Tag: wwe results

WWE NXT live results: Speed Women’s title tournament begins

Posted on by Jeff Moss

A tournament begins on NXT tonight as WWE starts the process of crowning a new Speed Women’s Champion.

The WWE Speed Women’s Championship is vacant at the moment after being relinquished by the injured Sol Ruca. A four-woman tournament will determine the new champ, with the first-round matchups being Zaria vs. Wren Sinclair and Fallon Henley vs. Skylar Raye. The Zaria vs. Sinclair match goes down tonight.

Skylar Raye is the new NXT name for Dani Raye Sekelsky, the female winner of WWE LFG season two.

There will be a championship celebration with new AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions Chelsea Green & Ethan Page following their victory over the weekend against La Hiedra & Mr. Iguana.

A singles match between Je’Von Evans and Saquon Shugars of DarkState is part of tonight’s card. Plus, six-woman tag team action kicks off the show with Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame & Lola Vice battling Fatal Influence.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

Tonight on NXT we answer the most important questions: Will Izzi Dame turn on Tatum Paxley? On a scale of 1-10, how great will Chelsea Green and Ethan Page’s Championship Celebration be? (spoiler alert, I’m predicting 10,000/10) and most importantly: Have Trick Williams and Ricky Saints been fighting all week long? Like, through breakfast and everything? Let’s find out!

Six-Woman Tag Match: NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame, and Lola Vice vs. Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid)

Fatal Influence interrupted the NXT Women’s Title Match between Champion Tatum Paxley and Lola Vice last week. So, Paxley gabbed Izzi Dame and formed a team with Vice to get some revenge. Dame wasn’t stoked that Paxley gave Vice a title shot in the first place, so everyone’s allegence in team Not-Fatal-Influence is questionable at this point.

The crowd chanted for Paxley as the Culling’s intro took place, but Vice got a big cheer as well. Paxley and Vice hugged in the ring, but Dame wanted no part of it. Jayne threw her jacket at Dame during their intro, setting the tone right away.

The bell rang and Jayne went right for Paxley. The two brawled, but Jayne let herself be isolated in the corner for Vice to enter and start throwing hands. After making a little space, Jayne kicked Vice into the Fatal Influence corner and she and Henley traded hitting elbows on her.

Dame tagged in to face Reid and took out some of her frustrations with a scoop slam and a dropkick. Paxley tagged in and hit a jumping elbow for a two count. Reid tagged in Henley who started throwing hands at Paxley along with a few dropkicks. Vice tagged in and kicked her to the mat for a two count.

Henley and Reid tried to double team Vice, but Paxley and Dame came in for the save (and some dancing). Vice stayed legal and kicked Reid off the ropes. Henley distracted the ref and Jayne got a cheap shot in through the ropes. Fatal influence worked as a team to beat down Vice in their corner.

Jayne hit a big cannonball on Vice while signalling to Paxley that she was coming for her. Reid tagged in and Vice fought her off until takeing a kick to the side of the head. Henley tagged in and Vice drove her to the corner and thew her off with a shoulder role. Henley clotheslined her and tagged in Reid.

Reid hit a bulldog and Jayne raced in with a high knee. Jayne went for another cannonball, but Vice dodged that tone and Vice tagged Paxley in who cleaned house, taking on all three members of Fatal Influence.

Paxley hit a spinning heel kick on Henley and went up for a 450, but Henley moved. Paxley ended up on the ropes where Reid punched her through the ropes. Henley found herself about to be pinned and Henley came in to broke it up and all hell broke loose. All six battled in the ring and when the dust cleared, Paxley and Henley were legal in the ring.

Jayne and Dame hit blind tags and Jayne crushed her with a rolling encore. She grabbed the pin and Fatal Influence picked up the win.

Match Result: Fatal Influence defeated Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame, and Lola Vice

Pretty good match that did a lot to further the Dame/Paxley simmering issue. Fatal Influence looked good because they always look good.

-Backstage, El Grande Americano and company arrived and were suddenly face to face with Josh Briggs who just can’t seem to not be in someone’s face all the time. Briggs challenged Americano to a match later tonight.

-Back from break, footage of Kelani Jordan using the TNA Knockouts belt to win a match with Jordynne Grace was shown. Jordan looked like she was pretty conflicted about having to stoop so low to retain her title.

The Evolve women were shown in what I can only assume is the NXT First Class Airport Lounge area talking and then Kelani showed up on her way to the ring specifically to dismiss them. Rude. Jordan then made her way down the entrance ramp to the ring.

Jordan grabbed a mic and said that she did everything she could to retain her title last week. The crowd booed and Jordan pointed out that they cheer for Dominick Mysterio and Cody Rhodes using title belts to win a match, so why not her? The crowd moved from boos, to straight up jeers.

Jordan said that she wanted to hold this title with honor and prestige, but all that gets her is boos and bad vibes from the back. She said that there isn’t anyone in the back that can keep up with her and the fans? The fans aren’t loyal. All they care about is girls with “fat asses and catchphrases.”

Jordan said that it’s her time to be selfish and she isn’t going to be like Tatum Paxley and hand out title shots all the time. If that makes her a traitor, so be it. She’s still the champion. (Mic drop).

-After the break, OTM were interviewed. They put the NXT tag team division on notice that they don’t have to yell no more, they want silence that shakes the room. Chase U arrived to take issue with this. Nothing else was resolved.

Josh Briggs vs WWE Speed Champion El Grande Americano

Briggs arrived after stopping by a Spirit Halloween and grabbing a smoking skull to attach to his jacket which I’m sure he thought looked really cool. Americano arrived with Los Americanos and somewhere Dalton Castle snapped a pencil in one hand.

The bell rang and the two locked up with Briggs having a definite size advantage. While Booker T yelled about Pancho Villa, Briggs knocked Americano to the mat. Americano fought back with an insiguri and a deep inside arm drag. Americano did some very entertaining moves before laying in a soccer style kick to Briggs’ head.

Americano spent a little too much time posing and noticed Jasper Troy (who will face Americano next week for the Speed title) in the audience with a comically large chain. Briggs used that to grab Americano and throw him to the mat. The crowd chanted “Briggs es stupido.”

The two fought in the corner with Briggs grinding his foot into Americano’s throat. Americano came back with some chops, but a big boot (Briggs Boot?) put an end to that. Briggs stomped Americano but took a little too much time and Americano was able to roll him up for a two count.

Briggs hit a big sidewalk slam but only got at two count. He put on a chin lock and wrenched Americano’s neck. Americano slumped, getting close to passing out but suddenly fired up with a chinbreaker. Briggs hit a splash, but Americano kicked out at two.

Briggs hung Americano up in a tree of woe and stomped him. He tried to unmask Americano, which brought Los Americanos up on the apron. Americano used that to hit a flying shoulder block from the top rope. He chopped Briggs repeatedly and tried to hoist him up on his shoulders but couldn’t make it.

Americano hit a discus chop and then a blockbuster, rallying as Briggs rolled out of the ring. Americano dove after him, driving Briggs into the announce table. Briggs threw Americano’s cape at him then bounced his head off the ring apron (the most American part of the ring!).

Suddenly, Tavion Heights appeared and distracted the ref. Both Americanos hit a double backstabber on Briggs and threw him back in the ring for Americano to lock in a backstabber submission. Briggs tapped and that was it.

Match Result: El Grande Americano defeated Josh Briggs

Fun match, but if Americano has a match with Jasper Troy for next week and the Briggs match was made on the spot, why was he here this week…?

-Backstage, GM Ava approached Kelani Jordan and reminded her that she doesn’t decide when she defends her title. Tyra Mae Steele arrived and said ‘Yeah!” Ava made a match between Steele and Jordan for later tonight.

Ricky Saints was shown talking to Miles Borne in the back. Borne asked Saints to leave a piece of Trick Williams for him.

-Back from break, Ricky Saints and Trick Williams were shown in different studios to have a conversation about their last man standing match next week. Saints said that Williams needs to accept that he lost his title match and not throw fits. Williams said that he knows everything about carrying a brand.

Saints retorted with a “you don’t care about NXT!” accusation. He then said that the works for this, but Williams has one foot out the door. Williams said that the NXT title doesn’t belong to someone like Saints, who is just like a fan. He should get his belt at NXTshop.com! Saints said that he’s done with the talking and they both stood up and walked out.

Saints and Williams found each other in the clanky poles section of the back stage area and Williams used one to knock Saints down and then stormed off.

Women’s Speed Championship Tournament Match: Zaria vs Wren Sinclair

Sol Ruca got hurt and as a result, was forced to vacate the Women’s Speed Championship. After realizing they couldn’t have CM Punk and Jey Uso fight for ANOTHER vacant title, a 4-woman tournament was announced which I am calling The Friend In Speed Is a Friend Indeed (or FISIAFI) Tournament. The eventual winner will be the new Women’s Speed Champion.

Next week, Fallon Henley will take on Skylar Raye (aka Dani Raye Sekelsky, the female winner of WWE LFG season two), but tonight Zaria, who was accompanied to the ring by Ruca, kicks the tournament off against Wren Sinclair who came down with Evolve Women’s Chamption Kendal Grey.

The bell rang and the three minute countdown began. Sinclair and Zaria leapt into action, rolling through some pinning combinations before Zaria landed a huge backbreaker. She threw some punches at Sinclair and threw her at the ropes. Sinclair threw a kick and locking an octopus hold.

Sinclair hit a dropkick and Zaria came back with a series of clotheslines and pump kicks. With 60 seconds left, Sinclair locked in an armbar submission. Zaria rolled out of it and landed a speak. She hoisted Sinclair up and dropped her to get the pin with 30 seconds left.

Zaria will face the winner of Fallon Henley vs. Skylar Raye which takes place next week.

Match Result: Zaria defeated Wren Sinclair

Speed matches are fun, if not a little speedy. I like that there’s a bubbling something happening with Zaria and Ruca. Sinclair also looked good! She’s got some great stuff going on.

TNA Knockouts Champion Leilani Jordan vs Tyra Mae Steele

Steele was aggressive off the top, charging Jordan. Jordan avoided her and the two traded wristlocks. Steele cartwheeled out of it and Jordan sent her to the corner. Steele hit a sunset flip, but Jordan used the rope to cut her off.

Steele hit a drop toe hold and wrenched Jordan into a submission over her shins. She and Jordan rolled through and Jordan hit a big forearm to the face. She then sent Steele headfirst into the ringpost and onto the outside.

Jordan smashed Steele’s hand on the ring apron and laid her out on the steps. Steele kicked her and Jordan threw her into the ring for some elbows to the traps. She put on an elbow lock, but Steele stood up out of it and ducked a lariat.

Steele dragged Jordan down to the mat and threw her off the ropes for a flapjack. She then hit Jordan in the face with her butt and hoisted her up on her shoulders for a modified Angle slam. Jordan sent her into the corner for a slam and then a split-legged moonsault. Jordan made the cover and got the pin.

Match Result: Kelani Jordan defeated Tyra Mae Steele

After the match, Santino Marella appeared on the video screen from his dining room and told Jordan that she would be defending the title in a triple threat match in New York at Gold rush.

-Backstage, Sol Ruca and Zaria asked for a match with Blake Monroe, but Ava said that she wouldn’t be medically cleared in time. Fatal Influence arrived and Jacy Jayne asked for her rematch against Tatum Paxley for the NXT Women’s title. Ava asked everyone to leave because she needed to talk to people about who from NXT would be in John Cena’s Last Time Is Now Tournament.

Really? Now? During a show? They couldn’t hold that conference call during the day?

Je’Von Evans vs. Saquon Shugars

Current NXT Tag Champions and Guys Who Bought Up All The Edgy Masks After The Pandemic, DarkState have beef with Je’Von Evans. It doesn’t really matter why because the bounce is going to trounce the… stounce? I don’t know, DarkState doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Either way, Shugars and Evans should light it up in this one.

Evans started the match by leaping over the ropes and taking out all of DarkState before the lights had even come on. Shugars hit an inverted atomic drop powebomb combo in retaliation. He began pounding on Evans, keeping the bouncy one off his feet as much as possible.

Shugars landed a backbreaker and pulled Evans back up by his pants. Evans bounced over Shugars and hit him in the back, knocking him down. Shugars got up and went back to the backbreaker for a two count. Shugars went to throw a punch, but Evans beat him to it and kicked him down. Evans hit a springboard hurricanrana followed by a headscissor and a dropkick.

Shugars got some encouragement from the rest of DarkState and over powered Evans until he charged at him and Evans sent him out of the ring with a back drop. Evans dove after him, but Cutler James got involved and levelled him.

Shugars dragged Evans by the hair around the outside of the ring and slammed his back on the apron. He slammed him on the announce table and then dropped Evans on the apron headfirst before rolling him back in for a shoulder block knee to the ribs.

Shugars threw Evans into the corner and started throwing chops. He sent Evans to the ropes and Evans came back with a sunset flip. Unfortunately, Shugars hit a drop elbow and then splashed him in the corner.

Shugars hoisted Evans on his shoulders in a submission hold, but Evans wriggled free and tried to get a pin. Shugars kicked out a two and went back to that reverse crucifix submission. Evens worked out of it and tried to steal a quick cover, followed by a superkick.

Evans met Shugars in the corner and went for a top rope springboard, but Shugars saw it coming and met him with a dropkick. Shugars started toying with Evans, paintbrushing him with his foot. Evans responded with a snap suplex.

Evans started throwing jabs and connected with a jumping punch. Evans stomped him down in the corner and Shugars was pulled out by Dark State. Evans leapt after him taking out Shugars on the outside. He threw him back in and bounced around laying in all kinds of moves, but favoring his right arm.

He went up top and Shugars pulled him down into a sit down flapjack. Shugars went up top, but Evans saw it coming and moved. He hit two cutters from the top rope, but Osiris Griffin pulled him off before the three count.

All Four members of DarkState charged and Evans dodged them all. He scrambled back into the ring and hit a flying cutter to pin Shugars 1-2-3 for the win.

Match Result: Je’Von Evans defeated Saquon Shugars

Je’Von Evans is one of the most entertaining guys to watch in NXT (and maybe all of WWE) right now. He’s fast, he plays a great baby face and I haven’t seen someone as good at the comeback since Sami Zayn.

-Backstage, Ava and Blake Monroe discussed her potential opponents for the Women’s North American Title at Gold Rush. Sol Ruca seems to be the frontrunner if she is cleared.

-Backstage, The Culling tried to console Tatum Paxley over the loss earlier in the show. Dame said that she can’t make these irrational decisions anymore. She needs to think before she acts. Paxley agreed. She promised to make better decisions… after just one thing. Then she ran off.

In the ring, the new AAA Mixed Tag Champions, Chelsea Green and the NXT North American Champion Ethan Page were ready for their Muy Grande Champion Celebration. A large Canadian “Cake” was behind them on the stage.

Page started off with the mic, talking about how everyone hates Canadians because “we say things and they come true.” Page went on to remind everyone that he’s the greatest North American ever. Green agreed and said that jealousy is a disease and the locker room is rife with it.

She asked to name a more iconic pair than her and Page and no one said anything. Page said that they would defend the AAA Mixed Tag Titles against anyone and everyone. Green said that she wished “Joe was here” and Page told her not to mention his name!

Chelsea made her Slaygent said “Joe Hendry” and as promised, he appeared! Hendry grabbed a mic and told them that they forgot what true talent looks like. Hendry said that he wanted a shot at the AAA Mixed Tag Titles.

Green said that he needed a partner, so Hendry said that they just needed to say her name and she would appear… and Thea Hale appeared out of the cake!

Hendry and Hale smashed cake over Page and Green and high-fived and waved hands as the show ended.

WWE Raw live results: New World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk appears

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: November 3, 2025
Location: Rio Ranch Event Center in Rio Ranch, NM 

The Big Takeaway —

The Vision are clearly coming for CM Punk, but it appears his first title defence as World Champion will be against Logan Paul. Paul laid out Punk with brass knuckles following the main event. 

The tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent begins next week in Boston. The first two matches will see Rusev against Damian Priest, and Shinsuke Nakamura against Sheamus. Two more matches will be announced on SmackDown. Announcing matches in parts will allow them to keep some names a mystery for now, but tonight’s announcement wasn’t the most exciting start.

Also, Rey Mysterio returned to confront Dominik Mysterio, and next week’s Raw will also feature two title matches. 

**********

Show Recap — 

New Mexico hosts Raw for the first time tonight, according to Joe Tessitore. 

CM Punk kicks off Raw

There was a recap of CM Punk beating Jey Uso to win the world title (including reaction shots of fans live-watching the event at home). 

Punk entered the arena with the World Heavyweight Championship belt on his shoulder, and the camera followed as he made his way through the stage. Punk posed with fans as he walked down the long aisleway toward the ring, where he soaked in the crowd reaction. 

Punk started with: “Is it great to be champ on a Monday night in the great state of New Mexico or what?!” Punk felt good to be there as champ, and he had a long list of people to thank for helping him get there. Fans chanted, “You deserve it.” 

The first person he wanted to thank was his smart, funny, intelligent, tough, and mean when she wants to be wife, AJ Lee. She stuck with him through the bad times so they could stand together, chests puffed out, in the good times. 

Second, he wanted to thank the fans. Some called them the WWE Universe, but to him, they were CM Punk fans. He doesn’t get there without them, and they should give themselves a hand. They chanted for Punk. 

The third person he wanted to thank was Jey Uso. Punk thanked him for the hard fight and said Jey was truly ‘main event.’ He wanted to remain friends, but he wouldn’t cry about it if they couldn’t be. When he returned, he said he didn’t come back to make friends, he came back to make money and be champion—and now he was. 

Punk didn’t know how much time he had left, and SummerSlam taught him he had to hold on to the strap as tight as he could. The good news was that there was no snake in the grass like Seth Rollins with MITB waiting to cash in. Punk then paused his promo to swing the belt around over his head to mock Rollins’ usual celebration. Punk warned Rollins he would put him back on the couch if he came after him. 

Punk knew the crown meant there was a target on his back. The locker room was filled with badass talent. He had to be the best in the world to keep the title. He knew Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were coming for his gold. 

Punk wanted to be a fighting champion, and there were a lot of people he wanted to punch in the face, The Vision included. He wanted to test himself against the best in the business, including guys like AJ Styles. Unlike Styles, Dominik Mysterio didn’t deserve a shot, but Punk would still love to punch him in the face. 

Punk put over JD McDonagh (who he called an exceptional pro wrestler) and Finn Bálor, and said he’d love to have a banger with Sheamus. He also would love to face John Cena one more time. Punk ended with, “The champ is here.” 

Logan Paul interrupted. Punk interrupted his entrance because he didn’t want to hear from Paul. Punk suggested he go back to SmackDown and answer Ilja Dragunov’s open challenge. 

Paul said he was a Ferrari, while Punk was a used Honda Civic with 250,000 miles on it. Paul has already faced the best, and beat Styles at WrestleMania. 

Paul Heyman and the Vision interrupted. Heyman called Logan a bitch who should go to the back of the line, because the front of the line belonged to Reed and Breakker. Heyman warned the men in the ring and told them to leave, but they didn’t budge. Logan said he got to the ring first and should get the title shot. 

Breakker said Heyman bought everyone two weeks to live (by keeping them out of the battle royal). They had to sit in the back for two weeks after they dropped Rollins in the dirt. Breakker said Punk’s had his moment, but he wasn’t waiting anymore. Breakker warned them to get out of his ring before he whipped them like a dog. 

Punk knew a fight was coming, so he told Paul to fight with him or get out of the ring. Paul was about to leave, but Breakker shoved him on his ass. 

The Brons swarmed Punk and beat him down. Paul decided to help, but they beat him up too, and Reed laid him out with a Tsunami. That allowed Punk enough time to recover, so he attacked the Brons with a chair, and they bailed.

(The show was 26 minutes old by the time this ended.) 

******** 

Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer & Nikki Bella vs. Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez 

Judgment Day got the heat over Bella using a distraction during a break. Perez crunched Bella with a springboard moonsault, but Bella fought off Rodriguez moments later and hit a tornado DDT before making a hot tag to Vaquer. 

Vaquer ran wild on Rodriguez, but couldn’t hit SVB because Rodriguez was too big. Vaquer hit a flying crossbody instead for two. Vaquer gave Perez the Devil’s Kiss to the delight of the crowd. Bella tagged in and hit Perez with “Rack Attack 2.0,” but Rodriguez broke up the cover (barely). 

Vaquer sent Rodriguez over the top and tried Devil’s Kiss on the apron, but Rodriguez blocked it and slammed her face-first on the apron. 

Bella tried a cradle, but Perez shoved her into the ropes. Rodriguez gave her a cheap shot (with the referee’s back turned), and Perez followed with Pop Rox for the pinfall win. 

That’s two straight pinfall wins over Nikki Bella for Roxanne Perez. 

Match result: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Nikki Bella & Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer (12:47)

******** 

They aired John Cena’s announcement regarding the tournament to determine his final opponent. Adam Pearce was backstage with a tumbler of balls, drawing names for the tournament. That’s one way to determine the final opponent for one of the company’s all-time greats. 

Jey Uso approached Punk backstage. Punk wondered if he was talking to Jey Uso or little Roman. Jey said he was talking to Main Event Jey Uso. Jey warned Punk they wouldn’t stop coming after him as long as he was champion and offered to help him against The Vision tonight. Punk gladly accepted. 

(It seems like Jey is getting his usual babyface reaction so far. If anyone is booing, it’s hard to hear because people are also Yeeting.) 

******** 

Penta vs. El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano)

Penta went for a Canadian Destroyer on the apron, but El Grande blocked it and dropkicked him off the apron. El Grande tied Penta’s mask to the bottom rope during a break, which always seems to happen to Penta (and always during the break). 

Penta made his comeback as soon as they returned from break, but El Grande cut him off with a Finlay Roll. Penta came back with kicks, a tornado DDT, and a big flip dive. (The crowd chanted, “Holy sh-t” at the big dive.) 

Bravo tried to interfere, so the referee tossed him from ringside. As she argued with Bravo, Rayo gave El Grande the metal plate to put in his mask. Penta avoided the loaded headbutt and went to the top. Rayo tried to interfere, so the ref tossed him too. 

Penta decided to give Rayo a dive before he could leave. El Grande went for a running headbutt, but Penta superkicked him. (It was a silly but amusing visual because of how far away Penta was from actually getting headbutted.) 

Penta followed with a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. 

— Rayo and Bravo tried to attack Penta, but he escaped. 

Match result: Penta defeated El Grande Americano (10:26) 

********

There was a pre-taped interview by Asuka and Kairi Sane. They issued a warning to Bayey and Lyra Valkyria. Asuka said her kindness would not last forever, and they were coming for the tag titles. 

Rusev had an interview during a break. He complained about losing to Dom and Penta before stating he wanted to win the tournament and face John Cena. 

********

Dominik Mysterio segment, Rey Mysterio returns 

Dom called himself the king of the luchadors. He proved he was the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time and the greatest AAA Mega Champion of all time. 

Rey Mysterio interrupted to a big reaction and “Holy sh-t,” chants. The announcers discussed rumours that Rey had been cleared. Rey said Dom crossed the line when he called himself king of the luchadors. (Some fans chanted, “Dirty Dom,” so others booed the chant because Rey was standing right there.)  

Rey mentioned all-time greats El Santo, Blue Demon, and Eddie Guerrero. Dom responded, “You keep my father’s name out of your mouth,” which also got a huge pop. Dom said he was better than all of those men, including Guerrero. Dom said he was also better than Rey. 

Rey said Dom could disrespect him if he wanted to, but he wouldn’t let Dom disrespect lucha libre. The crowd chanted, “Whoop his ass.” 

Dom said he made the Mysterio name relevant. Dom has already surpassed everything Rey has ever done and threatened to kick his ass unless he got out of the ring. 

Rey agreed to leave the ring but wanted Dom to understand three things: As long as Rey was around, Dom would never be king of the luchadors; this would never be Dom’s ring; and Dom would never be the greatest Mysterio. 

Dom tried a cheap shot, but Rey saw it coming and hit him with a 619. Rey went up for a splash, but Dom bailed. 

This was a fun segment, and the crowd was hot for it. 

********

Bayley and Valkyria met backstage. They weren’t exactly on the same page, but Bayley convinced Valkyria that everything was good between them. They did their special handshake, but Valkyria didn’t know what to make of this. 

Becky Lynch segment 

As the announcers were talking, Becky Lynch suddenly appeared, and she climbed on the announce table. She said she has been going through a lot. Her hot husband was laid up at home. The Vision ruined everything. A crooked referee seems hellbent on holding her down, and Pearce sent her (Lynch) home to cool down—even though she was the definition of cool. 

Lynch told the crowd that the only thing cool to come out of New Mexico was a TV show about how much meth they did. Maxxine Dupri wasn’t cool either. Dupri was lucky to survive a match against her, but now she wouldn’t shut up about it because the idiot fans made her feel like she belonged. (I think a young fan yelled, “We’re not idiots!”) 

Lynch called herself the greatest of all time. A match against her was not a test Dupri could cram for. Dupri would make one wrong move in their next match, and it would be her last. 

As Lynch marched to the back, she came face-to-face with Asuka as she entered with Sane for their match. 

******** 

Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria

Asuka and Sane had the heat on Valkyria until she gave Sane a gut-wrench powerbomb. Bayley tagged in and ran wild on Asuka, hitting a diving elbow drop to the back of her neck for two. Sane cut off Bayley after making a blind tag, but Bayley responded with a Bayley-to-belly for two. 

Bayley gave Sane a sunset flip powerbomb into the turnbuckle, and Valkyria followed with a diving leg drop for a nearfall. (Sane barely kicked out before three.) Sane gave Valkyria a double footstomp (as Valkyria held herself up using the ropes), but Bayley broke up the cover. 

Valkyria and Bayley hit Sane with a backbreaker/elbow drop combo, but Asuka broke up the cover. Bayley broke up a double-team attempt by Asuka and Sane, so Asuka shoved Valkyria into Bayley, knocking her off the apron. 

Valkyria tried a move off the ropes, but Asuka caught her in the Asuka Lock, and Valkyria tapped out. 

— Asuka and Sane cornered Valkyria after the match, but Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair ran out (to Bliss’ music) to chase them away. Asuka and Sane were all smiles as Bliss and Charlotte posed with their title belts. 

Match result: Asuka & Kairi Sane defeated Lyra Valkyria & Bayley (13:28) 

********

Perez and Rodriguez entered the Judgment Day locker room with some good news: Rodriguez was getting a world title shot against Vaquer. Bálor and McDonagh were happy to hear it. 

Dom barged in, upset about what happened with Rey earlier. Dom wondered why they didn’t help him. Bálor said they weren’t invited to his little celebration. Bálor told Dom that he and McDonagh were about to win back the tag titles. After they left, Perez talked Dom into being at ringside for their match. 

World Tag Team Championship match: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee (c) vs. Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh

Judgment Day got the heat right away by attacking the champs as soon as the bell rang. Dragon Lee gave Bálor a sit-out powerbomb and tagged in Styles, who laid out both guys with a slingshot dive. 

A double-down spot led to Dom sauntering out during a break, holding a shillelagh. Styles gave McDonagh a Pelé kick as they returned from break. Dragon Lee tagged in and went on offence until Bálor cut him off with a slingblade and running dropkick. Dragon avoided the Coup de Grace and applied a cradle for two. 

Styles took a swipe at Dom, so Dom jumped on the apron to distract the referee. McDonagh held down Styles while Bálor went for a Coup de Grace, but Styles moved and Bálor hit McDonagh with the stomp by mistake. Styles hit McDonagh with a Phenomenal forearm, but Bálor broke up the cover. 

Bálor told Dom to hit Styles with the IC title belt. Dom was about to do it, but the referee saw him. Sheamus showed up and attacked Dom. The ref was distracted again, this time arguing with Sheamus, so Bálor hit Styles with the shillelagh. McDonagh crawled into a cover, but Dragon Lee broke it up. 

Dragon Lee wiped out Bálor with a dive, and Styles gave McDonagh a Styles Clash for the pinfall win. 

Match result: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee defeated JD McDonagh & Finn Bálor to retain the World Tag Team Championships (10:30) 

*********

Bella apologized to Vaquer for tonight’s loss, and as a result, Vaquer having to defend her title against Rodriguez. Vaquer told her not to worry about it. Bella was doubting herself because she wasn’t sure she could hang with the rest of them anymore. Vaquer told Bella to be herself because she was one of the greats who paved the way for this division. That meant a lot to Bella, who wished her luck next week. 

********

Heyman met with Jey in his locker room. Heyman wondered why Jey would team with Punk, who prevented him from becoming champion. Jey appreciated that Punk faced him man-to-man with no tricks. Heyman was about to mention Roman Reigns, but Jey said he didn’t care what Reigns, Jimmy Uso, or anyone else thought about him. 

Heyman warned him that the leash was off with the Brons after he asked them to stay out of it two weeks ago. The Vision would go after anyone who didn’t conform. However, that didn’t apply to Jey because Jey had a vision of his own. Heyman wished him luck. 

********

John Cena tournament bracket announcement (part one) 

Pearce announced the first two matches in the first round of The Last is Now tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent (chosen by “random” draw): 

  • Rusev vs. Damian Priest 
  • Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus 

Both matches will happen on Raw next week, and Cena will be in attendance. Nick Aldis will announce two more matches on SmackDown. 

Also on Raw next week: 

  • Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s World Championship 
  • Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane for the Women’s Tag Team Championships 

******** 

World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman)

During a break, Punk hit a clothesline off the ropes, but Breakker went down awkwardly. Breakker likely missed the planned spot because Punk shook his head when Bron went down. Punk said something to the ref, and they went back to the spot. Bron countered Punk’s Irish whip, so Punk booted Bron. As the ref checked on Bron, Reed decked Punk to get the heat. 

The Brons worked over Punk as fans chanted for Jey Uso. The Brons gave Punk a Shatter Machine, but Jey broke up the cover. Jey (who was over as a babyface) got the hot tag and he hit Reed with strikes, enziguris, a running hip attack and a spear, but Breakker broke up the cover. Punk wiped out Breakker with a dive, and Jey hit Reed with a suicide dive. 

The four men awkwardly brawled outside the ring as the referee counted to ten for a double count-out. The crowd booed. 

— The babyfaces were getting the better of the brawl until Breakker speared Jey. Reed knocked down Punk, and Breakker sent him over the barricade. Reed held up Jey in the ring so Breakker could hit another spear, and Reed followed with a Tsunami. 

Punk chased the Brons from the ring with a chair, but the Brons grabbed chairs of their own. 

Punk stood tall against the Brons as Logan Paul ran out to seemingly even the odds with brass knuckles in hand, but he turned around and knocked out Punk. Heyman held back the Brons from going after Paul, who handed the knux to Heyman as the crowd chanted, “F—k you, Logan.” 

Match result: World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed ended in a double count-out (10:17)

I think this match is an example of why the company isn’t quite ready to put a world title on Bron Breakker. I don’t agree with it necessarily, but the missed spot with Punk and a few other awkward moments during the match and post-match are hard to ignore. More experience (house shows) would’ve helped him work that out by now, so we’ll have to wait a little longer, as Logan Paul is up next for Punk. 

Paul was an early title challenger for both Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes during their reigns, so he’ll slide in again and be an easy (and obvious) first successful title defence for Punk whenever it happens.

WWE SmackDown live results: Saturday Night’s Main event contract signing

Posted on by Marc Quill

The final WWE SmackDown before Saturday Night’s Main Event will see WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre interact one final time before their title bout.

Last week, McIntyre defeated Jimmy Uso in a no DQ match and then got the upper hand on Rhodes after a post-match altercation. The champion and challenger will have a contract signing tonight as the Scotsman hopes to gain one last bit of momentum ahead of taking on Rhodes.

Jade Cargill will address her actions from last week when she attacked WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton after fending off Giulia and Kiana James. Cargill is challenging Stratton for the title tomorrow night.

Alexa Bliss will face Nia Jax after she took exception to Jax’s insinuation that she’d be disloyal to her WWE Women’s Tag Champion partner Charlotte Flair.

After Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson accused Carmelo Hayes of giving off “toxic masculinity” backstage, Hayes and Wilson will go one-on-one.

Plus, Ilja Dragunov issues a United States Championship open challenge.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

– Following the WWE signature, we went to shots of Salt Lake City, as well as shots of Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, as well as Jade Cargill (dressed as the Punisher).

– We went to a recap of Jade Cargill’s attack on WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton from last week. Michael Cole and Corey Graves then welcomed us to tonight’s show before Stratton interrupted.

Tiffany Stratton opens SmackDown

Stratton demanded that Jade Cargill come out to fight her now until SmackDown GM Nick Aldis asked that she back down as there was to be no physical contact before tomorrow night.

Cargill appeared as GM Aldis had security come out to prevent physicality. She said that she tasted her own blood last week and it only made her hungry to become the WWE Women’s Champion. Cargill vowed to end “Tappy Time” tomorrow night as Stratton tried to come at her. Security got in the way and prevented any physicality to happen.

Kind of a nothing segment and didn’t really do anything to build towards the Cargill/Stratton title match for tomorrow.

**********

– After receiving Halloween candy from R-Truth dressed as Santa Claus, the Motor City Machine Guns were confronted by Solo Sikoa. This led to a match between the MCMGs and the MFTs made for later tonight.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Nathan Frazer

As Fraxiom was entering for the Open Challenge, Tommasso Ciampa stormed past the two and was upset about not getting picked. Dragunov interrupted and told Ciampa that Frazer would get the opportunity as he got him to leave.

Once the match started, Dragunov struck Frazer in the corner but found himself floored by an enzuigiri. Frazer followed that up with a suicide dive on Dragunov. Back in the ring, Frazer used his agility to briefly stymy the U.S. Champion, but a Dragunov chop put a stop to that. We went to commercial after Frazer went face-first onto the commentary table.

We returned from the break with Dragunov connecting with the repeated German suplexes on Frazer. He managed two before Frazer landed on his feet on the third. Frazer leapt off the middle rope with an amazing reverse DDT followed by a shooting star for the near-fall.

Frazer’s kick was blocked by Dragunov, who dropped him with a standing uranage. That wasn’t enough to end this Open Challenge. Dragunov tried to jump at Frazer, but found himself flying over the top rope. A missed senton by Dragunov allowed for Frazer to land a frog splash, but that only got a near-fall as we took a second break in the action.

Action resumed with Dragunov attempting a powerbomb, but Frazer managed to stun him with a kick. On the top rope, Frazer had Dragunov set up for a Frankensteiner. After a struggle, Frazer nailed it as he had Dragunov on the backfoot with a dropkick outside the ring. He then took off from the top with a Phoenix Splash. One, two…. Dragunov barely kicked out!

After he battered Dragunov with punches, Frazer tried to go to the top rope again. The U.S. Champion chopped at Frazer’s knee, which let him connect with a middle rope suplex. Frazer miraculously kicked out at two after that high-risk move. This war of attrition ended with Dragunov finishing Frazer off with a powerbomb, followed by the H-Bomb for the three.

Post-match, after Dragunov showed respect for Frazer’s effort, Tommasso Ciampa attacked the defeated challenger outside the ring. Axiom and Johnny Gargano made their way down to the ring as a brawl erupted between the teams.

Ilja Dragunov def. Nathan Frazer via pinfall to retain the United States Championship

A fantastic Open Challenge match as Frazer got his time to shine and looked incredibly strong in defeat.

*********

– Backstage, as Fraxiom and #DIY were brawling, Dragunov was confronted by Tama Tonga, who did his signature “yeah yeah yeah” taunt while he had the U.S. Title in hand.

Kit Wilson vs. Carmelo Hayes

Wilson got the advantage early with a flying elbow to Hayes, as he pulled at his head and then stomped on the back of the head. Wilson hit a swingng DDT.

Hayes fought back with a chop followed by a hurricanrana. Wilson retreated from the ring, but got dropped by a vaulting press from Hayes. Outside the ring, The Miz threw Hayes into the ringpost with the ref distracted. This allowed Wilson a temporary advantage, but Hayes won out with the First 48.

Post-match, The Miz snuck up on Hayes and delivered a Skull-Crushing Finale.

Carmelo Hayes def. Kit Wilson via pinfall

Nothing really to write home about in terms of a match, and this Miz/Hayes feud is alright, I suppose.

**********

– Sami Zayn asked to have the Motor City Machine Guns’ back, but Nick Aldis told him to stand down. Cody Rhodes showed up and had some friendly words with Zayn before Mr. Aldis asked Rhodes bluntly if he had something to do with the attack on Jacob Fatu two weeks ago. Rhodes denied it, and was then asked by Aldis if he read the contract for the Saturday Night’s Main Event match.

Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss

Jax took a cheap shot at Bliss while she was conversing with Flair to start off the match. Jax crushed Bliss in the corner as she held the upper hand to start off here. Jax missed on an elbow, which gave Bliss an openingS

Bliss got caught and thrown into the ringpost by Jax. A missed running hip charge across the apron caused Jax to crash into the ringpost. However, outside the ring, Jax took control once again by tossing Bliss into the barricade. This took us into commercial.

The match continued from the break as Bliss dodged a running hip strike in the corner. Bliss chopped away at Jax’s leg and kept her grounded with a kick to the head. Jax ran into the steel post again, which stunned her. Bliss headed up to the top rope, but was caught for the Samoan Drop by Jax for the near-fall.

Bliss was dragged into the corner as she was in the drop zone for the Annihilator, but Charlotte Flair got on the apron and created a distraction, this let Bliss drop Jax with a kick and pick up the win.

Alexa Bliss def. Nia Jax via pinfall

Just a standard underdog vs. giant match as Bliss got the win with the help of her tag partner.

**********

– Rey Fenix challenged Solo Sikoa to a match. Instead, Sikoa offered Talla Tonga to face him next week instead. Fenix slapped Talla in the face afterwards.

– The WrestleMania 42 teaser was shown.

– Damian Priest said that Aleister Black will feel his punishment soon enough.

Saturday Night’s Main Event Card:

  • Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta vs. Rusev
  • World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
  • WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

The M.F.T.s (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) (w/ Talla Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Solo Sikoa) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)

The Machine Guns had the upper hand early with a double team assault that kept Mateo and Tama on their toes heading into the commercial break.

We returned from the break as Tama held Shelley in a resthold as the MFTs held the advantage now. Shelley escaped with a Flatliner to the middle turnbuckle to Mateo, which allowed him to tag Sabin in.

Sabin was a force as he held his own against Mateo and Tonga. Shelley had the clear for the suicide dive. A Solo Sikoa distraction allowed Tanga Loa to dump Shelley from the top rope, followed by the not-so-hidden blade of Tama Tonga’s Cutthroat for the MFT victory.

Sikoa had the MFTs attack the Machine Guns after the match, as Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura tried to make the save, but fell victim to the MFTs’ numbers game.

The MFTs def. Motor City Machine Guns via pinfall

Standard tag match followed by a standard beatdown by the “Bloodline with a new hat” afterwards. Not much home to write about.

*********

Next Week on SmackDown

  • Talla Tonga vs. Rey Fenix
  • Ilja Dragunov’s U.S. Title Open Challenge
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax

Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre contract signing

Nick Aldis introduced Rhodes first to the ring. Once Rhodes entered, he took the microphone as he wished Salt Lake City a Happy Halloween. Aldis then introduced Rhodes’ Saturday Night’s Main Event opponent, Drew McIntyre. Once both men were in the ring, Mr. Aldis asked them to sign the contract.

McIntyre refused to do so, while Rhodes did so without question. The Scotsman said he would not sign such a “lopsided” contract as he complained that if he were to be disqualified or counted out, Rhodes would keep the title.

Aldis stated that he had enough of McIntyre’s whining as there were many others in the back that would gladly do it. As McIntyre walked out, Rhodes called him out and said that maybe McIntyre wants it where if he were to be counted out or disqualified, the title will change hands.

Despite Aldis’ protestations, he agreed the new terms. McIntyre again boasted about how he was the “real” American Dream as opposed to Rhodes. The Undisputed WWE Champion admitted that McIntyre may have created the blueprint that many followed. Rhodes said where he and McIntyre differ was when he was fed up with WWE, while Drew got fired. “Nice guys used to finish last, ‘til I showed up,” said Rhodes.

McIntyre again whined and riled up Rhodes by invoking his daughter’s name. In the chaos, Rhodes was again blasted by a Claymore from the Scotsman. McIntyre then powerbombed him through the table. McIntyre talked trash some more as the Levesque & Fitting producer credits ended the night.

*********

A fine enough contract segment to end a rathee weak SNME go-home show. McIntyre standing tall does not bode well for his chances of winning.

The rest of the show was just there, but seek out the Dragunov vs. Axiom Open Challenge match. That was my highlight of the night.

WWE Raw live results: CM Punk & Jey Uso face-to-face

Posted on by Joseph Collins

With their title match at Saturday Night’s Main Event approaching, CM Punk and Jey Uso will meet on WWE Raw tonight for a face-to-face confrontation.

A new World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned this Saturday when Punk and Uso face off at SNME. The championship — which Punk had already earned a shot at — was vacated by Seth Rollins due to a shoulder injury. Uso claimed the spot opposite Punk at SNME by winning a battle royal last week.

The next challenger for Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio will be determined tonight in a matchup between Penta and Rusev. The past few weeks have seen Penta and Rusev interfere in each other’s title bouts looking to get their hands on Dominik.

WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella is set for action tonight, taking on Roxanne Perez after recently saving Stephanie Vaquer from a Judgment Day attack.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

Live in front of a sell-out crowd in Anaheim, California. 

CM Punk & Jey Uso Face to Face.

The vacant World Championship belt was on a podium in the ring. Can I make the bold suggestion that while the crowd really digs the entrance, it’s kind of death for the viewer at home with nothing happening. As I typed that, Jey “ran it back” so between the recaps to start the show and Jey’s entrance, nothing really happened for almost ten minutes. Jey finally welcomed us to “Mon-Jey Night Raw.” Jey complained about having “everybody in my ear:” Jimmy, Roman, his mama, your mama. But he’s only listening to himself now and focused on winning the World Title. 

Cue “Cult of Personality” and CM Punk came out to talk.  Punk and Uso circled the ring with the World Championship belt between them. Punk asked the fans if they wanted him to run his music back, and it actually started to, but was cut off after only a few bars. “Sorry for stealing your stuff… four letters, one word, PUNK.” Punk’s happy that Jey is finally listening to himself. It’s no secret Punk and Jey are friends (I literally did not know that) and that makes it harder for Punk to face Jey. 

When Punk mentioned Jey tossing Jimmy out of the battle royal, the crowd boos and Punk admonished them for booing since that was well within the rules. Punk asked Uso how far he’s willing to go to be champion, because Punk needs to be champion “like he needs air in his lungs.” How far is Uso willing to go, Punk asks, when Punk has knocked Uso’s grill out of his mouth and he’s “in a situation [he] can’t Yeet [his] way out of?” 

“Screw you, Punk!” Punk is trying to turn things around to make Uso the bad guy, but Uso will show Punk who the best in the world is on Saturday Night. Uso left, and Punk looked longingly at the championship belt.

— In the back, Dominik Mysterio complained about Adam Pearce setting up a contender’s match for his Intercontinental title. Dom wanted some help, but Finn Balor and JD McDonough were going to try and get their tag team titles back. Roxanne Perez wanted to help, but Raquel Rodriguez wanted her to focus on Nikki Bella. Dom walked off talking on his phone, alluding to getting help from someone else. 

— O’Shea Jackson and members of the LA Galaxy were shown in the Anaheim crowd.

Penta v. Rusev in a #1 Contender’s Match for the Intercontinental Championship 

Winner gets a title match with Dominik at Saturday Night’s Main event. I feel like the chances of a disputed finishes leading to a three-way are quite high. Penta knocked Rusev to the floor and hit a tope con hilo. Back in the ring, Penta hit a springboard tornado DDT for a near fall. Rusev dropped to the floor to regroup, and caught Penta with a right hand when he followed him out. 

Back in the ring, Rusev squashed Penta in the corner with an avalanche. Penta came back with a back stabber for another near fall. A sliding dropkick sent Rusev to the floor. Penta followed again, but this time Rusev flap-jacked him into the post. 

After a commercial, Rusev went after Penta’s mask. Penta jumped into a bearhug, but fought his way out of it. Penta dodged a charge in the corner and caught him with the “corner handstand kick” for a third near fall. Penta kicked at Rusev who was out on his knees. The crowd was solidly behind Penta. 

Penta dove into a superkick from Rusev for a near fall. Rusev went for the Accolade, but Penta  countered with the Penta Diver for a near fall. The crowd screamed “ref you suck!” As Rusev and Penta fought, Rayo and Bravo Americano, along with El Grande Americano, ran in and attacked both Rusev and Penta. The match ended in a no-contest. After the match, Rusev dumped Rayo and Bravo. Penta went after El Grande, but he got away. 

Match Result: Rusev and Penta ends in a no-contest (10:01). 

— Jackie Redmond interviewed LA Knight in the back, and he wants whoever wins the world title belt on Saturday. 

— Bron Breakker still doesn’t understand why he and Bronson Reed didn’t just go destroy everyone in the battle royal, since that’s the clearest path to the world title. Paul Heyman’s answer was that 20 is less than one. If Bron takes out the one guy who is in the way of getting the next title shot, Bron’s path to the world title is clear. And so tonight, it’s LA Knight and Bron Breakker, YEAH. 

— A video package on a decade of Asuka in WWE. Highlights of Asuka tearing through NXT and WWE, highlighting her undefeated streak, Royal Rumble win, Money in the Bank win, Elimination Chamber win and other wins were shown. 

— JD McDonough and Finn Balor went to Adam Pearce looking for their tag team title rematch. Instead, JD got a match with Sheamus. Pearce also had some news for Dominik Mysterio, but that’s a plot thread to be resolved later. 

Nikki Bella v. Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)

Perez mock-worshipped Bella, which earned her a slap. Perez then got caught with a shot that might have legit stunned her for a bit. Perez dropped to the floor after a face buster and Bella tossed her about the ringside area. 

Back in the ring, Rodriguez snapped Bella’s neck against the ring rope while Perez distracted the ref. Bella gave Perez nothing during the opening few minutes. 

After a break, Perez hit a running uppercut on Bella while she was against the ropes. Perez hit a double jump moonsault off the middle rope for a near fall. Perez cranked away at Bella’s neck with a neck vice. Perez went after the back of Bella’s neck with forearms, then did push-ups to taunt the former Diva’s champion. 

Bella double-legged Perez and caught her with a running boot. Bella drove Perez’s face into the mat, which Perez sold liked crazy. After both women struggled back to the their feet, Bella hit a series of clotheslines and a dropkick. Bella hit a version of the Disaster Kick for a near fall. 

Bella went for the Rack Attack 2.0, but Perez countered with a sleeper. Bella escaped, but Perez tripped her up into the ropes. Bella hit a spinebuster for a near fall. Rodriguez jumped up on the apron, so Bella knocked her down. Perez caught Bella with a cradle for two, Bella caught Perez with a cradle for two. Bella went for charge in the corner, but Perez ducked and Bella hit the middle buckle, jarring her neck. Perez hit the Pop Rocks out of the corner for the victory.

After the match, Rodriguez hit Bella, and Stephanie Vaquer ran in to make the save. Vaquer and Rodriguez had a bit of a stare down. Bella tried to interject herself into the stare down, but it didn’t really work. I think the message was supposed to be Nikki and Steph standing up to Rodriguez, but it came off more like Nikki seeking attention, literally sticking herself in where she didn’t belong.

Match Result: Roxanne Perez defeated Nikki Bella (11:16)

— In the back, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria psyched each other up for their title match. But the Kabuki Warriors think they’re the ones that deserve a title shot. 

— Jimmy Uso yelled at Jey Uso for following the rules of the battle royal last week. Jimmy also suggested that Jey was afraid to find out what would happen if they went one-on-one again. The crowd will be bored again like at WrestleMania 41?

Bron Breakker (w/ Bronson Reed & Paul Heyman)  v. LA Knight

Knight held up a fan’s sign: “We Want LA Knight not Jey.” Wade Barrett laid out the stakes for the match: “whoever loses will not be in line for a title shot.” 

After giving Knight a little bit of offense, Bron ran through Knight with a clothesline. Bron legitimately looked like a blur while he ran the ropes. Knight came back with a crossbody, but Breakker buried a knee in his midsection. Knight caught Bron with some left handed jabs and stomped him in the corner. Knight caught Bron with a running knee and Breakker dropped down to the floor to regroup. 

Knight hit Bron with a dropkick to the floor heading into a break. During the break, Reed distracted Knight which allowed Bron to press-slam Knight onto the table. 

Bron was back in control after the break, hitting an avalanche knee in the corner and suplexing Knight over the ropes to the floor. Bron ran halfway around the ring and hit Knight on the floor with a flying tackle. 

Back in the ring, Knight fought his way out of a chinlock and hit a flying clothesline of his own. Knight caught Breakker with a jumping neckbreaker, pop-up powerslam and a jumping elbow. Knight went for the BFT, but Breakker escaped and hit Knight with a knee. Breakker went for the top-rope Frankensteiner, but Knight slipped off the buckles and sent Breakker tumbling down to the mat in an ugly way. 

Knight set up Breakker for a superplex. Bron pushed him down, so Knight ran up the ropes and superplexed Bron off the top rope for a near fall! Knight went for the BFT again, but Breakker escaped. Bronson Reed distracted Knight, giving Bron the opening for the spear. But Knight ducked and Bron went to the floor. Knight went after Reed on the floor, then sent Breakker headfirst into the commentator’s table. 

Back in the ring, Breakker tried for a gorilla press, but Knight escaped and hit a reverse DDT. Knight went up top for an elbow, but Breakker kipped up as Knight jumped. Knight rolled through, jumped up and ran into a spear from Breakker, who got the pinfall. Honestly it felt like Bron gave Knight too much. 

Math Result: Bron Breakker pinned LA Knight (13:32) 

— Backstage, Adam Pearce found Dominik Mysterio talking to the Americano Familia. Pearce made Dom v. Rusev v. Penta for the Intercontinental title at Saturday Night’s Main Event. 

— Jey confronted Jimmy about him winning about the battle royal, and they seemingly made amends.

JD McDonough (w/ Finn Balor) v. Sheamus  

Sheamus brutalized McDonough in the opening. Sheamus backdropped JD so high I think his ears popped. McDonough clipped Sheamus’ leg and got a brief advantage, but JD turned his back on Sheamus and got clotheslined to the floor. On the floor, Sheamus and Balor had a staredown. Back in the ring, McDonough hit a slingshot spinning splash but barely got a one count. Sheamus set up McDonough for the forearms against the ropes, but Finn pulled JD to the floor. So Sheamus hit both Finn and JD with a clothesline off the apron to the floor. 

After a commercial, McDonough was in control with a chinlock. Sheamus got to his feet and managed to send both him and JD to the floor. McDonough caught Sheamus with an Asai Moonsault on the floor. Back in the ring, McDonough hit a 450 splash for a near fall. 

McDonough tried kicking and slapping Sheamus, which only fired Sheamus back up. Sheamus floored JD with a pair of clotheslines and the Irish Curse backbreaker. McDonough escaped the Ten Beats again and caught Sheamus with a cradle for two. Sheamus finally gut JD tied up in the ropes and mauled him with multiple forearms. 

Sheamus went for the Brougue Kick, but McDonough caught him with knee. Sheamus gave McDonough a crucifix powerbomb, but Finn put McDonough’s foot on the ropes to break the count. Sheamus dropped to the floor and gave Finn the big boot.  McDonough dove through the ropes for the save, but Sheamus cut him off. 

Back in the ring, Sheamus went to the top, but Balor hit Sheamus with his shillelagh, and Sheamus fell on the turnbuckles. McDonough then took Sheamus down to the mat with a Spanish Fly off the top rope, and got the pinfall! Wade Barrett sold this as the biggest singles win of McDonough’s career.

Match Result: JD McDonough pinned Sheamus (13:39)

— Adam Pearce offered Maxine Dupri a third match with Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Dupri isn’t ready for the match yet. “So it’s official, eventually.” 

— Jackie Redmond interviewed the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair. Bliss said if you want a title shot, all you have to do is ask.  Flair and Bliss are two successful title defenses away from having the most defenses in history! The Kabuki Warriors interrupted to say they’re the only ones who deserve to be tag team champions. Charlotte replied she would be honored to defend the titles against them. 

— AJ Styles and Dragon Lee were asking Adam Pearce for worthy opponents for their tag team titles. Finn Balor and JD McDonough interrupted looking for their title rematch, and Dragon Lee agreed to the title match for next week. 

Next week on Raw (so far): 

  • Nikki Bella & Stephanie Vaquer v. Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez 
  • AJ Styles & Dragon Lee v. JD McDonough & Finn Balor for the WWE World Tag Team Championship

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

This is the fifth defense for Flair and Bliss. Bliss and Bayley started out. Charlotte got a blind tag and caught Bayley with a clothesline. Bliss got the tag again and took Bayley down with a head scissors. Lyra and Charlotte tagged in. They exchanged arm-ringers and creative escapes from arm-ringers. The crowd did the fireflies thing with their phones. Valkyria sent Flair to the floor and followed her out with a dropkick through the ropes. 

After a commercial, Valkyria was tying up Bliss with a submission hold, then transitioned into the seatbelt cradle for a near fall. Bayley got the tag and Bayley held Bliss up in a fireman’s carry so Lyra could hit a running blockbuster. Bliss came back with a double DDT on both Bayley and Lyra.

Flair got the hot tag and came off the top with a crossbody. Flair chopped away at Bayley and Valkyria. Flair hit a cartwheel clothesline. Flair dumped both Lyra and Bayley with fallaway slams, then hit them both with a moonsault. Charlotte went for the cover on Lyra, but she got a shoulder up at two. 

Charlotte sent Bayley to the floor with a big boot, and Valkyria caught her with a leg lariat. Bayley fired up demanding a tag, got it, and ran in to give Charlotte a knee. Bayley hit an elbow off the middle ropes on Charlotte, dropkicked Bliss, and hit Charlotte with the belly to belly suplex for a near fall. 

Charlotte caught Bayley with a boot, and Bliss got the blind tag. Lyra got the tag, and (not realizing who was legal) ran right into the Sister Abigail DDT from Bliss for two, but Bayley made the save. Bayley and Charlotte fought on the floor. Bliss came off the top with a crossbody on Lyra, but she caught her and turned it into the Night Wing for another near fall with Charlotte making the save. 

Charlotte and Bayley got tagged in, and Bayley hit a Thez Press. Bayley and Charlotte brawled until Charlotte floored Bayley with a boot. Charlotte locked in the Figure Eight. Lyra kept Bayley from tapping out, and Bliss came off the top with a Twisted Bliss. Charlotte and Bliss gave each other a nod, then hit twin Natural Selections on their opponents. Charlotte then pinned Bayley to retain the titles. This was a fantastic TV match.

Match Result: Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss beat Bayley & Lyra Valkyria to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles when Flair pinned Bayley (14:13)

After the match, the Kabuki Warriors ran in and attacked the tag champs. Asuka held Flair open for an Insane Elbow. The Warriors went after Lyra as well, but Bayley stood them down. The Kabuki Warriors backed away while Bayley tended to Lyra and the tag champs sold on the floor to end the show.

WWE SmackDown live results: Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre conflict continues

Posted on by Marc Quill

After last week’s impromptu match, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre will both be in the building for tonight’s SmackDown from Tempe, Arizona.

McIntyre won last week’s title match by DQ after he hit Rhodes with the title belt. With their rematch at November 1’s Saturday Night’s Main Event now official, both men will advance their storyline tonight.

In a non-title match, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will look to return to her winning ways when she takes on Kiana James. The business associate to Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia found herself in this match after having some choice words for Stratton last Friday.

Ilja Dragunov became the new United States Champion last week by defeating Sami Zayn in an open challenge. Dragunov has vowed to continue the open challenge series and make his first title defense tonight.

A grudge match between Fraxiom and DIY was originally made for tonight but isn’t listed on the official WWE.com preview for the show. We’ll see if that bout is still on.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

– Over a live shot of the Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ, we were taken to a recap of last week’s chaos with Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre and an injured Jacob Fatu.

– After the recap, Rhodes was shown arriving backstage as Jimmy Uso welcomed him. Jimmy thanked Rhodes for sticking up for Fatu last week.

Cody Rhodes opens SmackDown

The Undisputed WWE Champion headed out to the ring to address the challenge of Drew McIntyre at Saturday Night’s Main Event next week.

”So, Tempe, Arizona, what do you wanna talk about?” asked Rhodes before he turned attention to what he did to McIntyre last week, something he described as being “uncharacteristic of him”.

Before Rhodes could continue, Drew McIntyre himself interrupted and remained incredulous that the crowd would cheer for Rhodes over him. McIntyre ranted about the crowd cheering for Rhodes no matter what he did, even with the title belt strike last week. McIntyre said that this had now become about him finishing the story, and he’d do it next week.

McIntyre again deflected blame for the Jacob Fatu attack, trying to insinuate Jimmy Uso as the culprit. Rhodes angrily interrupted and challlenged the Scotsman to a fight. As McIntyre and Rhodes got ready for a fight, Jimmy Uso leapt from the barricade and went on the attack. Security poured in to break up the skirmish but not before Uso got in a dive between the ropes on McIntyre.

With order being attempted to be restored, Solo Sikoa and The M.F.T.s made their way to the ring for our opening contest, which was coming up next.

A wild and chaotic opening buoyed by Jimmy Uso’s anger-filled attack on McIntyre, which will undoubtedly set up our main event for tonight.

**********

– Backstage, McIntyre yelled at Nick Aldis to do something, but Jimmy Uso again attacked as security stopped the chaos once more.

The MFTs (JC Mateo & Tama Tonga) (w/ Solo Sikoa & Rey Fenix)

Nakamura and Tama started off this match. Tama went on the attack against Nakamura with a series of strikes, but he found himself downed by a knee to the gut. Fenix and Mateo tagged in and had their turn of the action.

Fenix launched himself from the rope with an elevated armdrag as Nakamura entered the match with a tag. The two showed impressive teamwork in the corner at Mateo’s expense, which forced the M.F.T.s to retreat to ringside as we took a commercial break.

Our match returned as Tama stopped Fenix’s atrempts to reach his corner with a fierce lariat. Mateo re-entered the match and slammed Fenix with a bomb as the M.F.T.s continued the momentum. Fenix created some needed separation with an enzuigiri as Nakamura got the hot tag.

Nakamura atrempted to lift Mateo, but to no avail. Mateo answered with a twisting back suplex that kept Nakamura grounded. As Tama tagged in, Fenix made his presence known with a springboard on Tama. He followed that up with the Goodbye, Amigo tightrope kick. Things broke down further, which led to Fenix leaping onto Tama and Mateo on the outside.

As Fenix tried to go up top, Solo Sikoa created a distraction, as Talla Tonga chokeslammed Fenix onto the apron. This weakened Fenix for Tama’s Hidden Blade-style running elbow for the three and the win for the M.F.T.s

Match Result: The M.F.T.s def. Rey Fenix & Shinsuke Nakamura via pinfall

Not a bad first outing for the “Bloodline with a new hat”. A decent tag opener for sure.

**********

– Backstage, Jimmy Uso spoke with Nick Aldis and through all this, we learned that our main event tonight would be Jimmy taking on Drew McIntyre in a No Disqualification match.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Kiana James (w/ Giulia)

Stratton wrenched James’s arm to start us off, as the two got into a bit of a stalemate afterwards, owing to both women’s gymnastics backgrounds. Stratton connected with consecutive armdrags on James before she again went after the arm with a submission. James attempted to fight back with a forearm strike, but she found herself taken down by a dropkick. A running hip strike against a stunned James across the middle ropes sent her to the outside. Stratton continued the punishment with a right hand strike. Giulia provided a distraction by stepping up to Stratton, which allowed James to throw the WWE Women’s Champion into the barricade, as we took a break in the action.

We returned to our match as James flattened Stratton with a running big boot to the face, but couldn’t put her foe away. James punched at Stratton, who responded with a jawbreaker that took her and Giulia’s business manager down out. Both women struggled to get up as they then battered away at one another with strikes to one another. Stratton got the better of James and nailed the handspring elbow into the corner, followed by her signature Alabama Slam. Stratton connected with the Rolling Senton, but couldn’t capitalize with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

James responded with a Falcon Arrow but again only got a near-fall in the process. In the corner, James placed Stratton on the top rope, but couldn’t get the Superplex as she was shoved aside to the canvas. Stratton soared with a Swanton Bomb, as she followed that up with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the victory.

After the match, Stratton’s victory was cut short as Giulia attacked with the Arrivederci Knee. Before Giulia could dole out more damage, Jade Cargill ran in and sent Giulia scurrying with a pump kick. As Giulia and James backed off, Cargill offered a hand to Stratton, who accepted the help of her former foe. However, that seemed to be an all-too-fleeting moment as Cargill abruptly smashed Stratton with a clothesline. The embittered Cargill refused to let up with her attack on Stratton, throwing her around at ringside into the steel steps and ring post.

With Stratton unable to defend herself, Cargill stomped away on her behind the announce table as referees and officials led by Jamie Noble tried and failed to stop the assault. As Stratton’s leg was planted along one of the steel steps, Cargill stomped on it before she walked off.

Match Result: Tiffany Stratton def. Kiana James via pinfall

A good match, but the real story was Jade Cargill’s heel turn, which was much needed for her as she was feeling kind of stale as a face. Could be what’s needed to refresh SmackDown’s flagging women’s division.

**********

– Sami Zayn congratulated Ilja Dragunov on his U.S. Title victory last week, as he passed on the U.S. Championship Open Challenge onto the new champion. In Zayn’s mind, Dragunov was the right guy to carry on the legacy of these Open Challenges as he hyped up the champ.

– Jade Cargill was asked about her actions as she said that this world does not reward patience and she was ready to take what was hers: the WWE Women’s Championship.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Aleister Black (w/ Zelina Vega)

Before the match, Dragunov addressed the crowd, stating that he missed the fans after being out for so long. He thought he’d never see the light at the end of the tunnel, but he said that he’d never give up. Dragunov declared that he’d defend the title with all his obsession and proudly continue the U.S. Open Challenge. “Tonight, pain shall entertain you,” Dragunov said.

Black and Dragunov locked up to begin the match before the challenger attempted to take control with his fierce kicks. Black countered the Constantin Special with a kick before Zelina Vega threw Dragunov into the barricade with a hurricanrana. Black absolutely pasted Dragunov with a running kick to the face from the apron to send us to the break.

We returned from commercial with Black and Dragunov exchanging fierce blows, as the U.S. Champ connected with an enzuigiri. Dragunov followed that with a running strike to the corner on a stunned Black. Dragunov then threw Black around with repeated German suplexes followers by a unique rotating suplex for the near-fall.

As Dragunov headed to the top rope, Vega created a distraction, which allowed Black to stop Dragunov’s attack. From the top, a Black Meteora stunned Dragunov. Suplex attempt was turned into a rollup by Dragunov for the two. Black once again drove a knee to the back of Dragunov, but couldn’t get the three. Black failed to connect with some sort of springboard attack, as Dragunov struck with the Constantin Special and this match went to a second break in the action.

The match returned with Dragunov taking off from the top rope with a dropkick on a prone Black. He then flew from the top with a sentin for a two. Dragunov had Black targeted for the Torpedo Moscow, but was met with a knee to the face. One, two… not quite!

Black had Dragunov in his sights for the Black Mass, but he missed and fell victim to a Torpedo Moscow instead. Dragunov got up and attempted to finish this off with an H-Bomb, but Zelina Vega pulled at his leg. This earned Vega an ejection from the match. At that moment, Damian Priest marched down to the ring, with eyes on revenge on Black. Priest removed his sunglasses to reveal a burn mark as Black was distracted long enough for a Torpedo Moscow from Dragunov and the the three.

Post-match, an irate Priest attacked Black as he got two chairs and cleared away the commentary table as he looked to dish out some ultimate damage. Zelina Vega leapt onto Priest’s back and scratched at the burnt eye, which allowed Black to escape a most grisly fate.

Match Result: Ilja Dragunov def. Aleister Black via pinfall to retain the United States Championship

A fantastic Open Challenge match. I’m glad Dragunov is continuing it. However, I’m not too hot on the Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest feud continuing longer than it needs to.

**********

– Carmelo Hayes was interviewed about his attack on The Miz last week. Hayes said that everyone was expecting him to say he was happy to attack the Miz, but he wasn’t going to do that because revenge was a double-edged sword. Hayes noted that he was ready to get his career back on track with thanks to the support of the people and he owes it to get back to being “HIM”. Kit Wilson interrupted and trashed Hayes for being a proponent of “toxic masculinity”, and found himself set for a match against Hayes on next week’s SmackDown.

– Ilja Dragunov met with Fraxiom and said that the Open Challenge would continue. #DIY taunted Fraxiom, who called Gargano and Ciampa a scared duo. Tama Tonga then appeared and mocked Fraxiom as he did his signature “yeah yeah yeah” taunt.

– Nia Jax appeared to question Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss’s friendship, which led to a match between Bliss and Jax to be made for next week.

No Disqualification Match: Jimmy Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

Things got going right away as Uso and McIntyre brawled at ringside for a bit before the action spilled into the ring. McIntyre pummeled Uso in the corner with strikes, before he found himself lit up with chops to the chest. McIntyre struck Uso with a hard kick to the chest, as he then continued the punishment with a clubbing blow to the back. Uso fought back and clotheslined McIntyre to the outside. He then followed this up with an attempted suicide dive that was met with a forearm from the surly Scotsman.

At ringside, Uso slammed McIntyre’s face across the steel steps, which sent McIntyre retreating into the crowd. Uso followed suit and the fight continued into the stands. McIntyre attempted a DDT onto the floor, but got countered into a suplex by Uso. McIntyre was thrown back over the barricade into the ringside area afterwards. Uso obliged the crowd’s demand for tables by pulling one out from underneath the ring, which was suitable enough for our final commercial break of the evening.

We returned to SmackDown’s main ewvent with McIntyre lifting Uso onto his shoulders, but instead getting blasted with a kick to the head. Outside the ring, Uso tightrope walked across the barricade in the hopes of nailing a splash, but he got caught by McIntyre, who threw him for a belly to belly suplex onto the floor.

McIntyre grabbed a steel chair from the timekeepers area and immediately struck Uso in the ribs before whacking his foe across the back with it. McIntyre unfolded the chair and smashed Uso’s face on the seated portion. He set Uso up for a Claymore, but a drop toehold instead sent the Scotsman face first onto the chair. Uso fired himself up and hit a Whisper in the Wind onto McIntyre for the two-count.

Uso grabbed the chair and went to town on the fallen McIntyre with repeated strikes before he set up the Slim Jim-branded table. As Uso tried to grab at McIntyre, he was caught by surprise with a Future Shock DDT for yet another near-fall. McIntyre tried to go for another Claymore, but he was intercepted with a Samoan Drop onto the table that broke it on impact. Uso tried to go up top for an Uso Splash, but McIntyre threw a chair in his face to counter it. This allowed McIntyre to finish things off with a Claymore Kick for the pin and win in our main event.

After the match, McIntyre placed Uso’s neck across a chair and pressed on it, which led to officials running down in the hopes of breaking it up. Just then, Cody Rhodes ran down and mixed it up with McIntyre, as he thrw him over the timekeeper’s area. McIntyre recovered and took out Rhodes with a Claymore as the Levesque & Fitting producer credits signalled the end of the show.

Match Result: Drew McIntyre defeated Jimmy Uso via pinfall

**********

Standard SmackDown main event followed by standard post-match shenanigans to top of a moderately good show. This Rhodes/McIntyre feud is at least a hot one, but I’m feeling a bit cold on it, if we’re being honest.

Other than that, tonight’s show had some decent-to-great in-ring action that buoyed everything else, and I dare say that SmackDown has been better than above-average as of late. Ilja Dragunov’s U.S. Title Open Challenge and a needed heel turn for Jade Cargill were the standouts of tonight’s show, in my view.

WWE NXT live results: Halloween Havoc go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Ricky Saints and Trick Williams sign the contract for their Halloween Havoc match tonight on NXT.

The NXT Championship will be on the line this Saturday when Saints and Williams clash at Halloween Havoc. It’s the first title defense for Saints, who defeated Oba Femi last month to become champion. Tonight’s official contract signing is their last interaction before the PLE.

Sol Ruca has been scheduled to defend her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Blake Monroe on Saturday, but the status of that match is now up in the air due to a potential injury Ruca suffered on SmackDown. Ruca will address the fans tonight and give an update on her condition.

TNA gold will be up for grabs on the episode with X-Division Champion Leon Slater defending against Stacks.

A new tournament will begin as WWE looks to determine a number one contender for men’s Speed Champion El Grande Americano. The first two matchups are Axiom vs. Sean Legacy and Jasper Troy vs. Zachary Wentz.

Plus, Hank & Tank battle OTM in tag team action.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

NXT is on the air before a live studio audience from the Performance Center in Orlando.

The Culling open the show with an in-ring promo where Tatum Paxley celebrates her win last week on NXT. Izzi Dame is at Paxley’s side. Shawn Spears and Niko Vance flank them, as Paxley recites a promo where she is giddy with excitement.

While they are soon interrupted by the Fatal Influence trio, Paxley gets a few minutes of spotlight. Dame and Jayne eventually get in each other’s face, potentially setting up a match between the two.

At first, the studio audience chants “you deserve it” for Paxley. She gushes over them and their support. She also puts over her friendship with Dame, whom she called her best friend. Paxley could not be happier than being with The Culling, and Paxley promises to bring a singles title to the faction.

From there, enter Fatal Influence. A tirade from Jayne follows where she says Paxley has no chance in winning the title. Jayne cuts a scathing promo on Paxley, then she tries to sew dissension between Paxley and Dame. That is when Dame verbally gets into it with Jayne.

A brawl eventually erupts and Fatal Influence are sent packing. Glares are exchanged. The tension builds ahead of Halloween Havoc.

Leon Slater (with Je’Von Evans) vs. Stacks (with Arianna Grace) for the TNA X-Division Championship

This was a really good television match with a lot of action. The match goes through a commercial break, and Slater gets to shine just before the show cuts to commercials. High flying and a plancha to the outside by Slater. Evans is hyped at ringside, and he celebrates with Slater. They are near the announce desk, and Evans gets on the headset to send the show to break.

When the show returns from the break, Stacks is working over Slater. As Slater makes a comeback, Arianna Grace jumps on the apron to help Stacks. Slater hits the ropes with a handspring, causing Grace to go sailing off the apron into the waiting arms of Evans. A jealous Stacks freaks out like Randy with Liz, and Slater pays the price by taking a bump on the announce desk.

On the home stretch, Slater runs corner to corner with a flip dive over the ring post to the floor. Slater flew back into the ring with a 450 splash, and Slater covers Stacks for a clean three count. Great way to open the show.

Match result: TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater defeated Stacks via pinfall to retain the title.

Afterwards is an in-ring promo from Slater and Evans. They want to team together at Halloween Havoc against a team from anywhere. Out comes Mr. Iguana and La Parka to answer the challenge, which looks to set up a tag bout for Halloween Havoc this weekend.

Mr. Iguana is over huge with the crowd, as is La Yesca. Iguana questions whether they could have even have Halloween Havoc without them. They already spoke to NXT General Manager Ava, and the tag bout is booked for Halloween Havoc.

— Zachary Wentz and Jasper Troy each hype their match in pre-tape promos, before the show cuts to a commercial break.

Jasper Troy vs. Zachary Wentz in a first round match in the WWE Speed Men’s Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament

—

Being a “Speed” match, the match was short, yet packed with action. They made to most of their time. Wentz gets some near falls, but he ultimately is pinned clean. Troy with a swinging uranage slam, and he covers Wentz for a clean pin.

Match result: Jasper Troy defeated Zachary Wentz to advance in the tournament.

— TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan is banned from the NXT women’s locker room, and the roster dumps her belongings on the floor outside the door. Jordynne Grace tries to help Jordan, only for Jordan to cut a promo on her.

The Hardys transforms into “Broken” characters in vignette

Darkstate is cutting a promo when they are supernaturally interrupted by Matt and Jeff Hardy from their family compound. The brothers go into the Lake of Reincarnation, and they emerge again as Broken Matt Hardy and Brother Nero.

Broken Matt announces they will face Darkstate in a “Broken Rules” match at Halloween Havoc, and Darkstate is scheduled for deletion. Delete…delete…delete!

— Clips from Smackdown show Sol Ruca suffering a knee injury. Cut to present day, and Ruca is walking with a crutch backstage alongside Zaria. On Ruca’s knee is a large brace. Ruca is headed to the ring to address the audience after a commercial break.

Sol Ruca vacates title; new Women’s North American Championship match set for PLE

—

An emotional Sol Ruca talks about her injury, and she does not know when she will return. Ruca was basically saying she would vacate her titles when Blake Monroe interrupts her. Ruca at the moment held both the NXT Women’s North American title, along with being the WWE Speed Women’s Champion.

Monroe gets into the ring and offers sarcastic condolences. Monroe then lobbies for the North American title. Zaria takes exception to Monroe wanting to simply be awarded the championship, as Ruca fought to win and defend the title.

Monroe accuses Zaria of fighting all of Ruca’s battles, and even Ruca herself says Monroe has a point. Ruca goes on to talk about not knowing how long until she is cleared, but Zaria assures her that Zaria has got it until then.

This all sets up Zaria subbing for Ruca in a title match against Monroe at Halloween Havoc. Monroe gets into it with Ava, and Ava checks her. Ava then makes the match official for the PLE. Monroe seethes at Ava, and Zaria steps in to give Monroe a F-5. Zaria then snatches the belt from Ruca, and Zaria poses with the title belt.

What started as an emotional speech from Ruca turned into a contrived angle by the end.

Axion vs. Sean Legacy in a first round match in the WWE Speed Men’s Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament

—

While the earlier Speed match was good, this bout was even better. Great finish where it came down to the wire, with seconds remaining as they go home. Los Americanos are watching the match from ringside seats.

Spanish Fly off the top rope, and Axiom covers Legacy for the finish, which capped off a hot match. They pulled off the finish so well, with under 10 seconds remaining as they do the Spanish Fly. A second remained as Axiom scores the clean pin.

Match result: Axiom defeated Sean Legacy via pinfall to advance in the tournament.

— The upcoming title match at Halloween Havoc with NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defending his title against challenger (and AAA Latin American Champion) El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. is the focus of a video package hyping the bout. Great stuff here.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Lucien Price & Bronco Nima

—

Hank & Tank battle OTM in a hoss fight, and the fight begins before the bell sounds to start the match. Hank & Tank jump OTM during their entrance. Bedlam before the bell, and that continues as the match gets under way.

Heat on Hank, with OTM cutting him off from his corner. OTM work over Hank, and they toy with him. However, Hank creates separation and rolls into a hot tag. Tank in and he gets a near fall after a flying shoulder tackle.

Hank takes an uranage slam, and he rolls out of the ring. Tank then fights two-on-one, and he is cut off. Tank takes an assisted spinebuster, and Price covers Tank for a clean pinfall.

Match result: Lucien Price & Bronco Nima defeated Hank Walker & Tank Ledher when Price pinned Ledger.

In a post-match beat down, OTM jump Hank & Tank after the bell. Hank is hit with a shot from the ring steps, and Tank takes is sent crashing through the announce desk. Hank & Tank are not only pinned clean, but they are beaten up again for good measure. Hank & Tank lost clean and were then laid out.

— Lash Legend insults Wren Sinclair in a locker room skit that included product placement with sponsor Maybelline. Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey sticks up for Sinclair, which seems to set up a match between Legend and Grey.

Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid (with Fallon Henley) vs. Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame (with The Culling)

—

The tag bout goes through a commercial break. The babyfaces were fired up just before the show goes to commercial. Paxley swings in through the ropes with a wrecking ball dropkick on Henley. However, Reid ties up Paxley’s legs, which allows Jayne to deliver a draping neckbreaker on Paxley. The heels are in control as the show cuts to the break.

Back from the break, and Dame cleans house after a hot tag. Melee develops, and when the smoke clears there are Paxley squaring off with Jayne. Challenger against champion, and Paxley held her own until Henley causes a distraction.

Henley jumps on the apron to distract both the referee and get the attention of Dame. Henley takes a bump into the ring after Dame strikes her. Dame then goes to run the ropes, but she is tripped up by Reid and pulled outside. In the ring, Jayne with a Rolling Encore that drops Paxley. Jayne then covers Paxley for a pinfall. So, the champ pins the challenger clean ahead of their title match. Take that for what it is worth.

Match result: Jacy Jayne & Lainey Reid defeated Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame when Jayne pinned Paxley.

Henley and Reid jump Dame after the match, and they send her crashing into the ring steps. Dame is down and out while Paxley is left defenseless in the ring. The heel trio surround Paxley. She is held by Reid and Henley for Jayne to taunt her.

Jayne goes to hit Paxley with the title belt, but Paxley jumps up to kick Jayne. Paxley then fights off Reid and Henely, as they bump and feed. Paxlet then executes her finisher on Jayne. Paxley concludes the segment by posing with the women’s title belt.

NXT Champion Ricky Saints is heading to the ring, as is Trick Williams. They meet face-to-face in the ring for a contract signing.

Contract signing for NXT Championship Match at Halloween Havoc

—

Ava is the ring with security surrounding her. She is standing at a table when she introduces both Saints and Trick. Ava first brings out the challenger, followed by the champ. They take a seat on opposite ends of the table set up in the ring.

Trick claims Saints is jealous that Trick is still the man in NXT, despite Saints being the champion. Trick says that is why he left Saints hanging a few weeks ago at Showdown. Trick wants to prove he is the only one that can carry NXT on his back.

Pivoting on NXT, Trick says to not “get it twisted” with him and NXT. Trick says he owes nothing to NXT. Trick is only loyal to one man, and that person is Trick himself.

“Trick Williams loves himself Trick Williams,” Trick said.

Trick vows to become a three-time NXT champ. Saints responds by saying the title can ether make the holder complacent or more ambitious. Saints ponders what did it do for Trick, and Saints concludes Trick started to think he was bigger than the NXT brand. Saints accusing Trick of wanting to leave NXT for a long time.

Trick makes a crack at Saints about the indies. Trick boasts he is Hollywood, thus above going to the indies. Trick claims Saints is cosplaying as champion, and Trick vows to kick his butt and end the “Absolute Era”.

Saints gets fired up while scolding Trick about the indies. Saints claims Trick wants to be like him, because Saints also claims to be more slick and more stylish than Trick. Saints stands up to lay claim as the face of NXT.

Shoving starts as security holds them back, and Trick goes for a cheap shot on Saints. A brawl begins to erupt, as security tries to keep them apart. Saints and Trick both clobber the security holding them back, and Trick boots Saints in the face. Saints counters Trick, and Saints gives Trick a F-5 through the table set up in the ring.

Saints then poses with his title belt while taunting a fallen Trick.

WWE Raw live results: Seth Rollins injury fallout

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Tonight’s WWE Raw on Netflix from Sacramento, California, will see three title matches in addition to the fallout from last week’s shocking angle involving Seth Rollins.

The two perpetrators — Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker — will appear alongside Paul Heyman to address their attack on their now-former Vision factionmate and what’s next for the group.

The future of Rollins’ World Heavyweight title could also be discussed tonight as well as Rollins’ injury.

Becky Lynch will defend the WWE Women’s Intercontinental title against Maxxine Dupri after their recent non-title match Dupri won by countout.

In a rematch from earlier this month, WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio will defend against Rusev.

WWE World Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (Finn Balor & JD McDonagh) defend against AJ Styles & Dragon Lee thanks to the aforementioned Mysterio questioning Raw GM Adam Pearce’s motives.

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 PM Eastern.

**********

Live from Sacramento, California. 

Adam Pearce’s Big Announcement

A recap of last week’s events set up Adam Pearce in the ring to provide a “physical update…” but that’s quickly interrupted by Bron Breakker, Paul Heyman and Bronson Reen entering the arena. Breakker had the WWE World Title belt over his shoulder. Pearce said that Rollins was banged up coming out of the match with Cody Rhodes, but Rollins was put out of action because of what Breakker and Reed did. Pearce stripped Rollins of the world title and announced a battle royal for tonight.

The winner of the battle royal goes on to Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City to face CM Punk for the vacant WWE World Championship. “Bron, I’m gonna need you to hand over that championship.” Breakker balked at the suggestion, but Heyman pulled him aside and seemingly talked some sense into him. Breakker eventually hands the belt over… to Heyman, who handed it over to Pearce. 

Pearce left, and Heyman took a mic to explain his actions. Heyman didn’t dump Roman and betray Punk back at WrestleMania just to get to Seth. He did it to get the Vision, the future of WrestleMania Bron Breakker and the new Tribal Thief  Bronson Reed. Seth isn’t the leader of the vision; he’s a “bum shoulder b!tch.” 

— The other members of the Judgement Day were agitated with Dominik Mysterio, who last week talked Adam Pearce into a tag team title defense against AJ and Dragon Lee tonight. 

WWE World Tag Team Champions The Judgment Day (JD McDonough & Finn Balor) defend against Dragon Lee & AJ Styles

This is the second defense for the champions in 111 days, which Joe Tessitore claimed showed the champions are cowards, but I’d contend is a symptom of PLEs with only five matches on them. McDonough and Balor cut off Lee and worked him over in the their corner. McDonough came off the top with an axe handle. Styles got the tag and tried to run the ropes, but McDonough held them open and Styles tumbled to the floor heading into an ad break. 

After the break, Dragon Lee got the tag and suplexed McDonough. Lee went to the top, but McDonough crotched him. McDonough got tied up hanging upside down in the corner, and Lee came off the top with a double stomp. Balor pulled McDonough out of the ring, and Lee followed them both out with a tope con hilo. Back in the ring, Lee went for a powerbomb on McDonough, but McDonough countered into a powerbomb of his own. 

Styles and Balor got the tags. Balor caught Styles with a slingblade and dumped Lee. Styles came back with a Phenomenal Forearm, but McDonough broke up the pin attempt. Styles caught McDonough with a Pele kick, but McDonough came back with a Spanish Fly for a near fall. McDonough came off the top with a moonsault, Balor came off the top with the foot stomp, but Lee broke up the cover. Lee took out McDonough with a dive.  Styles blocked a Styles Clash from Balor, countered with a Styles Clash of his own, and Styles got the pinfall to win the tag tiles. New Champs! 

Match Result: Dragon Lee & AJ Styles defeated JD McDonough & Finn Balor to win the WWE World Tag Team Championship (13:24)

— In the back, Jimmy and Jey Uso made peace with each other ahead of the battle royal tonight. 

WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio defends against Rusev

Mysterio caught Rusev with a dive before he could get in the ring, then threw him into the ring steps. But once the match started, it was all Rusev, smashing Mysterio with a clothesline and mauling him with shoulderblocks in the corner. Rusev tried to kick off Mysterio’s new neck tattoo. Mysterio caught Rusev with a boot and came off the middle ropes with a pair of axe handle blows. Mysterio tried to set up for the 619, but Rusev came back with a clothesline that missed, but everyone decided to sell it like it hit anyway. Rusev dumped Mysterio to the floor with a fallaway slam heading into an ad break. 

Back in the ring after a 3 minute commercial, Dominik hit a slingshot senton. Dom tried a suplex which Rusev blocked, but Dominik shifted his weight into a DDT for a near fall. Mysterio went to the top for a frog splash, but Rusev got his knees up. Rusev dropped Mysterio with a spinning uranage. Mysterio had enough and tried to leave, but Penta cut him off. Rusev threw Domink into Penta. Penta got in Rusev’s face, so Rusev knocked him out.

Back in the ring, Dominik went for the 619, but Rusev blocked it… and found the timekeeper’s bell in Mysterio’s boot. Rusev was going to use the hammer on Dom, but the ref grabbed the hammer away. As the ref and Rusev argued about the bell hammer, Mysterio kicked Rusev low, hit the 619 and then a frog splash to get the pinfall. 

After the match, Penta hit Rusev with a springboard DDT. 

Match Result: WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio defeated Rusev to retain (9:20)

— UFC greats Max Griffin and Nate Diaz were shown in the crowd. 

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Maxxine Dupri

This is Becky’s 7th defense in 134 days. Dupri is from Sacramento, so she got a great reaction upon being announced. 

Lynch mauled Dupri in the corner with forearms and shoulderblocks. Lynch went for the uranage, but Dupri countered with a rollup for a near fall. Lynch came back and dumped Dupri to the floor. 

After a commercial, Dupri was still on the floor, struggling to get back in the ring. When she did, she caught Becky with a cradle, and countered another attempt at the uranage with a jawbreaker. Dupri hit a pair of flying clotheslines and a set up legdrop for a near fall. Dupri pulled down her straps and hit a running knee for a near fall. Boo/Yay punches, but Lynch got the advantage.

Dupri again escaped the uranage and caught Lynch with a kick, then locked in an ankle lock. Lynch kicked out the ankle lock, and went for an armbar. Dupri reversed the armbar back into the anklelock. Dupri came off the top with a crossbody for two, and Lynch rolled to the floor.  Lynch tried to leave with her belt, but Dupri brought her back to the ring. Lynch finally had enough and hit Dupri with the IC title belt, drawing the disqualification. Becky retained her championship. 

After the match, Lynch drove a knee into Lynch’s face in the corner, then finally put her down with the uranage. 

Match Result: Maxxine Dupri defeated WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch by disqualification (9:43)

Stephanie Vaquer came out to the ring for her match. 

— At some point earlier in the night, a graphic displayed all the participants in the battle royal and included Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. But, Adam Pearce informed Paul Heyman that he’d had a new graphing made because Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker were out of the battle royal. Heyman was then was confronted by Becky Lynch. Just because Seth Rollins didn’t survive the day last week, there is still room for Becky Lynch in the Vision. Becky turns him down, then tried to spin it that Seth knew Heyman was going to turn on him. When Seth returns, he’ll take his aggressions out on whatever “nepo-baby” Heyman has attached himself to. 

WWE World Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)

Vaquer tried for a package piledriver, but Perez escaped and dropped to the floor to regroup. Back in the ring, Vaquer tried for a cradle and got caught with a slap from Perez. Vaquer went for the Devil’s Kiss, but Perez escaped. Behind the ref’s back, Raquel Rodriguez caught Vaquer with a right hand. 

After a break, Vaquer hit a suplex. Vaquer hit a meteoria in the corner, then took Perez out of the corner with a dragon screw leg whip. Vaquer got the Devil’s Kiss, but Vaquer was selling her left wrist was bothering her. Perez then attacked the wrist. Rodriguez distracted Vaquer on the apron, and then Perez snapped Vaquer’s arm against the ropes. Vaquer caught both Perez and Rodriguez with crossbody off the top to the floor.  Back in the ring, Vaquer hit the Angel’s Wings at got the pinfall. 

Perez and Rodriguez attacked Vaquer after the match, but Nikki Bella ran in for the save. Vaquer tried to springboard back into the ring, but slipped and hurt her leg. Eventually Bella and Vaquer stood tall, double-dropkicking Perez out of the ring. This was kind of a mess.

Match Result: WWE World Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer defeated Roxanne Perez to retain (11:58)

— Lyra Valkyra and Bayley have a moment in the back, and Bayley has a surprise for Lyra next week. 

— Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker need an explanation for why they’re not going to be in the battle royal tonight from Paul Heyman, who explains that Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and Roman Reigns are all memorable thanks to him. This somehow satisfied them. 

— Nikki Bella and Stephanie Vaquer have a moment in the locker rooms and agree to have each other’s back. 

Battle royal for WWE World Heavyweight title shot at Saturday Night’s Main Event

Just when it looked like things would get underway, CM Punk came out to join the color commentary team. 

Otis and Rusev had a standoff after a hot start for Otis, but Rusev eliminated him. Rusev booted Tozawa and tossed him, too. Dragon Lee went for a springboard but McDonough and Balor caught him and sent him to the floor. Penta and Rusev brawled on the apron, and Dominik Mysterio shoved them both to the floor. 

After a commercial, Ivar was squashing Jimmy Uso and AJ Styles in the corner. Sheamus and Ivar had a confrontation mid ring. They battled onto the ring apron, and Sheamus gave Ivar White Noise on the apron to eliminate him. El Grande Americano  loaded up his mask, but the Usos gave him a 1D and tossed him. Sheamus tried to eliminate Mysterio, but Balor and McDonough saved him. Sheamus eliminated McDonough and Balor. They then helped Kofi Kingston eliminate Sheamus from the floor. Sheamus brawled with McDonough and Balor, and the officials missed Styles toss Mysterio trying to braek that up. So Mysterio got back into the ring and was able to conitune in the match.

After another break, we’re left with AJ Styles, Kofi Kingston, LA Knight, Dominik Mysterio and The Usos. Kingston monkey-flipped Syles across the ring. Styles dumped Kingston on the ropes (Kingston may have hurt his wrist) and hit him with a forearm to eliminate him. Knight blocked a Styles Clash from Lee. Jey Uso and Knight did “Yeet/Yeah” punches, with Jey Uso dangling from the apron, until Jimmy made the save with a superkick. This was the second time Jimmy saved Jey in the match. 

AJ went for a springboard on the Usos, but they super kicked and eliminated him. Jimmy and LA Knight battled against the ropes, and Jey Uso DUMPED BOTH KNIGHT AND HIS BROTHER JIMMY.  Jimmy was upset; he thought they were looking out for each other! Jey then tossed Dominik for the win. Jimmy was irate, but the fans were still behind Jey because it’s anything goes in a battle royal. 

After the match, CM Punk stood in the ring with Jey Uso and that’s the main event for Saturday Night’s Main Event for the vacant World Title. 

Feels like they should just put the belt on Bron Breakker and let him run roughshod over everyone.

Match Result: Jey Uso won a battle royal to face CM Punk at Saturday Night’s Main Event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (18:28)

WWE SmackDown live results: Cody Rhodes addresses Crown Jewel loss

Posted on by Marc Quill

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown in San Jose, California will be the first since Crown Jewel: Perth.

At the PLE, Cody Rhodes lost to Seth Rollins and was unsuccessful in his mission to repeat as men’s Crown Jewel Champion. Rhodes will kick off the show tonight and address that loss, along with what’s next for him in his WWE Championship reign.

Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss have a title defense tonight against NXT’s Zaria & Sol Ruca — who have made it clear they want the gold. The team known as ZaRuca earned their opportunity after proving themselves several weeks ago with a win over Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre.

Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu are scheduled to finally settle their score in the ring. The two have been involved in a heated rivalry for the past few weeks after Fatu took exception to McIntyre’s ranting. Reports this week have Fatu out for a considerable amount of time with a non-wrestling related injury, so it’s unclear what will develop tonight.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– We opened with a recap of the major events that took place at Crown Jewel concerning Seth Rollins’ big win over Cody Rhodes, followed by the shocking betrayal Rollins suffered at the hands of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed two nights later on Raw. We have Vic Joseph filling in for Michael Cole on commentary, and a returning Corey Graves joining him.

– Inside the ring, SmackDown’s GM Nick Aldis was here to inform us that tonight’s Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre match will now be a No. 1 Contender’s match, with the winner set to face Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. At this time, Rhodes was introduced by Mr. Aldis.

Cody Rhodes opens SmackDown

Rhodes started by stating that he might not feel that he and Seth Rollins need to be in the ring together again, but that’s not how it worked around here. He said that Rollins had some business of his own with a rogue Vision and Paul Heyman to deal with, and he had business of his own to handle as the top guy of SmackDown.

Rhodes sized up both Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre, one of which would be facing him for the Undisputed WWE Title at the next Saturday Night’s Main Event in two weeks time. He concluded that he didn’t know how things would shake out, but Rhodes knew that the road to SNME ran through San Jose.

Standard Cody Rhodes promo to open SmackDown, as the Fatu vs. McIntyre match still appears to be on despite the reported injury that Fatu sustained. We’ll see how that plays out later tonight.

**********

– Solo Sikoa and the M.F.T.s accosted a cameraman who was taking pictures of Rey Fenix, who took exception to Sikoa’s belligerence. Fenix paid for it as the M.F.T.s. laid a beating on him before a vanguard of officials warded them off.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Zaria & Sol Ruca

Blake Monroe was shown in the crowd, stated to be watching Sol Ruca ahead of their Women’s North American Championship match at Halloween Havoc.

Ruca and Flair got things going with a test of strength in the ring before the former escaped the grasp of the latter with a somersault. Flair answered by flipping over the turnbuckle so that she could kick Zaria on the apron. Flair then continued to go to work on Ruca as Bliss got the tag. Bliss connected with a hurricanrana on Ruca that sent her back to her home corner as Zaria entered with a tag.

Bliss tried for a charge, but got caught by Zaria, who lifted her. However, Bliss escaped and attempted a Sister Abigail early on. Zaria answered with a huge spinebuster that sent us to the commercial break.

We returned from the break with Zaria having Bliss trapped in the corner with an elevated sleeper hold from the middle rope. Bliss managed to escape the Aussie’s grip as she tried to reach out for a tag to Flair. Zaria, however, managed to cut Bliss off as Ruca entered the match and sent her championship foe spinning with a tilt-a-whirl drop. Zaria and Ruca tried to connect with an assisted diving attack, but Bliss dodged and managed to get to her corner as Flair got the hot tag.

In the ring, Flair blasted both Zaria and Ruca with chops before she connected with her signature somersault clothesline on the former. Flair then dropped Zaria with a northern lights suplex followed by a taunt towards Ruca. Shortly after, Ruca got a tag as she went to work on Flair with a German suplex in the corner followed by an attempted diving dropkick. Flair intercepted and caught her legs to turn that into a Boston Crab. Flair was in position for the Sol Snatcher by Ruca, which hit its target perfectly. One, two… Bliss managed to break it up in the nick of time.

Outside the ring, Bliss tried to dive at Zaria, but she got thrown against the barricade instead. Flair interjected with a boot to the face as Ruca leapt from the apron to take down the Women’s Tag Champions. Ruca then traded some words with Blake Monroe in the front row, which opened her up to Flair clipping her in the back of her legs. Flair threw Ruca into the ring and proceeded to lock the Figure Eight submission hold, with Ruca being forced to tap shortly after.

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Zaria & Sol Ruca via submission to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

That was a fun opening tag match, and the Blake Monroe involvement in the finish does continue that story she has with Ruca ahead of their Halloween Havoc match.

**********

– Cody Rhodes was walking backstage as Jacob Fatu had a chat with him. Fatu said that once he was finished dogwalking Drew McIntyre from San Jose to San Francisco, Rhodes would find out that Jacob Fatu is all gas and no brakes. Fatu and Rhodes shared a respectful handshake as the latter walked off.

– We got remarks from Aleister Black regarding what happened last week with Zelina Vega’s arrival to his side. Black said that he had been setting this in motion for months now, and that Vega’s assistance was part of the plan alll along. “We are not the infection, just the mirror that shows it,” said Vega of her alliance with Black. They said that the venom wasn’t poison, but it was salvation.

– Backstage, The Miz was shaking hands with Nick Aldis as Sami Zayn appeared and wondered why the U.S. Title Open Challenge wasn’t happening tonight. Aldis explained that Shinsuke Nakamura was still owed a rematch but he wasn’t here tonight, and the M.F.T.s were still lurking about. Zayn would have none of it as he said he waas ready to hold the Open Challenge and if anyone wanted a shot at the U.S. Title, they knew where they could find him.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Ilja Dragunov

As it appeared that The Miz was going to answer Zayn’s Open Challenge, Carmelo Hayes attacked from behind and took him out of the equation as the two brawled out of the stage area.

After a moment, we found out that the returning Ilja Dragunov was Zayn’s opponent for the Open Challenge.

Dragunov and Zayn shared a handshake of respect as the bell rang before the two stood toe-to-toe and slugged one another with strikes. Zayn recovered and lit up Dragunov with a chop as he went for a suplex. Dragunov countered out of the suplex with Zayn fighting back afterwards. Dragunov left Zayn stunned a enzuigiri, as he then threw the U.S. Champion in the corner and absolutely blasted him with a running boot to the face. This took us to a break in the action.

We returned from commercial break with Zayn dropping Dragunov with a clothesline as we got a replay of the action that took place during the break. With both men back up, Zayn and Dragunov once again got into an exchange of strikes that neither man could get an upper hand of. Zayn recovered and delivered a tornado DDT in the corner.

As Dragunov seemed to be stunned in the corner, Zayn ran at him, but ended up eating a jumping kick to the face instead. That only got a near-fall for the returning Dragunov. Zayn valiantly tried to fight out of Dragunov’s grip, but got dropped with a German suplex. Zayn eventually escaped and nearly got the win on a roll-up, as he then responded with some German suplexes of his own on Dragunov.

Dragunov lifted Zayn up and then dropped him with a standing uranage that once again got the two-count. Dragunov tried to go up top, but Zayn avoided it and connected with the Michinoku Driver for a near-fall. The two competitors’ battle reached the apron as Dragunov tried to get Zayn up on his shoulders. Zayn countered and instead got Dragunov with a nasty DDT onto the apron. With both men down, we took another break in the action.

The match returned from break with Zayn and Dragunov duking it out on the top rope, but it was the U.S. Champion who found himself flat on the canvas as Dragunov soared with a senton on Zayn. One, two…. NO! Zayn once again headed up to the top rope, but Dragunov again tried to go after his foe. Even after Zayn took Dragunov down, he just couldn’t keep his foe out cold as he fell victim to a Superplex.

Dragunov had Zayn dead to rights for the H-Bomb, but Zayn got a boot up to stop it. Meanwhile, Zayn’s Helluva Kick attempt was avoided by Dragunov, who then connected with a standing back suplex for the near-fall. Dragunov hit the Constantin Special and nearly had the match won with a Torpedo Moscow. Zayn intercepted at the last second with a Helluva Kick, followed by a Blue Thunder Bomb. One, two… 2.99999999!!!!!

As Zayn had Dragunov targeted for a Helluva Kick, Solo Sikoa appeared on the ramp and provided a distraction. Zayn threw Dragunov in the corner with an Exploder Suplex. However, Sikoa’s distraction seemed to be enough as it inadvertently bought Dragunov time to recover. Dragunov intercepted the Helluva Kick with a Torpedo Moscow. He then finished it off with an H-Bomb to become the new United States Champion.

After the match, the M.F.T.s. rolled up and unleashed an assaualt on Zayn and Dragunov while Sikoa watched on. Rey Fenix ran in but fell victim to the M.F.T.’s numbers game.

Solo Sikoa got on the microphone and promised that the M.F.T.s would run SmackDown as they’d get their championships back again. Before he could continue, he was interrupted by a video from The Wyatt Sicks, as Bo Dallas asked Sikoa if he and his M.F.T.s were ready for what was to come on the other side. As the video ended, the members of The Wyatt Sicks appeared in the darkness and once again stared down Sikoa and the M.F.T.s. Sikoa’s group backed off as the segment ended with the usual Wyatt Sicks static.

Ilja Dragunov def. Sami Zayn via pinfall to become the new United States Champion

Fantastic match. It was great to see Dragunov back in action, as he and Zayn put on a hell of a contest. A shame that it got partially marred by the M.F.T.s stuff at the end. I’m not sure if a feud between Sikoa’s faction and the Wyatt Sicks will be any interesting, I have to admit. Still, it’s nonetheless great to see Dragunov finally become a champion.

**********

– There was an Arby’s-sponsored recap of Stephanie Vaquer’s big victory over Tiffany Stratton at Crown Jewel to become the 2025 Women’s Crown Jewel Champion.

– Stratton was interviewed backstage about her loss and how that’d affect her. Stratton said that one loss would not affect her as she’d be still the WWE Women’s Champion. Kiana James interrupted and badmouthed Stratton for not being a “premium talent” unlike her client, the Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia. Stratton taunted James for not having it in the ring and promptly challenged her to a match for next week’s show.

– We got Earlier Today footage of the Motor City Machine Guns celebrating their one-year anniversary in WWE before Los Garza rudely interrupted the two. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley pointed out that it was Angel and Berto who lost to them in their debut match and they sought to make it an annual thing, which led to this next match.

The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Los Garza (Angel & Berto)

Angel and Shelley started off, as Berto provided a brief distraction, which allowed Angel to go on the attack. That advantage for Los Garza was all too fleeting as the MCMGs got the momentum back with a dive outside the ring. As Sabin was trying to get into the ring, Berto grabbed at his leg, which again gave Angel an opening to pounce on his foe with a stomp.

Sabin avoided a corner splash from Angel as Shelley got the tag. Los Garza once again turned it around as they dropped Shelley with an assisted double team boot to the face. Sabin got sent to the floor as we took a break in the action.

We returned from the break with Angel working over Shelley as we got a look at a replay of a double knee/kick combo from Los Garza that left Shelley stunned during the break. Shelley hit a neckbreaker on Angel as Sabin got the hot tag. The tag team veteran unleashed a flurry of offense on both Angel and Berto while Shelley contributed as well. Los Garza turned it around with a Gory Special/jumping neckbreaker combo on Sabin. One, two… Shelley broke it up just in time.

As the action broke down ont he outside, Berto took flight and vaulted over the top rope to take both Shelley and Sabin out. Back in the ring, an attempted double team move by Los Garza was thwarted by Shelley and it came down to a patented Skull and Bones from the Machine Guns on Berto to pick up the victory.

Motor City Machine Guns def. Los Garza via pinfall

A fun tag match yes, but honestly kind of a sad indictment that this is the first time in over a month or so that we’ve seen either team. I understand it’s hard to find time to fit the many tag teams of the tag division of SmackDown into a two-hour show, but it’s kind of unfortunate that the Machine Guns were brought in with much fanfare and seem to just be mostly an afterthought.

**********

– As Fraxiom plotted their next moves for the WWE Tag Titles, the #DIY duo of Tommasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano rolled up and had some harsh words for the rest of the SmackDown tag division. Axiom took exception to Gargano making fun of his mask as he challenged him to a match

– As Jacob Fatu was scheduled to make his entrance for our main event, we suddenly cut backstage as Fatu was seen crushed underneath a girder with various officials running up to check up on him. After the break, Nick Aldis was checking up on Fatu alongside the officials while McIntyre made his entrance.

The Main Event: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

McIntyre entered with a smug smile on his face as he then got into the ring with a microphone in hand. He taunted Fatu as he demanded the referee to award him the match to become the number one contender. Mr. Aldis interrupted and warned McIntyre that if he found out that McIntyre had something to do with this, he’d do something about it. As McIntyre continued to complain about a conspiracy, Cody Rhodes interrupted and angrily said that if McIntyre wanted a shot at the WWE Title, that we should do it right now. We went to a commercial break just as the match was apparently kicking off.

Our main event continued with Rhodes and McIntyre continuing to brawl at ringside before the battle spilled into the ring as it finally kicked off in earnest. McIntyre got the upper hand with a suplex across the ring. Rhodes threw his vest at McIntyre as he punched away at him. The surly Scotsman got the advantage again with another throw across the ring. Rhodes recovered and punched away at McIntyre in the corner, followed by a bite to the forehead.

McIntyre caught Rhodes by surprise with a Future Shock DDT, and nearly had the WWE Title won, but Rhodes kicked out at two. McIntyre continued his attack in the corner as he punched away at Rhodes before the referee got him to back off. McIntyre caught Rhodes by surprise with a headbutt as he then continued away with the chops to the exposed chest.

Rhodes recovered and hit his uppercut followed by a Cody Cutter. As Rhodes tried to go for a suicide dive, McIntyre met him at the ropes with a headbutt. Rhodes was then thrown over the timekeeper area. McIntyre tried to retrieve Rhodes, but he got hit in the face with the WWE Championship title belt to cause the DQ.

The brawl continued after the bell as Rhodes cleared away the announce table and had him set up for a Cross Rhodes over the announce table. At that moment, Nick Aldis and several officials stepped in to stop the chaos. However, Rhodes eluded them and headed to the top rope as he then crushed McIntyre with a dive to the outside.

SmackDown ended with both men separated by the gaggle of officials as Rhodes looked on from the ring at McIntyre with anger.

Drew McIntyre def. Cody Rhodes via DQ (Rhodes retains Undisputed WWE Championship)

**********

Obviously, this whole main event angle with Jacob Fatu being crushed underneath a girder was WWE’s way of writing him off TV and add more heat to McIntyre to build him up as (most likely) the opponent for Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event in two weeks.

That said, this was a strong edition of SmackDown, bolstered by a big main event angle and a shock return that doubled as a shock title win. I’ll admit that I quite enjoyed tonight’s show a fair bit and hopefully we’re in for more episodes like this in the coming weeks.

WWE NXT live results: Battle royal for Halloween Havoc title shot

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight, we’ll find out Jacy Jayne’s NXT Women’s Championship challenger for Halloween Havoc

A multi-promotional number one contender’s battle royal is set to take place on tonight’s WWE NXT episode. In addition to the NXT women’s division competing, stars from TNA’s Knockouts division have been invited to be in the battle royal as well. Halloween Havoc is now less than two weeks away with the PLE set to be held in Arizona on October 25.

TNA’s Matt Cardona — the former Zack Ryder — makes his return to the WWE ring tonight for a match against Josh Briggs.

Lucha Libre AAA will also be represented on NXT with AAA Worldwide Champion Dr. Wagner Jr. taking on Lexis King.

Plus, Blake Monroe vs. Zaria has also been announced for the episode. It will continue Monroe’s feud with NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

New NXT Champion Ricky Saints opens the show with an entrance dressed in street clothes, and he is holding the NXT title belt. Trick Williams interrupts Saints a few minutes into Saint’s monologue, with Trick appearing on the Titantron.

Saints begins the monologue boasting about winning the title despite odds stacked against him. Saints then cuts a promo on Trick, with Saints saying Trick folds like origami. After cutting a cutting a promo on how bad Trick is, Saints turns around and lobbies for a title match against Trick. Saints is “calling his shot” in the “Absolute Era” of NXT.

Trick interrupts with a pre-taped promo shown on a video screen. Trick insults Saint in a short video where he cut his promo uninterrupted by Saints. After Trick’s promo, Saints responds by saying must have slipped on the cocoa butter he puts on, and Trick bumped his head. Saints vows to burst the bubble on Trick’s fantasy land.

Je’Von Evans and Leon Slater are talking backstage when they are met by Matt and Jeff Hardy. The Hardys vow to give Darkstate some receipts at Halloween Havoc on behalf of Evans and Slater.

— Matt Cardona gets a full entrance before a commercial break.

— “Anonymous” footage shows TNA Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan arguing with Jordynne Grace. This would seem to set up a match between the two for the Knockouts title.

Matt Cardona vs. Josh Briggs

Cardona put over Briggs in a good match, where Briggs scores a clean pinfall on Cardona. For the finish, Briggs hits Cardona with a big boot. Briggs then falls on top of Cardona to score the pinfall.

The match went through a commercial break. This was clearly a big match for Briggs as he wore his fancy vest complete with a smoking skull. It was literally gimmicked to emit smoke. Cardona put him over well, but Cardona looked great in doing so. The finish came out of nowhere, as they had traded near falls earlier in the bout. Very well laid out with modern sensibilities, but an old school type of finish.

Before the commercial break, Cardona fires up and does a flip dive over the top rope to the floor. After the break, Briggs is getting heat on Cardona. Comeback by Cardona as they head down the stretch going home.

Match result: Josh Briggs defeated Matt Cardona via pinfall.

Lyra Valkyria joins Hank & Tank and Chase U for a backstage skit where they are all confronted by The Culling. This served to set up a triple threat tag team match for next week, along with Izzi Dame vowing to win the battle royal tonight.

— AAA Latin American Champion El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. has a full entrance before a commercial break.

— Fatal Influence is the focus of a video package. Lainey Reid officially joined the group. After the video package, Vic Joseph on commentary was baffled at Reid joking the faction. What show was he watching the last several weeks?

El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Lexis King in a non-title match

The match goes through a commercial break after Wagner does a moonsault to the floor. After the show returns from the break, King works a leg. Wagner hulks up into a comeback, while still selling his leg in a silly manner. For the finish, Wagner lands a Shining Wizard, followed by a Michinoku Driver on King.

Match result: El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Lexis King via pinfall.

Wagner cuts a promo after the match where he calls out NXT North American Champion Ethan Page, who enters dressed in a suit jacket and dress shirt that matched his Canadian version of the North American title belt. This confrontation led to the announcement of a death match between the two at Halloween Havoc. More specifically, they are billing the bout as a “Day of the Dead” match.

— Trick Williams attacked Ricky Saints in a phantom assault during a backstage skit with others. The skit begins with authority figures Santino Marella and Ava talking when with Leon Slater and Je’Von Evans. Those two wrestlers are lobbying for a tag team match tonight. Their lobbying efforts are interrupted by Arianna Grace and Stacks. This led them booking an X-Division title match with Stacks challenging Slater. Suddenly, a commotion is heard and the camera pan away. Trick is seen standing over a fallen Saints. Trick is yelling when officials and security pour into the scene. Ava tells for “medical!”

From there comes the entrances of Blake Monroe and Zaria, respectively. They are vastly different, yet both great entrances in their own way.

Blake Monroe vs. Zaria

Sol Ruca plays a part in the finish after running in and jumping on the apron. Ruca takes a metal folding chair away from Monroe, who was intending to use the chair as a weapon. Despite making the save, Ruca’s interference causes a distraction. The referee is distracted by Ruca, as he argues with her on the apron. Dude, do your job!

With the ref distracted by Ruca, Monroe retrieves a hair pick from her knee pad. Monroe uses the pick as weapon and strikes Zaria in the throat. Monroe follows up with The Beauty Shot (double-arm DDT), and Monroe covers Zaria for a tainted victory.

Match result: Blake Monroe defeated Zaria via pinfall.

— Ava announces a Speed tournament, and the winner faces El Grande Americano for the Speed title. The tournament starts next Tuesday on NXT.

— Hank and Tank enter the sound stage before a commercial break.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Chase U (Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors) vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) in a triple threat tag team match

The match was action packed and going along when OTM returned to clean house. Lucien Price and Bronco Nima run in and assault the match participants. This leaded to what I assume is a no contest finish. The match was very entertaining until the finish. Nevertheless, OTM looked dominate in their return. Does this set up a four-way tag match, or what?

Match result: The triple threat tag team match ends in a no contest after outside interference by OTM.

— In a backstage skit, Sol Ruca gifts Zaria her spot in the battle royal.

— Ricky Saints is storming around backstage looking for Trick Williams. Saints is stopped by Ava, who wants him to calm down so the match can happen. Ava reveals Saints and Trick have a contract signing next Tuesday on NXT.

— Several women wrestlers get full entrances ahead of the battle royal. Those getting entrances include Jordynne Grace, Lash Legend, Lei Ying Lee (formerly Xia Li in WWE), Xia Brookside, Victoria Crawford (formerly Alicia Fox in WWE), and Jaida Parker (who was over huge with the live studio audience in attendance). After a commercial break, the rest of the battle royal participants are in the ring.

— In between the break and the start of the battle royal, Darkstate lays out the Hardys in a phantom attack that involved chairs.

NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s 20-Woman Battle Royal

Far as battle royals go, this was good. They wove a few feuds and story lines into the match.

The final four were Kendal Grey, Jordynne Grace, Izzi Dame, and Tatum Paxley. As they go home, Paxley is on the apron with a rear naked choke on Grace. Meanwhile, Dame tosses out Grey, who looked strong throughout the match. Dame then goes for a Cactus Jack clothesline that sends both her and Grace over the ropes to the floor for a double elimination. That leaves Paxley as the sole survivor, and she wins the battle royal to earn a title shot.

Match result: Tatum Paxley won a battle royal to become number one contender.

After the match, the Fatal Influence trios enters the scene. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne poses with the title belt in a stare down with Paxley. Lyra Valkyria runs past Fatal Influence, and Valkyria joins with Paxley in celebrating her win.

WWE Raw live results: The fallout from Crown Jewel

Posted on by Steve Khan

WWE will hold one final event in Perth, Australia, before leaving town with Monday’s early edition of WWE Raw — the fallout edition from Saturday’s Crown Jewel PLE.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer both won their respective bouts Saturday to each win the Crown Jewel title. Both are expected on the show to celebrate their victories.

WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio will defend against Penta who is still looking for his first WWE title. Penta, Dragon Lee & AJ Styles were victorious over Mysterio, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh in a trios match last week to set it up.

The issues involving Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez continue as well with Bayley and Valkyria teaming against Judgment Day’s Rodriguez and Perez.

Join us for live coverage beginning at 8 AM Eastern.

**********

  • Date: October 13, 2025
  • Location: RAC Arena in Perth, Australia

The Big Takeaway —

Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed betrayed Seth Rollins in a big show-closing angle.

**********

Show Recap — 

(I watched One Battle After Another over the weekend, and there’s a minor character without a speaking role who wears an Eddie Guerrero ‘Latino Heat’ t-shirt. The character isn’t named, but is referred to as ‘Latino Heat’ by another character. Anyway, time for morning Raw.)

Following a recap of Crown Jewel, CM Punk, LA Knight, Jey Uso, and Rhea Ripley were shown arriving. 

Michael Cole announced a sold-out crowd of 13,737 (54 more people than Crown Jewel, supposedly). 

Seth Rollins and The Vision open Raw

The Vision entered (without Becky Lynch). Rollins wore the giant Crown Jewel title belt around his waist. The crowd sang Rollins’ song as he entered and barked for Bron Breakker. It was 8:09 am ET by the time Rollins spoke. 

Rollins did his usual spiel, and the crowd sang along. The fans have been calling him a ‘wanker’ for days, so he referred to the fans as wankers, and they cheered. 

Rollins put over Paul Heyman and called himself a blessed man for being in his presence. Rollins hugged him. Fans chanted, “Kiss,” so Rollins kissed Heyman’s forehead, and they all cheered. 

Rollins put over Breakker before moving on to Bronson Reed. Reed got a big reaction, and the crowd sang his name. Rollins said Reed destroyed and embarrassed Roman Reigns and was the new Tribal Chief. 

Rollins called himself the greatest World Heavyweight Champion of all time. People like to say there are levels to this game, but no one was on his level. Unlike all the other greats lately, Rollins hasn’t needed any help to gain his success. (The crowd chanted “Bullsh-t.”) 

Rollins said Reigns needed The Shield and The Bloodline. Cody Rhodes needed him to beat Reigns. Rollins beat CM Punk and Reigns at WrestleMania on his own. He won the world title on his own, and he trounced Rhodes on his own. Rollins didn’t need Breakker, Reed, or Heyman. He has chosen them, and they have chosen him. 

Rollins ended with his usual line, and fireworks went off as he posed with his title belt. 

********

Rusev confronted Penta backstage. Rusev didn’t like that Penta was getting an IC title shot ahead of him against baby boy Dom. It was fine, though, because Rusev spoke to Adam Pearce, and he would get the winner of tonight’s match. 

Rusev told Penta he hasn’t forgotten about getting kicked last week. Penta called him a pendejo and left. (Dom started walking in Rusev’s direction in the background, but turned around and slunk away upon seeing him.) 

Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta 

There were lots of “Dirty Dom” chants throughout the match. Penta went right after Dom instead of doing his usual pose. There was a great spot where Dom charged at Penta outside the ring, but Penta gave him a backbody drop onto the announce table, and Dom went flying. 

They went to break one minute into this title match. (I mention the breaks every week because it’s so odd that, if this were real, you would schedule a match to start knowing you need to go to break a minute or two later.) 

Penta remained in full control through the break and hit a springboard crossbody for two. Dom drove Penta into the ring post and followed with a suicide dive tornado DDT. Dom drove Penta into the barricade, and Penta almost landed in the front row onto some children (they managed to avoid getting hit). Dom tried to take a count-out win, but Penta got back in the ring. 

(They went to a second commercial break just eight minutes into the match. So the first eleven minutes of the match had five minutes of commercials.) 

Dom remained in control during the break while doing a lot of posing. He did Eddie’s springboard senton, and the crowd called for another. He did try another, but Penta moved (as they returned from break), and hit a flying crossbody/splash off the ring post to the outside. 

Dom went for three amigos, but Penta blocked it and hit the move instead. The crowd lightly booed because they wanted Dom to do it. Dom blocked the third suplex and hit one of his own. Fans chanted for Eddie. 

Penta dodged a 619 and hit a Penta Driver for a nearfall. Penta went for a Canadian Destroyer, but Dom countered into a Michinoku Driver for two. 

Rusev marched out, so Penta wiped him out with a dive before he could get involved. Dom used the distraction to grab the little ring bell hammer. Dom also slid his title belt into the ring to distract the referee. As the ref got rid of the belt, Dom hit Penta in the knee (over his knee pads) with the hammer. 

Dom followed with a 619 and a frog splash for the pinfall win. The crowd was happy. 

Match result: Dominik Mysterio defeated Penta to retain the Intercontinental Championship (15:38)

This was a good TV match, but nothing outstanding. It helped that the crowd was very into Dom. It was obvious since last week that the match wouldn’t end until Rusev got involved, and that’s what happened. 

I believe this is the third time that Dom has successfully defended the IC title against Penta. Penta has lost four straight matches to Dom overall. 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed LA Knight. Redmond said there would be a triple threat tonight to become the number one contender for the world title. Knight said he would pin CM Punk or Jey Uso, and this match might as well be for the title, because he would go on to beat Rollins again. 

Punk interrupted. Punk said Knight would never pin him or become champion. They argued a bit more, and Knight got the last word before leaving. Punk called him an idiot after he left. 

********

Asuka confronted Kairi Sane. Asuka was pissed about losing at Crown Jewel. Sane apologized and said she would fix it. Asuka told Sane she would fight Ripley tonight and remind everyone that she (Asuka) was in charge. 

Asuka was about to leave, but Sane peeled her hair back to reveal a bruise on her forehead (the crowd gasped). Sane said it happened because she tried to protect Asuka. Asuka didn’t care, and she slapped Sane (which got a big reaction). 

This was good. 

******** 

Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena were in the front row. 

Rhea Ripley (w/ IYO SKY) vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Asuka)

Asuka caused a distraction, of course, so Ripley confronted her outside the ring. Sky attacked Asuka, so Sane wiped out Sky. Asuka laid out Sky as they went to break. Sane held control over Ripley through the break, and there were “F—k her up, Rhea” chants (which were censored). They also called Asuka a wanker.

Ripley came back with clotheslines, a thrust kick, and a running boot for two. There was a great shot in the replay of Sky smiling as Ripley kicked Sane in the face. Sane dodged a charge, and Ripley ran into the ring post. Sane followed with an Insane Elbow off the ropes to a standing Ripley outside the ring (which looked great). 

Sane went for an ill-advised spear, but Ripley simply caught her and hit a Razor’s Edge. Ripley followed with a running kick for two. A battle on the ropes led to Sane hitting a double foot stomp for two. Sane flew off the top rope, but Ripley caught her out of mid-air and hit an electric chair facebuster. 

Asuka tried another distraction, but Sky got rid of her. Sane tried a rollup for two, and Ripley followed with a Rip-tide for the pinfall win. This was a pretty good match. 

— Asuka attacked Sky after the match, so Ripley attacked Asuka. Ripley set up Asuka for a Rip-tide on the table, but Sane hit Ripley from behind with a kendo stick. Asuka gave Ripley a DDT onto the table. Asuka posed with Sane over Ripley’s prone body. Officials checked on Ripley during a break, and Sky helped her to the back. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Kairi Sane (15:58)

******** 

Cathy Kelley interviewed Rusev during a break. Rusev said Penta got what he deserved. Rusev was coming for Dom’s belt, and nobody would stop him. (I’m thinking somebody will stop him.) 

Jimmy Uso met with Jey backstage. Jimmy couldn’t believe they were getting blamed for Roman’s loss. Jey said they should start listening to Reigns and start looking after themselves. Jey appreciated Jimmy’s help, but he had to focus on tonight’s triple threat. Jey was about to say something, but Jimmy cut him off. Jimmy knew Jey thought he couldn’t handle Bronson Reed, but Jimmy told him, “You handle your business, and I’ll handle mine.” The crowd cheered Jimmy standing up to Jey here. 

Bronson Reed vs. Jimmy Uso 

Jimmy’s ribs were taped after getting speared through the barricade on Saturday. He attacked Reed as soon as he entered the ring, but Reed immediately punched him in the ribs to take over. Reed had complete control through an early commercial break until Jey dodged a senton. 

Jimmy was too weak to hit a Samoan drop, so he instead hit an enziguri and a running hip attack for two. Jimmy followed with Whisper in the Wind for two. Jimmy tried a Samoan drop, but collapsed with Reed landing on top of him. Reed followed with consecutive sentons and a Tsunami for the pinfall win.

— Breakker greeted Reed in the aisle before spearing Jimmy in the ring. Reed held up Jimmy, and Breakker speared him again. 

Breakker was about to spear Jimmy through the barricade, but Jey ran out to make the save. Jey managed to clear the ring, but ate a corner splash by Reed in the process. (They mistimed the spot, so Reed actually hit Jey’s shoulder, but Jey sold his mid-section because that was the plan.) 

Jimmy thanked Jey for the help, but they were not on the same page.  

Match result: Bronson Reed defeated Jimmy Uso (7:39) 

******** 

Lyra Valkyria and Bayley met in Gorilla. Valkyria told Bayley they were teaming tonight, but it would only be a one-time thing. The delusional Bayley thought she was kidding and excitedly went through the curtain. 

Lyra Valkyria & Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez

Valkyria and Bayley worked well as a team early on and did a bunch of double-team spots. It was one spot too many, because Bayley flung Valkyria into Rodriguez (outside the ring), but Rodriguez caught her and gave her a fallaway slam into Bayley. 

Judgment Day had control of Bayley through a break until she hit Perez with a Bayley-to-belly and made the hot tag to Valkyria the moment they returned from break. Judgment Day cut off her comeback attempt, and Perez brought Bayley off the top rope with a hurricanrana. Judgment Day continued to dominate Bayley, and Perez hit her with a springboard moonsault for two. 

Valkyria checked on Bayley and cleared the ring of the heels in the process. Valkyria slapped Bayley to fire her up, and that caused Bayley to snap into a different personality. 

Bayley wiped out Perez and Rodriguez with a suicide dive. She slammed Rodriguez into the ring post and clotheslined her over the barricade. She hit Perez with a flying elbow drop in the ring and followed with a Rose Plant for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Bayley & Lyra Valkyria defeated Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez (11:10) 

********

Backstage, Rollins told Heyman he could feel something special coming on the horizon. Rollins was proud of the Brons and told them this was the most incredible weekend of his professional life. 

The birth of his child, marrying his wife, and seeing how much the Brons have grown in the past six months have been the proudest moments of his life. This was the mountain top. He told them to breathe it in. They were also on the verge of taking the next step, and no one could knock him off the mountain top. 

*******

During a break, there was a replay of Maxxine Dupri beating Becky Lynch via count-out last week. Kelley interviewed Dupri in the crowd, and Dupri thanked the fans for their support. She announced that she would be facing Lynch for the Women’s IC title next week in her hometown of Sacramento. 

********

AJ Styles met with Pearce. Styles called Crown Jewel an incredible night, despite the loss. He called John Cena a legend. Pearce thanked him for an incredible moment. 

Dom interrupted because he wanted some credit. (I forgot to mention it earlier, but Dom has a new neck tattoo.) Dom also wasn’t happy about having to defend his IC title against Rusev. 

Styles talked Pearce into giving him and Dragon Lee a tag title match against Judgment Day. Dom realized he messed up by getting involved here. Dom left to inform Judgment Day of the title match. 

******** 

Next week on Raw: 

  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship 
  • Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev for the Intercontinental Championship 
  • Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh vs. AJ Styles & Dragon Lee for the World Tag Team Championships 

********

Stephanie Vaquer segment 

Redmond interviewed Vaquer by the stage. Vaquer felt blessed after winning the Crown Jewel champion, and she was the first woman in company history to win four titles in one year. 

Rodriguez and Perez interrupted. Perez was pissed because she thought she should be the world champion, not Vaquer. Perez was the last person to beat Iyo Sky, and it should have been her wrestling for the title at Wrestlepalooza. Vaquer told her to stop crying and do something about it. Perez said she would—on her own time. 

*******

Cole thanked the Perth fans and announced a 3-day combined attendance of 40,503 (SmackDown, Crown Jewel and Raw). 

Triple threat number one contender’s match: CM Punk vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso

(There was a big angle at the end.) 

Punk entered to a huge reaction. The crowd continued to sing his song after it was cut, and Punk was happy. 

Jey quickly cut off Punk with a superkick, but the crowd continued to chant for Punk. Knight went after Punk outside the ring, and Jey wiped him out with a dive. They went to break 90 seconds into this high-stakes match. 

Knight and Jey took out Punk again during a break before going at it in the ring. Back from break, Punk knocked down men with a dive off the top. Punk did his usual comeback spots and took down both men with a combo bulldog/clothesline before hitting Knight with a flying elbow drop. 

Knight avoided a GTS, gave Punk an inverted DDT and gave Jey a regular DDT. Knight hit both men with a diving elbow drop (which didn’t look great), but they each kicked out of pinning attempts. They went to break again, and like the opening match, this match had five minutes worth of commercials in the first eleven minutes. 

After the break, Jey gave Punk a superkick and followed with an Uso Splash on Knight for a nearfall. Knight gave Punk a BFT, but Jey broke up the cover and shoved Knight into the ring steps. 

With Punk still down in the ring, Jey went for an Uso splash, but Punk got his knees up. Punk followed with a GTS for the pinfall win. 

— The Vision entered as Punk celebrated. Breakker sprinted down to ringside and speared both Jey and Knight. 

The Brons swarmed Punk in the ring. Breakker speared Punk, and Reed hit a Tsunami. Rollins stood over Punk and told him he would never be champion. They chucked Punk out of the ring. The Vision posed, but notably, Breakker had his back turned in the corner of the ring. 

It seemed like the show was about to end, but Bron Breakker turned around and speared Seth Rollins. The crowd exploded. 

Breakker got in Reed’s face and told him to make a choice. Reed didn’t waste much time. He slid Rollins to the corner and hit him with a Tsunami. 

Heyman checked on Rollins and told them to stop. Breakker pulled Heyman to his feet. Breakker grabbed Rollins’ world title belt. Heyman stood between Breakker and Reed and raised their hands (the crowd popped). So all three men are together. 

Match result: CM Punk defeated Jey Uso and LA Knight to become number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship (13:30)

The timing of this angle is interesting, considering Punk just became the number one contender. The focus immediately shifted to Bron and Bronson. I wonder if this was always the plan, or if they sped things up with the show being in a lull lately (or if Rollins is hurt). I am glad they pulled the trigger with Breakker in particular, because I did not want a full year or two of him standing by Rollins’ side knowing the turn was coming.

WWE SmackDown live results: Crown Jewel go-home show

Posted on by Marc Quill

Editor’s Note: The following are live results from the international broadcast of WWE SmackDown on Netflix with the U.S. version airing at 8 PM Eastern on USA. If you want to avoid spoilers for tonight, you have been warned.

WWE heads to Perth, Australia, for today’s SmackDown — the first of three WWE live shows over the weekend centered around Saturday’s Crown Jewel.

WWE men’s United States Champion Sami Zayn will continue his open challenge series after defeating Aleister Black last Friday with an assist from Damian Priest.

Speaking of Priest and Black, they will attempt to settle their simmering feud in a Last Man Standing match.

The WWE Tag Team titles will be on the line as The Wyatt Sicks’ Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis defend against The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins).

WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer & WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will attempt to put their differences aside before their Saturday match as they take on Giulia & Kiana James.

Our live coverage starts at 8 AM Eastern.

**********

– Our show opened with a video package showing the mens and women’s Crown Jewel Championships being moved from the WWE Experience museum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to Perth, Australia ahead of tomorrow’s Crown Jewel PLE.

– Following that, we then went live to the RAC Arena, as the men’s Crown Jewel Championship was shown in the ring.

Cody Rhodes addresses Crown Jewel

The Undisputed WWE Champion and reigning men’s Crown Jewel Champion was first to enter for our opening segment as Michael Cole and Wade Barrett recapped the happenings of last Friday’s SmackDown as it related to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.

Once Rhodes entered the ring, he basked in the cheers of the Australian crowd before he started off by asking “what do you want to talk about?” Rhodes said that we could talk about Seth Rollins and the supposed “doom and gloom outcome” of the match at Crown Jewel, but after he heard Paul Heyman’s warnings on Raw, it’s clear that Rollins is becoming the man he sacrificed himself to defeat at WrestleMania 41.

Rhodes continued by saying that when you love WWE as much as Rollins does, you’d do everything for it, even perhaps skewing reality as a result. But, there comes a downfall as it becomes a quest for control. Rhodes said that Rollins might not love the “QB” nickname that was given to him, but it’s a collective one that he’s proud to have as making WWE great is a team effort. Rhodes shouted out individuals like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Jey Uso, and even Seth Rollins as being important aspects of WWE.

The crowd began chanting “Seth’s a wanker” as Rhodes asked for Barrett and Cole on commentary to confirm that chant. As he got back on track, Rhodes said that if the world did revolved around Seth Rollins, what did that mean for him? He said that in this hypothetical world, this still meant that Rhodes would remain the one man that Rollins just simply cannot defeat.

This did its job of selling the men’s Crown Jewel match and the idea of Cody Rhodes being the one white whale that has eluded Seth Rollins. It’s clear that Rollins will certainly win tomorrow’s match, but just how he does it is something to watch.

**********

– Backstage, Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer was being approached by Chelsea Green to join the Secret Hervice until WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton appeared. Green left as Vaquer and Stratton agreed to be on the same page for tonight’s tag match.

– Elsewhere, Cody Rhodes was walking and approached by Jacob Fatu, who said that once Rhodes was done with the Crown Jewel business, he wanted next for the Undisputed WWE Title. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis approached Fatu and wanted to discuss something with him. As Aldis left, Drew McIntyre attacked Fatu before he was backed off by officials.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Nakamura was revealed as Zayn’s opponent, as he entered to his old theme music and entrance.

The match got going with Zayn and Nakamura engaging in a duel of chain wrestling that neither man got the upper hand on. Nakamura got a bit of an advantage with a boot to the face followed by a leg drop on Zayn. The momentum continued for the challenger as he delivered his sliding German suplex to Zayn, which took us into the break.

Our opening contest returned from commercial with Zayn and Nakamura trading strikes in the middle of the ring until the latter dropped his foe with a nice vertical suplex. Nakamura fired himself up and teed off on Zayn with strikes and an enzuigiri that sent Zayn stunned into the corner. The challenger followed that with a heel kick to the face of Zayn that got a near-fall. Nakamura maintained his strong-style-tinged assault on Zayn until a clothesline turned him upside down.

Zayn headed to the top rope and missed with a dive. He attempted a Blue Thunder Bomb, but fell victim to Nakamura’s patented spinning kick. In the corner, Nakamura had Zayn dead to rights for a Kinshasa, but he got countered into a Michinoku Driver for a near-fall. After pinfalls were traded, Zayn connected with the Exploder Suplex into the corner and looked like he’d have the Helluva Kick in the chamber. Nakamura avoided that and went to the top with a diving kick to the back of Zayn’s head. One, two… not yet! With the match still to be decided, we went to another break.

SmackDown returned from the break with Zayn and Nakamura once more mixing it up with strikes until Zayn’s attempt at a Blue Thunder Bomb was countered into a modified Kinshasa to the back of the U.S. Champion’s head. Zayn instinctively rolled out of the ring as he caught Nakamura by surprise with an Exploder Suplex into the barricade. Zayn then hit a Helluva Kick before he threw Nakamura back into the ring before the count of ten. As Zayn tried to get back into the ring, Nakamura caught him by surprise with a Sudden Impact kick that got a near-fall. He then got Zayn with the Scorpio Rising and looked to have the Kinshasa lock and loaded. That was until a hooded man attacked

The hooded man pulled Nakamura out and threw him over the barricade. The man revealed himsefl to be the returning Tama Tonga, as the other members of the M.F.T.s appeared around the ring to surround Zayn. The group laid a beatdown on both champion and challenger, as Solo Sikoa took in the destruction.

Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura via DQ to retain the United States Championship

A great match ruined by another DQ finish. I’m not sure if dressing up this Bloodline retread in facepaint in a “Malibu Stacy with a new hat” situation is going to make them any interesting, but I guess I can’t fault WWE for trying again with this, as daunting a task as it may seem to be. That said, it’s at least great to see Tama Tonga back from injury.

**********

– Backstage, we learned that on next week’s SmackDown, Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu would go one on one. As McIntyre discussed this with GM Nick Aldis, he was attacked by an irate Fatu, who wanted to get a little payback on the assault from earlier in the night. A gaggle of referees and officials tried their best to keep the two separated.

Stephanie Vaquer & Tiffany Stratton vs. Giulia & Kiana James

Vaquer and James started things off for their respective teams as the latter delivered a cheapshot to her opponent. Vaquer answered with a back suplex and caught James in prime position for an early-match Devil’s Kiss, much to the crowd’s delight. James retreated and tagged Giulia as we headed into an oddly-placed commercial break.

The action resumed from the break with Giulia throwing Vaquer into her team’s corner as James tagged herself in and kept the Women’s World Champion isolated for a moment. Giulia was the legal woman again as she took off from the top with a dropkick for a near-fall. Vaquer managed to kick Giulia aside which gave her enough time to tag in Stratton.

The WWE Women’s Champion was a house of fire as she unleashed a flurry of offense on James with a somersault clothesline into the corner followed by a slam for the near-fall. Stratton stunned James into the middle rope and looked to have a running attack, but Giulia created a distraction as she then entered the match with an Arrivederci Knee to Stratton. Giulia then connected with a Northern Lights Bomb, but Vaquer broke up the pin.

As things began to break down, Stratton got the Alabama Slam on James as Vaquer entered the with a tag. Vaquer connected with a modified version of the Angel’s Wings, but Giulia broke up the count. Stratton with a blind tag as Vaquer launched herself onto Giulia outside to take her out of the equation. Back in the ring, Stratton finished James off in short order with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever.

Vaquer and Stratton stood in front of the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship and faced off after the match.

Tiffany Stratton & Stephanie Vaquer def. Giulia & Kiana James

Standard women’s tag team fare, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I do think that giving Giulia and James the win here wouldn’t have hurt as it’d at least create a new set of challengers for Stratton to contend with post-Crown Jewel.

**********

– As Zaria and Sol Ruca were chatting amongst themselves, the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss appeared and told the NXT stars that facing them would be not be an easy battle to expect. Utlimately, Flair and Bliss granted Zaria and Ruca a chance at their Women’s Tag Titles.

WWE Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis) (w/ Nikki Cross & Erick Rowan) (c) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) (w/ B-Fab)

The match got going right away as Gacy and Lumis ran into the ring and immediately began to fight with Dawkins and Ford. As things finally setled down, the Profits had the upper hand early as they threw their weight around at Gacy’s expense. Outside the ring, Dawkins barrelled through both Gacy and Lumis, which sent the two Wyatts into the timekeeper’s corner. We headed to the commercial break with the Street Profits having control in the early stages of this match.

We returned from the break as the Wyatts had Ford staggered in the corner and ready for a double superplex. Dawkins emerged and held Gacy and Lumis in place instead, as Ford recovered and delivered a double blockbuster on the WWE Tag Champs. The cover, but Nikki Cross put Gacy’s foot on the bottom rope. Things broke down as B-Fab attacked Cross on the outside. Erick Rowan stood behind B-Fab, which allowed Cross to go on the attack with a leap. Dawkins then launched over the top rope to take down Rowan as Ford was the legal man.

From the top rope, Ford wanted to hit the Frog Splash, but Lumis pulled Gacy out of harm’s way, which caused Ford to hit the mat hard instead. The two Wyatts then finished things off with the Plague on Ford to retain the WWE Tag Titles.

After the match, Solo Sikoa and the M.F.T.s. appeared and had a brief, but tense staredown with the Wyatt Sicks.

The Wyatt Sicks def. The Street Profits via pinfall to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships

Just a standard tag match, with nothing really to write home about. The tease with the M.F.T.s targeting the Wyatts certainly happened, I do at least want to see where this goes initially.

**********

– The Miz was interviewed backstage about his betrayal of Carmelo Hayes on last week’s SmackDown, as he called himself “the spotlight” and that Hayes “blew it” in his eyes and that his former Melo Don’t Miz partner ultimately “missed”.

– We got a recap of the Crown Jewel Kickoff and Seth Rollins’ abrupt exit from the kickoff while The Vision was on stage, with the implication being that Rollins’ confidence is in question ahead of his match with Cody Rhodes tomorrow.

Crown Jewel Final Card

  • Men’s Crown Jewel Championship: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins
  • Women’s Crown Jewel Championship: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton
  • Australian Street Fight: Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed
  • Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane
  • John Cena vs. AJ Styles

Last Man Standing: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

We got going right away with Priest pummeling Black in the corner before he threw him over the top rope. Priest pulled out a kendo stick from under the ring, but got caught by surprise with a kick from Black. Priest recovered and battered his foe with the top half of the steel steps as the fight made its way through the entry way. We took a commercial break after one more steel steps strike from Priest to Black.

SmackDown’s main event resumed as Priest sent Black crashing into the barricade with a fierce throw. The referee began his count, but Black managed to get himself back on his feet as he ran back into the ring. Priest connected with an elevated Flatliner on Black before he set up the bottom half of the steel steps in the middle of the ring. Priest looked for a superplex onto the steps, but Black escaped and instead sent his rival face first into the steps.

Priest wanted to hit the South of Heaven on Black right on the steps, but he couldn’t connect with it. Black headed up top and crashed onto Priest with a Meteora. That, however,was not enough to keep Priest down for the count. With the steps turned on its side, Priest threw Black face-first onto it. As the action spilled to the outside, Priest was thrown against the steel steps as his neck bounced off of it. Somehow, Priest recovered and shoved Black onto the top of the commentary table, as we took another break in the action.

We returned as Priest unleashed the pain on Black with a kendo stick to the back. He tried for some sort of an Old School-style maneuver, but Black kicked Priest upon landing, which sent him out of the ring upon impact. Black took a chair from the crowd and battered Priest in the ribs with it repeatedly. Priest recovered in time and chokeslammed Black against the apron before delivering a Razor’s Edge onto the commentary table. Black was seemingly out cold, but he woke up and got himself back to his feet before the count of nine.

As Black stood up, Priest once again threw Black with a Razor’s Edge onto the table. Once more, Black rolled off the top of the table, which allowed him to beat the count of ten. After this, the battle broke out into the crowd as Priest took Black to a set of production boxes. With Black and Priest on top of a platform, the latter looked to have this won. That was, until Zelina Vega appeared and checked up on Black, as he pleaded for Priest not to do any damage. Priest did not comply, and ended up eating a fireball to the face, followed by a Black Mass kick that sent him crashing through a table. The referee made the count, and Priest was unable to make it to the count of ten, which gave Black the victory.

Aleister Black def. Damian Priest via pinfall

**********

A fun main event with a very interesting finish as Zelina Vega made her return to WWE TV with a new gimmick as she’s now aligned with her real-life spouse Aleister Black. That should be interesting to see going forward.

All in all, this wasn’t really much of a go-home show for Crown Jewel as it was basically an extended PLE where matches that otherwise wouldn’t fit the Levesque-ian way of 5 matches per PLE card are booked. It’s certainly not bad thing to position pre-PLE editions of SmackDown. The matches that we did get were at least decent, and it was nice to see some surprise returns to spice things up.

WWE Raw live results: Crown Jewel go-home show

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: October 6, 2025
Location: American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX 

The Big Takeaway —

The same three men who lost to Seth Rollins at Clash in Paris are still vying for the next world title shot. Three straight matches tonight ended thanks to a distraction, and another ended because one person just stopped paying attention. 

Crown Jewel is Saturday.

**********

Show Recap — 

(There’s an updated Raw thumbnail on Netflix. The old one had Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Bianca Belair, three people who are frequently not on Raw. The new one has Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Jey Uso, Dominik Mysterio and Penta.) 

Roman Reigns opens Raw 

Reigns entered after a recap of his return last week. The crowd sang his name and chanted “OTC.” He told the Dallas crowd to acknowledge him, and they did, but he was quickly interrupted by Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman. 

Nothing happened for a while (because they stood around waiting for crowd chants), so Reigns asked them if they were just there to stare or to say something. Heyman told the crowd to acknowledge their Tribal Thief. They booed. Heyman wanted Reigns to acknowledge the one man he feared in his heart—Bronson Reed. 

Heyman said Reigns has never been beaten so badly that he needed to be taken out on a stretcher. Reed (who was booed as he spoke) said Afa and Sika never got stretchered out in their careers. Reed wondered how they would feel looking down at Reigns getting stretchered out at his hands. 

Reigns said Reed didn’t know his dad or his uncle, but the dumbass Heyman did, so Heyman knew what they would tell Reigns: fight him now. Reigns challenged Reed to a fight right now. Reed was ready, but Heyman talked him down. Reigns knew Heyman was delaying it, so he said he would be ready whenever they were. 

Heyman issued the challenge for Crown Jewel on Saturday in Australia in a match Reed has never lost, an Australian street fight. (This got a lukewarm reaction.) Reigns accepted. 

As Heyman began to leave, Reigns said they had shown up ready to fight, but now they were leaving like a couple of bitches. Reed marched to the ring to brawl with Reigns. 

Reigns got the better of Reed until security and officials got between them. Reigns broke through and gave Reed a second Superman punch. Reigns posed for the crowd as Reed looked on from the stands.

(The crowd had an understandably underwhelming reaction to the announcement of a street fight between these two. We just saw Reigns wrestle Reed, and Heyman teased the match type like it would be something big, but it’s something we see all the time, including on Raw.) 

********

CM Punk (wearing a Chicago Cubs cap), Lyra Valkyria, and Iyo Sky were shown arriving. 

Backstage, Asuka demanded that Adam Pearce make a match between Kairi Sane and Sky tonight. Pearce said he had to make sure there was enough room in the show first. (He also mentioned that Rhea Ripley was already in Australia doing media.) 

Pearce left as Sane arrived. Asuka was riled up while speaking to Pearce, but she wore a smile upon seeing Sane. Asuka told her that she’d be facing Sky tonight. Sane wasn’t happy about fighting her friend, but Asuka slapped her in the face and told her the match was happening. 

******** 

Non-title match: Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri

Dupri went for a simple dropkick but missed the target and dropkicked Lynch in the knee. It was meant to hit Lynch up high. Lynch reacted by hunching over, but because the spot was meant to hit her in the head and send her out of the ring, Lynch went from being hunched over to doing a back bump and rolling out of the ring. 

Dupri hit a cannonball off the apron, but Lynch suplexed her into the barricade to take over ahead of a break. Dupri fired back after the break and applied an ankle lock (after dropping her straps like Chad Gable or Kurt Angle). Lynch broke out of it, but Dupri hit a sit-out powerbomb (which didn’t look great) for two. 

Lynch hit a superplex for two and applied a Disarmer, but Dupri countered into a cradle for a nearfall. Dupri countered a Man-handle Slam and hit a German suplex. 

Dupri followed with a roundhouse kick for a very close nearfall that had the crowd going. (It was one of those nearfalls that probably should have been three, as Lynch barely kicked out at the absolute last millisecond.) They traded a few more cradles, and Dupri even tried a schoolboy with her feet on the ropes, but they all ended in nearfalls. 

Lynch was frustrated, so she tossed Dupri around ringside, driving her into the announce table and barricade. 

Lynch taunted the crowd while standing on the announce table, but she stopped paying attention to Dupri, who rolled back into the ring to beat the ten-count. The ref counted out Lynch, and Dupri was declared the winner. 

Dupri celebrated while quickly scampering up the ramp away from Lynch. 

Match result: Maxxine Dupri defeated Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch via count-out in a non-title match (13:34) 

This was the biggest mixed bag of a match. It started poorly, and Dupri’s offence didn’t look good, but the counters and nearfalls were laid out well, so the crowd really got into Dupri almost pinning Lynch. Wade Barrett was too over-the-top trying to emphasize Dupri’s supposed improvements, and even called the match a banger before all the nearfalls happened. 

********

Reigns met with Jimmy and Jey Uso backstage. Jimmy was about to tell Reigns that they had his back at Crown Jewel, but Jey cut him off to say, “I got you.” Reigns didn’t want their help, especially not Jey. Reigns already told Jey to focus on himself. Reigns mentioned that it was CM Punk—not Jey Uso—speaking at the top of the hour. Jey didn’t like that, so he left. 

Reigns told Jimmy that he knew everything that was going on around here. He asked Jimmy why there would be a problem with Jey seeking his advice. (Referring to Jimmy’s obvious discontent.) Reigns left. 

********

Lyra Valkyria (w/ Bayley) vs. Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez)

(The opening match was a rematch from August 11th, and this was a rematch from September 15th.)

Perez worked over Valkyria’s arm through a break, enough that Valkyria had trouble hitting her finisher. 

It was time for a distraction, so Rodriguez distracted the referee, which also distracted Valkyria as she went to the top rope. Valkyria stopped what she was doing upon seeing Rodriguez on the apron, so Perez tried a move off the ropes, but Bayley held Valkyria’s arm down to prevent that from happening. Valkyria gave Bayley a thumbs up before hitting Perez with a moonsault for two. 

Rodriguez booted Bayley, so Valkyria dropkicked Rodriguez. Perez threw through the ropes and laid out Valkyria with a tornado DDT. Perez followed with Pop Rox in the ring for the pinfall win. 

— Bayley was not happy, so she encouraged Valkyria to storm to the back with her.

Match result: Roxanne Perez defeated Lyra Valkyria (9:24) 

********

There was a video package for John Cena vs. AJ Styles. They really want you to think this match is happening because of the fans. 

Jackie Redmond tried to interview Styles about his upcoming match against Cena, but he was interrupted by the male members of Judgment Day. Dominik wondered why Styles thought he could beat Cena when Styles couldn’t even beat him. (Dom wore a t-shirt with the picture of himself as a kid playing PSP.) 

Finn Bálor heard a rumour that Styles and Dragon Lee wanted to challenge for the tag titles. Bálor warned Styles that would be a mistake. 

Styles said they were acting tough because it was three on one. Styles said he would find Dragon Lee and a partner, and they would have a six-man match tonight. (Hopefully, there’s enough room on the show.) 

After a break, Styles and Dragon Lee met with Penta. The meeting ended before Penta could answer their request because Bayley and Valkyria were beating the crap out of Perez and Rodriguez nearby. Pearce and officials stormed in to break it up.

******** 

Some professional bull riders and Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were in the crowd.  

CM Punk, LA Knight and Jey Uso segment

(Long story short, the three guys who most recently wrestled for the world title still want to be world champion.) 

Punk was glad to be back after being gone for two weeks. He thanked the fans for their warm welcome back of AJ Lee. 

Punk spoke about the upcoming match between Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. He called it title vs. title, but quickly noted no titles were on the line and didn’t want anyone in the back getting mad at him (for calling it title vs. title). 

Punk hasn’t been around because he didn’t want to get involved in their match. But he noted that he kicked off the year by beating Rollins on the Netflix premiere. He wanted to end the year by beating Rollins for the title. He had Rollins’ number. He always won when it was one-on-one and man-to-man. Punk was better than Rollins, and Rollins knew it. 

LA Knight interrupted. Knight said he deserved and earned a reign as world champion. Knight said Punk was known for his pipe bomb, but lately, he’s been known for being a husband. That wasn’t meant to be an insult. Everybody needed love—it was a beautiful thing. But as good a husband Punk seemed to be, he was a trash champion. 

Knight said Punk was champion for five minutes before Rollins pinned him in the ring. Rollins pinned him again at Clash in Paris. Knight called himself the guy who had never been pinned by Rollins. Punk said he’s also the guy who has never been world champion. 

Knight called Punk a two-time loser against Rollins, while Knight was the last to pin Rollins. Knight would be the next to pin Rollins and become champion. 

Jey Uso interrupted. Jey was finally thinking clearly. He was the one. The one who never got his singles rematch for the world title. He was up next. 

Knight said this was déjà vu. It was the three of them again (after they wrestled Rollins in Paris). Knight said Jey’s time came and went. Knight knew Jey thought he lost because he wasn’t quite Roman enough. Knight said that was a good thing, but Jey should probably focus on being a tag champion right now. But given The Usos’ recent history, Jey should probably stop sucking at being a tag team first. 

Jimmy marched out after hearing that comment. Knight kept rambling, so thankfully, Jey superkicked him to shut him up. 

Punk (whose hair now looks like Beavis or Butt-head) told Jey that Knight had a point. Maybe Jey should focus on being a tag team. Punk liked Jey Uso—but he didn’t like Little Roman. 

Punk and Jey argued, but Jimmy got between them. Jey was about to superkick Punk, but Jimmy pulled him away. Punk saw the attempt, so he decked Jey. Jimmy didn’t like that, so he superkicked Punk. 

********

There was an Iyo Sky video package outlining her recent history with Asuka. 

A tag match was made official for tonight with CM Punk and LA Knight facing The Usos. There will also be a six-man match with AJ Styles, Dragon Lee and Penta facing Judgment Day. (It’s hilarious that Pearce even suggested there may not be room on the show for one impromptu match, given that there are now three of them.) 

IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Asuka)

Sky wiped out Asuka with a dive before the match officially began, although it didn’t really matter. There was a terrifying spot moments later. 

Sky went after Sane while outside the ring, but a distraction by Asuka allowed Sane to shove her into the side of the ring. Sane followed by giving Sky an Alabama Slam onto the edge of the ring, and boy did it look like Sky’s head slammed right against the ring. Her arms were up, too, so hopefully they caught the brunt of it. (Even worse, this happened during commercials.) Sky continued the match. 

Later on, Sane went for an Insane Elbow, but Sky got her feet up and followed with a corner meteora. 

As in the previous match, the heel outside the ring jumped on the apron, which distracted the babyface. This allowed Sane to cradle Sky—as Asuka held down Sane’s arms for leverage—for the pinfall win.

— After the match, Asuka held down Sky while Sane hit an Insane Elbow. (Ripley is in Australia, so there was no save.) 

Match result: Kairi Sane defeated IYO SKY (9:51) 

********

They aired part two of the three-part video package for Rhodes vs. Rollins. 

Lynch ranted to Rollins backstage about losing to Dupri. She was pissed at the way she was treated and left to tell Pearce she wasn’t going to Australia until they got better referees. 

After she left, Rollins repeated to Heyman that he had to beat Rhodes on Saturday. Rollins asked him what would happen if he lost to Rhodes. Heyman didn’t take that possibility seriously, but Rollins wanted him to consider it. 

Heyman said Rollins would lose the locker room if he lost. He would lose the faith of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. He would throw away the fact that the entire Netflix era has been built around him. Rollins would become a de facto secondary champion. Heyman told him not to lose. 

Rollins wondered what Heyman would do if he lost. Heyman would have to ask himself why he picked Rollins, and why he picked him over Reigns. Heyman left. 

********

Jey wasn’t happy about Jimmy getting involved and having to wrestle a tag match while he was focused on getting the world title. Jey wondered if Jimmy was protecting Punk earlier, and told him to know what side he’s on tonight. Jey left. 

Jimmy told Reigns that he and Jey were nothing like him. Reigns told Jimmy that if he wanted to help Jey, he should just get out of his way. 

********

Styles “tried” cutting a promo before the match, and seemed like he had something to get off his chest, but he was interrupted by Judgment Day’s music, so he stopped out of frustration. (I think having a microphone allows people to hear you despite music being played.) 

Six-man tag team match: AJ Styles, Dragon Lee & Penta vs. Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio & World Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh

They went to break twice in the first 7.5 minutes of the match, so the first 10 minutes included 5 minutes of commercials. 

Absolutely nothing happened during the second break, and Dragon Lee made a hot tag to Penta as soon as they returned. Penta ran wild and went for a Canadian Destroyer, but McDonagh reversed into a Spanish Fly (Joe Tessitore thought it was Penta who hit the offensive move). 

Styles tagged in next and hit a Dom with a spinning rack bomb, but McDonagh broke up the cover. Dragon Lee got rid of McDonagh, and Penta wiped out Bálor with a flip dive. 

Dom went for a 619 on Styles, but stopped in his tracks upon seeing Rusev. Yes, another distraction. 

Rusev marched out, and Dom bailed from the ring. Dom grabbed his belts and tried to escape, but Rusev caught him. Penta went to superkick Dom, but Dom ducked, and Penta superkicked Rusev by mistake. Dom bailed through the crowd. 

Styles grabbed McDonagh and hit a Styles Clash for the pinfall win. 

— Styles grabbed a mic after the match. He said his match against Cena didn’t need a story because it wrote itself. Two men will dance for the last time. They would leave it all in the ring, and it will kick ass. Styles did Cena’s salute. 

Match result: AJ Styles, Dragon Lee & Penta defeated Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio & World Tag Team Champions Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh (14:05) 

********

Crown Jewel card (8 am ET start time, with a 6 am pre-show): 

  • John Cena vs. AJ Styles 
  • Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed – Australian Street Fight 
  • IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane 
  • Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs. WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton 
  • World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes 

Raw next week (also an 8 am ET start time): 

  • Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Penta for the Intercontinental Championship 
  • Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez 

The announcers said Penta earned the IC title shot with tonight’s win (Styles pinned McDonagh in the match). We can probably guess how the match will end, considering what happened with Penta and Rusev tonight.

********

Punk and Knight agreed that neither of them wanted this match tonight. Knight had one thing to ask of Punk: don’t get pinned. 

Knight’s entrance was cut short by Punk, who stormed out to get things started against The Usos. 

CM Punk & LA Knight vs. Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso

Punk and Knight weren’t getting along, and Punk chopped Knight’s chest to tag him in. Jey aggressively launched Knight into the steel steps as the Usos held control through an early break. 

Punk made a hot tag and hit Jimmy with a flying elbow drop. Jimmy slipped out of a GTS attempt and tagged in Jey, who hit an Uso splash, but Knight broke up the cover. Knight gave Jimmy a BFT, then Jey superkicked Knight. Jey speared Punk and went back to the top, but leaped down to knock Knight off the apron. 

Punk gave Jey a GTS, but Knight tagged himself and pinned Jey for the win. 

Match result: LA Knight & CM Punk defeated Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso (9:30) 

A weak finish and match to end a weak show.

WWE SmackDown live results: Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs. The Vision

Posted on by Marc Quill

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Cincinnati’s Heritage Bank Center will be headlined by WWE Champion Cody Rhodes teaming up with Randy Orton to take on The Vision’s Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker.

Last week, Rhodes confronted Paul Heyman and suggested that the loyalties of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins’ “Oracle” may lie with Brock Lesnar once more. This brought Breakker and Reed out to confront Rhodes before Orton evened the odds.

Men’s United States Champion Sami Zayn continues his open challenge series after another successful defense last week against NXT star Je’von Evans. Tonight marks the fifth time Zayn has defended his title since winning it in late August.

Coming off her title defense last Friday, WWE Women’s World Champion Tiffany Stratton will have a contract signing with Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer as their Crown Jewel Championship match approaches.

Plus, Damian Priest said that he plans on issuing a challenge to his rival Aleister Black.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Over shots of the Cincinnati skyline, we were welcomed to tonight’s SmackDown by Michael Cole before we headed to the arena for our opening segment.

Cody Rhodes kicks off SmackDown

The entrance of the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, got things going for tonight’s show as he made his way to the ring with some things to say on his mind ahead of his tag match with Randy Orton against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed later tonight.

As Rhodes got into the ring, he started off with his usual “what do you want to talk about?” icebreaker. Paul Heyman interrupted him, accompanied by Breakker and Reed at his side. “What would we like to talk about?” asked Heyman.

At the same time, Orton appeared at Rhodes’ side to even the odds as Heyman introduced himself in his usual manner. Heyman said that he and the Brons weren’t here to talk to Rhodes, but rather to Orton. He said that Orton wasn’t taking his calls all week, which meant that he had the Brons corner Rhodes, which would bring out the Viper. According to Heyman, that wasn’t a prediction, but a spoiler.

Heyman pointed out that no matter the strategy that Orton and Rhodes would come up with, it wouldn’t be enough as they’d lose to Breakker and Reed later tonight. Heyman asked Orton what would happen if he and Rhodes lost tonight, attempting to stir the pot. “That’s the Undisputed World Champion, we could do so much more than that,” Heyman asked Orton.

He said, that either way, no matter how we’d look at it, the alliance between Orton and Rhodes would not last, because that’s not a prediction, but rather a prophecy. The Seth Rollins-less Vision made their exit as this segment ended.

Seems like a bit of foreshadowing for what could be a future feud for Cody Rhodes, perhaps for down the line, just not tonight, however. Still, an intriguing start to the show, nonetheless.

**********

– As Carmelo Hayes walked in the locker room, the Miz accosted him and chewed him out for letting him get beat last week. Hayes responded by saying that this partnership between him and Miz was done because Miz was simply standing in his way when he was supposed to be watching his back. Hayes said that he was being cool about this because normally, he shoots first. He told Miz that “we good” before walking off.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Aleister Black

Before the match, Carmelo Hayes addressed Zayn, saying that this time it’d be different because nobody was here to cloud to his vision or judgement. He said that he’s been the best that he’d ever been. However, before Hayes could actually make his way to the ring, The Miz attacked him with a Skull Crushing Finale, which left him laying. WWE officials shooed Miz away as they checked up on the downed Hayes.

Aleister Black appeared and said he’d take the open challenge as this match got underway officially after that.

Zayn dropped Black with a series of arm drags before he transitioned into an hammerlock following the last one. Black escaped the hold and kicked Zayn in the face as he took over with strikes in the corner. Black maintained control with a boot to the face of Zayn, which left him trapped against the ropes momentarily. Black took us into the commercial break with a springboard moonsault on Zayn, as the challenger still had the upper hand.

We returned from the break with Zayn having fought back and battering Black with punch after punch in the corner, followed by repeated stomps to his foe’s head. Zayn leapfrogged above Black before he clotheslined him out of the ring. He followed that up with a moonsault from the apron that floored Black at ringside. Back in the ring, Zayn caught Black with a nice Michinoku Driver for the close kickout at two.

As Black recovered, he and Zayn got into a standing switch standoff until the challenger blasted him with a kick to the head and a German suplex. One, two… not quite. Zayn avoided a spinning kick and attempted a Blue Thunder Bomb, but got countered into a discus knee by Black instead. The challenger headed to the top rope, but Zayn intercepted and left him staggered long enough for a superplex that took both men out as we got another break in the action here.

Our match continued as Zayn headed to the top and took a leap, but he was skeetshotted with a kick by Black upon landing. That, however, was still not enough for Black to pick up the win and the U.S. Title. With both men on their feet, they exchanged strikes until Black gained the upper hand with strikes in the corner. In the midst of this, Zayn attempted a Helluva Kick, but Black dodged and responded with a top rope Meteora. One, two…. Zayn just managed to kick out! As Zayn was at Black’s mercy, Damian Priest appeared at ringside and created just enough of a distraction for Zayn to catch Black with a Helluva Kick, followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb. One, two, three. This one’s done.

After Zayn left the ring, Priest cleared the commentary table and hoisted the fallen Black above him. He then threw Black through the commentary table with a Razor’s Edge.

Sami Zayn def. Aleister Black via pinfall to retain the United States Championship

This was probably the weakest of Zayn’s U.S. Title Open challenge matches, but it was still an entertaining bout nonetheless. Zayn has proven himself a workhorse in the past few weeks and this match was no exception to that.

**********

– As SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was talking to NXT talents Zaria and Sol Ruca, he was interrupted by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, who were looking to recruit the team into the Secret Hervice. However, that turned sideways as the two instead found themselves booked in a match against Zaria and Ruca by Mr. Aldis.

Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre vs. Zaria & Sol Ruca

Zaria and Fyre opened the match for their respective teams with a lockup. Zaria grabbed Fyre by her throat and threw her into the corner and laid into her foe with a strike. As Fyre escaped, Zaria took her to the opposite corner and held her up with an elevated sleeper. The Australian followed that up with a top rope clothesline. After Green tagged herself in, Ruca entered the match and held her with an interesting modified tarantula hold of sorts, followed by an X-Factor for the near-fall.

The Secret Hervice showed some effective teamwork as they took out Ruca with a double team dropkick that sent the Women’s North American Champion to the outside. Zaria was taken out of the equation with a dive from Fyre. With Ruca isolated, Green and Fyre maintained control for a bit. Zaria eventually recovered and threw Fyre into the barricade. Back in the ring, Green fell victim to Ruca’s incredible Sol Snatcher cutter for the victory.

Zaria & Sol Ruca def. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre via pinfall

A rather short match here, but it’s nice to see some variety in the SmackDown women’s roster in the form of some NXT stars showing up, and their eventual Women’s Tag Title match against Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair should be entertaining.

**********

– Backstage, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss were interviewed about the victorious team of Ruca and Zaria. The Women’s Tag Champions said that their potential challengers have proven themselves, but that they need to be ready when it’s their turn to challenge for Flair & Bliss’s titles. As the champs left, Bliss humorously imitated Flair’s “woooo”.

– A recap of Roman Reigns’ return on Raw this past Monday was shown. Reigns was also advertised to appear on next week’s edition of Raw.

– Cody Rhodes talked with Randy Orton, who said that nobody should care what Paul Heyman said earlier. The two exchanged a fistbump, their alliance seemingly stronger than ever.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton contract signing

SmackDown GM Nick Aldis was in the ring to moderate this contract signing for Vaquer vs. Stratton for the Crown Jewel Championship at next week’s Crown Jewel event in Perth. Stratton was introduced first, followed by Vaquer.

Once both women in the ring, Vaquer took to the mic first. She said that she respected Stratton, and that even though she has only been Women’s World Champion for two weeks, she said she’d prove herself to be the best. “Let the best woman win,” said Vaquer.

Stratton answered that although she and Vaquer were the best women right now in WWE, she’d be the one to beat Vaquer at Crown Jewel. Stratton said that it didn’t matter if they were in Cincinnati or Perth or anywhere else, it’d always be Tiffy Time. Both women signed the contract amicably and shook hands. The contract signing ended without incident.

However, as Stratton was walking out, she was ambushed from behind by Giulia. Kiana James told Aldis not to notarize the contract just yet. James then tried to recruit Vaquer for her services, as she said Giulia outshined even Stratton as the top star on SmackDown. As James continued to talk, Stratton pulled James out and attacked her. Vaquer caught Giulia napping and had her hoisted up for the SVB, but the Women’s U.S. Champion managed to escape unscathed.

I low-key enjoyed this segment, if only for giving us something different in terms of Giulia potentially running back her rivalry against Women’s World Champion Vaquer. Even if it’s a tag match with Vaquer and Stratton vs. Giulia and James, it’s something I want to see to break up the monotony that the SmackDown women’s divison has been mired in for the last few months.

**********

– We got Earlier Today footage of Je’von Evans talking with Mr. Aldis about his future potentially involving a move to SmackDown. Rey Fenix appeared and got friendly with Evans, as Los Garza talked trash to the two. This led to Mr. Aldis scheduling a tag match with Fenix & Evans vs. Los Garza.

– A vignette from Jacob Fatu aired. He said that he was tired of people lying and talking out of their ass. Fatu declared that Drew McIntyre was going to the bottom, while he was headed straight to the top at the expense of the Scotsman.

Je’von Evans & Rey Fenix vs. Los Garza (Angel & Berto)

Evans caught Berto with a high-flying crossbody to start things off. Berto responded with a knee to the face as he then attacked Evans with punches to the face, followed by a hard kick. In the corner, Evans attempted to fight out of trouble, but got hit with a dropkick by Berto. The high-flying Evans countered with a springboard hurricanrana on Berto. Los Garza, however, caught the young gun with a double team kick to the face, followed by a punch.

Fenix entered the match and took flight with a tornillo dive that took Angel out. Berto then took out Fenix with a dive of his own. This was then followed by Evans soaring with a big time leap over the top rope that took everyone out as the action headed to a break.

SmackDown returned with Angel punching away at Fenix in the corner, until his foe escaped and caught him with a hard kick to the face. On the other side of the ring, Evans clotheslined Berto out of the ring. Things broke down a bit as Los Garza coordinated with a unique double team move where Berto kicked Evans while Angel held Fenix up. Despite that move, it still wasn’t enough to end this match.

Fenix and Angel took each other out with a clothesline as Evans got the hot tag. Evans hit Berto in with an elevated Cheeky Nandos kick before he dove onto both Angel and the cameraman at ringside. As Evans entered the ring, Berto tried to catch him by surprise with a rope-assisted pin, but the referee broke it up.

As Angel entered the ring, he fell victim to a rebound springboard kick by Evans as Fenix re-entered the match. Fenix lifted Berto up for the Mexican Muscle Buster, while Evans intercepted Angel with an OG Cutter. Fenix pinned Berto to pick up the victory for his team.

Rey Fenix & Je’von Evans def. Los Garza via pinfall

This was a great little match and if it was a tryout of sorts for Evans to be a part of the SmackDown roster moving forward, I’d say he passes, as his high-flying moveset is perfect to pop crowds.

**********

– As Damian Priest was interviewed about how far his rivalry with Aleister Black would go, Kit Wilson interrupted and told him that he’d do everything he can to stand up against what he saw as “toxic masculinity”. Priest answered by pushing Wilson on his wheelchair far enough to send him crashing into some pipes. Ultimately, Priest challenged Black to a Last Man Standing match for next week’s SmackDown.

– A vignette from Solo Sikoa and his M.F.T.s aired, focusing on Talla Tonga.

– The Street Profits were interviewed about their WWE Tag Title matches against the Wyatt Sicks on next week’s SmackDown. Montez Ford said that they weren’t just fighting for the Tag Titles, but they were fighting for each other. The Wyatt Sicks interrupted on the screen behind the Profits, and talked trash to their challengers.

Next Week on SmackDown

  • Tiffany Stratton & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Kiana James & Giulia
  • Last Man Standing: Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black
  • WWE Tag Team Championships: The Wyatt Sicks’ Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
  • Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title Open Challenge

Cody Rhodes & Randy Orton vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed)

Our main event kicked off with Orton facing off against Breakker in the middle of the ring. Orton quickly pushed Breakker into the corner and opened up with an European uppercut, followed by repeated punches to Breakker’s face. Orton followed it up with a clothesline over the top rope as we went to commercial not even a minute into this one.

SmackDown’s main event bout continued as Orton was in the grip of Bronson Reed. During the break, Orton was dropped across the announce table by Reed, which led us to this point in the match. Back to live action, Reed ran shoulder-first into the steel post after Orton dodged at the last second. Rhodes entered the match with a tag, as he took out Reed with a Disaster Kick. Both Reed and Breakker were taken out to the ringside area and fell victim to a suicide dive by the Undisputed WWE Champion.

Back in the ring, Breakker struck Rhodes from behind while Reed had the referee distracted, as Reed seized the opportunity to punish his foe with clubbing blows. Rhodes turned it around with a dropdown uppercut, but found himself on the receiving end of a World’s Strongest Slam by Reed. Breakker tagged in and absolutely blasted Rhodes with a charged clothesline and we once again headed to one last commercial break in the midst of the action.

As we returned from the break, it was still The Vision in the driver’s seat as the Brons kept Rhodes isolated in their corner. Rhodes managed to kick Breakker away in the hopes of getting a tag, but Reed stamped out those hopes. The Undisputed WWE Champion avoided a Reed senton, which finally allowed Orton to get the hot tag.

It was classic Orton at his best as he hit his signature powerslam on both Breakker and Reed. However, the titanic Australian responded with the Jagged Edge on Orton. Reed tried to head to the top rope, but Orton recovered and met him at the pass with a massive superplex. Breakker managed to break up the pin at two. Rhodes and Breakker fought as the hotshot flew from the apron and took out Rhodes with a diving clothesline through the barricade.

In the ring, Orton had Reed scouted for the RKO, but Paul Heyman created a distraction as Seth Rollins stepped in and stomped Orton. This allowed Reed to pick up the victory with a Tsunami.

After the match, Rollins told Breakker and Reed to back off while Rhodes was in the ring to check up on Orton. Heyman advised Rollins not to go in for the kill, but to no avail. Rollins tried to go for a Stomp, but Rhodes avoided it and instead caught Rollins with the Cross Rhodes to end SmackDown.

The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed) def. Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes via pinfall

**********

Above average main event, but the Brons getting the victory was the right call, perhaps to further tease the Orton & Rhodes dissention mentioned at the top of the show.

Despite that, I quite enjoyed this week’s NXT-infused edition of SmackDown. The matches were all good and as a result, the two hours flew by quickly. As always, Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title Open Challenge was the standout (distraction finish aside), but the Evans/Fenix vs. Los Garza tag match was solid action too. All in all, tonight was entertaining.

WWE Raw live results: The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: September 29, 2025
Location: Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC 

The Big Takeaway —

Not much happened on Raw until the very end, when Roman Reigns returned to help The Usos beat Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. It was good timing by Reigns because the Usos were getting obliterated. Jimmy Uso has been worried about Jey turning into Reigns, and the closing shot saw Reigns imparting more words of encouragement on Jey, as Jimmy looked on disapprovingly. 

Plus, Iyo Sky will team with Rhea Ripley to face Asuka and Kairi Sane at Crown Jewel.

**********

Show Recap — 

The Usos, Judgment Day, Los Americanos (all three of them), and Rusev arrived at the arena in Raleigh. 

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. 

Tessitore welcomed us to Raleigh, NC, and said the city was “That unique mix of cutting-edge business savvy and rah-rah spirit that mirrors modern-day WWE.” 

There was a recap of Asuka and Kairi Sane attacking Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley. 

Rhea Ripley kicks off Raw

A pissed off Rhea Ripley entered to a big reaction. She said Asuka and Kairi Sane crossed the line with what they did to Iyo Sky, whom they claimed was family. Ripley wanted to settle things in the ring and called them out, but Sky entered instead. 

Sky admitted Ripley was right about Asuka and Sane, and it broke her heart to say that. But they were her family, and she still loved them. 

Asuka and Sane appeared on the screen. Asuka addressed Ripley and Sky. (It was a pre-taped promo, so there were subtitles.) Asuka said she taught Sky everything she knew and paved the way for her, but now Sky acted as if none of that mattered. Sky became champion because of her, but now Sky calls Ripley family and tries to forget about her (Asuka). 

Asuka was willing to forgive Sky, but wanted an apology. “Be like Kairi. You can both be my students.” Sane (still a hesitant participant in this) told Sky they can still be a family. Asuka said it was too late for Ripley. 

Ripley tried talking sense into Sky. Ripley said she knew what it was like for family to turn on you (Judgment Day), and there was no way Sky could go back to Asuka and Sane. Sky was upset. She needed time. She apologized to Ripley and left. 

Asuka and Sane attacked Ripley from behind. Sky wasn’t sure what to do, but she ran into the ring and pulled Asuka away from Ripley. Sane pleaded with Sky until Asuka spat mist in Sky’s face. 

Ripley attacked, but Asuka and Sane fought her off. Asuka held Ripley down in the Asuka Lock while Sane hit an Insane elbow. Officials entered to check on the babyfaces as the segment ended.

******** 

Dom entered with his Intercontinental and AAA Mega Championship belts. Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh initially entered with Dom, but they returned to the back for the match. 

Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev

Rusev was all over Dom early on, sending him over the announce table with a fallaway slam, which sent us to break less than two minutes into the match. Not much happened until Dom made his comeback following a break, leading to a springboard senton for just a one count. Dom went for a 619, but Rusev clotheslined him. 

Rusev set up for the Machka Kick, but Dom spilled out of the ring. Dom shoved Rusev into the steel steps and hit a 619 to the gut back in the ring. Dom hit a normal 619 and went for a frog splash, but Rusev moved and hit a Machka Kick for a nearfall. 

Rusev applied the Accolade, but Dom quickly wriggled out of it and escaped the ring. Dom grabbed his two belts and started to leave, but Rusev pulled him back in the ring. 

Dom tried to pull an Eddie Guerrero trick by feigning that Rusev hit him with a belt, but the referee caught him. As the ref put the belt away, Dom low-blowed Rusev and applied a schoolboy for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Dominik Mysterio defeated Rusev to retain the Intercontinental Championship (8:56)

This was ok. It followed the same pattern as most WWE TV matches, so the crowd only got into it toward the end with Dom’s antics, and they popped big for his win. 

********

Earlier today, LA Knight told Adam Pearce he wanted a world title shot because he was the last person to beat Seth Rollins. 

New Day interrupted them because they wanted a tag title shot. Pearce told them to earn it. Knight tried to dismiss them, so Kofi Kingston told him that only one of them had actually been a world champion. Knight said he would be world champ very soon, and told Pearce to make a match between him and Kingston. Pearce agreed. 

********

There was a shot of Cody Rhodes’ tour bus, followed by part one of a video package exploring the history of Rhodes and Seth Rollins since Rhodes’ return. 

Happy Bayley approached Lyra Valkyria, who wasn’t buying what Bayley was saying. Bayley wanted Valkyria’s help tonight (in her match with Raquel Rodriguez). Valkyria didn’t want to give her any more chances and told her she was on her own. 

******** 

They announced the launch of Zuffa Boxing with a picture of Turki Al-Sheikh and Dana White.

Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez (w/Roxanne Perez)

Bayley went for a hurricanrana off the apron (like Kelani Jordan tried in her recent TNA match with Lei Ying Lee), but Rodriguez successfully caught her and drove her into the barricade. 

Bayley fought back after a break and hit a senton bomb for two. They were in North Carolina, so Bayley did the Hardy Boyz pose before the spot. Rodriguez and Bayley messed up a spot, so they moved on, and Rodriguez clotheslined her. 

Bayley responded with a figure four (to pay tribute to Ric Flair in NC), but Rodriguez called the ref for help to distract her. This allowed Perez to rake Bayley’s eyes and break up the hold, and the ref didn’t see it because she has no peripheral vision. Rodriguez followed with a big boot and Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win. 

— The heels attacked Bayley after the match, so Valkyria ran out to make the save. The heels got the better of her, but Bayley suddenly snapped. She popped out of the corner and cleared the ring by herself. Bayley cackled like heel Bayley and helped Valkyria to her feet. 

Match result: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Bayley (10:24) 

********

The Usos met backstage. Jimmy wanted to know why Jey walked away from him and LA Knight last week. Jey said helping Knight got them nowhere, and he was the reason they lost at Wrestlepalooza. Jey wanted to know why Jimmy helped Knight. 

Jey basically reiterated what Roman Reigns told him (without mentioning him), that they shouldn’t be helping anyone. 

Jey did what he had to do. He beat Knight. Mission accomplished. If he did more of that, maybe he’d be world champion. That was something Jimmy didn’t understand. Jey told him to forget about Knight so they could take care of the Brons. They shook hands. 

*******

The useless medical staff was still tending to Sky, who was still covered in blue mist and having trouble seeing almost an hour after the opening segment. Sane approached Sky and tried reasoning with her. 

Sane wanted Sky to apologize to Asuka so they could be a family again. Sky told Sane to leave her alone. A very sad Kairi left, but not before leaving a photo of the three of them together. (The camera zoomed in on the picture in case you were having trouble understanding.) 

******** 

LA Knight vs. Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods)

Knight had control until a Woods distraction allowed Kingston to take over ahead of a break. Woods also took a cheap shot during a break. Knight made his post-commercial break comeback, hitting a slingshot shoulder tackle and neckbreaker. 

Woods distracted Knight again, this time by jumping on the apron in front of the referee. Knight knocked him off, but Kingston applied a rollup with his feet on the ropes for two. Knight ducked a Trouble in Paradise and hit a BFT for the pinfall win. 

Match result: LA Knight defeated Kofi Kingston (10:22) 

Another ordinary, patterned match. 

******** 

Becky Lynch approached Maxxine Dupri and Akira Tozawa. She mocked Dupri for being a loser. Lynch called herself the greatest of all time and reminded us that everyone was saying it. Durpi said not everyone, certainly not AJ Lee. 

Tozawa, playing a total caricature, giggled at the comment. Lynch punched Tozawa, and he dropped to the floor. Dupri stood up for Tozawa, so Lynch backed off. Durpi checked on Tozawa, but Lynch attacked her from behind and hammered away until officials broke it up. Lynch found Rollins nearby. Rollins left to head to the ring. 

******** 

Byron Saxton interviewed Dom during a break. Dom bragged about his win before being confronted by Penta. Saxton asked Dom for comment, but Dom dismissed Penta as a challenger because he’s already beaten him so many times. 

Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes segment 

(Long story short, Rhodes isn’t buying that their Crown Jewel match will determine the future. Rollins wanted to make it clear that any perceived allegiance between them in the past meant nothing. The match was meaningful because Rollins would win and write a new story.) 

Rollins entered. The crowd sang his song, chanted for CM Punk and “OTC.” The fans remembered he isn’t currently feuding with those guys, so they eventually started singing for Cody Rhodes. 

Rollins finally spoke when they did. Rollins acknowledged that he had lost all three matches against Rhodes. It didn’t bother Rollins because it didn’t matter. Those were in the past. Those versions of Rhodes and Rollins were in the past. They were both men trying to reach the top, but now, headed into Crown Jewel, they were on top. 

The winner of the match wouldn’t just be the Crown Jewel champion—the winner may just decide the next 10-20 years of the entire industry. Rollins didn’t understand why anyone would want Rhodes to win that match and lead this company into the future. 

Rollins said he has done everything right. He stayed with this company when times were tough, brought the company into its golden age, and took two young men—Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed—and took them under his wing so they could reach the top. Rollins has tried to rid this place of cancers like Reigns and Punk, yet people still chanted for Rhodes (instead of him). 

Rhodes entered to a big reception. Rhodes wanted to know what Rollins was even talking about, as if either of them had any control over the future of the industry. Rhodes looked at the fans and said they were the ones who controlled the future. 

Rhodes mentioned that Breakker and Reed appeared on SmackDown, but it wasn’t Rollins who sent them, it was Paul Heyman. Rhodes wondered who was really in charge. Rollins claimed it was him who sent them because every decision ran through him. 

Rhodes wondered if it was also Rollins’ idea for Heyman to introduce Brock Lesnar. Rollins reiterated that every decision ran through him. 

Rhodes said Crown Jewel should be about best versus best. Rhodes wondered where they would be in twenty years. Would they be sitting in the back, reminiscing about the past? Rhodes recalled Rollins being his shield at WrestleMania 40. He thought Rollins was his friend. 

Rollins told him to shut up. Rollins said he was never Rhodes’ friend. That act at WrestleMania was a means to an end. Rhodes was the lesser of two evils. They would never be friends reminiscing about the past. They would never shake hands. That would never happen. 

Rollins planned on cleansing the timeline at Crown Jewel. Everything that happened between them before was dead. Rollins would write a new future at Crown Jewel. 

********

Ripley approached Sky, still covered in blue mist. Sky told Ripley she was right about Asuka. She spoke to Pearce and got them a tag match against Asuka and Sane at Crown Jewel. Ripley earnestly asked Sky if she could trust her. Sky said she could. Sane was lost, and she could not go back to them. 

********

Dragon Lee cut a pre-match promo. The crowd was quiet for it. He was honoured to team with Styles and said he was coming for Dom’s Mega Championship. 

Styles spoke about his upcoming match against John Cena. Styles said it was thanks to the fans that this match was happening, and now he got to do something that he loved: “I get to beat up John Cena.” 

AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Los Americanos

The two Americanos who aren’t Ludwig Kaiser have new fake names, Rio and Bravo. 

They went to break 40 seconds into the match, and the Americanos had the heat on Dragon Lee as the fans watched quietly. The crowd woke up when Styles made the hot tag. He ran wild and wiped out Kaiser with a springboard forearm to the outside. 

Lee hoisted an Americano into the air and into the arms of Styles. Lee wiped out the other Americano with a dive while AJ hit a Styles Clash for the pinfall win. 

Match result: AJ Styles & Dragon Lee defeated Los Americanos (7:02) 

Another match where you only need to see the last minute or so. 

********

Next week on Raw in Dallas, TX (start time 8 pm ET/5 pm PT): 

  • CM Punk appears 
  • Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri (non-title) 
  • Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed Stephanie Vaquer about her upcoming match against Tiffany Stratton. Vaquer respected Stratton, but Stratton would learn why nobody could stop her. 

Stratton suddenly showed up. Stratton said she’s proven herself as champion against some of the best over the past 268 days. Vaquer has only been on top for a few weeks, and she would learn that it was still Tiffy Time. Vaquer said Tiffany’s time was over. 

********

In the back, a very serious Rollins told Heyman that he needs to beat Rhodes. Heyman was upbeat and confident that he would, but Rollins cut him off and said, “I have to beat him. I have to.” 

Tornado Tag Team Match: Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (w/Paul Heyman)

The Usos attacked the Brons with dives during their entrance, so the referee chose that moment to start the match, which hardly seems fair. The Brons fought them off and eventually took control anyway. The highlight was Breakker putting Jimmy through the announce table with a leaping clothesline off the barricade. 

This left Jey on his own for a while. Jey tried fighting back, but Reed cut him off with a world’s strongest slam. The Brons followed with a Steinerizer. 

Reed went up for a Tsunami, but Jimmy woke up and shoved him off the top. Jimmy hit Breakker with a superkick and a pop-up Samoan drop. However, Reed gave Jimmy a Jagged Edge (DVD), and Breakker speared Jey. 

Breakker stacked up the Usos, who were getting decimated in a fair fight, and Reed set up for a Tsunami, but Roman Reigns’ music hit. 

Reigns entered with a chair in hand to a gigantic pop. Reigns dumped Breakker from the ring and hit Reed repeatedly with a chair, eventually sending him over the barricade. Breakker tried to attack from behind, but Reigns hit him with the chair and sent him into the ring. 

Jimmy superkicked Breakker, and Jey followed with a spear. Jimmy and Jey hit Breakker with simultaneous Uso splashes for the pinfall win. 

— Reigns attacked Breakker again with a chair after the match. 

Reigns shook hands with Jey. They stood face-to-face as Reigns gave Jey words of encouragement (telling Jey that this was his show and to take everything). Jimmy had a skeptical look on his face and didn’t like what he was seeing. 

Match result: The Usos defeated Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed in a tornado tag team match (12:38)

WWE SmackDown live results: Women’s title triple threat

Posted on by Marc Quill

Tiffany Stratton defends her WWE Women’s Championship against both Nia Jax and Jade Cargill in a triple threat match as part of tonight’s WWE SmackDown from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.

Stratton last defended her title two weeks ago in a no contest against Cargill due to a Jax attack. An altercation between the three last week led to Nick Aldis making this match for tonight. It will determine who heads to Crown Jewel: Perth to face Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer.

After defending his WWE title at Wrestlepalooza against Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes will appear on tonight’s show to address his upcoming Crown Jewel match against World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.

United States Champion Sami Zayn will hold another open challenge after successfully retaining against Carmelo Hayes last week.

The card is rounded out by Michin & B-Fab joining forces to take on Women’s United States Champion Giulia & Kiana James in tag team action.

The show began with the updated WWE signature open introduced this week. We then got shots of Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, and Sami Zayn arriving to the Kia Center.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

– Michael Cole welcomed us to tonight’s show as Booker T was introduced as his partner on commentary for tonight. Cole then tossed to a recap of what happened at last Saturday’s Wrestlepalooza.

Paul Heyman opens SmackDown

After the Wrestlepalooza recap ended, we returned to the arena with Paul Heyman in the ring. He did his usual “ladies and gentlemen” introduction as he said he’d paraphrase a pseudo-de facto secondary champion, “So, Orlando, what do you want to talk about?” Heyman asked if we’d like to talk about the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins as the fans chanted “O.T.C.” at him.

Heyman said he’d love to talk about to Roman Reigns, but it’s disrespectful to speak of the injured after he got stretchered out of Paris following Bronson Reed’s attack. He then asked if we should talk about the man who will main event WrestleMania into the 2030s and 2040s, Bron Breakker. Heyman then turned his attention to the conspiracy theories and rumors about Brock Lesnar. Before Heyman could go on further, the theme of Cody Rhodes cut him off.

The Undisputed WWE Champion made his way down to the ring as the Orlando crowd cheered him on. Once Rhodes got into the ring, he took a mic and asked if we all got a chance to watch the Wrestlepalooza recap. He said that he made a mistake last week in calling Paul Heyman a “goon”. Rhodes called Heyman the most smartest man that he knows as he said that he’d go ahead and ask the question: tell him more about Brock Lesnar. Rhodes then had a still from Wrestlepalooza of Heyman introducing Lesnar before the match.

Rhodes said that the face on Heyman last Saturday, that it wasn’t the face of a guy treating it as a one-night thing. He asked Heyman if he was talking to the Oracle, to the Wiseman, or the Advocate? Heyman responded by saying that Rhodes was talking to the GOAT and that he respected him for confronting him about Brock Lesnar. He said that when Lesnar is around, everyone will be in danger. Heyman mentioned that Lesnar is not here, but the bad news for Rhodes, he’s got others here instead as Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed appeared.

As Breakker and Reed faced down the Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes tried to give the two advice as he asked “who is Paul Heyman loyal to?” Rhodes said he didn’t know for sure, but he said that it ain’t to the Brons. This then led to Rhodes attempting to fight the Vision’s deadly duo, but the numbers game got the better of him. Randy Orton made the save as he took the fight to Breakker and Reed. Orton delivered an RKO on Reed, while Rhodes clotheslined Breakker out of the ring.

An interesting open to this week’s show, and again, I’m left cold at the idea of seeing another Brock Lesnar match, as they teased a potential title match with him against Cody Rhodes. As for the now, it seems we’ll likely get Rhodes and Randy Orton fighting The Vision soon.

**********

WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Match: The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. Melo Don’t Miz (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz)

The match got underway with Ford and Miz as the legal men. As Ford tried to get at Hayes on the apron, Miz attempted to get an early rollup pin, to no avail. Hayes tagged in and tried to keep things going for his team, but he ate a high knee to the face from Ford. Dawkins entered the match as Miz tried to get involved. Miz got thrown onto a downed Hayes for his troubles. At ringside, Dawkins tried for a running attack, but was met by a dropkick by Hayes, as the action went to a break.

We returned to the action as Miz drilled Ford with a kneeling DDT for the near-fall. The cohesive unit of Hayes and Miz continued to work over Ford as they grounded him with an assisted double-team clothesline in their corner. With Ford struggling to get himself back up, Miz taunted Dawkins in the corner, but paid for it with a kick to the face from Ford.

Hayes got the tag as he delivered a cheap shot to Dawkins on the Street Profits corner. Meanwhile, Ford attempted to fight his way out of enemy territory and managed to do so after sending Miz out of the ring. Ford tried to tag Dawkins, but Miz pulled Dawkins from the outside. This allowed Hayes to hit Ford with the First 48. Hayes headed up top and looked for Nothin’ But Net, but Miz once again selfishly tagged himself in. This gave Ford the opening to get the tag on Hayes.

The Street Profits took command as Dawkins rocked Miz with his corkscrew elbow followed by a spinning neckbreaker. With Ford as the legal man, he took to the skies with his From the Heavens frog splash. As Ford pinned Miz, Hayes didn’t seem to be in a hurry to break up the pin as the Street Profits became No. 1 contenders for The Wyatt Sicks’ WWE Tag Titles.

After the match, The Wyatt Sicks appeared in front of the commentary table and simply stared down the victorious duo of Ford and Dawkins.

The Street Profits def. Melo Don’t Miz via pinfall

That was a decent match to start off the in-ring action tonight, and it seems we’re getting forward movement with the Miz/Hayes breakup if that finish is any indication, so it’s a win all around.

**********

– As Jade Cargill was interviewed ahead of her triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship, the Women’s World Heavyweight Champion, Stephanie Vaquer confronted her. Cargill said that storm would be coming Vaquer’s way at Crown Jewel. Vaquer responded by saying that she’d be ready.

Giulia & Kiana James vs. Michin & B-Fab

B-Fab opened the match by blasting James with some strikes, before she got taken down by a clothesline from the business associate of Giulia. B-Fab responded with a dropkick to James as she tagged Michin in. James managed to get the drop on Michin, which allowed Giulia to be tagged in. The Women’s U.S. Champion struck Michin with a kick, but was met with a hurricanrana by her hated rival. The tag was made to B-Fab, who kept Giulia grounded with a double team move.

Outside the ring, Giulia rolled out for the retreat and things broke down with the Women’s U.S. Champion getting waylaid by a dropkick from the commentary table by Michin, which took us into the commercial break halfway through this one.

SmackDown returned with B-Fab in trouble as James and Giulia teed off with a big boot, followed by a missile dropkick. James re-entered the match and maintained the upper hand on B-Fab with a punch. A missed elbow dropped allowed B-Fab to create some separation as she desperately tried to go for a tag to Michin. One final side kick from B-Fab finally got the hot tag from Michin.

Michin dropped James with a DDT, using Giulia as a base. As things broke down, Michin hit James with Eat Defeat, but that sent her to Giulia’s corner, which allowed the Women’s U.S. Champion to make the tag. Giulia flattened Michin with the Arrivederci Knee, followed by a Northern Lights Bomb with some added sauce for the pin and win.

Giulia & Kiana James def. Michin & B-Fab via pinfall

A fine enough tag match, but I’m kind of tired of the very limited Women’s U.S. Title picture where it seems like it’s just Michin as a frequent challenger to whoever is the champion. I think this is where some NXT call ups to bolster SmackDown’s women’s roster would do the most good. Giulia certainly deserves better than fighting the same two people every so often.

**********

– Backstage, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair were confronted by Zaria and Sol Ruca, who wanted to call their shot for the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. Bliss told the two that they needed to prove themselves as she told Zaria and Ruca to get in line. After the NXT duo left, Flair expressed joy in seeing Bliss telling off Zaria and Ruca the way she did.

– A preview for Crown Jewel was shown highlight the matches we’d be seeing, including Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins for the Men’s Crown Jewel Champion, plus John Cena vs. AJ Styles.

Drew McIntyre on his Wrestlepalooza defeat

McIntyre appeared with a walking boot following his loss at Wrestlepalooza.

McIntyre said that Orlando held a special place in him, as he talked about making his WWE return here, winning his 2nd WWE Championship in front of a bunch of screen. He then talked about how he should’ve been here as the new WWE Champion as he proceeded to got mad about the referee getting in the way at Wrestlepalooza. McIntyre claimed that the referee was being paid off by Cody Rhodes as Nick Aldis soon interrupted him.

Aldis said that McIntyre was making too many excuses, and that to acknowledge that people won some and lose some. As McIntyre continued to complain about the WWE medical team being supposedly on the Cody Rhodes payroll, Aldis said that he was done and left the surly Scotsman to his own devices. Before McIntyre could continue on, the returning Jacob Fatu interrupted him unexpectedly. Fatu marched his way down to the ring and confronted McIntyre face to face.

Fatu snatched the microphone from McIntyre and told him to “shut his ass up” and to “stop bitching”. He said that McIntyre came out every week to cry, complain and blame everyone else for his wrong doing. Fatu told him to sit his peg-leg ass down. McIntyre had his turn yelled at him for trying to put him out. As Fatu was doing his usual “all gas and no brakes” spiel, McIntyre surprised him with a headbutt. Fatu answered with a superkick to the face of McIntyre before he ripped the walking boot off of the Scotsman’s foot. Fatu then kayoed McIntyre with the boot as he left him laying.

This Fatu/McIntyre feud has the potential to be very interesting, so this has my full, undivided attention for when this match goes down.

**********

– While Tiffany Stratton was getting ready for the main event triple threat match, Stephanie Vaquer sized up her potential Crown Jewel challenger, like she did with Jade Cargill earlier.

– Sami Zayn was chatting with Fenix as he prepared for his U.S. Title Open Challenge match up next. He said he didn’t know who he’d be facing, as it could be anyone from Raw or SmackDown, or even NXT, as they’re in Orlando. Shinsuke Nakamura was briefly seen in the background watching Zayn in the shadows.

– We got another vignette for Solo Sikoa’s M.F.T. that focused on J.C. Mateo. Sikoa said that Mateo was loyal to him and that he’d be rewarded as long as he was part of the Family Tree.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Je’von Evans

Zayn’s challenger in the Open Challenge was revealed to be Je’von Evans from NXT. Evans’ opponent at NXT No Mercy tomorrow, Josh Briggs, was seen in the crowd watching.

The two combatants locked up to start as Evans dodged Zayn acrobatically before he got thrown around by arm drags from the U.S. Champion. In the corner, Zayn lifted Evans back up as the chain wrestling battle continued between the two. In the corner, Evans delivered a chop to the chest of Zayn and backed off. In response, Zayn got in some chops of his own on Evans. The NXT young gun answered with a high-flying springboard clothesline, folowed by a leaping rana off the top rope. Evans sent Zayn to the outside and looked like he was about to take flight. Zayn put a stop to that with a hard lariat that took us into the commercial break.

We returned with Zayn literally having Evans on the ropes with a chop. The challenger fought out and threw Zayn outside of the ring before he finally connected with a soaring dive over the top rope on the U.S. Champion. In the ring, Evans countered a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt and answered with a springboard enzuigiri that took Zayn out. On the top rope, Zayn and Evans had a skirmish, with the former winning out by sending the latter.

Zayn tried to go for a diving move off the top, but Evans ran up and delivered an avalanche hurricanrana that nearly won him the U.S. Title. In the corner, Evans tried to run at Zayn, but got caught with the Exploder Suplex. A Helluva Kick attempt was intercepted by a dropkick on the button by Evans. Another attempt at the Helluva Kick was once again countered by Evans, who dodged at the last second. This left Zayn stunned as Evans connected with the OG Cutter. One, two… NO!

Evans headed to apron for a springboard, but miscalculated, as he ended up in the corner as a result following a rollthrough. Zayn made him pay with a Helluva Kick, followed by the Blue Thunder Bomb for the one, two, three.

After the match, Zayn congratulated Evans on his effort and got the fans to cheer for the NXT upstart.

Sami Zayn def. Je’von Evans to retain the United States Championship

For the fourth week running, Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title Open Challenge is the highlight of the show. The matches have been fantastic since Zayn began the Open Challenge, and this week was no exception. Je’von Evans is my favorite of NXT’s prospects, and he had a great showing here in this one. Certainly match of the night, for sure.

**********

– Nia Jax was walking backstage on her way for our main event when Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre attempted to recruit her into the Secret Hervice to fill in for the injured Piper Niven. Jax emphatically rejected the offer by ripping up the flyer that Green gave her. She was then confronted by Stephanie Vaquer, who made it clear that whoever one between Jax, Tiffany Stratton, or Jade Cargill, she’d be ready for them at Crown Jewel.

– Damian Priest was accosted by Kit Wilson, who called him the “personification of toxic masculinity”. Wilson got a bit too pushy in calling Priest toxic, but ended up running into oxygen tanks. Priest turned around and got a Black Mass kick from Aleister Black. With Priest yet again left down and out, Black mockingly wished him a happy birthday before he left.

WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill

The match started off right away as Jax threw Stratton right into Cargill. She then slammed Stratton onto a fallen Cargill. The WWE Women’s Champion struck back with a double dropkick on Cargill and Jax as we took an oddly-placed commercial break just a minute into this main event bout.

We returned to SmackDown’s main event as Stratton flew into Jax with a suicide dive that she did not get all of. Jax recovered and pushed Cargill into the steel steps before she reentered the ring and took aim at Stratton in the corner with running charges. Cargill intercepted Jax with a shove as she then hit a modified pumphandle facebuster on Stratton. Cargill’s pin attempt was broken up by Jax. With Jax in the top rope, Stratton shoved Cargill and attempted a rollup pin. Cargill turned that into a submission hold as Stratton escaped the hold. Stratton tried for the pin, but got out of the way as Jax took off with a legdrop that ended up hitting Cargill instead.

Stratton headed to the top rope and hit a Swanton Bomb on Jax, but got put down with a superkick by Cargill which ended up actually making her fall onto the out-of-it Jax for the pin attempt. As Jax kicked out, we took one more commercial break as the action continued in picture-in-picture on the USA Network feed.

The main event returned from the break as Cargill and Stratton unexpectedly teamed up to deliver a double superplex onto Jax. With Jax still recovering, Stratton took Cargill down with the rolling senton as she then connected with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on the still-knocked out Jax. Cargill easily broke up the pin after avoiding Stratton’s moonsault. In the middle of the ring, Stratton countered Cargill’s powerbomb into a hurricanrana. As Stratton ran towards Cargill in the corner, she was caught and promptly dropped into a modified Jaded. One, two… Nia Jax saved the match by pulling the referee out at the last possible second.

Outside the ring, Cargill cleared the commentary table, but got thrown into the steel steps by Jax. The top half of the steps was cleared as Jax attempted some sort of elevated suplex from the steps. Cargill countered that into a samoan drop onto the base of the steel steps. Cargill was shown to have suffered a cut to her upper eyebrow in the midst of this.

In the ring, Jax got dropped by an Eye of the Storm from Cargill. Stratton broke up the count and tried a pin, which led to a “phantom kickout” from Jax and some miscommunication, as it appeared to be a botched pin. The true finish came when Stratton ended things with a Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax, as she retained her WWE Women’s Championship in the SmackDown main event.

After the match, Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer made her way down to the ring to get a better look at her opponent at Crown Jewel in two weeks. We ended the night on the two raising their respective titles and jawjacking at one another.

Tiffany Stratton def. Nia Jax & Jade Cargill to retain the WWE Women’s Championship

**********

That was a fine main event that seemed to pick up steam a bit as the match neared its conclusion, though the botched finish with the phantom kickout did kind of put a damper on things.

That being said, I liked this week’s SmackDown a lot more than previous weeks, and after a rather mediocre Wrestlepalooza show, that is a miracle in of itself. The in-ring action was mostly great, especially the continuing success of Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title Open Challenge and we got some set ups of interesting matchups to come in the near future. All in all, a better edition of WWE’s Friday night show than what we’ve seen recently.