Tag: wwe results

WWE NXT live results: The Undertaker confronts Trick Williams

Posted on by Jeff Moss

NXT is on the road in Texas tonight — and one of the biggest legends in WWE history is scheduled for an appearance in his home state.

The Undertaker will appear live on tonight’s NXT episode in Houston for a confrontation with Trick Williams. The segment stems from Williams recently insulting the Performance Center recruits who are on Undertaker’s WWE LFG team. In a promo on Monday’s Raw, Williams took shots at The Undertaker and threatened to knock him out tonight.

Tonight’s show is also a homecoming for Wren Sinclair, who will be the opponent for Blake Monroe’s NXT TV singles debut.

An NXT Championship bout is part of the card with Oba Femi defending his gold against Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs in a triple threat. Plus, Ricky Saints will be in action against Jasper Troy.

We’ll have an appearance by NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne following her winner-take-all victory over Masha Slamovich at TNA Slammiversary. Jayne won the TNA Knockouts title in that match and is now a double champion.

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

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It’s busy times for WWE’s formerly-black-and-gold brand! The NXT roster has been through The Great American Bash, Evolution and TNA Slammiversary since it’s last episode an there are doin’s a-transpirin’!

-There was a nice nod to Ozzy Osbourne (RIP!) off the top as the traditional footage of wrestlers arriving for work kicked off the show. The card was run down with Vic Joseph and Corey Graves and Booker T arriving to a great Houston ovation. Booker announced that the show would begin with an 8-person surprise Mixed Tag Team match!

Mixed Tag Team Match: NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, Zaria and NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank vs The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley)

The Culling jumped their opponents off the bell, but things settled down with Hank and Spears facing off. A quick tag to Vance and he and Hank traded punches until Spears tagged back in. Hank Sent Spears face first into the turnbuckle and Tank tagged in with a Senton.

Spears got a quick tag to Paxley and she and Zaria went back and forth. Ruca jumped in to cut off Dame interfering and the men came back in. Then, it broke down into a straight up brawl culminating with a 4-person slam and quadruple splash from the Hank, Tank, Zaria and Ruca side.

Hank and Tank isolated Spears in their corner and traded tags to try and take him out. Spears ducked Tank and Vance hopped in with a devastating clothesline. Vance worked the arm of Tank and Dame added a kick to the face through the ropes for good measure.

Vance and Spears double teamed Tank while the crowd chanted for Ruca. Vacne went to the top rope and tried a headbutt, but Tank dodged it and reached for a hot tag. Spears cut it off though and he and Tank battled in the center of the ring.

Paxley and Ruca were tagged in next and Ruca took out Paxley and Dame with a little help from Zaria. Zaria went for a pin, but Dame broke it up. The men tagged back in and Tank used Hank as a weapon to take out Vance. Spears began superkicking anything that moved.

Dame went up top and flung herself onto Hank and Tank on the outside. Not to be undone, Ruca did the same thing to Spears Paxley and Zaria were in the ring and Spears tried to interfere, but Zaria hit him with a face breaker. Paxley tried for a quick rollup, but the lights went out and DarkState appeared int he crowd!

When the lights came back on, Paxley had Zaria in a pin and got the 1-2-3 to give the Culling the win.

Match Result: The Culling (Shawn Spears, Niko Vance, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley) defeated Sol Ruca, Zaria and Hank & Tank

Super fun match to kick things off! Ruca is really popular with the NXT crowd and I’ve always been a big Shawn Spears fan. I like the Culling a lot and they are a great foil for Hank & Tank in the tag division!

-Jordynne Grace was shown arriving to the arena. She was met by NXT GM Ava who said that she was not allowed in the building. Grace promised to get her hands on Blake Monroe anyways.

-NXT Women’s Champion & TNA Knockouts champion Jacy Jayne came to the ring with the rest of Fatal Influence, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx. Jayne grabbed a mic and celebrated her win, declaring herself the best. She was very adamant she did it all by herself to prove everyone wrong. She is a history maker!

Suddenly Lash Legend’s music hit and the Legend herself joined the conversation. Legend congratulated Jayne and said that Jayne was about to begin her fall from the top. Legend said that it’s time for her moment, and suddenly more music!

Jaida Parker came down to the ring. Parker declared that she has a direct line to the NXT Women’s title and Legend can step aside. Jayne said that they should figure it out for themselves and Fatal Influence jumped Parker and Legend. Parker and Legend cleared the ring and began jawing at each other as the segment slammed into:

-Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints having a conversation in the back about Jasper Troy. Evans gave Saints some advice: Don’t over think it.

Ricky Saints vs. Jasper Troy

Saints fought Ethan Page at the Great American Bash in a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match. When that match spilled over into the back, Saints and Page stumbled onto Troy, who was either eating his lunch or angrily leaning against a wall lamenting a loss to Je’von Evans. Troy decided to take that out on Saints and NXT GM Ava made this match so that they can properly destroy each other. 

If you’re just joining us, Troy is a very big, very angry man. Saints needed to use his quickness and agility to get around the big man, but it didn’t work well off the top. Troy sent Saints into the corner and Clotheslined him on the ring apron (the most revolutionary part of the ring!).

Troy hoisted Saints up on his shoulder and hit a spinning slam for the first near fall of the match. Troy grabbed Saints again and threw him out of the ring. Saints clutched his wrist as Troy exited the ring, picked him out and carried him back into the ring.

Saints tried his hardest to fight back, but a trio of big splashes from Troy left him writhing in the ring. Troy added one more splash for good measure, but Saints managed to kick out. Troy punched Saints in the stomach so hard his wrist tape started coming off.

Every time Saints started gaining some offense, Troy would hammer him back down. Troy began literally throwing Saints around the ring, hoisting him up on his shoulders. Saints wriggled free, but Troy decided a Bear Hug was in order and Troy ragdolled him.

Saints got desperate and bit Troy on the head. Saints lured Troy out of the ring and laid some haymakers on him. Troy tried to punch back but Saints ducked and Troy hit the ring post. Troy shoved Saints back into the ring, favouring his hand.

Saints went up top and hit a high crossbody followed by a spinning DDT. It wasn’t enough though as Troy kicked out at 2. Keeping up the momentum, Saints sent them both outside over the top rope. Troy got to his feet first and began menacing the Ref. Saints used that to hop on Troy’s back and they battled up the entrance ramp.

The Ref tried to get them back into the ring, but the entry ramp collapsed on Saints! Troy hit a senton bomb on him through the collapsed metal ramp! The ref began a count in the ring and Troy staggered back, just beating the count and getting the win over Saints!

Match Result: Jasper Troy defeated Ricky Saints via Countout

Wow! The collapse of the ramp may have been a little premature, but IF they needed to call an audible, they did it seamlessly. Troy is an awesome force and I think if they can give him some good creative, he’ll be a big star.

-Next, tribute was paid to 2021 Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne who’s involvement with WWE goes all the way back to Wrestlemania 2.

The Undertaker confronts Trick Williams

Over the weekend, Williams defeated Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a Triple Threat Match at TNA Slammiversary to retain the TNA World Championship. However, his mouth got the best of him and he badmouthed the Undertaker’s WWE LFG team. Taker, lacking things to do with his time these days, would like a word with the TNA Champion about it. 

Williams made his way to the ring and grabbed a mic. Williams talked about his victory at Slammiversary and said that he was undeniably the greatest TNA Champion of all time. Williams said that he will drop anyone in his way. Williams said that the LFG team told on him to the Undertaker. Williams gave taker props, but he’s never held down two brands at the same time like Williams. He then said that LFG has made the Undertaker soft. He then called Taker down to the ring.

A giant DONG rang out, but quickly switched to the American Badass music and out strode the Undertaker. He walked to the ring (stepping around the hole Ricky Saints left in the ramp) and got a mic. The music faded and Taker stood silently, considering what he would say while the crowd chanted for him.

Eventually, Taker began speaking, calling Williams a Dead Man Walking. Taker admired William’s cowhide leather outfit and said that Williams had it all… except respect. Taker said that Williams just isn’t the same guy with the TNA title as he was with the NXT title. NXT Williams was hungry, he said. He had that “daawg” in him.

Undertaker said that TNA Williams isn’t that guy anymore. With his current attitude, he won’t keep the TNA Championship for long. Taker said that he tries to teach his LFG team to not have an attitude and Williams interrupted, saying he doesn’t give a damn about the LFG team! No one is as good as he is!

Undertaker offered Williams one more piece of advice: Don’t step to an OG (Taker being the OG). Williams looked terrified as Undertaker promised to make him famous. Williams tried to sucker punch Taker, but he immediately goozled him and hit him with a vintage Taker chokeslam! The segment ended with Williams lying in the ring.

-Back from a commercial, Fatal Influence were discussing who would take on Jaida Parker and Lash Legend. Michelle McCool joined them and made some suggestions. They headed off to Ava’s office to make things official.

Blake Monroe vs. Wren Sinclair

Monroe had a heck of a week going back to Great American Bash. There, she made her NXT/WWE in-ring debut in a tag match with Jordynne Grace in an eventual loss to Fatal Influence. Then, at Evolution, she turned on Grace, costing her the NXT Women’s Title in a match with Jacy Jayne. Grace had promised to be out there somewhere looking for revenge and caught in the middle is Sinclair, who was big-upped by her friends in the No Quarter Catch Crew earlier in the show.

The two locked up and Monroe took control, sending Sinclair to the corner. She raked Sinclair’s head along the ropes and and had her until Sinclair hit a big back elbow. Sinclair tried to employ the technical style of the NQCC and it threw Monroe off at first.

Monroe regained control with a sling blade followed by a tight chinlock while wrenching her arm behind her. Sinclair fought out of it with an armdrag and some big chops. Monroe sent Sinclair face first into the ropes and then a big head butt.

Monroe hit a big slam and pinned Sinclair, getting her first NXT singles victory.

Match Result: Blake Monroe defeated Wren Sinclair

After the match, Monroe grabbed a mic but before she could say anything, Jordynne Grace appeared through the crowd and headed right for Monroe. Grace battled security allowing Monroe to grab her from behind and DDT her into a steel chair!

The match was pretty good, essentially a glorified squash, but I’m loving the feud between Grace and Monroe. They are both excellent at this pro wrestling thing and I can’t wait to see them go one on one.

-Back from commercial, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page was in the ring with a podium. Next to him was a second podium with a belt under a black cloth. Page said that he would be bringing more class to the title than the 17 Americans that had previously held it.

Page talked about his parents being immigrants from the Ukraine and that he was born in Canada. He unfurled a set of Canadian flags and said that the title would no longer represent the continent of North America, because America is a lie. It should represent the pure dominance of Canada over the rest of North American.

Page said the was born in Canada but made in America which makes him the greatest North American alive. He tossed the NXT North American Championship Belt to the side and unveiled a new version of it with a Canadian flag as the strap.

Page listed the various reasons that he feels Canada is better than America or Mexico, including hotter women, cleaner air and being nice to each other. He said that the USA is in HIS North America and as the North American Champion, he takes great pride in holding the title. But that pales in comparison to the pride he feels about being Canadian.

He then asked the audience to rise as he sung the Canadian National Anthem. He began singing but was cut off by an arriving Santino Marella, TNA Director of Authority!

Marella made his way to the ring and said that Page should be ashamed of himself. Marella lives in Canada and he said that Canadians don’t think like Page. He said that Page couldn’t relate to the people of North America because he is a “bumhole boy.”

Page said that Marella should go back to TNA and Marella said that someone with dignity, honor and pride should hold the North American title. He then challenged Page to a match next week. Page said that he wouldn’t do that, he’d do it RIGHT NOW!

Page turned around and Marella had the cobra ready for him! Page grabbed his new belt and bailed as the Commentary team speculated about the match happening next week!

-Backstage, Trick Williams was looking around every corner for the Undertaker, trying to avoid him. That set him up to run into NXT Champion Oba Femi though and the two stared each other down as the show went to commercial.

-Back from Commercial, Yoshiki Inamura met with Je’Von Evans. Inamura was wondering if he’d been a bad friend to Josh Briggs. He likes Briggs, but not always how he thinks. Evans said sometimes you can love someone, but not like them.

-The scene transitioned to the No Quarter Catch Crew lamenting Wren Sinclair’s loss. Suddenly, Bubba Ray Dudley appeared. He congratulated Wren on a good match and said that he was going to set up a match between Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he can leave the Crew.

Then, Lexis King wandered by and accused Dempsey of not really being deaf. Dempsey left and that was the end of the segment. Weird.

-Then, the match was made official: Next week, North American Champion Ethan Page will defend his title against TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella!

NXT Championship Triple Threat Match: Yoshiki Inamura vs. Josh Briggs vs. Oba Femi (c) 

At Great American Bash, Femi and Inamura had a slugfest that saw Femi retain the NXT title. The bigger issue was that Briggs, Inamura’s best friend, kept trying to interfere on his behalf. Not wanting to win the title in a “dishonorable” way, Inamura wasn’t pleased with Briggs’ interference. Briggs thinks Inamura was being “too nice.” The question is will they work together in this triple threat? Or will Femi be able to stand back and let these two take each other out? 

Off the bell, Femi sent Briggs to the outside and he and Inamura began clubbing each other in the corners. Femi flipped Inamura over which allowed Briggs to jump in a get a quick splash. Femi bounced between Inamura and Briggs before sending them into opposite corners.

Imamura got a big slam on Femi but during the count, Briggs “inadvertently” stepped on the Ref’s hand, breaking the count. In the confusion, Femi delivered a double Chokeslam to both men. Femi focused on Briggs, but Briggs sent Femi into the corner and Inamura began stomping him.

Inamura went for a cover and Briggs stepped towards him to break up the pin, but Femi kicked out and the two eyed each other. Briggs then introduced a chair into the ring. Inamoura did not like that dishonorable move and Briggs slammed him onto Femi for his trouble. Inaumra then returned the favor and the two began working together.

Briggs went for a cover, but Inamura didn’t break it up. Femi kicked out and stalked Briggs into the corner, setting him up on the second rope. Inamura grabbed Femi from below in an Electric Chair position. Inamura threw him backwards and Femi dragged Briggs down with him.

Briggs went for a quick cover, but Femi kicked out. Briggs seemed to think that Inamura caused the kickout and the two got angry at each other. Inamura was sent out of the ring by Femi, who was then chokeslammed by Briggs, resulting in a two-count.

Briggs and Femi fought in the ring and Inamura returned, charging at Femi. Femi leapt into the air and Inamure speared Briggs by mistake. Inamura then lifted Femi and hit a sit-down powerbomb. The ref started counting, but Briggs pulled him out. The ref jumped back in and tried to count again, but Briggs put Femi’s arm on the ropes.

That made Inamura mad and he screamed at Briggs while laying Femi out for a big splash. As he mad the pin though, Briggs broke it up with a moonsault. Briggs went for the cover, but Femi kicked out at two.

Briggs and Inamura had enough at that point and started trading chops and punches. Inamura gave as good as he got and Briggs hit a massive lariat. That brought Femi back in who hit a powerbomb on Briggs and got the pin to retain his title.

Match Result: Oba Femi defeated Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs

After the match, Briggs ran over Inamura at ringside. The scene switched to the back where Je’Von Evans was still trying to figure out what he is going to do next. The Undertaker approached and offered him some advice: Keep going after the biggest dog in the yard. Evans considered that as the show went off the air.

Great triple threat main event tonight! The story was obviously the dissolving of the friendship between Briggs and Inamura, but Femi looked great as always. He didn’t steal a victory, he earned it through smarts and picking his moments. NXT is chock full of talent right now and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

WWE Raw live results: Roman Reigns addresses Paul Heyman

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: July 21, 2025
Location: Toyota Center in Houston, TX 

The Big Takeaway —

Roman Reigns addressed Paul Heyman in the main event segment with a long promo where he did not say much of note. Reigns wanted everyone to know that it was Heyman who ruined the Bloodline. The focus shifted to Bron Breakker, who had enough of Reigns. A brawl ended with Jey Uso saving Reigns, and the two men standing tall.

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Show Recap — 

There was a video package of last week’s gauntlet, focusing on Bron Breakker’s lengthy run, CM Punk’s win, and Roman Reigns’ return. 

Sami Zayn (still being referred to by Michael Cole as the ‘underdog of the underground’), Becky Lynch, and Judgment Day were shown arriving. 

Dominik handed the keys to their SUV to a valet—who happened to be AJ Styles (in full valet attire). Styles hoped Dom got cleared today. Dom left, and Styles chucked the car keys away. 

CM Punk and Gunther segment 

Punk entered, and the crowd chanted his name as he stood atop the Slim Jim logo in the ring. Punk told Houston he had two goals when he returned: main event WrestleMania and become world champion. He was still working on the latter because he kept getting sidetracked by people who took things a little personally. 

Punk looked forward to facing Gunther, whom he called one of the best wrestlers in the world. He couldn’t promise a win, but with the help of the fans, he could promise that he would give everything he had. 

Gunther was the Intercontinental champion for 666 days and was now on his second run with the world title. Punk only had two weeks to train for this “beast.” But Punk remembered he’s been training for this his whole life. Punk wasn’t just any challenger—he was the best in the world. 

Gunther interrupted. Punk got in his face, but Gunther stepped back. The crowd chanted, “You tapped out,” and chanted for Punk. Gunther stalled for a while before addressing Punk. 

Gunther said he did not want to create any drama. He said they were both there for the same reasons. Not to make friends, but to make money and win championships. 

They each considered themselves the best in the world. They both had massive egos. But Gunther’s ego was justified, unlike Punk’s. Punk’s ego was based on what the fans thought. Gunther’s ego was based on his accolades. The best was the one who held the world title. 

Gunther only focused on what happened in the ring, and when the bell rang at SummerSlam, he would make Punk regret that he ever stepped in a wrestling ring. 

Gunther would drop him like a wet towel, and Punk would realize he was right: Punk would never be champion and would never be best in the world. The only thing Punk would have was the degenerate fans chanting his name for the rest of his life. 

Gunther’s music played, and he left as Punk watched. (I guess the production team knew Punk wouldn’t have a response to this.) 

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Byron Saxton tried interviewing Stephanie Vaquer, but they were interrupted by Naomi. They had never met, so Naomi introduced herself as the world champion. Vaquer knew who she was. 

Naomi said they would see each other at Clash in Paris, but Vaquer said that would only happen if she survived at SummerSlam. Naomi was offended by the comment and was confident she would see her in Paris. She did her evil laugh and left. 

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Sheamus vs. Rusev

Cole yelled, “It’s fight night, baby!” in the most annoying manner during Sheamus’  entrance, but you were lucky enough to miss it if you aren’t able to watch the show during commercials. 

A few minutes in, Sheamus went to the top for a dive to the outside, but he lost his balance and returned to the ring. Rusev had to pretend he was still hurt and went back to a knee as Sheamus simply returned to the top. The fans got behind Sheamus as he hit the flying clothesline to the outside. 

It didn’t matter because Rusev grabbed him seconds later and hit a fallaway slam over the announce table to take over during a break. 

Sheamus came back as soon as they returned, but when he went for the Brogue, Rusev caught him and hit a powerbomb for two. Rusev went for a thrust kick, but Sheamus nailed him with a great-looking knee strike for a nearfall. Sheamus came off the top, but Rusev hit him with a thrust kick (which didn’t look great) for a nearfall. 

Rusev applied the Accolade, but Sheamus got a rope break. As in their previous match, Rusev booted Sheamus while Sheamus asked for more. Rusev ripped the padding of the metal turnbuckle rod, but Sheamus bounced Rusev off it instead. 

As the referee fixed the padding (which seems low-priority), Rusev grabbed Sheamus’ shillelagh. Before he was able to use it, Sheamus nailed him with the Brogue Kick for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Sheamus defeated Rusev (14:50) 

I thought for sure Rusev would kick out, because the ref was still distracted when Sheamus made the cover. Rusev was down for 3-4 seconds already before the ref ran over to count the fall. 

They’re 1-1 now, and I suppose Rusev can demand a rematch after Sheamus technically cheated. 

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Saxton interviewed El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser). Kaiser spoke a few words in Spanish before being interrupted by Dragon Lee. Dragon Lee called him a fake who didn’t have the fire. Kaiser pie-faced him, so they brawled until officials quickly broke it up. 

They aired a “sneak peek” of WWE Unreal. It was just a backstage clip of IShowSpeed being rushed out to replace Akira Tozawa in the Royal Rumble. The footage provided no insight whatsoever. It was the same sort of clip they would have aired on the next Raw show.

Lyra Valkyria confronted Bayley about getting Adam Pearce to put them in a tag title match. Valkyria was bewildered, but Bayley said they were finally getting the match they were supposed to at WrestleMania. Valkyria said she beat Bayley’s ass last week and was focused on SummerSlam. Valkyria wondered what game she was playing. Bayley acted like everything was cool and said she would see her in the ring. 

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Triple threat tag team number one contender’s match: The New Day vs. Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro (w/Dragon Lee) vs. The Creed Brothers (w/Ivy Nile)

New Day had control during a break. Wilde made a hot tag after the break, and the crowd barely reacted, but they got into his offence. However, Ivy Nile knocked him off the top rope. Dragon Lee tried to help by going after the Creeds, but he was attacked by El Grande Americano. The Creeds got in Kaiser’s face until Del Toro wiped them all out with a great-looking corkscrew plancha. 

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods set up Wilde for their finisher, but Wilde chucked Woods out of the ring and caught Kingston in a schoolboy for the pinfall win. 

The crowd popped for the win. LWO are now the number one contenders for Judgment Day’s tag titles. 

Match result:  Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro defeated The New Day and The Creed Brothers (9:19) 

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After a replay aired of the Kabuki Warriors losing last week, Iyo Sky told them that they would soon be tag champs. Kairi Sane said Sky would soon be world champion again, and Asuka wished her luck at SummerSlam. 

Vaquer confronted Sky. Sky recalled that she had Vaquer beat the last time they wrestled (until it was interrupted). Sky challenged her to a match tonight, and Vaquer accepted. The crowd popped big for that. 

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Vic Joseph interviewed TNA Champion Trick Williams during a break. He was booed. This was meant to plug Undertaker’s appearance on tomorrow’s NXT (also in Houston). Williams said he didn’t have a problem with Taker, but they could talk if he wanted. Taker acted like his knees didn’t have an expiration date, and Williams needed to knock him out and knock his eyes to the back of his head. 

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Pearce tried convincing Dom to go get checked out by medical (and said it only takes five minutes). Dom kept making excuses, but Pearce told him to go get it done. Dom bumped into Styles, now acting as a custodian. Dom ran off. 

New Day were baffled by the sight of Styles working as a custodian (he was mopping the floors). They complained about recent events on Raw and said they needed something to restore things to normal. 

Grayon Waller popped in to inform them that Austin Theory was injured and was finally off his back, because A-Town Down Under was no more. Waller offered them his services. New Day were confused by this, but did not dismiss him. Waller left to get their car. 

So after all this time, Theory and Waller are done, and it happened in a backstage New Day segment without Theory. 

********

Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria segment 

Lynch entered. She wanted the fans to show her some appreciation. She shouldn’t even be here. She should be on the red carpet plugging her new movie, Happy Gilmore 2. Instead, she was in Houston. She did things she didn’t want to do because that’s what leaders did. She put over her slick victory at Evolution. 

People accused her of keeping others down, but Valkyria was the one bogarting everyone else’s opportunities. Valkyria was already getting an IC title shot, and now was getting a tag title shot. She wondered who would even need two belts. She said it was different when she was Becky Two Belts, because Valkyria was just being selfish. 

Lynch called out Valkyria, and she entered. Lynch said she made Valkyria a star, but that free ride ended at SummerSlam. Lynch said that if Valkyria lost at SummerSlam, she could never challenge for the belt again. 

Valkyria said she learned that whenever she thought she had dealt with a problem, it came back to haunt her. Maybe she didn’t take things far enough. She accepted Lynch’s terms but had terms of her own: no countouts and no disqualifications. 

Lynch accepted. Lynch said this was the most important match involving this title because it would dictate the future of the title. 

Lynch wanted to be the bigger person and told Valkyria to shake her hand. Valkyria went to shake her hand, and Lynch tried a cheap shot, but Valkyria saw it coming and laid her out with a Man-handle slam.

******** 

Women’s Tag Team Championships: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) (w/Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio) vs. Lyra Valkyria & Bayley

Valkyria became distracted by Bayley as she urged the crowd to “woo” (as they do during Valkyria’s entrance). Rodriguez necked Valkyria over the top rope and distracted the referee so Perez could hit a cheap shot. 

Bayley made a hot tag after a break, and the crowd booed her offence. Even though they weren’t getting along early, Bayley and Valkyria started working together. Valkyria hit Perez with a sit-out powerbomb, but instead of making the cover, she tagged in Bayley to hit her flying elbow drop on Perez. She did, but Rodriguez broke up the cover. 

Valkyria confronted Dom outside the ring. Rodriguez tried to boot Valkyria, but she ducked, so Rodriguez booted Dom by mistake. Rodriguez called for medical to check on Dom. The medic was Styles, who aggressively gave Dom chest compressions until Dom managed to escape. 

This distraction allowed Lynch to chuck Valkyria into the ring steps. Perez used that distraction to roll up Bayley, but Bayley kicked out and applied a cradle for two. Rodriguez made a blind tag, which Bayley didn’t see. 

Bayley hit Perez with a Bayley-to-belly, but Rodriguez planted Bayley with a Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win. 

Rodriguez and Perez will defend the tag titles at SummerSlam against Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. 

Match result: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defeated Bayley & Lyra Valkyria to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships (15:18) 

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Jackie Redmond interviewed Sami Zayn, who she thought was out indefinitely. Zayn admitted he wasn’t 100% and should probably take more time off, but he was sick of Karrion Kross. Kross was the reason he wasn’t on Raw last week, and if he was on the show, he would’ve won the gauntlet. Zayn didn’t want to wait any longer to get his hands on Kross. 

******** 

Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh met with Dom. A pissed-off Pearce told Dom to go to medical now and threatened to take the IC title. Dom was upset, and he left. Bálor looked concerned, but asked Dom to get them some lollipops. 

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett)

Zayn wrestled with his ribs taped. There were duelling chants early in the match, and Kross stopped his mounted punches so he could hear the fans chanting for him. 

Zayn hit an Arabian press, but Scarlett kicked Zayn in his injured ribs as the referee checked on Kross. Kross had control through a break, and Zayn made his comeback after the break. 

Zayn gave Kross an exploder in the corner. (They were really close to the ropes, and Kross landed awkwardly. I think his face hit the rope or buckle, because his nose was bleeding after this.) Scarlett handed Kross a pipe.

Zayn set up for a Helluva Kick, but Scarlett grabbed his leg. The ref argued with Scarlett instead of sending her to the back or calling for a DQ. As she distracted the ref, Kross hit Zayn in the ribs with the pipe for the pinfall win. 

(After the match, Kross rubbed the blood from his nose over his face for effect. He then kissed Scarlett, who wound up with blood on her face, and she used her finger to make a streak of blood down her cheek. I’m guessing they’ll be told not to play up blood again like this again.) 

Match result: Karrion Kross defeated Sami Zayn (10:04)

This was a very dull match, and the crowd was appropriately quiet throughout. 

********

Pearce and Styles met the medic, who said he needed more time to finish his paperwork (before he could clear Dom). Pearce and Styles were eager for the results. Dom suddenly decked Styles from behind and confidently accepted the match at SummerSlam. 

(This was a weak payoff. Dom avoided accepting the match all this time just so he could push Styles down from behind? It’s not like Styles is actually hurt. SummerSlam is less than two weeks away, so I guess they had to make it official.) 

********

Cole announced a sold-out crowd of over 13,000. 

Texas rapper That Mexican OT and Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale were shown in the crowd. Some fans chanted for Mattress Mack. (He runs a furniture store.) 

IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer

As they did a few weeks ago, they had a very good match until the finish. 

They had an excellent back-and-forth exchange, but Vaquer got the better of Sky during a break. At one point, the crowd cheered because they thought she was going for Devil’s Kiss, but she wasn’t. 

Sky applied a crossface, but Vaquer got a rope break. Vaquer rolled outside, so Sky hit an Asai moonsault, followed by a missile dropkick and double footstomp. Vaquer responded with a German suplex, but Sky hit one, too. 

Sky tried to kill Vaquer with a sunset flip powerbomb to the outside, but Vaquer blocked it. Vaquer instead hit a knee drop across Sky’s chest while on the apron. Vaquer followed with Devil’s Kiss on the apron and in the ring, to the delight of the crowd. 

Vaquer went for SVB, but Sky countered it into a similar move (double underhook backbreaker) for two. The crowd chanted, “This is awesome.” Sky went up for a moonsault, but Vaquer hit an avalanche reverse vertical suplex (off the middle rope), which looked awesome.  

The Secret Hervice marched out to ruin the match. Vaquer knocked Piper Niven and Alba Fyre off the apron, but Chelsea Green decked Vaquer from behind for the DQ. 

— The heels beat up Vaquer until Sky wiped out Green with a missile dropkick. Vaquer and Sky double dropkicked Niven out of the ring. 

Sky and Vaquer stood tall together until Naomi decked Sky from behind (knocking Vaquer out of the ring). Niven and Fyre put the boots to Vaquer while Naomi attacked Sky. 

Rhea Ripley ran out to an absolutely monster pop. She laid out Niven, Fyre, and Naomi. Sky and Vaquer attacked Green, and Ripley laid her out with Rip-tide. The three babyfaces stood tall. 

Match result: IYO SKY defeated Stephanie Vaquer via disqualification (15:04)

******** 

The announcers ran down the SummerSlam card. 

Roman Reigns segment

Paul Heyman entered first, with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Heyman had a lot to say, but was quickly interrupted. 

Reigns entered to a huge pop and “OTC” chants. (Heyman stopped speaking, but he probably could have said everything he needed in the time it took Reigns to get to the ring.)

Heyman told Reigns that Seth Rollins would be out of action for a long time. That opened up a leadership opportunity. That meant they could fix this. They could get back together because Reigns knew they were better together than opposing each other. Heyman told Reigns, “I love you, my Tribal Chief,” as the crowd chanted, “You sold out.” 

Reigns told H-Town to acknowledge him. They did. (Breakker was visibly bored by this.) Heyman raised his finger in the air. 

Reigns said Heyman wasn’t a Wise Man anymore, he was just a dumbass. Breakker was pissed by this comment, and was held back by Heyman and Reed. Reigns called him “junior” and told him to settle down. 

Reigns advised Breakker to sit under the learning tree and listen, because Heyman would do the same thing to Breakker as he did to him. When Breakker was the man on top in a few years, Heyman would take all the credit. 

Reigns has heard a lot of people trying to take credit for creating the Tribal Chief. He could say firmly it wasn’t because of Heyman. He was still the Tribal Chief because the fans still acknowledged him. 

Reigns was the greatest champion to step foot in this ring, and he admitted Heyman had a part in that. But Heyman didn’t help him keep that title. The Usos did. Solo Sikoa did. (The crowd Yeeted.) Even Sami Zayn helped out. 

Reigns finally lost the title after four years. He didn’t tuck his tail and go home. He went home and raised the future Bloodline. Bloodline was family. The dumbass Heyman thought they were just another faction or wrestling group. But you couldn’t create the Bloodline—that was God’s work. (They held back Breakker again, and Reigns again told him to back down.) 

Reigns said Heyman was always a friend and business partner to the Bloodline, but Reigns was the one who accepted him in. Heyman threw it all away for his “best friend,” whom he hadn’t even talked to in ten years. Reigns didn’t ever want to hear anyone say he ruined the Bloodline. Heyman ruined the Bloodline. 

Breakker stepped in front of Heyman. He told Reigns nobody wanted him here anymore. Reigns was yesterday’s news. His prime was five years ago, and now he was taking up Bron’s time in the ring. Heyman wouldn’t stab him in the back because he had value, while Reigns was worthless. He was the top dog now. He told Reigns to leave. 

Reigns acted like he didn’t hear Breakker, so he offered him his microphone instead. As Reigns chucked his mic to Breakker, Reigns gave him a Superman punch. He attacked Reed, but turned around and was speared by Breakker. 

Breakker held down Reigns as Reed set up for a Tsunami, but Jey Uso ran out to make the save. Jey speared Breakker while Reigns simultaneously speared Reed. 

Jey helped Reigns to his feet. Jey’s music played as the two men stood tall.

(The fans love Reigns, so it doesn’t really matter what he said, but there was a lot of revisionist history here. There was also a line where he said Heyman killed the Bloodline because of his best friend, whom he hadn’t spoken to in ten years. I assume he meant Punk. Heyman did accompany Punk to the ring at WrestleMania, but he turned on both of them to join Rollins. Reigns didn’t address Rollins at all. Perhaps Reigns missed a line because he was too busy telling Bron to settle down.) 

WWE SmackDown live results: John Cena-Cody Rhodes contract signing

Posted on by Marc Quill

With their Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam coming up in two weeks, current champion John Cena and challenger Cody Rhodes will put pen to paper to make things official tonight on WWE SmackDown.

The last time Rhodes and Cena were in the same ring was at last month’s Money in the Bank when Rhodes pinned Cena in a tag team match.

Also scheduled for tonight is Fraxiom vs. DIY vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix vs. Motor City Machine Guns in a fatal four-way bout to determine the next challengers for new WWE Tag Team Champions, The Wyatt Sicks.

Charlotte Flair is set to face Raquel Rodriguez in singles action tonight. Rodriguez and tag partner Roxanne Perez retained their Women’s Tag Team Championships after surviving a fatal four-way tag match at Evolution this past Sunday.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Alba Fyre is also set for tonight. Plus, Jacob Fatu is slated to appear and will continue his feud with Solo Sikoa.

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

**********

– Following the WWE signature, we abruptly went right to the parking lot as we saw a car accident involving the members of the M.F.T., as Adam Pearce and law enforcement officials tried to sort out what was what. Cody Rhodes walked by and conferred with Pearce about the contract signing he’ll be having with John Cena later tonight for their SummerSlam match. After Rhodes left, we saw Solo Sikoa and his group trying to figure out what the heck just happened.

– Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett discussed Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair’s situation post-Evolution, as we found out that Bliss and Flair will have a Women’s Tag Team Championship match against current champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez. Bliss agreed to be in Flair’s corner for her match against Rodriguez, which kicked off tonight’s action.

Charlotte Flair (w/ Alexa Bliss) vs. Raquel Rodriguez (w/ Roxanne Perez)

As the bell rang, Flair and Rodriguez locked up in the middle of the ring before the two exchanged standing switches with no clear advantage for either woman. Rodriguez soon gained momentum with consecutive shoulder blocks, but Flair responded with a rough-looking hurricanrana, followed by a clothesline and a crossbody to the outside. In the background, Kiana James was seen talking with Giulia.

At ringside, Roxanne Perez tried to sneak up on Flair, but Alexa Bliss warded her off. This allowed Rodriguez to take advantage as she tossed Flair onto the ringpost, which sent us to our first break of the evening.

We resumed with Rodriguez lifting up Flair in a modified torture rack submission, but eventually got countered. Rodriguez maintained her advantage with a series of stomps and strikes onto the downed Flair, followed by a twisting Vader Bomb. Flair recovered and began to light up Rodriguez’s chest with her signature chops, followed by a somersault clothesline. Flair delivered a German suplex as she headed up to the top and connected with a crossbody. Rodriguez rolled right through and turned it into a tornado powerslam of her own for the near-fall.

Rodriguez attempted to lift Flair up for the Tejano Bomb, but Flair countered and hit a big boot. Roxanne Perez tried to create a distraction, but this allowed Alexa Bliss to take advantage as she struck Rodriguez with one of her pompoms, as Flair rolled her up for the pin and win.

Charlotte Flair def. Raquel Rodriguez

A decent match to start the show, but the bigger story is how well-received Flair and Bliss’s “Allies of Convenience” tag team has been with fans. Perhaps Flair’s excellent Players’ Tribune article from last week has helped gain her new fans, but in any case, I’m enjoying this storyline so far.

**********

– Adam Pearce was confronted by three police officers, who were seeking Jacob Fatu as a “person of interest”. The cops found Fatu in another area and walked off with him to get some answers from him regarding the hit and run from the start of the broadcast.

– A video package showing Tiffany Stratton and Jade Cargill talking about their impending WWE Women’s Championship Match at SummerSlam was shown.

– The commentators discussed the ongoing situation with Ron Killings, Aleister Black, and Damian Priest, including Black’s attack on Priest last week. We then went to Earlier Today footage of Priest looking for Black, and being confronted by Carmelo Hayes. Priest said that he didn’t know why he was trying to play peacemaker, because he’s the man who goes into the ring and gets business done. This led to Hayes challenging Priest to a match for tonight.

– We got a vignette for the new Naked Gun movie that focused on Cody Rhodes’ cameo in the film, which releases on August 1st.

Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest

Hayes got things started with a sneak attack as Priest was playing to the crowd on the top rope. Priest soon recovered with a big boot to the fast, which allowed him to finally take off his entrance jacket. In the corner, Priest worked over Hayes with repeated strikes, as he then sent him out to the ring with an elbow to the face. Outside the ring, Hayes slipped free from Priest’s grasp and dropkicked him against the ringpost, which took us to the break.

Our show continued with Hayes having the advantage over Priest as he trash-talked him. Priest got himself hyped up and took advantage of Hayes’ hubris and struck him with a flurry of offense. Priest targeted Hayes for his clothesline, but got suckered in with an arm guillotine across the top rope. Hayes took over with a springboard clothesline as he tuned up the band for some Sweet Chin Music in Shawn Michaels’ hometown. Priest countered, but Hayes delivered his own version of La Mistica and escaped a Razor’s Edge attempt from his foe.

On the top rope, Hayes couldn’t connect with dive, as he escaped another South of Heaven attempt from Priest. Hayes headed up top once again and hit a frog splash on Priest for the two count. The battle spilled outside as Priest slammed Hayes across the commentary table. Priest tried to go for Old School, but Aleister Black appeared on the apron and tripped him up to cause the disqualification.

Black laid out Priest with the Black Mass kick as Hayes backed out of the ring wisely.

Damian Priest def. Carmelo Hayes via Disqualification

This match was really picking up steam up until the disqualification, but the Black vs. Priest feud should be interesting. Of course, Ron Killings, after his big return at Money in the Bank, seems kind of like an afterthought once he left John Cena’s orbit, which is odd, given how he’s a central figure of this feud.

**********

– We got a creepy video of the Wyatt Sicks where they talked about their plans for the SmackDown tag team division and their quest to strip the division of their vanities and desires one by one.

Solo Sikoa and The M.F.T.s’ frame-up revealed

The United States Champion and his faction headed to the ring to discuss the accident that had happened to them at the start of tonight’s SmackDown.

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight is the perfect example of who Jacob Fatu really is,” started off Sikoa. According to Sikoa, without his guidance, Fatu is reckless, doesn’t care about anybody, and all he cares about is himself. Sikoa took credit for giving everything to Fatu, bringing him to WWE, and making him a champion. He said that Fatu didn’t deserve any of this because he was so selfish for betraying his family. “Once a criminal, always a criminal,” said Sikoa.

Backstage, we saw Jacob Fatu arriving at the arena as he was apparently not the person of interest that the police were looking for. Incensed, Fatu headed down to the ring and was ready for a fight with Sikoa and the M.F.T.s. As Fatu was making his way down to the ring, Jimmy Uso got the drop on the group with an ambush. Fatu and Uso laid waste to the M.F.T.s until Tala Tonga pulled Uso out and looked like he was about to chokeslam Uso through the commentary table. Fatu took Tala out with a dive to the outside.

Tala recovered and emerged from the commentary table. He eventually got taken down by a double team superkick party from Uso and Fatu. A Fatu-assisted crossbody by Uso took Tala out over the timekeepers area. Fatu attacked Sikoa inside the ring and was about to hit a hip attack with a chair draped over Sikoa’s neck. J.C. Mateo intercepted Fatu, which gave Sikoa enough time to escape. This was a bad move, as Fatu and Uso proceeded to take out their frustrations on Mateo and Tanga Loa.

The voice of Adam Pearce interrupted, as he announced for SummerSlam that Sikoa will defend his United States Championship against Fatu in a steel cage match. He then called for the cops to arrest Sikoa for framing Fatu for the “accident” earlier. As Sikoa and the M.F.T.s were being taken away by the cops, Fatu and Uso stood tall in the ring.

This was a pretty fun segment, I must say, and the alliance between Jacob Fatu and Jimmy Uso is one I didn’t expect to end up enjoying like I did here tonight.

**********

– We got a recap of a brawl that broke out on Jimmy Kimmel Live as Jelly Roll and Randy Orton got into it with Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre, including Jelly Roll chokeslamming Paul through a table.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Alba Fyre (w/ Piper Niven)

Fyre and Vaquer traded offense early on in the match as things kicked off fast and furious. Vaquer headbutted Fyre and looked to hit a dive from the apron, but she was intercepted by a kick from Fyre. Vaquer then got rocked by a dive to the outside by Fyre. In the ring, Vaquer recovered with a kick of her own as she then delivered the Devil’s Kiss to the delight of everyone.

Fyre attempted for a Gory Special, but Vaquer countered and finished things off with the SVB for the victory.

After the match, Piper Niven attacked Vaquer and looked to hit the Viper Bomb, but Vaquer escaped and managed to fend off Niven with a superkick.

Stephanie Vaquer def. Piper Niven

This was honestly tragically short. I think Vaquer and Niven could’ve gone on a bit longer than what they had to work with here, which is a shame because both women are talented and can certainly go in a match that lasts longer than three minutes or so.

**********

– The Street Profits were asked about their loss to the Wyatt Sicks last week. They said that the Wyatts as the WWE Tag Champions is not a reality they want to face, and that they’ll be coming for the tag titles again. #DIY confronted the Profits and mocked them for losing last week as they headed down for the tag team fatal four-way coming up next.

Fatal Four-Way Tag Match: #DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. Rey Fenix & Andrade vs. Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)

We kicked off with Sabin and Frazer starting off the action as the two traded acrobatics with one another until #DIY snuck in and attacked both men. This prompted Andrade and Rey Fenix to enter the fray as things broke down. Fraxiom intercepted the two with superkicks as they tried for a dive of their own. The Machine Guns pulled Frazer and Axiom out of the ring and ended up getting their dives in on Gargano and Ciampa to the outside, as we took a break in the action.

SmackDown returned with Shelley and Sabin fending off the #DIY duo, as Axiom tagged himself into the match. The masked Axiom and Frazer proceeded to get their moments in with a bonanza of dives on all their opponents. A modified Total Elimination nearly brought Fraxiom the win, but Andrade interrupted and got himself into the match with a tag.

Andrade and Fenix united with amazing chemistry as Fenix nailed Axiom with the spinning kick in the corner, followed by the Three Amigos on Frazer. A frog splash by Fenix saw the pin get interrupted by the Machine Guns. Things broke down briefly between all four teams as they brawled it out in the ring. It turned into total chaos as Andrade and Fenix took advantage of the situation.

#DIY tagged themselves in and took out Fenix and Andrade as a Project Ciampa from Tommaso Ciampa on Axiom was unable to put this one in the books. We got another break at this point of the match.

Our main event match trucked along with Sabin and Shelley on a roll and having Axiom at their mercy for Skull and Bones. Andrade and Fenix broke things up as the former headed up top. Axiom stopped Andrade’s advance and hit the Spanish Fly to the top rope followed by Frazer’s Phoenix Splash. #DIY attempted to steal the victory, but Andrade and Fenix intervened in the nick of time. In the ensuing chaos, only Andrade and Ciampa were left as Candice LeRae tried to draw the distraction. Ciampa tried to roll up Andrade, but couldn’t get the win.

Gargano and Ciampa attempted a double team, but a malfunction at the junction between the #DIY duo led to the finish, as Fenix took Gargano out with a dive to the outside, which left Ciampa at the mercy of Andrade’s Message and the three.

Andrade & Rey Fenix def. #DIY, Fraxiom, and Motor City Machine Guns via Pinfall

That was a fast and frenetic tag match that I really enjoyed. Just some tremendous action from these four teams from start to finish.

**********

Next Week on SmackDown

  • WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Wyatt Sicks’ Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix
  • Alexa Bliss vs. Roxanne Perez
  • Jelly Roll, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Logan Paul appear live

Cody Rhodes & John Cena contract signing

Raw GM Adam Pearce — who was filling in for Nick Aldis tonight — was in the ring as he introduced both Cody Rhodes and John Cena for the contract signing for their Undisputed Men’s WWE World Championship match at SummerSlam.

Rhodes entered first and didn’t waste time in signing the match contract before he asked San Antonio what they wanted to talk about. He talked appreciation about being made to feel like a Texan, because his father and brother were Texans. Rhodes talked about a post that was overanalyzed but the message was clear: do not flinch and thanks for coming along for the ride. He discussed about how he didn’t flinch for hsi return, fighting with a torn pec, fighting his best friend, and when the Final Boss came for his spot. However, as Rhodes said, he flinched at WrestleMania when he lost to John Cena. Rhodes said it was an unenviable task to be the one to take it away from one of the most beloved wrestlers in our game, but this was important for him.

At this point, Cena made his way down to the ring. Once inside the ring, Cena said that he had some bad news for Rhodes, that he wasn’t going to be at SummerSlam. This was supposedly because he was filming a movie for Netflix in New York, and advised to not take part in anything physical as a result. Cena claimed that this was a decision only made tonight, and one that was a “tough decision” because it was best for business.

Cena said that the crowd didn’t know how hard it was for him to be here tonight, and that right now, physically and emotionaly, just being here is all he can give the crowd. Cena thanked the crowd for his patience and understanding in this matter. Cena walked out of the ring as Rhodes took off his jacket and started to fight on the ramp.

The fight broke down as Cena got the upper hand. He retrieved the WWE Championship and looked like he was going to blast Rhodes with it, but Cody intercepted him with a kick. The title belt ended up in Rhodes’ hands as he smashed it across Cena’s face. WIth Cena stunned on the table, Rhodes headed up top and crushed Cena with a diving splash. Afterwards, Rhodes used Cena’s hand to sign the contract as he revealed that it was going to be a Street Fight at SummerSlam for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

SmackDown ended with Rhodes holding the WWE Title and standing tall over Cena in the process.

**********

Cena using his Hollywood position for heel heat to beg off defending his title was a nice heel move and a nice twist on the old contract signing trope, and the Street Fight stipulation does add some sauce to the WWE Title rematch at SummerSlam. Hopefully, Travis Scott doesn’t decide to amble back into the proceedings once again.

This was actually a good edition of SmackDown featuring a fantastic tag match and some entertaining in-ring segments with the M.F.T.s/Fatu & Uso stuff, plus the contract signing angle to cap off the show. It was certainly better than last week’s effort, that’s for sure.

WWE NXT live results: The fallout from Great American Bash

Posted on by Chris Aiken

The fallout from Great American Bash takes place on WWE NXT tonight — and the episode will also help set the stage for TNA Slammiversary.

At Sunday’s TNA pay-per-view, Trick Williams is defending his TNA World Championship against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a triple threat match. But those three will be teammates tonight when they take on DarkState in a six-man tag. The bout comes after DarkState left Hendry and Santana laying at Great American Bash. Williams claimed that he had nothing to do with his upcoming challengers being attacked.

Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe defeated Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley in the Great American Bash main event. The partnership between Grace & Monroe didn’t last long, though, with Monroe betraying Grace the next night at WWE Evolution. The turn helped cost Grace her NXT Women’s Championship challenge against Jayne, who now has a winner-take-all match against TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich at Slammiversary.

An appearance by Jayne will kick off tonight’s show.

The D’Angelo Family implosion continues as Tony D’Angelo, Stacks, and Luca Crusifino look to settle business in a triple threat match.

Plus, Evolve Women’s Champion Kali Armstrong defends against Karmen Petrovic.

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

**********

The show is on the air from a sound stage at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando in front of a live studio audience.

A recap of The Great American Bash catches up viewers on the happenings at the PLE last Saturday. Opening the show from the sound stage is the entrance of the trio known as Fatal Influence. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne is flanked by Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz.

NXT Women’s Champ Jacy Jayne addresses the audience

Jayne first apologizes for her raspy voice, and she blames it on Jordynne Grace hitting her in the throat over the weekend. Jayne goes on to address the “elephant in the room,” which is her not doing well at The Bash.

Jayne blames her partners, and she especially casts blame on Nyz. Jayne says Nyz did her best, but her best is not good enough next to someone like Jayne herself. Luckily for Nyz and Henley, Jayne says they redeemed themselves at Evolution, where Jayne shocked the crowd again by winning.

Henley chimes in to put over Jayne. Henley says Jayne will be champion for a long time to come. Jayne also says she will do what no person has done before, like this Sunday when she goes one-on-one with the TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich. Jayne insults Slamovich until Slamovich interrupts the in-ring promo.

Slamovich gets in the ring to confront Jayne and Fatal Influence. Slamovich’s microphone was not working well, so Henley gave her a microphone. Slamovich says the only reason the interference of Blake Monros is the only reason Jayne retained her title at Evolution. Slamovich vows to be the first TNA wrestler to hold the NXT Women’s Championship.

Jayne scoffs and starts cutting a promo on Slamovich when Jayne is interrupted by the entrance of NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and Zaria. Ruca cuts a promo on Jayne, and Ruca says her money is on Slamovich. Zaria adds that Ruca was the MVP of this weekend. Okay, sure.

Zaria and Ruca get in the ring to confront Fatal Influence. Nyx gets to cut a promo. Soon thereafter, a brawl erupts. The babyfaces clear the ring of the heel trio. This sets up a six-women tag team match, which is officially announced after a commercial break.

— Tony D’Angelo is the focus of a video package that recaps The Family’s history in NXT. The title of part one is “Birth of the Don.” More to come later in the show as they hype the “family business” triple threat match for later tonight.

TNA World Champion Trick Williams, Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. Darkstate (Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin, & Saquon Shugars with Cutler James)

During the entrance of Darkstate, Santana leaps over the ropes with a tope con hilo. Besides getting knocked down before the bell, Darkstate has lost almost all of their mystique. They are just another faction in NXT at this point.

The tag bout goes through a commercial break with a heat spot. The heel faction works over Santana. When the show returns from the break, Hendry cleans house after a hot tag.

Darkstate are all thrown out of the ring. Santana and Hendry then deck Trick when she starts cutting a promo on them. Santana and Hendry then do stereo dives outside the ring.

Suddenly, TNA faction known as The System run in to brawl with Darkstate, Hendry and Santana join in as the referee calls for the bell. No official word on the actual result, so I’m guessing a no contest.

Match Result: No finish after outside interference

— A skit in the locker room sets up a match between Karmen Petrovic and WWE Evolve Champion Kali Armstrong. Arianna Grace is also involved in the skit.

— Jordynne Grace arrives to the building, and Vic Joseph on commentary says she “looks pissed.”

— Part two of the Tony D’Angleo saga is titled “Enter the Underboss”.

WWE Evolve Champion Kali Armstrong vs. Karmen Petrovic

Shortly after the match starts, Jordynne Grace runs down to ringside and trips Armstrong. Grace gets into the ring and suplexes Petrovic. Grace calls out Blake Monroe, and Grace demands that Monroe immediately come to the ring.

Match result: No contest when Jordynne Grace runs in

Out comes Stevie Turner and Robert Stone, who are presumably acting under the authority of Ava. Turner and Stone argue with Garce until a video package starts playing, which tells the story of Monroe turning on Grace. The video includes a narration that seems like a ripoff of Toni Storm’s current gimmick. In this particular video, Monroe is a bathtub. She invites everyone to her NXT debut next week.

Grace goes berserk in the ring when she attacks Stone and Turner. Grace clotheslines Turner and gives Stone a spinebuster. Security comes out trying to wrangle Grace.

— Team Undertaker from LFG are talking backstage when in walks Trick Williams. He yells at them to move out of his way. Williams bullies them and leaves. Not sure what this skit accomplishes, but Team Undertaker gets a call from The Undertaker himself as the show cuts to a commercial break.

— NXT General Manager Ava talks with Jasper Troy about him attacking people. If he wants to prove himself in NXT, Ava says to do it in matches she approves for him. Troy defends himself by saying Saints entered his territory. Ava says this is NXT, where they settle things in the ring. (Sure Ava, of course they do considering this show begins with two matches that ends in a no contest due to run-ins.) Ava books a match for next week with Troy against Saints next Tuesday in Houston.

— “Rise & Fall of the Family” is the title of for part three of the D’Angelo Family saga. This hypes the triple threat that is up next on NXT.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Lash Legend, who brags about being one of the last two remaining in a battle royal at Evolution. She was thrown out by Stephanie Vaquer, but Legend still brags on herself in this interview. Jaida Parker interrupts her to brag about her performance in the battle royal. Both Legend and Parker vow to confront the women’s champion in Houston.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo vs. Luca Crusifino in a “family business” triple threat match

D’Angelo turns his back to both of his opponents after the opening bell, lulling Stacks into an attack. “The Don” fights off both Stacks and Crusifino. Stacks goes to retrieve a hidden crowbar, only to discover that D’Angelo found and disposed of the weapon.

The fight eventually spills outside. D’Angelo and Crusifino are fighting on the apron when Stacks knocks them off the ring apron. From there, the match goes through a split-screen commercial break. The triple threat continues after the show returns from the break.

In a big high spot, “The Don” with a hip toss sends Stacks into a flip dive over the ropes. Crusifino catches him on the floor. Stacks retrieves a crowbar, and D’Angelo blocks it only to for Stacks to send him crashing in the steps.

They do some clever triple threat spots that includes a double German suplex. The also do a Tower of Doom spot where Crusifino powerbombs D’Angelo while Stacks takes a superplex.

Crusifino gets his time to shine, and he gets a near fall on Stacks. Crusifino grabs the crowbar, but Stacks posts him and takes the crowbar. Just as Stacks is about use the crowbar as a weapon, D’Angelo strikes out of nowhere with a spear. D’Angelo spears Stacks through a gimmicked section of the wall in a stunt. Stacks then comically shoots out of the hole like a bullet after presumably being launched by D’Angelo.

D’Angelo gives Crusifino a spinebuster on the announce desk, and D’Angelo roll into the ring to give Stacks a spinebuster. D’Angelo then covers Stacks for a three count.

Match result: Tony D’Angelo wins via pinfall

— Wren Sinclair defends her throwing in the towel for Tavion Heights last week. Up walks Charlie Dempsey to gloat. Sinclair reveals she is booked in a match next week against Blake Monroe. The match is in Sinclair’s home state of Texas, but I do not like her chances for winning against a debuting Monroe.

— Josh Briggs is heading to the ring for a monologue.

NXT Champion Oba Femi confronts Josh Briggs

Briggs begins with an in-ring promo where he bemoans no getting a NXT title shot. Briggs mentions his pal Inamura getting a shot, but Briggs has yet to get his own title match.

Out comes Oba Femi to confront Briggs. Femi says Briggs’ presence in Femi’s title defense against Inamura raises some doubts. Yet, Femi insists “The Ruler” would have always won. But now people are questioning the validity of Femi’s win because of Brigg’s involvement. Femi says Briggs ruined the match.

When Femi accuses Briggs of being jealous of Inamura, Briggs snaps back by cutting a promo on Femi. Briggs says Femi might know Inamura as a man of honor, but Briggs is not.

Inamura comes through the crowd with a microphone in hand. Inamura gets into the ring while saying Briggs does not speak for him. Briggs and Femi bicker some more. Femi says Inamura deserves a rematch, but scoffs at the idea of Briggs getting a shot.

Inamura stops Briggs to say he will do what it takes to win, but Inamura will do so with honor. Briggs suggests a triple threat match for the NXT title next week in Houston. Femi asks if that is really what Briggs wants, and Briggs jumps Femi. A brawl erupts in the ring, where Briggs inadvertently elbows Inamura. When officials and referees pour out, they must separate Briggs and Inamura. Looks like a triple threat title match is set for next Tuesday.

— NXT North American Champion Ethan Page is the focus of a video package where he brags about retaining the title against Ricky Saints at The Bash.

— Kelly Kincaid interviews Saints, and Saints cuts a promo on Jasper Troy ahead of their match next week in Houston.

— On social media, Undertaker confirms an appearance next Tuesday on NXT.

NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca, Zaria & TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich vs. Fatal Influence (NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyz)

For some reason, Lexis King is watching the match in the stands with the live studio audience. He is also wearing headphones. Ava takes exception to this, so she confronts him in the middle of this match. Ava rips off the headphones and yells at him.

Meanwhile, Sol Ruca was shinning in the match. The heel trios works together to underhandedly gain the upper hand on Ruca. Fatal Influence are in control as the show cuts to a picture-in-picture commercial break.

Hot tag and Zaria is a house of fire. Zaria is soon cut off, but she makes a quick comeback. Slamovich tags in and cleans house. Slamovich is also cut off by the heel trio.

Out comes The Culling with Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley. In the ensuing commotion at ringside, Ruca knocks down Paxley, and Zaria does a running senton off the apron on Dame. Ruca is yelling at Shawn Spears and Niko Vance at ringside. NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank run down to fight with Spears and Vance. Meanwhile, Ruca and Zaria brawl with Dame and Paxley. The leaves Slamovich at a disadvantage, as the heels have a three-on-one advantage. That does not stop Slamovich.

Slamovich is holding her own, and she delivers a brainbuster on Jayne. Slamovich then covers Jayne for a three count.

Match result: Slamovich, Ruca & Zaria win when Slamovich pinned Jayne

WWE Raw live results: Number one contender’s gauntlet

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: July 14, 2025
Location: Legacy Arena in Birmingham, AL 

The Big Takeaway —

CM Punk won a gauntlet match to earn a world title match against Gunther at SummerSlam. Bron Breakker ran the full gauntlet—beating Penta, LA Knight and Jey Uso—for 42 minutes before ultimately losing to Punk. 

Roman Reigns returned following the main event to take out Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, and it appears he may have a date with Breakker at SummerSlam. It was clear they’ve decided to start pushing Breakker following Seth Rollins’ apparent injury. (There was no update on Rollins tonight.) 

A night after Evolution, women dominated Raw up until the gauntlet match. Naomi will defend her world title in a triple-threat match at SummerSlam against Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley. Lyra Valkyria beat Bayley in a 2-out-of-3 falls match and will face Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental title at SummerSlam. 

**********

Show Recap — 

A big video package highlighted Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution. Gunther, Jey Uso, CM Punk (wearing a Bret Hart hat), Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman arrived at the arena. 

Michael Cole and Corey Graves are tonight’s announcers. (Pat McAfee is at the Home Run Derby, which is on right now.)

Naomi segment

Naomi entered with her new Women’s World Championship belt. The crowd, of course, chanted, “You deserve it.” Naomi cut them off because she didn’t want to hear that now. They weren’t feeling the glow before, but they were feeling her now. They all thought she would cash in on Tiffany Stratton, but she warned them that nobody knew her next move, and that’s why she stood there as the champion. The crowd cheered. 

Naomi was done with the foolishness of SmackDown. She didn’t betray Bianca Belair—she outgrew her. She said Belair and Jade Cargill didn’t really want her to succeed. She was their flunky as long as it was convenient for them. She cut off some “What” chants and said she had the upper hand now, bitches. 

Cargill got a win at Evolution, but Naomi is the one who made history. Naomi was new on Raw again, but she advised the raggedy women in the back to proceed with caution. 

Rhea Ripley interrupted to a big reaction. Ripley informed Naomi that she wasn’t cautious. She was relentless and pissed. She had two goals at Evolution: to finally beat Iyo Sky and regain the title, but because of Naomi, she still had those goals. Now Naomi was on her list. 

Iyo Sky interrupted next, also to a good reaction. She told Ripley, with respect, to get in line because she planned on taking her title back. 

Naomi, making fun of Sky’s English, responded, “I don’t know what you just said,” and people laughed. Naomi called them entitled and told them to get to the back of the line. 

They began arguing until Adam Pearce interrupted. Pearce officially welcomed Naomi to Raw and told her she did deserve to be champion. Pearce understood why Ripley and Sky were pissed. He said their match was magic. 

SummerSlam was soon, and he wanted to blow the roof off MetLife Stadium. (There is no roof at that stadium.) He announced a triple-threat match for the title. All three women were content with this, and the fans cheered. 

********

Judgment Day met backstage. Dominik said he couldn’t relax with AJ Styles stalking him. Finn Bálor said he had nothing to worry about as long as he had his doctor’s note. 

Bálor put over Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez for their big win last night. Bálor suggested Dom accompany them to ringside for their match tonight, but Dom wasn’t sure about that. Bálor said Liv Morgan loved those titles, so they should do it for her. Everyone left, and Bálor was pleased. 

********

They posted some stat claiming that all three events this past weekend drew 277 million views across all social platforms. They could have said 500 million, and it would’ve been just as meaningful. 

******** 

Asuka and Kairi Sane entered ahead of a commercial break. Since moving to Netflix, they’ll often cut away during break to a backstage interview or something, but they didn’t do that here, so the two women just danced to their music for two straight minutes. 

Non-title match: Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (w/Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio) vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane 

Like last night, Asuka and Sane were all over Perez until Rodriguez came in to get the momentum on their side. Asuka made a hot tag after a break, but the crowd seemed more focused on telling Dom that he sucked. 

Dom tried to distract the referee, but it made no difference. Asuka posted Rodriguez and hit Perez with a missile dropkick, strikes, and a German suplex. 

Dom got on the apron again, so Asuka knocked him off with a back fist. Perez used the distraction to put her in a schoolboy for the pinfall win (Rodriguez used her boot to assist Perez). 

Match result: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez defeated Asuka & Kairi Sane (10:24)

This was pretty much a nothing match. It felt like they just wanted to get the champs a cheap win with Dom’s help, and Asuka and Sane were on the wrong side of it. 

********

Jackie Redmond asked Heyman for an update on Seth Rollins. Heyman didn’t have that information, but reminded her that Rollins had until next June to cash in his MITB briefcase (which Heyman held). Heyman said it was Bron Breakker’s night to go through everyone in the gauntlet, punch his ticket at SummerSlam, and beat Gunther for the world title. 

********

Byron Saxton interviewed LA Knight during a break. Knight said he came out of SNME with a win. It was unfortunate Rollins was injured, and Knight wished him a speedy recovery. Knight wanted Rollins to recover because he wanted to hurt him. Rollins hurt himself before he had a chance. Knight wanted Rollins to return so he could hurt him the right way. Knight admitted he wasn’t 100%, but he planned on running the gauntlet with a world title shot on the line. 

They aired a clip of George Kittle laying out The Miz (Mike Mizanin, not Jacob Misiorowski) at a celebrity golf event over the weekend. 

********

Redmond interviewed Lyra Valkyria about her 2-out-of-3 falls match against Bayley tonight (with a title shot on the line). Valkyria didn’t like the question. She didn’t want to talk about Bayley. It was all about her and Becky Lynch. After she won tonight, Redmond could ask her about her title match against Lynch at SummerSlam. 

Bayley interrupted. Bayley told Valkyria she needed this more than she did and told her to stay out of her way. 

2-out-of-3 falls match: Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

Valkyria got the better of an early exchange and dismissively patted Bayley on the head. Bayley slapped Valkyria in the face and rolled her up for the first pinfall, just 1 minute and 25 seconds into the match. It was good timing by Bayley because they went to break moments later. 

After the break, Valkyria went hard into the turnbuckle, and Bayley noticed she might be hurt. Bayley hesitated for a moment but began targeting her back. Bayley hit a back suplex onto the apron, followed by a spinning back suplex in the ring for two. Bayley tried a la magistral cradle, but Valkyria caught her in a rollup for a pinfall at 9:32. It’s tied at one. 

Bayley responded quickly with a running knee strike ahead of another break. Valkyria drove Bayley’s leg against the post and began working over her knee. Bayley fought back after the break after dropping Valkyria over the middle rope. Valkyria fought back and went for a diving leg drop, but Bayley caught her and hit a Bayley-to-belly for a nearfall. 

Valkyria suplexed Bayley out of the corner and hit a gutwrench sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall. (Cole thought it was Valkyria’s finisher.) Valkyria followed later with a fisherman’s suplex on the apron. They traded cradles as Bayley sold her leg. 

They found their way to the outside, and Bayley gave Valkyria a sunset flip powerbomb into the steel steps. Bayley shoved her in the ring and hit a flying elbow drop onto Valkyria’s back for a nearfall. 

Bayley immediately applied a crossface. Valkyria crawled to the ropes, but Bayley pushed off. Valkyria used the momentum to get to her feet while hoisting Bayley on her shoulders, and she hit Nightwing for the pinfall win. 

— Lynch marched out to the ring and held her belt up high as she faced off with Valkyria. 

(Cole made some comment about Bayley’s losing streak continuing. She has now lost two in a row, but isn’t on some significant losing streak.) 

Match result: Lyra Valkyria defeated Bayley to earn a Women’s Intercontinental Championship match (19:57) 

This was a good match, and the crowd got into it more as it went. It felt like a big win for Valkyria. 

********

Redmond interviewed Stephanie Vaquer backstage. Vaquer said she came to WWE to be champion, and after Clash in Paris, she will be. Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice interrupted. Green thought she would represent them better in Paris than Vaquer. Vaquer dared her to take a shot. Green hid behind her cronies and said she was busy with Nikki Bella tonight. 

There was a pre-taped promo by Karrion Kross and Scarlett. Kross basically accused Sami Zayn of ducking him and didn’t think he was injured. Kross told Zayn to stay home until he was ready to tell the world that Kross told the truth. 

******** 

Nikki Bella vs. Chelsea Green (w/Piper Niven & Alba Fyre)

Bella was all over Green, so Green bailed outside and hid behind Niven and Fyre. When they returned to the ring, Bella went to the ropes, but Green kicked her leg out of her leg and hit a backstabber to take over. 

There were duelling chants, and this may have been the most definitive example of the men chanting for one wrestler (Green), and the women chanting for the other (Bella). 

Nikki came back with clotheslines and a springboard kick for two. Green followed with a neckbreaker for two. Green went for an Unprettier, but Nikki hit a “Bella Buster” (X-factor). Niven distracted the referee while Fyre tried to attack Bella, but Bella posted her. 

This led to the finish, which was a struggle. After a lengthy attempt, Bella eventually got Green on her shoulders and hit a “Rack Attack 2.0” (which didn’t look good at all) for the pinfall win. 

— Niven and Fyre attacked Bella after the match, but Vaquer ran out to make the save. She cleared the ring and posed with Bella. 

Match result: Nikki Bella defeated Chelsea Green (6:23) 

This was no good at all. 

********

(It should be noted that Raw started with a women’s talking segment and three consecutive women’s matches, the night after an all-women’s PPV.) 

Backstage, New Day were dressed in all-black, mourning their tag title loss. They had a gift for Pearce, presented by Grayon Waller. He offered Pearce a wig on a silver platter. Kofi Kingston figured this gift was enough to get a title rematch. Pearce said they don’t just “get” a rematch, but they would get a chance to earn one next week. He told them not to flip their wig and flipped the plate over. 

Pearce left upon seeing Judgment Day nearby. He didn’t buy Dom’s injury after seeing him get involved earlier. He said he spoke to WWE medical, who would reevaluate Dom next week. If cleared, he would defend the title against AJ Styles at SummerSlam. 

Styles was nearby, literally praying to God that Dom get cleared. Dom didn’t like this, so he pleaded with God, too. 

********

Gunther got in Penta’s face as he walked through the back. Gunther is up next. 

Saxton interviewed American Made backstage. He asked about El Grande Americano. They said it was clearly Ludwig Kaiser. Saxton asked about the earlier Chad Gable rumours, but Ivy Nile ignored him. Nile said everyone was on notice. 

********

Redmond asked Rusev what he planned on doing next after beating Sheamus. Rusev said people called him a God, but maybe he was a saint fending off Irish snakes. Now the world knew what he always knew, that he was better than Sheamus. 

Sheamus interrupted. He said he spoke to Pearce, who agreed that Rusev was a dirty, cheating bastard, so he issued a rematch. (This didn’t get much of a reaction.) Rusev said he was here to dominate gold, not gingers. He left. 

********

Gunther segment 

Gunther entered, and he was in a good mood after retiring Goldberg. Some fans chanted for Goldberg. Gunther said the fans weren’t very bright because Goldberg obviously wasn’t there. (The fans chanted, “You tapped out,” instead, and for some reason, they began censoring it, maybe thinking it was something else.) 

Gunther said he fulfilled every promise. He bullied, humiliated, blew up, and choked out Goldberg—and ended his myth. There was only one question to ask: “Who’s next?” 

He knew the answer would come soon. He would watch from a suite as five of the finest competitors would compete for his amusement—and to identify his SummerSlam challenger. He didn’t care who it was. Before he could finish his thought, Breakker and Heyman interrupted. 

Heyman shook Gunther’s hand. He began introducing himself as usual, but Gunther cut him off. Gunther simply wasn’t interested, so he began leaving the ring—until Breakker cut him off. Breakker faced off with Gunther as Heyman cut a promo. 

Heyman said Breakker would run the gauntlet and beat Gunther for the title. Heyman knew that was no easy task. He saw how Gunther beat Goldberg. But you haven’t been speared until you’ve been speared by Bron Breakker. 

Breakker was “the next big thing” and “the big dog.” This was his “yard,” and he was a Steiner. He would break through the glass ceiling and break Gunther’s ass at SummerSlam. There’s going to be a new World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam, and his name is Bron Breakker. 

Bron stepped aside, and Gunther left.

******** 

World Heavyweight Championship number one contender’s gauntlet match

– Bron Breakker vs. Penta 

Bron had control for a while (and through a break), and the crowd seemed to be getting restless until Penta made his comeback. Penta tried a springboard move, but Bron speared him out of the air for the pinfall win. That got a good reaction. (This went just under 10 minutes.) 

Penta has lost five matches in a row. His last singles win was against Chad Gable in May.

– Bron Breakker vs. LA Knight

Knight was in complete control early on, but they needed to go to another break, so Bron dropped him over the announce table to take over. A double clothesline spot led to a double-down, so the previously quiet crowd chanted, “This is awesome.” They did get into it from here. 

Knight fought back with jabs, a neckbreaker, DDT and a step-up flying elbow drop for two. Knight went for a BFT (Cole thought he was going for a neckbreaker), but Bron pushed him off. Bron tried a dropkick, but Knight hit a powerbomb. 

Knight tried the BFT again, but Bron raked his eyes and hit a lung blower. Bron followed with a spear for the pinfall win. (This also went about 10 minutes, and it was more entertaining than the previous match.) 

– Bron Breakker vs. Jey Uso

Jey immediately wiped out Bron with a suicide dive. They were headed to break, so Jey had them play his music again, and he Yeeted while Bron sold outside the ring. 

Jey was in control after the break and hit a running hip attack for two. Bron came back later with a Frankensteiner for two. Jey responded with superkicks and a spear for a nearfall. 

Jey went to the top, but Bronson Reed yanked him off the top. Cole said there were no DQs in a gauntlet match. I have no idea why that would be. No DQs meant the match continued, so Bron followed with a spear for the pinfall win. (This only went about 7 minutes.) 

– Bron Breakker vs. CM Punk 

Knowing Bron was exhausted, Punk immediately attacked him with his jacket still on. Punk sent Bron out of the ring and removed his jacket during a break. Punk held control through a break, but Bron caught him off the ropes and hit an overhead suplex. Bron stood over Punk and mocked his “It’s clobbering time” catchphrase. 

After Bron hit a vertical suplex, it sounded like Punk told him to take it easy, but I could be wrong. (Bron’s been in the ring for 35 minutes at this point.) 

Bron tried a Frankensteiner, but Punk countered into a cradle for a nearfall. Punk made his usual comeback and fended off some potential Reed interference before hitting a flying elbow drop for two. 

Punk applied an Anaconda Vice, so Reed attacked Punk. Again, no DQs. (That feels like such a cheat.) Jey Uso ran back out (to his music) to take out Reed. 

Bron went for a spear, but Punk booted him and hit GTS for the pinfall win. 

CM Punk will face Gunther at SummerSlam for the title. 

(This went about 10 minutes. Bron wrestled the full gauntlet match for about 42 minutes.)

— Reed attacked Punk as he celebrated. Jey tried to make the save, but Bron speared him. Bron speared Punk, too. They stacked up Punk and Jey so Reed could go for a double Tsunami, but Roman Reigns entered to a monster pop. 

Reigns hoisted Reed on his shoulders and hit a big Samoan drop. He gave Bron a Superman punch, and he speared Reed. 

Reigns helped Jey to his feet. Punk put his hands up for Reigns to help him up, too, likely knowing Reigns would never actually do that. Punk got to his feet, and they gave each other a knowing look before Reigns turned his attention to the heels on the stage. 

The crowd loudly chanted “OTC” and sang Roman’s name. Reigns stared at the heels as Punk embraced Jey, and the show ended. 

Match result: CM Punk won a gauntlet match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship (42:18)

**********

Official for SummerSlam so far: 

  • John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship 
  • Naomi (c) vs. Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship 
  • Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship 
  • Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship 
  • Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul 
  • Gunther (c) vs. CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship

WWE Evolution live results: IYO Sky vs. Rhea Ripley

Posted on by Steve Khan

WWE wraps up a busy weekend in pro wrestling with Evolution: their second-ever all-women’s premium live event and first since October 2018.

The show is headlined by IYO SKY defending the WWE Women’s World title against the woman she defeated for it: Rhea Ripley.

Tiffany Stratton defends the WWE Women’s title against former champion and legend Trish Stratus in her third match of the year.

Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria in a three-way while in a no holds barred grudge match, Jade Cargill takes on Naomi.

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against top contender Jordynne Grace while WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defend against Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Asuka & Kairi Sane, and Sol Ruca & Zaria.

The card is rounded out by a battle royal for a title shot at August’s Clash in Paris.

The main card starts at 8 PM Eastern.

**********

Show Recap — 

COUNTDOWN SHOW 

Michael Cole welcomed us to the pre-show, wrestlers arrived, and the show intro aired. 

The panel was hosted by three men and one woman: Cole, Big E, Wade Barrett, and Jackie Redmond. Cathy Kelley and Megan Morant (likely in place of Byron Saxton, who usually is in this spot) ran down some matches backstage.

Kelley interviewed Rhea Ripley following a video package for tonight’s main event. Ripley called tonight a must-win because she’s never beaten Iyo Sky, and that’s gone on for too long.

They will be recognizing women’s division “trailblazers” throughout the pre-show, and they started with quite the list: Fabulous Moolah, Lia Maivia, Sensational Sherri, Torrie Wilson, Molly Holly Jazz, Maryse, Michelle McCool, and Stephanie McMahon. 

Cole recalled Stephanie McMahon, in 2015, kicking off the “women’s revolution” by introducing Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch. Big E spoke about Bayley’s influence as well, and the panel spoke about tonight’s IC title three-way. 

********

Torrie Wilson joined the panel and got a nice reaction from the fans who have arrived so far. Wilson recalled crying throughout the first Evolution show, and she’s been emotional all day today. The women have come a long way and are complete badasses. She loved seeing the women rallying behind each other, and the best moments were often not caught on camera. 

She spoke about what it would have meant to her to have something like NXT and to train for a year. When she was around, she would learn new moves and have to perform them later that night. Sometimes the stress was unbearable. She often wondered how things would have been different if she had NXT. 

********

The next group of trailblazers shown were Mae Young, June Byers, Leilani Kai, Chyna, Ivory, Queen Sharmell, Melina, and Lita. They showed clips of Lita beating Trish Stratus for the title, the first time women main evented Raw. 

Morant interviewed Stratus backstage. She wanted to prove something to herself, but it was more about showing something to the young people watching, including her daughter. You didn’t have to fit in the box people put you in. You could evolve, keep going, and chase your dreams a little harder. It wasn’t over until you said so.

They previewed tonight’s NXT Women’s title match. 

Blake Monroe met with Jordynne Grace backstage. After some pleasantries, Grace asked Monroe to be in her corner tonight (to counter Fatal Influence). Monroe didn’t want to step on Grace’s moment, but Grace insisted, so she accepted. 

Shawn Michaels joined the panel to put over NXT. 

*******

Nikki Bella joined Kelley in the crowd for an interview. Bella said tonight was women’s empowerment. That was her passion and her love. It would mean everything to have her son see her earn a title shot and win a title. 

Kelley asked who she had her eye on in tonight’s battle royal, and Bella responded, “Stephanie.” She knew there would be a lot of competition, but she kept going back to Stephanie Vaquer. She repeatedly referred to Vaquer by only “Stephanie.” 

********

Jacqueline joined the panel, and she was pumped to be there. She spoke about how much it meant to be in the Hall of Fame. She paid her dues and hoped her career inspired today’s women. She also talked about beating Chavo Guerrero to become Cruiserweight champ. 

There was a feature on referees Jessika Carr and Daphanie LaShaunn. 

Big E gave shout-outs to a bunch of the women who work off-camera. Redmond was happy to hear Big E do this, and she spoke sincerely about the importance of this show as well. Big E ran down everything he looked forward to tonight, and his excitement was infectious.

The next group of trailblazers shown were Mildred Burke, Cora Combs, Alundra Blayze, Jacqueline, Stacy Keibler, Vickie Guerrero, Victoria, and Trish Stratus. 

The IC title three-way will open tonight’s show. 

********** 

WWE EVOLUTION 2025 

Bayley, Lyra Valkyria, Becky Lynch, Tiffany Stratton, Trish Stratus, Iyo Sky, and Rhea Ripley were shown arriving. A video intro played, using Katy Perry’s “Rise,” and there was a big fireworks display. 

Joe Tessitore, hosting from the crowd, welcomed us to the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. He hyped up tonight’s show (while clearly reading off a piece of paper). He brought out his co-host, Stephanie McMahon, and said nights like tonight would not have happened without her. 

McMahon said they had to prove with the first Evolution that they deserved their own show. Now, the women were regularly main-eventing, and the depth through NXT was unbelievable. 

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. Cole again recalled Stephanie McMahon ushering in the “women’s revolution” in 2015 by bringing in Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch.

Alicia Taylor is tonight’s ring announcer. 

They’re using the same stage setup as last night’s Saturday Night’s Main Event Show, so there is a narrow aisle to the ring.

********

Triple threat match for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria 

Match referee: Daphanie LaShaunn 

The bell rang, and the fans gave an ovation before the wrestlers got going. Bayley hyped up the crowd, but used the moment to deck Valkyria, who wasn’t expecting it. 

The first few minutes had everyone trading moves until Lynch suplexed Bayley into the barricade. More than three minutes after getting shoved into the steel steps, Valkyria woke up and wiped out both opponents with a flying crossbody. 

Valkyria hit Lynch with a fisherman’s suplex, but Bayley broke up the cover with a perfectly-timed flying elbow. The crowd popped big for that, and they got a “This is awesome” chant moments later. Bayley hit Lynch with a sunset flip powerbomb into an upside-down Valkyria in the corner for two. 

Lynch hit Bayley with a superplex, but Bayley repeatedly blocked attempts at submissions until Valkyria knocked down both women with a flying leg drop. This got another good pop and “This is awesome” chant. Lynch followed with a combo DDT/reverse DDT on both women and covered Valkyria for two. 

Lynch and Valkyria traded counters until Lynch hit a man-handle slam, but Bayley broke up the cover. (The camera quickly panned away from Bayley moments before, so you couldn’t see her as she hit the ring to break it up.) 

Bayley hit Lynch with a Bayley-to-belly, but Valkyria broke up that cover, and we got our third “This is awesome” chant. Valkyria hit Lynch with Nightwing, but, you guessed it, Bayley broke up the cover. 

Bayley hit Valkyria with a Rose Plant. Instead of breaking up that cover, Lynch flew in and caught Bayley in a backslide for the pinfall win. Lynch retains.

Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Bayley and Lyra Valkyria to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (16:25) 

This was a very fun match with a clever finish, and the eager crowd helped. They could probably do a rematch and have a completely different but equally good match. 

********

Ava and Mark Henry were shown in the crowd. A loud shrieking voice yelled, “Excuse me!” and they cut to Vickie Guerrero elsewhere in the crowd. This was just to give her a chance to say her catchphrase. She smiled and high-fived some fans. 

******* 

They aired a clip from earlier today of Jordynne Grace asking Blake Monroe to be in her corner tonight. 

NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (w/Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jordynne Grace (w/Blake Monroe) 

Match referee: Victoria D’Errico 

Grace had the early edge until Jayne catapulted her into the middle rope. Henley choked Grace while Jayne distracted the referee. Monroe didn’t react, perhaps because she didn’t see it, or perhaps for another reason. 

Jayne was in control until Grace hit a folding powerbomb for two. Jayne regained control and hit a draping neckbreaker for two. Jayne missed a corner cannonball, and they traded cradles until Grace hit a fisherman’s suplex for two. Jayne hit a hurricanrana off the top and a knee strike for a nearfall. 

Henley tossed the title belt in the ring, so Monroe headbutted her. The referee stopped Jayne from using the belt, and Grace rolled her up for two. Grace followed with a back fist. 

Nyx grabbed the belt next, so Monroe decked her. Monroe kept the belt in her hands, so you knew what was coming. 

Henley tried getting in the ring, which distracted the ref for a long time. Jayne whipped Grace into the ropes, and Monroe hit her in the back with the belt. Jayne followed with a discus punch for the pinfall win. 

— Fatal Influence were all surprised by Monroe’s actions. Monroe handed Jayne the belt, smiled at them, and left the ring. Grace (bleeding from the nose) was pissed. 

Match result: Jacy Jayne defeated Jordynne Grace to retain the NXT Women’s Championship (10:28) 

********

Jazz, Ivory, Jacqueline, and Maryse were in the crowd. 

Tessitore and McMahon killed time by discussing the previous match and previewing the upcoming match. 

******** 

Fatal Four-way Tag Team Match for the Women’s Tag Team Championships: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria

Match referee: Daphanie LaShaunn 

Asuka and Sane were all over Perez until Rodriguez tagged in and knocked them both down with a clothesline. Rodriguez and Perez were in control briefly as the crowd chanted, “We want Charlotte,” which I’m sure was music to her ears. Bliss got a good reaction when she tagged and went after Perez. 

Zaria tagged and easily blocked Bliss’ offence. She hit an inverted suplex, and Sol Ruca flew in with a springboard facebuster for two. 

The crowd cheered when Charlotte got a hot tag from Bliss, and she ran wild on Judgment Day. Charlotte was visibly happy with her reaction, and she continued on offence. She hit Perez with a spear for a nearfall. Rodriguez booted Charlotte and checked on Perez. Cole thought it was interesting that Rodriguez was checking on Perez (her partner). 

Asuka and Sane got their turn to shine next, but Zaria broke up Sane’s cover of Perez. Zaria tagged herself in and hit both Kabuki Warriors with a vertical suplex. Charlotte broke up a cover, so Sol Ruca hit Charlotte with a Sol Snatcher (which got a good pop). Moments later, Charlotte pulled Bliss from safety, and Zaria speared Sol Ruca by accident. 

Rodriguez powerbombed Bliss over the top rope and into Asuka, Sane and Zaria. Rodriguez instructed Perez to take out Charlotte, so she hit a suicide dive. Rodriguez hit Sol Ruca with a Tejana Bomb for the pinfall win. Judgment Day retains.

Match result: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez defeated Sol Ruca & Zaria, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, and Asuka & Kairi Sane to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championships (10:52) 

This match was fine, with some good spots mixed in. The finish was a bit abrupt, but the champs getting a decisive win isn’t the worst thing. The most notable thing was the big babyface reaction for Charlotte Flair (and Alexa Bliss). 

********

Torrie Wilson, Melina, and Molly Holly were in the crowd. 

They cut back to Tessitore and McMahon. Tessitore noted how handsome Paul Levesque (his boss) looked in his promo photo. Stephanie chuckled. 

******** 

WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus

Match referee: Jessika Carr

Stratus wore white gear with gold lining, Stratton wore all red. Stratus had the early edge, which caught Stratton off guard. Stratus brought Stratton down off the apron with a hurricanrana and hit a tornado DDT in the ring for two. 

Stratton went on offence and hit a vertical suplex into a backstabber (I think) for two. Stratton followed with a senton bomb for two. They traded counters until Stratus hit a Chick Kick for two. Stratton tried a PME, but Stratus got her knees up and hit Stratusfaction for a nearfall. 

Stratus went for a moonsault (tribute to Lita), but Stratton got her knees up. Stratton hit a Chick Kick of her own, followed by the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the pinfall win. Stratton retains. 

— After the match, they cut Stratton’s music so Stratus could get an ovation from the crowd. (This wasn’t her retirement match, but we don’t know when the next one will be.) 

Match result: Tiffany Stratton defeated Trish Stratus to retain the WWE Women’s Championship (8:37)

It’s probably not a good sign that Stratus, a part-timer (at most), looked much better than the current champion. Stratton’s stuff was really off early in the match. She did get better once it came time to do the big moves. Because this was a short match, that happened early enough, so the match wound up being fine. Stratus deserves some credit here. 

********

They showed Rey Mysterio throwing out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game. 

Alundra Blayze and Leilani Kai were in the crowd. This is still a WWE show, so they couldn’t only show the former wrestlers all night. Metro Boomin and Lil Yachty were also shown in the crowd.  

******** 

No Holds Barred match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi 

Special guest referee: Bianca Belair 

Naomi entered first and tried to attack Cargill during her entrance. Cargill cut her off, and they rang the bell to start the match. 

Cargill took forever to set up a table, and Belair went over to whisper something to her. The camera cut away from Cargill and focused on Naomi, who had to keep selling. Cargill eventually went after Naomi, but Naomi posted her. Cargill speared Naomi moments later, but Naomi gave her a bulldog onto a steel chair in the ring. 

Naomi wrapped a chain around Cargill’s face, but Cargill knocked her off the ropes, wrapped the chain around her fist, and punched Naomi. Cargill yanked a big camera out of the hands of a cameraperson and used it to hit Naomi. She followed by placing a trash can lid over Naomi and kicking it. 

Naomi rolled out of the ring, and Cargill tried to kill her by dropping a toolbox on her head, but Naomi avoided it. Naomi dropkicked Cargill into a random TV screen at ringside, and a smoke effect went off. 

A few minutes later, Naomi used a chair to shove Cargill off the apron, and Cargill crashed through the table she had set up earlier. Naomi followed with an X-factor onto a chair for a nearfall. 

Naomi placed Cargill on a table and went up the ropes, but Cargill hit her with a chair. Cargill grabbed Naomi and hit a Jaded off the middle rope through the table for the pinfall win. Belair raised Cargill’s hand. 

Match result: Jade Cargill defeated Naomi in a no holds barred match (11:15)

This was maybe average at best. Naomi took a lot of the match until Cargill managed to hit her finisher for the win. Also, Belair didn’t get involved at all, so making her the referee was relatively pointless. 

******** 

Tomorrow on Raw, there will be a gauntlet match involving CM Punk, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Penta, and Bron Breakker to determine Gunther’s SummerSlam opponent.

Battle Royal – winner earns a world championship match at Clash in Paris 

Everyone got an entrance, so it took about 10 minutes for everyone to get in. They cut to black at one point, so certain feeds likely got a commercial break in between. Nikki Bella entered first. Stephanie Vaquer was second-last, and Giulia was last. 

Nia Jax eliminated Tatum Paxley 8 seconds into the match, and Izzi Dame 7 seconds later. 

Jax tossed Kelani Jordan into Paxley and Dam, but she didn’t land on her feet, and her momentum carried her to the announce table. Jordan did a handstand walk to get back into the ring. This got a nice reaction, but perhaps not the reaction they expected. 

Ivy Nile went after Vaquer (as Chad Gable instructed), but Giulia eliminated Nile. Giulia and Vaquer had a staredown as the crowd chanted lightly for Nikki Bella. The crowd was quiet until Vaquer set up Nikki for Devil’s Kiss, and they booed when Chelsea Green broke it up. 

There was a silly spot where Maxxine Dupri did her reverse worm, then convinced Natalya to try it too. Natalya did try, and it was bad. That led to Jaida Parker eliminating Natalya (so now Natalya can be annoyed with Dupri). Candice LeRae eliminated Dupri. 

Jordan shoved Parker into LeRae, knocking her out of the ring for the elimination. (Cole referred to Candice LeRae as “Candice Michelle” here and again in the upcoming spot. Barrett called him out on it.) 

Michin and B-Fab eliminated Parker, which got some good heat. Jax tried eliminating Jordan, but she remained on the apron. However, LeRae (already eliminated) yanked Jordan out from behind for the elimination. 

Zelina Vega eliminated Giulia by kicking her into the ring post from the apron. B-Fab went after Piper Niven, but Niven just chucked her out for the elimination. Chelsea Green eliminated Michin, so Michin tried yanking out Green, but Alba Fyre wiped out Michin with a suicide dive. 

Lash Legend eliminated Vega by press slamming her out of the ring. Nikki Bella tossed out Alba Fyre as she posed with her partners. Bella and Lola Vice swivelled their hips together until Niven knocked them down. Niven eliminated Vice, who didn’t do much in this match. Nikki and Vaquer eliminated Niven together. 

Vaquer gave Green the Devil’s Kiss, which probably got the match’s biggest reaction. Nikki eliminated Green. Jax knocked down Nikki and did her own hip swivel. 

Jax placed Nikki on the apron, and Lash Legend flew in with a boot. Jax moved, and Legend booted Nikki out of the ring for the elimination. Legend celebrated like this was a big deal, and she was in the final three with Vaquer and Jax. 

Vaquer and Legend teamed up to knock Jax out of the ring for the elimination. The crowd cheered as the final two faced off. They traded offence, which included Vaquer hitting a 619. 

Legend caught Vaquer off the ropes, and they stumbled over the top and to the apron. Vaquer grabbed Legend with her legs and hit Devil’s Kiss on the apron before knocking her own. Vaquer wins.

— Stephanie McMahon interviewed Vaquer in the ring. Vaquer admitted that doing interviews in English was hard for her because it wasn’t her first language, but wrestling was her first language. Funny enough, she spoke well after that. She thanked McMahon and every woman wrestler before her because now they could make history. She would keep working hard and promised that they would remember her name forever. 

Match result: Stephanie Vaquer won a battle royal and will challenge for the world championship at Clash in Paris (15:32)

This was the definition of a standard battle royal, and the crowd only got into it toward the end. However, the right person won, and the final few minutes made her look like it. The crowd liked Vaquer and her interview. 

********

Quavo and Funny Marco were shown in the crowd. I guess they ran out of former wrestlers. 

Women’s World Championship match: IYO SKY (c) vs. Rhea Ripley

Match referee: Jessika Carr 

Iyo Sky got the better of an early exchange and half-heartedly did her face-pointing pose. Ripley got the better of the following exchange and did Sky’s pose, which got some heat. Sky continued to out-wrestle Ripley by hitting a dropkick and an Asai moonsault. 

They wound up on the apron, and Ripley finally got some offence by hitting a knee strike and tossing Sky into the announce table. It didn’t last long because Sky hit a great-looking tornado DDT. Sky couldn’t help but look enthused by hitting the move so smoothly. 

Sky followed with a double foot stomp, suicide dive, and missile dropkick. Sky did her pose full-heartedly before hitting a running double knee strike in the corner for two. Ripley tried a middle rope suplex, but Sky landed on her feet. Ripley went to the top, but Sky yanked her onto the turnbuckle. 

They traded counters until Sky hit a poisonrana for two. Sky went to the top, but Ripley shoved her down, and followed with a Razor’s Edge and sit-out powerbomb for two. Sky reversed a Rip-tide into a sleeper, but Ripley backed her into the corner. 

Sky went for a springboard moonsault, but Ripley ducked, and Sky obliterated referee Jessika Carr by mistake. Ripley hit Sky with a Rip-tide, but the ref was dead. 

Ripley was livid and hit another Razor’s Edge. Sky fell out of the ring, so Ripley booted her over the barricade. Ripley hammered away at Sky and tried powerbombing her off some equipment boxes to her death, but Sky fought her off and kicked her to the floor. Sky climbed up a second equipment box and hit a flying crossbody. The crowd chanted, “Holy sh-t.” 

Back at ringside, Sky charged at Ripley, but Ripley dodged it and Sky went ribs-first into the announce table. Sky recovered, however, and hit Ripley with a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron. The ref reemerged as Sky hit a moonsault, but Ripley kicked out for an amazing nearfall. The crowd chanted for Ripley. They went to the top, and Sky hit an avalanche Spanish Fly. 

With both women down, Naomi ran out with referee Daphanie LaShaunn. She officially cashed in to make this a triple threat. 

Naomi hit Sky in the head with the briefcase and launched Ripley into the steel post. Naomi followed with a split-legged moonsault on Sky for the pinfall win. Naomi is the new champ. 

Naomi and the crowd went nuts. (In fact, Naomi started to get up before the ref actually counted to three because she was so excited to celebrate.) 

After some replays, Naomi posed with the belt on the stage as the show ended. 

Match result: Naomi defeated IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley to win the Women’s World Championship (26:19)

This was an outstanding main event until he finish. I wouldn’t say Naomi’s cash-in ruined it, because it felt like a big moment with Naomi finally winning the title. However, the crowd was going insane for Sky and Ripley, and this would’ve been a match of the year candidate if one of them had won without the cash-in. 

WWE SmackDown live results: Tag titles on the line, Jelly Roll appears

Posted on by Marc Quill

Tonight’s live WWE SmackDown from Nashville will serve as the go-home show for both Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution.

The Street Profits are set to once again defend their WWE Tag Team titles against the Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis). The Wyatts went to a no contest with the champions last month, followed by them winning an eight-man tag match against an all-star team representing SmackDown’s tag division.

Grammy-nominated artist Jelly Roll is set to appear tonight on SmackDown — and many believe it will be the start of an angle that will lead to Jelly Roll making his in-ring debut next month at SummerSlam.

Ron Killings, in just his second match since the news of his release and re-signing happened, will take on Aleister Black, who is looking for his first win since May. Killings was last in action against John Cena on the June 20 SmackDown, picking up a DQ win.

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

**********

– The voice of Joe Tessitore set up the action over shots of the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. Shots of the Street Profits were briefly interrupted by the Wyatt Sicks’ graphics as we then saw Jelly Roll arriving and being welcomed by Randy Orton.

LA Knight addresses Saturday Night’s Main Event

LA Knight made his way down to the ring to kick off SmackDown with some words at the ready for his SNME opponent, Seth Rollins.

“Let me talk to ya,” Knight started off in his usual manner. He started talking about predictions and spoilers, two things that came out of Paul Heyman’s mouth an awful lot. Knight called Seth Rollins a desperate man, who made a desperate move by siding with Heyman and forming a crew with “slop house” Bronson Reed and “dog-brained idiot” Bron Breakker. Knight said that Reed and Breakker tried to injure him on the orders of Rollins because he couldn’t do it himself.

Knight said that while he got to drop Rollins on his head this past Monday on Raw, it wasn’t enough because he wanted justice and he wanted to hurt Rollins. Knight declared that Rollins would get his ass kicked because it’s not a prediction or a spoiler, it’s just a fact of life, because he was the spoiler.

Paul Heyman interrupted Knight and admonished the fans for “missing the cue” for his “ladies and gentlemen” introduction. Heyman said that as the Oracle of Seth Rollins, he was gifted with being able to see the future, and that the future of his and Rollins’ group is the future of the entire industry. On the other hand, Knight had no future at all, per Heyman’s claims.

Solo Sikoa and his “M.F.T.” group of JC Mateo, Tala Tonga, and Tanga Loa showed up next. Sikoa said that some things changed, but some things have stayed the same. Sikoa said that when Heyman left to Raw, there was no more Bloodline, no more Tribal Chief, and no more Wiseman. Sikoa threatened Heyman to leave before he and his M.F.T.s put Heyman through a table. On that note, Heyman made his retreat through the crowd.

Sikoa then turned his attention to LA Knight. He said that one thing has changed: he is the new United States Champion. That means the man that beat Knight at WrestleMania, Jacob Fatu? He’s no longer a factor, according to Sikoa. The U.S. Champion issued the same ultimatum to Knight that he did to Heyman, otherwise the M.F.T.s would make sure he’d never be able to walk again. Knight refused to acquiesce to Sikoa’s group as he got ready for a fight.

The M.F.T.s surrounded the ring as a chair got slid into the ring by Jimmy Uso. The two then teed off on Sikoa’s group with chairs before Tala Tonga looked like he wanted to fight. Sikoa managed to get Tala to back down in a strategic retreat.

SmackDown GM Nick Aldis interrupted and said that he still ran the show even though Sikoa had his new friends. He said that it seemed like Sikoa wanted a fight and he was going to oblige that wish with a tag match between Sikoa and JC Mateo versus LA Knight and Jimmy Uso.

I liked this opening segment and I did enjoy the continuity being acknowledged with Solo threatening Paul Heyman.

**********

– Alexa Bliss approached Charlotte Flair backstage and asked her to be in her corner for the fatal-four way match coming up next, since her opponents would have their partners. Charlotte agreed and mocked the idea of being a “cheerleader”, stating that she’d be a cheerleader for herself.

Fatal Four-Way Match: Alexa Bliss (w/ Charlotte Flair) vs. Roxanne Perez (w/ Raquel Rodriguez) vs. Sol Ruca (w/ Zaria) vs. Kairi Sane (w/ Asuka)

Ruca and Bliss mixed it up while Sane and Perez fought it out in the corner. As Ruca went for an early pin, Sane broke it up and went on the attack. Sane sent Ruca to the outside and looked for a dive, but Perez intercepted her with a Thesz Press. As Perez had Sane set up for a move, Ruca took both out with a double drop kick. Ruca wasn’t done yet as she somersaulted and launched herself onto Bliss, Perez, and Sane on the outside, which took us to the break.

We resumed with Perez and Sane fighting on the top turnbuckle as the former looked to an attempt a superplex. Bliss and Ruca rushed towards the corner and we got the Tower of Doom superplex/powerbomb spot that seemed to knock the wind out of everyone. Bliss and Ruca recovered and began to mix it up with Bliss connecting with the flipping neckbreaker for a near-fall. Bliss’s attempt at a DDT was met with a superkick by Perez, followed by the running European uppercut to the back. DIving moonsault and pin was interrupted by Ruca. The NXT Women’s North American Champion pounced and hit a running knee on Perez for the two-count. Scoop slam by Ruca didn’t lead to anything as Sane met her at the top rope and trapped her in a Tree of Woe position for a double stomp. One, two… Bliss and Perez simultanuously broke up the pin.

Bliss attempted the Sister Abigail DDT on Perez, but got countered out of it. Ruca ran to the corner and connected with a double Sol Snatcher on Perez and Bliss. The cover, but Raquel Rodriguez put Perez’s rope to break the count. A melee outside the ring led to Rodriguez tossing Zarya as she then found herself thrown over the commentary table by Flair (and right into Joe Tessitore in the process).

In the ring, Sane’s Insane Elbow was blocked by Bliss’s foot as this match then came to an end with a Sister Abigail DDT and the three.

Alexa Bliss def. Kairi Sane, Sol Ruca, and Roxanne Perez via pinfall

Fun opener that got really chaotic towards the end. It’s always nice to see Sol Ruca break out another variation of her finisher, especially on a main roster show. This was great stuff.

**********

WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Street Profits (c) (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis; w/ Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, and Nikki Cross)

Dawkins and Gacy got things going to start this match off. Both men attempted a lockup, but neither man could get an upper hand. Dawkins eventually managed to throw Gacy down as he worked him over in the corner with some hard strikes. Ford entered the match with a tag and looked for a dive, as Lumis pulled Gacy out of the ring. Ford mocked Lumis’ taunt just as we went to a break.

SmackDown returned from break with Lumis attempting to hit a superplex on Ford, but being unable to, on the account of Ford fighting back. Lumis tried again, but got blocked by Ford, who instead hit a sunset flip powerbomb that created needed separation. Dawkins got the hot tag and went to work right away on Gacy with a running shoulder charge, spinning clothesline, and a neckbreaker. With both Wyatt Sicks members outside, Dawkins flew over the rope with a dive to both Gacy and Lumis.

Inside the ring, Dawkins connected with a gigantic Swanton Bomb, but Gacy managed to kick out. Gacy then connected with his handspring clothesline, as he and Lumis nailed a double team combination neckbreaker on Dawkins that wasn’t unable to put an end to this match. Lumis threw Dawkins hard into the corner, as he then sent him outside and we got another break.

SmackDown returned from break with Gacy continuing the punishment on Dawkins, up until Ford got the blind tag, which gave the Street Profits a chance to connect with a double team move, but that wasn’t enough to put the match away. With Gacy in no man’s land, he fell victim to a double team blockbuster by the Profits. One, two… Gacy somehow kicked out at two.

As Ford ran at Gacy, he got thrown to the outside, but Dawkins connected with a pounce, as he then connceted with a diving splash on Lumis inside the ring. Erick Rowan headed up to the ring and pulled Ford out of the ring with the referee distracted by Gacy. Dawkins ran into Rowan and sent him over the timekeeper’s area, which took him out in the process.

Ford headed up top and looked for another frog splash, but he missed thanks to the distraction from Gacy at ringside. This left him at the mercy of the Wyatt Sicks’ double team powerbomb/neckbreaker, and that’s it, over. We have new WWE Tag Team Champions.

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

A really solid tag match and seeing a title change here is quite interesting. Having the Wyatts as the monsters running the SmackDown tag division with teams stepping up to them in the hopes of wresting the tag titles away from them should make this run one to watch, at the very least.

**********

– The SmackDown tag division discussed the fallout of the Wyatts’ tag team title win, as Andrade and Fenix announced themselves as part of the SmackDown tag team division officially based on their recent successes.

– Crews were getting a stage set up for Jelly Roll’s performance coming up next.

Jelly Roll performs

After being introduced as “Nashville’s own hometown hero”, Jelly Roll began to perform a song for the live crowd. Before he could continue on, he was rudely interrupted by Logan Paul.

Paul said that everyone was here to see real WWE superstars, not music by for people who had tattoos of their children, but don’t have custody of them. Paul said that Jelly Roll belonged on the stage, not a WWE ring. Paul got upset about celebrities, clout chasers, and influencers thinking they could hang in the WWE ring. Paul said that the WWE didn’t need a Jelly Roll, but they “needed” a Logan Paul. He said that the WWE loved him so much, his podcast just inked a long-term deal.

Jelly Roll interrupted and said that this was his hometown, and nobody gave a damn about Paul’s podcast in Nashville. The two got in each other’s face before Randy Orton walked down to the ring and took exception to Paul’s dismissal of Jelly Roll.

Orton called Paul a “whiny, entiitled bitch” because everyone moved heaven and earth just to make Logan Paul look good. Before Orton could go on, McIntyre blasted him with a Claymore Kick. Paul attacked the fallen Orton with repeated strikes but Jelly Roll grabbed him from behind and threw him down. Jelly Roll then helped Orton up as Paul wanted a piece of him. Security got Paul to back away

Paul snapped and wrecked the music set on the stage to end the segment.

Well, this was certainly a segment. I can’t say I’m excited at the idea of a Jelly Roll versus Logan Paul feud leading to a match at SummerSlam potentially. Whatever the intent of doing this segment was had the total opposite effect on me, if we’re being honest. In short, I did not like this at all and the hint of potentially roping Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre in this silliness does nothing for me.

**********

– Backstage, Randy Orton thanked Jelly Roll for his help moments ago. Jelly offered to be in Orton’s corner for his match with Drew McIntyre tomorrow for Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Ron Killings vs. Aleister Black

Killings avoided a Black clothesline and hit him with a single-legged dropkick to start. Black recovered and swept Killings with a leg as he transitioned into striking attacks to the former R-Truth. Killings fought back and sent Black to the outside. He was looking to line up a dive, but got kicked by Black. Outside the ring, Black tried for a moonsault, but Killings got out of the way. Killings grabbed a chair from the timekeepers area and wanted to use it as a weapon. Black stopped him with a kick as he looked to use the chair. Black was about to take a swing, but the referee stopped him, which allowed Killings to roll him up for the win.

Ron Killings def. Aleister Black via pinfall

There’s really not much to say about this match since it honestly ended before it could really get going.

**********

– Aleister Black saw Ron Killings walking and made a beeline for him, but Damian Priest stopped him from going further. Black seemed like he was going to back off at Priest’s urging, but he hit him with a knee to the face, followed by a Black Mass kick.

Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus speak before Evolution

Wade Barrett was in the ring with the WWE Women’s Champion and her opponent for Evolution to moderate this segment.

Stratton started off by saying that she already beat Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Nia Jax, and the reason that she chose Stratus was because beating her would put her into consideration for being one of the greats.

Stratus answered by saying that the pressure is on Stratton because she needs the championship and while she’ll leave on Sunday as champion, Tiffany will leave with nothing. Stratus said that she helped solidify the women’s division and that she was still delivering for this division. She said that she loves Tiffany, but she’ll be leaving as an eight-time champion.

Naomi interrupted proceedings, but got clocked from behind by Jade Cargill, her opponent in a No-Holds Barred Match at Evolution this Sunday. Security officials stormed into the scene to keep the two hated rivals separated.

**********

Saturday Night’s Main Event card

  • World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg
  • LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins
  • Randy Orton (w/ Jelly Roll) vs. Drew McIntyre
  • United States Championship: Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jimmy Uso

– Both Cody Rhodes and John Cena were adveritsed to appear on next week’s SmackDown.

LA Knight & Jimmy Uso vs. Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo (w/ Tala Tonga & Tanga Loa)

Sikoa and Knight got our main event started, as the U.S. Champion went on the offensive briefly before getting rocked by a neckbreaker. Knight stomped away on Sikoa as Uso tagged in and hit Sikoa with a running hip drop in the corner. Sikoa recovered and hit Uso with a strike to back him in the M.F.T. corner. Mateo entered the match and tried to continue the momentum, but he fell victim to a superkick, followed by a Samoan drop from Uso for a two-count.

Mateo woke up and hit Uso with an elbow to the face to force him back to his corner. Sikoa tagged himself in and pulled Uso out of the ring, as he delivered a Samoan drop onto the reinforced commentary table to take us to the final commercial break of the night.

Our main event returned with Mateo attempting a backdrop, but Uso escaped and kicked him, which allowed for a hot tag to Knight. The Megastar was on fire as he felled Mateo with a jumping neckbreaker. He attempted a BFT, but got blocked. Roll-up pin by Mateo was unable to put this match away. Knight hit yet another neckbreaker on Mateo, which left him open for a diving elbow, followed by the big Uso splash by Jimmy. Sikoa ran into the ring and broke up the pin at the last second.

Sikoa dragged Mateo back into his corner so he could make the tag. Sikoa attempted a Samoan Spike, but got blocked. He did, however, managed to connect with the Spinning Solo. Knight entered and attacked Mateo on the outside, and was interrupted by the sight of Paul Heyman in the timekeepers’ area. This distracted Knight long enough to get kicked by Tala Tonga.

In the ring, Sikoa found himself rolled up by Uso for the shock one, two, three win.

Post-match, the M.F.T.s chased after Uso in the ring, as Knight took out Sikoa with the BFT. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed caught Knight by surprise with a Spear and a Tsunami. The show ended with Seth Rollins’ vanguard being led away from the ring by a group of referees.

Jimmy Uso & LA Knight def. Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo via pinfall

**********

Again a pretty standard TV main event to end the night. Really not much else to say about the tag match other than that.

Overall, tonight’s SmackDown fell kinda flat, with only the Tag Team Championship match being a standout highlight of the night. The Jelly Roll/Logan Paul segment was the big disappointment and it seemed like the rest of the show kind of petered out after that segment.

WWE NXT live results: Great American Bash go-home show

Posted on by Chris Aiken

After airing a taped episode last Tuesday, WWE NXT is back live tonight ahead of a loaded weekend of pro wrestling ahead.

Tonight, NXT is a go-home show ahead of PLEs this weekend, which includes the Great American Bash on Saturday and WWE Evolution. Both shows feature wrestlers from the NXT roster.

General manager Ava is set tonight to announce the NXT wrestlers who will be competing in the Evolution Battle Royal.

Ricky Saints is looking for an NXT North American Championship rematch against Ethan Page. To get that opportunity, he needs to defeat The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & Jackson Drake) in a gauntlet match.

Gold will be up for grabs tonight with NXT Tag Team champs Hank Walker & Tank Ledger putting their tag titles on the line against Shawn Spears & Niko Vance of The Culling.

At Great American Bash, there will be a contract signing to make Trick Williams, Joe Hendry, and Mike Santana’s triple threat TNA World Championship match official for Slammiversary. Tonight, Hendry & Santana will have to get on the same page as they team up against Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe.

Plus, Charlie Dempsey and Tavion Heights meet in a high-stakes match where Heights will be allowed to leave No Quarter Catch Crew if he wins.

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

**********

The show is opening with a gauntlet match from the sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. The mastermind of this match is NXT North American Ethan Page, who enters the sound stage ahead of The Vanity Project. Page joins the announce team for guest commentary alongside regular commentators Vic Joseph, Booker T and Corey Graves.

Ricky Saints runs the Vanity Project Gauntlet

The first two matches feature the tag team of Swipe Right in singles matches.

Ricky Saint defeated Brad Baylor in a gauntlet match

Saints pinned Baylor after springing off the top rope into a tornado DDT.

Ricky Saints defeated Ricky Smokes in a gauntlet match

Smokes gets heat on Saints as the show cuts to a split-screen commercial break. Smokes works over Saints during the break, but Saints makes a comeback after the show returns from picture-in-picture.

Saints glares at Page at ringside, which almost costs Saints. Smokes rolls up Saints for a two count. Moments later, Saints uses an inverted atomic drop to set up a roll through that Saints used to cradle Smokes for a pinfall.

Ricky Saints defeated WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake in a non-title gauntlet match

Saints pinned Drake after a Roshambo. Drake got heat on Saints, and Drake got a near fall. Nonetheless, Saints makes a triumphant comeback to complete the gauntlet.

In winning, Saints gets to pick the stipulation for his title match on Saturday against Page. Saints vows to “dog walk” Page all over Atlanta, and Saints in a post-match promo informs Page their match for The Bash is falls count anywhere.

Match Result: Ricky Saints ran the Vanity Project Gauntlet

-NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca is chatting in a locker room with her pal Zaria. Lainey Reid eavesdrops on their conversations and takes exception. Up walks Kelani Jordan to cut a promo on Reid, which sets up a singles match later on with Reid against Jordan.

-Jordynne Grace reluctantly agrees to do a glamour workout with Blake Monroe. Grace rolls her eyes when she arrives at the spa for the “workout” with Monroe. The vignette continues later in the show.

Charlie Dempsey vs. Tavion Heights

They had a good long match that goes through a commercial break.

Wren Sinclair is ringside for this clash between No Quarter Catch Crew, and she threw in the towel to end the match. If Heights won, he could leave No Quarter Catch Crew. Instead, Dempsey wins after targeting the leg of his own stablemate.

Dempsey was cranking on the leg when Sinclair threw in the towel to stop the match. Heights never gave up. The finish teased further dissension within No Quarter Catch Crew.

Match Result: Charlie Dempsey defeated Tavion Heights

-The NXT Tag Team Champions — Hank & Tank — are backstage dancing with Je’Von Evans when Evans is ambushed by Jasper Troy. Evans is slammed against a roll-up door. The tag champs try to pull Troy off Evans as he smashes Evans again.

Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont (w/ Wes Lee)

Santana pinned Dupont to win the match, despite interference by TNA World Champion Trick Williams. After the match, Williams joins High Ryze in a beatdown on Hendry and Santana.

The tag bout goes through a commercial break. Santana and Hendry both do dives at one point. As they go home, Wes Lee gets on the ring apron to distract the referee. Meanwhile, Trick Williams runs down to ringside and sends Hendry crashing into the metal ring steps. After glaring at Tick, Santana rolls through a missed stomp to deck Lee with a right hand. Lee takes a Bobby Heenan bump off the apron. Soon thereafter, Santana delivers a spinning lariat on Dupont. Santana then covers him for the pinfall.

Trick joins with High Ryze in attacking Hendry and Santana after the match is over. The four heels leave the TNA babyfaces laying prone on the mat, and the NXT heels stand over the TNA faces.

Match Result: Joe Hendry & Mike Santana defeated Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont (w/ Wes Lee)

-Yoshiki Inamura is the focus of a vignette, which features Keiji Mutoh, Naomichi Marufuji, Ulka Sasaki, IYO SKY, and Kaito Kiyomiya all wishing luck to Inamura in his title challenge against NXT Champion Oba Femi at The Bash this Saturday.

Inamura, dressed in a suit and flanked by Josh Briggs in a leather vest and t-shirt, heads to the ring for confrontation with Oba Femi. But first comes more commercials.

-After the commercial break is a pre-tape promo from Darkstate where they threaten to interfere in TNA matches along with NXT.

Oba Femi, Yoshiki Inamura & Josh Briggs in-ring promo

Inamura and Briggs enter the ring, followed by NXT Champion Oba Femi. Inamura cuts a promo on Femi, with Inamura calling Femi his greatest challenge. Inamura says he is supported by Briggs and his family, and he vows to fight with honor. Femi responds by asking if Inamura is ready to lose with honor.

Briggs says Inamura grabs the mic and cuts a promo on Femi on behalf of Inmaura. Briggs also vows to make sure Inmaura wins, because it’s their only chance. Femi tells Briggs this is not his fight, and they start brawling. Briggs is sent outside the ring by Femi, only for Inamura to bodyslam Femi. Referees and producers run in to break things up as Inamura honorably backs away.

-Blake Monroe tries getting Jordynne Grace to enjoy a spa day, much to Grace’s chagrin. Grace eventually enjoys the spa.

Kelani Jordan vs. Lainey Reid

Jordan pinned Reid after springboarding into a split-legged moonsault. After the match, Thea Hail runs down to ringside to fight with Reid. They seem set for a singles match.

Match Result: Kelani Jordan defeated Lainey Reid

-Je’Von Evans is in the trainer’s room when he is again attacked by Jasper Troy.

The Family sitdown meeting

My local over-the-air channel is glitching as Adrianna Rizzo calls a sit-down meeting with Stacks, Luca Crusifino and Tony D’Angelo. After all that time she was missing, Rizzo shows up unexpectedly. Rizzo wants to bring The Family back together, but they are having none of it.

Rizzo does have one more item to discuss in the meeting. Rizzo then announces a triple threat match next Tuesday on NXT. She calls it the “final battle” in the family business.

-Jasper Troy rushes into the ring to issue a challenge to Je’Von Evans. Out comes Evans to fight with Troy, and they have a pull-apart brawl.

-Tatum Paxley joins The Culling in a vignette where they cut a promo on Hank & Tank ahead of the tag title match later on.

NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defend against The Culling (Niko Vance & Shawn Spears) (w/ Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley)

Tank pinned Speaars to win the match. Paxley and Dame interference in the match, leading to Sol Ruca & Zaria to run down to ringside. They had a good tag bout. The title match goes through a commercial break. Just before cutting to commercials, Vance with a shoulder tackle sends Hank bumping over the announce desk.

Paxley joins in the fun by distracting the referee. That allows Dame to boot Tank in the head. Spears then gets a near fall on Tank.

Sol Ruca runs in to jump Dame. Zaria also appears and she carries Paxley away. That counteracts the interference as Hank & Tank run wild. For the finish, Spears takes a bullet for Vance, and Spears takes a finisher from Hank & Tank with a powerslam/spear combo. Tank then covers Spears for a three count. And still…

Match Result: NXT Tag Team Champions Hank Walker & Tank Ledger defeated The Culling to retain

NXT Women In-Ring Summit

NXT General Manager Ava is heading to the ring for a “summit” of sorts.

Ava first puts over the first Evolution. She was in high school at the time, but it inspired her. Ava goes on to put over the women on that show and what they have done since.

Ava also announces the six entrants from NXT in the battle royal at Evolution on Sunday. Those six are Jaida Parker, Lola Vice, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley.

Out comes the Fatal Influence trio to interrupt. NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne cuts a promo while flanked by Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz. They are soon interrupted by Jordynne Grace.

Grace cuts a promo on Fatal Influence for trying to steal the spotlight. Yet another interruption as Lash Legend enters to cut a promo.

Stephanie Vaquer is out next to interfere, and she is super over with the live studio audience in attendance. Vaquero cuts a promo of her own.

In a surprise cameo, Natalya enters with Maxxine Dupri introducing her. Natalya also cuts a promo.

Jaida Parker is next to cut a promo. She then rushes into the ring and a huge brawl erupts. Hyping the battle royal on Sunday, the show goes off the air with the women brawling in the ring.

WWE Raw live results: Seth Rollins vs. Penta

Posted on by Marc Quill

Tonight’s WWE Raw from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, kicks off a big week of pro wrestling including one WWE PLE, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and an NXT PLE.

After the events of last Monday, the Paul Heyman stable will be in full effect over three singles matches as former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins takes on Penta in one, Bronson Reed battles former champion Jey Uso in another, and Sami Zayn takes on Bron Breakker to round them out.

After her three-way Women’s Intercontinental title defense against Bayley and Lyra Valkyria was announced Sunday, reigning champion Becky Lynch will give her thoughts.

One half of the new Women’s Tag Team Champions Roxanne Perez will take on Kairi Sane.

The mysterious El Grande Americano will also be in action.

*********

– After a live drone flyby through the Amica Mutual Pavilion, we got shots of Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Penta, and the Judgment Day entering the arena.

Seth Rollins and his faction open Raw

“BURN IT DOWN!” signaled the arrival of Seth Rollins and his still-nameless entourage of Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. The commentators discussed Rollins’ upcoming bout with LA Knight on this Saturday’s edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event while the group walked down to the ring.

As Rollins and his faction stood inside the ring, the crowd serenaded them with a singalong of Rollins’ theme music for a bit. When Rollins asked for a microphone, Bron Breakker took it from him and said that he stood in the ring because Rollins and Heyman had a vision for Breakker which has him as the face of WWE for the next two decades. Breakker said that he also had a vision for a WWE without Sami Zayn because he doesn’t like him, his “stupid” beaard or his entrance music.

Breakker couldn’t understand why the fans rooted for someone that has the athleticism of a dead fish and hangs on for dear life for the last five years, because he was going to put an end to Zayn tonight. That is because Breakker was going to “maul” Zayn and ensure he’d be looking up at the lights when all is said and done. Heyman then took the microphone and gave it to Rollins so he could start speaking… but Bronson Reed now asked for his turn.

Reed said that Breakker was a tough act to follow, but so was he. He boasted about nailing Rollins with six consecutive Tsunamis last year, an act which made Rollins respect Reed enough to bring him into his faction. Reed said that Jey Uso didn’t respect him, and that would change tonight because he’d Tsunami the respect into Uso, just like he did with Rollins.

Rollins grabbed the microphone, but he refused to speak due to the fans chanting for CM Punk. So, it was time for Paul Heyman to speak. Heyman said that the Empire would strike first tonight. He said that tonight, Breakker would strike first. Heyman said that Roman Reigns didn’t have the “balls” to come back and step against the Rollins faction. There’s also the “big news” that we haven’t heard, that being Seth Rollins donning the tights against Penta tonight. Heyman mocked Penta’s “stupid freakin’ hand signals”, and said that Rollins would leave him unable to do them ever again because he’d be stomped so hard later on tonight.

When it came time for Rollins to speak, the fans continued to chant for CM Punk. Rollins concluded the promo by welcoming everyone to “Monday Night Rollins”.

Standard opening segment for the Rollins faction to set the stage for their matches later tonight, and the strange divide of presenting this group as heels, but still having Rollins and Heyman urge the crowd on to say their catchphrases is still odd, to say the least.

*********

– At the Judgment Day’s clubhouse, the men were admiring their championship gold, as Raquel Rodriguez spotted Roxanne Perez putting a photo of Liv Morgan, much to the former’s dismay. Rodriguez and Perez discussed how to best deal with Kairi Sane, who was facing Perez in a match up next. Dominik Mysterio thanked JD McDonagh and Finn Balor for the ‘Get Well Soon’ cake, but it turns out, they didn’t gift it to him. Mysterio had a closer look and saw that it was from AJ Styles, as he turned to see Styles watching him from behind a wall.

Roxanne Perez vs. Kairi Sane

The match got under way with Perez and Sane sizing each other up as the former started hammering away at the latter with fists. Perez threw Sane in the corner and tried to maintain the momentum as she applied a headlock. An attempted spear by Perez got turned into a unique pin attempt that wasn’t enough. We got a series of dueling pin attempts from Perez and Sane, as the newest member of the judgment Day hit Sane with an elbow to the face.

Sane battled back with a backfist to the face of Perez, followed by a flying forearm and a dive to the outside. With the advantage in her midst, Raquel Rodriguez got on the apron and allowed Perez to capitalize on a distraction with a stomp to the arm across the bottom ropes, as the U.S. feed of Raw headed to a commercial break.

During the break, Sane got momentum back with the Interceptor, and we returned from break with Sane continuing the attack, as she blasted Perez with the Sliding D in the corner. Perez avoided the Insane Elbow and kicked Sane in the face. Perez headed up to the top with a springboard moonsault from the second rope for a near-fall.

Perez dragged Sane and continued to target the injured arm, but missed on a corner charge and got hit with a boot from Sane. Perez blocked an Alabama Slam attempt from Sane and once again slammed her foe’s injured arm on the mat. Perez set Sane up on the top rope, but got knocked down to the mat. Sane connected with a diving forearm strike, followed by the Alabama Slam. Sane headed up top and looked to finish things off with the Insane Elbow, but Raquel Rodriguez dragged Perez out of the ring. Sane took Rodriguez out with a dive to the outside.

Back in the ring, Perez’s attempt at Pop Rox was countered into a pin by Sane for the one, two, three.

Post-match, the Women’s Tag Team Champions attacked Sane in a two-on-one beatdown until Asuka ran in for the save. Rodriguez clotheslined Asuka and had her set up for her powerbomb, but Sane made the save. Sane and Asuka took Rodriguez out of the ring before they turned their attention to Perez with an Insane Elbow.

Kairi Sane def. Roxanne Perez

A good enough match to open up Raw, but it’s nice to see Asuka and Kairi Sane joining forces once more. The next step is likely the Kabuki Warriors being the Raw representatives for the four-way tag match at Evolution II on Sunday.

*********

– Jackie Redmond interviewed Sami Zayn about everything he’s been going through as of late. Zayn said that he has too much on his plate, and that he couldn’t focus on his ribs or Karrion Kross because he has Bron Breakker to deal with later tonight. Scarlett walked into frame and looked on as Zayn walked off.

Commercial Break Exclusive Promo

The New Day appeared during the commercial dressed in black clothing. They talked about how the Raw tag team division died last week because they lost the WWE Tag Team Championships against the Judgment Day. The two said that the wrong will be righted when they find Adam Pearce later tonight and demand the rematch for their tag titles that they so deserved.

*********

– Adam Pearce spoke with American Made regarding El Grande Americano competing tonight. Julius Creed said this was impossible because Chad Gable was still out injured, but got shouted down as by Brutus Creed and Ivy Nile. Pearce then put Nile in the women’s battle royal at Evolution. Asuka and Kairi Sane soon talked with Pearce and got included in the fatal four-way tag match for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.

– Nikki Bella announced that she’d be in the women’s battle royal at Evolution for a championship opportunity at Clash in Paris next month.

– As Sami Zayn was making his entrance for his match, Karrion Kross attacked him from behind and smashed the lead pipe across the injured ribs of Zayn. Referees led by Adam Pearce got Kross to back off from the fight. During the break, Zayn refused to back out of his upcoming match against Bron Breakker, despite Pearce’s protestations.

Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker

With Zayn very much not in any condition to fight, Breakker seemed to relish what appeared to be an easy match ahead of him. Breakker backed Zayn into the corner and targeted his injured ribs with shoulder thrusts that crumpled him to the mat. He ripped away the tape around Zayn’s ribs and drove both knees into the exposed ribs.

Breakker lifted Zayn up and threw him across the ring with a suplex, as he targeted him for a Spear. Zayn intercepted Breakker’s attempt with a clothesline, which created some needed separation for him. Zayn, with adrenaline running in his veins, headed up top for a high-risk maneuver, but got met by a particularly vicious Spear from Breakker.

As Zayn rolled to the outside, Breakker saw red in his eyes and headed out to hit his super Spear on the badly-injured Zayn. Breakker rolled his foe back into the ring and pulled down the straps. Breakker ran the ropes and put an end to this with his super Spear for the victory.

Bron Breakker def. Sami Zayn

More of an angle than an actual competitive match, it did the job in establishing Breakker as a dangerous threat and selling the dire situation of Zayn at the hands of Kross and the Rollins band.

*********

– As Adam Pearce chatted with the War Raiders, he was confronted by the New Day, who accused Pearce of helping “kill” the tag division. Becky Lynch walked past the scene and told New Day that getting rid of Big E was a “good idea”.

Becky Lynch addresses her Evolution triple threat match

Lynch wanted an explanation on how two “losers” got a title match in a scenario where her chances of losing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship were far greater. She said that she got why Adam Pearce put her in this match, but not why she had to face Bayley or Lyra Valkyria again. Lynch claimed that Bayley and Valkyria were working together to get this shot, but before she could elaborate further, Bayley interrupted and walked down to the ring. Bayley, however, found herself interrupted by Lyra Valkyria, who marched down to the ring with a purpose.

In the ring, Valkyria said that her title was wrapped around a “bucket full of crazy” and it was about time to take it back. Bayley entered the ring and said she could’ve been the Women’s Intercontinental Champion if it wasn’t for Valkyria’s intervention.

Bayley said that if she learned anything from WrestleMania, it’s that she didn’t need friendships or heartbreak, but she did need the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

Valkyria said that Bayley was just as bad as Lynch because of what she just admitted, and she was out to rescue the Women’s Intercontinental Championship from “two massive disappointments” at Evolution II.

Bayley talked about how she watched Valkyria from all her moments of glory, and that seeing her raise Lynch’s hand made Bayley see her as a “little bitch”. Valkyria took exception and tried to punch at Bayley, but she ended up hitting Lynch instead. A brawl ensued, which ended with Valkyria nailing both Bayley and Lynch with the Night Wing. Valkyria walked over to the fallen Lynch and mockingly raised her hand, stating that it would be the last time her hand would be raised.

Just a nice segment between these three women ahead of a big match at Evolution II on Sunday. I enjoyed it a lot.

*********

– Backstage, Seth Rollins and his band strategized their next move, as Paul Heyman revealed that Sami Zayn would be out of action indefinitely. Rollins told Bronson Reed to deal with Jey Uso next.

Jey Uso vs. Bronson Reed

Uso was on the offensive to start as he rocked Reed in the corner with a kick. An attempted Irish Whip was countered as Reed crushed Uso with a thump, which gave the big man an advantage early on. Uso dodged a senton from Reed and kept up the attack with punches and a kick that sent Reed to the outside.

With a Yeet, Uso hit a suicide dive that send Reed over the announce table. Uso cleared the commentary table, but got met by a recovering Reed. A superkick by Uso caused Reed to be seated onto one of the chairs, long enough for another Jey Uso superkick. Inside the ring, Uso looked for another suicide dive, but got the chair thrown at him, to cause the disqualification.

Post-match, Reed went on a Tsunami rampage, hitting two fierce dives onto Uso before Adam Pearce and his personnel stopped.

Jey Uso def. Bronson Reed

Again, not so much an actual match, but more storytelling to sell the nameless Rollins band’s threat. I suppose it did the job in the regard.

*********

– LA Knight spoke about his upcoming match with Seth Rollins at Saturday Night’s Main Event in five days time on NBC.

– Michael Cole and Corey Graves tossed over to a video package for the Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky Women’s World Championship match at Evolution II on Sunday, with the underlying theme of Ripley’s inability to defeat Sky in past encounters.

El Grande Americano vs. Dragon Lee

As the match started, Cole pointed out how this El Grande Americano was a foot taller than the “other one”. We got some back and forth lucha libre action between Lee and El Grande to start, but things turned to Lee’s advantage with a diving crossbody for an early near-fall.

El Grande got Lee with a nice arm drag, as he showed off after landing on his feet off a Lee monkey flip. This opened him up for a kick from Lee, who attempted to take flight. El Grande intercepted with a kick to the face, as he continued the attack by throwing Lee over the timekeeper’s area, which took Raw to a commercial break on the U.S. feed.

The action resumed with El Grande and Lee fighting on the top rope. Lee caught El Grande with a sitdown powerbomb that got a near-fall. As El Grande was down and out, Lee tried to rip away at the mask, but to no avail. Lee took advantage with a vaulting kick over the top rope, which rocked El Grande. Lee followed that with a running dropkick, but couldn’t get the win from that.

El Grande chopped Lee and connected with a springboard Blockbuster for a near-fall of his own. Lee fought out of El Grande’s grasp and trapped him in a Tree of Woe position, as he then came down with a double stomp on El Grande. Lee then took flight with a dive to the outside that connected. As El Grande got hack into the ring, he appeared to slip something in his mask, as he hit Lee with a steel-plate assisted headbutt for the win.

El Grande Americano def. Dragon Lee

A fine little match, even though I’m not high on the El Grande Americano character like others. The in-ring action was at least enjoyable to watch.

*********

– As Penta was preparing for his match with Seth Rollins later, he was confronted by Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker. Penta remained fearless and told the two “Cero Miedo” before he walked off.

Commercial Break Exclusive Promo

Karrion Kross was interviewed and got a huge reaction from the Providence crowd, who chanted “We Want Kross”. Kross aid that every time Sami Zayn shows up every week, he was going to blast him with a steel pipe. All he wanted for Zayn to say was “Kross Told The Truth”, and if he didn’t do so, he’d continue to make Zayn suffer.

*********

Gunther addresses Goldberg

The World Heavyweight Champion took the mic and started by saying that he was going to defend his title this Saturday at Goldberg, and for the last two weeks, he had been verbally abusing Goldberg in the ring, and he has not done anything about it. That meant, Gunther can only assume that Goldberg was afraid of him and the pressure, but he was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a car arriving to the arena.

On the Titantron, we saw the car park as Goldberg stepped out of it and immediately made a beeline to the ring. The soon-to-be-retiring WCW legend marched to the ring and met Gunther face to face, in a mood for a fight. Goldberg dared Gunther to hit him, as he blocked a punch and knocked the champ down. Goldberg had Gunther in position for a Spear, but Gunther rolled out of the ring and avoided a potentially grisly fate.

Given how Goldberg looked a bit blown up in just the little bit of work he did tonight, Gunther will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting on Saturday to ensure that this match is at the very least presentable.

Saturday Night’s Main Event Card

  • LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
  • World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg

Evolution II Card

  • WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
  • Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
  • Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
  • Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way: Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Zaria & Sol Ruca
  • Naomi vs. Jade Cargill
  • Evolution Battle Royal (Winner gets a Championship Match at Clash in Paris)

*********

Penta vs. Seth Rollins

Penta surprised Rollins with a superkick just as the bell rang, which sent him just outside of the ring. At ringside, Penta chopped away at Rollins and maintained an attack by bouncing his head over the announce table. Another attempt at a chop by Penta, was dodged by Rollins, which caused Penta to hit the LED ringpost covering instead. Penta roared back with a diving hurricanrana on Rollins.

As Penta got back in the ring, Rollins took advantage with stomps, but couldn’t maintain a clear advantage for long as Penta fought back. Rollins attempted a Pedigree, but Penta countered and sent Rollins to the outside with a clothesline. Penta followed that up with a tope con hilo that felled Rollins just as Raw went to one final commercial break on the U.S. feed.

Rollins sustained a cut above his right eye during the break, but he had the upper hand as Raw returned from commercial in the United States. Penta fought out of Rollins’ grip successfully and hit him with a modified Slingblade. He then followed that up with his dropkick in the corner on Rollins.

Penta looked for the Penta Driver, but Rollins countered and escaped. The former architect of the Shield, however, couldn’t escape the Backstabber from Penta that soon followed. As both men recovered, Rollins showed impressive strength and lifted Penta on his shoulders before he dropped him with a gutbuster. Rollins headed up top and mocked Penta’s signature taunt before hitting the frog splash. One, two… this one’s not done yet.

Rollins had Penta in position for the Stomp, but couldn’t connect. Rollins was placed on the top rope by Penta as the two began to duke it out up top. Penta landed on the apron and connected with the hurricanrana. In the ring, Penta managed to hit the Penta Driver on Rollins. One, two… Rollins just managed to kick out at 2.999999999.

Penta placed Rollins in position for the Sacrifice, but Mr. Money in the Bank escaped and hit the Buckle Bomb. Penta recovered right away and hit the Mexican Destroyer. He went for the cover, but Rollins grabbed the bottom rope at the last possible second. Penta dragged Rollins’ lifeless body in the middle of the ring, but Rollins recovered and went low with a headbutt. This gave Rollins the opening for the Stomp and the win.

After the match, Paul Heyman called for Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker to continue the punishment on Penta, but LA Knight snuck into the ring and blindsided Rollins with the B.F.T. Breakker and Reed made a run for it, but couldn’t catch up to Knight, who made his getaway in the crowd to end Raw for tonight.

Seth Rollins def. Penta

A solid main event on Raw tonight. Just some tremendous stuff between Rollins and Penta. The Knight appearance at the end was a decent way to set up the Saturday Night’s Main Event match in five days.

All in all, an okay edition of Raw that did as best as it could to sell viewers on the big WWE weekend of action coming in a few days. Whether it was successful or not is up remains to be seen. The throughline of the Rollins band’s dominance was at least a good angle to go with all night long, I will say.

WWE SmackDown live results: Night of Champions fallout

Posted on by Marc Quill

WWE SmackDown makes its return to two hours tonight with the fallout from Night of Champions, where a new King & Queen of the Ring were crowned.

Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton in the King of the Ring finals to earn himself an Undisputed WWE Championship rematch against John Cena, while Jade Cargill bested Asuka to become Queen of the Ring and Tiffany Stratton’s SummerSlam challenger for the WWE Women’s Championship. Both Rhodes and Cargill are set to appear tonight.

Also scheduled for tonight is Stratton herself as she selects who she will defend the title against at Evolution.

A new United States Champion was also decided at Night of Champions with Solo Sikoa capturing the belt from Jacob Fatu with the help of Tala Tonga, the former Hikuleo and newest member of Sikoa’s faction. Fatu will certainly be looking to get even on tonight’s broadcast.

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

**********

– Following the WWE signature, we saw Solo Sikoa arriving to the arena with J.C. Mateo and the United States Championship in tow. As Sikoa noted that it was time to celebrate, Jacob Fatu jumped into the scene and attacked both Sikoa and Mateo in an ambush. Fatu took Mateo out of the car and threw him against the door as security led by SmackDown GM Nick Aldis appeared to get Fatu to back off.

Cody Rhodes opens SmackDown

The 2025 King of the Ring, Cody Rhodes, made his way to the ring to a huge ovation from the crowd, Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett recapped Rhodes’ victory over Randy Orton at Night of Champions to ssecure the crown.

With his crown in one hand and a microphone in the other, Rhodes asked the Pittsburgh crowd, ‘what do you wanna talk about?” Before starting, Rhodes gave a shout out to Cam, a young fan sat in Club 66, who was battling Leukemia. Once that was done, Rhodes said that the King of the Ring crown represented where we’ve been, mentioning past King of the Ring winners like Bret Hart, Booker T, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. He said it also stood for where we were going: the Main Event of SummerSlam in the form of a WrestleMania rematch against John Cena.

Before Rhodes could go on any further, “Voices” signalled the arrival of Randy Orton, the man who Rhodes defeated at Night of Champions. Orton started by reminding his friend that for weeks and weeks, he told Rhodes that he wouldn’t hesitate. But, at Night of Champions, he had Rhodes “dead to rights” and ready to rearrange his skull with a punt, but he hesitated. However, Rhodes pulled the trigger instead, something that Orton respected. Orton told Rhodes to promise him that he not squander the opportunity earn to go on to SummerSlam and kick John Cena’s ass.

Drew McIntyre made a shocking return for the first time since Saturday Night’s Main Event a couple of months ago. With mic in hand, McIntyre mocked Orton and Rhodes for having “beta male energy”, stating that “the alpha” — as in himself — has returned. McIntyre said Orton lost the psychological battle due to Rhodes supposedly “buttering him up” for months and stabbing him right in the back. He then turned his attention to Orton’s surgically repaired back, and pointing out how Rhodes targeted that surgically-repaired back.

McIntyre lambasted Orton for losing his edge as the Legend Killer, because that legend of Randy Orton was “dead”, as far he was concerned. McIntyre then turned his attention to “Super Cody”, stating that he wanted him to win at SummerSlam, because this was a match he was looking forward to, and because he wanted to be the one to rip that title off of Rhodes’ hands. As McIntyre turned, Orton delivered an RKO to him out of nowhere. Orton and Rhodes shared a tense staredown as the segment ended.

Very interesting opening segment, with Drew McIntyre’s big return and the gears being turned for a potential Randy Orton heel turn, which is kind of hitting the same beats as the Kevin Owens’ turn against Cody Rhodes last year. Still, when that turn does happen, it should be a good story, nonetheless.

**********

– Earlier Today footage showed Charlotte Flair talking to Nick Aldis, learning that she’ll be in a Women’s Tag Title qualifier match against the Secret Hervice and Michin & B-Fab, with the winner going on to Evolution II. Alexa Bliss appeared and revealed that she was going to be Flair’s partner for the match.

– Backstage, Drew McIntyre walked up and demanded a match against Randy Orton, but was informed by Aldis that Orton had left. However, McIntyre will get his shot at Orton next week at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which worked for him. McIntyre turned to see Jacob Fatu, and then left. Aldis informed Fatu that if he wanted a shot at Solo’s Bloodline, he could find a partner to take on two of them in tag team action. Jimmy Uso appeared and stepped up to be Fatu’s partner.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Qualifier Triple Threat: Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair vs. Secret Hervice (Alba Fyre & Piper Niven) vs. Michin & B-Fab

The match got underway with Bliss, Michin, and Niven starting off for their respective teams. Before Bliss could do anything, Flair blind tagged herself in as she then kicked B-Fab off the apron. Flair chopped away at Niven, but got hit with some chops by Michin. It was a kick frenzy by Michin that got stopped short, at least until Michin took out Flair outside the ring. Niven then took flight to take down Michin & B-Fab. Fyre then got her turn as she leapt from the top to wipe out Flair and B-Fab with a dive to the outside, which took us to a break.

We returned from break with Niven landing on Flair with a senton, but only getting a two count. A missed senton on Michin allowed B-Fab to enter the match with a tag. B-Fab took down Flair and Niven with kicks galore on both. Flair countered a neckbreaker attempt and tried for a Figure-Eight. B-Fab shoved Flair into her corner, which allowed Bliss to get the hot tag. Bliss was on fire and almost had B-Fab set up for Sister Abigail, but Michin made the save with a kick. Fyre caught B-Fab offguard with a Canadian (or Scottish?) Destroyer, as Niven then connected with the Black Hole Slam.

The Secret Hervice’s attempted double team was intercepted by Flair and Bliss. Flair condescendingly tapped Bliss on the head, which was counted as a tag by the referee. This allowed Bliss to enter as the legal woman and hit Twisted Bliss on Fyre to get the pin and win, qualifying for the Women’s Tag Title match at Evolution II.

Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss def. The Secret Hervice and Michin & B-Fab via pinfall

A decent match, but the finish with Charlotte’s attempt at being condescending towards Alexa Bliss kind of backfiring on her was a nice touch.

**********

– Earlier Today footage showed Nick Aldis admonishing the SmackDown tag division for causing chaos in the Wyatt Sicks vs. Street Profits WWE Tag Title match last week. This would end up with Andrade & Rey Fenix vs. FrAxiom booked for tonight, as well as an eight-man tag match being booked with the Wyatt Sicks against four stars from the SmackDown tag division.

Eight-Man Tag Match: The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, & Dexter Lumis) vs. Berto, Johnny Gargano, Chris Sabin, & Montez Ford

Berto and Gacy got things going, as the latter blasted the former with a clothesline from the corner, followed by a running senton. Gacy looked to continue the momentum, but Berto caught him with a springboard elbow strike. Lumis got the tag and threw Berto around before Gargano entered the match. Gargano tried to make “peace” with Lumis, but ate a punch, followed by a slam for the two-count.

Uncle Howdy stepped into the ring, which led to all competitors stepping into the ring as things descended into chaos. Rowan tried to chokeslam Gargano and Berto, but got a stereo superkick from Sabin and Ford for his troubles. The SmackDown tag division stalwarts then kicked Rowan to the outside as Ford looked to get some momentum going. Rowan recovered and caught Ford before he threw him into a superkick by Lumis, leading to a commercial break.

We returned with the Wyatt Sicks working over Ford in their corner, as Lumis and Gacy did their “powerbomb into the opponent” spot. Lumis held Ford in a submission, but couldn’t maintain it. Chris Sabin got the tag and floored Lumis with a missile dropkick. Sabin used his speed to take out the entirety of the Wyatt Sicks in their corner, as he then unexpectedly teamed up with Gargano for a double kick on Gacy.

More chaos unfolded as we saw Ford take flight to wipe out Gacy and Lumis just near the entrance ramp outside the ring. Berto looked to soar, but got taken out by Uncle Howdy, who threw him over the ropes. In the ring, Howdy had Sabin right where he wanted him with the uranage as he then tagged in Rowan. The former Bludgeon Brother did what he does best and went on the attack, but Sabin dropped him with a slam. As Sabin looked to get a tag, Gargano had second thoughts and backed away from the apron as he locked eyes with Rowan. This left Sabin at the mercy of Rowan’s Iron Claw Slam to give the Wyatt Sicks the win here.

The Wyatt Sicks def. Chris Sabin, Johnny Gargano, Berto, and Montez Ford via pinfall

This was an alright tag match, though I enjoyed the concept of #DIY’s attempts of marshalling the SmackDown tag division to unite against the Wyatts unraveling because of the two (or at least Johnny Gargano in this particular match) actually being afraid of the Sicks.

**********

– We got a vignette from Giulia as she talked about her Women’s United States Championship victory last week on SmackDown. She stated that we were about to witness her beautiful madness as the Women’s U.S. Champion.

Tiffany Stratton chooses her Evolution II opponent

The WWE Women’s Champion made her way down to the ring to make an important decision regarding her opponent for Evolution II. Stratton said that since she became the Women’s Champion, she’s had a target on her back, but Nia Jax’s revenge wasn’t enough to stop her from becoming the Last Woman Standing. She turned her attention to Jade Cargill, the woman she’ll face at SummerSlam… but only after she defeats the opponent that she’l choose to face at Evolution II.

Stratton was interrupted by the 2025 Queen of the Ring herself, Jade Cargill. With a mic in hand, Cargill talked about how she was crowned Queen of the Ring by beating one of the best in Asuka. Cargill warned Stratton that she had a choice to make, and that if she chose wrong, Stratton might not make it to SummerSlam. But, it didn’t matter to Cargill, because she’d beat whoever she’d end up facing at SummerSlam. Stratton interrupted and revealed she a surprise for everyone… in the form of the WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus.

Once Stratus entered the ring, Stratton talked about how she invited her to the ring, stating “what would Evolution be without some Stratusfaction?”, as she then issued a challenge to the Canadian for title match at Evoltuion. Stratus talked about how the women had to fight just to have a single match on the card, but now at Evolution II, we’re going to have a card of incredibly talented women. Stratus gave thanks to Stratton for letting her kids see her in the ring, but those kids of hers haven’t seen their mom as a champion.

Stratton said that this wouldn’t be easy because this isn’t the Attitude Era anymore, and that whether it was Stratus at Evolution or Cargill at SummerSlam, the WWE would still run on Tiffy Time at the end of it all.

Trish returning as Stratton’s Evolution opponent borne out of a respect the two had when they teamed up at Elimination Chamber is at least a nice thread to follow up on for this match.

**********

– Solo Sikoa spoke from his “office” as he introduced the newest member of his family, Tala Tonga (the former Hikuleo), Sikoa said that this group was nothing like a bloodline, but it was now stronger than ever. Sikoa said that he and JC Mateo would join forces in their tag match later tonight, as he concluded that “his” family was now complete.

– Backstage, Trish Stratus was met by Jade Cargill, who warned her that if she defeated Tiffany Stratton at Evolution II, she’d be facing her at SummerSlam. As Stratus left, Naomi snuck up on Cargill with a shot using her Money in the Bank briefcase. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, who’s had quite the busy night, checked up on Cargill afterwards.

FrAxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix

We got started with Andrade and Frazer mixing it up in the middle of the ring and neither getting a n advantage. Frazer dodged Andrade before he made the tag to Axiom as Fenix leapt into battle with a dive. Fenix landed on his feet after an attempted DDT from Axiom. All four men began to trade blows in the ring as Andrade got sent to the outside. Frazer and Axiom blasted Andrade and Fenix with repeated dives to the outside, which took us to the break.]

SmackDown resumed with Frazer having Fenix caught in a submission hold. FrAxiom used their unorthodox tag team offense to keep Fenix grounded at the moment. Fenix escaped out of an Axiom hold as he kicked Frazer off the apron. Fenix then took down Axiom with a flipping DDT before Andrade got the hot tag.

El Idolo was a house of fire against both Frazer and Axiom, as he then paid tribute to Eddie Guerrerro with the Three Amigos suplexes. Fenix followed up the homage to Eddie with a Frog Splash that only got a two-count. With a cry of “Animo!”, Fenix headed up top, but was intercepted by Frazer. A dogfight at the top rope saw Frazer floor Fenix with the superplex, followed by a supkerick. Cover by Axiom was broken up by Andrade, who shoved Frazer into the pin.

After another commercial break, we resumed with Frazer’s Phoenix Splash being adeptly dodged by Fenix as Andrade entered the match. With Frazer stunned in the corner, Andrade crushed him with the corner Meteora for the two-count. Andrade had Frazer in his sights for a high-risk maneuver and connected with the double moonsault. Axiom broke up the pin just in time as he then took Fenix out from the apron.

FrAxiom had Andrade caught with the Spanish Fly & Phoenix Splash combination maneuver. Rey Fenix made the last-second save by leaping onto Frazer followed by a codebreaker on Axiom. The makeshift team of Andrade and Fenix soon took advantage with the latterr hitting an Adios Amigo kick on Axiom, and the former blasting Frazer with a vicious spinning elbow. The finish came when Fenix leapt over a prone Frazer in the ring right into Axiom at ringside. This gave Andrade the opening needed to deliver The Message to Frazer for the three.

Andrade & Rey Fenix def. FrAxiom via pinfall

Just some fun and fast tag team action between two high-flying teams. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. Just a lovely showcase for the SmackDown tag division.

**********

– Damian Priest confronted Aleister Black, wanting to talk to him about Ron Killings, as he revealed to Black that he’d be facing Killings next week on SmackDown. We also learned that at Evolution II, it’ll be Tiffany Stratton vs. Trish Stratus for the WWE Women’s Championship, as well as Jade Cargill vs. Naomi.

Next Week on SmackDown

  • WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Street Profits vs. The Wyatt Sicks’ Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis
  • Ron Killings vs. Aleister Black

Solo Sikoa & J.C. Mateo vs. Jacob Fatu & Jimmy Uso

Sikoa tagged in Mateo to avoid Fatu’s wrath early on. Mateo took the brunt of the punishment from Fatu and Uso up until a thump brought Jimmy down to the ground. Sikoa entered the match and felt brazen enough to mock Fatu’s signature dance while he had Uso grounded with the Spinning Solo, which led to one final break in the action.

Our main event resumed from the commercial with Sikoa and Mateo having the advantrage over Jimmy Uso. Mateo got the tag and flattened Uso with a standing moonsault. In the corner, a prone Uso was squashed by a splash from Mateo. Another attempt at a splash by Mateo was missed, as Uso dodged and then delivered a Samoan Drop, which created some needed separation. Fatu got the hot tag as he unleashed an assault on Sikoa with the senton, followed by a splash in the corner.

Fatu cracked Sikoa with ten headbutts in the cornered, as he then caught his foe with a spinning elbow. Fatu blasted both Mateo and Sikoa with superkicks, which left them stunned in separate corners. Fatu took both men out with consecutive hip attacks. Uso and Fatu flew through the ropes with dives that ook out Mateo and Sikoa.

In the ring, Sikoa kicked Fatu with a superkick, as he had the Samoan Spike loaded. Fatu countered and planted Sikoa with the Impaler DDT. Fatu then brought an end to this match with the jumping moonsault from the top and the three to get the pin on the new U.S. Champion.

Post-match, Fatu wanted to continue his revenge on Sikoa as he cleared away the commentary table before he kicked Sikoa onto it. Fatu headed up to the top, but got intercepted by Tala Tonga, who emerged from the ring. Tala slammed Fatu from the top rope, as Tanga Loa soon joined in on the attack against Jimmy Uso. Tala crushed Uso with a superkick, as Mateo hit the Tour of the Islands afterwards.

This “family” soon turned their attention on Fatu, as Sikoa dropped him with the Samoan Spike. Sikoa ordered his men to drag Fatu towards the commentary table as they delivered the Shield Triple Powerbomb through the reinforced announce table. The Paul Levesque & Lee Fitting producer credits popped as SmackDown ended with Sikoa’s “family” standing tall.

**********

Pretty much a standard main event and big beatdown segment from Solo’s not-quite Bloodline group to end this two-hour SmackDown.

All in all, just a run-of-the mill episode of SmackDown, but the FrAxiom vs. Andrade & Fenix match was at least exciting and it’s always nice to see Drew McIntyre back in the fray, as well as the teasing towards a Randy Orton heel turn.

WWE NXT live results: Number one contender’s match

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s WWE NXT on The CW continues the march toward this month’s Great American Bash will feature a number one contender’s match in addition to TNA’s Joe Hendry in action.

Jasper Troy and Yoshiki Inamura will do battle for the right to challenge NXT Champion Oba Femi at the Bash. Troy is coming off a loss to Femi last month while Inamura battled Femi once on a live event, also last month.

Hendry returns to NXT for the first time since May when he battles Wes Lee. Hendry is preparing to challenge TNA World Champion and NXT member Trick Williams in addition to Mike Santana at this month’s TNA Slammiversary.

NXT North American Champion Ethan Page and Ricky Saints will meet with NXT GM Ava as another match between them looms in the distance.

Myles Borne vs. Lexis King, Thea Hail vs. Lainey Reed, and Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley vs. Zaria & Sol Ruca round out the show.

**********

Opening the show is the entrance of TNA World Champion Trick Williams, and he joins the announce team for guest commentary alongside Vic Joseph, Booker T and Corey Graves.

Joe Hendry defeated Wes Lee (with Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe)

Hendry pinned Lee after a chokeslam. Williams was on commentary, but other than stare down with Hendry, he did not play into the match itself. Yet, the match still featured a run-in.

The match goes through a commercial break. Just before the break, Hendry takes a wrecking ball dropkick from Lee on the floor. Hendry then counters to clothesline Lee. Hendry then has a stare down with Trick Williams at ringside. Those two meet in a title match at TNA Slammiversary in triple threat that also includes Mike Santana, who runs in later in this match to aid Hendry.

When the show returns from the break, Igwe and Dupont distract Hendry. That allows Lee to hit Hendry with a dive. Lee then casually springboards off the middle rope into a Phoenix Splash. From there, Hendry counters a tilt-a-whirl with a vertical suplex. It’s off to the races from there. Hendry manages to counter Lee again.

Santana runs down to ringside to counteract interference by Igwe and Dupont. Hendry deliver a chokeslam soon thereafter, and Hendry covers Lee for a pinfall.

Luca Crusifino comes to ring wearing a suit. He calls out Tony D’Angelo to clear the air. “The Don” accuses Crusifino of costing him the Heritage Cup in a match last week. They then accuse each other of hitting the other in the face.

Crusifino goes on to talk about how he left college and turned down offers to join a law firm in order to instead chase his dream in WWE. Crusifino says he as never done anything to doubt D’Angelo, and that is loyalty.

Out comes Heritage Cup Champion Stacks to interrupt the bickering to himself bicker with other two. Stacks sarcastically thanks Crusifino helping him win the Heritage Cup. Crusifino yells at Stacks to shut up. This is between Crusifino and D’Angelo. “The Don” chimes to to agree, and Crusifino decks D’Angelo with a right.

Stacks enjoys the sight of a decked D’Angelo, and he puts his arm around Crusifino while taunting D’Angelo. Crusifino then suddenly decks Stacks. The plot thickens.

NXT Champion Oba Femi is interviewed backstage by Kelly Kincaid. He comments on Jasper Troy against Yoshiki Inamura in a match later today. In walks Inamura, flanked by Josh Briggs. Inamura gets a promo that concludes with him saying he will see Femi at Great American Bash.

Myles Borne defeated Lexis King

Borne pinned King to win the match, which was set up in a skit last week with University of Florida football players George Gumbs Jr. and Tyreak Sapp. They were front row ringside for this match, and the celebrated after the match with Borne. For the finish, Borne does the Florida Gator chop before a Zig Zag and a pinfall.

Darkstate is featured in a pre-taped promo where each member gets to talk and threaten the NXT roster.

Lainey Reid defeated Thea Hail

Reid pinned Hail in a disputed finish. Not only did Hail have her hand under the plane of the bottom rope, but Reid was also holding the rope for illegal leverage. Moments before the finish, Reid tries to cheat by putting her feet on the ropes. For the finish itself, Reid delivers a knee strikes and covers Hail for the disputed finish. A rematch is plausible.

No Quarter Catch Crew is featured in a skit that sets up Charlie Dempsey against Tavion Heights. If Heights wins, he leaves the Crew. This is such an odd stipulation. Just leave if you want. Dempsey says when he wins, he does not want to hear about it again. Dempsey also heeled on Wren Sinclair in the skit.

Jasper Troy cuts a promo vowing to win tonight against Inamura, and then Troy vows to win the NXT title at Great American Bash.

Tatum Paxley & Izzi Dame (with The Culling) defeated NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca & Zaria

Dame pinned Ruca to win the match, which could also set up a title match with the champ dropping a fall. Paxley aligned herself with The Culling throughout the story of the match.

Ruca & Zaria are in sync most of the match until they go home. The tag bout goes through a commercial break. Just before cutting to commercials, Ruca & Zaria do a cool tandem spot that includes a dive to the floor and military press outside the ring. They do other tandem spots, including a modified take on the old Quebecers finisher. However, miscommunication and aDamen inadvertent spear tease dissension.

Just before the finish, Zaria accidentally spears Ruca after Paxley saves Dame. For the finish itself, Dame uses a sit-out powerbomb to score a pinfall on Ruca. With Dame pinning a champion, that would seem to set a title match in the near future.

In a skit from the office of NXT General Manager Ava, Ricky Saints meets with NXT North American Champion Ethan Page. Flanking Page is Vanity Project from Evolve, which includes WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake. This skit sets up Saints in a “Vanity Project gauntlet” next week. If Saints runs the gauntlet, he can pick a stipulation for his title rematch against Page.

Chasu U is featured in a vignette. Andre Chase apologizes to Uriah Connors and Kale Dixon for tough love. Chase has Dixon booked in a singles match next week. Chase wants Dixon to promise he will listen to Chase.

Joe Hendry is being interviewed by Kelly Kincaid when Santana also joins them. Hendry and Santana agree to fight against High Ryze.

Backstage in a skit, NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank agree to put their titles on the line

Yoshiki Inamura defeated Jasper Troy in number one contender’s match

Inamura pinned Troy clean with a flying body press. In winning, Inamura earns a title match against NXT Champion Oba Femi at The Great American Bash.

So much for Troy’s big push. They figuratively cut his legs off here with a clean loss after several weeks of a pushing him. Inamura also kicked out of Troy’s finisher, which was a black hole slam. Inamura fired up in the closing moments. He then climbed the turnbuckles and leapt off with a splash to score the deciding pinfall.

Femi comes out after the match to have a stare down with Inamura on the entrance ramp. Meanwhile in the ring, Je’Von Evans springboards in to attack Troy. That is payback from a previous angle involving the two, and it also indicated a direction for both Evans and Troy.

Jordynne Grace is headed to the ring for a monologue. She starts by saying getting to this point (in NXT) is the hardest thing she has done. It reminds her that she thrives under pressure. So is heading into Evolution and is in the ring this time and not on the sidelines. She gets to compete alongside the best women’s wrestlers in the world.

Grace goes on to say for sake of being honest, she fears being vulnerable. She thought a lot and asked herself if she really belongs in WWE. She says the audience knows her journey. She did not grow up wanting to be a WWE superstar, but Gracy says she did everything she could to get here. She became someone WWE could not ignore.

Grace is interrupted by the Fatal Influence trio consisting of NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyz. Jayne taunts Grace by mocking her “sob story” about her journey. Jayne mocks by saying Grace might bench press more than her, but Jayne tells Grace she could never carry the women’s division. Keep flexing and a title might fall into her arms, but Jayne says it will not be her title.

Jayne claims she is at the top of her game. The live studio audience drowns her with boos, and Jayne taunts them too. Grace eventually cuts off Jayne and tells her to shut up. Grace starts saying a vow to become the champion when Jayne goes for a sneak attack. Grace tries to fight them off, but Grace is overcome by the odds.

Jayne and Henley are jumping Grace when Blake Monroe runs down for a save. Monroe and Grace clean house and clear the ring as the heels flee. Out comes Ava, who bickers with Fatal Influence. Ava books a match for The Great American Bash with Monroe & Grace against Jayne & Henley. The two heels — Jayne & Henley — rush into the ring after the announcement and they brawl with Monroe & Grace. The babyfaces again clean house on the heels before the show goes off the air.


WWE Raw live results: Night of Champions fallout

Posted on by Steve Khan

Date: June 30, 2025
Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA 

The Big Takeaway —

WWE began announcing matches for Evolution, but it wasn’t exactly a hard push, as they also plugged matches for Saturday Night’s Main Event, in addition to plugging event details for SummerSlam and Clash in Paris. 

At Evolution, Iyo Sky will defend her title against Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez will defend the tag titles against teams from Raw, SmackDown and NXT in a four-way, and there will be a battle royal to determine a new number one contender for either brand’s belt. Perez is officially one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions and officially a member of Judgment Day. 

Judgment Day is now also in possession of the World Tag Team titles after Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh beat New Day. 

CM Punk attacked Seth Rollins but will have to wait to get his hands on him in the ring, as Rollins will first fight LA Knight at SNME. 

Rusev beat Sheamus, and Ludwig Kaiser may be the new El Grande Americano. 

Read more below. 

**********

Show Recap — 

There was a recap of Night of Champions from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It began with them talking about how great the city and the country are. The recap included ‘headlines’ from various news/sports outlets, one of which claimed that Sam Zayn pulled off a “miracle win” over Karrion Kross. That was from CBS, where someone just repeated what Michael Cole said in the commentary. 

Sami Zayn (impressed by a picture of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin hoisting the Stanley Cup), Penta, New Day, and Sheamus were shown arriving at the arena in Pittsburgh. 

Corey Graves is once again on commentary with Cole, in place of Pat McAfee. 

Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY segment 

Ripley entered to a big reaction and welcomed us to “Monday Night Mami.” (Must everyone do this?) Ripley said Judgment Day was finally behind her, and she wanted to get her priorities straight ahead of Evolution. 

Iyo Sky quickly interrupted. Sky said you could not have Evolution without her, but Ripley was wrong about one thing. Ripley was not on top—not without the title. Adam Pearce told Sky that she could defend her title against the opponent of her choice at Evolution. Sky wanted to defend against the best, and that meant defending against Ripley. 

Ripley said she had nothing but respect for Sky, but warned her that she would stop at nothing to get the title back. Ripley accepted the match at Evolution.

******** 

Backstage, Dominik Mysterio wished luck to Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh in their title match. After they left, Dom was confronted by AJ Styles. 

Dom presented a doctor’s note proving he was not medically cleared. Dom wondered if Styles needed glasses to read the note. Styles, in fact, put glasses on to read the note—and the note said Dom was a punk ass. That got a good laugh from the crowd. Styles warned Dom he would do a lot worse to him once he got his hands on him. 

******** 

This is only the second time Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have wrestled since winning the tag titles at WrestleMania over two months ago.

World Tag Team Championships: The New Day vs. Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh 

The match started with Kingston offering Bálor a piece of bread so he could have some carbs, but Bálor pushed it away. 

New Day worked over McDonagh throughout a commercial break. Bálor made a hot tag, which got a nice pop, and he ran wild on New Day. Bálor hit a slingblade and went for a dropkick, but Kingston cut him off with a leaping double foot stomp. 

They tagged out, and McDonagh hit Woods with an Asai moonsault, but Woods got his boots up on a moonsault in the ring. Bálor made a blind tag and went for a Coup de Grâce on Woods, but Woods moved, and Bálor hit McDonagh by mistake. 

Woods rolled up Bálor for a nearfall. New Day hit Bálor with Midnight Hour next for a close nearfall.  Each team took turns cheating behind the referee’s back, leading to Woods hitting Bálor with a title belt from behind, but Bálor kicked out yet again. McDonagh got back in and hit Woods with an avalanche Spanish Fly, but Kingston broke up the cover. 

Bálor gave Kingston a slingblade outside the ring, McDonagh hit Woods with a moonsault, and Bálor hit Woods with a Coup de Grâce for the pinfall win. Judgment Day are the new tag champs.

Dom joined Bálor and McDonagh in the aisle to celebrate as fireworks went off. 

The notoriously quiet Pittsburgh crowd was really into this, and they popped huge for Judgment Day winning.

Match result: Finn Bálor & JD McDonagh defeated The New Day to win the World Tag Team Championships (12:24)

This was really good on all fronts. The match was fun, and the crowd was into the heel team that happened to be playing babyfaces tonight. 

It may be premature to take the titles off New Day, but they’ve done next to nothing since turning heel, and even less since winning the titles. That’s not all their fault, but that’s where we are. 

********

Jackie Redmond interviewed Bayley. Bayley said she should be the current IC champion, but Lyra Valkyria got in her way. Bayley’s goal has not changed. 

Valkyria interrupted. Valkyria was offended because Bayley wouldn’t return her messages, but would talk about her behind her back. They had a heated argument, basically over who hated Becky Lynch more. 

They screamed at each other until Pearce interrupted and screamed even louder for them to stop. He made a match between the two tonight, and the winner would face Lynch for the title. 

********

Maxxine Dupri, Natalya, and Akira Tozawa greeted Sheamus as he warmed up backstage. 

There was a Grayson Waller interview during a break. He was inspired by New Day cutting the dead weight and turning on Big E, and thought he could learn something. (That was seven months ago.) 

There was a Goldberg video package set to “Dominate” by Three Days Grace. 

********

Chad Gable spoke to American Made backstage. Pearce joined to say he was sorry to hear about Gable’s injury and wished him luck. Gable said he made his own luck. Pearce figured we wouldn’t be seeing El Grande Americano for a while. Gable said he was a busy man, “but you never know.” 

After Pearce left, Gable gave his teammates their marching orders. Brutus Creed said they would be lost without him. Gable told them to listen to Ivy Nile. Gable left. (Ludwig Kaiser was eavesdropping in the background.) 

********

Bálor and McDonagh approached Pearce and Nick Aldis backstage. Bálor said Raquel Rodriguez has worked very hard to be the tag champ, and it would be mean to strip her of the titles (because of Liv Morgan’s injury). Bálor suggested they give her a new partner: Roxanne Perez. 

Pearce and Aldis huddled over the idea and agreed to it. However, they wanted Rodriguez and Perez to prove themselves as a team, so they would have to defend the belts at Evolution against a team from Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Bálor and McDonagh were initially caught off guard by this but agreed. 

******** 

Rusev entered and waited in the ring for almost ten minutes before the match began (thanks to a break and the above segment). 

Cole screeched, “It’s fight niiiight, baby!” as Sheamus entered. He should not do that again. 

Rusev vs. Sheamus 

They’ve been in multi-man matches since, but this was their first singles match since 2014. 

They clobbered each other until Sheamus brought Rusev off the apron with a powerslam to the outside. Rusev took over during a break after Sheamus went shoulder-first into the ring post. 

Sheamus began no-selling Rusev’s kicks and kept inviting him to do more. Sheamus got to his feet and fired up. He hit a backbreaker, followed by a diving knee drop, but Rusev kicked out at one. Rusev came back with a spinning heel kick for two, and a fallaway slam for two. Rusev hit a superplex ahead of another break. 

Rusev held control during the break, and not much happened until Sheamus hit a White Noise right on time for them to return from break. They took turns clobbering each other some more until Sheamus hit a powerslam. Sheamus hit ten fifteen beats of the Bodhrán and went for a Brogue, but Rusev ducked it (sort of). Sheamus fought him off again and hit consecutive running knee strikes for a nearfall. 

Rusev responded with a uranage and a jumping kick. He applied the Accolade, but Sheamus managed to get to his feet while hoisting Rusev on his back. They spilled out of the ring, and Sheamus hit Rusev with a Brogue Kick, and Rusev just barely avoided a count-out. 

They battled on the apron until Rusev thumbed Sheamus in the eye. He exposed the inanimate metal rod (off the top turnbuckle) and rammed Sheamus into it. Both of these things happened right in front of the referee. Rusev followed with a  Machka Kick for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Rusev defeated Sheamus (20:22)

This was pretty good until the finish. However, it did drag at times, particularly during the commercials, and the finish was stupid. Graves tried to claim that the referee didn’t see Rusev poke Sheamus in the eye, but you could hear the ref screaming at him for doing that. 

********

Pearce and Aldis announced a battle royal at Evolution, and the winner would earn a title match at Clash in Paris. (This was not the most inspiring announcement.) 

Redmond interviewed American Made. Nile spoke about the battle royal until El Grande Americano suddenly appeared. He nodded at them and left. (It was Ludwig Kaiser.) Redmond asked them for comment. An excited Brutus was about to say something, but Nile cut him off. They left. 

Redmond was about to interview Sami Zayn nearby, but he was attacked by Karrion Kross. Kross attacked Zayn with a pipe until officials broke it up.

********

Byron Saxton interviewed Stephanie Vaquer during a break. Vaquer was excited for the battle royal. (It sounds like whoever wins will get to pick which champion they face.) She didn’t come to Raw to be second place, and if she won the battle royal. She planned on facing the Raw champion. Vaquer has traveled the world and would not stop until she was the world champion. 

(Perhaps she’ll win, but a battle royal doesn’t seem to be the best use of Vaquer on an all-women PPV.) 

********

Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, including Cam Heyward, were shown at ringside. 

Gunther segment (Seth Rollins, CM Punk, LA Knight get involved) 

Gunther spoke about the impressive Goldberg video package. Goldberg was violent, brutal and destructive. But just like his matches, all of his highlights were summed up in three minutes. 

Gunther was not afraid of what was left of Goldberg. He was a 58-year-old man, riding out his career at Gunther’s expense. That was not going to happen because Goldberg was not capable of taking the title from him. Gunther knew he could beat Goldberg in three minutes, but that was not his goal. 

Gunther would take his time, blow him up, and embarrass him in front of everyone who loved him. Goldberg said he didn’t like bullies, “but too bad you bumped into the biggest bully around here.” Gunther planned on bullying him and treating him like trash, and there was nothing he could do about it. 

Goldberg wanted to prove he still had it, but Gunther would prove he never had it. Once it was over, it would be Gunther’s turn to ask, “Who’s next?” 

Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman entered. Gunther made fun of Rollins for travelling very far (NOC) to accomplish nothing. Rollins laughed at the statement. Rollins informed him they did not go to NOC to cash in on John Cena. 

Rollins made it clear that as long as he was alive, CM Punk would not be a champion in WWE. They flew across the world to stand on that business. (Fans chanted for Punk.) Rollins told Gunther that winning MITB meant an all-out assault on both championships. 

Punk’s music hit, and he sprinted to the ring to attack Rollins. Rollins bailed through the crowd as Punk called him a coward. (The crowd chanted for Punk again.) 

Punk was about to leave until Gunther grabbed him by the arm. Punk shoved Gunther, and Gunther actually fell to the mat. (Gunther looked nonplussed about being shoved down by Punk.) A pissed-off Punk marched to the back. 

Rollins was amused as he stood in the stands, but was attacked from behind by LA Knight. They fought into the concourse (which was conveniently blocked off from the fans). Rollins tossed a drink in Knight’s face and ran away. 

********

Judgment Day celebrated backstage. Perez happily held her new tag title belt. Rodriguez was upset that they were replacing Morgan so quickly and said she’s been rehabbing hard. Bálor knew from experience how hard it was to come back from a shoulder injury, and he just wanted to see Rodriguez stay champion. Rodriguez reluctantly agreed. 

Bálor called for a vote to declare Perez an official member of Judgment Day. They all voted ‘yes’ (Dom and Rodriguez were reluctant). Bálor was very happy. 

******** 

There was a Kairi Sane video package.

Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria

Bayley targeted Valkyria’s back and applied a Boston Crab until Valkyria got a rope break. They collided with a dueling crossbody attempts ahead of a break. Valkyria took over, but you would’ve missed all her offence because it happened entirely within a commercial break. 

Bayley fought back when they returned and hit a superplex. They tried dueling cradles, but both kicked out. Valkyria spilled out of the ring after a Bayley back suplex, and Bayley followed with a leaping elbow drop off the steps. Valkyria responded with a swinging neckbreaker, but Bayley hit a sunset flip powerbomb into the corner for two. Valkyria hit a gutwrench sit-out powerbomb for two. 

They traded cradles, which led to a double pinfall spot with both women’s shoulders down. The referee called the match a draw. 

You knew we would get a finish like this as soon as the match was announced. (Or a DQ.) The match itself was pretty good until the flat finish. 

— Bayley grabbed Valkyria, but Valkyria turned around and hit a clothesline. They wound up brawling into the crowd until officials broke it up. 

Match result: Bayley and Lyra Valkyria wrestled to a draw (10:19) 

********

Seth Rollins will face LA Knight at SNME. 

Redmond caught up to Punk backstage. Punk said he had receipts for Rollins, Heyman, Bron-Bron, Gunther and anyone else who got in his way. 

Punk confronted Knight nearby. He told Knight that Rollins belonged to him and to get to the back of the line. Knight said he has Rollins at SNME, so he was the line. Knight yelled, “Yeah!” in Punk’s face and left. 

********

Penta checked with Zayn to see if he still wanted to wrestle. Zayn, who was tapped up, was ready to go. 

******** 

Heyman was on the phone with Rollins, and Bronson Reed asked him, “Where’s the Visionary?” (A normal question.) Heyman said Rollins was already on a jet, perfecting plan B. Reed wanted to know what that was. Before Heyman could answer, Bron Breakker interrupted and said the plan was for him to smash whoever got in their way. Heyman wasn’t sure that was the plan, but Breakker didn’t care and told some guy to hit his music. (I liked this bit from Bron.) 

Sami Zayn & Penta vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed (w/Paul Heyman)

Penta and Zayn did Penta’s little walk before wiping out their opponents with dives. It didn’t matter because Reed caught Penta out of mid-air during a break and hit a World’s Strongest Slam. 

Penta made a comeback following the break and tagged in Zayn, who wiped out both guys with an Arabian Press. A battle in the corner led to Zayn hitting Reed with a sunset flip powerbomb for two. Reed came right back with a DVD for two. Bron knocked Zayn over the announce table with a leaping clothesline ahead of another break. The heels took over again. 

As you know, there’s a timer in the corner letting people know when the commercial break is over. Well, it’s also telling you when the babyface will make their comeback. Zayn fought back the moment they returned from break and made a hot tag to Penta. 

Penta hit Bron with a flying crossbody, kicked his leg out of his leg, and hit a slingblade. Penta hit a dropkick in the corner and snapped Bron’s arm. Arm snapping appears to do nothing, because Bron got him up next in a military press, but Penta countered into a DDT. 

Heyman distracted the ref, which allowed Reed to knock Penta down on the top rope. Bron followed with a Frankensteiner, and Reed hit a sit-out powerbomb, but Zayn broke up the cover. 

Penta avoided a Tsunami and tagged in Zayn, who hit Bron with an exploder in the corner. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but Bron clotheslined him. Bron went for a spear, but Zayn booted him (Cole completely undersold that spot), and Reed broke up the cover. 

Zayn tried a vertical suplex on Reed but couldn’t get him up. Penta attacked Reed from the apron, and Zayn managed to hit Reed with the suplex. The crowd popped, but it didn’t matter because Reed wasn’t the legal man. Bron speared Zayn for the pinfall win. 

— Penta checked on Zayn after the match, but Bron speared him. Reed went up for a Tsunami, but Jey Uso entered with a steel chair. Jey beat up Bron and Bronson with the chair and stood tall with Zayn and Penta. 

Match result: Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed defeated Sami Zayn & Penta (18:24)

WWE Night of Champions live results: John Cena vs. CM Punk

Posted on by Steve Khan

WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for one of its annual premium live events with today’s Night of Champions from Riyadh, streaming on Peacock for U.S. viewers and Netflix for international viewers.

Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena makes his final appearance in the country as an active wrestler, defending against longtime rival CM Punk in their first singles bout since February 2013.

The King of the Ring finals will take place as former champions and former stablemates Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton do battle with a SummerSlam title shot on the line.

In the Queen of the Ring finals, Jade Cargill takes on Asuka to determine who gets a SummerSlam title shot.

In a grudge match with the United States title on the line, reigning champion Jacob Fatu defends against former Bloodline faction member Solo Sikoa.

In a street fight, Rhea Ripley goes one-on-one with Raquel Rodriguez while Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross rounds out the card.

**********

Show Recap — 

COUNTDOWN SHOW 

There was an establishing shot of the city, wrestlers arriving, and an intro narrated by Tom Rinaldi — all things I’m sure we’ll see again when the actual show starts. 

The pre-show was hosted by Michael Cole, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett. Cole said it was 109 degrees outside, turned to the fans behind him, and said, “No idea how you people live in this heat.”

They talked and they talked and they talked as the fans chanted everything they could think of in the background. Cole said, “There’s a reason that WWE has this growing relationship with this country of Saudi Arabia.” Indeed, there is. They cut to a video package of past events in the country.

They aired the final 2-3 minutes of Kurt Angle beating Rikishi to win KOTR 2000. 

Jade Cargill told Byron Saxton she was focused and planned on taking the crown home to her daughter. 

Rhea Ripley spoke to Redmond about her relationship with Raquel Rodriguez and their upcoming street fight. Ripley planned on putting her through the ground. There was no point being in this business if you weren’t going for the title, and she wanted to remind everyone that this was her division. 

They aired the final few minutes of Nia Jax beating Lyra Valkyria to win QOTR last year, and highlights of Giulia’s U.S. title win over Zelina Vega last night. 

Saxton interviewed Karrion Kross (with Scarlett). Kross said Sami Zayn was not a good guy. It was a charade. Zayn collected sympathy and used it to put himself in advantageous situations. Kross was annoyed nobody talked about his goals the way they talked about Zayn’s. He cut his own interview short because he didn’t want to get in trouble.

The panel spoke about Jacob Fatu/Solo Sikoa. One hour to go. 

They aired the final few minutes of Xavier Woods beating Finn Bálor to win KOTR 2021, and more highlights from last night’s SmackDown. Redmond loved CM Punk’s thuganomics promo. She admitted there was some cringe, but that made it better.

They plugged Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, a new season of LFG, and aired the final few minutes of Zelina Vega beating “Doudrop” (Piper Niven) to win the Queen’s Crown in 2021. 

Saxton replaced Cole and Barrett, and he spoke with Redmond about the KOTR and QOTR finals. 

Nathalie Mamo, who always corresponds with WWE for these shows, spoke to actor/comedian Ibrahim Al Hajjaj. He did not get much of a reaction, and the fans continued to chant for the regular WWE personalities in the background.

They showed Gunther beating Orton to win KOTR last year, and a long feature on Steve Austin winning KOTR 1996. 

The panel ran down the card one final time, and the pre-show is mercifully over. 

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2025

There was an establishing shot of the city. Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Karrion Kross and Scarlett (whose outfit may be pushing the boundaries), Rhea Ripley, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Jade Cargill, and CM Punk were shown arriving. Most of them got big reactions. The intro was narrated by Tom Rinaldi. 

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett are tonight’s announcers. We were also welcomed by the Arabic announcers. 

If you didn’t see SmackDown last night, the stage is gigantic. 

King of the Ring final: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes

Orton entered first, Rhodes second. Both men received huge reactions, with the fans singing their songs. Rhodes looked emotional as the match began, their first since 2013. The crowd was electric as it began. 

They didn’t do much for the first few minutes, and they didn’t really have to. Rhodes went to the top about five minutes in, but Orton brought him down with a superplex. 

Orton sold it like he hurt his back. Rhodes took advantage and hit a Disaster kick for two. Orton responded with a backbreaker, but hurt his own back in the process. Rhodes wrenched Orton’s back around the ring post and followed with a missile dropkick. 

Orton fought back and hit a powerslam, but the injury prevented him from making a cover fast enough, and Rhodes kicked out. Rhodes forearmed Orton repeatedly in his lower back before hitting a Cody Cutter for two. (Rhodes got a smattering of boos for targeting his back.) Rhodes followed with a super Cody Cutter for two. 

Orton came back with a draping DDT, but Rhodes countered an RKO into a Cross Rhodes for a nearfall. Rhodes stalled for too long, perhaps thinking Orton was down for good, but Orton popped up with an RKO for a nearfall. 

Orton set up for the punt but began second-guessing himself. The crowd chanted, “Yes,” as Orton talked himself into it. Orton went for the punt, but Rhodes blocked it and applied a figure four until Orton got a rope break. 

They exchanged right hands until Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter, but Orton caught him mid-air with an RKO for a nearfall. 

Orton brought a chair into the ring, but Charles Robinson took it away. As the referee was distracted, Orton exposed the top turnbuckle. Rhodes blocked Orton’s attempt to use the exposed buckle and shoved him into it instead. Rhodes followed with a Cross Rhodes for the pinfall win. 

Cody Rhodes has earned a shot at the WWE Championship at SummerSlam. 

— Orton left the ring as Rhodes was presented with the crown. Orton had his back turned as Saxton interviewed Rhodes. Rhodes thanked Orton, who mentored him and spoke up for him. Rhodes said this would not be Orton’s final stop in Saudi Arabia and asked the fans to give him an ovation. Orton turned around to see this. 

Rhodes said he would face either CM Punk or John Cena. He knew how the audience felt when he went up against these beloved characters, but no matter who the champion was, they were only holding it for him, because he would get the ball back at SummerSlam. Fireworks went off as Rhodes held up the crown. 

Match result: Cody Rhodes defeated Randy Orton (19:48)

This was a good, simple, and well-laid-out match, although the finish felt a bit abrupt. Rhodes wasn’t acting like a heel, but Orton was definitely the babyface until the end when his frustration got the better of him. 

********

The Street Profits were shown in the crowd. 

There was a video package for the upcoming match. It highlighted their real friendship in the past, leading to their eventual TV feud. 

Riyadh Boulevard Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Tag Team Champion Raquel Rodriguez

Ripley entered to a massive reaction. Their outfits were a bit too similar, with Ripley wearing an all-black bodysuit with metal eyelets and Rodriguez wearing a dark blue (almost black) bodysuit with metal eyelets.  

Ripley got trapped in the ropes, so Rodriguez hit her repeatedly with a kendo stick. Ripley managed to kick a chair into her face and escape from the ropes. 

Ripley cleared the announce table and set up for a vertical suplex, but Rodriguez escaped. Ripley tried a cannonball off the table instead, but Rodriguez caught her and powerbombed her through the top of the barricade. (It was built to break, but this still looked great.) 

Rodriguez set up the steel steps, but Ripley rammed her into them, took off her belt, and repeatedly whipped Rodriguez with it. Ripley followed with Razor’s Edge and a running kick for two. 

Ripley applied a Prism Trap, but was attacked from behind by Roxanne Perez (also wearing the same type of body suit as the other two, although hers had purple lining to match Judgment Day). Ripley fought her off outside the ring and hit a vertical suplex. Ripley put a trash can over Perez and hit a sliding kick. 

Rodriguez used the distraction to drive Ripley into the steel post and into the steep steps. Rodriguez followed with a twisting elbow drop for two. Rodriguez booted Ripley and placed a table over the top rope, but Ripley shoved her into the edge of the table. 

They climbed on top of the wobbling table that sat atop the top rope, and Ripley hit an avalanche Rip-tide for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Rhea Ripley defeated Raquel Rodriguez (14:04)

This was a really good match. The crowd didn’t care at all about Ripley, or even Perez, but they loved Ripley. 

The announcers pushed that Ripley wants to go for the world title again, and she mentioned it on the pre-show. 

********

This match did not get a video package, but they did show their segment from Raw. 

Zayn entered wearing a keffiyeh (headdress), and wrestled in black, green, red and white tights.

Karrion Kross (w/Scarlett) vs. Sami Zayn

Kross tried being the aggressor with strikes, but Zayn fought back with strikes of his own and clotheslined Kross out of the ring. Zayn teased a dive as Kross backed away up the ramp. Kross was frustrated until Scarlett whispered something in his ear. Zayn fought off Kross again, hitting a moonsault off the barricade. Back in the ring, Kross responded with a Saito suplex to take over. 

Zayn came back with a clothesline, ten punches in the corner, and a double axe-handle. Kross responded with a DVD for two. Kross avoided a Blue Thunder Bomb and hit another Saito suplex for two. Kross ducked a clothesline and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Kross acted like he couldn’t get up, but suddenly caught Zayn with consecutive German suplexes.

 Zayn came back with an exploder in the corner, but Kross intercepted his Helluva kick and applied a Kross Jacket sleeper. The referee raised Zayn’s hand three times to check if he was still alive, and he raised his arm up on the third one. Zayn got a rope break. 

Kross hit consecutive running clotheslines in the corner. Kross taunted Zayn and wanted him to admit he was right. However, as Kross set up for another clothesline, Zayn nailed a Helluva Kick for the pinfall win. Cole, for some reason, called this a miracle. 

This match was fine. 

Scarlett checked on Kross after the match. Zayn celebrated and smiled as he looked down at Kross. 

Match result: Sami Zayn defeated Karrion Kross (13:32) 

******** 

They showed Los Garza winning the AAA tag team titles. Santos Escobar and Los Garza were shown in the crowd. 

There was a video package for the upcoming match. 

Fatu’s entrance looked pretty cool with this stage setup. 

United States Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa 

Sikoa beat Fatu. 

Sikoa hit Fatu with a cheap shot right before the bell rang to begin. Fatu fought back pretty quickly, but Sikoa blocked his suicide dive attempt and slammed him on the ring apron and black mats with uranages. Sikoa hit a running hip attack and applied a sleeper hold for a long time. Cole said Fatu was fading. He’s not the only one. 

Fatu eventually got up and fought back until Sikoa turned him around with a somewhat nasty-looking German suplex. Fatu landed right on his face. He no-sold it and fought back, hitting a running hip attack, impaler DDT, and senton bomb for two. 

JC Mateo ran out to distract the referee as the returning Tonga Loa attacked Fatu with an elevated neckbreaker. Sikoa rolled into a cover, but Fatu kicked out. Fatu wiped out Mateo and Loa with a Fosbury flop. 

Fatu hit Sikoa with a Samoan drop and a moonsault, but Sikoa was pulled out of the ring by Hikuleo. He was not named, only referred to as the brother of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. 

Hikuleo chokeslammed Fatu onto the announce table and rolled him back in the ring. (The referee was somehow distracted this entire time.) Sikoa hit Fatu with a Samoan spike for the pinfall win. The crowd liked Fatu, so they were surprised by the title change. 

Sikoa posed on the ramp with his crew as fireworks went off. 

Match result: Solo Sikoa defeated Jacob Fatu to win the United States Championship (12:07) 

This was not a particularly interesting match, and Fatu losing feels like a big mistake. 

********

Queen of the Ring final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill 

Asuka kept targeting the leg, while Cargill kept fighting her off. Cargill hit a fallaway slam and a chokeslam for two. Asuka responded with kicks, a Codebreaker and a missile dropkick for two. Cargill ducked a kick and hit a sit-out powerbomb for two. Cargill fought out of an armbar and hit a big boot. Asuka avoided Jaded and went for an Asuka Lock, but Cargill rolled out. 

Asuka went for a running hip attack, but Cargill caught her and hit Jaded for the pinfall win. 

— Cargill was presented with the crown before being interviewed by Saxton. She told people who felt down to fight through it and show people who you are. A storm was coming for SummerSlam. 

Match result: Jade Cargill defeated Asuka (8:35) 

Asuka looked really good here, Cargill did not. Asuka was the crowd favourite, but they were never that into this at any point. They were particularly quiet when Cargill was on offence, and there was a smattering of boos when she won.

******** 

Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk

John Cena’s heel run may be coming to an end soon—but not yet. 

Punk entered first to a huge reaction. He sat cross-legged in the ring as he awaited Cena. (Incidentally, he sat right behind the words “Riyadh Season” on the mat.) 

Like the opening match, the crowd was electric as they got going, and the wrestlers didn’t do too much in the first five minutes. Punk avoided a shoulder tackle and went for a GTS, but Cena slipped out. Punk tried a version of AJ Lee’s octopus hold (which Barrett mentioned), but Cena fought out of that, too. 

Cena did his usual comeback and five knuckle shuffle, but Punk avoided an AA and hit a neckbreaker and a corner knee strike. (Barrett acknowledged that we were getting the ‘greatest hits’ from both men with this exchange.) 

Punk hit a flying elbow drop and went for a GTS, but Cena countered into an STF. Punk countered that into an Anaconda Vice, but Cena fought out and hit an AA for two. Punk slipped out of another AA, hit a DDT and applied an STF, but Cena got a rope break. 

They (slowly) exchanged counters until Cena hit another AA for a nearfall. Punk tried a flying crossbody, but Cena rolled through, hoisted him up and hit an AA for a close nearfall. 

In the opening match, Orton’s RKO wasn’t enough, so he grabbed a chair. Here, Cena’s AA wasn’t enough, so he grabbed his title belt. However, Cena had second thoughts (like Orton did with the punt) and put the belt down. That hesitation allowed Punk to hit a GTS for a nearfall. 

Punk ducked a shoulder tackle, and Cena tackled the ref by mistake. Punk hit a GTS and got a visual pin, but the ref was down. 

Punk called for another ref, but he got Seth Rollins instead. Rollins entered with Paul Heyman (holding the MITB briefcase), Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. 

Punk fought off Bron and Bronson with the ref still dead from a shoulder tackle. Punk tried a dive, and I think they were supposed to catch him, but he overshot them. Bron and Bronson grabbed Punk and tried a double chokeslam, but Punk didn’t really get up for it, so they basically shoved him through the announce table. 

With Punk down, Rollins called for a new ref. Charles Robinson sprinted down the ramp (as we’ve seen him do before), but he was obliterated by Cena, who tackled him down. Cena got in Rollins’ face and eventually laid him out with an AA. 

Bron and Bronson put the boots to Cena until Penta ran out to make the save. Bron went after him, so Sami Zayn ran out to even the odds. Penta wiped out Bron and Zayn with a dive. 

Back in the ring, Reed was about to give Cena a Tsunami, but Punk shoved him off the top, and Cena laid out Reed with an impressive AA. 

Punk and Cena stood face-to-face in the ring and seemed on the same page. Punk offered a handshake. Cena shook his hand, but looked sternly into the camera as he did when he turned on Rhodes. 

Cena tried to kick Punk low, but Punk saw it coming and went for a GTS. However, Rollins hit Punk with the briefcase and hit a curb stomp. Cena shoved Rollins out of the ring and covered Punk for the pinfall win (the referee sprang to life at precisely the right moment). 

Cena smiled into the camera and posed with his belt as the show ended. 

Match result: John Cena defeated CM Punk to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship (26:17)

The match was exactly as it could be between these two at this stage of their careers, which is not much. Adding in all of the interference made a mess of a main event. The closing sequence accomplished what they wanted, though. Cena teased going back babyface, Punk got screwed again, and Rollins almost became champion again (without officially cashing in).

WWE SmackDown live results: Night of Champions go-home show

Posted on by Marc Quill

Editor’s Note: This is a live post for the international airing of WWE SmackDown on Netflix. If you do not want to be spoiled before the U.S. airing at 8 PM Eastern, you have been warned.

The final WWE SmackDown before Night of Champions takes place tonight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with three title matches and an appearance by John Cena ahead of his WWE title defense Saturday against CM Punk.

Tiffany Stratton renews her rivalry with Nia Jax when she defends her WWE Women’s Championship in a Last Woman Standing match.

The Street Profits will look to retain their WWE Tag Team Championships when they take on the Wyatt Sicks’ Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis.

Women’s U.S. Champion Zelina Vega will defend against Giulia who is looking for her first title run.

Plus, the King and Queen of the Ring finalists (Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Jade Cargill and Asuka) will look to make a final impression before their matches Saturday.

Join us for our live coverage at 1 PM Eastern.

**********

– Over a live shot of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Michael Cole welcomed us to tonight’s show. We then got an elaborate pyro display inside the Kingdom Arena to kick off the night.

– Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax, the Street Profits, Zelina Vega, Giulia, Jade Cargill, and Asuka were all shown arriving in the arena.

Cody Rhodes kicks off SmackDown

“The American Nightmare” arrived to a great ovation from the Riyadh crowd as he headed down to the ring to open up SmackDown. The King of the Ring crown was on a podium in the middle of the ring.

Before Rhodes could say a single word, his King of the Ring opponent, Randy Orton interrupted as the fans sang along to his theme song. Orton got himself a microphone and asked the fans if they watched Raw this past Monday and if they saw Cody Rhodes face Jey Uso. He put over the match as a potential Slammy Award candidate for “Match of the Year”. Orton then told Rhodes that he needed to be the King of the Ring, because the crown stood for redemption because he made it to the KOTR finals last year but lost to Gunther.

On the USA Network broadcast of SmackDown, a disclaimer ran stating that the Orton/Rhodes segment experienced technical issues during the initial live broadcast of this episode. The segment, as aired on USA, appeared to be shot with the ringside cameras for the portions that didn’t air on the live broadcast in the afternoon.

Orton said that the crown also stood for retribution against John Cena because what the Undisputed WWE Champion did to him in Backlash in front of his family and friends. He needed to right that wrong as well. Orton told Rhodes that everyone knew how much they respected one another, but he couldn’t let his personal feelings about Cody get in the way in the gold. He said that he would do anything and everything to make sure he’d leave Riyadh as King of the Ring.

Rhodes responded by saying he was thankful for everything that a student could want to hear from his teacher, referring to the kind remarks that Orton said about him a couple of months ago. He said he knew Orton needed to win it, but whether it’s John Cena or CM Punk, he needed to win King of the Ring more. Rhodes concluded by saying that tomorrow, “RKO” will still be the most dangerous three letters in WWE, but Orton wouldn’t be King of the Ring after all was said and done. That’s because, as Rhodes said, he’d win.

**********

– Solo Sikoa and JC Mateo were backstage, as the former gave his ally an order to make Jimmy Uso remember what it feels like to have no backup with him in his match coming up now.

Jimmy Uso vs. JC Mateo (w/ Solo Sikoa)

Mateo used his strength to ram Uso into the corner before he blasted him with repeated strikes as the referee pulled him away. This gave Uso the time to mount a bit of a fightback, but Mateo grounded him right away. Uso kicked Mateo down to the outside and looked for a dive, but Solo Sikoa got in the way and stopped him from taking a dive as we got a break in the action.

We returned from break with Mateo catching Uso after a top rope dive and slamming him down to the math. Mateo impressed with a standing moonsault onto Uso for the near-fall. Mateo then continued to work over Uso’s back with a reverse bearhug submission. Uso escaped and took down Mateo with a corkscrew from the top rope, which created some much-needed separation for him.

Uso began his comeback with strikes a-plenty, but he couldn’t lift Mateo up for a Samoan Drop. Uso answered with a kick to the face instead, before crunching Mateo in the corner with a running hip strike. As Mateo retreated outside, he got blasted by a suicide dive from Uso. At ringside, Solo Sikoa grabbed at Uso’s leg to create a momentary distraction, which allowed Mateo to recover and put an end to things with the Tour of the Islands.

After the match, Sikoa talked with Uso and tried to curry favor with him. An offer for a hug was refused with a slap to Sikoa’s face. This led to Mateo and Sikoa beating down Uso until Jacob Fatu ran in for the save. The United States Champion caught Mateo with his pop-up Samoan Drop before he faced down Sikoa, who wisely backed out. This allowed Fatu to hit his jumping moonsault onto Mateo. Uso and Fatu faced down one another before Jimmy pushed Fatu out of the way to hit an attacking Sikoa with a superkick.

Match Result: JC Mateo def. Jimmy Uso via pinfall

All signs seem to point to Jacob Fatu losing his U.S. Championship tomorrow at Night of Champions, but the stuff with Fatu and Jimmy Uso as uneasy allies is a bit of an interesting story.

**********

– #DIY, the self-appointed leaders of the SmackDown Tag Team Division tried to rally the other teams to do something about the Wyatt Sicks. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis entered the scene and made a match for Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa against Andrade and a mystery partner.

– Giulia and Zelina Vega made separate remarks about their Women’s United States Championship match coming up next.

Women’s United States Championship Match: Zelina Vega (c) vs. Giulia

Vega tried to go for an early pinfall attempt but got met by some pinfall attempts from Giulia as a result. The two women exchanged kicks before Giulia took advantage with a suplex. Vega answered with a knee that sent Giulia to the outside, as she then flew off the top with a moonsault.

SmackDown returned with Vega caught in a submission by Giulia as she then got stomped onto the mat. As Vega rolled to the outside, Giullia looked to continue the punishment, but Vega threw her against the stairs and hit a running Meteora on to the prone Giulia. Inside the ring, Vega went on the attack, as she countered an attempt of the Northern Lights Bomb by Giulia. From the top rope, Vega caught Giulia with another Meteora for the near-fall.

As Vega tried to head to the top, Giulia intercepted and hit an amazing superplex. Vega recovered landed a Code Red, but Giulia rolled on the pin so that her feet touched the ropes. A missed moonsault led to consecutive Arrivederci Knees from Giulia, followed by the Northern Lights Bomb, which brought Giulia the Women’s United States Championship.

Match Result: Giulia def. Zelina Vega via pinfall to win the Women’s United States Championship

A good enough match that seemed rough in some spots, but we got the right winner in all of this as Giulia wins her first main-roster championship title. What comes next for Giulia as a champion on SmackDown should be fun to see.

**********

– The commentators made note of SmackDown heading to two hours last week before tossing to a recap of everything that went down between Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair last week.

Backstage, Charlotte was walking and met by Alexa Bliss, who proposed that they not necessarily be friends, but allies of mutual benefit.

Queen of the Ring Finals Interview

Wade Barrett was in the ring as he prepared to interview Jade Cargill and Asuka about their Queen of the Ring finals match taking place at Night of Champions tomorrow.

Once both women were in the ring, Barrett asked Cargill about what made her so confident that she’d be able to beat Asuka tomorrow. Cargill answered by saying that when she sees Asuka, she sees an opportunity to prove why she belongs here. She said that at Summerslam, she didn’t just plan on taking the title, but taking the whole damn throne.

Asuka replied by saying that Cargill may be strong, but power isn’t everything. She said that she has skills and experience. She said that nobody was ready for Asuka. Before Cargill could provide a rebuttal, Ms. Money in the Bank, Naomi interrupted.

Naomi said that while Asuka and Cargill are fighting for Queen of the Ring, she has all the power. Naomi teased that she could cash in during the Last Woman Standing match tonight or at Night of Champions tomorrow. She said that she had the power to ruin all of Cargill’s dreams just like that. As Naomi walked down to the ring, Cargill got frustrated and pushed past Asuka to go after her. This titled Asuka the wrong way as she laid out Cargil with a kick. Naomi got on the apron and taunted Cargill.

**********

– Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce were backstage talking about their plans for the Women’s Tag Team Championship when Aleister Black interrupted them. Ron Killings stormed into the scene and was still looking for John Cena after what happened last week. Aldis said that Cena was here for CM Punk, but Killings would have none of it, as he left in search of Cena. Black soon left as well, seemingly in pursuit of Killings.

– The cmmentators recapped Los Garza winning the AAA World Tag Titles at TripleMania Regia two weeks ago.

#DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix

Andrade and Ciampa started things off in this match with a lockup exchange. Andrade backed Ciampa into his team’s corner as Fenix tagged in and the two launched a salvo of double team attacks. With both #DIY members draped across the middle ropes, they got rocked by tandem kicks from Fenix and Andrade. Up top, Fenix and Andrade soared and took down Gargano and Ciampa on the outside with stereo dives.

We returned from the break with #DIY looking to take advantage against Fenix, but the speedy luchadore avoided calamity to create some needed separation. Before Andrade could get tagged in, Gargano pulled him off the apron, which opened Fenix to get blasted with a running knee to the back of the head by Ciampa.

On the top rope, Fenix fended off Ciampa and walked across the top rope to kick him square in the face. Andrade finally got the hot tag as he was a house of fire against both Gargano and Ciampa. Andrade caught Gargano’s slingshot spear and hit him with an elbow, followed by a reverse tornado DDT. One, two… not quite #DIY caught Andrade with a Shatter Machine, but couldn’t get the match done as we got yet another break in the action.

We resumed with Andrade and Gargano once again in a standoff on the top rope. Gargano tried to do a rolling powerbomb, but Andrade blocked it and hit his running knees in the corner. Double stomp by Andrade on Gargano wasn’t enough. Fenix took Ciampa out of the equation with a dive to the outside, which left Gargano and Andrade to duke it out in the ring.

Fenix recovered and tagged himself in as he hit an incredible dive/rolling German suplex on Gargano for the close two-count. Fenix lifted Gargano up for a Muscle Buster as Andrade headed up top, but Andrade got pushed off. #DIY took advantage and hit their superkick/Fairy Tale Ending combo, but Fenix kicked out at two.

Wild chaos ensued with Ciampa missing out on the knee, as Fenix hit his Black Fire Driver, followed by Andrade sealing the deal for his team with The Message and the three.

Match Result: Andrade & Rey Fenix def. #DIY via pinfall

A hot tag team match from start to finish. I was thoroughly entertained by the performances from all four competitors. Simply put, just some great tag action here.

**********

– John Cena’s recent appearance on The Late Show was shown before we got a recap of Cena’s rivalry with CM Punk, which included a clumsy edit of Punk’s pipebomb to omit Vince McMahon’s name.

– After the Punk/Cena video was done, Ron Killings showed up at ringside and stated that he was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He once again called out John Cena for a fight. Aleister Black appeared behind him and he floored Killings with a Black Mass kick. “I guess in a way, we’re even now, Ron,” said Black.

– Backstage, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford were interviewed about their WWE Tag Title defense against the Wyatt Sicks coming up next.

– Aleister Black was confronted by Damian Priest backstage. Priest said that if Black was looking for payment from Ron Killings, that he do it face to face next time. Carmelo Hayes showed up and tried to warn Priest to keep his distance from Killings, but got told to back away.

WWE Tag Team Championships: Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) (c) vs. The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis)

Lumis and Ford started off in the ring, with the latter doing his creepy crawl, and being met with some fists from Ford in response. After an acrobatic dodge from Ford, Gacy tagged himself in and floored his foe with a running senton. Just then, the rest of the SmackDown tag team division appeared at ringside, as Gacy caught Ford with his somersault clothesline.

SmackDown returned with Ford and Lumis taking each other down with a double running splash. Both men managed to get the tag to their respective partners, with Dawkins using his surprising speed to get the momentary advantage. As Lumis ran across the ring, he got pulled away by Los Garza. #DIY attacked Dawkins at which caused a disqualification.

A mass brawl ensued with Erick Rowan entering the fray, but getting taken down by multiple superkicks from Fraxiom and the Motor City Machine Guns. Uncle Howdy entered and got Axiom with Sister Abigail. The Street Profits went wild with consecutive dives on the Wyatt Sicks and the SmackDown tag division. In the ring, Ford and Dawkins stared down Uncle Howdy, as it was clear that the Wyatt Sicks’ war with the SmackDown tag division was far from over.

Match Result: Street Profits vs. The Wyatt Sicks ended in a no contest

Honestly, not much to say about this match, as it ended in a schmozz before it could truly get going, but I did kind of enjoy the post-match chaos with all the tag teams brawling.

**********

– Jacob Fatu was confronted by Jimmy Uso, as the two talked about that their mutual assistance was just a matter of respect. Jimmy said that what Fatu did to Solo Sikoa was what he should’ve done a long time ago. The two seemed to part on somewhat of a common ground as Fatu left Jimmy alone.

WWE Women’s Championship (Last Woman Standing): Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Nia Jax

Jax went after Stratton right away after the ring announcer’s introductions. She took out a turnbuckle pad cover, which gave Stratton time to recover and fight back outside of the ring. Her attempts were stopped with a steel steps strike to the ribs by Jax. The announce table was cleared aside by Jax, as she then hit a Samoan Drop across the exposed table. Stratton struggled to get back up, as we went to a break.

SmackDown returned with Stratton dropping Jax with a crossbody from the top rope. She headed up the opposite corner and hit a Swanton Bomb. Jax got herself up briefly, but she got blasted with a two-footed dropkick. Jax was able to get back up as she lifted Stratton on her shoulders and dropped her onto the exposed turnbuckle.

Stratton got herself back up on the count of eight, but she was thrown out of the ring by Jax afterwards. While Stratton writhed on the floor, Jax kept her eyes on her championship foe, tossing her into the barricade. Jax placed Stratton on a table setup at ringside as she then headed to the apron. Jax absolutely splattered Stratton with a splash through the table, but the WWE Women’s Champion was able to get up at the count of nine.

Jax pulled out two more tables from underneath the ring while Stratton once again made it back to her feet. We took another break with the two tables being set up and Stratton armed with a kendo stick. During the “break”, Jax tried to run at Stratton on the top of the stage, but she crashed onto one of the screens instead, as the fight found its way back to the ring.

The action returned with Jax hitting Stratton repeatedly with a steel chair. Stratton was dragged across the ring as Jax came down on her with the Annihilator. With a chair draped across Stratton, Jax hit yet another Annihilator. With the referee counting her down, Stratton just made it at nine, but got hit with a kendo stick by Jax. One more table was set up in the ring as Jax hoisted Stratton on her shoulders and headed up the top. Stratton escaped the attempted Samoan Drop and instead hit a powerbomb on Jax through the table. As both women were down, the referee started his count. Both Jax and Stratton made it to the count of nine.

Naomi ran down and tried to cash in, but Stratton intercepted and hit her with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Stratton took advantage and also hit Jax with the briefcase, as she then followed with a Prettiest Moonsault Ever onto both Jax and Naomi. Jax miraculously got herself up at the count of nine.

Stratton fought out of a superplex attempt through the two tables, as she instead struck Jax with the MITB briefcase once, more which sent Jax through the two tables! Jax was left knocked out cold and unable to answer the count of ten, which gave Stratton the win and the successful WWE Women’s Championship defense.

Match Result: Tiffany Stratton def. Nia Jax to retain the WWE Women’s Championship

Kind of a middling match that somewhat picked up by the end with Naomi’s attempt at a cash in and the final table spot. Other than that, nothing much to write home about. But, at least, the feud between Stratton and Jax should be done and dusted now.

**********

John Cena and CM Punk face-to-face

“Get used to it, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this is what a winner looks like,” started off Cena. He said that CM Punk was a loser because he had been outsmarted, outmaneuvered, and outgunned, and there’s nothing that Punk can do about it.

Just then, Cena’s old “Basic Thuganomics” theme interrupted as CM Punk entered dressed as a parody of Cena, jorts, jersey, and all. “Yo, check it, this is Basic Punkanomics,” Punk talked about how he was stealing Word Life. Punk called Cena a “Temu Macklemore” with ‘Mackeless Rhythm” and that he’s buried more talent than the Undertaker.

Punk said if Cena never ate his vitamins or fixed his bald spot, he’d be a Boston mall cop. He called Cena a “fish belly white” Hulk Hogan but somehow more problematic. It should be noted that Punk was speaking this promo in rap. Punk said that in six months, Cena might be a superhero (washing his underwear for James Gunn), but he’ll always be The Marine to him.

“We all see you, and we’re looking at a washed-up bum,” said Punk, who then called Cena a leech, phony, and an ass kisser. Punk said that tomorrow, there was one more wish to make, because Cena was the Drake to Punk’s Kendrick. Punk did a mic dropped and the show ended abruptly (or at least appeared to because the producers’ credits and copyright bug never appeared on-screen).

Well, that was certainly an interesting way to end the final build for this title match, and given what Punk’s been up to since arriving in Saudi Arabia, I’m certain that this promo won’t convince his most ardent haters to start cheering for him, which is understandable. It’s honestly been hard for me to decouple any sort of past comments Punk might’ve made about Saudi Arabia’s government when it’s been kind of made a part of the story for this match based off of Cena’s previous promos. So, with that in mind, I kinda find it hard to get really invested in what was being done with this closing salvo from Punk.

Overall, a very strange SmackDown before Night of Champions, and the bizarre technical glitch that basically erased the opening Randy Orton/Cody Rhodes segment, followed by various other hangups on the production side as I watched the global Netflix feed kinda made things have a weird vibe to it.

WWE NXT live results: Evolution Eliminator fatal four-way

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight, we’ll find out the challenger for the NXT Women’s Championship at WWE Evolution.

A fatal four-way match between Jordynne Grace, Jaida Parker, Lash Legend, and Izzi Dame is set to headline tonight’s NXT episode. Each competitor earned their way into the fatal four-way with victories last week — and now one of them will secure a title shot at Evolution with one more win. The all-women’s PLE is taking place in Atlanta on July 13.

Jacy Jayne is the current NXT Women’s Champion, but she has Blake Monroe (the former Mariah May) eyeing her title.

Two title matches are also part of tonight’s card. To open the show, Trick Williams puts his TNA World Championship on the line against Josh Briggs. There will then be a Tony D’Angelo vs. Channing Lorenzo match later in the night to determine a new Heritage Cup Champion after Noam Dar had to vacate the trophy due to injury.

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

**********

The show opens with short and direct promos from the four wrestlers looking to earn a title shot for the NXT Women’s Championship. Lash Legend, Izzi Dame, Jaida Parker and Jordynne Grace all cut promos ahead of the fatal four-way later tonight.

Kicking off this WWE show is a TNA title match, which is still an odd sentence to type. Way less odd considering the TNA champion is WWE talent defending against someone else from WWE on their show.

TNA World Champion Trick Williams defeated Josh Briggs (with Yoshiki Inamura) to retain his title

For his entrance, Briggs wore a vest with a smoking skull resting on his shoulder. He and Trick have a really good opening bout, and Trick pinned Briggs to retain the TNA title. Joe Hendry returns to NXT television in a post-match angle.

The match goes through a slit-screen commercial break. Just before cutting to commercials, Trick gets in the face of Inamura and they jaw at each other at ringside. Trick goes to cheap shot Inamura, but he blocks Trick. Briggs then boots Trick with a big leg, and Briggs is fired up as the show heads into the break.

Trick cuts off Briggs during the break with a spin kick. Briggs with a comeback after the show returns to full screen. The action intensifies as they trade near falls. Trick counters a chokeslam, and they botch an attempted powerbomb. Briggs then completes the chokeslams for a close near fall, where Trick grabs the bottom rope to stop to break the count.

Slugfest as the trade punches and kicks. They fight on, and Briggs goes for a moonsault press. No water in the pool. Trick then hits Briggs with a running knee strike, and Trick hooks a leg while covering Briggs for a pinfall.

Trick gets the house microphone and cuts a promo in front of the live studio audience. Boasting about himself, Trick says he carried two brands. He proclaims himself as the greatest TNA champion. Suddenly, Joe Hendry’s theme song interrupts the post-match promo, along with an entrance video.

Trick squares up and looks toward the entrance ramp. Hendry sneaks into the ring behind Trick. The TNA champ turns around only to get clotheslined by Hendry. Trick bumps and feeds for Hendry, before Hendry clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor.

No Quarter Catch Crew are in a skit where Tavion Heights reveals a special protective mask he will wear in his match. Charlie Dempsey assumes Heights is out of the match due to injury, but Heights is cleared to wrestle with the protective mask.

In a separate skit, Myles Borne is talking with a couple collegiate football players. Lexis King tries to interrupts by yelling at Borne, who is partially deaf. King also insults the football players, but he soon backpedals. This skit seems to set up a singles bout with King against Borne.

Je’Von Evans vs. Tavion Heights (with Wren Sinclair & Charlie Dempsey)

Evans pinned Heights to win the match. The protective mask Heights wore looks like Hannibal Lecter. Heights looked strong at times despite cleanly dropping the fall. They had a good match with a lot of action. Evans flew with a dive before the show cuts to commercial.

Soon after returning from the commercial break, they go home. For the finish, Evans leaped to the ropes with a double springboard tornillo splash. Evans then scores a pinfall.

After the match, Jasper Troy runs in to attack Evans. Troy lays out Evans with a Black Hole slam. Troy then strolls out of the ring past the No Quarter Catch Crew. Troys’ beef is apparently only with Evans.

Noam Dar is out due to an apparent injury, and he relinquishes the NXT Heritage Cup Championship. Dar was set to defend against Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo. Instead, Lorenzo faces his arch-rival Tony D’Angelo for the vacant Heritage Cup. Winner takes the Cup in the latest in the saga of the D’Angelo Family.

Ricky Saints defeated Ashante “Thee” Adonis

Saint pinned Adonis after a Roshambo. In what was basically a showcase match to get Saints over, the bout goes through a commercial break and is rejoined in progress. Saints gets to pose before the show cuts to the break. Heat spot as the show returns, and Saints makes a comeback. Saints delivers his finisher and scores a decisive victory.

Ethan Page runs in after the match to ambush Saints. Page uses a voiceover to trick Page into falling prey to a sneak attack. Page then executes Saint’s own finisher as Page gives Saints a Roshambo. Those two seem headed for a blow off match.

Darkstate is the focus of a pre-taped promo sponsored by a corporate insurance company, which kind of kills their whole gimmick. Pays well though.

NXT Champion Oba Femi is headed to the ring for an in-ring monologue. Femi with a strong promo that leads to Inamura coming out to challenge Femi.

Femi first boasts in his monologue as he puts himself over as “The Ruler” of NXT. He defeats all comers and now sits atop his kingdom. Other nights coast, but not Femi. He craves the fight, and Femi says he’s grown restless for new challengers.

Yoshiki Inamura and his striking mohawk confront Femi. Inamura talks about coming to NXT looking to chase glory. He went home when glory did not come. Inamura went home to Japan and realized what he missed, like his tag partner Josh Briggs and NXT itself. Inamura pledges his love for NXT and its fans. He wants to pay back their passion by winning the NXT Championship.

Femi responds by saying they are both strangers in a strange land. Femi then says they differ because Femi stayed and thrived here, while Inamura went back. Femi talks about the fans still embracing Inamura when he came back. Femi says that does not fool him. Femi sees Inamura as a warrior looking for the spirit of the fight, but Femi cautions that fighting for the honor of the fans is a mistake. Femi warns that Inamura will fall to the “The Ruler” like everyone else. Inamura steps towards Femi, gets in his face, and Inamura says he is ready.

Inamura was looking good until he is blindsided by Jasper Troy. Heckuva of a way to put Inamura over as a challenger. Good segment except for the dumb run-in.

Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo defeated Tony D’Angelo to win the NXT Heritage Championship

Stacks won the Heritage Cup after Luca Crusifino inadvertently hits D’Angelo with the bucket.

No falls in the first round. They keep fighting after the bell sounds to end round one, and they are pulled apart by officials. Not long into the second round, D’Angelo scores a pinfall after a spear. Stacks takes a bump on the announce desk and sells his ribs before taking the spear.

Most of round three takes place during a commercial break. The show returns from the break with 20 seconds remaining in round two. Stacks with a knee drop for a near fall as the round ends. Between rounds, Stacks with a cheap shot by stomping on D’Angelo’s knee. That plays into the start of the next round.

D’Angelo buckles to the knee injured by Stacks stomping on it, and Stacks using a small package for a pinfall to end round three. That evens the score in the match a one fall apiece.d;

Luca Crusifino runs down to ringside to get in the corner of D’Angelo. The story going into the match is D’Angelo still mistrusts Crusifino, which also plays into the finish.

D’Angelo hip-tosses Stacks out of the ring, and Stacks is caught by his henchmen from his mafia crew. One of the henchmen tries to use a spit bucket as a weapon, but Crusifino blocks it. However, Crusifino inadvertently hits D’Angelo with the bucket. Stacks then delivers a shining wizard, and Stacks covers D’Aneglo to win the Cup in the fifth round.

Crusifino pleads his case to D’Angelo as Crusifino tries to help him up. An angry D’Angelo decks Crusifino, and Crusifino sells big.

The Fatal Influence trio is interviewed backstage by Sarach Schreiber. Falling Henley first cuts a promo on Blake Monroe, and then NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne cuts her own promo on Monroe. Jayne then comments on the fatal four-way later tonight. Jayne vows to retain the title at Evolution.

Jordynne Grace warms up in the locker room, as the main event is up next. Beforehand is a backstage skit that sets up a singles match between Thea Hail and Lainey Reid. Lash Legend interrupts them on her way to the main event.

NXT GM Ava and NXT North American Champion Ethan Page are in another skit, and she tells Page that he and Ricky Saints are required to be in her office next week. Suddenly, there is a commotion off camera. Ava runs to see NXT Tag Team Champions Hank & Tank laid out.

Joe Hendry is interviewed backstage, and he vows to regain the TNA title at Slammiversary. Hendry also cuts a promo on Wes Lee, as the two are scheduled for a singles match on NXT television.

Chase U is the focus of a vignette.

Jordynne Grace defeated Jaida Parker, Lash Legend and Izzi Dame (with Tatum Paxley) in number one contender’s fatal four-way

Grace pinned Parker to win the match.

Paxley is in Dame’s corner after a skit earlier in the show where Dame invited Paxley to join her. Fatal Influence watches from a perch above the ring. NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca and her partner, Zaria, run to counteract outside interference from Paxley. Zaria carries Paxley away before the show cuts to its final commercial break.

Lots of action and high spots after the break, a lot of near falls in the closing minutes. All four were given time to shine. They did a Tower of Doom spot.

The closing moments were intense. Grace picks up Parker into a torture rack, and Grace then turns it into a sit-out powerbomb. Grace then covers Parker to win the match, and she becomes number one contender. Although the match was good, it was a very contrived way to make Grace the top contender instead of building her up as such a contender. But they had a tournament and this match because why not. Regardless, Grace goes on to challenge Jacy Jayne for the NXT women’s title.