Tag: wwe results

WWE NXT live results: Big interpromotional title vs. title match

Posted on by Chris Aiken

With a potential TNA invasion looming, a big interpromotional title vs. title match headlines WWE NXT tonight.

NXT Champion Oba Femi and TNA World Champion Trick Williams will clash with both of their titles on the line. It’s a winner-take-all match where the winner will leave with both belts. However, we could potentially see the TNA roster get involved in things. Last week saw the TNA talent — led by Bound for Glory title challenger Mike Santana — voice their displeasure on social media over how NXT is treating them.

Tonight’s NXT is the go-home show for No Mercy. At the PLE, Ricky Saints has a title shot scheduled against tonight’s Femi vs. Williams winner.

We’ll find out Speed Women’s Champion Sol Ruca’s No Mercy challenger tonight when Candice LeRae and Lainey Reid meet in the finals of a number one contender’s tournament.

Plus, Myles Borne and Lexis King continue their rivalry in a Lights Out match.

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

**********

After recapping last week’s Homecoming, the show begins with footage from earlier today of NXT Champion Oba Femi and TNA World Champion Trick Williams arriving to the building.

NXT is on the air from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando, and in front of a live studio audience.

Lexis King slides in from stage right aboard his gimmicked throne. Fog covers his feet on the stage. Myles Borne enters and flips a switch, and the arena light go dark. Under only spotlights, Borne attacks King. The “lights out” match is underway, and the lights are indeed out.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King in a lights out match

Both combatants are dressed in street clothes. Borne in combat pants, and King is dressed in what appeared to be a homage to his father, Brian Pillman.

The lights are dim in the sound stage, and the ring is lit by only spotlights. The match is no disqualification, and weapons come into play early on. Metal folding chairs and trash cans are used early on. Tables and the ring steps are used later on.

They brawl through a commercial break, and they brawl around ringside. King threatens to Pillmanize, but Borne fights back and sends King crashing through the barricade. The ring steps soon come into play. Back in the ring, a table is set up and a section of the ring steps. Borne also whips King with a belt.

King is setting up for a spot on the stairs when Borne counters and DDT’s King on the steps. Borne then leaps off the stairs with a Borne Again that puts King through a table. Borne then covers King for a pinfall.

Match result: Myles Borne defeated Lexis King via pinfall in a lights out match

— Robert Stone and Stevie Turner are backstage for a skit in Ava’s office. Ava is in England and on speaker phone with Stone and Turner. Stone informs her that TNA wrestlers are walking around backstage. Stone ask Ava if she invited them, but Ava soon hangs up due to bad cell service. Not before Ava tells them she has confidence in them.

— NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is walking towards the Gorilla Position on his way to the ring for the next segment, when the show comes back from a commercial break. Meanwhile, TNA talent is seen lurking backstage.

Ethan Page issues a challenge to Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.

Page grabs a microphone after entering the ring. The audio feed is muted several times, presumably because of foul language chanted by the studio audience. Page hints at such as well.

In the audience is El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., or is he? Page cuts a promo on him. “Wagner” stands up, and Page challenges him to a fight right now.

A referee comes to the ring and the match is on.

Ethan Page vs. “El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.” (Tavion Heights in disguise)

“Wagner” makes quick work of Page, and “Wagner” locks in an angle lock submission hold. Page taps out for a submission.

Match result: “El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.” defeated Ethan Page

Afterwards, “Wagner” unmasks as Tavion Heights. Page defends against Heights on Saturday at No Mercy.

— A locker room skit sets up a match later on between Jordynne Garce and Arianna Grace.

Candice LeRae vs. Lainey Reid in the WWE Speed Women’s Championship #1 Contender Tournament Final

The match was fast-paced since it was so short, which is typical of a Speed match. Both looked great going the ring before going to the finish, as they go home with under a minute remaining in the match. They trade near falls when Reid counters LeRae . Reid levels LeRae with a knees strike, and Reid scores a pinfall.

Match result: Lainey Reid defeated Candice LeRae via pinfall to win the tournament

In winning, Reid earns a title shot against Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca on Saturday at No Mercy.

— Jaida Parkers cuts a promo on Lash Legend.

— Kale Dixon and Uriah Connors are backstage with Andre Chase when they met by NASCAR drivers (in a cross-promotional tie-in as NASCAR airs on CW along with NXT). Darkstate interrupts as a NASCAR driver asks about Joe Hendry. Say his name and he appears, and Hendry appears wearing a NASCAR driver’s suit. This skit sets up a six-man tag team match.

Jordynne Grace vs. Arianna Grace

The battle of Graces was more of a showcase for Jordynne than Arianna. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo appears at ringside after the match to console Arianna. Just before going home, Grace fires up with a series of short-arm clotheslines. Grace then lifts Arianna into a Torture Rack, and she sends Arianna crashing to the mat with a powerbomb.

Match result: Jordynne Grace defeated Arianna Grace via pinfall.

Blake Monroe enters the sound stage after the match, and she storms the ring with a bunch of weapons. She grabs a kendo stick wrapped in pink fabric. Grace grabs a chair, and they dual with the weapons. Grace then double-legs Monroe and they brawl on the mat as referees and security runs out to break up the impromptu fight.

Robert Stone and Stevie Turner come out to declare the Grace-Monroe match at No Mercy is weapons match inside of a steel cage! Grace and Monroe celebrate the news by resuming their pull-apart brawl.

— Lainey Reid is interviewed by Kelly Kincaid. Reid vows to win the North American title on Saturday. The Fatal Influence trio confront Reid after the interview.

NXT Women’s Champ Jacy Jayne is face-to-face with Lola Vice

Jacy Jayne, with her NXT Women’s Championship belt over her shoulder, enters for an in-ring promo. Jayne cut a great promo on Lola Vice. This was great business, and it got better when Lola Vice enters to confront Jayne.

Champion and challenger go face-to-face in the ring. Vice cuts a promo on Jayne. These two play off each other really well, and this was a helluva go-home segment. Jayne finally goes over the line by bringing up Vice’s family, and Vice lays her out with a spinning back fist. Great stuff here.

— Josh Briggs is the focus of a personality profile sponsored by an insurance company.

Joe Hendry, Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors vs. Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin & Saquon Shugars in a six-man tag team match

Hendry teams up with Chase U against Darkstate in this trios match. In the babyface corner was Andre Chase, while Darkstate’s Cutler James was in the heel corner.

The babyface trio fought from underneath early on and they shine. Before a commercial break, Dixon sails through the air with a Sasuke Special. After the break, the tide turns. Dixon is being worked over by the heels.

During the match, Mike Santana from TNA is shown arriving to the building.

They build to a hot tag, and Connors is a house of fire. The heels cut off Connors, but not before a high spot. James is ringside preying on Chase, and Connors makes a save with a tope suicida. However, that allows the heel faction to gain an advantage.

Connor is soon tossed into an assisted powerbomb, and Shugars covers Connor for a pin.

Match result: Darkstate defeated Joe Hendry & Chase U when Saquon Shugars pinned Uriah Connors.

— Ricky Saints is the focus of a video package that profiles him and his hometown of New Orleans.

— Je’Von Evans is being interviewed backstage by Kelly Kincaid. Suddenly, they are interrupted by a commotion, and the camera pans over to find Jazmyn Nyz on the ground in pain. She was apparently ambushed, and medical staff rushes in to treat her.

— Nyx is of course part of the Fatal Influence trio, but Jacy Jayne is unbothered by the attack. Jayne is backstage with Fallon Henley, and Jayne tells her that was about time to dump Nyx anyway.

NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. TNA World Champion Trick Williams in a title vs. title match

They both get a full entrance, plus in-ring introductions. Despite that and the hype and ballyhoo, this does not feel special enough for a title vs. title match. TNA talent is seen throughout the audience, as they close in on the ring.

Just before a commercial break, Mike Santana hops the barricade and joins the announce team for impromptu guest commentary.

Matt Cardona shows up in the crowd, and he gets a big pop. The match was beginning to become more of a back drop for an angle with TNA.

As Oba and Trick fight at ringside, Trick comes face-to-face with Santana. Trick slaps Santana across the face, which goads Santana into chasing Trick into the ring. Santana brawls with Trick as the referee calls for the bell.

Match result: Oba Femi defeated Trick Williams via disqualification (presumably that is the result, as there is no official word. The result could also be a no-contest. Your guess is good as mine.)

NXT talent and TNA talent pour into the ring for a massive melee. Meanwhile, Ricky Saints saunters to the ring as mayhem happens around him. Saints grabs the NXT title belt and looks at it longingly. Oba Femi rises to his feet and snatches the belt away from Saints. Femi raises the title overhead as the show goes off air.

WWE Raw live results: Wrestlepalooza fallout

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: September 22, 2025
Location: Ford Center in Evansville, IN

The Big Takeaway —

Asuka and Rhea Ripley wrestled for the first time in almost three years, and the show’s closing angle saw Asuka turn heel on Iyo Sky. (See more below.) 

Jey Uso beat LA Knight, and a heel turn may be around the corner for Jey, too. (It could be leading to something else, but the teases are increasingly less subtle.)

As expected, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Champion Seth Rollins will wrestle at Crown Jewel, while Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer will wrestle the winner of SmackDown’s triple threat title match between WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill and Nia Jax. While it ultimately doesn’t matter who the Crown Jewel Champion is, Rhodes and Rollins had a long talking segment to add some intrigue to their match.

**********

Show Recap — 

A new signature video opens the show (as it did at Wrestlepalooza), and the clips focus on the company’s more recent history. 

There was a Wrestlepalooza video recap, in which they also spliced in clips from wrestlers and personalities making the rounds on ESPN leading up to the show. 

The Vision, Stephanie Vaquer (and her father), The New Day and Grayson Waller, Bayley, and LA Knight arrived at the arena. As Knight arrived, Rusev confronted Dominik Mysterio and shoved him into some equipment boxes. 

Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. They announced that Cody Rhodes would face Seth Rollins for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship in Perth, Australia. 

Cody Rhodes kicks off Raw

Rhodes showed off his inaugural Crown Jewel championship ring and said he would love to win another. 

Rollins and the Vision (minus Becky Lynch) interrupted. Rollins told his partners to remain in the aisle as he entered the ring alone. The crowd sang Rollins’ song before switching back to chants for Cody. 

Rollins said he had Crown Jewel circled on his calendar since they both walked out of SummerSlam as champions. Two of the best in the world in their primes would go one-on-one, and may the best man win. At least it should be that simple, but it wasn’t. It was deeper than that and bigger than that. 

Rollins knew what everyone (the fans, wrestlers, and “the internet”) thought about him, but he didn’t give a damn. The fans didn’t know what was good for them. (The fans chanted for CM Punk, and Rollins shut them down by saying Punk didn’t matter here because he didn’t have a championship.) Rollins wanted to know what Rhodes thought of him. 

Rhodes said Rollins has recently made some questionable choices, including aligning with Paul Heyman. But Rollins also changed his life. Rollins changed his life because Rhodes wouldn’t have known what he was capable of if not for their Hell in a Cell match. Rollins changed his career by being his shield at WrestleMania and helping him bring the world title to the Rhodes family. 

Rhodes knew it was pro wrestling 101 to run Rollins down right now to hype up their match, but Rhodes wanted to know what Rollins thought of himself. Rhodes said Rollins could be the absolute best in the business. But that version of Rollins wouldn’t be hiding behind the three Vision goons. 

Rollins pointed out his wristwatch, the one Rhodes gifted him after WrestleMania 40. Rollins hadn’t worn it until tonight. Rollins wondered if that was a real gift or a token gesture because Rhodes was fantastic about saying all the ring things about him, but only when it suited Rhodes. Rhodes undermined everything Rollins stood for. 

Rollins didn’t appreciate Rhodes going on interviews and saying he was the guy to take this business into the future. Rhodes called himself QB1, so Rollins wondered what that meant for him. Either Rhodes thought Rollins wasn’t good enough, or just not as good as him. 

Rollins said the Vision weren’t goons, they were the future of the business, and he was the tip of the spear, not Rhodes. Rhodes could be the quarterback if he wanted to, but he would be Rollins’ quarterback. It didn’t matter what Rhodes thought, because they would get the answer at Crown Jewel. This wasn’t a two-man show. Rollins stated, “I’m the alpha.” 

Rhodes reminded Rollins that they’ve had three matches, and they’ve all been one-on-one. Rhodes peered over at the Vision and asked if it would be the case again in Perth. Rhodes concluded with a question: “In the three matches that we’ve had, Seth Rollins, how many of those have you won?” 

Rhodes left the ring, and the Vision cleared a path for him to leave. 

********

Jimmy Uso met with Jey Uso backstage. (Jey had tape over stitches on his forehead.) Jimmy said their loss was trash because he knew they could beat the Brons. Jimmy went to Adam Pearce to request a rematch, only to learn that Jey was already busy tonight because he had asked for a match against Knight. 

Jey was red-hot and said they would have won if not for Knight being the referee. Jey was also pissed about Jimmy tagging with Knight last week (and losing). Jimmy asked if he was being blamed for their loss. Jey settled down (realizing he didn’t want to upset Jimmy) and said no, but he planned on beating up Knight tonight. 

******** 

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods cut their usual ad-break promo. 

No disqualification six-man tag match: The New Day & Grayson Waller vs. The War Raiders & Penta

Woods wore a gigantic black hat a few weeks ago, so all three heels had a hat this week. They put the hats on during the break, so the babyfaces stole the hats and posed with them. The heels attacked them from behind to gain the heat. 

Kingston hit Penta with a diving leg drop off the top turnbuckle through a table outside the ring. The camera missed it because Woods blocked the cameraperson, so they immediately showed a replay. Erik brought both members of New Day by himself off the ropes, and Ivar went for a moonsault, but New Day dodged it. 

Penta avoided going through a corner table and instead suplexed Kingston through it. Waller cracked a kendo stick over Penta’s back, but Penta fought him off and hit an avalanche Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Penta & The War Raiders defeated Grayson Waller & The New Day (10:15) 

This was pretty fun for the time they had, and the crowd was super into it. They popped huge for Penta’s finish. 

********

Dominik approached Judgment Day backstage. He wanted their help with Rusev, but Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh weren’t interested. Bálor wondered why El Grande Americano didn’t help Dom, but Dom said he was back in Mexico. Bálor claimed he was busy and began doing something on a tablet. 

Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez talked McDonagh into helping Dom. McDonagh only agreed because it would be best for Judgment Day. McDonagh said he would speak with Peace, but Dom told him he already got McDonagh a match against Rusev. McDongh (and Bálor) weren’t thrilled to hear this, but Dom was sure pleased with himself. 

********

Bayley met with Lyra Valkyria backstage. Bayley had selective memory, and Valkyria was surprised to learn that Bayley wasn’t mad at her after calling her an idiot last week. Bayley was all smiles and said she didn’t know what Valkyria was talking about. Bayley asked her to be at ringside for her match tonight. Valkyria wasn’t sure, but she eventually agreed. (Bayley wore Punk’s “AJ’s husband” jacket.) 

********

During a break, Byron Saxton asked Heyman about seemingly being Brock Lesnar’s advocate again. Heyman ignored the question and instead said Rollins would beat Rhodes at Crown Jewel. 

Heyman cut the promo on behalf of Rollins, but did so as if he was talking about Lesnar (using a lot of the lines he normally uses for Lesnar promos). Heyman said Rollins winning wasn’t a prediction or even a spoiler—it was a prophecy. 

********

Stephanie Vaquer promo 

Vaquer entered to a good reaction. Pearce congratulated her on winning the Women’s World Championship. Vaquer called this a dream come true. At times, it seemed impossible, but she worked hard for it and accomplished it. She beat one of the best in Iyo Sky and had her dad as inspiration. She pointed out her dad in the crowd.

Vaquer said this championship represented the motivation and support the fans gave her. They celebrated with her at Wrestlepalooza. She thanked them. Vaquer said her fire would keep making history, and nobody could stop her. 

Pearce told Vaquer that Tiffany Stratton was defending her title against Jade Cargill and Nia Jax in a triple threat on SmackDown, and the winner would face Vaquer at Crown Jewel. Vaquer looked forward to being there. 

Fireworks went off as Vaquer posed with her title belt. 

— Nikki Bella and Rhea Ripley approached Vaquer backstage to congratulate her. Ripley gave her a friendly reminder that she was coming for the title. 

Asuka (with Kairi Sane) confronted Vaquer. Asuka said Sky deserved to be champion, not Vaquer. Vaquer said she would fight Asuka any time she wanted. Vaquer left (with Bella). 

Ripley was tired of Asuka. Asuka told her to stay away from Sky, or else. Ripley challenged her to a match tonight, and Asuka accepted. The crowd popped for that. (The match was made official later on.) 

********

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

Barrett noted that Perez was tied with Knight for most matches in WWE in 2025, and they spoke about how the experience was helping Perez get better and better. (Perhaps a lesson to be learned there.)

Bayley was in control and went to the middle rope, but she distracted herself by watching Rodriguez at ringside. Perez kicked her leg out of her leg and took control ahead of a break. Rodriguez also took a cheap shot at Bayley during a break. 

Bayley fought back after a break, but Perez cut her off. Perez went for a suicide dive, but Bayley blocked it with a forearm. Perez fought her off and hit a Pop Rox outside the ring, and Bayley just barely beat the ten count. 

Rodriguez booted Bayley as Perez distracted the referee, so Valkyria attacked Rodriguez and drove her into the ring post. Perez then wiped out Valkyria with a suicide dive. 

This caused Bayley to snap into another personality, I guess, and she nailed Perez with a Bayley-to-belly, a running boot, and Rose Plant for the pinfall win. 

(Tesstitore tried to convince us that this was a violent attack, but it was really just one wrestler hitting another wrestler with their big moves for the win.) 

— Valkyria was pumped up for Bayley and gave her a hug. Bayley suddenly had no interest in Valkyria being there and shoved her down. Valkyria was shocked as Bayley screamed at her and told her to stay out of it. 

The crowd was into Bayley during the match, but they booed her in the post-match (which was the idea). 

Match result: Bayley defeated Roxanne Perez (10:46) 

********

Jimmy congratulated Rhodes on his Wrestlepalooza win. Rhodes asked how Jey was doing. Jimmy said Jey was in his own head and wouldn’t listen to him. Jimmy asked Rhodes if he would talk to him, so Rhodes agreed. 

Rhodes approached Jey after a break. Rhodes said Jimmy was worried about him. Jey said Big Jim was always tripping and told Rhodes not to worry. Rhodes said he knew what Jey felt like. There were highs and lows, wins and losses. People in their position isolate themselves, but Rhodes reminded Jey that he has his family, friends and fans. Rhodes told him, “We believe in you.” 

Jey told him not to worry. “Imma find my way back to the top, Cody.” Rhodes left, and Jey stared at him as he did. 

******** 

Rusev’s entrance happened during a break. 

Rusev vs. JD McDonagh (w/Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio)

Rusev was in complete control until McDonagh kicked the steel steps into his legs. McDonagh followed with an Asai moonsault ahead of a break. McDonagh continued to shine with a few spots after a break, including a moonsault for two. 

McDonagh hit Rusev with multiple clotheslines, but couldn’t knock him down. Rusev nailed him with a body slam and Matcka Kick. Rusev applied the Accolade, and Dom hopped on the apron. Dom considered breaking it up, but was too afraid to get involved, so McDonagh taped out. 

— Rusev wouldn’t let go of the hold after the match as Dom just stood there, so Bálor ran out and gave Rusev a reverse DDT (which got a modest pop). Before Rusev could get up, Judgment Day escaped while Bálor admonished Dom. 

Match result: Rusev defeated JD McDonagh (10:12)

This match was between two heels, so the crowd wasn’t super into it, but they did get into McDonagh a bit thanks to his offence. 

********

Sky approached Asuka and Sane backstage, but Asuka didn’t want advice from someone who lost. Asuka left. Sane was in agony over all of this, but told Sky that Asuka was the reason they were there, so they had to listen to her. 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed Knight. Redmond’s question was taking too long to get out, so Knight cut her off. Knight said Jey should be worried more about his own health. Knight was only checking on Jey’s well-being during the Wrestlepalooza match before he got speared through the table. 

Knight wasn’t trying to hurt Jey before—but he would tonight. Jey might’ve brain’ed himself on Saturday, but if he hadn’t, Knight would do it for him with a BFT. 

Jey Uso vs. LA Knight

Jey wore all black (with white sneakers) and did his full entrance. Knight did his entrance, but as he jumped down from the middle rope, Jey punched him before the match officially began. The ref called for the bell to begin. 

Jey was all over Knight until Knight cut him off with a neckbreaker. Jey avoided a baseball slide and clotheslined Knight to regain control during a break. After the break, Knight scaled the ropes to bring Jey down with a superplex. 

They traded strikes until Knight ducked one and hit a reverse DVD for two. Jey followed later with a suicide dive and superkick for two. Knight responded with a DDT and flying elbow drop for two. 

Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed ran out, so Knight attacked them both before they could enter the ring. The referee just watched this all transpire. 

Knight re-entered the ring but ran into an Uso spear. Jey followed with an Uso Splash for the pinfall win.  

— Jimmy joined Jey on stage after the match. Jimmy thought they should help Knight because he was about to be attacked by the Brons. Jey didn’t care, so he left. 

Jimmy grabbed a chair and sprinted to the ring. Jimmy invited the Brons into the ring, but Heyman talked them down, and they left. 

Match result: Jey Uso defeated LA Knight (8:36)

This was good, although I hate these distraction finishes. The referee looked like an idiot, letting things just continue normally after the Brons got involved. The match itself went at a fast pace, with the crowd into it all the way, and it felt like a fight between two guys with building animosity.

********

Becky Lynch ranted backstage while Rollins was in deep thought as he looked at his wristwatch. Lynch ranted about Rhodes, the Usos, and the fans. Lynch said the fans were thieves trying to steal the things they built. Lynch wanted to make an example. She left. (Rollins didn’t say a word.) 

********

Sky approached Ripley. Ripley, a grown adult, asked if they were allowed to be around each other. Sky wanted Ripley to cancel her match against Asuka. Ripley said she was sick of Asuka’s disrespect. Ripley hoped they could beat the respect into each other like she did with Sky. Sky said, “Fine.” 

Before Sky could leave, Ripley told her to be careful around Asuka. Sky was offended by this comment. Sky said Asuka was family and was the reason she was there. Sky said she could trust Asuka, but didn’t know if she could trust Ripley. Sky left, and Ripley was upset.  

******** 

Raw next week (7 pm ET/4 pm PT start time): 

  • Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev for the Intercontinental Championship 
  • Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez 
  • The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed in a tornado tag match 

********

There was a video package for Los Americanos, trying to make it seem like they were a deeply rooted part of lucha libre history. Of course, they used gross-looking AI for the video. 

Maxxine Dupri asked Pearce for a match because she wanted to prove herself. Pearce told her to keep working until he finds someone. 

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee approached Pearce next. Styles said the Americanos were pissing him off and admitted to being a petty man. Dragon Lee wanted them in a tag match next week. Pearce said he would talk to them. (So he knows who they are?) Styles told Pearce not to sign any more Americanos for a while. 

******** 

Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka (w/Kairi Sane)

This was their first match since December 2022, and the announcers built this up as a PLE-level match. They went to commercial break a minute into it. 

Asuka was in control while targeting the leg, but Ripley came back with clotheslines, a thrust kick, a dropkick, and a Northern Lights suplex for two. Asuka avoided a Razor’s Edge, dropkicked her leg, and hit a sliding kick for two. Ripley responded with a boot and cannonball off the apron, leading to a second break. 

Ripley maintained control through a break and hit a superplex when they returned. They traded strikes until Asuka applied a jackknife cover for two. Ripley followed with a thrust kick, Razor’s Edge, and shining wizard for two. Asuka went for an armbar, but Ripley managed to escape. 

Ripley missed a charge and collided with the turnbuckle, and Asuka followed with a kick to the head for two. (The crowd chanted for Ripley.) Asuka knocked Ripley out of the ring and bounced her head off the table. Asuka said something to Sane before getting back in the ring. 

Ripley tried another kick, but Asuka caught her in a leg lock. Ripley tried getting to her feet, so Asuka nailed a German suplex. Asuka came off the top, but Ripley nailed her mid-air with a dropkick. (The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.”) 

Asuka shouted orders to Sane, so she reluctantly jumped on the apron with her fist clenched. Sane went for a back fist, but Ripley blocked it. Asuka went for a running hip attack, but Ripley moved, and Asuka knocked Sane off the apron by mistake. 

Ripley grabbed Asuka in a small package for the pinfall win. 

— Asuka blew mist in Ripley’s face immediately after the match. Asuka commanded Sane to attack, so she did hesitantly. They attacked Ripley until Sky quickly ran out to make the save. 

Sky settled Asuka down. Asuka was in tears, and they hugged. Asuka suddenly dropped Sky with a spinning back fist, and the crowd booed. 

Asuka commanded Sane to attack Sky. Again, Sane didn’t want to, but she did. Asuka saw Ripley getting to her feet, so she knocked her down with a spinning heel kick. Asuka held Sky as Sane (still in anguish over all of this), hit an Insane Elbow. 

The crowd booed as Asuka stood tall (while holding Sane), with Sky and Ripley laid out. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Asuka (17:15) 

This was excellent, although they relied yet again on an interference/distraction spot. Given the story being told, this was an appropriate spot for it, but it was hindered by the fact that they do this in 80% of TV matches. 

The match and the post-match were great, and they have built well to Asuka finally turning heel. Asuka and Lynch have both turned heel before to their detriment, but this one felt more purposeful. Asuka has looked awesome since returning, and her inevitable match with Sky feels like a big one. 

WWE Wrestlepalooza live results: John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, AJ Lee’s in-ring return

Posted on by Jeff Moss

WWE kicks off their ESPN era tonight with their first-ever Wrestlepalooza premium live event from Indianapolis, Indiana.

In one of the featured matches, John Cena takes on Brock Lesnar who returns for the first time in more than two years. The two last clashed more than a decade ago.

In another high-profile return, AJ Lee competes for the first time in a decade, joining husband CM Punk against rivals WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes returns after a month off to defend his title against Drew McIntyre after McIntyre put him out of action. It’s Rhodes’ first defense of the title he regained at SummerSlam.

IYO SKY takes on Stephanie Vaquer with the vacant WWE Women’s World title on the line.

Jimmy & Jey Uso will reunite to take on Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed.

The pre-show begins at 5 PM Eastern. The show airs on Netflix outside the U.S.

**********

When you think of the great “Paloozas” of time, Lollapalooza, Chillipalooza, etc, there has until now not been a wrestling even worthy of joining the great “Palooza” lexicon. Fear no more friends for that time is over as WWE presents Wrestlepalooza from the great state of Indiana and for the first time under a newly struck deal, on ESPN.

ESPN viewers got their first taste of the legally mandatory “Wrestlers Arriving To Work” montage and you’ll be happy to know everyone made it there OK. After that, it was right into match number one!

Hahaha gotcha! No, there was an extensive promo package that played comparing WWE and ESPN over the years, showing wrestling and sports have been intertwined over the years and entertainment is key to both.

After it was over, The Triple One himself, HHH appeared in the ring a said that tonight is the “final form” of sports entertainment (take that how you will). He welcomed everyone in and cued the fireworks.

But the show still wasn’t ready to start yet because a black truck pulled up and Mr Indianapolis, Pat McAffee climbed out and sauntered to the join the announce team to a huge ovation.

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar

OK, I don’t want to deal with this, you don’t want to deal with this, but they are getting it out of the way early, so lets just hold hands and get through it.

Lesnar is 4-2 when it comes to singles matches against Cena. The last time they met was 2014, and Cena walked away with a DQ victory, but took quite a beating in process. Since we last saw him, Lesnar has been lifting presumably large logs and working on his Canadian accent.  

Cena came to the ring with a hoard of children all dressed like him and I swear at one point Lesnar looked confused as to which one he was. Bold strategy, John. Lesnar stomped around the ring as Cena took a moment to highlight the ever present “let’s go Cena/Cena sucks” chant before Alicia Taylor announced the participants.

She got through Cena just fine, but when it came to Lesnar we suddenly heard “Ladies and Gentlemen…” and who should appear but Paul Heyman, longtime manager and mouthpiece for Lesnar. Heyman did his thing and people were excited about that.

The bell rang and Lesnar jumped Cena, sending him into the corner for some shoulders to the gut. Cena punched his way out of it, but Lesnar sent him to the mat with a clothesline, followed by another. Lesnar whipped Cena into the corner, raising welts all over Cena’s back.

Lesnar hit a British Bulldog style powerslam and then threw Cena out of the ring with a suplex. Cena climbed back in and Lesnar locked in a bear hug. Cena fought out of it, and hoisted him up on his shoulders, but Lesnar got free and hit another clothesline.

Lesnar took Cena back to Suplex City (hopefully in time for Suplexpalooza) and tossed him clear across the ring. Cena got up and shoved Lesnar into the turnbuckle. The then hit a dozen shoulders and two back to back AA’s. Cena hit a third AA and Lesnar kicked out at two.

Cena went for his You Can’t See Me Elbow, but Lesnar intercepted and delivered two F5’s. He landed a third F5, but seemed to be in pain doing so. Lesnar hit him again with an F5, bringing the total to four. He didn’t try to pin him though.

Cena staggered to his feet and Lesnar hit a fifth F5, then a quick sixth. Finally he pinned him and the ref counted 1,2,3 to give Lesnar the victory.

Match Result: Brock Lesnar defeated John Cena

After the match, Lesnar went back into the ring and hit an F5 on the ref, then one more on Cena for good measure. Lesnar then took off his gloves and left. Cena staggered out of the ring and up the ramp to “Thank You, Cena” chants.

Not for nothing, but when Lesnar won the match there was barely a cheer from the crowd and no one in the section behind the ring was standing. I can’t for the life of me figure out what this match accomplished, so I’m just going to move on and enjoy whoever Cena faces next on his retirement tour.

The Usos vs. Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker

Jey Uso and LA Knight were in a tag match against Breakker and Reed that went awry. So, it was announced earlier in the night that LA Knight would be the special guest referee for this clash of tag team heavyweights. The Usos have reunited to avenge Roman Reigns who was injured at the hands of Breakker and Reed.

Once Indianapolis was satisfactorily YEET’ed, the bell rang and Reed and Jey kicked things off with a lockup. Reed came out the better and pounded Jey in the corners. Jey turned the tables with a kick to the ear and tagged in Jimmy. They double superkicked Reed and splashed him in the corner.

Reed fought back though and tagged in Breakker. Breaker isolated Jimmy in the corner and laid in some shoulders before throwing him outside. Breakker distracted ref Knight and Reed went for a chair, but Knight saw it and told him to stop. Jimmy picked it up and Knight “turned away” allowing Jimmy to nail Reed with the chair. That brought Breakker to the outside and Jey hit a splash from the top on all three of them.

Back in the ring, Jimmy and Reed fought in the corner, while Jey and Breakker battled on the outside. Breaker got the best of Jey and pulled the rope down so that Jimmy spilled back to the outside. Breakker took a running leap and hit a shoulder on Jimmy. He tossed him back in the ring and went for a cover. Before he could complete it though, he tagged in Breakker and they double teamed Jimmy.

Back on the outside, Reed tried the chair thing again, this time hitting Jimmy in front of Knight, but for some reason he allowed it. Reed tossed the chair and Jimmy back in the ring, with Uso clutching his left knee.

Reed set up the chair in the ring and after a back and forth, Jimmy went for the hot tag, but Reed got one first and Breakker stormed across the ring to take out both Usos. Reed got Jimmy up on his shoulders and Breakker bulldogged him from the top rope.

Breakker went for a pin and argued with Knight when it was only a two count. Reed tagged in and went for a senton, but Jimmy rolled away. When no one was looking, Jimmy set up the chair in between the ropes and lured Reed into it face first.

Jey reappeared on the apron and Jimmy finally got that hot tag. Breakker ran in and Jey punched him into the corner. He hit a crossbody on Breakker but only got a two count. Jimmy pulled a table from under the ring and sent it in to his brother. They both set it up in the middle of the ring, but Brekker and Reed popped up and took them out.

Reed set up the table in the corner with an assist from Knight, the ref. Jey staggered up and Breakker went for a spear, but Jey caught him in a superkick and Jimmy hit one on Reed. The Usos went for a 1D but Reed broke up the pin at two.

Reed put Jey up on the turnbuckle, but Jey fought him off. Breakker ran up for a frankensteiner and then Reed hit Jey with a moonsault. Jimmy got involved and ate a spear from Breakker. Jey then speared Breakker and went up top for an Uso splash, but Breakker would not go down and kicked out at two.

Knight and Reed began arguing at ringside, allowing Jey to hit a superkick and a dive through the ropes. Knight questioned if he was aiming at him, and Heyman threw a chair to Breakker to try and sneak a shot at Jey. Jey intercepted and went to hit Breakker, but Breakker ducked and Jey almost hit Knight. He then threw the chair at reed.

Breakker hit a spear on Jey coming across the ring, covered in Jey’s blodd. Breakker then speared BOTH Usos through the table in the corner. He set up Jey and Reed went up top for a Tsunami. That did it and Reed got the pin, 1-2-3.

Match Result: Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker defeated Jimmy and Jey Uso

I’ll say, it was a fun match, but there was absolutely no reason for LA Knight to be the referee. It would have been easier just to have a No DQ or tables match. Regardless, it was fun and I mean it when I say that Breakker was covered in Uso’s blood.

WWE Women’s World Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer

For those not in the know, Naomi had to vacate the championship a little more than a month into her reign due to becoming pregnant. That set up this match between Vaquer, who was owed a title shot for winning a Battle Royal at WWE Evolution, and IYO SKY, who was next in line to face Naomi. So, the winner of this match is the new Champion.

The two locked up off the top with Vaquer sending Sky to the mat. The two chain wrestled with Vaquer ending up getting Sky in a waist lock. Sky fought out of it and the two ran the ropes ofr a second before flipping in a few pinning combinations, with the crowd cheering the technical showcase.

Vaquer hit a back drop but Sky was able to avoid the Devil’s Kiss. Sky hit a chop block and a dropkick to sent Vaquer to the ropes. Then she stomped her and hoisted her up for a scoop slam. Sky then dropped double knees on Vaquer and rolled her over for a knee lock. Vaquer kicked her way out of it and wrangled Sky into a tarantula around the ropes.

Sky emerged clutching her arm and Vaquer hit a running leg drop. She then hit a big suplex (a Suplex Burrough as opposed to City, if you will) followed by another. She put Sky in a modified surfboard but Sky was able to slide back and turn it into a lock of her own.

After an exchange, Sky hit a stalling backbreaker on Vaquer and both women collapsed. Sky got back to her feet first and hit a missile dropkick from the top turnbuckle. The crowd was into it and Sky hit a suicide dive onto Vaquer on the outside.

They staggered to their feet by the light of the Old Spice signs and Sky tossed Vaquer back into the ring to avoid a countout. Sky tried a sunsetflip pwerbomb, but Vaquer had it scouted and sent Sky off the apron with a double knee. Vaquer dove on her and then threw her back into the ring to hit a springboard crossbody.

Vaquer picked up the speed and snap suplexed Sky. She charged, but Sky caught her and hit a suplex of her own. Vaquer got back up and suplexed Sky in retaliation. The striking began as they traded punches chops and head butts.

Vaquer went back to the suplex well and the crowd was on their feet. Vaquer took too much time to get the Devil’s Kiss in and Sky managed to knock her down and lock in a crossface. Vaquer flipped out of it and right into a knee from Sky.

Sky went up top, but Vaquer caught her in a dragon screw, yanking Sky’s leg through the ropes. Sky recovered and kicked Vaquer square in the temple. Sky started punching her leg to keep going and pulled Sky into position for an Over the Moonsault. Vaquer got her knees up though and Sky bounced across the ring. Vaquer set her up and hit a second dragon screw.

Vaquer dragged Sky to the center of the ring and locked in the Devil’s Kiss, pounding Sky’s head against the canvas. She hit her signature bomb and went for a pin, but Sky kicked out at two.

Vaquer went up top, but Sky went after her and they battled on the top turnbuckle. Sky set up Vaquer and hit a Spanish Fly, but seemed to knock her own knee in the process. Sky went for the pin, but Vaquer kicked out at two.

Digging deep, Sky exposed her knee for a Bullet Train attack in the corner. She then hit a running knee right to Vaquer’s head and dragged her in position for an Over The Moonsault. Sky leapt, but Vaquer rolled out of the way. Vaquer went up top and hit a spiral moonsault. She landed it and pinned Sky for the three count to become the new WWE Women’s World Champion.

Match Result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated IYO SKY

The crowd was hotter for this match than they have been for anything else tonight. These two put on a hell of a show and Vaquer really earned the Championship here.

-For reasons unknown, Pat McAffee signed off after the Vaquer/Sky match, so Cole and Barrett carried on from here.

Mixed Tag Team Match: CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch

Rollins and Punk have been trying to kill each other for years, but they’ve never gotten their wives involved until now. The exciting part is of course the return of Punk’s wife AJ Lee who hasn’t been in WWE in over a decade. Punk and AJ are 2-0 in mixed tag matches, while Lynch and Rollins went 3-0 in 2019. So, someone’s streak is coming to an end, presuming there’s a winner in this match.

The Rollins Family Entrance for this match began on a platform raised about 40 feet in the air. It lowered into a circle of fireworks and they stomped off of it in matching suits with GIGANTIC shoulders and lapels. It was, by definition, very extra.

Punk arrived in an amazing “AJ’s Husband” jacket and announced that it was clobberin’ time. Lee arrived next to a massive ovation and then walked/skipped down to the ring (I’ll let you guess who skipped and who walked. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised).

Lee wanted to start the match, but Lynch waved her off and Punk and Rollins faced off. Then, Lynch decided she wanted in and started shoving punk. The crowd chanted for a GTS, but instead they got an AJ Lee who tagged in and the match actually started.

Lynch bailed from the ring and Lee chased her until she popped back in and tagged Rollins. Rollins and Lynch started making out so CM Punk hit them both with a suicide dive. He then threw Rollins into the barricades and leapt off them, fighting him in the crowd.

Rollins ran back ro the ring and Punk went for a head lock. Rollins sent him into the corner and Lynch reached over and choked him behind the ref’s back. Punk shook it off and returned the favour, driving Rollins into the corner for Lee to mess with him out of the ref’s sight.

Punk grabbed Rollins for an atomic drop followed by a big chop. He landed an axe handle on Rollins’ head and went up top for a shot from the top rope. Rollins crumpled and Punk tried it again, but Rollins kicked him instead. Punk bounced off the ropes and caught a kick from Lynch. Rollins stomped him until he rolled out of the ring where Lynch sent him into the steps.

Lee ran around to help, but Rollins got in her way. Rollins grabbed Punk and laid him out on the announce table, punching him. He then tossed him back into the ring and hit an axe handle from the top rope. Punk tried to stand, but Rollins stomped his hand and delivered some chops before kicking him in the face.

Rollins went over and kissed Lynch (which apparently didn’t count as a tag) and then threw Punk onto the ropes for a big knee to the back of the head. Punk reached for Lee, but Rollins wouldn’t let it happen. Punk threw punches, but Rollins held him back.

Lee bounced on the ropes as Rollins whipped Punk back into the corner. Punk tried to crawl to the tag, but Rollins intercepted and tried for a suplex. Punk blocked it and tried for one of his own that Rollins blocked. They went back and forth until Punk executed a suplex and crawled over to get the tag. Rollins cut him off again though.

Punk fought hard against Rollins, pushing him closer and closer to finally get the hot tag, but the ref didn’t see it. She put Lee back in her corner allowing Rollins and Lynch to double team Punk. Rollins lifted Lynch up to throw her at Punk, but Punk rolled out and Rollins dropped her right on the mat.

Rollins charged Punk who sent him out and just before he could get the tag, Lynch pulled Lee off the apron. In the ring, Rollins hit a Falcon Arrow, but Punk kicked out at two. Rollins then skipped around thr ring, mocking Lee. He rolled out of the ring and skipped around her before climbing back in.

The mocking might have gone on too long though as Punk scooped him up and hit a GTS, knocking Rollins cold. Punk went to tag Lee, but Lynch grabbed his foot trying to prevent it. Punk blew her a kiss and made the tag anyway.

Lee entered the ring with a Thez press and rained down shots on Lynch. She threw Lynch to the corner and stomped her, then delivering a splash in the corner. Lee climbed the turnbuckles and punched Lynch exactly 10 times before laying Lynch out with a spin kick.

Lee went up top for a crossbody and got a two count, with Lynch just kicking out. Lee pulled Lynch up to her feet and the two traded slaps. Rollins rolled back in and pulled Lee off of Lynch. Lee then punched him in the face about it and then hit a DDT on Lynch. Rollins grabbed her, but Punk arrived and hit a sliced bread with is own wife.

Lynch and Rollins were dazed in each corner and Lee and Punk hit duelling bulldogs and shining wizards. Lee tried for a black widow submission, but Lynch thew her off. Lee tried it again and managed to lock it on. Rollins tried to save his wife, but Punk grabbed him and locked in a sharpshooter. Rollins kicked his way out of it though and Lee put a Black Widow on Seth. Lynch broke it up and she and Rollins hit a double Pedigree on Punk and Lee.

Rollins and Lynch made motions like they were going to hit duelling GTS’s, but Punk sent Rollins to the outside. Lee took advantage and hit Lynch with a Bexploder. Rollins grabbed her ankle and dropped Lee in the ring. Punk then hit a curbstomp on Rollins and Lynch began hitting Punk.

Punk caught her foot through when she went for a kick and looked to put her in a sharpshooter. Rollins interfered, and Lynch put the sharpshooter on Punk! Punk powered out of it and reversed it. Rollins then broke it up with a Pedigree and curb stomp.

Rollins went for the pin, but Lee broke it up. Lynch grabbed her and hit a Manhandle slam, but Lee kicked out at two.

Lynch got to her feet first and threw a few shots at Lee. Lee hit a few of her own until Rollins and Punk pulled them apart so they had room to brawl. Lee and Lynch then pulled them apart and started a brawl of their own. Then everyone brawled.

Lee and Punk sent Rollins and Lynch out of the ring and Punk flipped Rollins over the announce table. Lee took the monitors off the Spanish Announce Table and Punk began to clear Cole and Barrett’s table. They grabbed Lynch and Rollins and put them on the tables.

Rollins and Lynch woke up and reversed it though, with Lynch sending Lee into Punk and Rollins, collapsing their table. Lynch grabbed Lee and threw her back into the ring. Lynch went for a Manhandle, but Lee locked in a Black Widow, forcing Lynch to tap out.

Match Result: CM Punk & AJ Lee defeated Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch

That was a ton of fun. Lynch and Rollins are some of the best characters in WWE right now and Punk and Lee made her return a really good one. It was a great match that ticked all the boxes without making them feel like a list. Great work by all four.

We were all set for the Main Event when suddenly we were interrupted by the Undertaker’s dong. The American Badass rolled down to the ring on his motorcycle and hopped into the ring while Stephanie McMahon clapped at ringside.

Undertaker grabbed a mic and asked her if he could sit next to her in the crowd. They sat down and discussed what they did last weekend. They had a pleasant conversation and then Undertaker asked her “… are you ready?” He then announced that Stephanie would be be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2026. They hugged as the crowd cheered.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre

Cody Rhodes wears big coats. Drew McIntyre occasionally wears a big coat. That has nothing to do with this match, but they are some nice coats. Anyway, McIntyre put Rhodes out of action for a month via Claymore to the face, so there’s some animosity there. Rhodes issued this challenge to settle the face-kicking thing once and for all, here in the Main Event of the only palooza that matters, Wrestlepalooza.

McIntyre started off the match by approaching Rhodes and opening his arms as if asking for a hug. Rhodes didn’t go for it though and the two started to fight with McIntyre sending Rhodes into the ropes and landing a headlock.

They traded blows with Rhodes landing a bionic elbow and bringing McIntyre to his knees. Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter, but stalled and seemed to fall over, indicating that maybe he isn’t at 100%. He put a waist lock on McIntyre to fought out of it and armdragged Rhodes. Rhodes hit a disaster kick and sent McIntyre out of the ring.

Rhodes went for a suicide dive but McIntyre caught him and sent him into the ring post before throwing Rhodes over the announce table. He put Rhodes back in the ring and he stumbled again, allowing McIntyre to get a couple of belly-to-belly throws in.

McIntyre charged and Rhodes moved, sending him into the ring post. McIntyre lured Rhodes out of the ring and hit an Alabama Slam onto the steel steps. He thew Rhodes back into the ring, but could only get a two count.

Rhodes covered up as McIntyre stomped and punched him. McIntyre went up to the top turnbuckle, but Rhodes followed and landed a superplex. Both slowly got to their feet and started trading punches. Rhodes landed a powerslam and then a disaster kick. He landed a Cody Cutter but looked dazed in between.

He set up McIntyre for a Crossrhodes, but McIntrye got a way and delivered a Glasgow kiss. He then grabbed Rhodes on the top turnbuckle and hit a while noise for a two count. He tried for a Claymore, but Rhodes caught him and stacked him up for a two count.

Rhodes then wrapped McIntyre up in a figure four, but he was able to throw him off. While the ref checked on Rhodes, McIntyre pulled the turnbuckle pad off. McIntyre stacked up Rhodes, but the ref was out of position and couldn’t count the three in time. Rhodes took advantage of the situation and hit a Crossrhodes. McIntyre kicked out at two. McIntyre then landed a Claymore kick, but Rhodes wouldn’t go down and kicked out at two.

On the outside, McIntyre set Rhodes up against the announce table for a big boot. The ref tried to stop McIntyre, but he went for it and Rhodes rolled out of the way. McIntyre kicked through the Announce table, screaming with pain. He went back in and hit a Glasgow kiss. Mcintyre tried for a Claymore, but his leg buckled, allowing Rhodes to hit a super cutter.

Rhodes hit a picture perfect Crossrhodes and pinned McIntyre 1,2,3 to get the victory and retain the title.

Match Result: Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre

Pretty good main event! I liked Cody selling the potential head injury and McIntyre is very good and playing a villain. The stuff with the Ref might come back to haunt Rhodes, but for the most part, lots of fun and a good night of wrestling!

WWE SmackDown live results: Wrestlepalooza go-home show

Posted on by Marc Quill

The final WWE SmackDown before Wrestlepalooza, WWE’s first PLE on ESPN, will feature an interaction between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and his next challenger Drew McIntyre.

Rhodes returned last week after a month away to save Randy Orton from a potential Claymore kick through the announce table. Tonight, Rhodes and McIntyre will have a contract signing to make their Wrestlepalooza title match officially official.

In an exclusive interview, Brock Lesnar will address his Wrestlepalooza matchup against John Cena. Last week, Lesnar delivered an F5 to R-Truth after demanding a face-to-face with Cena.

United States Champion Sami Zayn continues his open challenge series with Carmelo Hayes stepping up to the plate, much to the chagrin of his tag partner, The Miz.

A WWE Women’s Tag Team title match originally set to take place in France will come to fruition tonight as Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair defend against Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre.

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

**********

– We opened tonight’s SmackDown with the arrivals of Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice, Carmelo Hayes, and Sami Zayn to the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH.

– Inside the arena, Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomed us to the show as they talked about tomorrow night’s Wrestlepalooza. Cole said that Brock Lesnar wanted to do the sitdown interview right now as he left commentary. However, Lesnar made his entrance and it appeared that the interview would happen in the ring instead.

Brock Lesnar interview ahead of Wrestlepalooza

Lesnar grabbed Cole and held him over his shoulder as he made his way into the ring. Inside the ring, Lesnar continued to threaten Cole before Corey Graves entered the ring and pleaded with him to not attack Cole. He got an F5 for his troubles as the crowd chanted for John Cena. Lesnar then directly addressed the camera, yelling that he was coming for John Cena’s blood tomorrow and that it was D-Day. Lesnar paced around ringside and destroyed the Prime Hydtration station before he once again entered the ring to hit Graves with another F5. Various referees and security surrounded the ring while Lesnar yelled for Cena to come get himself some. He then left the ringside area, as the crowd jeered.

Pretty much a last gasp attempt to add fuel into this Cena/Lesnar Wrestlepalooza match that’s barely had a build. I can’t say if they succeeded on that front, though. That said, I guess we’ll have to find out tomorrow whether or not this match that has been haphazardily built will be any good at all.

**********

– We returned from the break with Cole and a few WWE road agents checking up on the fallen Graves, who was still out cold from being on the receiving end of two F5s.

– Backstage, Brock Lesnar was walking as he was confronted by Paul Heyman and The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Lesnar simply said that he and Heyman should talk before he left. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis warned The Vision to not cause anymore problems tonight, especially with the Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre contract signing to come. Heyman said that he and the Brons were simply here to enjoy the show.

– Back in the arena, Cole returned to the commentary table and was at a loss of words for what happened to his commentary partner. He said that in the years he’s been on commentary, he never felt as helpless as he did tonight. Cole said that if that’s what awaited John Cena tomorrow, he doesn’t know if even Cena had the answers.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Alba Fyre & Chelsea Green

Flair and Green started off the match here with a lockup. Green took a shot at Bliss in the corner, but ate an elbow from Flair as a result. Bliss tagged herself in and went to work on Green and Fyre for a moment. The challengers took advantage after Bliss was dragged into their corner. Green connected with a dropkick, as Bliss was then slammed into the ringpost by Fyre. This took us into the break.

During the break, the Miz took over for Graves as he joined Cole on commentary.

We returned from the break with Bliss desperately trying to get the tag. She almost got the tag, but Flair was pulled from the apron by Fyre, which gave Green a chance to continue her attack on Bliss. Green taunted Flair and ended up missing on the shoulder charge to Bliss. This allowed Bliss to finally get the hot tag for Flair.

Flair teed off with chops on both Green and Fyre, before she blasted the latter with a somersault clothesline. Flair tried to set up for the FIgure-Eight, but Green provided a distraction as she ate a big boot. Fyre went for the roll up, but couldn’t get the pin. As Flair headed up top, Green grabbed at Flair’s leg, which allowed for Fyre to connect with the Swanton Bomb. Bliss broke up the pin at the last second.

A double suplex from the challengers was turned back as Bliss and Flair delivered stereo Natural Selections to Green and Fyre instead. Flair ended up getting the pin on Green to get the victory and the successful Women’s Tag Title defense.

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. Chelsea Green & Alba Fyre via pinfall to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships

A decent defense for the tag champs, who continue to be a popular act with fans. I’m curious now as to who steps up to Flair and Bliss.

*********

– Backstage, B-Fab tried to get The Street Profits on the same page, but was interrupted by Michin, who told B-Fab that Nick Aldis wanted to talk to them about getting a chance at Giulia and Kiana James. Montez Ford told Angelo Dawkins that he was going to talk to Nick Aldis about getting back into the tag picture, as Bo Dallas tried to get into Dawkins’ head. Ford got into Dallas’ face, but Erick Rowan attacked the Profits to leave them laying.

– We got a backstage skit with R-Truth and Los Garza telling us how to download the ESPN app in order to watch Wrestlepalooza tomorrow.

– Fraxiom were set for a match, but got attacked by Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Paul Heyman soon walked down the ring and did his usual introduction. He said that Fraxiom reminded him of the Usos, because both were down, out, victimized, and lying on their backs. As Heyman continued to talk, Nathan Frazer and Axiom got up on the top rope and took out the Brons with dual dropkicks. The two then unleashed a barrage of dives on Breakker and Reed to leave them staggered.

Nick Aldis appeared on stage and decided to book a tag match between Fraxiom and the Vision’s duo, which was to take place right now.

The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed) vs. Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom)

The match returned from break joined in progress, with Breakker working over Axiom in the corner. Axiom fended off Breakker momentarily, but got thrown overhead instead with a back drop. Breakker got a full head of speed and absolutely flattened Axiom with a lariat. Reed entered the match with a tag and continued to pummel Axiom with a senton. Breakker got the tag once more as he suplexed Axiom before pulling down the straps. He attempted a spear, but was met with a calf kick from Axiom. This allowed Frazer to get the hot tag.

Frazer had Reed staggered with a dropkick, as he soared from the top with a frog splash. Reed kicked out at two and avoided a moonsault before he dropped Frazer with the Jagged Edge. The Aussie headed up top for a Tsunami but was stopped temporarily by Axiom. Reed shoved Axiom below right into a spear from Breakker. Reed then finished Frazer off with the Tsunami.

After the match, Heyman tried to announce his men as the winners, but were interrupted by The Usos on the titantron. Jimmy and Jey were already in Indiana and said that they were going to lock things down as they welcomed The Vision to the Uso Penitentary.

The Vision def. Fraxiom via pinfall

Just a short and sweet match to give the Brons some momentum heading into their tag match with the Usos tomorrow. Bron Breakker’s spears continue to be a thing of beauty.

*********

– We got a sizzle reel for WWE’s full court press on ESPN in anticipation of tomorrow night’s Wrestlepalooza event.

Nia Jax in-ring promo

Jax asked what she was sick of, before she took a shot at the Toledo crowd. She then went on to say that she was sick of the SmackDown women’s division claiming that they were the alpha females, when she was the “true” alpha female of the division. Jax took credit for taking Tiffany Stratton out, which prevented her from showing up on the NXT Homecoming this past Tuesday. Jax then took a shot at Jade Cargill, saying that she should trade places with her, as Cargill was apparently not talented. Jax said that she was the alpha and that she’d annihilate any storm or any Tiffy time, any damn time.

This brought out the WWE Women’s Champion out for a rebuttal. Tiffany Stratton said that the people have had enough of Nia Jax being in the women’s division. She said that Cargill was not a superhero here to save the division. And since Jax and Cargill were committed to acting so delusional, Stratton said that she was here to prove that she was the one, true WWE Champion. Stratton attempted to walk down the ring to confront Jax, but was stopepd by a gaggle of referees. Jade Cargill made her way and decked a few security personnel.

Before Cargill could enter, Nick Aldis stopped things as he announced that next week on SmackDown, we’d see Stratton vs. Cargill vs. Jax in a triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship.

This match was reportedly set for tomorrow’s Wrestlepalooza, but postponed due to an apparent injury to Stratton, so it seems like they’re moving to have this match happen next week instead. That said, hopefully it’s the last we see these particular set of players in the women’s title picture together.

*********

– We got another R-Truth skit about the ESPN App, as he told the Motor City Machine Guns and Rey Fenix how to use it, again neglecting to mention the $30 monthly price tag of the new app.

U.S. Championship Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Carmelo Hayes

The action kicked off with Zayn and Hayes trading hammerlocks in a show of chain wrestling prowess. After that, Hayes used his athleticism to hit Zayn with a dropkick after a leapfrog dodge. Hayes continued to hit Zayn with blows to the back, but found himself on the receiving head of a forearm strike by the U.S. Champion. On the apron, Zayn looked like he was going for something big, but Hayes stunned him with a a guillotine leg drop as we took a break in the action.

SmackDown returned as Hayes had the upper hand on Zayn. The challenger had his foe floored with a leg drop for the near-fall. Zayn fought back with a clothesline on Hayes, as he then followed that up with an axe handle from the middle turnbuckle. Zayn dragged Hayes to the corner and teed off on him with repeated punches to the face, much to the chagrin of the Miz on commentary. Zayn then spun Hayes’ world right round with a tornado DDT, but couldn’t pick up the win there.

Zayn headed up to the top rope, but Hayes recovered and avoided the high-risk attempt. Hayes, however, couldn’t avoid Zayn’s Michinoku Driver, which got yet another near-fall. Hayes caught Zayn on the button with a big knee to the face as he headed up top for a frog splash. Zayn got his knees up at the last second, which sent Hayes scurrying to the corner and right into the crosshairs for a Helluva Kick. Hayes intercepted Zayn with a superkick as both men went down and we went to a second commercial break during this match.

We returned from break as Zayn attempted the Exploder Suplex into the corner, but Hayes managed to block it. On the apron, Zayn got dropped with a flip over the rope by Hayes, which had his wrist caught up in the middle rope. Hayes then headed up top and got the Frog Splash, but could not secure the victory. Hayes followed that up with the First 48 after successfully countering a Blue Thunder Bomb attempt by Zayn. One, two… no!

Hayes lifted Zayn up for a cutter, followed by springboard neckbreaker on the U.S. Champion. Zayn managed to avoid the Nothin’ But Net from Hayes and turned that into a Blue Thunder Bomb for the rare victory with that signature maneuver.

Sami Zayn def. Carmelo Hayes to retain the United States Championship

Another solid match for Zayn in this U.S. Open Challenge he’s run as of late. I’ve been enjoying these matches, which have become the highlight of SmackDown every week.

*********

– Kit Wilson was talking with Nick Aldis about hypermasculinity, as Damian Priest stormed in and demanded a shot at Aleister Black. Wilson got upset at Priest’s demands, calling it a case of toxic masculinity, as he ended up being thrown through the wall by an irate Priest.

– The second part in the retrospective of John Cena and Brock Lesnar’s rivalry was shown.

Wrestlepalooza on ESPN Card

  • Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena
  • AJ Lee & CM Punk vs. Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins
  • Jimmy & Jey Uso vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed)
  • Women’s World Championship: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
  • Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre

– We got a vignette from Solo Sikoa as he showed appreciation for Tonga Loa for showing loyalty to him since day one. He said that he owed it to Tonga to be a champion, and that his loyalty would be rewarded as long as Tonga was part of his Family Tree. Tonga then said that he loved Solo to end the vignette.

Cody Rhodes/Drew McIntyre contract signing

In the ring, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis said that the main event of Wrestlepalooza would be the Undisputed WWE Championship match, of which the contract would be signed for in mere moments. Aldis then introduced the challenger, one Drew McIntyre, to the ring.

The surly Scotsman made his way to the ring and immediately took a mic. Before he could utter a word, the theme of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes interrupted, which brought out the American Nightmare to the usual reaction of cheers from the crowd.

Once both Rhodes and McIntyre in the ring, the champion took to the mic. He said that fifteen years ago today, he and McIntyre won the Tag Team Championships, and that no one wasn’t talking about it, mainly because it wasn’t his or McIntyre’s story. It was the story of the people, and they didn’t care about the lore and wanted to see two people fight.

Rhodes listed off McIntyre’s past accolades, as he said that he was a “keyboard warrior” as of late. He urged on McIntyre to do his talking on social media because it’d be the last time he’d get one up on him. McIntyre showed his phone to Rhodes, with a post that said “Thank you, Cody.”

McIntyre responded that this match without intereference or shortcuts was what he wanted all along, before he called Rhodes a cardboard champion that was unwilling to compromise the main event of Wrestlepalooza. McIntyre said that the crowd would eventually turn on Rhodes and all he’d be left with is to say that “Drew was right”.

Rhodes fired back asking McIntyre what would happen if his legacy now was to be the man who lost the first main event of the ESPN Era. As both men signed the contract, McIntyre delivered a blindside headbut on Rhodes and attacked the champion at ringside.

As McIntyre had Rhodes at his mercy against the announce table, the Scotsman refused to hit the Claymore kick, stating that he wanted him to be at his best tomorrow at Wrestlepalooza. As McIntyre tried to walk away, Rhodes dove through the middle rope to tackle McIntyre. The two continued to fight as referees tried to separate the two. As the producers credits for Paul Levesque and Lee Fitting popped up, McIntyre popped Rhodes with a boot to the head. We ended the final SmackDown before tomorrow’s Wrestlepalooza with McIntyre taunting Rhodes, stating that it was going to be the last time he’d be sleeping with the title for a long time.

*********

A decent final segment to build up, again, another haphazardly-built feud for this first ESPN PLE where it just happened within a span of a week. That seems to be a pattern with this Wrestlepalooza card, with the exception of CM Punk/AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins/Becky Lynch, which seems to be the best-built match out of the five matches set to take place tomorrow.

As a go-home show for Wrestlepalooza, this SmackDown was okay on that front. The Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge continues to be the stand out of these weekly shows, as the matches there have been excellent. Other than that, everything else just ranges from okay to mediocre, sorry to say.

WWE NXT Homecoming live results: Big returns at Full Sail University

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight, WWE NXT returns to where the brand first rose to prominence.

NXT is back at Full Sail University for a Homecoming special. The card features some of NXT’s biggest names from the Black & Gold past, including stars like Rhea Ripley, Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, and Tyler Breeze.

Ripley will team with Stephanie Vaquer & Lyra Valkyria as they battle the new-era trio of Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx). Valkyria is replacing Tiffany Stratton in the match due to Stratton not being medically cleared to compete.

Tonight’s show will also see DIY (Gargano & Ciampa) team up to face the reuniting duo of Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes.

Gold will be on the line as Charlotte & Bliss defend the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles against The Culling’s Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley. Plus, Breeze challenges Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship.

A Grayson Waller Effect segment will see NXT Champion Oba Femi and Ricky Saints build up their title match ahead of No Mercy on September 27.

In addition to all that, WWE has announced that Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, Bianca Belair, Bobby Roode, William Regal, and more will be in the building.

**********

NXT is back on the air with a supercard this week to celebrate Homecoming, and the show returns to Full Sail.

The show begins with a retrospective video package highlighting the history of the brand, with notable moments from Full Sail.

The first talent seen in the video package is Triple H, and he also kicks off the show live in the Full Sail arena. Big pop for Triple H as he enters, and the crowd chants for him.

Triple says he can hardly tell the audience how good it feels to be home. He says NXT and Full Sail are something special. He goes on to say all of the superstars over the years are special, and he puts over the fans of NXT. What started as a whisper, they turned into a roar.

Triple H says their passion for NXT “shattered conventions” and “allowed NXT to take over” (which is an obvious play on the TakeOver specials of years past). Triple H cued the crowd to help him finish the phrase “We are N-X-T.” Triple H tells them thanks when the tones of “Sexy Boy” blare.

Shawn Michaels enters and joins Triple H in the ring. HBK is wearing a nice sports coat, but his cowboy hat looks as if it was run over beforehand in the parking lot. He used to wear a nice Stetson hat way back in the day. That might pair better with the sports coat.

Michaels tells Triple H that we know he’s been out there selling out million dollar gates with Raw and Smackdown, and he has also cut billion dollar deals. But HBK has to let Trips know that the current NXT roster is ready to knock it out of the park. Triple H puts over the current NXT. They are “lighting the world on fire.”

Triple H then suggests, “What if I want to come back?” Michaels gets in Trips’ face and says, “Then we would have a very, very big problem.”

Suddenly, the entrance of William Regal interrupts the standoff. Regal also ran NXT, much like Triple H and Michaels. Regal says there is only one way to settle this. Someone in the crowd off camera yells, “War Games!” In a funny bit, Regal remarks that was his line. Pretend you did not say that, and “take that off the edit.”

Regal then screams, “WAR GAMES!”

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair and Alexis Bliss then enter and stand beside Regal. They joke about Tripe H and Shawn arguing more than they do, as the champs are an odd couple team of sorts. Flair says, respectfully, that the women have always been in charge in NXT. The “Women’s Revolution” started right here in Full Sail.

Flair and Bliss wait out the crowd chants to list off names of women wrestlers from NXT. Bliss says the women have always been the backbone of NXT, and if they are not down with that. She has two words for ya’, and the crowd chants “Suck it!”

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Shawn Spears and Niko Vance are in the challengers’ corner. The tag title bout goes through a commercial break. At one point, Alexa goes for Twisted Bliss. Paxley gets her knees up thanks in part to a distraction from The Culling. Paxley follows up with a roll up and her feet on the ropes for a near fall.

Paxley executes her own finisher for another near fall. Flair breaks up the pin, and Dame brawls with her. Paxlet misses a 450 and rolls through, only to eat an elbow from Bliss. Sister Abigail from Bliss, and Bliss covers Paxley for a pin. And still…

Macth result: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss defeated Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (when Bliss pinned Paxley).

— Sol Ruca and Zaria are bickering in a backstage skit when in walks Lainey Reed, followed by Candice LeRae. They argue about who is winning the Speed tournament. The winner faces Ruca for the Speed title at No Mercy.

Shayna Baszler walks in for a cameo, and her glare makes both Reed and LeRae to leave. Baszler then urges Ruca and Zarua work out their differences.

Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano

The tag match goes through a commercial break. DIY run wild before the break. Double down as the show returns from the break, and hot tags. Garagno runs wild. He and Hayes do some cool spots on the entrance ramp (which is the same height as the ring).

Tricks soon tags in and cleans house. He signals for his finisher, but Hayes makes a blind tag. Trick and Carmelo tease dissension, but they double team instead with an electric chair/springboard lariat. Ciampa soon tags in, and he gets a near fall after giving Hayes a backbreaker bomb.

Trick retrieves his TNA World title belt, and the referee takes it from him. DIY set up Trick for their finisher, but Hayes pushes Trick out of the way. DIY then double team Hayes for another near fall.

The Miz suddenly runs in at ringside. Skull Crushing Finale by Miz on Garagno, and he rolls Gargano back into the ring. Hayes leaps off the top rope with Nothing But Net. Hayes then hooks a leg and covers Gargano for a three count.

Match result: Trick Williams & Carmelo Hayes defeated Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano when Hayes pinned Gargano.

Kelly Kincaid interviews WWE United States Champion Sami Zayn. He is emotional over returning to NXT. Zayn then goes on to put over Je’Von Evans. Interrupting the interview is Josh Briggs, who barges in to cut a promo where he buries Evans. Briggs is calling Evans a bum when Evans rushed in to brawl with Briggs. Zayn stops Evans, and Zayn gives Evans a pep talk. “The sky is the limit,” Zayn tells Evans.

Ethan Page vs. Tyler Breeze for the NXT North American Championship

The title bout goes through a commercial break, much like the other matches on the show. Like the other title match on the show, the champ never felt in jeopardy of losing the strap. Breeze did get a few near falls, and the match itself was decent enough. Breeze looked good.

For the finish, Breeze was atop the turnbuckles when Page tripped him up. Breeze crotched himself on the top turnbuckle, and Page excited a draping Twisted Grin on Breeze. Page then scores a three count.

Match result: Ethan Page defeated Tyler Breeze to retain the NXT North American Championship

AAA Latin American Champion Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. is ringside after the match, and he has a stare down with Page.

— Damien Priest is backstage talking with Tavion Heights. Priest hypes up Heights. Priest then tells Heights he booked him a title match against Page for the North American title at No Mercy.

The Grayson Waller Effect with special guests Ricky Saints and Oba Femi

Waller comments that he has never been in the arena at Full Sail. Waller then introduces his guest — Ricky Saints and NXT Champion Oba Femi.

Waller asks a condescending question, and Femi answers it by cutting a promo on Saints. Femi is not impressed with Saints. Femi accuses Saints of looking past NXT to the main roster, where he can “carry Cody Rhodes’ bags.” Waller laughs uproariously.

Femi goes on to say Saints can carry any bags he wants, but Saints cannot carry the North American title. Saints responds by talking about Femi being scouted and recruited for NXT. Saints accuses Femi of being a “pampered athlete.”

Saints brings up a WWE tryout and not getting a deal, but he is here now. Saints says he will always gamble on himself, as Saints rises from his chair to cut a fiery promo on Femi. Saints vows to win the NXT title at No Mercy.

Out comes TNA World Champ Trick Williams to interrupt. Trick says Femi is holding something of his, which is the NXT title.

Waller butts in to suggest a title vs. title match next week with Trick Williams against Oba Femi. Then, the winner defends against Saints at No Mercy.

Femi concludes the segment with a promo where he vows to beat Trick for the TNA title, and he will successfully defend both against Saints at No Mercy.

— “NXT Spotlight” sponsored by an insurance company is a skit with Charlie Dempsey and Wren Sinclair, and cameos by Bobby Roode and Joe Hendry. Dempsey informs Sinclair he is going to Japan for a little while.

Roode then appears and Sinclair asks him to do the “Glorious” pose. Roode poses, complete with sound effects. Hendry then appears, and Roode tells Hendry to focus on the NXT title. Hendry shakes hands with Roode.

— Lexis King is in the ring after a commercial break. King cuts a promo proclaiming himself the “Homecoming King”, before King buries the “Black and Gold” of NXT. King then cuts a promo on Myles Borne, and King announces he and Borne meet next week in a “lights out” match.

The lights in the arena goes dark, and Finn Balor gets a full entrance. Balor, wearing street clothes, poses in a corner. King is distracted with Balor as Borne jumps King. Balor then jumps off the tope rope with a double foot stomp. Borne and Balor pose together as King sells.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Darkstate. Montez Ford interrupts them, and he interacts with them.

— Bianca Belair in a cameo appearance is shown at watching from ringside.

Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Rhea Ripley, Stephanie Vaquer & Lyra Valkyria in a six-woman tag team match

The match goes through a commercial break. The babyface trio cleans house before the break. During the commercials, the Valkyria is cut off and worked over. The heels are in control when the show returns from the break.

Hot tag to Vaquer, and she is a house of fire. Vaquer is cut off, and the heels gang up on her. Henley gets a near fall on Vauquer.

Hot tag to Ripley, and she runs wild. Vaquer and Ripley do a stereo version of the Devil’s Kiss. The babyfaces are looking strong. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne tries to flee, but Lola Vice blocks her path. They meet in a title match soon. Vice hits Jayne with a spinning back fist, and Ripley then executes a Rip Tide on Jayne. Ripley covers Jayne for the deciding pinfall. Afterwards, Vice celebrates with the babyfaces.

Match result: Rhea Ripley, Stephanie Vaquer & Lyra Valkyria defeated Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyz

— Closing the show is a backstage stare down with NXT Champ Oba Femi and TNA Champ Trick Williams. It is official. The two champs meet next Tuesday in a title vs. title match. Pretty big match for only a week’s notice.

WWE Raw live results: Wrestlepalooza go-home show

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: September 15, 2025
Location: MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA 

The Big Takeaway —

Wrestlepalooza is Saturday. 

**********

Show Recap — 

Penta (wearing his mask but no makeup underneath), Stephanie Vaquer, El Grande Americano, and Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed were shown arriving. (It’s a little weird that they show Penta without his face paint for the sake of this gimmick of showing people arriving at the arena.) 

There was a recap of Jey Uso spearing LA Knight as Raw concluded last week. 

Back to the live show, Knight shoved Jey Uso as he arrived with Jimmy Uso. Adam Pearce and some officials quickly broke it up, and he demanded they see him in his office or their paychecks would be missing zeros. 

Despite some stars actively on the screen, the crowd was already chanting for John Cena, who is scheduled to open the show. 

Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves are tonight’s announcers.

John Cena kicks off Raw

Cena was happy to be back on Raw and in Springfield, Massachusetts. Cena informed the younger fans in the crowd that he played football up the street at Springfield College. He told the older fans he was an offensive lineman, which is why they probably didn’t know this. 

Being an OL meant you never got your name in the paper, you got your ass kicked, and you showed up the next day prepared to get your ass kicked again. Springfield College prepared him for life in WWE. 

Cena said he had friends and family in the building tonight, and he wished his niece a happy birthday because she couldn’t be here tonight. He acknowledged that there was no stage because the arena was packed. 

He enjoyed these moments with the fans and wanted to while he could, because he had a tall hill to climb. His intro called him the last real champion, but Brock Lesnar wanted to end the last real champion. 

He called Lesnar intimidating, “controversial,” and nearly invisible. Fans chanted, “F—k you, Lesnar.” 

Cena said Lesnar returned to WWE once again and again targeted him. Cena could have used his influence to turn down a match with Lesnar. Saying ‘no’ was safe, especially with only six appearances left. The crowd chanted, “Whoop his ass,” and “Thank you, Cena.”

As the fans chanted, Cena said they were the reason he said ‘yes’. He was the last real champion. He didn’t fight his battles backstage, he fought them in the ring. Being the last real champion wasn’t about holding a belt or fighting in the main event. The last real champion didn’t take their ball and go home. They fought with hustle, loyalty and respect. 

Cena admitted he was afraid of Lesnar and could fail—but he would never back down. We would take the fight to the beast because that’s what we did. On the history-making Wrestlepalooza on ESPN, it would be the final showdown between two generational titans. 

Cena didn’t care how many suplexes Lesnar had in Suplex City. He has taken Lesnar’s best shot for 20 years. His jorts were stronger than Lesnar’s jeans. On Saturday, Cena was ready for war. 

*********

Pearce met with Jey and Knight. After some arguing, Pearce agreed to Knight’s request to fight the Brons tonight, but said he needed to pick a partner. Knight looked Jey in the eye and said his partner would be Jimmy. Jey didn’t like that, but there was nothing he could do. 

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

Rodriguez tripped Valkyria from outside the ring, so the referee tossed her from ringside. Perez applied a cradle, but the referee missed it because she was still arguing with Rodriguez. After she left, Perez yanked Valkyria off the top turnbuckle to take control. 

(The match started as soon as they returned from a break, so they were actually able to wrestle for about four minutes instead of the usual 90 seconds before going to break.) 

There were chants for both women during the break. Perez cut off Valkyria’s comeback and hit a double knee drop for two. Perez applied a crossface, but Valkyria powered to her feet and hit Nightwing for the pinfall win. 

— Rodriguez attacked Valkyria from behind after the match, and Perez gave her a Pop Rox. Bayley ran out to make the save. She wiped out Rodriguez and gave Perez a Bayley-to-belly. 

The crowd was happy to see Bayley, who was full babyface—at least at first. She suddenly had a stern demeanour as she stared at Valkyria, but she snapped out of it and turned into hugger Bayley. She smiled and excitedly hugged Tessitore, Graves, Alicia Taylor, and a bunch of fans. (So, Bayley will indeed be doing a split-personality gimmick.) 

Valkyria was nonplussed. 

Match result: Lyra Valkyria defeated Roxanne Perez (9:06)

This match was just there to get Valkyria a win after losing to Rodriguez last week and set up Bayley’s return. 

********

Pearce met with Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer backstage. He made their world title match official for Wrestlepalooza. They wished each other luck. 

Asuka and Kairi Sane barged in. Asuka got in Vaquer’s face and told her she wasn’t ready for Sky. Vaquer told her to get out of her face, so Asuka told Vaquer she would face Sane tonight. Sane was surprised to hear this, but she was ready. Pearce made it official. Asuka giggled as she left, before calling for Sane to join her. (Asuka is so good in this role.) 

******** 

Knight met with Jimmy Uso. Jimmy didn’t think it was a good idea for them to team up. Knight said he could trust Jimmy after he helped him last week. Jimmy said Knight put him in a tough spot and politely declined being his partner. Knight left. 

********

They’ve removed the commercial break countdown timer, at least for this week. I wasn’t sure if they were in a commercial break or not, but I realized they were because New Day cut a promo. 

Xavier Woods and Grayson Waller wanted the Mexican Destroyer banned. Kofi Kingston said his home state should be cheering him, but he understood because his part of the state had much more money than this piss-hole city. Kingston called Pearce a tyrant and told the fans they should thank God for him. 

Penta vs. Kofi Kingston (w/Xavier Woods & Grayson Waller)

Kingston took control thanks to a distraction about a minute into the match, and they went to break. Kingston cut off Penta’s comeback attempt after the break with an SOS. They traded strikes until Penta hit an enziguri. (Woods made cracks to the fans about Shelbyville because they were in Springfield.)

Penta set up for the Canadian Destroyer, but Woods distracted the referee. Penta superkicked Waller before he could interfere and chased Woods off the apron. Penta then hit Kingston with a springboard Destroyer for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Penta defeated Kofi Kingston (7:30) 

This was an ordinary match until the finish, which looked awesome. Penta gets his win back over Kingston, who beat him three weeks ago. 

This was the second straight match with a distraction, and this is now seven straight going back to last week. 

********

Jimmy approached Jey as Jey was leaving a voicemail for someone on the phone. Jey didn’t tell him who it was. They had a disagreement after Jey told Jimmy he had to turn down Knight tonight. Jimmy said he already turned down Knight, but he also didn’t like the way Jey was bossing him around as if he had the Ula Fala around his neck. Jimmy stormed off. 

After a break, Jimmy told Knight he would be his partner tonight. Knight was glad to hear it. 

There was a clip of Jey Uso throwing out the first pitch at yesterday’s Boston Red Sox game. 

******** 

AJ Lee & CM Punk go face-to-face with Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins 

Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch entered first (Rollins’ music played first, followed by Lynch’s). Rollins took his time introducing himself and Lynch. Rollins introduced her the way he introduces himself, including calling her “Becky freakin’ Lynch.” 

AJ Lee and CM Punk entered to Lee’s music. Punk introduced himself as Lee’s husband. He didn’t plan on wasting time (like Rollins) with a long-winded introduction explaining who she was. (The fans chanted for Punk at first, so he made sure to feed them a line to get them to chant for Lee as well.) 

Punk referred to Lynch and Rollins as goofs (based on their matching leather outfits) and said they must share the same closet. They also came out to two annoying songs, but Punk gladly put Cult of Personality on the shelf so they could enter to Lee’s Let’s Light it Up (patting himself on the back). 

Rollins actually wanted to give Punk some credit because Lee was the best decision he ever made—in his personal life. (After some “Shut the f—k up” chants, the crowd chanted, “No one likes you.”) However, inserting Lee into this was something he would regret for the rest of his days. 

Lee said the regret would be Rollins’. She wouldn’t even be here if he hadn’t used his wife as a human shield. 

Lynch said nobody expected Lee to come back, and she couldn’t believe how irresponsible Punk was. She said Punk only cared about three things: himself, Rollins’ title, and AJ. 

Lynch read Lee’s book and said she might have healed mentally, but she wondered how she felt physically. Lynch asked how her neck was doing and asked how Punk would feel when she pummeled Lee’s face in. Lynch called Lee a liability, not an asset. 

Lee thanked Lynch for reading her book and said she didn’t read Lynch’s. (The crowd sang Lee’s name.) Lee admitted she didn’t know how her neck would hold up on Saturday. Lee also said she won two titles on that same neck. (Lee made a comment about Lynch looking constipated, so the fans chanted for that, too.) 

She didn’t know what she was going to do on Saturday. She’s been known to make rash decisions. She was a Puerto Rican girl from New Jersey—sometimes you had to shank a chick. Rollins liked to have a plan, but Lee warned them that they can’t plan for what they can’t predict. 

Rollins laughed at the idea that he couldn’t handle Lee. He called her a little girl. He may not be able to predict her, but he could read Punk like a book. Rollins warned Lee that Punk had a habit of leaving things when he was let down. Lee better hope to God that Punk doesn’t leave her, too. 

Lee slapped Rollins. Rollins said he wouldn’t put his hands on a lady, but knew someone who would. Lynch was not on board with this right now, so they argued. Punk and Lee looked on, amused. Lynch and Rollins argued until Lynch stormed off. 

It was all part of the plan, of course, and Punk fell for it. Punk went after Rollins, who escaped the ring. That left Lee alone, so Lynch caught her from behind and hit a Man-handle Slam. 

Punk tended to Lee as he stared down Lynch. Lynch slapped him and left with Rollins. The heels held their belts up high as Punk checked on Lee. 

********

There was a recap of Dominik Mysterio winning the AAA Mega Championship. Byron Saxton interviewed Dom and asked him about El Grande Americano. Dom responded, “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart,” and called himself the Mega Intercontinental Champion. 

The interview was cut short by a nearby commotion. New Day laid out Penta, and the War Raiders chased them off. 

El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) vs. Dragon Lee

There was a cool sequence early on where Dragon Lee used a leaping hurricanrana over the top rope to send El Grande Americano off the apron. Dragon Lee followed with a flip dive, sending both men into the announce table. 

Americano took over during a break. (He tied Dragon Lee’s mask to the rope during the break, which Kingston also did to Penta during the earlier match.) Lee hit Liger Bomb for two and a double foot stomp off the top rope for two. 

The distraction/interference streak continued because a mystery masked man attacked Lee. Americano hit a leaping blockbuster for a nearfall. 

AJ Styles marched out to even the odds. The masked man (Pete Dunne) tried to hide under the ring, but Tessitore pointed him out. Styles chucked him over the barricade. 

Styles stood by the timekeeper’s area but was attacked by a third masked person. The third person distracted the referee while masked Dunne shoved Dragon Lee off the top rope. Kaiser applied a deep submission, and Lee tapped out. 

— The three masked men did the Spider-Man meme pose outside the ring. 

Match result: El Grande Americano defeated Dragon Lee (10:12) 

Three matches on Raw, three distractions. That’s eight straight going back to last week. 

********

Valkyria approached Bayley’s locker room door but stopped upon hearing an argument. Bayley’s personalities were arguing with each other until there was a loud bang against the door. Valkyria hesitantly entered the room, and Bayley sat calmly on a sofa. Bayley told her off for entering without knocking and called her an idiot. Bayley stormed off. 

********

Rhea Ripley (who got a huge pop) approached Vaquer to wish her luck and tell her that she’d be ready for the winner. 

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Kairi Sane (w/Asuka)

The crowd was relatively quiet until Vaquer set up for Devil’s Kiss, but Sane countered it into a roll up for two. Sane followed with a DDT and went to the top, but Vaquer followed her there. A battle on the ropes led to Sane hitting a double foot stomp (the same one we saw in the last match) for two. Sane hit consecutive spinning back fists, but Vaquer came back with a headbutt and a dragon screw. 

Sane rolled outside the ring into the arms of Asuka, so Vaquer wiped them out with a dive off the top. Back in the ring, Vaquer hit Sane with Devil’s Kiss and SVB for a nice, clean pinfall win.

— Asuka hit the apron and got in Vaquer’s face, but Sky ran out to get between them before anything could happen. Sky settled Asuka down until she left. 

Sky and Vaquer faced off and shook hands ahead of their title match on Saturday. 

Match result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Kairi Sane (11:57)

******** 

There was a video package for Breakker and Reed. 

A red-hot Asuka confronted Sky as Sane tried holding her back. Asuka wanted to ensure Sky became champion, but Sky wanted to do it on her own. Asuka continued screaming in Japanese. She seemed to agree to Sky’s request, but she was pissed. 

******* 

The announcers ran down the Wrestlepalooza card and let us know how we can watch. 

  • John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar 
  • CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. World Champion Seth Rollins & Women’s IC Champion Becky Lynch (mixed tag match) 
  • IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant Women’s World Championship 
  • Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship 
  • The Usos vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed 

******** 

The Judgment Day met backstage. They toasted champagne to congratulate Dom on his title win. (Finn Bálor’s glass was all head, poured poorly by JD McDonagh. Bálor didn’t seem to appreciate that.) 

Bálor was still unhappy with Dom about the El Grande Americano situation. He fired up at Dom until McDonagh calmed him down. McDonagh asked Dom what Americano wanted from him. 

Dom didn’t think it was a big deal that Americano would simply want the respect of the greatest Mysterio ever. Bálor told him that he shouldn’t expect their help next time. Bálor and McDonagh left together. 

Rusev approached Dom. Rusev got in his face and told him he was the next IC champion. Rusev smiled and told him to enjoy his party. 

********

LA Knight & Jimmy Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed 

Knight and Jimmy worked well together early on and had control until Reed headbutting Jimmy gave the heels control during a break. The crowd chanted for Jimmy, who was cut down by a Breakker suplex. Jimmy avoided Reed’s senton and made the hot tag to Knight. 

Knight gave Breakker a neckbreaker, but turning his attention to Reed allowed Breakker to cut him off with a knee strike. Reed tagged in, but Knight avoided a Jagged Edge (DVD) and hit a reverse DDT and elbow drop. Jimmy tagged himself in and hit an Uso splash, but Breakker broke up the cover. 

Knight clotheslined Breakker out of the ring, and Jimmy hit Reed with a suicide dive. Jimmy went for another, but Reed caught him with a forearm. Knight attacked Reed and sent him back into the ring. Jimmy hit Reed with a superkick and spear. As Jimmy went to the top, Breakker ran over Knight with a leaping shoulder tackle. 

Breakker went after Jimmy, but Jimmy kicked him off the apron. The distraction allowed Reed to hit Jimmy with Jagged Edge for the pinfall win. 

— Breakker speared Jimmy after the match, so Jey ran out to make the save. Jey attacked both Brons with a chair as the fans Yeeted. 

The crowd gasped as Knight grabbed a steel chair with Jey’s back turned. Jey turned around and went face-to-face with Knight. Knight dropped the chair, and Jey offered a handshake. 

Knight shook his hand—then dropped him with a BFT (as payback for last week). 

Match result: Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker defeated Jimmy Uso & LA Knight (12:02)

WWE SmackDown live results: Brock Lesnar appears

Posted on by Marc Quill

At the end of another newsworthy week in WWE, tonight’s SmackDown airs live from Norfolk, Virginia — as Wrestlepalooza approaches next weekend.

Ahead of his match against John Cena at the new PLE, Brock Lesnar will appear on tonight’s show. Lesnar issued the challenge last Friday in Chicago after attacking Cena during his United States title match with Sami Zayn.

Zayn will be in action again, defending the title in another open challenge.

In a meeting of former champions, Randy Orton will finally get a chance to face Drew McIntyre in singles action after weeks of targeting his hated rival. The two met in a tag team bout at SummerSlam and last squared off one-on-one at July’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

In a rematch from SummerSlam, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton will defend against Jade Cargill. Stratton has held the gold for 250+ days.

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– As Vic Joseph introduced us to tonight’s show, shots of Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Tiffany Stratton, and Jade Cargill arriving to the Scope Arena were shown. We then went to inside the arena, where Joseph was joined by his NXT color commentary partner Booker T. to call tonight’s action.

– A recap of last week’s John Cena vs. Sami Zayn match being crashed by Brock Lesnar was shown.

Brock Lesnar opens SmackDown

Lesnar arrived to the arena, cowboy hat and all, as the crowd was a mix of cheers and boos for his arrival.

With mic in hand, the fans chanted “you suck” at Lesnar before he could speak, and he was soon interrupted by R-Truth, who rapped his way to the ring. Once Truth entered the ring, he asked the Norfolk crowd to make some noise before Lesnar told him to shut up.

Truth responded by saying he was going to be the first WWE superstar to say to Lesnar, “welcome back”. He said that he used to be scared of Lesnar, but not anymore. Lesnar answered by saying that he didn’t know who Truth was and he wanted him to get to the point.

Truth said that Lesnar was disrespecting John Cena, his hero and older brother for the past twenty-five years. Lesnar said he was here to look for John Cena tonight as he asked Truth for his whereabouts. Truth said he didn’t know where Cena was, but he was here to defend the honor of his “older brother”. Truth then told Lesnar that his name was “Ron Cena”.

Lesnar asked again where Cena was, as Truth again answered that he didn’t know. Truth warned Lesnar that “Super Cena” was coming for Lesnar, as he wouldn’t be running from The Beast, he’d be feeding on him. Lesnar had enough and picked Truth up for an F5, which somehow ripped his pants.

Not a very good segment to start the show, but it was mercifully short. The necessity of reverting R-Truth to his pre-Cena heel turn character randomly has hurt his standing and the build (or lack thereof due to Cena’s absence this week) towards Wrestlepalooza’s scheduled main event just isn’t grabbing my attention at all.

**********

– Backstage, Sami Zayn was talking with someone as he was happy to continue the U.S. Open Title Challenge, as he and his opponent would give the crowd a hell of a show tonight. We found out he was talking to Rey Fenix, and their match would be up next.

– We were shown shots of various WWE and AAA officials arriving to the arena in Las Vegas for Worlds Collide, which airs after SmackDown.

– A vignette from Solo Sikoa was shown, where he expressed anger about having lost his Bloodline, Ula Fala, and the United States Champonship. He vowed to take back what he lost, as it was time for others to live in the shadows of his Family Tree.

U.S. Title Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Rey Fenix

We started off fast with Zayn rocking Fenix with repeated arm drags. Fenix responded with an acrobatic arm drag, followed by an attempted dive to the outside. Zayn dodged out of the way, as Fenix feinted between the ropes at the last second to stop himself. We went to a break at this early point in the match.

SmackDown returned with Zayn having the upperhand as he delivered a pitch-perfect tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Fenix for the near-fall. Zayn continued to target Fenix’s shoulders with a submission, but found himself taken out by a kick on the apron. With Zayn stunned outside the ring, Fenix soared above the ropes with a tope con hilo that took the U.S. Champion out.

Back in the ring, Fenix took off from the top rope with a frog splash on Zayn, but couldn’t get the three out of it. Zayn attempted a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Fenix countered him twice in two attempts. Fenix blasted Zayn with a superkick after another feint between the ropes. One, two… not quite. Fenix headed up top, but couldn’t connect with the moonsault, as Zayn dodged.

Zayn had Fenix in position for the Helluva Kick, but the masked star avoided and countered with a DDT, that once again wasn’t able to get him the victory. We got a second break in the action with both men down in the ring.

Our match returned from the break with Fenix once more heading up to the top rope, looking for a high-risk maneuver. Zayn cut him off at the pass and put Fenix on his shoulders. However, Fenix countered and hit an incredible double stomp from the top rope onto a seated Zayn.

Fenix leapt up for his signature moonsault and connected, but Zayn kicked out at the nick of time. In the middle of the ring, both men tried to hit a suplex, but couldn’t. Fenix was first to escape as he bounced off the ropes for a kick, but Zayn caught him for the Blue Thunder Bomb. One, two… 2.9999999!!!!!!!!

Zayn managed to catch Fenix with his Exploder Suplex in the corner and had him targeted for the Helluva Kick. Fenix recovered and hit a hurricanrana instead, but only got a near-fall out of it. Fenix continued the momentum with the Goodbye Amigo kick. He attempted his spin kick in the corner, but Zayn reversed it into another Exploder Suplex. One Helluva Kick later, and it was a succcesful title defense for Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn def. Rey Fenix via pinfall to retain the United States Championship

That was one heck of a match to kick things off. Both Zayn and Fenix were at the top of their game and I quite enjoyed this from start to finish.

**********

– We got Earlier Today footage of B-Fab being confronted by Giulia and Kiana James. B-Fab said that she might’ve been busy as of late with the Street Profits’ drama, but she wasn’t busy now. This led to a match being made between the two, which was up next.

– A video from the Wyatt Sicks was shown, with Bo Dallas wondering where the Street Profits would go from here. He said that the Profits have failed at every turn, as Erik Rowan said that people never truly appreciate things until it’s gone. Dallas said that the Sicks weren’t the ones who sowed the seeds that sprouted horns, as he told us to follow the buzzards.

Giulia (w/ Kiana James) vs. B-Fab

As B-Fab entered the ring, James got in her face, and paid the price for it. Giulia took exception and kicked B-Fab to the outside, as she threw her around outside the ring. In the ring, James stomped away on B-Fab and teed her up for Giulia’s Arrivederci Knee. They looked like they were going to do further damage to B-Fab until Michin ran in, armed with a kendo stick. Michin struck James with the kendo stick, as she sent Giulia to a retreat.

Giulia vs. B-Fab never happened

**********

– We got remarks from Aleister Black about his win over Damian Priest on last week’s SmackDown. He said that Priest could keep fighting and he could die by that code, and that violence begat violence.

WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Cargill immediately went for a pump kick, but Stratton avoided it soundly. The challenger tried to lift up Stratton, but got met with a high dropkick. Cargill eventually got the advantage with a powerslam on Stratton, as she then followed that up with an attempted suplex. Stratton countered the suplex attempt and went for a rollup to little success. With Cargill out of the ring, Stratton vaulted over the top rope with a dive, as we went to a break in the action.

Our WWE Women’s Title match returned with Cargill hitting a fallaway slam on Stratton. She tried to go for a corner attack, but Stratton countered and eventually hit a spinebuster on Cargill. Stratton tried for a hurricanrana, but Cargill caught her and looked for a powerbomb. Stratton turned that around into a hurricanrana as she then hit a double-footed dropkick on her opponent.

Stratton headed up top and connected with the Swanton Bomb for a near-fall. Cargill recovered and hit a superkick on Stratton that sent her outside. In the ensuing mixup, Stratton attempted a baseball slide, but she got caught by Cargill, who slammed her against the apron. Back in the ring, Cargill failed to connect with a pump kick, but managed to avoid the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. She had Stratton on her shoulders and hit a modified Blue Thunder Bomb for a close near-fall.

Stratton hit a nice rollthrough into an Alabama Slam, as she looked for another Prettiest Moonsault Ever. Cargill avoided calamity and hit the Pump Kick as both women were down in the ring. Cargill and Stratton eventually recovered and mixed it up on the apron with an exchange of strikes. Cargill looked for a Spear, but Stratton dodged, which caused the challenger to hit the ringpost instead.

Stratton missed with the diving moonsault to the outside, as Cargill speared her opponent through the barricade. The match was then ruled a draw due to a double countout.

After the match, Nia Jax attacked both Cargill and Stratton and left both women laying.

Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill ended in a Double Countout

A decent match that was undercut by the draw ending and Nia Jax showing up once again, really highlighting how bare the cupboard is, when it comes to the top of the SmackDown women’s division. It’s honestly felt like the same set of players in the title picture and it’s really hurt the main event scene as it pertains for the women of SmackDown.

**********

– As Nick Aldis walked out of his office, he was accosted by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, who demanded a Women’s Tag Title match. Aldis proposed that the two would face the winners of Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss’s title defense on Tuesday’s NXT Homecoming.

– We got a video package ahead of Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena at Wrestlepalooza that focused on both men’s beginnings in wrestling.

– Over in Las Vegas, Rey Mysterio was interviewed about Worlds Collide, before his son Dominik rolled up and said he’d become the AAA Mega Campeon after tonight’s main event. Rey said he’d put the AAA Mega Campeon belt around Dominik’s waist if he won tonight.

– Back in Norfolk, Sami Zayn was interviewed after his successful U.S. Title defense as Carmelo Hayes called his shot to be Zayn’s next challenger. After Zayn left, The Miz showed up too late and was upset about Hayes taking up Zayn’s U.S. Open Challenge, having been seemingly outsmarted by his Melo Don’t Miz partner.

Randy Orton vs. Drew McIntyre

Both men locked up in the middle of the ring to start before McIntyre went on the attack in the corner. Orton roared back with a clothesline as he got in some shots of his own on the Scotsman with punches in the corner. He then sent McIntyre crashing to the outside with another clothesline over the rope as our main event headed to a break.

SmackDown’s main event came back from the break with McIntyre seemingly having Orton at his mercy, but he fell victim to a suplex instead. With McIntyre down in the ring, Orton targeted him with some stomps to the legs, followed by a knee drop to the face. McIntyre took a shot at Orton’s knee with a clip, followed by a stretch in the corner.

McIntyre maintained the pressure on Orton’s injured knee with a figure-four leglock cinched in tight in the middle of the ring. Orton struggled hard, but managed to turn it over to reverse the pressure of the leglock on McIntyre. In the middle of the ring, Orton dropped his foe with a belly-to-back suplex that sent McIntyre scurrying back out of the ring.

Orton slammed McIntyre against the commentary table, but got raked in the eyes, as he found himself dropped across the table with a back suplex. McIntyre once again clipped at Orton’s knees as our main event headed to one final break in the action.

We returned from the break as McIntyre slammed Orton down to the mat, with the bum knee making contact with the top rope as a result. Orton poked McIntyre in the eye to regain momentum, as he then bashed his opponent’s head across all four corners. McIntyre tried for another figure four, but Orton kicked him aside into the ring post, which sent the Scotsman out of the ring once more.

As McIntyre got himself back in the ring, Orton tried to generate momentum with a signature powerslam to fell his foe. Orton looked like he was going to hit the apron DDT, but McIntyre scurried to the announce table. This opened him up to consecutive back suplexes across the commentary table. Back in the ring, McIntyre connected with the Claymore Kick, but couldn’t capitalize. This gave Orton the opportunity to land an RKO out of nowhere. Out of the ring, McIntyre shoved Orton against the apron.

McIntyre tried to get back into the ring, but he fell victim to the apron DDT from Orton. McIntyre was in position for getting punted by Orton, but the referee got in the way. In the ensuing chaos, this gave McIntyre an opening to hit one final Claymore Kick to get the victory in our main event.

After the match, McIntyre looked like he was going to finish Orton off good with a Claymore against the commentary table, but Cody Rhodes ran in for the save, going after McIntyre right away with a flurry of offense. Rhodes hit a Cody Cutter on McIntyre as he asked for a microphone after the fighting was done. Rhodes said that the champ was back and that he’d face McIntyre at Wrestlepalooza.

**********

An okay main event for an otherwise okay episode of SmackDown. Obviously it was a nice star power-filled match and it did its job of bringing Cody Rhodes back into the mix after a month or so of filming the Street Fighter movie, setting up another Wrestlepalooza match.

The dismal opening segment got things off on a shaky note, but I did enjoy the in-ring action this week, especially with Zayn vs. Fenix in the opening bout. That made for some okay viewing for the rest of the night on this week’s SmackDown.

WWE NXT live results: Flag match, title bout, new number one contenders

Posted on by Chris Aiken

A title match, a stipulation bout, the crowning of new number one contenders, and more are part of the WWE NXT lineup for tonight.

The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line with DarkState defending against Hank & Tank. It’s a rematch from NXT Heatwave, where Osiris Griffin & Dion Lennox became the new champions.

A rare flag match will go down as Ethan Page (representing Canada) battles Tavion Heights (representing the United States). It’s the first time WWE has presented a flag match since 2017.

New number one contenders for WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss will be decided with Fatal Influence, The Culling, and Sol Ruca & Zaria facing off in an elimination match.

At No Mercy later this month, Ruca will defend her Speed Women’s Championship against the winner of a four-woman tournament. Candice LeRae advanced last week by defeating Xia Brookside of TNA Wrestling. Tonight, Lucha Libre AAA’s Faby Apache takes on Lainey Reid.

Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs is also slated for tonight. Plus, WWE will follow up on the feud between Trick Williams and DIY ahead of NXT’s return to Full Sail University next week.

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

**********

The show begins with footage from earlier today, where teams arrive set for a triple threat number one contender’s match.

NXT is then on the air in front of a live studio audience inside a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.

Je’Von Evans storms to the ring to call out Josh Briggs. No introductions of ring entrances. Straight to fighting as Evans meets Briggs in the aisle. The fight is on, and it is wild from the start.

NXT General Manager Ava is also at ringside, trying her best to restore order. Good luck as Evans and Briggs brawl at ringside.

Josh Briggs vs. Je’Von Evans

Briggs tries to counter Evans early on, but Evans is on fire. Evans jumps from the floor, past the apron, and springs off the bottom rope into an Asai moonsault. Back in the ring, Evans strikes with a spinning kick and a frog splash for an early near fall.

Briggs cuts off Evans with clubbing blows, and the studio audience drowns him in boos. Bossman slams by Briggs for a two count. Briggs grounds Evans, but Evans comes back with hurricanrana, and then another after springing off the top rope. The fight spills outside as Briggs cuts off Evans.

Evans is sent face first into the announce desk. Briggs with a gozzle as he teases a chokeslam through the table. Evans escapes and sails through the ropes with a tope suicida that sends him and Briggs crashing over the desk. From there the show cuts to its first commercial break with picture-in-picture.

Briggs with heat on Evans during the break, and Briggs has Evans grounded again when the show returns from commercials. Evans fires up on Briggs, but Briggs cuts him off. Briggs goes on to taunt and slap Evans. That only serves to fire up Evans, and Evans hulks up. Evans springboards into a flying clothesline for another near fall.

Briggs gets a stunner after trying for a powerslam, and Briggs is on rubber legs. Evans boots Briggs with a field goal kick, and Briggs still kicks out at two. But Briggs is soon dropped with a kick. Evans goes coat-to-coast with a Swanton.

Evans is posted on the floor, and the tide seemingly shifts. Not for long. Briggs tries to use a chair, but the ref stops him. Evans then boots Briggs in the face. Evans then goes for a signature double springboard into what was presumably a stunner. Briggs blocks it by clubbing Evans with a loaded right hand. Briggs then covers Briggs for a three count. A replay afterwards shows Briggs use his chain necklace as a weapon to lay out Evans.

Match result: Josh Briggs defeated Je’Von Evans via pinfall

Great opener, but Evans drops another fall. Briggs did cheat to win. So, Evans will hopefully go over at some point. After such a good match, I was disappointed with Evans losing another match. Especially because Evans has another stellar performance. Maybe Briggs will get his comeuppance soon enough.

— NXT Champion Oba Femi and his next challenger, Ricky Saints, argue in Ava’s office. She then books them in a face-to-face segment for next week to air their grievances.

TNA World Champion Trick Williams enters, and he wants to know if everything they talked about is still on ahead of the DIY segment that is up next. That led into a talking segment with DIY and a surprise appearance after a commercial break.

Carmelo Hayes cameo sets up tag match with DIY

DIY — Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano — enter the sound stage to a pop. Ciampa says they feel at home in NXT, but tonight is extra special. Tonight marks ten years since he and Gargano first tagged together. Gargano also speaks, saying they have not forgotten where they came from. They are NXT for life, even if they are on Smackdown. NXT will always be home.

Ciampa says he hoped, and even kind of knew, his last match in NXT would not his last on the brand. Cue Trick Williams, who enters the sound stage to cut a promo on DIY.

Trick proclaims himself the greatest NXT superstar of all time. Trick claims that DIY is jealous because their NXT crew cannot hang with the current NXT crew. Trick is challenged by DIY to get in the ring and prove it. Trick says he will, but Trick is not alone.

Out comes Carmelo Hayes, as he returns to NXT in this surprise appearance. Hayes being there does make sense, though, and that is evident by the match this segment sets up.

Hayes gets a full entrance as he joins Trick in the ring to confront DIY. Hayes gets into the ring and look at Trick, as the Trick-Melo Gang is back together. The studio audience chants for them to “hug it out,” but Hayes instead cuts a promo on Trick.

Hayes counteracts Trick’s claim about NXT being Trick’s house. Hayes tells Trick that DIY built this house, and Hayes renovated it. Hayes goes on to accuse Trick of “squatting” in their house. Squatter chants ring out from the crowd.

Trick and Hayes bicker when they are verbally cut off by DIY. Trick-Melo Gang are then challenged to a tag match against DIY.

Natalya is front row for the next match, which features Faby Apache. Nattie and Faby collide in a match at When World Collide. Nattie being there plays into the finish of the next bout on tonight’s card.

Faby Apache vs. Lainey Reed in a Speed Championship Number One Contender’s tournament match

Both get pre-taped promos to get help get themselves over. Apache gets to shine, as she should. She is a legend. Reed still gets the win, after a distraction by Nattie at ringside. That made Faby miss a senton, and Reed delivers a running knee strike. Reed then scores a pin, and she advances in the tournament to face Candice LeRae in the tournament final.

Match result: Lainey Reed defeated Faby Apache via pinfall in a tournament semifinal

Short match of course, but good while it lasted.

— Sol Ruca & Zaria are in a somewhat silly skit with Hank & Tank. Both teams are pumped about their match later on.

— Blake Monroe is featured in a vignette where she laments her feud with Jordynne Grace. Monroe cuts a sinister promo on Grace.

Darkstate (Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin) vs. Hank Walker & Tank Ledger for the NXT Tag Team Championship

The tag title match goes through a commercial break. Hank & Tank are on a roll as the show heads into the break. After returning from the break, Tank is being worked over by Darkstate. Hot tag to Hank, and he is running wild. Near fall for Hank after a unique flatliner.

Hank & Tank do a takeoff of the old Power & Glory finisher. Lennox takes a superplex from Hank, and Tank follows with a Swanton. Another near fall for the challengers. Hank & Tank signal for their own finisher. Darkstate members at ringside, Saquon Shugars and Cutler James, interfere to break up the attempted finisher.

Cutler James is punching Hank when he invokes the name of Joe Hendry. Of course, speak his name and he appears.

Out comes Hendry smashing through a wall like the Kool-Aid Man. James backpedals and flees. Hendry chases him into the ring, and the referee stops Hendry to scold him. Meanwhile, Lennox is rolled by Hank with an O’Connor Roll. Griffin jumps in to reverse the roll-up, and Lennox scores a pin on Hank.

Match result: Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin defeated Hank Walker & Tank Ledger when Lennox pinned Walker.

Hank & Tank are becoming a popular tag team, and they had a decent enough match here with Darkstate. Joe Hendry being there is certainly a choice, but Darkstate has not been taken seriously anyway so the comedy works. They are still the tag champs… For now at least.

— The flag match later on tonight gets some hype in a great video package, albeit somewhat over the top.

— In a locker room skit, Lexis King is in the locker room complaining about a post from social media. In the post by “NXT Anonymous”, Ethan Page is seen scolding Myles Borne over his loss to King. Borne appears with a metal folding chair. Playing off the blinded angle, Borne shuts off the lights and attacks King with the chair. This feud must continue!

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page vs. Tavion Heights in a non-title flag match

USA and Canadian flags are on a pole in their respective corners. Lots of climbing the turnbuckles trying to fetch the flag. In between the climbing were some risky high spots. Scary spot at one point when Heights spears Page, and Page takes an ugly bump on the floor. Page seems to land on his head and neck. Heights tries to help break the fall, but the bump still looked scary.

Looked like they are killing each other at times with the gnarly bumps they took. Psychology was all based on climbing for the flags, and that turned the match into a stunt show. To set up he finish, Page takes a suplex off the top rope. Heights then climbs the ropes and grabs “Old Glory” to win the match.

Match result: Tavion Heights defeated Ethan Page after retrieving the US flag.

They worked hard and had a helluva stunt show. This appears to blow off the feud, and the right guy won.

Heights hold the American flag while he also grabs the Canadian flag off the pole. Heights drapes the Canadian flag over Page in a callback to last week. Heights gets his revenge.

Tyler Breeze suddenly appears at ringside holding his selfie stick. Breeze gets into the ring and poses over a fallen Page. This sets up a North American title match for next week, which was officially confirmed later in the show.

— Lola Vice of the focus of a great personality profile. The video package was very well done.

— In a backstage promo with Fatal Influence, NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne name drops Maybelline for some product placement with a regular sponsor.

Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx vs. Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria in a triple threat number one contenders’ tag team match

This was like an old ECW three way dance, meaning on team was eliminated before the final two teams face off. Lots of action. Almost took much to call. Plethora of high spots and saves. The studio audience was hot throughout the match. This may have been more of a stunt show than the flag match, but the bumps here were at least much safer.

The triple threat goes through a commercial break before the first elimination.

Sol Ruca & Zaria are eliminated after Jazmyn Nyx pinned Zaria.

With one team eliminated, one would think the action would be less. Not the case here as the pace only quickened, and the spots came quicker.

Match result: Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley won the triple threat after Dame pinned Paxley following a sit-out bomb.

This was an exciting, but difficult to follow at times with so many people.Triple threat matches are an overdone concept, but they did well here to have an action-packed match. The elimination aspect added something other WWE triple threat matches lack.

Rhea Ripley, Stephanie Vaquer & Tiffany Stratton return to NXT to set up trios match for Homecoming

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne cut a promo after the match where she heeled on her partners in Fatal Influence. She blamed them for losing, and Jayne claims she was carrying them on her back. Jayne goes on to claim she is the greatest NXT women’s champ ever. In between her rants, the show cuts to a commercial break. She is still ranting after the break.

Enter Stephanie Vaquer. She confronts Jayne and Fatal Influence. Vaquer gives Jayne credit, but Vaquer boasts about holding both the NXT women’s title and the North American title at the same time. Vaquer vow to win the WWE Women’s World title to prove she is the greatest.

Jayne threatens Vaquer, and Jayne warns Vaquer she is outnumbered. Vaquer asks what time is it… It’s Tiffy Time.

Out comes WWE World Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, who cuts a promo on Jayne. Stratton lists off her long list of accomplishments as evidence Jayne is not the greatest.

Out comes Rhea Ripley to a huge pop, and Jayne sells big. Mami is back home in NXT. Ripley cuts a promo on Jayne claiming to be the greatest. Ripley then books a match for NXT Homecoming next week, with Ripley teaming with Stratton and Vaquer against Fatal Influence.

The babyface trio of returning stars rush the ring and the heel trio powders. Fatal Influence beg off as the show goes off the air.

WWE Raw live results: AJ Lee appears

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: September 8, 2025
Location: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI 

The Big Takeaway —

AJ Lee and CM Punk will team against Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins at Wrestlepalooza because Lee wouldn’t give back Lynch’s IC title belt. The setup for the match was silly, but Lee’s return promo was worth watching. 

The rest of Raw was not. All five matches tonight had some sort of distraction or interference, and outside of maybe one match, the in-ring action didn’t exactly make up for it. 

**********

Show Recap — 

There was a video package of AJ Lee’s return on SmackDown. Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins were shown arriving at the arena in Milwaukee. Lynch was without her Intercontinental title belt after AJ Lee retrieved it. 

Tonight’s announcers are Joe Tessitore and Corey Graves. They said Wade Barrett was on vacation. Graves joked that the internet said Barrett was exiled. 

Jimmy & Jey Uso kick off Raw

Jey and Jimmy Uso entered together through the crowd to Jey’s music. The fans asked them to run it back as usual, so they did. 

Jey spoke briefly about Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed before they quickly interrupted. Breakker told Jimmy (a SmackDown wrestler) he must be lost because the Vision ran Raw. Breakker got flustered in his promo, so he suddenly snapped like he wanted to hit the ring, but Reed held him back. 

All Reed wanted was for Roman Reigns’ family to acknowledge their Tribal Thief. (The crowd sang for Reigns.) Reed said they dealt with Reigns already, and Jimmy would be next. 

Jimmy told him to watch his mouth. Jimmy made some crack comparing them to J&J Security. The Usos also made quips about Paul Heyman, calling him an orca (instead of an oracle, because he looks like a whale) and quoted Hangman Page Reigns by calling him a dumbass. 

The Usos challenged them to a tag match and were ready to do it right now. Reed said they can wait until Wrestlepalooza. 

They were suddenly interrupted by LA Knight, who attacked the Brons from behind. The Usos helped him out, but some miscommunication between Knight and Jey led to Jey getting squashed by Reed in the corner. Jimmy got rid of Reed with a superkick. Jey and Knight argued as the segment ended. 

********

They announced that Raw will start at 7 pm ET/4 pm ET next week (they did not mention anything about the following weeks). 

AJ Styles and LA Knight promos 

AJ Styles cut a promo during a break, and they tried to make it more interesting than the usual off-screen promo. Styles said he didn’t have anyone at his side for the first time in his career. He put up the Too Sweet sign before putting it down. 

He said Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson weren’t there. Michin was on SmackDown. It almost felt like someone orchestrated a way for him not to get help. He would take things out on El Grande Americano tonight so the person who didn’t want him there could feel his pain. 

After a break, Knight said he didn’t care about The Usos’ reunion or their match at Wrestlepalooza. If Jey Uso had a problem with him, they could deal with it face-to-face. Knight wanted one of the Brons in a match tonight. It could be Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, LeBron James, Little Bronny, or Charles Bronson. He just wanted to beat the piss out of someone named Bron. 

********

AJ Styles vs. El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) 

Styles attacked Kaiser during his entrance and beat the crap out of him until the referee decided to start the match after Styles clotheslined him out of the ring. Styles continued to beat him up and seemed on the verge of a quick win, but as he set up for the Phenomenal Forearm, a second man dressed like El Grande Americano (in a track suit) ran out to grab him by the leg (while Kaiser distracted the referee). 

Kaiser took control, so it was time for commercials. Styles made his comeback when they returned and hit a rack bomb for two. Kaiser begged off as he backed into the corner. Styles fell for it, so Kaiser dropped him over the top turnbuckle and hit a blockbuster for two. 

Styles was about to go for a Styles Clash, but stopped what he was doing as the other masked man jumped on the apron. Dragon Lee ran out to take him out, and Styles gave Americano/Kaiser a Styles Clash for the pinfall win. 

The crowd certainly liked Styles, and they popped big for his win. 

Match result: AJ Styles defeated El Grande Americano (9:00) 

********

Adam Pearce informed Iyo Sky that Stephanie Vaquer couldn’t make it to Raw, so the contract signing was off. However, he still anticipated her being ready for their title match at Wrestlepalooza. Sky was relieved. Nikki Bella approached Sky and put her over, but Asuka and Kairi Sane barged in. 

Asuka told Nikki to leave. Nikki told Asuka to show some respect. Asuka laughed at that and offered to beat some respect into her tonight. Nikki accepted. 

Sane tried to apologize to Sky, but Asuka called her away. 

(Asuka is great in this role.) 

********

They claimed that the clip of AJ Lee’s return received 178 million “social views.” They aired a video package for her, highlighting her career and run as a multi-time Divas Champion. 

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

Rodriguez took control after catching Valkyria’s flying crossbody attempt and hitting a fallaway slam. Rodriguez wrenched Valkyria back-first against the ring post before hitting consecutive corkscrew elbow drops to the back. 

Rodriguez continued to work over her back during a break, but Valkyria made a comeback with a spinning heel kick, some sort of bulldog/jawbreaker, and tornado DDT. Rodriguez followed with a rope-assisted vertical suplex for two. 

Valkyria went for a sunset flip powerbomb, but Rodriguez held onto the ropes. Valkyria hung on to Rodriguez, sat up, powered her down, hitting the powerbomb for a nearfall. (Graves put over Rodriguez’s strength here, but it was really Valkyria with the impressive showing.) 

Valkyria tried going for Nightwing but dropped Rodriguez, partially because her back was hurt and because Perez hopped on the apron (which we also saw in the last match). 

Valkyria and Rodriguez traded counters until Valkyria applied a deep cradle for two. Valkyria went to the top, but Rodriguez brought her down with a Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Raquel Rodriguez defeated Lyra Valkyria (12:41) 

This was a pretty good match despite some weak spots. The crowd seemed more into Valkyria than they had been in recent weeks or months. 

********

The War Raiders met with Penta backstage before Penta met with Pearce. Penta said everybody loved Penta when he got to WWE, but he wondered why Pearce didn’t love him. Pearce wondered what he meant, so Penta told him that his Intercontinental Champion was a pendejo. Penta wanted a title match. 

Rusev interrupted them. He reminded Pearce that his plan was for him to return, crush Sheamus, and get a title match. Penta got in his face, so Pearce made a match between the two for tonight. (They had so little planned for tonight that we’ve had two impromptu matches.)

******** 

New Day (with Grayson Waller) cut a promo during commercials, the only time they seem to talk. 

AJ Styles thanked Dragon Lee for having his back. Jimmy Uso approached them to say hi and ask where Jey was. 

Jimmy saw Jey nearby. Jey had his bag and was leaving. Jimmy said they had a play to run by helping Knight against Reed. Jey didn’t care about that. Jey didn’t appreciate what happened earlier. Helping Knight wasn’t going to help the Usos or help him get the world title back. Jey was pissed and said they should all acknowledge the Usos, or they would smash them all. Jimmy said Jey was starting to sound like Reigns. 

******** 

AJ Lee segment

AJ Lee entered to a big reaction, wearing Lynch’s Intercontinental title belt. She wanted to introduce herself to the fans who weren’t around ten years ago and explain why their millennial parents were so excited on Friday. She was your favourite wrestler’s favourite wrestler. 

She retired ten years ago because she thought she had accomplished everything she wanted in wrestling. She didn’t plan on getting in the ring again wearing jean shorts that were two sizes too small. So she went on another journey to accomplish other dreams she had in life. And she did it. 

She also went on a mental health journey. She wasn’t healthy and needed to take care of herself and get right. She went for therapy (and was happy to hear the fans cheer therapy). She took all the mental chaos and turned it into her superpower. Every day was a fight, but that fight was worth it. You are worth it. 

She felt really good for a long time. And then she watched Raw. Healing wasn’t linear. It was one thing to watch your husband face Drew McIntyre or Seth Rollins or John Cena, but it was another seeing him in there with Becky Lynch. 

AJ Lee wanted to like Lynch. They had so much in common. Lynch was a leader, a rebel, and a New York Times best-selling author. (Lee added that she did that first.) Then she saw Lynch motorboat her husband. She put her hands on him and defamed him. 

Lynch interrupted. She said this was not about AJ’s stank-ass husband. She thought everyone was insane and pointed out Lee wearing her title. Lynch informed Lee that they were nothing alike. Lynch got in a fan’s face before telling everyone was the greatest women’s wrestler of all time. 

The crowd told Lynch that she sucked, and Lynch said she’ll need to go to therapy after this. The crowd chanted, “Therapy.” Lee told her that therapy worked. 

Lee claimed she forgot she was even wearing the IC title belt. She’s been skipping around the house with it, and she slept with it. Things even got a little awkward with it this morning. Before she explained further, she noted Lynch’s black eye (hidden by Lynch’s large sunglasses). 

Lee said Lynch was the greatest of all time, so if she wanted her belt, she should come get it. 

Lynch wondered where CM Punk was and wondered what kind of man hid behind his wife. This had nothing to do with AJ Lee. She stuck her neck where it didn’t belong. Lynch called out Rollins so Lee could see what a real man and champion looked like. Rollins entered and told Lee to give back the title so they could leave this dump of a city. 

Lee offered Lynch a chance to get her belt right now so she could give her another black eye. Or, they could agree to a tag match: AJ Lee and CM Punk against Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. 

Rollins explained that he was the champion, and he called the shots. He was going to get in the ring and get the title back for his wife. Lee thanked him for mansplaining. Rollins stepped into the ring, but Lee stepped between him and the title and got in his face.

CM Punk appeared and was about to hit Rollins with a GTS, but Rollins escaped. Rollins was pissed, so he accepted the tag match challenge for Wrestlepalooza. Lynch didn’t like that. 

Because the deal was made, Lee tossed the IC title belt out of the ring so Lynch could have it back.

(This was a very long segment. AJ Lee was great with her re-introduction promo. But it’s silly that this big tag match being made came down to who had possession of the physical IC title belt.) 

********

Bayley is still talking to herself. 

Rusev vs. Penta 

Rusev held control until Penta fought back after a break, but of course, we need a distraction, so New Day ran out with Waller. Penta wiped them out with a dive. He was about to hit another dive, but Rusev blocked it. Back in the ring, Penta caught Rusev with a Code Red for a nearfall. (Tessitore called it a Mexican Destroyer, and Graves corrected him.) 

For the third match in a row, somebody hopped on the apron. Penta kicked Xavier Woods off the apron before flying off the top rope, but Rusev caught him with a mid-air Machka kick for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Rusev defeated Penta (8:33) 

********

During a break, Vic Joseph interviewed Dominik Mysterio about his AAA Mega Championship match against El Hijo del Vikingo. The fans sang Dom’s name and cheered him as he left. 

Brock Lesnar will be on Friday’s SmackDown. 

Jimmy Uso approached LA Knight. Jimmy said they should be on the same page against the Vision. Knight wasn’t interested in anyone’s help anymore. He tried to play nice and got superkicked in the mouth instead. Knight also recalled being cost the world title by both Jey and Jimmy on separate occasions. If Jimmy wanted to help, he should stay out of it because Knight planned on doing it alone. 

******** 

Nikki Bella vs. Asuka (w/Kairi Sane)

This was a first-time ever match. There were deuling chants as the match began. 

Asuka dodged a baseball slide and hid behind Sane. Nikki shoved Sane aside (another match with a distraction), allowing Asuka to kick her in the face and take over ahead of a break. Asuka held a rest hold as the commercial counter ran down. 

Asuka hit a German suplex following the break, but Nikki avoided a missile dropkick and fought back with strikes and a springboard kick for two. Asuka hit strikes of her own, but Nikki blocked an Asuka Lock and hit an Alabama Slam for two. 

Asuka hit a roundhouse kick, spinning heel kick, and applied the Asuka Lock for the submission win after Nikki tapped out. 

Match result: Asuka defeated Nikki Bella (10:29) 

It was a pleasant surprise that Asuka won, especially because Nikki just doesn’t look that good in the ring. This was an uninteresting match, and Nikki seemed hesitant to take any strikes. 

********

Next week on Raw (7 pm ET/4 pm ET start time): 

  • AJ Lee & CM Punk go face-to-face with Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins 
  • Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez 
  • John Cena appears 

******** 

Judgment Day met backstage. For at least the third week in a row, Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh wondered where Dom was all night. Bálor didn’t like Dom hanging out with El Grande Americano. Dom said it was a lucha thing, and they didn’t understand. Dom was upset they got tossed from ringside last week, and he stormed off. Perez left to go talk to him. 

********

Asuka confronted Nikki backstage. Asuka said she did to Nikki what Sky would do to Vaquer. Nikki, who just tapped out, acted tough and asked if she was ready for round two. They argued until Nikki shoved Asuka. 

The camera panned out to show Rhea Ripley, who magically appeared beside Nikki. Ripley asked if there was a problem, and Asuka said she had two (while pointing at them). Asuka called herself the top woman in WWE, so Ripley reminded Asuka that Sky, not her, was going for the world title. Asuka told her to zip it and left. (Sane stood there awkwardly until Asuka called her away again.) 

******** 

LA Knight vs. Bronson Reed (w/Bron Breakker)

About ten minutes into the match, Knight avoided a charge outside the ring, and Reed fell into the timekeeper’s area. Back in the ring, Reed blocked a neckbreaker, but Knight dodged a senton and hit a diving elbow drop for two. 

Knight went for a BFT, but Reed shoved him off, and Knight bumped Breakker off the apron (so four of five matches tonight had an outside party hit the apron). 

Knight stumbled back into Reed, who hit a DVD for the surprise pinfall win. The crowd seemed caught off guard by the DVD being the finish. The move is now called the “Jagged Edge,” and we know this because Tessitore screamed it repeatedly. 

— The Brons attacked Knight until Jimmy Uso ran out for the save, but Breakker cut him down with a spear. Jey ran down next, but Breakker speared him too. 

Knight attacked the Brons with a chair and ran them off. Knight helped Jimmy to his feet. 

Jey suddenly speared Knight, which got a mixed reaction. Jey told him they were even. 

Match result: Bronson Reed defeated LA Knight (11:43)

Since “beating” Seth Rollins at SNME, LA Knight has won one of his last seven matches, and that one win was by DQ in a tag match.

WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena makes his final Chicago appearance

Posted on by Marc Quill

A huge episode of SmackDown takes place in the Chicago area tonight at Allstate Arena.

With his December retirement approaching, John Cena will appear on SmackDown for the final time. It will also be the last Chicago appearance for Cena, who is coming off a victory against Logan Paul at Clash in Paris and heading toward an expected clash with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.

A hometown appearance by CM Punk — and possibly the return of his wife AJ Lee — have been teased. The two are reportedly set to face Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch in a mixed tag match at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PLE.

Following his United States title victory, Sami Zayn will appear tonight. Zayn has said he’s looking to start his reign off with a bang.

There will be a Women’s United States Championship match with Giulia defending her gold against Michin. Plus, rivals Damian Priest and Aleister Black meet in a singles match.

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

**********

– Over shots of Chicago, we were welcomed to the show by Michael Cole. Shots of Damian Priest, Aleister Black, Michin, Giulia (with Kiana James), as well as hometown hero CM Punk arriving to the Allstate Arena were shown.

– Inside the arena, Cole (who’ll be on SmackDown for the next two months in the place of Joe Tessitore) and Corey Graves tossed to a recap of Clash in Paris last Sunday.

John Cena kicks off SmackDown

To a loud reaction from the Chicago faithful, John Cena made his way down to the ring to open the evening. Once Cena entered the ring, he took the mic and began to address the crowd, but was interrupted by “thank you, Cena” chants. He acknowledged the chants because it meant something special to him that it came from the Chicago crowd.

Cena talked about how people told him at the start of the retirement tour to enjoy it while it lasted, but he was focused on getting his mojo back and give his absolute best. However, tonight, Cena said he was just here to take it all in. He said that tonight is what makes Chicago special, and that the crowd’s reactions were apparently enough to bring people back into WWE. The crowd chanted “AJ Lee” in response to that.

Cena said that this was the last time for him in Chicago, and the last time he’d ever be on SmackDown as he recounted his debut 23 years ago on this very show. Cena talked about the moments he had in Allstate Arena, like fighting Triple H at WrestleMania 22 or facing CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011. Cena noted that there’s always been talk about who the greatest crowd was, but in his eyes, there was no question. The Chicago crowd let Cena experience humility, failure, and above all else, joy. He went on to thank the crowd and told them to enjoy a hell of a night tonight.

Before Cena could exit, the music of the new U.S. Champion Sami Zayn interrupted. In the ring, Zayn said that he didn’t want to interrupt Cena’s moment as the crowd booed him unexpectedly. He wanted to thank Cena on behalf of everyone in the back for what he did for us. Zayn wanted to bring things full circle, as he remembered how he debuted against Cena as the U.S. Champion. And as such, he was going to debut the Sami Zayn U.S. Open Challenge with Cena’s permission. The former U.S. Champion approved of Zayn’s proposal and tried to leave again. Zayn stopped Cena and said he wanted to pay it forward to Cena and give Cena a shot at the U.S. Championship, much like he did a decade ago.

Zayn didn’t want to do it in a month, or next week, but rather right now. “If you want some, come get some!” Zayn challenged Cena. Naturally, Cena accepted the challenge.

A solid opening segment as Cena and the Chicago crowd really got things going here, and Zayn’s appearance sets up a huge opening bout.

United States Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. John Cena

The match was already in progress heading out of the commercial break as Cena and Zayn locked up in the middle of the ring. Zayn threw Cena with an arm drag before he applied an arm submission for a moment. Cena responded with an arm drag of his own as he had Zayn in a headlock. Zayn attempted a springboard leapfrog, but couldn’t quite get all of it, but that gave him the upper hand on Cena. Zayn delivered a suplex on Cena and looked for another one. Cena, however, countered with a suplex on Zayn.

Zayn whipped Cena hard into the corner, which didn’t seem to please the very pro-Cena crowd in Chicago. Cena threw Zayn with a particularly hard Irish whip that sent the U.S. Champion flying into the corner. We took a break with both men down in the ring.

Our match returned with Zayn being hoisted up by Cena for an AA attempt that the U.S. Champion just barely escaped. Cena turned Zayn’s attempt at a springboard move into a successful Attitude Adjustment, but could not pick up the three. As Cena recovered, Zayn tried to hit the Exploder Suplex, but that got turned around into a Kevin Owens-style pop-up powerbomb by Cena.

Both men struggled to get up on opposite corners as Cena charged at Zayn, but missed and ended up hitting the corner. Zayn missed on a Helluva Kick and fell victim to an Angle Slam courtesy of Cena. One, two…. NO! As both men got themselves up in the middle of the ring, they began to trade strikes until they took one another down with clotheslines, which took us to a second commercial break.

During the break, Cena once again paid tribute to Kurt Angle with an Ankle Lock on Zayn, who responded with an Attitude Adjustment on Cena. Once we returned we got a replay of what happened during the break, which was interrupted by Zayn hitting the Helluva Kick on Cena. One, two… Cena kicked out at 2.9999999!!!! Zayn dragged Cena to the middle of the ring before he headed to the top rope. Cena got up and hoisted Zayn up for a GTS, but that still wasn’t enough to earn him the U.S. Championship.

In the corner, Cena sized up Zayn and beckoned him to get up, as he hit an Edge-styled Spear on his foe. Zayn still kicked out of it. Cena attempted an RKO, but Zayn countered that. He then immediately put Zayn on the top rope and looked for an avalanche AA, which he connected with. As both men were left down and out after that, the music of Brock Lesnar interrupted.

Lesnar pulled the referee out before he hit an F5 on Zayn as he entered the ring. He then put Cena on his shoulders and delivered an F5 to him. He then grabbed Cena and hit one more F5 to his foe.

Sami Zayn vs. John Cena went to a No Contest

That was a fantastic match that was unfortunately ruined by a non-finish meant to build towards a match that honestly does nothing for me at all.

**********

– We learned that John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar will happen at Wrestlepalooza, as Nick Aldis was looking to address what was going on. Carmelo Hayes walked up to Aldis and wanted a U.S. Title match, but the Miz butted in and tried to get a WWE Tag Title Match for him against the Wyatt Sicks. Aldis said he’d take it under advisement as he walked off. Hayes seemed unhappy with Miz speaking on his behalf again, as Becky Lynch was seen arriving to the arena.

Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

Black attacked Priest as he was making his entrance as things turned into a brawl at ringside. Black struck Priest with a knee to the face that drove him over the barricade.

As we returned to SmackDown, Priest walked his way back into the ring, but got kicked in the head by Black for his troubles. Now with both men in the ring, the match began proper. After Priest missed a punch, Black took over with another kick to the noggin. Priest recovered with a surprise headbutt to Black, who answered with a modified crucifix submission.

Black took Priest down with a top-rope Meteora for the two-count, as we took an oddly-timed commercial break just a couple of minutes into this one.

The action resumed as Priest had Black stunned on the top rope and hoisted high for a Razor’s Edge. Black escaped and got the spinning elbow, followed by a running knee on Priest for a near-fall. Priest struck Black from the corner with a pair of elbows of his own, followed by a fierce clothesline. Priest maintained momentum with a barrage of elbows that left the Dutchman reeling. Old School crossbody by Priest managed to send Black rolling to the outside.

Black was then slammed with a Flatliner on the apron as Priest set aside the announcer table covering. Priest lifted Black above him and threw him with a Razor’s Edge onto the table. In the ring, Black tried to beg off Priest, but was lifted for South of Heaven, but Black created a distraction via referee, which gave him the opening for Black Mass on Priest and the victory.

Aleister Black def. Damian Priest

That was a fairly decent, hard-hitting match, and the right guy did certainly get the win in this case. This Priest vs. Black feud has been good and I honestly want to see more of it.

**********

– We got a Twisted Tea-sponsored video promo where Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton exchanged words about one another ahead of their match on next week’s SmackDown. We also learned that Brock Lesnar will be on next week’s show, and that Tiffany Stratton will defend here WWE Women’s Championship versus Jade Cargill in a SummerSlam rematch.

– Jade Cargill was shown studying tape of that aforementioned first match as Nia Jax rolled up and talked trash to her.

– Becky Lynch was told by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis that there could not be anymore issues even as he knew that CM Punk was in the building.

Women’s U.S. Championship: Giulia (c) (w/ Kiana James) vs. Michin

Giulia and Michin didn’t waste anytime as they traded quick blows to start off. Michin seemed to get the better of Giulia in the exchange, with momentum maintained in the ring by way of a well-placed dropkick. The Women’s U.S. Champion stopped that cold as she caught Michin’s baseball slide attempted and turned that into an elevated neckbreaker to the outside.

We returned from the break with Giulia battering Michin with headbutts, but was met with a pair of German Suplexes by the challenger. Michin had Giulia stunned in the corner with a running cannonball as she set up Eat Defeat. Giulia escaped and delivered the sitout driver, but she couldn’t put this one away. Michin fought back with a sitdown powerbomb for the two. Kiana James got involved on the apron and found herself flattened by a legdrop from Michin. Unfortunately for the challenger, this left her open to Giulia’s Arrivederci knee for the three and the successful title defense.

Giulia def. Michin via pinfall to retain the Women’s U.S. Championship

An alright match, but I feel there wasn’t really enough time to let this cook, so to speak.

**********

– Charlottle Flair was lamenting about her knee injury at the hands of the Secret Hervice, when Alexa Bliss and “Dr. Lilly” showed up to assure her that the “power of friendship” will heal Flair’s pain.

Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch close out SmackDown

Seth Rollins made an unannounced arrival to the Allstate Arena, as he appeared in the crowd with a microphone in his hand. Rollins said that tonight we would be all witnesses to history, because the “legend” of Chicago’s hometown hero CM Punk would die for good tonight. And to do the honors with him, Rollins introduced his “sexy, brilliant, incredible Irish wife” Becky Lynch.

Lynch stood in the ring while Rollins remained in the crowd, and the “AJ Lee” chants grew louder and louder. “How dare you chant another person’s name while I’m standing in this ring!?” admonished Lynch, who boasted about being the greatest women’s wrestler of all time, and it wasn’t just her saying it. Lynch took some digs at Chicago’s sports teams for being terrible, just like CM Punk was.

Punk himself entered to a massive reaction from his hometown crowd, which he took all in as he made his way down to the ring. Punk said to Lynch that this wasn’t about her, but rather the cowardly husband that was hiding in a skybox. Lynch remained defiant as ever, as she asked how Punk’s pride was feeling after what happened on Raw this past Monday. Punk told Lynch that she would let the crowd chant AJ Lee’s name because we were in Chicago. Punk said that he could call in a favor to Bayley or Rhea Ripley to deal with Lynch, who once again antagonized Punk with slaps to the face and mockery.

“You’re an embarrassment to the city of Chicago, and that’s saying a lot,” said Lynch. Punk answered that this was a situation that he expressedly wanted to avoid because he never put his hands on a lady. Thankfully, though, there was someone he knew that would. AJ Lee’s music played as she made her entrance to a loud, loud reaction from the hometown crowd.

AJ skipped around in her usual manner before she entered the ring to confront Lynch. AJ went after Lynch with strikes off a Lou Thesz Press. Lynch tried to escape, but got a hard slap for her troubles from AJ. Punk challenged Rollins to face him before he entered the ring and gave his wife a hug.

The championship couple of Rollins and Lynch were left retreating as SmackDown faded to black with Punk and AJ standing tall.

**********

I will say ending SmackDown with the hometown heroes getting the upper hand and a big return for AJ Lee was the right call to make. Other than that, this show fell off a bit of a cliff for me after the disappointing non-finish to Cena vs. Zayn. That isn’t to say the show was terrible, just that nothing really stood out for me after getting robbed out of a good finish in that opening contest.

WWE NXT live results: Oba Femi & Ricky Saints team up for eight-man tag

Posted on by Chris Aiken

The road to No Mercy continues on WWE NXT tonight with Oba Femi teaming up with his next challenger.

Ricky Saints defeated Josh Briggs last week to become the new number one contender to the NXT Championship. He’ll get his shot against Femi later this month at No Mercy, but first they’ll be on the same side for an eight-man tag match. It will be Femi, Saints, Hank & Tank vs. DarkState.

DarkState’s Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin defeated Hank & Tank at Heatwave to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions. A win in this eight-man bout could help Hank & Tank earn their rematch.

NXT hosts its first Speed match tonight as Candice LeRae meets TNA’s Xia Brookside. It’s an opening-round matchup in the tournament to decide Sol Ruca’s Speed Women’s Championship challenger for No Mercy.

With both having their sights set on challenging Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Championship, Lash Legend and Jaida Parker will face off one-on-one tonight.

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

**********

NXT is back on the air in front of a live studio audience at a sound stage from the Performance Center in Orlando. Participants in the eight-man tag match arrive to the building. Ricky Saints brought swagger, while Hank & Tank arrived with a rotisserie chicken. NXT Champion Oba Femi arrives to rule, while Darkstate saunters into the building.

Opening the show from inside the building is the entrance of Jaida Parker. She is over with the studio audience, as the crowd chants “Miss Parker” as she enters the ring. Following her entrance is that of Lash Legend. Those two meet in t he opening bout tonight on NXT.

Jaida Parker vs. Lash Legend

They wrestled through a commercial break. They were given a lot of time, and they worked hard. Push Jaida Parker and she would become a superstar. She has the tools in the ring and an “it” factor, but they put Legend over here.

Parker got to shine in the match despite dropping the fall, including getting near falls on Legend. Before they went home, the fight spilled outside the ring on the floor. Legend executes her Lash Extension on the floor, and Parker takes the finisher on the announce desk. Back in the ring, Legend with another Lash Extension in the ring, and Legend covers Parker for a three count.

Match result: Lash Legend defeated Jaida Parker via pinfall

This feud must continue, so they brawled after the match. Parker attacked Legend in the aisle after the bell, and Legend is sent into the barricade. Parker then delivers a hip attack, and Legend crashes through the barricade in a stunt.

— Blake Monroe is backstage when she meets up with Arianna Grace, and there is some product placement with Maybelline in a skit. Stacks is there with Grace, but he exits stage left. Jordynne Grace enters the scene and has a pull-apart with Monroe.

Evlove Woman’s Champion Kalli Armstrong rushes in to cut a promo on Grace for barging into an “ruining” another segment. Not only does Grace have a problem with Monroe, Armstrong warns Grace that she now has a problem with Armstrong too. This clearly sets up a singles bout between the two.

— An in-house commercial plugs AAA while promoting When Worlds Collide in Las Vegas.

Josh Briggs trolls and attacks Je’Von Evans

Evans is somber as he cuts a heartfelt promo about losing to championship match against Oba Femi. Josh Briggs interrupts after trolling the audience by teasing a cameo from The Undertaker. Briggs then jumps Evans after a cheap shot.

First, Evans wears his heart on his sleeve as he recounts his failure to capture the NXT title. He cannot be positive after Heat Wave. Evans appears emotional and takes a moment to collect himself. He went into excited, and he even called his sister to say he would become the youngest NXT champion. But he did not do that.

Evans apologizes to the fans for letting them down, and the studio audience responds with “NO” chants. Evans says he also let himself down. The crowd chants they love him, and Evans is appreciative of that. He continues to speak when a motorcycle is seen arriving to the building. Evans says this is not time for games.

The motorcycle is seen again, as it arrives at the building. This is all a tease for The Undertaker. The dong sounds, and the studio audience comes unglued for a huge pop.

Out comes Josh Briggs to troll everyone. He is drowned in boos but the studio audience. Briggs gets into the ring and cuts a promo on Evans, with Briggs complaining about Evans getting so many title shots only to lose. Briggs goes to say Evans should have gotten in Femi’s face and demanded a rematch. Briggs says try being himself. Being better than everybody else and not getting an opportunity. Briggs proclaims that Evans will never beat Femi.

Evans tries to respond, but Briggs hits him with a cheap shot. Big boot by Briggs, and Briggs sets up a metal folding chair in the ring. Briggs then gives Evans a chokeslam on the chair. Evans is left for dead, and these two are programmed together for a grudge match.

— Xia Brookside is the focus of a personality profile sponsored by an insurance company. She is in a match tonight.

— Hank & Tank are hyping up Oba Femi and Ricky Starks in a backstage skit.

Candice LeRae vs. Xia Brookside in a Speed Championship Number One Contenders tournament match

Being a Speed match, the action was fast-paced and quick. To set up the finish, LeRae springboards off the top rope with a tornado DDT. LeRae follows up by leaping off Brookside’s back into a senton. LeRae then jumps off the middle rope with a Lionsault, and Lerae covers Brookside for a pinfall with about 30 seconds remaining in the time limit.

Match result: Candice LeRae defeated Xia Brookside via pinfall to advance in the tournament

In winning, LeRae moves on to the semifinals to meet the winner of Faby Apache vs. Lainey Reed.

— Josh Briggs and Andre Chase are set for a singles match after a locker room skit. Chase U students basically get Chase in a match with Briggs after a confrontation.

— In another skit, Ava is in her office with tag teams from the women’s roster. She announces a number one contender’s triple threat tag match for next Tuesday.

— Darkstate is the focus of a personality profile on the faction. They cut promos as highlights hype them up. This was a good piece of business.

— TNA World Champion Trick Williams is heading to the ring before a commercial break.

DYI returns to NXT to confront Trick Williams

Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa make a surprise appearance in a cameo that builds up the “Homecoming” show in a few weeks.

Trick begins the segment by boasting about himself. He bemoans none coming out to respond after calling himself the greatest NXT superstar ever, seemingly suggesting the past NXT stars do not care about the brand anymore. Trick does not blame them, as he plans to never return when he signs a million dollar contact when called up to the main roster. Trick claims all of the NXT favorites do not love NXT anymore.

The team of DIY — Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa — enter to a huge pop. They soak it in before getting in the ring to confront Trick. Gargano insists they still love NXT, and he notes today is the 10 year anniversary of their NXT debut. Ciampa and Gargano goad Trick about them both being two-time NXT champs. Gargano also held the North American title three times, and DIY were also tag team champs.

Trick bickers with them some more until a shoving match begins. Ciampa shoves Trick, and Gargano hits Trick with a superkick. DIY then do their stereo finisher on Trick, and they celebrate their return by posing on the turnbuckles.

— In a skit from the trainer’s room, Ava comes to an agreement with Je’Von Evans. If Evans does not interfere in Josh Briggs’ match tonight, then Ava will book Evans against Briggs for next week.

— In another skit after a commercial break, Ava books a flag match between Tavion Heights and North American Champion Ethan Page. The stipulation came after Page opened his big mouth and talked his way into a gimmick match.

— Kalli Armstrong is featured in a video package ahead of her match tonight. This was good, but too bad she loses clean.

Jordynne Grace vs. Evolve Women’s Champion Kalli Armstrong in a non-title match

They had a really good match, and the audience was into it. Armstrong with a decent push on this show coming into the match, only for her to lose clean. She is the champ of another brand no less, and she still lost clean. No fault of Grace, as she is the one they have pushed for some time now. Still, whatever momentum Armstrong had is minimized by dropping the fall. Unless the NXT viewing audience does not care about wins or loses, but that seems like an existential question for another time.

The match itself went through a commercial break, and Armstrong was able to look strong at times. For the finish, Grace drops Armstrong with a back elbow. Grace then executes a scary rendition of Beast Mode, and Grace scores the clean pin on Armstrong.

Match result: Jordynne Grace defeated Kalli Armstrong via pinfall

Blake Monroe runs in after the match, and she gets into a post-match brawl with Grace. Monroe is sent crashing into the ring steps before security pours out to separate them. Monroe appears to be bleeding from the mouth after the brawl. Armstrong was unfortunately an afterthought here, but the program is Grace and Monroe in a feud.

Josh Briggs vs. Andre Chase

Briggs spoofs Undertaker during the match, which is surely building to Undertaker making an appearance to give Briggs a comeuppance of some sort.

Chase can still get over with the studio audience, even if he is more of a bit player than his previous role. He is so much better than his push would indicate. He gets a close near fall on Briggs during the match, and the crowd bought into it hook, line, and sinker.

Chase had the crowd behind him when Briggs hulks up and cuts off Chase. Briggs goozles Chase and deliver a chokeslam. Briggs then hits Chase with a high kick, and Briggs pinned Chase clean as a sheet.

After the match, Briggs gets more heat by attacking the Chase U students at ringside. Briggs sends Kale Dixon crashing into the barricade, which would have been more effective if we had not seen a similar spot several times earlier in the show. Nonetheless, Briggs also attacks Uriah Connors. Briggs chokeslams Connors on a gimmicked announce desk, and the desk implodes on impact. Briggs stand over his prey after the carnage is complete.

Match result: Josh Briggs defeated Andre Chase via pinfall

— Trick Williams is backstage cutting a promo on DIY. After they attacked him earlier tonight, Trick will not let that slide. Trick says they are not the only ones here with a history, and he will see them next week.

— Canelo vs. Crawford is hyped in a video package, which is cross-promotional marketing within the TKO family.

NXT Champion Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Darkstate (Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, Saquon Shugars & Cutler James) in an eight-man tag team match

The team of babyfaces stand tall as the show cuts to its final commercial break. Darkstate gets heat on Hank after the break, until Hank creates some separation. Hot tag to Tank, and he cleans house. Blind tag by Saints, and he runs wild with a tornado DDT. Femi makes a bling tag by smacking Saints hard on the back.

Femi and Saints argue, and they collide into each other when Shugars shoves them into each other. Saints in turn shoves Shugars into Femi, and Femi tosses Shugars on Saints. After getting back to his feet, Saints smacks Femi. Slugfest between Saints and Femi, despite them being tag partners in the match. Bling tag to Tank, after Femi and Saints go over the top rope with a Cactus Jack clothesline. They brawl their way up the ramp and exit stage left. That leaves Hank & Tank to face Darkstate — two against four.

Shugars gets sandwiched by Hank & Tank, and they are on a roll. Not for long, as Tank is posted groin-first. Hank has his eyes raked by Shugars. Darkstate gang up on Hank & Tank, but the babyfaces fight back. Nevertheless, Hank is cut off by Cutler James. After grabbing him but the throat, James asks Hank who will save him now. Hank says, “Joe Hendry.” Speak his name, and he appears.

Hendry suddenly appears on the apron to distract James and Darkstate. James then takes the combo finisher from Hank & Tank. Following the powerslam/spear combo, Hank pinned James to win the match.

Match result: Hank Walker, Tank Ledger, Oba Femi & Ricky Saints defeated Cutler James, Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, & Saquon Shugars when Walker pinned James

Joe Hendry celebrates with Hank & Tank after the match, with them posing together in the ring.

TO THE BACK, Saints and Femi are still brawling as security tries to separate them. The show goes off the air in the midst of the pull-apart brawl. After that cliffhanger, it would be funny if they were still brawling when the show goes on air next week.

WWE Raw live results: Clash in Paris fallout show

Posted on by Marc Quill

Today marks the end of WWE’s recent run overseas with an earlier-than-usual WWE Raw from Paris, France — the site of Sunday’s Clash in Paris premium live event.

The show will feature a title rematch between Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio and AJ Styles. The two squared off at last month’s SummerSlam with Mysterio picking up the win.

The next steps to crown a new WWE Women’s World Champion will be revealed following Naomi relinquishing the belt due to her pregnancy.

An update on Roman Reigns will be provided following Sunday’s post-match attack by Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker.

In tag team action, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) will battle the Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez. Plus, in a six-man tag match, The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) & Grayson Waller team up against The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) & Penta.

Our live coverage begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

– Over a live shot of Paris and fans entering the La Defense arena, the voice of Michael Cole welcomed us to the show before we went inside the arena for tonight’s show. We then took a look back at yesterday’s Clash in Paris event in a video recap.

– CM Punk was seen backstage waiting for Seth Rollins, as Adam Pearce tried to get him to wait inside instead. Punk said that it’d be “on sight” if he saw Rollins.

– AJ Styles, the Kabuki Warriors, and Penta were shown arriving at the arena as their various matches were hyped up. We then went to Jey Uso making his entrance through the raucous Paris crowd.

Jey Uso opens Raw

Jey started by saying that he wasn’t going to run back his entrance with the crowd, mainly because of what happened with Roman Reigns yesterday. He said that if there was one thing about Jey Uso, he doesn’t play with his family. Uso said that you never disrespect or put your hands on his family before he challenged The Vision to come fight him in the ring right now.

Instead of Seth Rollins’ group, LA Knight made his entrance. “Let me talk to ya,” started Knight before he said that he believed in himself last night, but he stood here today as a loser. Knight said that he had no shame in that, before he talked about the rap on Jey Uso was that he lived in his cousin’s shadow, but there was no question that Rollins lived in his wife’s shadow.

Knight then said that Uso spoiled his chances of being a world champion yesterday on more than one occasion, and that he was tired of laying on his back over and over again. Uso challenged Knight to get him up to speed before The Vision’s Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker appeared on the ramp. Breakker mocked Knight’s “YEAH!” taunt and that the only thing we should be concerned with right now is the wellbeing of Paul Heyman after what Roman Reigns did to him last night.

Breakker said that the only think Uso and Knight should be concerned with is that Heyman isn’t here, because there’s nothing holding them back, which meant that they’d be able to put Uso and Knight in the hospital right next to Reigns.

Reed took the mic next and demanded Paris to acknowledge their “Tribal Thief”. He said that Seth Rollins had a vision and it didn’t include Roman Reigns, hence why he got beaten down brutally last night. Reed then told Uso and Knight that they weren’t a part of Rollins’ vision, so they’d be next.

Breakker and Reed challenged Uso and Knight to face them in a tag match tonight. Knight told Uso that they could settle their business another time so they could take on the “greasy warthog” and “cross-eyed halfwit” in tag action tonight.

Standard opening promo to get things set up, but what was at least interesting was the small tease of LA Knight’s frustrations about losing repeatedly, that could dovetail into a possible heel turn.

**********

– After Michael Cole and Wade Barrett recapped last week’s drama with Rhea RIpley, Iyo Sky, and the Kabuki Warriors, we saw Sky and the Warriors backstage apparently having made up. Sky offered to be at ringside with Asuka and Kairi Sane, but Asuka told her that she and Sane were fine to handle business on their own.

Judgment Day (Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez) vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)

Asuka and Perez got things going with a lock-up struggle before Asuka took control with a side headlock. Perez responded with a slap before she avoided a kick from Asuka as she slid out of the ring for a breather. Perez then tagged in Rodriguez, who used her strength to lift up Asuka to avoid the octopus stretch. Sane tagged in as she and Asuka used their speed to leave Rodriguez a bit flatfooted.

Sane sent Rodriguez back to the Judgment Day corner as Perez re-entered the match. Lots of acrobactic dodging between Perez and Sane before the former got sent to a retreat and Rodriguez tagged in briefly. Perez finally got the advantage for her team as she pulled at Sane from the apron and then took her out of the ring. With a toss to the barricade, the Judgment Day were in control as we got a break in the action.

The match resumed with Perez and Rodriguez maintaining the advantage over Sane with a double team kick/russian leg sweep maneuver. Sane avoided calamity from Rodriguez, which gave her the opening to tag in Asuka.

Perez got blasted by a combination of kicks by Asuka, as she locked in an armbar submission. Rodriguez broke up the hold with an elbow drop before she tagged herself in. Rodriguez smashed Asuka with a hard clothesline, which was then followed by a rope-assisted suplex. Rodriguez tried for the Tejana Bomb on Asuka, but she got taken out of the ring.

In the ring, Asuka Lock was reversed into a pin by Perez, but Asuka kicked out. Sane took Rodriguez out of the equation with the Insane Elbow to the outside, and Asuka finished the match off by submitting Rodriguez with the Asuka Lock cinched in.

The Kabuki Warriors def. Judgment Day via submission

A decent opener, though the finish of the match was unusually sloppy with perhaps some miscommunication on whether or not the finish would be a pin or a submission.

**********

– Adam Pearce talked about what would happen to the Women’s World Heavyweight Championship in the wake of Naomi vacating it. He said that we’d see Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky fighting for the vacant title in three weeks at Wrestlepalooza, ESPN’s first live PLE.

– CM Punk was shown once again awaiting for Seth Rollins in the backstage area, with revenge on his mind.

Finn Balor vs. Dragon Lee

Balor held Lee in a standing arm submission, until it turned into a chain wrestling duel between the two opponents. Balor struck down Lee with an elbow to the jaw before he threw him in the corner in the hopes of delivering some punishment. Lee fought back with a springboard armdrag, followed by a unique dropkick from the apron to a prone Balor seated in the corner.

Balor answered back with a backbreaker to the spine of Lee. After Balor missed with a running strike to the corner, Lee fought back and sent Balor to ringside before he soared with a dive over the top rope, which led to the break in the action.

Raw returned with Balor trapping Lee in a resthold. Lee fought out of the hold and lit up Balor’s chest with chops. Lee kicked Balor twice and hit an impressive roll into a sitout powerbomb that only got a close near-fall. Balor was looking for a swinging neckbreaker, but Lee countered. However, the second time was the charm as Balor connected with the neckbreaker for the near-fall.

Lee headed up top and hit a diving crossbody on Balor, but the Judgment Day leader kicked out at two. Balor shelled Lee with the shotgun dropkick and looked like hwas going to hit the Coup de Grace. JD McDonagh jumped on the apron, but found himself the victim of a combination Fosbury Flop into a hurricanrana on Lee. However, this gave Balor enough time to recover from the tree of woe position, as he then got the win with a Coup de Grace.

Finn Balor def. Dragon Lee

I quite enjoyed this match, and the lively French crowd certainly did well to elevate the atmosphere.

**********

– As Iyo Sky was talking amicably with Nikki Bella, they were rudely interrupted by the Kabuki Warriors, who offered to be in Sky’s corner for her match with Stephanie Vaquer at Wrestlepalooza. Bella didn’t seemed too enthused with Asuka’s barging in.

– Backstage, the Judgment Day wondered where Dominik Mysterio was for Finn Balor’s match before Raw General Manager Adam Pearce informed Dominik that there’d be no interference from Balor or JD McDonagh for his Intercontinental Title Match versus AJ Styles later tonight.

The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) & Grayson Waller vs. Penta & The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar)

Penta and Woods were the legal men to start this match off. Penta took advantage with a hurricanrana on Woods before things started to break down. The “New G’Day” were left reeling outside with diving cannonballs from Erik and Ivar before Penta took to the skies with a dive on everyone before Raw headed to a commercial break on the U.S. feed.

We returned with Woods stomping Erik before he mocked Penta’s strut to the masked luchador’s face. Erik caught Woods with a knee to the face before Ivar entered the match and looked to have the New G’Day at his mercy until Waller avoided a running hip strike in the corner. Penta got the hot tag and went to town on Woods and Waller with his signature offensive assault. Penta attempted a Penta Driver, but Woods countered as Erik tagged in once again. Waller connected with a rolling flatliner on Erik as Kingston headed up top with the crossbody. Penta broke up the count as things began to break down once more.

Woods was isolated with the War Raiders hitting a mammoth assisted crossbody before Penta brought the victory for his team with a Mexican Destroyer on Woods.

Penta & The War Raiders def. The New Day & Grayson Waller via pinfall

A very fun six-man tag match and the unique trio of Penta and the War Raiders made for some really neat spots.

**********

– Rhea Ripley was asked if her friendship with Iyo Sky complicates her own championship ambitions. Ripley said that she’d do whatever it takes to get back to the title hunt, before the Kabuki Warriors once again interrupted.

Asuka accused Ripley of not being a true friend of Iyo Sky’s. Ripley warned Asuka not to push her even though she was trying to play nice for Sky’s sake. Asuka responded by telling Ripley that she can push whoever she wanted.

– Roxanne Perez complained to Adam Pearce that she should’ve been added to the Women’s World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestlepalooza because she was the one who beat Iyo Sky. Lyra Valkyria argued with Perez and Raquel Rodriguez before the Judgment Day duo. Pearce told Valkyria that he talked with Bayley, who said some “weird things” to him, and that she was coming back real soon. Pearce then told Valkyria that she could face either one of the Judgment Day women in a match next week on Raw.

Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. AJ Styles

As Styles made his entrance, he was serenaded with the “Il est vraiment” song from the Paris crowd, which even lasted through the entire commercial break.

Dominik hit a sneak attack on Styles during the ring announcer’s introduction as he looked to get the early advantage. Style fought back with a dropkick, followed by a vaulting forearm over the top rope and onto Dominik at ringside, which took us into the break.

Raw came back from the break as Dominik and Styles mixed it up in the corner before the Intercontinental Champion hit a springboard hurricanrana on his foe. Dominik maintained command of the match as he stomped away on Styles.

The veteran woke up with a sliding forearm, followed by the ushigoroshi for a near-fall. Styles propped up Dominik for an attempt at a Styles Clash, but got countered. Dominik reversed Styles’ Phenomenal Forearm before he threw him out of a ring with a hurricanrana from the apron. After a baseball slide from Dominik, Styles caught him and threw him onto the French commentary table with a powerbomb.

We resumed our match as Styles looked for another Styles Clash, but Dominik reversed with the “Mullet-o-Matic”. One, two… not even close. Styles countered a Dominik Mysterio suplex and delivered one of his own to send his opponent into the corner. Domink threw Styles shoulder-first into the ringpost, as he delivered a Michinoku Driver for the close near-fall.

Dominik hit the Three Amigos suplex trifecta, followed by the Frog Splash. Styles, however, managed to kick out once more. Styles connected with the Styles Clash finally, but Dominik managed to get a single foot on the rope. As Styles looked for a Phenomenal Forearm, El Grande Americano appeared from under the ring and grabbed at his foot. Americano hit Styles with the loaded headbutt, which allowed Dominik to retain his vaunted Intercontinental Championship with one final Frog Splash.

Dominik Mysterio def. AJ Styles via pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship

A solid title match, and admittedly a risky move to go for the cheap interference finish, which seems to be the norm as of late in WWE matches.

**********

– The commentators tossed to a recap of last night’s Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed match at Clash in Paris, as well as the aftermath.

– Rhea Ripley and CM Punk were chatting with one another before Adam Pearce told Punk that Seth Rollins is in the building. Punk said he was going to go handle it.

– During the commercial break, a video from The New Day about what they saw as the “death of the Raw tag team division” was shown for international audiences.

CM Punk calls out Seth Rollins

Punk entered the ring and said he was hijacking this show until Seth Rollins showed up to face him, even if it meant he was singing songs with his friends in Paris. Punk said he’d do this until Rollins would come to face him, man-to-man.

Seth Rollins’ theme played, but it wasn’t the World Heavyweight Champion who appeared. Rather, Becky Lynch appeared dressed as Rollins. “Oh, what’s the matter? Wasn’t the Man you were looking for?” asked Lynch as the Paris crowd chanted for “AJ Lee”.

Punk said he wasn’t going to do this as Lynch demanded to know if he cared what he was doing to his family. Lynch said she wasn’t going to sit back and let Punk tell lies about her husband, someone who is everything that Punk will never be. Lynch berated Punk for having his name chanted during her matches, because she viewed it as a sign that nobody cared about the matches she worked hard for.

Lynch took credit for taking herself to the WrestleMania main event as she said that she and Rollins ran the business. She told Punk to get out of the way because he wasn’t what the business needed right now.

Punk responded by saying that he was the “Best in the World”, and that it wasn’t just him saying it, it was the maniacs in crowd saying it. He said that the only thing Rollins runs is running behind Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, and Bron Breakker, and now his wife. Punk called Rollins a paper champion and that this thing between them would never be over.

Rollins appeared on the ramp and said if Punk had something to him, to come say it to his face. Punk tried to go at him, but Lynch got in the way as Rollins walked to the back. In the ring, Lynch slapped Punk repeatedly. Punk then said he was going to make Rollins regret cashing in on him, and he was going to make Lynch regret putting her hands on him.

Whether or not this’ll lead to an AJ Lee appearance is about the only thing interesting for me regarding this story with Punk and Rollins and The Vision.

– CM Punk was still looking for Seth Rollins, but was told by Adam Pearce that Rollins was long gone. Punk then asked Pearce where SmackDown would be on Friday. “Chicago”, said Pearce, and Punk’s only response to that was a simple “tremendous”.

Jey Uso & LA Knight vs. The Vision (Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed)

Jey punched away at Reed to start the match off as Knight then entered the match and hit some tandem strikes on Reed alongside Jey. Reed roared right back with a headbutt to Knight before Breakker tagged in. Knight escaped a Breakker suplex and hit a neckbreaker. Jey tagged in and hit a running hip attack on a prone Breakker in the corner.

Reed clubbed Jey from the apron in the back, which allowed Breakker to take advantage with a throw of Jey to the outside and one final break in the action.

Our main event returned as Breakker blocked Jey from making a tag to Knight by forcing him into The Vision’s corner. Uso reversed a Reed back suplex and avoided a clothesline as he got the tag to Knight. The former U.S. Champion dropped Reed with his jumping neckbreaker followed by his elbow from the top rope. Breakker caused a distraction on Knight, which allowed Reed to take advantage.

Breakker pulled Knight to the outside and threw him into the steel steps before he threw him back into the ring. Reed continued the punishment on Knight with a heavyweight senton. Breakker entered the match and hit a fierce suplex on Knight, which left him reeling. Breakker trapped Knight in a chinlock, but he couldn’t hold on for long. As Knight tried to reach out to Jey for a tag, Breakker threw him halfway across the ring with a German suplex.

Uso finally got the hot tag after Knight avoided a senton from Reed. The former World Champion was on fire as he delivered a Spear of his own on Breakker. Jey and Knight joined forces to take Reed out with a double-team clothesline. Jey hit a suicide dive on Reed outside the ring. Knight dropped Breakker with the BFT. The Uso Splash from Jey Uso seemed to be enough, but Reed made sure it wasn’t as he dragged him out of the ring to break the count. Reed took Knight out by throwing him into the ring post.

In the ring, Jey looked to have the match won with an Uso Splash on Reed, but Breakker, who was still the legal man, flattened his foe with a Spear to pick up the win.

Post-match, the Vision laid a beating on Jey and Knight as Jimmy ran down to the ring with a chair to scare off Breakker and Reed. Jimmy checked up on his brother as Raw ended for the week.

The Vision def. Jey Uso & LA Knight via pinfall

If were being honest, the weak point of Raw seems to be The Vision. Might be just me, but I’m just not at all interested in this group starting and ending shows the same way every week. Seth Rollins just doesn’t make for a compelling heel faction leader and having him be the focal point of the show is a tough sell.

All in all, an average Raw that was elevated mostly by the eclectic Parisian crowd chanting and being loud and engaged all night long.

WWE Clash in Paris live results: John Cena vs. Logan Paul

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: August 31, 2025
Location: Paris La Défense Arena in Paris, France

**********

Show Recap — 

COUNTDOWN SHOW — 

They announced right away that Roman Reigns’ match against Bronson Reed would open today’s PLE in two hours. 

Michael Cole, Big E, and Wade Barrett hosted the pre-show while standing at a podium in the ring. 

Barrett mentioned that Cole was featured in a New York Times piece highlighting the most impactful sports TV play-by-play voices of the 21st century. Barrett put over Cole as the GOAT in the industry. 

(It was an article written by The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, a long-time wrestling fan, mentioning Cole and Jim Ross together as the top wrestling voices since 2000. They were actually honourable mentions in the article, as the actual list is only 25 people to mark the first 25 years of this century. Joe Tessitore is on the list of 25 for his work in football.)

Interviews with CM Punk and Jey Uso 

Cathy Kelley interviewed CM Punk. Punk knew what it was like being in Seth Rollins’ shoes. He was the world champion and surrounded himself with goofs to ensure he remained champion, and that didn’t work out so well. The odds were not in Rollins’ favour, no matter who he had in his corner. Punk’s hand would be raised after he put everyone to sleep. (Punk also mentioned that Jey Uso had a “receipt” coming for superkicking him on Raw.) 

Peter Rosenberg interviewed Jey Uso. Jey said he’s been eating nothing but bread and soup because Paris didn’t have a Waffle House. Jey said tonight was not about friends. He would kick everyone in the face tonight and hold the world title again. (Barrett couldn’t believe Jey’s diet, considering they were in France.)

******** 

There was a long break, or depending on how you’re watching, highlights of Damian Priest beating Jey Uso at Backlash last year in Paris to retain the world title. 

They killed more time with a video package on the boisterous international fans.

Interview with Paul “Triple H” Levesque 

Kelley interviewed Paul Levesque. It was funny because she asked him about the show, and he kept talking about how loud the crowd would be. He finally did mention the big matches, but went right back to the crowd and how they would put the show over the top. (Basically admitting they’re relying on the international fans to put some gloss on the lacklustre card.) 

********

Jackie Redmond and Rosenberg replaced Cole and Barrett on the panel. There are a lot of fans already in the building (more than usual at this point), and they’ve got nothing to do but watch the talking heads for another hour. 

Interview with The Street Profits & B-Fab 

Kelley interviewed The Street Profits and B-Fab. She asked about Bo Dallas’ comment about them not being a real family. B-Fab said the Street Profits had a tight bond after being together for eight years. 

Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins looked like they couldn’t be less excited to be there. Dawkins simply reiterated what B-Fab said, and Ford didn’t even speak. Big E even pointed out how odd their demeanour was.

********

Interviews with Sheamus and LA Knight 

Nadir Mohemmedi (WWE’s French announcer) interviewed Sheamus, who was a billion times more excited than the Street Profits. He tried to create a new chant for the Paris fans for his match later on. 

Redmond sat down with LA Knight, who was very focused on winning the world title. He said he should have had more title shots than he’s already had in his tenure, and he was hungrier than everyone in the match. It was his time. Knight didn’t want the interview to end before bringing something up. He basically thought Jey’s “Yeet” and sunglasses were just a rip-off of what he was doing already before Jey took off. 

********

Rosenberg noted that Jey Uso was the youngest challenger in the world title match at 40 years old. 

The panellists spoke about John Cena vs. Logan Paul as the pre-show came to an end. 

**********

CLASH IN PARIS MAIN SHOW —

Jey Uso, CM Punk, LA Knight, Seth Rollins & The Vision, Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, and Logan Paul were shown arriving at the venue in Paris. 

Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed (w/Paul Heyman) 

Reigns entered to a massive reaction. The opening bell rang at 2:14 pm ET. Reigns and Reed stalled for three minutes before they really got going. 

Reigns had the early edge until he failed to hit a Samoan drop. Reigns collapsed under Reed’s weight, and Reed followed by slamming Reigns on the announce table. Reed cleared one announce table, but Reigns fought him off and cleared the other table. Back in the ring, Reed hit a World’s Strongest Slam for two. 

Reed took control and held a chinlock for a full minute until Reigns began fighting back, but Reed cut him off with a Samoan drop. Reed posed with the shoe-la fala before cutting off Reigns again. 

Reed tried to remove Reigns’ shoes, but Reigns fought back with clotheslines and uppercuts. Reed didn’t go down, so Reigns clotheslined him out of the ring and hit a drive-by dropkick. Reed blocked a Superman punch and hit a uranage and senton for two. Reed avoided a Superman punch again and hit a DVD for two. 

Reed was about to fly through the ropes with Reigns outside the ring, but Reigns cut him off with a Superman punch and another one in the ring for two. Reigns went for a spear, but Reed caught him with a dropkick and followed with a suicide dive. 

Reed slipped Reigns into the ring and went for a Tsunami, but Reigns rolled out of the way. There was a cool spot where Reigns went for a spear, but Reed blocked it by literally just planting in place, and he followed with a sit-out powerbomb for two. 

Reed went to the top again, but Reigns hit a Superman punch and a Samoan drop off the middle rope. Reigns followed with a spear for the pinfall win. 

— After the match, Reigns posed on the announce table as Heyman checked on Reed. Reigns confronted Heyman as Heyman begged off. 

Heyman gave Reigns his shoes. Reigns smiled and raised them high in the air as the fans cheered, which was funny. Reigns then grabbed Heyman in a guillotine and choked him out. 

Reigns signed his old shoes and chucked them into the crowd as he stood on the announce table. Bron Breakker suddenly appeared, and he speared Reigns through the announce table. 

Breakker and Reed dragged a lifeless Heyman to the back as officials helped Reigns to his feet. Reigns did not want their help as he talked around ringside. Breakker looked back and saw what was happening, so he sprinted down the aisle and speared Reigns again. They brought him into the ring, and Reed hit a Tsunami. 

Medics strapped Reigns onto a stretcher, leaving him helpless, so Reed ran back down and hit another Tsunami. 

Jey Uso ran out in his street clothes (and no music) to chase the heels from the ring. However, Breakker laid him out with a spear. Reed wanted to give Jey a Tsunami, but officials got in his way, so Reed ran around the ring and hit Reigns with another one. 

They finally got Reigns onto a stretcher, and Jey accompanied him with medics to the back. 

Match result: Roman Reigns defeated Bronson Reed (22:07)

The match was about what you’d expect from a Roman Reigns match. The bulk of it was pretty simple, but Reigns gave Reed a lot, and the last few minutes were pretty entertaining. As Triple H predicted on the pre-show, the fans helped put this over the top. 

The post-match stuff was good, but it went on for a very long time. The show was 52 minutes old by the time this was over, and everyone in charge looked incompetent for letting the heels get away with all of this. (It was also pretty transparent that this was done to give Reigns more time off.) 

Jey waiting to help Reigns made sense based on the conversation they had on Raw. And if Jey loses later (after getting speared here while trying to help), Reigns was right about Jey worrying too much about others. 

********

After a commercial, a livid Adam Pearce kicked Reed and Breakker out of the building. They weren’t happy about that because Rollins’ match was happening later, but he said they would be suspended without pay if they did not leave. 

Jelly Roll and Post Malone were together in the crowd. 

******* 

The Street Profits were Borderlands-inspired gear. 

The second match began 61 minutes into the show. 

WWE Tag Team Championships: Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy (c) (w/Uncle Howdy, Nikki Cross & Erick Rowan) vs. The Street Profits (w/B-Fab)

Angelo Dawkins sent Montez Ford to the apron because he wanted to start the match. Ford tagged himself in after Dawkins’ initial exchange with Dexter Lumis didn’t go well. The Wyatts worked over Ford until Dawkins made a hot tag. Dawkins ran wild and hit Gacy with a senton bomb for two. 

The teams exchanged moves until Dawkins and Ford hit Gacy with an electric chair drop/blockbuster combo, but Lumis broke up the cover. Ford missed a frog splash, which led to a messed-up spot. Gacy went to use Lumis as a weapon, but Ford just fell down before being hit, and Gacy dropped Lumis on top of him. They got a two count after Dawkins broke up the cover. 

Dawkins tackled Gacy into the barricade but became distracted by Rowan, so Lumis tackled Dawkins over the barricade. Ford wiped out Lumis and Rowan with his crazy leaping dive over the corner turnbuckle. 

Hiding under the ring, Nikki Cross grabbed Ford by his leg to prevent him from getting back in the ring. Uncle Howdy gave Ford a Sister Abigail outside the ring before Gacy and Lumis gave him a combo sit-out powerbomb/neckbreaker for the pinfall win. (Their finisher is called “The Plague.”) 

Match result: The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) defeated The Street Profits to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships (13:12)

Again, about what you’d expect. A normal match where the good team did not win. The crowd liked the Street Profits, but the fans did not elevate this match the way Triple H hoped (based on his pre-show comments). 

******** 

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Nikki Bella

Lynch had control for a while until Bella came back with forearms and a clothesline, before bouncing Lynch’s head repeatedly off both announce tables. 

This was followed by the biggest whiff you’ll see in a WWE match. Bella went for a springboard kick (Disaster kick), but Lynch was nowhere close to her. Bella went for the move anyway and missed by ten feet. Lynch realized what happened and made a cover for two. 

A few minutes later, Lynch hit a superplex for two, but as soon as Bella kicked out, Lynch applied an armbar. Bella slipped out of it and applied the “Fearless lock” (STF variation), but Lynch slipped out. Bella followed with an electric chair drop. Bella applied the “Fearless lock” again, but Lynch got a rope break. 

They fought to the outside and stood atop the steel steps. Lynch wanted to try a Man-handle slam off the steps, but Bella bashed Lynch’s head repeatedly against the ring post. Bella followed with an X-factor on the steps. Bella hit a Man-handle slam in the ring for two. 

Bella applied a Disarmer, but Lynch fought out. Lynch shoved Bella neck-first into the middle rope and followed with a backslide for the abrupt pinfall win. 

(Lynch won with a backslide recently, and it might be her version of Bryan Danielson’s small package. Barrett dubbed it the “Lynch pin.”) 

Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Nikki Bella to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (13:07) 

This was not good. 

A problem for Lynch right now, particularly as a heel, is a lack of interesting opponents, and a returning Nikki Bella was not the answer. 

********

Pearce checked on Jey Uso as he was being tended to backstage. Pearce asked if he still wanted to fight tonight. Jey obviously said yes. Jey said Reigns told him to fight for himself and win the world title, and he planned on doing just that. 

UFC fighter Morgan Charrière was at ringside. 

******** 

Alicia Taylor read the match rules. It’s a street fight. You can win by pinfall or submission. 

Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook match: Sheamus vs. Rusev

Rusev hit Sheamus with ten beats of the Bodhrán, but Sheamus fought back with a kendo stick. Sheamus tried to use a steel chair, but Rusev hit a spinning heel kick. There were some chants of “Rusev Day” early in the match, and Rusev covered his ears to block them out. 

Rusev tried to use the chair, but Sheamus nailed a knee strike for two. Sheamus hit ten+ beats of the Bodhrán and did it again while holding Rusev against a fake bartop at ringside. Rusev tried to escape into the crowd, so Sheamus did ten beats of the Bodhrán again, this time with a shillelagh. Sheamus followed with a Razor’s Edge in the ring for two. 

Rusev left the ring to avoid a Brogue Kick, so Sheamus tried a dive off the top, but Rusev nailed him with a kendo stick mid-air. Rusev gave Sheamus a Uranage off the steel steps and through the fake wooden bar (which didn’t look fun for Sheamus). Rusev applied an Accolade in the ring, but Sheamus fought to his feet and slammed Rusev onto some steel chairs. 

They found themselves atop of some whisky barrels stacked up at ringside. Rusev applied an Accolade, but Sheamus fought out again. Sheamus hit a White Noise off the whisky barrels and through two tables.  

Rusev got to his feet first when they entered the ring, and he grabbed a shillelagh, but before he could use it, Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick for a close nearfall. The crowd began singing as each man exchanged blows. Rusev hit a thrust kick before smashing the shillelagh across Sheamus’ back for a nearfall. 

The shillelagh snapped in half, so Rusev grabbed it and used it to apply the Accolade again. Rusev bent all the way back with the shillelagh piece wedge in Sheamus’ mouth. Sheamus had nowhere to go, so he tapped out, which stunned the crowd. 

(Cole was very quick to point out this was the second time to his knowledge that Sheamus tapped out. I guess he was ready.)

Match result: Rusev defeated Sheamus (20:06) 

This was a pretty entertaining street fight with some contrived spots mixed in. He probably doesn’t have much upward mobility, but if they want to do anything at all with Rusev, he needed this win.

******** 

As he did on the pre-show, Barrett mentioned an article in The New York Times (The Athletic) calling Michael Cole one of the most impactful sports play-by-play voices of the 21st century. (As I referenced above, the actual list only had 25 names, and Cole was really an honourable mention alongside Jim Ross. The article was written by long-time wrestling fan Richard Deitsch.) 

******** 

John Cena vs. Logan Paul

Cena received a massive ovation and chants of “Thank you, Cena.” The fans sang along as Alicia Taylor read his introduction. 

Paul used his titanium-plated fist to his advantage early in the match. Cena fought back and did the softest-looking ten punches in the corner. Cena tried a monkey flip, but Paul landed on his feet (to his own surprise) and booted Cena. Paul hit a middle rope blockbuster for two and a delayed vertical suplex for two. 

Fans sang for Cena as he fought out of a rest hold, but Paul hit a gutwrench slam. Paul hit a running corner uppercut, and Cole referenced Cesaro. 

Cena did his usual comeback spots to the delight of the crowd. Paul responded with his version of the Buckshot Lariat for two. Cena got his knees up on a frog splash attempt and hit an AA for a nearfall. They traded counters until Cena applied an STFU, but Paul got a rope break. Cena hit a tornado DDT for two, and Paul hit an overbomb for two. 

Cena slowly did his comeback spots again until Paul nailed a Dolph Ziggler Zig-Zag for two. Cena followed with a move resembling Baron Corbin’s End of Days for two. Paul hit a senton bomb and a standing moonsault for two. Cena hit a double underhook facebuster for two. Paul followed with a pop-up uppercut, another Cesaro/Claudio spot, for two. 

Paul did Cena’s comeback spots, but Cena caught him with an AA for a nearfall. Cena followed with a Code Red for two. Cena came off the ropes, but Paul punched him with his titanium-plated hand for a nearfall. Paul kipped up and hit consecutive frog splashes, but Cena kicked out. 

Paul did the You Can’t See Me gesture and hit the five knuckle shuffle, but Cena nailed a Styles Clash for a nearfall. (The fans sang their AJ Styles song.) 

Paul tried a flying crossbody, but Cena rolled through (which the fans saw coming) and hit an AA. Cena went for another AA, but Paul slipped out and nailed a punch. Cena ducked a second punch and hit an AA for the pinfall win. 

— Cena embraced a young fan at ringside after the match. It was the same fan who wound up on the big screen when he was targeted by Cena in his heel promo months ago. Cena also kissed his wife, Shay, before embracing Jelly Roll and Post Malone. 

Cena posed for the Paris fans as they gave him a final ovation. 

Match result: John Cena defeated Logan Paul (26:24)

It wasn’t exactly a smooth match, and it was never going to be, but it was a pretty fun match and a nice celebratory moment for Cena. 

********

Cole thanked Peacock for their partnership over the last five years. 

Philippe Chéreau announced a crowd of 30,343. They congratulated themselves on breaking the arena’s gate record. 

******** 

Jackie Redmond asked Seth Rollins about being alone tonight. Rollins said he never needed anyone. He was a multi-time world champion and the greatest in-ring performer in history. He passionately said his catchphrase as the fans loudly sang along with the heel. Rollins said if he couldn’t defend the title on his own, maybe he didn’t deserve to be champion. 

Cole confirmed that Heyman and Reigns were each sent to the hospital after the earlier angle, and Barrett confirmed that Breakker and Reed were ejected. 

Fatal Four-Way for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. CM Punk vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso

Each man entered, songs were sung, catchphrases were chanted, and the match began. 

As the four men sized each other up, Punk kicked Jey out of the ring as payback from Raw. Rollins bailed from the ring, leaving Knight and Punk. Knight got the better of their exchange, but Rollins slipped back in to take advantage. Jey and Knight took turns punching Rollins, which was designed to get the fans to chant Yeet and Yeah. 

If you haven’t gotten enough of wrestlers doing other wrestlers’ spots tonight, Rollins did Punk and Jey spots. Rollins found himself surrounded by the babyfaces, so they all put the boots to him. Of course, Punk and Knight couldn’t get along because they wanted to get their hands on Rollins. 

Jey talked them into working together, so they all took turns hitting spots on Rollins. Jey and Punk decided to Yeet, but Knight thought they should focus and get a table. Punk told Jey to get the tables like he was Bubba Ray Dudley. 

Jey did help Punk get a table before superkicking him. Jey also superkicked Knight before going after Rollins in the crowd. Rollins fought off Jey, but Punk wiped out Rollins and Knight with a dive off the barricade. 

They all wound up back in the ring and traded spots until Rollins hit Punk with a Pedigree. Rollins hit Knight with a buckle bomb for two and Jey with a frog splash for two. 

It was Knight’s turn to shine, and he hit moves on all three opponents. It was Punk’s turn next as he got to do a tower of doom spot, bringing down Knight and Jey with a powerbomb for a two count. 

Moments later, Knight knocked Punk off the apron and through a table (as Punk did to Knight on Raw). Knight shrugged as Punk did and hit Rollins with a BFT, but Jey broke up the cover. Jey and Knight traded punches, and you can guess how the crowd responded. 

Knight repeatedly bounced Jey’s head off the announce table before doing the same to Rollins. Knight placed Rollins on a table and went to the apron. He had to fight off Jey before heading to the top for a flying elbow drop, but that distraction allowed Rollins to move, and Knight crashed through the table. (That was it for Knight in the match.) 

Jey went for a spear on Rollins, but he countered into a Pedigree for two. Jey fought back and hit an Uso splash, but Punk broke up the cover with an elbow drop. Punk hit Jey with GTS, but Rollins stomped Punk for a nearfall. 

It was time to get to the finish because Rollins began screaming at Punk about how much he hated him and his family. Rollins hit curb stomps to Jey and Knight outside the ring. 

Rollins placed Punk’s head between a chair, but Punk avoided a curb stomp. Punk hit a GTS, Rollins fell back into the ropes and back onto Punk’s shoulders. 

Punk set up for another GTS, but he was low-blowed from behind by a hooded figure. 

It was Becky Lynch. Rollins stomped Punk’s head onto a chair for the pinfall win. Rollins retains. 

— Rollins and Lynch celebrated together as the show ended. 

Match result: Seth Rollins defeated CM Punk, Jey Uso, and LA Knight in a fatal four-way to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (24:50)

The match was fine, but so much of it felt primarily designed to get people to chant and sing and do whatever until we go to the actual important thing at the end. In the pre-show, Levesque said the crowd would put the show over the top, but you shouldn’t be relying on that.

I do like pairing Lynch and Rollins together in his group. It didn’t work before when they were babyfaces, but it can work now. Lynch needed something, I think, and this could help. Rollins said he hated Punk’s family, so Lynch being added to the group right now is almost certainly headed somewhere.

WWE SmackDown live results: Clash in Paris go-home show

Posted on by Markus Gronemann

Editor’s Note: This is a live results post for the WWE SmackDown on Netflix that will air at 8 PM Eastern on USA per normal. If you don’t want to be spoiled, you have been warned.

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Lyon, France, is the final stop before Sunday’s WWE Clash in Paris premium live event.

It will be the final appearance in Leon for John Cena as he prepares to take on Logan Paul as part of his retirement tour.

The show will feature two title matches as reigning United States Champion Solo Sikoa will defend against former Bloodline ally Sami Zayn while WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair will defend against The Secret Hervice following Piper Niven’s upset win over Flair last week.

A number one contender’s match for the WWE Tag Team titles will see Melo Don’t Miz (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz) vs. The Street Profits.

Our live coverage begins at 2 PM Eastern.

**********

We open with a shot of Lyon, France, which Michael Cole calls “the food capital of the world”. Having been to Lyon and having suffered some mild food poisoning from a restaurant visit there, I don’t know about that one. But then I guess Michael Cole, unlike me, did not frequent some questionable Chinese restaurant earlier in the day.

Solo Sikoa with his crew and Sami Zayn are seen arriving at the LDLC Arena. After a short interlude with Wade Barrett and Michael Cole at ringside, there is a recap video of the John Cena/Logan Paul in-ring confrontation from last week and the (re-shot) angle where Logan punched out Cena at the end of the show.

A black Mercedes arrives and Paul steps out of it. He enters the arena as his music starts playing and he walks down to ringside to a chorus of thunderous boos. He says that John Cena said he was a parasite and it seems the people here seem to think so to. He insulted the crowd for some cheap heat, saying he’d stick to English because he was American. He calls himself not a parasite but a disruptor. The crowd chants, “Shut the f*ck up!”, which the Netflix censors poorly try to silence. If they keep this up, I’ll check out the German version of the stream.

He says he made TKO 6.6 billion in 6 seconds and put WWE on Netflix and ESPN and that the W-W-E is becoming the W-W-Me. HE says Cena is the one that still represents the old, institutionalized version of WWE, then proceeds to insult the crowd in French.

He says he has an athletic phenom and will push Cena to his limits and calls Cena an imposter in French. He says wrestling is changing and he is wrestling and if you don’t go with the change, you will be left behind.

Cena’s theme then plays and he arrives to a giant pop, as the crowd starts singing along with the lyrics of his theme music. Not sure what is up with Netflix, but the quality of the stream looks worse than the early days of ROH PPVs on my end right now. Cena then got a full in-ring Introduktion by the ring announcer, I guess in order to cut a promo on Paul.

He calls Paul stupid and says he can not do it on his own and that they need the fans, who he says hold the keys to if Paul can join the family and have matches over the span of 25 years. Cena says that Paul claims he wants to raise the business to new levels, but does not put any effort into trying to understand what it is that they actually do here. Cena then calls himself the original disruptor and said he has been knocking people out with brass knuckles 20 years ago, but his said “Word Life”. Cena says Paul’s “influence” is not what it used to be and that Paul was not on a top 25 influencer list that Cena saw yesterday. Cena says that when Logan makes the front pages of the news now, it is for the wrong reasons and that Paul uses WWE to save his own ass.

He says the fans don’t fear change, they see through Paul. They chant “he’s an asshole”, as Cena speaks French (getting cheered), followed by Paul speaking French (getting booed). Cena says he will show Paul what respect “in our family” means, as he leaves the ring. He says respect means that people understand if you are mean to them that you were just having a bad day, then apologized to some kid in the crowd for having had a bad day in the past. The kid was too busy looking at his phone than look at Cena who was right there, which was hilarious.

Paul made fun of the segment, while Cena tells him he was 24 hours to whip himself into shape, otherwise he won’t be ruining wrestling but wrestling will be ruining him.

*****

The Street Profits and B-Fab are interviewed backstage and cut a promo on The Miz and Melo; Bo Dallas then walks up and cuts some creepy promo on them, leaving them confused.

*****

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. The Secret Hervice never took place

Charlotte comes out, followed by Alexa Bliss, but gets attacked from behind by Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre, who take out her knee as we head to commercial.

Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green

Back from commercial and Alexa and Green are in the ring with Alexa in control, as this was turned into a singles match. We see Charlotte got escorted to the back in a split screen. Chelsea takes control and slams Alexa’s head into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Bliss throws Chelsea out of the ring, as Alexa hits a somersault from the apron. This gives Chelsea another chance to attack from behind and attempt a pin after some ground shots. Chelsea stays in control and throws Alexa out of the ring once more, giving Alba Fyre another chance to attack behind the referee’s back.

Chelsea bounces Alexa’s face off the announce table, but Bliss turns things around and throws Green into the ringside barrier. Both women make it back into the ring at the count of 8. Bliss hits a few shoulder tackles and a shotgun dropkick, followed by a snap takedown.

Chelsea escapes an attempt at Sister Abigail, but catches another dropkick in a tree of woe position. Bliss goes up top, but has to fend off Fyre first, allowing Green to get her knees up at a twisting splash by bliss. They trade reversals for a few seconds, before Bliss manages to roll up Green for the pinfall victory.

Result: Bliss pins Green by rollup

Post-match, Alba Fyre attacks Bliss as she leaves the ring, prompting Charlotte Flair to hobble out on one leg. Fyre manages to overwhelm Flair and it ends with the tag team champions left laying after an Unprettier by Chelsea on Charlotte and the Gory Special by Alba on Alexa.

*****

Sami Zayn is being interviewed backstage before his match with Solo Sikoa later tonight and says he feels confident like when he main evented WrestleMania and won the Intercontinental title. He speaks French to the crowd.

They show the social media post by Brandi Rhodes announcing the birth of her and Cody Rhodes’ daughter, followed by a clip from WWE Unreal.

Back from commercial, Aleister Black cuts a creepy promo on Damian Preist. I guess he went to the trouble of setting up a dark room full of candles somewhere in Lyon for this. Damian Priest then is interviewed and said he will teach Aleister a lesson and a lot about pain. He says he will be smiling and will be enjoying all the pain he will bring to Black.

*****

Michin vs. Kiana James (w/ Giulia)

James looks to attack with her purse, Michin ducks, rolls her up and wins in less than five seconds.

Result: Michin pins James by rollup

Post-match, Giulia and James attack her and Giulia hits her with a knee to the face, then throws her into the barricades at ringside. Giulia then drives Michin’s face into the ring steps.

*****

Drew McIntyre is seen walking backstage. He will address Randy Orton after the break.

He comes out to the ring as a video recap of the attack by Randy Orton from last week plays. He asks a production guy if Randy is hiding behind a table and asks Michael Cole about a medical update on Cody Rhodes (which he does not have). McIntyre then calls out Orton, so that “the people can sing his song”. The crowd obliges, as Orton saunters out, signs a few autographs, and bakes a soufflé or two for all I know. Just a few short hours later, he enters the ring to finally address McIntyre.

McIntyre asks Orton to indulge him for two minutes and says he will see things his way. Drew disses Cody Rhodes and calls him a politician, liar and “nobody’s friend”. He says he was sure that Cody was on the phone with Orton all the time during his recovery from back injury, but that was not friendship, it was Cody gathering intel. He reminded Orton that Cody just knew how and where to attack Orton’s back at the King of the Ring finals, while Orton hesitated to punt him in the head, because Cody “was his friend”.

Orton says he did not drop McIntyre last week for Cody, but because McIntyre was a prick. Drew then hit a Glasgow Kiss and measured Orton up for the Claymore, but Orton ducked and McIntyre missed. Orton hit a draping DDT and set up for an RKO but a number of people ran out from the backstage area to stop him. Orton dropped all of them, including Shane Helms with RKOs and went to punt McIntyre in the head, but he had recovered enough to roll out of the ring.

*****

Miz and Melo have a conversation backstage and talked about having to be on the same page. Bo Dallas walks up and says some more Bo Dallas things about there being perceptions and perceptions not being reality and asked if they could handle that. No idea what he was talking about.

Nick Aldis complains about Orton’s behavior and him attacking security. Orton is nice enough to product place some American flavored whisky in Aldis ‘ hand,w hich she just happened to have on him. R-Truth pops up and asks if Aldis was drinking that to which he replies that, after the day he’s had, he would.

*****

WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Match: Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford w/ B-Fab) vs. Melo Don’t Miz (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz)

Ford and Miz started out and Miz quickly gor dropped on his face due to some double-team action yb the Street Profits. Melo is in, Miz assists with some outside interference and Melo hits Nothing but Net on Dawkins, which gets him some chants from the French crowd.

Miz is back in and hits some abysmal Yes kicks on Dawkins, but quickly gets rolled up for a two-count. Miz and Melo wear Dawkins down with double team moves and quick tags. Melo blind tags in, which seems to confuse Miz, but he is OK with it, as long as they are in control.

The audio briefly dropped out for no apparent reason, unless the crowd chanted something in French that the censors felt was not appropriierte.

Dawkins finally hot tags Ford, who immediately hits a cross body on Miz, followed by a back suplex and standing moonsault for a two-count. Miz hist a DDT and goes for for the Skull Crushing Finale, but Melo blind-tags him again. Ford hits a huge splash on Miz from the top, but Melo, who is the legal man, immediately follows up with a splash on Ford. Melo goes from a springboard move but he and Ford crash in mid-air.

Miz wants the tag, but the Wyatt Sicks come out, which distracts Miz, allowing Dawkins to throw him off the apron. The Street Profits then hit the Revelation on Melo to become the #1 contenders and face the Wyatt Sicks at Clash in Paris. The Wyatt Sicks then get into the ring to face off with their challengers.

Result: The Street Profits beat Melo Don’t Miz after hitting Revelation on Hayes

*****

Tiffany Stratton is in the back and is being confronted by Jade Cargill who tells her that Nick Aldis just confirmed that she is the #1 contender for her championship. They bicker back and forth and Cargill tells her she will beat her.

Solo Sikoa is outside with the rest of the MFT and says it takes just one Samoan Spike to the throat to beat Sami Zayn tonight.

*****

WWE United States Championship: Solo Sikoa vs. Sami Zayn

Solo is in control early and wears down Sami with strikes. Sami briefly fights back, but immediately gets taken down again. Sami fights back from his back during some ground and pound, but is quickly outmaneuvered again. Sikoa hits a running hip attack as Talla Tonga is repeatedly shown at ringside being tall.

Sami finally throws Solo out of the ring and hits his somersault plancha. Tonga Loa and JC Matteo pull Sami out by the legs as he is getting back into the ring and attack him outside. Solo meanwhile hits a Spinning Solo in the ring for a two-count.

Jimmy Uso runs out to even the odds, followed by Jacob Fatu, who clean house on MFT and brawl out of the arena. Sami is ready to hit the Helluva kick, but Solo rolls out of the way and to the outside, where he promptly smashes Sami into the announce table with a Spinning Solo, then follows up with a second one shortly after.

Sami makes it back into the ring at about 9.75. They end up on the top turnbuckle, battling for position when Sami hits a sunset bomb for a two-count. Solo hits a Samoan Drop, then climbs up top to hit a big splash for a two-count of his own. Sami evades a Samoan spike and rolls up Solo for two, then hits an Exploder into the corner. He wants to follow up with the Helluva kick, but gets hit with a superkick instead. He hits the Helluva kick into the other corner, followed by a second on for the pin and the title victory.

Sami celebrated with the belt as fireworks went off in the arena.

Result: Sami Zayn pins Solo Sikoa after two Helluva kicks to win the WWE United States championship

Final Thoughts: The main event was fun, once MFT was driven off. The Lyon crowd got what they came for, which was some greatest hits by Cena, Orton and appearances by stars like McIntyre, Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss, Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn. Plus they go a “moment” with a big title win by a French Canadian, so hardly anyone in attendance will have reason to complain. As a television show from top to bottom, it was a pretty average episode of SmackDown.

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from Heatwave

Posted on by Chris Aiken

The fallout from Heatwave goes down on WWE NXT tonight as the brand moves toward No Mercy.

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne already knows her next challenger with Lola Vice having won a number one contender’s match at Heatwave. Those two will meet at No Mercy next month for the title. We may already have Oba Femi’s next NXT Championship challenger too — with Ricky Saints confronting him at the end of Heatwave after Femi defeated Je’Von Evans.

Fatal Influence (Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx) will face Vice, Sol Ruca & Zaria tonight in a six-woman tag match.

It’s been confirmed that Ruca will defend her Women’s Speed Championship at No Mercy against a challenger that will be determined starting next week. That tournament will feature one representative from the WWE main roster, one from NXT, one from TNA, and one from Lucha Libre AAA.

A stipulation bout is set for tonight with Myles Borne and Lexis King clashing in a blindfold match.

Plus, Blake Monroe faces Kelani Jordan. And Wren Sinclair and a mystery partner will take on Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley.

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

**********

Highlights from NXT Heatwave begin the show, which recaps the supercard from Sunday on the road in Lowell, MA. NXT is back tonight in Florida before a live studio audience at the sound stage from the Performance Center.

The entrance of Ricky Saints opens the show, with Saints in street clothes doing his signature entrance. Saints gets into the ring for an opening monologue.

Saints says he is here to “kick off NXT the right way — the Ricky way!” The studio audience chants for him as Saints briefly brings up Heatwave. Saints will always put his money behind Je’Von Evans, who lost on Sunday in an unsuccessful challenge for the NXT Championship. Saints then shifts to NXT Champion Oba Femi.

Saints calls out the champ, but out comes Josh Briggs instead. Briggs cuts a promo on Saints as the studio audience drowns Briggs in boos. The crowd then begins chants of “WE WANT JE’VON!” Briggs continues his promo, but he was hard to follow with the chants.

Saints responds to Briggs with a fiery retort. Likening him to the Sid character in Toy Story, Saints goes on to tell Briggs that he is not waiting in line for a title shot. Saints is the line! Briggs and Saints banter some more before NXT General Manager Ava interrupts their argument.

Ava says she knows where this is going, and she has an announcement. Since she has not heard from Evans since Sunday, she needs to find a challenger for Femi at No Mercy. So, Saints and Briggs are in a singles match tonight to determine a number one contender.

— In a skit from Sunday posted to social media, Ava is backstage talking with Blake Monroe. Kelani Jordan storms in to cut a promo on Monroe, which sets up a match tonight.

Monroe gets a full entrance before the show cuts to a commercial break. Jordan has her entrance after the match returns from the break.

Blake Monroe vs. Kelani Jordan

Jordan and Monroe previously met in a singles match three weeks ago. In that match, Monroe fled after being chased by Jordynne Grace. The match tonight played on that finish with a callback, except Monroe was unable to escape this time.

Grace walked with purpose down to the ring, and Monroe begs off. Monroe then tries to flee from Grace, but the door Monroe ran to was locked. Grace then yells at Monroe to get back into the ring. Monroe does, and Jordan airplanes her into an Olympic slam. Jordan follows up with a split-legged moonsault. Jordan then covers Monroe for a three count.

Match result: Kelani Jordan defeated Blake Monroe via pinfall

— Myles Borne is interviewed by Sarah Schreiber on his way to the ring for his match tonight. Borne is asked about his eyesight after being blinded last week by Lexis King. Borne says his vision is still blurry, but he notes tonight he is in a blindfold match. Borne then calls on the crowd to help him tonight with their energy and directions. Borne then charges to the ring like a 1980s babyface.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King in a blindfold match

King is reluctant to put on the blindfold (or what was really a hood) at the start of the match. Once blindfolded, King fumbles around the ring. He takes a nasty bump outside the ring, and he stumbles over the ring steps. In between those spots, Borne also executes a lovely dropkick while both are wearing the hoods.

King eventually cuts off Borne, and they fumble around some more. King backs Borne into a corner, and the referee separates them. King feels his face and knows it’s the referee before he somewhat inadvertently pokes the ref in the eyes.

With the referee selling the eye poke, King smirks as he takes off his hood. King hits Borne with a low blow, and King delivers a Coronation finisher. King then covers Borne for a pin.

Match result: Lexis King defeated Myles Borne via pinfall

— Wren Sinclair is pacing backstage when Charlie Dempsey walks up. Sinclair is distraught because does not have a partner for her tag match tonight. She asks Dempsey why he is so calm. Dempsey answers and reveals he has a tag partner for Sinclair. Kendal Grey walks up and Sinclair is thrilled. Dempsey and Grey do a comedy shtick before they all head for the ring.

Kendal Grey & Wren Sinclair (with Charlie Dempsey) vs. Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley (with Shawn Spears & Niko Vance)

While Dempsey is in the babyface corner, The Culling are in the opposing corner. Yet, they do not factor into the match itself. The skit beforehand with Dempsey does play into the match. Dempsey mentioned that Grey had a great armbar. That plays into the finish.

Grey gets an armbar on Paxley, but they are apparently not the legal participants. Meanwhile, Sinclair takes a sit-out powerbomb from Dame, and Dame pins Sinclair. Grey was busy applying the armbar, so she could not make a save.

Match result: Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley defeated Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey when Dame pinned Grey

— TNA World Champion Trick Williams hypes himself up in a pre-taped promo that also plugs three upcoming shows. Those shows are a “homecoming” show on September 16, NXT No Mercy on Sept. 27, and Halloween Havoc on October 25.

Ricky Saints vs. Josh Briggs in a number one contender’s match

The match went through a commercial break, and they worked hard throughout the bout. The studio audience gets hot for the match, and they get behind Saints. They really dislike Briggs.

Before a commercial break, Briggs catches Saints on a dive. Saints escapes the clutches of Briggs, and Briggs crashes into the ringpost. They go on to trade near falls after the show returns from the break.

Heated exchanges as they go home. For the finish, Saints fires up and springboards into a tornado DDT. That seems to be a new finisher for Saints, as he used in his last several matches. Saints goes on to cover Briggs for a pinfall. With the win, Saints is the number one contender for the NXT Championship.

Match result: Ricky Saints defeated Josh Briggs via pinfall.

After a commercial break, Saints is still in the ring. He is cutting a promo on NXT Champion Oba Femi when out comes Femi to confront Saints.

Saints cuts a promo on Femi with Saints implying that Femi is slipping as champ. Saints cautions that Femi cannot be the “Ruler” forever. Femi claims he sees fear in the eyes of Saints. As Femi continues his promo, the lights go dim in the sound stage.

Darkstate enters the scene, and they surround the ring. Darkstate members cut promos (and some are wearing the NXT tag team title belts) as they close in on the ring. They rush into the ring and jump Femi and Saints. The numbers are too much for Saints and Femi, and they are being beaten down. Hank & Tank run in to make a save. Hank & Tank (who lost the tag titles to Darkstate at Heatwave) help send the heels packing. This would seem to set up an eight-man tag match.

— A backstage skit sets up a singles match between Jaida Parker & Lash Legend.

— WWE Speed is the focus of a video package that explains the concept of the Speed Championships, which are coming to NXT. Ava then says Speed Champion Sol Ruca needs a number one contende, so Ava announces a tournament to decide Ruca’s next challenger. The tournament begins next Tuesday on NXT.

Participants in the Speed tournament are Candice LeRae from Smackdown, Lainey Reed from NXT, Faby Apache from AAA, and Xia Brookside from TNA. Brookside against LeRae kicks off the tournament next Tuesday.

Tyra Mae Steele (with Tavion Heights) vs. Alba Fyre (with Chelsea Green, Piper Niven & NXT North American Champion Ethan Page)

While Steele is green, they play to her strengths. Frye is also really skilled in the ring, so that greatly helps make for a good match. Steele shines at first, until she is cut off by Fyre (with help from Page and Green at ringside). Steele is distracted by the antics of Page and Green, and Fyre is able to nail a dive through the ropes.

Steele blocks Fyre’s finisher, and Steele goes on to apply an ankle lock. Page interferes by trying to help Fyre escape. Instead, Page gets his hand stomped on by Steele. Fyre goes for a superkick, only for Steele to sidestep her. Steele then rolls up Fyre for the deciding pinfall.

Match result: Tyra Mae Steele defeated Alba Fyre via pinfall

Chelsea Green attacks Steele after the match, and Heights jumps in to save Steele. Heights teases he will strike Green, who first struck Heights. Page then ambushes and blindsides Heights. Page delivers his finisher on Heights. Page goes on to drape a Canadian flag over Heights, which builds heat for a match between them.

— Hank & Tank are in Ava’s office, and they do some comedy before Ava makes an eight-man tag match official for next Tuesday. This plays off the angle shot earlier tonight.

— Sarah Screiber interviews the Fatal Influence trio. There is bickering and tension between Jayne and Nyx. Jayne remains the NXT Women’s Champion, despite dropping the TNA Knockouts title over the weekend.

Fallon Henley, Jaxmyn Nyx & Jacy Jayne vs. Lola Vice, Sol Ruca & Zaria in a six-woman tag team match

Today is apparently Ruca’s birthday, which is mentioned on commentary. The match itself goes through a commercial break. Lainey Reed is seen watching the match from a perch overlooking the ring, as she is apparently scouting Ruca (who is the current Speed champion).

Lots of action, especially during the closing moments. Hot tag to Vice, and Vice runs wild with a flurry of kicks. Hip attacks by Vice, but Vice is soon cut off after getting distracted by Jayne. High/low knee strike combo by Henley and Jayne on Vice. Ruca superkicks Henley for a save on a subsequent near fall.

As they go home, Zaira spears Jayne on the floor. Henley almost inadvertently hits Nyx. Then, Vice shoves Henley into Nyx. They bonk heads when they collide. Ruca rushes into the ring to execute a Sol Snatcher on Nyx. Vice then hits Henley with a spinning back fist, and Vice cover Henley for a pinfall.

Match result: Lola Vice, Sol Ruca & Zaria defeated Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx when Vice pinned Henley.