sunday’s Clash of Champions pay-per-view, but that match didn’t happen due to Baszler & Jax being pulled from the show. WWE posted a video tonight with Kayla Braxton announcing that Baszler & Jax will still defend their titles against Riott & Morgan once they’re cleared to do so.
Dave Meltzer reported that Baszler & Jax did not test positive for COVID-19 but both were in contact with someone who did test positive so they will not be used for 14 days as long as they test negative.
On Twitter today, Jax responded to someone who asked if she’s okay: “Girl….I could not be better I apologize that the announcement scared some, but all is great and healthy on my end & my tag partner’s end as well (not that I speak for her, but I kind of just did).”
Baszler & Jax won the Women’s Tag Team titles by defeating Bayley & Sasha Banks at Payback last month. Riott & Morgan then became the number one contenders to the titles by defeating Peyton Royce & Billie Kay.
On the Clash of Champions pre-show, WWE announced how they’re handling the situation with two scheduled matches being off tonight’s card.
WWE announced on the pre-show that Nikki Cross, Shayna Baszler, and Nia Jax aren’t medically cleared to compete at Clash of Champions. Bayley was scheduled to defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross at tonight’s pay-per-view. Baszler & Jax were supposed to defend their Women’s Tag Team titles against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan.
It was said that Bayley is in the building and will still appear at Clash of Champions. WWE.com wrote that Bayley will “address the SmackDown Women’s Championship situation tonight on WWE Clash of Champions with her opponent unable to compete.”
WWE also noted that the situation surrounding the Women’s Tag Team titles will be addressed on tomorrow night’s episode of Raw.
Asuka’s Raw Women’s Championship defense against Zelina Vega was originally supposed to be tonight’s pre-show match, but that’s been moved to the main card. Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. The Lucha House Party for the SmackDown Tag Team titles is now taking place on the pre-show.
Sasha Banks & Bayley are getting a shot to regain the Women’s Tag Team titles.
WWE has announced that new Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will defend their titles against Banks & Bayley on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown. It’s a rematch from Payback, where Baszler & Jax defeated Banks & Bayley to win the Women’s Tag Team titles this past Sunday.
WWE.com wrote about Friday’s title match:
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax coexisted long enough to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Can they keep clicking and prevent Bayley & Sasha Banks from snatching them back?
Since SummerSlam, ‘The Golden Role Models’ have had their wealth of gold dissolve before their eyes. The Boss lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Asuka at The Biggest Event of the Summer, and then the two friends lost the Women’s Tag Team Titles to The Queen of Spades & The Irresistible Force at WWE Payback. Bayley & Banks were in disarray after the latest loss, as questions swirl about the strength of their bond.
Can Baszler & Jax protect their newly earned titles and drive a wedge into the friendship of Bayley & Banks?
Tune in to Friday Night SmackDown at 8/7 C on FOX to see the championship rematch.
The finish of Baszler & Jax vs. Banks & Bayley at Payback was Baszler using Banks’ arm to help submit Bayley with the Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler had Bayley in the Kirifuda Clutch and Banks’ legs tied up in a submission at the same time. When Banks reached to break up the Kirifuda Clutch, Baszler grabbed her arm and used it to apply more pressure on Bayley.
New Universal Champion Roman Reigns will appear with Paul Heyman on this Friday’s SmackDown. Reigns will address his title win from Payback and his alliance with Heyman. Big E, Matt Riddle, Baron Corbin, and Sheamus will also face off in a four-way match on the episode to decide Reigns’ challenger for Clash of Champions. That pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, September 27.
Sasha Banks & Bayley are no longer the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defeated Banks & Bayley at Payback tonight to win the Women’s Tag Team titles. The finish of the match was Baszler submitting Bayley with the Kirifuda Clutch while using Banks’ arm to help with the move.
Leading into the finish, Baszler tagged herself in when Jax was sent into the ropes. She went to apply a Muta Lock on Banks. When Bayley tried to stop her, Baszler put Bayley in the Kirifuda Clutch while still having Banks’ legs tied up. Baszler dropped to the mat and Banks reached to try and break up the Kirifuda Clutch, but Baszler grabbed her arm and used it to apply more pressure on Bayley.
During her post-match interview with the new champions, Charly Caruso said Baszler & Jax might not like each other personally but killed it as a team. Jax celebrated and told Caruso to shut up. Baszler admitted they weren’t best friends but said it was time to celebrate.
Banks also lost the Raw Women’s Championship to Asuka at SummerSlam last week. The story was that Banks helped Bayley retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Asuka earlier in the night but Bayley wasn’t willing to make the same sacrifice later.
Baszler & Jax are the fifth team to hold the Women’s Tag Team titles since they were introduced last year. Banks & Bayley, The IIconics, Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross, and Asuka & Kairi Sane are the previous champions. Banks & Bayley and Bliss & Cross have had two reigns with the titles.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team title match for Payback has been set.
Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax, despite attacking one another recently, will team up to take on the champions, Bayley and Sasha Banks.
Jax returned tonight after being suspended for several weeks due to attacking WWE official Pat Buck. In an interview with Sarah Schrieber, Jax said she apologized, and thus was reinstated. Baszler walked up to her as the two traded insults to one another.
During Baszler’s match against Bayley, Jax came out and interfered, resulting in a DQ. The two started to attack one another until they noticed Bayley and Sasha Banks cheering them on. They turned their attention to the champions, who then bolted.
Later, Jax said she wasn’t thrilled with teaming with Baszler, but wanted the Tag Team titles. Baszler said she would team with her if she would leave her alone. Jax shoved Baszler, then Baszler slapped Jax and walked away.
Both Shayna Baszler and Riddick Moss continued her Main Event winning ways in a fairly missable episode of Main Event.
Show Recap:
Riddick Moss pinned Titus O’Neil (5:03)
This was just the third match of 2020 for O’Neil and his second Main Event appearance in the last month as he beat Akira Tozawa in early-July.
O’Neil dominated early, beating up Moss on both the inside and the outside of the ring. Moss hurt O’Neil’s left arm and shoulder, wrenching it over the top rope to gain control and working over it with holds that really…slowed..down…the…pace.
After a brief hope spot, Moss hit his neckbreaker for the pin to remain undefeated in traditional singles action since his arrival on the WWE main roster scene. This was essentially a house show match without a crowd to really care.
Shayna Baszler submitted Ruby Riott (6:38)
Baszler was in control early, but Riott got the former NXT Champion’s ire up by matching her trip for trip. This was fairly 50/50 for most of the match with Baszler ensnaring Riott in various locks and holds (ankle lock, neck crank) and Riott taking advantage of a miss to hit a kick before the cycle repeated itself.
Riott made a solid accounting of herself, taking a nasty sliding shining wizard and inviting Baszler to lay in more kicks before reversing a gutwrench into a rollup for a near fall. Baszler called it quits with a sequence of a modified cutter, a knee strike, and a kirifuda clutch for the submission.
The win extends Baszler’s unbeaten streak to five (2-0 on Main Event) while Riott has won just two singles matches since February 2019.
Your recaps of the week:
Firefly Funhouse, the Sheamus/Jeff Hardy bar fight, Sasha Banks’ Raw title win over Asuka, and the Drew McIntyre/Dolph Ziggler Raw match with the Randy Orton sneak attack afterward
Final Thoughts:
I must admit I’m not a regular Main Event watcher, but this show is essentially a Raw/SmackDown recap with two random short matches thrown in to justify it existing. The Baszler-Riott match was fine and we’ll see if the Moss winning streak leads to anything down the line.
Shayna Baszler squashed Jessi Kamea in a match that marked both of their Main Event debuts while Riddick Moss grabbed a win in a good match against Humberto Carrillo.
**********
Shayna Baszler defeated Jessi Kamea (5:09)
Over the last few months, Main Event has been a platform for NXT talent to try out against main roster talent, making for a superior show that has been infinitely more watchable. Kamea was the latest such debutant this week, facing off against Baszler whose very presence on this show will certainly raise a few eyebrows.
Kamea was a college volleyball player at Concordia University in Texas and joined the NXT roster back in 2017. She is tall, lean, and strong and at 31, it’s time for her to get a chance to prove herself at the top level.
However, as far as debuts go, this wasn’t much of one. Baszler worked over her left arm for the whole match and Kamea didn’t really get a chance to shine or show off what she could do.
But, this was Baszler’s Main Event debut as well and was there to make her look strong and dominant. After lots of mat work, she hit Kamea with a modified cutter and a knee strike before locking in the Kirifuda Clutch to claim an easy submission victory.
Riddick Moss defeated Humberto Carrillo (6:21)
It has been a few months since Moss appeared on Main Event. In February and through March, he had a 24/7 Championship run before he relinquished the title to R-Truth. He was last seen on this show defeating Cedric Alexander back in January.
Carrillo has been nothing short of impressive since he joined the main roster a year ago. A natural in the ring and with time on his side and if used right, he has a big future.
Moss has real tone and strength in his upper body and carries himself like a big man, but can be explosive and quick too. He and Carrillo were near perfect opponents for each other, having only really worked together a handful of times over the last couple of years.
After Carrillo came off the top rope with a moonsault where Moss got his legs up, Moss absolutely annihilated him with a charge to the corner and hit him with a cool looking, modified neckbreaker for his first win since March.
Final Thoughts:
This was an intriguing show, but not a great one. Never say never, but Baszler surely won’t be a Main Event regular. Kamea would benefit from working with the likes of Natalya as having her as fodder for Baszler doesn’t do anyone much good. Given more time, Moss and Carrillo could work a decent program together.
This week’s episode of Raw saw two wrestlers return to the show.
Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair both made their returns to Raw tonight. It’s the first time Baszler has been on Raw since May and the first time Belair has wrestled on the show since April.
Belair had made several appearances on Main Event since the last time she was on Raw.
Baszler appeared on tonight’s Raw as a 24/7 Championship match between R-Truth and Akira Tozawa was about to get started. She laid out three of Tozawa’s ninjas before Tozawa and Truth both bailed. Baszler then cut a promo where she said she’s been patient but is done allowing everyone else to have their fun.
Baszler said these weak-minded women’s champions have been fooling themselves under the delusion that they’re in control and that the limbs and terror left in Baszler’s wake are nothing but a distant memory. Baszler warned that she’s here to shatter that delusion by hitting them with a dose of reality.
Belair teamed with Ruby Riott to defeat The IIconics on tonight’s show. There was a backstage segment where The IIconics accused Riott of having no friends and said their match would be a handicap match. Riott then introduced them to Belair, who called herself the strongest, the toughest, the roughest, the quickest, and the smartest and said she would be the greatest tag team partner for Riott tonight.
Belair pinned Kay to win the tag match after hitting the KOD.
Due to distractions caused by the IIconic who wasn’t in the match, Riott had lost singles matches to Peyton Royce and Billie Kay on Raw the last two weeks. Belair defeated Royce and Kay in singles matches on the past two episodes of Main Event.
A look at how the major companies are looking at either running or not running is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also have a major feature on the characters from ABC’s 20/20, from David Schultz, John Stossell, Jim Wilson and Eddy Mansfield, as well as a feature on Gerald Brisco and how Vince McMahon got control of the TBS time slot for one year.
The issue also covers:
The schedule for UFC, WWE and AEW.
The time frame Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida talked about for live events, the hypocrisy sanctioning these events, why UFC isn’t running Las Vegas, ESPN’s change of policy, another state open to bring in wrestling, boxing and MMA, UFC’s first show back, update on Fight Island, Bellator plans and Scott Coker talks his ideas.
Another feature on WWE financials with Vince McMahon’s quotes on all facets of business going forward and what is and isn’t honest about them. We also look at why you can’t compare live attendance, what category does look good and what doesn’t, empty arena shows, costs of taping now and why Vince says the WWE Network should grow.
The firings of Cain Velasquez and Curtis Axel and the departure, at least for now, of Gerald Brisco.
How close Brisco and Vince McMahon have been, the 1984 purchase of GCW by McMahon and how it went down, how McMahon lost the time slot after one year, the WWE signing and usage of Velasquez, and what major WWE decision-maker thought Axel would be one of the company’s signature stars.
The latest episode of Dark Side of the Ring on David Schultz. We look at the start of Schultz’s career, his feud with Hulk Hogan, slapping John Stossel, Eddy Mansfield, Jim Wilson, Jim Barnett, how Schultz got fired by WWE, Jim Cornette on the show, the Lou Thesz-Eddy Mansfield confrontation, the deregulation of wrestling, and how the story on Jimmy Snuka and the 20/20 story on wrestling intertwine.
New Monday night competition to Raw, 2K plans or 2020, How WWE stars get paid, wrestler who pulled out of tapings this past week, U.K. and Canada TV ratings, Taynara Conti and Mike Bennett talk being released, Jerry Lawler talks his remark bout Tozawa, Heath Slater talks his departure, David Starr talks current conditions and the most-watched bouts for the past week on WWE Network.
A harrowing story on Ilima lei-Macfarlane and her childhood going to the famed Punahou Schoolin Hawaii and the dirty secret the school covered up for decades that has just come to light.
Full coverage of the Impact Rebellion show with so many champions not there, as well as match-by-match coverage.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest news. You can also send your questions for the show into [email protected].
Raw tonight has Drew McIntyre vs. Murphy, The Street Profits vs. Viking Raiders, Ricochet & Cedric Alexander vs. Brendan Vink & Shane Thorne plus a Gauntlet match for the final men’s spot in Money in the Bank. Post Wrestling reported the return of A.J. Styles as well for tonight.
Dwayne Johnson listed a number of stars who will be on the new season of Titan Games, which will air on NBC against Raw starting on 5/25. Among the names are former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, former NFL Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, former NFL player Victor Cruz and boxing gold medalist Claressa Shields. AEW announced that announcer Dasha Gonzalez (formerly Dasha Fuentes in WWE) would also be appearing on the show.
WWE
WWE Chronicle: Shayna Baszler debuts on the WWE Network on Saturday night, building up her being in the Money in the Bank ladder match the next night.
Jerry Lawler noted that King Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille will open up tonight with social distancing measures in place. All tables will be six feet apart and they will operate at 50 percent capacity. Employees will all wear masks and gloves.
There were a couple of articles in Australia regarding the appearance of Daniel Vidot, a former Rugby League star, on Smackdown against Sheamus on 4/24. The stories can be found here and here. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Also the latesttwo episodes of Brendan Vink’s web series SMUG featuring Indi Hartwell and Rhea Ripley. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
UFC
Matt Brown returns to face Miguel Baeza in a welterweight fight on the 5/16 UFC show in Jacksonville.
AEW
The movie “Cagefighter: World’s Collide,” an MMA movie where Jon Moxley plays a pro wrestling superstar turned MMA fighter, will be airing on FITE for its premiere on 5/16. Chuck Liddell, Luke Rockhold and Christian are in the movie. There will also be a live roundtable after airing.
AEW Dynamite on ITV 4 will be airing at 12:15 a.m. late Friday night, the latest the show has aired and it’s the only two-hour broadcast of the show on television in the U.K. The show has usually started between 10:20 p.m. and 11 p.m.. They are airing the movie “8 Mile” at 10 p.m., a movie the station has aired many times. (thanks to Stephen Lyon)
The Wrestling Estate has conducted a roundtable with five independent wrestling promoters in the U.S. to discuss how their business has been affected by coronavirus, what they’ve been doing to stay relevant and any changes they’re thinking of making when live events can return.
The U.K. hip hop duo The Rabble featured their second single, “The Raven,” born out of a lifelong passion for 90s and 00s pro wrestling.
This was top-to-bottom probably one of the best episodes of NXT UK. They picked four great matches from the past 12 months for this Hidden Gems-style special episode. The main event of Ilja Dragunov vs. A-Kid was particularly great and you should go out of your way to watch it.
Toni Storm pinned Deonna Purrazzo after hitting Storm Zero in a fun, hard-hitting match that saw Purrazzo dominate. Great things will be in her future, and any company should look to pick her up once things get back to normal.
Matt Riddle pinned Ligero after a top rope Broton in another hard-hitting match that showed off the strengths of both men.
Shayna Baszler defeated Isla Dawn by submission with the Kirifuda Clutch in a fun battle that showed off what a destroyer Baszler is, with Dawn getting a few hope spots in.
Ilja Dragunov pinned A-Kid after hitting Torpedo Moscow in one of the best matches in the brand’s history. It would have fit right in on any TakeOver special or any NJPW show of the past few years. This was an athletic strong-style battle with a lot of drama and great crowd reactions. Both men are great and A-Kid will hopefully be able to show off his talent on a national stage at some point. Both of these men should be regulars on NXT at least.
Full rundown —
After a few weeks of highlight/best-of shows, we were back with some original content this week. Tom Phillips opened the show, announcing that him and Andy Shepherd would present four previously unaired matches, which had been filmed at various tapings.
Toni Storm pinned Deonna Purrazzo after hitting Storm Zero (11:14)
This match was taped on June 14, 2019 at Download Festival. Storm was NXT UK Women’s Champion at the time and retained her title. They only showed quick highlights of the entrances and the match started right away.
The announcers talked about both women being in the Mae Young Classic in 2018, which Storm won. Purrazzo had the early advantage and worked over Storm’s arm, but the champ quickly came back with some wristlocks of her own.
They went back and forth on the mat, with Purrazzo escaping a headscissors via headstand and then gesturing to Storm to bring it. Storm found herself in the same predicament Purrazzo was in, but instead of a headstand, she just backtracked her way out of the hold.
Purrazzo slapped Storm’s hand away as she went for a handshake, but Storm hit a number of European uppercuts and then locked in a single-leg Boston crab. Purrazzo quickly grabbed the ropes to escape, but she got booted down by Storm for a two count seconds later.
Purrazzo worked over Storm’s shoulder and upper arm, including stomping away at them in the corner. Purrazzo locked in a combined leg-and-neck lock, then kept at it with strikes and clotheslines. Purrazzo stomped on Storm’s elbow and scored another near fall.
Storm came back with a headbutt and some strikes, but she got caught with a flatliner. Purrazzo then immediately locked in a Koji clutch. Storm escaped and the two women once more traded strikes as the crowd went yay-boo.
Storm countered a whip-in into three consecutive German suplexes, then went for Storm Zero, but couldn’t lock it in due to her injured arm. Purrazzo came back with another attack and another near fall. Storm whipped her into the ropes and stopped her in her tracks with a stiff headbutt to the shoulder, but the subsequent cover only netted a two count for the champion.
Purrazzo locked in an armbar, then transitioned into a Rings of Saturn that had Storm in big trouble, especially when Purrazzo also hooked one of Storm’s legs. Storm finally made the bottom rope, but was down on the mat in pain.
Purrazzo hit a number of chops — until Storm followed her into the ropes, hit a clothesline, and finally hit Storm Zero for the pinfall victory.
Matt Riddle pinned Ligero after a top rope Broton (8:29)
This match was taped on July 20, 2019 in Plymouth, England.
Ligero wore elaborate shoulder pads that matched his mask. They fist-bumped to start the match and Riddle immediately hit a beautiful one-armed takedown slam, then played to the crowd. Riddle followed with a headlock takeover, which Ligero countered into a headscissors. Riddle escaped and went for a soccer kick, but Ligero ducked and rolled Riddle up, then locked in a side headlock of his own. Riddle powered out and hit a German suplex to escape. He then missed a head kick and Ligero hit a hurricanrana to take Riddle down.
Riddle hit two rolling gutwrench suplexes to score a two count, then kicked Ligero in the head and the face. Riddle worked Ligero over in the corner, hit an exploder, and followed with the Broton and another kick. Riddle hit an extended vertical suplex into a Jackhammer for another two count, which prompted “Goldberg” chants from the crowd.
Riddle hit another Broton and then went to the top rope for the Floating Bro, but Ligero jumped up and hit a top rope German that saw Riddle land on his shoulder. Ligero took him down with a combination, but Riddle ducked an enzuigiri and went for a deadlift German, which Ligero moonsaulted out of. They ended up at ringside and Ligero did a headstand on the apron, then sent Riddle flying with spinning headscissors.
Back in the ring, Ligero scored another two count, after which he hit some creative offense to dominate Riddle. He hit a splash from the top and middle ropes for another two count, prompting the crowd to chant “This is awesome.”
Riddle ducked a kick by Ligero and picked him up for a powerbomb, then hit Bro Derek and a top rope Broton for the win.
Shayna Baszler defeated Isla Dawn by submission with the Kirifuda Clutch (8:39)
This match was taped on June 15, 2019 at Download Festival. Like with the Storm match, Baszler was NXT Women’s Champion at the time and retained her title.
They locked up and Baszler backed Dawn into the corner, then kicked her leg away on the break. Dawn then backed Baszler in the corner and broke clean, but Baszler turned her around and kicked her legs away again.
Dawn scored a number of near falls, including after a float-over suplex, after which Baszler scurried to ringside. Dawn missed a baseball slide to the outside and ended up getting thrown into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Baszler hit a kick to the back, then stomped on Dawn’s left elbow and locked in a double wristlock.
Dawn used a surprise roll-up, but quickly found herself at the receiving end of Baszler dealing out punishment again. Baszler kept working over the arm for a few minutes with attacks and submission holds.
Dawn pulled down the top rope as Baszler came charging and sent her to the outside, then took over the match with a back suplex. But she fell victim to Baszler once more, with Baszler picking her up for a gutwrench suplex and then unceremoniously dropping her on her arm.
Dawn hit a beautiful head kick, but Baszler stopped her momentum with a forward-roll kick, a knee to the face, and finally locked in the Kirifuda Clutch for the submission victory.
– Tom Phillips talked about the last match and how you never know what you may see in NXT UK, as some title holders may come in to defend their championships. He then transitioned to Andy Shepherd for a video chat with the new number one contender to the NXT UK Championship, Ilja Dragunov.
Shepherd asked Dragunov how he kept himself prepared and Dragunov quoted one of his mentors, who once told him “How do you not get tired of working? You just don’t stop working.” Dragunov said he does not need to prepare — he was born prepared.
Shepherd asked why Dragunov thought he could beat WALTER, which no one else in NXT UK has done before. Dragunov brought up Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, and Joe Coffey as men who had succumbed to WALTER, but Dragunov said he has the will to beat WALTER.
Dragunov said you have to be willing to suffer through the pain — but he eats pain. He said you have to be willing to fight so intense — but he is intensity. Dragunov said WALTER will make a mistake and he will capitalize on it. Dragunov also promised that this match will redefine violence.
– Next week, NXT UK will take a look at the Rise of Imperium.
Ilja Dragunov pinned A-Kid after hitting Torpedo Moscow (13:14)
This match was filmed during the most recent set of NXT UK tapings on March 6, 2020 in Coventry, England.
They locked up and A-Kid ended up on the middle turnbuckle, but nothing came of it. He took Dragunov down and rolled into a cover, but the Mad Russian easily kicked out.
They ended up trading submissions on the mat, with A-Kid getting the better of the exchange. A-Kid applied a bow-and-arrow submission, various arm locks, and a tight neck vice. Dragunov locked in a side headlock but got taken down with a high-angle arm drag by A-Kid, who transitioned into an armbar and then a quick roll-up.
Dragunov applied an overhead wristlock that had A-Kid on his back, but he bridged out and flipped over into another neck vice. They had a standoff with Dragunov telling him to bring it. A-Kid grabbed Dragunov’s fingers, but Dragunov hit a hard chop and a senton, then hit a cartwheel into a crossbody.
A-Kid ended up on the outside. Dragunov hit an enzuigiri as he went to enter back into the ring, then hit an overhead karate chop from the top rope to the outside. Back inside, A-Kid thwarted a top rope senton and then hit a German suplex.
A-Kid hit an overhead Northern Lights suplex, then flipped over backwards into an armbar. Dragunov picked him up for a powerbomb and they both plunged into the top rope. A-Kid hit a top rope crossbody for another two count.
Dragunov picked A-Kid up, then clobbered him with a stiff lariat. Dragunov hit a Konstantin Special that almost took A-Kid’s head off and saw him land right on the back of his neck. A-Kid hit a Pele kick to Dragunov’s arm, but Dragunov came back with a single-leg dropkick and a high-angle German for another close two count.
A-Kid stopped Dragunov’s chops with a wristlock, then tried going for an ankle lock, after which both men traded some stiff kicks to the head. A-Kid stopped Dragunov on the top rope with a running enzuigiri, then hit a top rope Spanish Fly and a leg lariat for a 2.9 count.
A-Kid was pumped up in the corner, but charged right into an amazing twisting spinebuster, followed by a top rope senton. Dragunov then hit Torpedo Moscow for the win. This was a tremendous match — one of the best in the brand’s history.
Dragunov shook A-Kid’s hand after the match, then celebrated on the top rope as the show went off the air.
The Raw women’s division’s participants for Money in the Bank are set to face off in a triple threat match tonight.
WWE has announced Asuka vs. Nia Jax vs. Shayna Baszler for tonight’s Raw. All three were confirmed for this year’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match by winning qualifying matches on Raw two weeks ago. Asuka defeated Ruby Riott, Jax defeated Kairi Sane, and Baszler defeated Sarah Logan.
Jax also defeated Sane in a rematch on Raw last week. Baszler defeated Indi Hartwell on last Monday’s show. She stomped on Hartwell’s elbow to get the win and then continued to attack her arm after, putting it between a ladder and kicking it.
SmackDown’s Dana Brooke and Lacey Evans will also be in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match with Asuka, Jax, and Baszler. The final SmackDown participant for the ladder match will be determined when Mandy Rose faces Carmella in a qualifier this Friday.
Money in the Bank is set for Sunday, May 10. The men’s and women’s ladder matches are both taking place at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The matches will start on the ground floor, with the briefcases hanging on the roof.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is defending his title against Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank. On tonight’s Raw, McIntyre and Rollins will have a contract signing for their match at the PPV.
The first three wrestlers have qualified for this year’s women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, and Asuka will be representing Raw in the ladder match. They each won a qualifying match on Raw tonight, with Baszler defeating Sarah Logan, Jax defeating Kairi Sane, and Asuka defeating Ruby Riott.
Baszler and Jax’s wins tonight were both in squash matches. Baszler hit hammerfists to a grounded Logan and then stomped on her elbow before the match was stopped. Logan was originally announced as the winner, but the finish was then clarified and it was said that the ring announcer got it wrong.
Jax pinned Sane after hitting a press slam into a Samoan drop. WWE is calling the move the Annihilator.
Asuka got the win against Logan by submitting her with the Asuka Lock.
Money in the Bank is set for Sunday, May 10. The qualifying matches for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match will continue with Naomi vs. Dana Brooke taking place on SmackDown this Friday.
The qualifiers for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match haven’t started yet. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro on this week’s SmackDown will determine one of the participants for the match, while three qualifying matches have been announced for next Monday’s Raw. Those qualifiers are: Rey Mysterio vs. Murphy, Aleister Black vs. Austin Theory, and Apollo Crews vs. MVP.
