Tag: Santos Escobar

Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson create WrestleMania moment helping Rey Mysterio, Andrade win match

Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson assisted Rey Mysterio and Andrade at WrestleMania 40.

Since its inception, WrestleMania has not only been for the superstars, but for WWE to break into the pop culture stratosphere. WWE takes advantage of the venue’s location, using figures that can draw a reaction and garner mainstream headlines.

So with WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, it only makes sense for WWE to use people who identify with the City of Brotherly Love. And especially at Lincoln Financial Field, one figures sports players will come into play.

During the Rey Mysterio and Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar match, two men in green masks entered from the crowd to stop Dominik from using a steel chair. They threw him into the ring and cheered on the babyfaces, with Rey hitting a 619 to defeat his son for the second consecutive year at WrestleMania.

After the match, the two men removed their masks to reveal themselves as Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson and the recently retired Jason Kelce, who played for the team for his entire career.

It was hardly the first time WWE used football players at WrestleMania, with Lawrence Taylor notably main-eventing WrestleMania 11 with Bam Bam Bigelow, and, for a more recent example, Rob Gronkowski appearing at WrestleMania 33 and 36.

Kelce and Johnson created another pop culture-inspired WrestleMania moment that gave this tag match some extra sizzle. While neither man got too physical, it still drew a nice reaction from the crowd in the stadium they play football in. That’s about all WWE can ask for.

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WrestleMania 40 Night 1 results: All matches, winners from Philadelphia

Keep up with all the action from WrestleMania 40 Night 1 with results and live updates from Philadelphia.

The big day has finally arrived. The first of two big days, to be precise, as Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 invades Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. A completely sold-out crowd is expected to watch seven matches, culminating in what WWE is calling the biggest tag team match in WrestleMania history.

Considering the main event at WrestleMania I was a tag team match, that’s really a matter of opinion. There’s no question that it has real stakes, however, as it can shape the all important stipulation for the Night 2 main event.

Roman Reigns and The Rock have so far managed the two-alpha problem in The Bloodline just fine, and if they defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins tonight, they’ll ensure Reigns has Bloodline Rules on his side against Rhodes on Sunday night. That will certainly make Cody’s second chance at finishing his story a lot harder.

The main event has attracted the lion’s share of attention, but there are several other great matchups on Night 1. The expected opener, Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship, is definitely one of them. So, too, is the battle of brother between Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso.

The Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder Match should also be a spectacle where any team can win — or maybe more than one team, since it appears the Raw and SmackDown titles could be separated again during the match. And we’ll see the bona fide debut of Jade Cargill, something fans have been anxiously awaiting.

We’ve got multiple people on the ground in Philadelphia, and we’re ready to get this rolling.

WrestleMania 40 Night 1 results from Philadelphia:

(please click on any match with a link to see full details)

  • Coco Jones performs “The Star-Spangled Banner” to kick off the show
  • Triple H welcomes the crowd to a new era
  • Rhea Ripley def. Becky Lynch by pinfall to retain the Women’s World Championship
  • Pretty Deadly gives their own unique takes on the teams in the Six-Pack Ladder Match
  • Austin Theory and Grayson Waller and The Awesome Truth win the Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship; Theory and Waller grab the SmackDown titles, while R-Truth and The Miz grab the Raw titles
  • Andrade and Rey Mysterio def. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar by pinfall, thanks in part to two masked figures who revealed themselves to be Philadelphia Eagles lineman Lane Johnson and recently retired center Jason Kelce
  • Jey Uso def. Jimmy Uso by pinfall
  • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi def. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai and Kabuki Warriors) by pinfall as Cargill pins Kai
  • Sami Zayn gets a visit from his family and Chad Gable, who tells him that “you’ve got this on your own” but also says “don’t forget, you owe me a favor”; he also gets some last second encouragement from Kevin Owens
  • Sami Zayn def. Gunther by pinfall to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion
  • Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce come to the ring to reveal tonight’s announced attendance: 72,543
  • The Rock and Roman Reigns def. Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins by pinfall, meaning the Night 2 main event will be Bloodline Rules

WrestleMania night 1 card: All matches confirmed for April 6

A look at WWE’s match card for night 1 of WrestleMania 40.

As WrestleMania 40 approaches, the card nears completion, with a long list of matches set to unfold during the two-night extravaganza at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. WWE’s plans potentially shape this to be the biggest edition of the Grandest Stage of Them All, as some of the top talent of the past and present will compete and create moments to last a lifetime.

With so many planned matches, not all of them will be on one night, which is how it used to be. It gives each match more breathing room, rather than packing a bunch of short matches across just one night.

Night 1 of WrestleMania takes place on Saturday, April 6, headlined by Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns and The Rock, who will compete in his first full match in more than a decade.

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This monumental tag match has night 2 implications as if Rhodes and Rollins win, tall members of The Bloodline will be banned from ringside for Rhodes vs. Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. If Reigns and The Rock win, the title match is Bloodline Rules, allowing anyone from Solo Sikoa to Jimmy Uso to interfere.

WWE also confirmed that Gunther will defend his Intercontinental Championship on night 1 against Sami Zayn, as well. With the Imperium leader’s record-breaking title run on the line, it could mark a historic moment for the Canadian star’s career if he wins.

WrestleMania night 1 goes down on Saturday, April 6 from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Latest update: April 1, 2024, 9:08 p.m. ET.

WWE WrestleMania 40 Night 1 card:

  • Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns and The Rock – If Rhodes and Rollins win, then all members of The Bloodline will be barred from ringside during Rhodes’s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match against Reigns on Night 2; however, if Reigns and Rock win, then the championship match will be Bloodline Rules
  • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch – Women’s World Champion
  • Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn – WWE Intercontinental Championship match
  • The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
  • Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
  • Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka and Kairi Sane)
  • Rey Mysterio and Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar

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WWE SmackDown results 03/29/24: The Jade Cargill era has arrived

Another thing to watch for on SmackDown: Which tag teams will win their way into the Six-Pack Ladder match at WrestleMania?

As I count myself among them, I feel comfortable saying this: Wrestling fans aren’t always the most patient bunch. A not insignificant percentage of them have been clamoring for the debut of Jade Cargill, for instance, and that’s finally happening tonight on WWE SmackDown in Uncasville, Conn.

WWE clearly was in no hurry to rush the former AEW champion into the fray, despite an impressive debut earlier this year at Royal Rumble. Part of it was likely getting Cargill used to the WWE style of in-ring work, given that she’s still not super experienced compared to many of the company’s other wrestlers.

But the other part was making sure Jade could have the proper impact at a time when storytelling is so strong up and down the card, so it will be interesting to see what’s been cooked up for her.

There seems to be a logical foil for her in Damage CTRL, which still has a lot of power on SmackDown between IYO SKY and the Kabuki Warriors. Could we see Cargill come to the aid of some of the faces who have been standing against the group?

If so, that could even lead to a spot for Jade in a multi-person match at WrestleMania, which would be a good way to use her.

Speaking of WrestleMania, two tag team matches tonight will fill the final two spots in the Six-Pack Ladder match for the men’s tag team titles, which should be a spectacle. Our picks are Street Profits and New Catch Republic, though the former may get caught up in their larger feud with The Final Testament.

Let’s see what this show has in store for us.

WWE SmackDown results from Uncasville:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • A brief clip of The Rock’s attack on Cody Rhodes from Raw is played, and we see Bianca Belair and Dakota Kai entering the arena earlier today
  • Pretty Deadly def Randy Orton and Kevin Owens by pinfall … but only because Logan Paul sneaks out from under the ring and lays out KO with brass knux
  • Alas, Orton realizes that Paul is probably still under the ring and drags him back out, but Pretty Deadly ensure he doesn’t get driven through the announce table … then pay for it by eating a Stunner and an RKO; Paul is chased by Orton and Owens to the back, where he jumps into a Corvette and speeds off
  • IYO SKY cuts a promo calling Bayley a narcissist and taking fans to task for siding with her, but just as she’s wrapping up, Bayley appears and attacks her, tearing up the photo backdrop until they can be separated
  • Jade Cargill signs on the dotted line with SmackDown
  • Kayla Braxton talks with Damage CTRL, and Dakota Kai wants to know why there’s a fuss being made over Cargill and Bayley before turning her attention to Belair, who she faces tonight in the main event
  • After Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn get only a passing moment of Aldis’ time, AJ Styles angrily expresses his displeasure with the GM’s actions to ensure LA Knight won’t be here tonight; elsewhere Bobby Lashley and B-Fab fire up the Street Profits
  • Austin Theory and Grayson Waller def. Street Profits by pinfall in a WrestleMania Six-Pack Ladder Match qualifier; the critical moment comes when Karrion Kross appears on the big screen and shows that he and Scarlett have beaten up Lashley and the B-Fab in the back, and after the match, Kross and the Authors of Pain beat down the Profits … and eventually Lashley
  • Santos Escobar wants to thank Dominik Mysterio for helping him against Rey Mysterio, which brings the Hall of Famer to the ring with the LWO flanking him; their discussion turns into a challenge: Rey and a partner of his choosing vs. Escobar and Dom, with Rey revealing that his partner will be the newest member of the LWO, Dragon Lee …
  • … but a brawl breaks out after Zelina Vega and Elektra Lopez light the spark, which is eventually won by the LWO
  • Bianca gets well wishes from Naomi, who says she has Belair’s back if Damage CTRL plays the numbers game
  • The Judgment Day wants to know why Dom went and freelanced and they don’t seem super thrilled with his response, but Finn Balor calms everyone else down
  • New Catch Republic def. Angel and Berto by a pinfall in a WrestleMania Six-Pack Ladder Match qualifier
  • A replay of The Rock’s attack on Cody Rhodes on Raw is played, including his continuation of said attack even after the show went off the air
  • Paul Heyman appears and insists that The Rock took out Rhodes by order of the Tribal Chief; Solo Sikoa says he’ll see Jey Uso next week and take him out by orders of the Tribal Chief
  • AJ Styles wants to chat about home invasions, but LA Knight launches an in-arena invasion this time
  • A Tiffany Stratton hype video features her promising to show everyone what Tiffy Time is all about
  • Bianca Belair def. Dakota Kai by pinfall, and both Naomi and Jade eventually help her fight off a post-match attack by Damage CTRL

Jade Cargill signs on the dotted line with SmackDown

GM Nick Aldis says his only goal since assuming the position was to make SmackDown the very best show, and he believes signing this superstar will take him another step closer to that goal. Yes, he’s talking about Jade, who looks unbelievable as always as she heads to the ring.

Cargill says it’s about damn time after she signs the contract offered by Aldis. She says SmackDown has one of the best female rosters in the world, but they aren’t her, a once-in-a-lifetime superstar. Jade says she has a weather update: The storm has arrived.

AJ Styles may have provoked LA Knight a bit too much

Styles blames the fans for being the reason that Knight came to his house and assaulted him in the front yard. Now AJ wants the biggest possible spotlight so he can expose him as “the overachieving, undertalented piece of trash that he is.”

Despite Aldis asking him to stay away, Styles guarantees Knight is there and dares him to come to the ring. A guy in a hoodie jumps over the barricade, but it’s not the Megastar and he gets led away by security.

Oh but Knight is there, wearing glasses and a wig. He gets the best of a small scrap, then hops on the announce table to vow that he’ll get the dub when they collide at WrestleMania.

Bianca Belair takes down Dakota Kai, and a storm comes to help her afterward

Kai has not wrestled all that much since her return from injury, but she’s looked good when she has and we’d expect that to continue here. Bianca shows off her ridiculous strength with rolling suplexes like it’s no big deal.

There’s cool camera work coming out of a commercial break, with the camera circling the ring and capturing the action from every angle. The presentation continues to be very up close and tight on the wrestlers for a bit, though it does switch back to the hard cam at times.

The fans get an “EST” chant going as Kai is taunting her. Bianca is able to hoist Dakota from the other side of the ropes into a deadlift suplex, one of those moves that makes you go “damn.”

The KOD follows quickly to end it, but the Kabuki Warriors jump the victor as soon as the bell rings. As she promised, Naomi comes running down to help Bianca, but the numbers are against our heroes. The fans eventually realize what’s going on and chant for Jade Cargill, who obliges and strides to the ring.

Cargill quickly mows through Kai and the Warriors, locking eyes on Asuka who has escaped the worst of it. Six-woman tag at WrestleMania, anyone?

WWE SmackDown results 03/22/24: Cody Rhodes comes prepared for Bloodline hijinks

Turns out that neither Roman Reigns nor Cody Rhodes really kept their word on WWE SmackDown in Milwaukee.

Promises are a funny thing. Even villains, when they have a code of honor, can keep them, and there’s a big one that is at the heart of tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Milwaukee.

This week on Raw, Roman Reigns gave his word via Paul Heyman that he wanted to talk to Cody Rhodes on SmackDown and that he’d show up alone — no other Bloodline except for Heyman. In return, he asked that Rhodes also bring no backup, and Cody agreed.

It was somewhat reminiscent of the kind of agreement you’d see in movies, like a hostage exchange or drop of some sort. Meet me at this place, at this time, no cops.

Whether Reigns actually follows through will tell us a lot about how he’s feeling on the Road to WrestleMania. Does it make sense, at this point in his tale, that he’d be confident enough to stand across from Cody with no contingency plan? He did defeat Rhodes last year at WrestleMania, after all.

Or is Roman now paranoid and willing to go back on his word, a sign he’d do anything to keep the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from even possibly slipping through his grasp?

It’ll also be nice to see Reigns take center stage on the Bloodline portion of things, as he’s been somewhat upstaged by The Rock the last few weeks. Pretty sure that’s never going to come up again somewhere down the road. Yep, probably never. Wink, wink.

There are important tag team matches in store as well, which will help shape the Tag Team Ladder match at WrestleMania. Buckle up and prepare, Milwaukee, because here we go.

WWE SmackDown results from Milwaukee:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Cody Rhodes and Damage CTRL are shown entering the arena
  • Santos Escobar def. Rey Mysterio by pinfall, in large part due to a distraction from Dominik Mysterio
  • Bayley thanks Naomi for helping her last week, but Bianca Belair hasn’t forgiven the Role Model for what she did as leader of Damage CTRL, and Naomi ends up having to step between them as they bicker
  • Backstage, Bianca and Naomi continue to have a conversation, to which Naomi says she can’t change what’s happened in the past and won’t back down when Damage CTRL is picking them off one by one
  • Austin Theory and Grayson Waller def. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows by pinfall in a Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match, with Theory using the ropes for leverage to aid in his pinfall
  • A hype video pushes Bron Breakker as a superior athlete
  • Highlights are shown from Roman Reigns’ appearance on “The  Pat McAfee Show”
  • IYO SKY def. Naomi by pinfall thanks to aid from Damage CTRL; after the match, Naomi gets a dose of the poison mist from Asuka before Bianca Belair hits the ring with a vengeance, and is able to do pretty well against the whole group until numbers wear her down
  • Jade Cargill will make her first official appearance as a SmackDown superstar next week
  • Tiffany Stratton mocks Naomi as she’s trying to get the mist rinsed out of her eyes
  • Nick Aldis is talking to Kevin Owens when they’re interrupted by Pretty Deadly, and KO ends up challenging them to a tag team match alongside Randy Orton; K.O. ends up punching both members of Pretty Deadly in the face at once, as he does
  • Footage is shown of LA Knight rolling up at the house of AJ Styles and starting a fight with him, then dashcam video shows Knight getting arrested

  • Street Profits def. Authors of Pain by pinfall in a Tag Team Championship Qualifying Match
  • Paul Heyman is on the phone telling Roman Reigns that Cody Rhodes is here alone, and that his public awaits
  • Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes go face to face, and when it turns out Reigns actually did bring The Bloodline with him, Cody has backup too in the form of Jey Uso and Seth Rollins

Naomi learns going it alone against IYO SKY isn’t really a great idea

Is IYO even going to make it out to the ring? Cameras find her backstage scrapping with Bayley, but she gets the better of it and refs finally tell the WWE Women’s Champion to get to the ring.

SKY has to weather an early storm, and the crowd gets behind Naomi as she rallies to hit a springboard bulldog of sorts for a near fall that leads to a commercial break.

Yes Corey Graves, Milwaukee is starting to feel the glow after the break. She splashes into a split but gets only another two count.

You feel like Damage CTRL is going to interfere at some point, and perhaps others may get involved too. Maybe soon after Naomi hits a superplex and rolls through to produce another near fall.

Ah here come the Kabuki Warriors and Dakota Kai, perfectly timed to set their leader up for an Over the Moonsault to win it.

Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes exchange insults, and neither came alone

So far so good for Reigns sticking to his word, as Roman comes to the ring accompanied only by Paul Heyman. The Tribal Chief asks for and is handed a mic, talking about how he kept his word and showed up without the Bloodline. He asks everyone to acknowledge him while Cody is shown walking toward the entrance.

After commercials, Rhodes makes his way out to join Reigns in the ring. Cody says he’s as much a man of his word and also came alone, to which Roman calls him a fool.

From Reigns’ perspective, Rhodes is unfit for the position of face of the company. He scoffs at Cody aligning himself with Seth Rollins, reminding Rhodes that Rollins eventually stabbed him in the back.

Cody of course remembers The Shield, but asks if Roman remembers the first team that defeated them. He also says he has his “bullet cufflinks” on so he knows all about factions and betrayals, and he’s banking on Rollins hating Reigns more than he hates Cody.

There’s also a good question: Can Roman trust The Rock? Who’s really in charge of The Bloodline anyway, the Tribal Chief or the Final Boss? A “Roman sucks” chant breaks out in response.

Reigns retorts that Rhodes said the same thing to The Rock in reverse, then ridicules him for promising things and failing to deliver like a politician. All Cody will ever be is No. 2, while he’s No. 1 … forever.

Talking about how Reigns grew up in the business like he did, Rhodes says he’s accepted the idea that the next generation of youngsters will grow up wanting to be the next Roman. Cody disagrees about being No. 2, though, saying he’s the one and offering a handshake and good luck at WrestleMania.

Reigns shakes Heyman’s hand instead and they leave the ring. But Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa are approaching the ring through the crowd, and the American Nightmare looks surrounded.

Cody cracks a smile, though, as Jey Uso and Seth Rollins are also out in the crowd. It’s a big standoff to end the show, like something out of a movie.

WWE SmackDown preview 03/22/24: Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes face off

WWE SmackDown from Milwaukee will also see two teams get closer to qualifying for the Ladder match at WrestleMania.

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Paul Heyman says Roman Reigns is a Tribal Chief of his word. Whether Cody Rhodes can truly trust that or not is an issue at the very heart of tonight’s WWE SmackDown from Milwaukee.

What will Cody, Roman want to talk about — and will they do it alone?

Even though Reigns and Rhodes are no strangers to each other, it’s only right that they have another face-to-face meeting before they fight not once but twice at WrestleMania 40. It’s good that they are, too, because as one of the Wrestling Junkie staffers said last week, it was starting to feel like Cody vs. The Rock was the main event since they’ve been interacting the most.

That shouldn’t happen tonight, as The Rock isn’t scheduled to be here and Reigns promised (via Heyman) that no other members of The Bloodline would be on hand. If we were Reigns, though, we’d have Seth Rollins or Jey Uso on speed dial. You know, just in case.

Can Rey Mysterio get some revenge against Santos Escobar?

One of the pieces of the WrestleMania 40 puzzle that hasn’t quite fallen into place yet is the one concerning Legado Del Fantasma and the LWO. Will there be a multi-person match of some sort? We might get an idea tonight.

On the surface, it’s going to be Rey Mysterio vs. Santos Escobar one on one. But while that sounds great on paper, it seems unlikely that no one from their respective groups will try to get involved. And if that happens, a match could very well be made for Philly by the end of the night.

Who will get closer to joining the teams in the Six-Pack Ladder match at WrestleMania?

There are two spots left in the Ladder match at the Show of Shows, and there still will be by the time SmackDown fades to black. But two teams will advance one more step in two separate matches, one of which is very interesting.

Let’s deal with the one that should be by the books first. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller will take on the Good Brothers and … let’s be real, Anderson and Gallows haven’t done anything as of late to make one think they’ll be competing for gold at WrestleMania.

The other match pits the Street Profits against Authors of Pain. Not only could you see either team in the Ladder match, it’s going to be a continuation of the beef between Bobby Lashley and the Profits (please give them a stable name already) and The Final Testament. Should be intriguing.

We’re going to tear ourselves away from college hoops for a few hours tonight to recap all the action live, so join us back here at Wrestling Junkie at 8 p.m. ET for all the latest.

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WWE SmackDown results 03/15/24: Rock Concert for Cody, Bayley gets Damage CTRL-alt-deleted

WWE SmackDown from Memphis also made several more WrestleMania 40 matches official.

You know what’s fun in kind of a surreal way about WWE right now? The Rock is something of a regular! He’s making his third consecutive WWE SmackDown appearance tonight in Memphis, so he’s practically part of the ongoing crew now.

And while we kid Mr. Rock, it is easy to take for granted that one of the busiest guys in Hollywood (not to mention his other business interests) is on TV every Friday, then cutting long and entertaining video promos randomly throughout the week. You may not be rooting for him — almost certainly most WWE fans will be cheering against him at WrestleMania — but you have to respect how committed he’s been to this whole angle.

(Yes, there’s a cynical aspect to it to since he’s on the TKO board now, so of course he wants the company to do well, but still.)

Anyway, we’re anxious to see what he’s got up his sleeveless vest again tonight, so let’s fire this up and see what we’ve got.

WWE SmackDown results from Memphis:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • The broadcast begins with a recap of the challenge The Rock and Roman Reigns made to Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, which of course was accepted for night 1 of WrestleMania
  • The Rock Concert is back, to the delight of the Memphis fans, but The Rock also has pointed messages for Cody and Mama Rhodes
  • Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Berto) def. LWO (Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde) by pinfall in a WrestleMania Qualifying Match
  • Kayla Braxton talks to LA Knight, who dares AJ Styles to come out and humble him, finding it curious that Styles would fly all the way to Australia but wouldn’t drive to Memphis; he challenges Styles to a match at WrestleMania, at which point AJ finally appears, attacking LA from behind with a steel chair before accepting the challenge

  • Logan Paul asks Nick Aldis what the repercussions will be for Randy Orton messing with him last week, but the GM suggests Paul request an apology from Orton in person; Paul also insults Aldis by saying he can’t expect Nick to do his job when he can’t even find Logan a WrestleMania opponent
  • Jimmy Uso is asked about the challenge made to him by Jey Uso, and he says “YEET” to it, which sounds like he accepts to us

  • Randy Orton def. Grayson Waller by pinfall, after which Kevin Owens helps fight off Austin Theory and Paul; Aldis also arrives with some news: at WrestleMania, Paul will defend his United States Championship against both Owens and Orton in a Triple Threat match
  • Dakota Kai says everything Bayley is going through is her own fault and warns the “chicks” in the locker room that Damage CTRL runs the show
  • Santos Escobar def. Dragon Lee by pinfall; after the match, Carlito tries to fight all of Legado Del Fantasma by himself, but he soon has more help in the form of Rey Mysterio, who challenges Escobar to a match next week
  • New Catch Republic def. Pretty Deadly by pinfall in a WrestleMania Qualifying Match
  • Bayley de. Dakota Kai by DQ after interference from Damage CTRL, and not even Naomi is enough to help fight off a show-closing beatdown of the Role Model

The Rock Concert is back like it never left, and The Rock addresses Cody’s mom

Walking out to a bit of a remix between his current and old themes, The Rock also gets a mixed reaction from the fans that sounds like more cheers than boos. He says he usually scorches every city he’s in, but this city is different … because his wrestling career began in Memphis.

He even mentions the Flex Kavana moniker he used before saying that The Rock has come back home. Since it’s the home of the blues and Elvis, The Rock wants to sing a song. And hey, he’s got legitimate musicians backing him this time!

Of course, his song starts in on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Ja Morant catches a stray as well, and then the final verse zeroes in on the Cody Crybabies.

Lest we think that’s all The Rock is going to do, he’s not done with Cody even once his Rock Concert is complete. He mocks Rhodes for crying on Raw and says he wants to talk to Cody’s mom.

The Rock addresses her directly, saying he’s going to make her and her son pay. How? By beating Cody with a belt and then handing her the bloody belt, apparently. If you smell what The Final Boss is cooking.

Grayson Waller is sacrificed to Randy Orton in front of Logan Paul, who gets some bad WrestleMania news

Before the action even gets going, Logan Paul’s music hits and the United States Champion makes his way down the ramp. He settles in with the announcers to get a closer look at this one, still griping (and finding sympathy from Wade Barrett) about not having a WrestleMania match.

It’s interesting that the announce team framed Waller as Austin Theory’s mentor since Austin made the main roster first and has won titles. Both men seem pretty happy as Orton ends up sprawled over the announce table before a commercial break.

The crowd is really into Orton’s offense, then disappointed when Theory pulls Waller away from certain doom. Theory, ever the good sport these days, takes the vintage Orton DDT, and Waller takes the RKO that ends it.

After the bell, however, Theory attacks Orton, allowing Paul to mock the Viper. But before he can deliver a right hand, Kevin Owens comes rushing to the rescue, quickly driving away the heels.

Orton nearly RKOs Owens by accident, but Theory ends up taking both a stunner and an RKO. That brings out Nick Aldis, who says he’s figured out Logan’s WrestleMania opponents, as in plural.

It’ll be Paul vs. Owens vs. Orton for the United States Championship. Interesting.

Bayley wins by DQ but Damage CTRL proves its point

How great is it to see Kai back in there in earnest after so much time off? And what’s up with the “whoop that trick” chants? As Wade Barrett notes, Trick Williams must love that his catchphrase is so over.

The rest of Damage CTRL is at ringside, so that’s more than a little potential concern for Bayley. Kai tries for something, perhaps a superplex, but Bayley shoves her down and drops a flying elbow.

Dakota pulls off a sweet overhead kick, allowing Kairi Sane to get involved while Kai has the ref’s attention. Kai’s stiff kick is answered by a powerbomb, and now all of Damage CTRL is involved but the ref for some reason doesn’t call for the bell until IYO SKY hammers Bayley across the back.

Someone will need to come to the rescue, and it turns out to be Naomi. The problem is the numbers game is still against the heroes, and SKY delivers the Over the Moonsault to Bayley. Damage CTRL poses triumphantly over Bayley as the show goes off the air about two minutes early.

WWE SmackDown results 03/01/24: The Rock acknowledges Roman Reigns, has counteroffer for Cory Rhodes

The Rock gave Cody Rhodes — and the WWE Universe — plenty to think about after WWE SmackDown from Glendale.

In case you missed it, The Rock has been a busy man. As in, cut a 21-plus minute promo ahead of tonight’s show busy. But while The People’s Champ said many amusing things during said promo, he left out one particular point of interest for tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown from Glendale.

That, of course, is whether he will accept the challenge laid down recently by Cody Rhodes. Still smarting psychologically from The Rock smacking him at WrestleMania XL Kickoff, the American Nightmare said he’s love to fight The People’s Champion any time, any place.

The time is not going to be tonight and the place is not going to be Glendale. Which is too bad, since yours truly has a good friend in the audience tonight. But it could be soon, as in either on the Road to WrestleMania … or at WrestleMania itself.

See, a common fan theory is that we end up with Rhodes and Seth Rollins battling The Rock and Roman Reigns on night 1 in Philly before everyone attends to their business on night 2 (including Rhodes vs. Reigns). Let’s see if tonight’s SmackDown points us in that direction or a different one. We’re excited to see what’s in store regardless.

WWE SmackDown results from Glendale:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • We open with highlights from Elimination Chamber Perth, lest we forget that this is the first SmackDown since that show
  • The Bloodline is on the same page, including The Rock, and they have a counteroffer for Cody Rhodes (and Seth Rollins)
  • Austin Theory and Grayson Waller are mocking Randy Orton’s fate at Elimination Chamber, but in classic fashion, he’s right behind them, which is bad for Theory since he gets volun-told to face Orton later tonight
  • Tiffany Stratton def. Naomi by pinfall
  • Kabuki Warriors vs. Bayley and Dakota Kai is a no contest (we think) after Kai turns on Bayley mid-match, helping the Warriors and IYO SKY beat her down
  • Damage CTRL seems pretty pleased walking backstage, but their smiles disappear when Jade Cargill appears, on hand to talk with Nick Aldis
  • Bron Breakker def. Xyon Quinn in about three seconds after a spear
  • A memorial graphic is displayed to honor the late Mike “Virgil” Jones
  • Carlito def. Santos Escobar by pinfall in a Street Fight, due in large part to assistance from a returning Rey Mysterio
  • New Catch Republic talks to Aldis about how they can earn another title shot at WrestleMania, and he says there will be an announcement about those titles soon; Aldis next runs into LA Knight searching furiously for AJ Styles, and he says there isn’t anything anyone can do to stop him from getting some payback
  • Randy Orton def. Austin Theory by pinfall, then gets help from Kevin Owens, who was on guest commentary, to fight off Theory and Grayson Waller as the show closes

The Rock acknowledges Roman Reigns, has a counteroffer for Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins

We’re wasting no time tonight, as Roman Reigns and The Bloodline head to the ring in the first segment. The Rock is not with them, and the fans start one chant that has to be blanked out, then start another for Cody Rhodes.

Reigns asks people to acknowledge him twice since the first crowd reaction isn’t enough for him, but that ends up in another “Cody” chant. Third time’s the charm? It better be or else Reigns says he’s leaving.

He wants to do just that, but Paul Heyman says they can’t because “he’s coming out” if they just give Heyman a moment. Yes, he means The Rock. But apparently he’s not coming until after commercials.

Reigns seems unhappy about having to wait, but after the ads, sure enough, it’s The Great One. He asks, perhaps rhetorically, if the fans are sure they want to boo The Rock. But he has some good news to share. Well, not really as he accuses people from nearby Phoenix of being heavy drug users.

Finally proceeding, The Rock says everyone in The Bloodline is happy because wrestling is cool again. He also shoots down Cody’s request for a match, saying you don’t just go one-on-one with The Great One just because you want to.

As businessmen, however, Rock and Reigns have a counteroffer for Rhodes. And it’s an interesting one: Rock and Reigns vs. Rhodes and Seth Rollins. If the good guys win, Rhodes vs. Reigns will be free of Bloodline presence as they’ll be banned from ringside. However, if the bad guys win the tag team match, the night 2 match will be Bloodline Rules, meaning anything goes.

The Rock says Rhodes now has a lot to think about, but if he doesn’t accept the challenge, he and Reigns will end Cody’s story tragically. He says they expect an answer next week and is about to do the “If you smell … ” bit, but he’s stopped by Reigns.

Roman says he needs something from his cousin: He needs The Rock to acknowledge him.

It appears that won’t go well, but Rock does acknowledge Reigns as his Tribal Chief and they hug, even as “you sold out” chants rain down. This is family, The Rock explains, and he proves it by letting Roman finish his most famous catchphrase.

Dakota Kai shows her true colors, turns on Bayley

Though the Warriors look like they want no part of their former teammates before the bell, they also rush Bayley as soon as the match officially begins. Kairi Sane is able to push Bayley off the top rope while the ref’s back is turned, so the champs are already a step ahead of their foes.

Kai gets knocked off the apron, leaving Bayley solo against both of their opponents and allowing Sane to score a near fall. Bayley is finally able to knock down both Warriors, but when the Role Model heads over for the tag … Kai jumps off the apron.

Knowing she’s been betrayed, Bayley goes after Kai on the floor, but now it’s a three-on-one battle. IYO SKY laughs in the corner, then gets into the act by smacking Bayley with a knee to the back of the head. SKY can only laugh at Bayley’s plight, and the four members of Damage CTRL leave together.

Carlito gets a massive LWO assist to beat Santos Escobar in a Street Fight

The announcers point out how Carlito came up through the ranks in the Puerto Rican wrestling scene from a young age, so he’s very prepared for a match like this. He tries to find some weaponry under the ring early on, but he settles for running Escobar into the steel stairs as fans chant for apples.

Carlito is in trouble through a commercial break, but he’s able to use a chair and a trash can to mount a strong rally. Both of them together work very nicely indeed.

A move onto the steel chair gets Carlito a two count, and he hears the crowd and drags a table into the ring too. Escobar is ready with a step-up knee shot, but he gets crotched on the top rope right before Angel and Humberto of Legado Del Fantasma invade the ring.

A three-man powerbomb has the end looking near, but Carlito kicks out at two, mystifying Escobar. Angel and Humberto set up the table only to be rushed by Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro.

But there’s one more person who enters the fray: a returning Rey Mysterio, who comes out on crutches but reveals he doesn’t need them. Rey hits the 619 on Santos, and Carlito puts Escobar through a table to seal the victory.

Randy Orton takes out Austin Theory, gets some KO help after the bell

Kevin Owens joins the announcers for guest commentary, and he’s always a delight in this role. Orton charges across the ring when the bell rings and lands corner punches at will, followed by a European uppercut.

Out to the floor they go, where Owens begs Orton to slam Theory on the desk. Grayson Waller’s timely distraction allows Theory to gain the upper hand, and it’s Randy bouncing off the desk before a commercial break.

Orton is mounting a rally after we return, using clotheslines to set up a powerslam. Theory is sent out to the floor, where KO is delighted to see Theory dropped back first on the announce table. Waller gets the same treatment, with KO pointing out how he bounces.

Vintage Orton is next, and he wants an RKO but is sent into the post instead. A rolling blockbuster by Theory is on target, but Orton kicks out at two.

Theory chop blocks Orton and nails him with a forearm shot, hooking the leg but getting only two again. Theory tries to do his own version of the draping DDT but gets thrown to the floor. He rolls back in looking for a cutter, but Orton counters with an RKO to win it.

After the bell, Waller tries to attack Orton but gets quickly met by Owens. KO stuns Theory, Orton hits an RKO on Waller, and the fans go home happy, we’d think.

WWE SmackDown results 02/02/24: Cody Rhodes won’t challenge Roman Reigns, but it looks like The Rock will

Neither Bayley nor Cody Rhodes made the obvious WrestleMania choice on SmackDown … and The Rock returned.

It should be an interesting night on WWE SmackDown from Birmingham, Ala. as the Road to WrestleMania gets a couple of big signposts placed down … but will they be the ones we’ve been expecting for so long?

The big attraction for tonight is that WWE says Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns will be face to face. After Rhodes won the Men’s Royal Rumble match, most people figured it was a given that he’d ask for a rematch in Philadelphia against Reigns.

But the creative team at least wants us to think it might zig where we expect it to zag, what with Seth Rollins making his case for Rhodes to challenge for his World Heavyweight Championship instead on Raw. If the goal was to at least plant the seed of doubt that would lead to Rhodes vs. Rollins and The Rock vs. Roman, it worked.

Also, there are rumors that someone else is in Birmingham too, if you catch our drift. This whole situation could get very interesting before the night is through.

Interesting might actually be an understatement for the Damage CTRL saga on SmackDown. Bayley has also won the right to challenge for a championship, but would she really consider going after teammate IYO SKY because she’s too scared to challenge Rhea Ripley? Or might SKY force her hand somehow? We can’t wait to find out.

Buckle up and let’s get into it.

WWE SmackDown results from Birmingham:

(please scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • The Bloodline is shown entering the arena and heading for their dressing room before a Royal Rumble highlight package is shown
  • Logan Paul thinks he’s done with Kevin Owens but might be mistaken
  • Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory by pinfall after using brass knux that Paul tries to supply to Theory, the difference this time is that he doesn’t let the referee see it; Paul escapes into the crowd to avoid Owens after the match
  • Rhea Ripley is shown on her way into the arena, and we see a hype video for Naomi’s return at Royal Rumble; both Naomi and Tiffany Stratton have signed to SmackDown, and Stratton decides to show how unafraid she is of the existing roster by smacking Michin
  • Bianca Belair asks Nick Aldis what she has to do to take on IYO SKY once Bayley chooses Rhea, but she’s not happy when Paul crashes their conversation asking about a match
  • Santos Escobar is out to dinner with his new Legado Del Fantasma and says his heart is full, but also tells his team their duty is to eradicate Rey Mysterio and the LWO
  • Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate def. Pretty Deadly, Legado Del Fantasma (Angel and Humberto) and LWO (Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde); they’ll now face the winner of a similar Fatal Four-Way on Raw, and the winner of that match will get a tag team title shot at Elimination Chamber
  • IYO SKY, Asuka and Kairi Sane seem to be plotting against Bayley … but she’s overheard them
  • Another version of Seth Rollins’ plea to Cody Rhodes is played, presenting the big question: What kind of champion do you want to be?
  • Bayley makes her WrestleMania choice, but it appears she’s done with Damage CTRL
  • The Final Testament has a brief clash with Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits, who get help from B-Fab to neutralize Scarlett
  • Aldis is working on getting Bron Breakker to sign for SmackDown, but he’s willing to talk to Pearce on Monday first; Jade Cargill stops in to talk to Aldis as well
  • Tiffany Stratton def. Michin by pinfall
  • The Tribal Chief is here to hear from Cody Rhodes, who looks to be setting aside a WrestleMania challenge to make way for The Rock

Logan Paul learns Kevin Owens isn’t done with him yet

Addressing the boos that greet him, Paul says he doesn’t want to be there either, because “this place sucks.” He admits that he underestimated Kevin Owens, saying he did more damage to him than Floyd Mayweather.

Paul mocks the wrestlers who have suffered injuries, calling himself unbreakable. Mercifully, someone interrupts him, and that someone is KO. After saying Birmingham seems like a great place to him, Owens says he felt good knocking the Maverick around, so now he can focus on taking the title from Logan and getting it sanitized.

“You took the bait, dummy,” Paul laughs, bragging about outsmarting Owens and causing him to get DQed. KO isn’t ashamed about cheating during the match but is a little sheepish about getting caught. Nevertheless, he says he won’t need brass knux to beat Paul next time.

Paul says Owens won’t be getting another title shot and says KO should focus on his match with Austin Theory … which appear to be up next.

Bayley makes her WrestleMania choice as Damage CTRL implodes

Accompanied by Damage CTRL, Bayley makes her way to the ring where both Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce are waiting. The fans are chanting for her, so this would be a good place for a face turn if that’s what awaits.

Bayley says she’s done almost everything there is to do at WrestleMania, but this year is different and special. She says she didn’t get there on her own, support that she never had in any previous year, as Damage CTRL was always there to support her.

When she thinks about Mania, she thinks about moments and beating the best, which brings her to Rhea Ripley. Or she could fight a different fight. Sometimes, she says, it’s more personal and about proving doubters wrong. Sometimes it’s about proving the people you thought were your friends wrong.

Bayley says she picked up some Japanese from all the times IYO SKY, Asuka and Kairi Sane were talking about her behind her back. She grows emotionally asking what happened between them, but the Kabuki Warriors jump her from behind. It’s going badly for Bayley until she produces a metal pipe and has a standoff with SKY, who has her title belt to use as a weapon.

As SKY and the Kabuki Warriors retreat, Bayley says about that announcement … “IYO, I’ll see you at WrestleMania.”

Tiffany Stratton has the prettiest debut ever against Michin

Michin greets Stratton with a furious attack as soon as the bell rings, so this won’t be a walk in the park debut by any means. A gutwrench suplex tosses Stratton backward and is followed by a vertical suplex for a near fall.

Stratton is forced to the floor, where she’s able to trip Michin on the apron and declare it’s Tiffy Time before commercials slide in.

Stratton’s still in control after the break but pays for taking the time to talk smack and has to suffer through a Michin rally. Double knees to the face in the corner force Tiffany to get a boot on the bottom rope for a break.

Tiffany cartwheels into an Alabama Slam and gets a two count. Michin responds with a boot to the face, but Stratton rolls forward and hits the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to wrap up a successful debut.

Cody Rhodes won’t challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania … but The Rock might

With the GMs in the ring again to await Rhodes, Reigns and The Bloodline make their way down as well. The fans chant for “Cody” but Reigns wants to be acknowledged first. Roman says he doesn’t like to recap but can’t let go of what Seth Rollins said on Monday. Didn’t he beat everyone competing for the World Heavyweight Championship, after all?

Reigns goes on to mock Rollins for being injured a lot and working too often. he says he won’t beg Rhodes like “the other guy,” saying Cody can either be the best No. 2 in this industry or take another crack at being No. 1.

After a commercial break, Rhodes arrives to ask Birmingham and Rhodes what they want to talk about. If Roman will indulge him, Cody wonders if they can have the ring to themselves.

Cody says he talked to just about everyone this week, from friends to legends. Rhodes says he had Reigns closer to defeat than anyone, and he thinks Roman knows that. One thing he disagrees with Rollins about is that Reigns’ title is the “Hollywood” title, because it’s the same one his father once had in his hands only to be swiftly taken away.

What does finishing the story mean to Roman, Cody wonders? Is it taking the championship or taking everything from him? Cody says he’s coming for Reigns … but not at WrestleMania. After all, one of the people he’s sought council from knows Roman vey well: The Rock.

The Great One moves in close to Rhodes and whispers something in his ear, and the American Nightmare leaves the ring. The show ends with Rock and Roman staring each other down, and a banner promoting a press event for WrestleMania 40 Thursday in Las Vegas.

WWE SmackDown results 01/26/24: Reigns’ challengers fight Bloodline, themselves

We also got new women’s tag team champs Friday on WWE SmackDown in Miami.

To say that it’s been an eventful week for WWE would be a high grade understatement. While the company no doubt hoped it would coast into the Royal Rumble weekend on the strength of the Netflix-Raw deal and The Rock joining the TKO board, it’s now instead dealing with the latest horrendous Vince McMahon allegations and the prospects of sponsors jumping ship.

Nothing is more WWE than a show playing out against that wide of a backdrop, but that’s exactly what we’ve got with WWE SmackDown in Miami tonight. Even with the Rumble matches and a Fatal Four-Way starring Roman Reigns looming, there’s some potential intrigue bubbling up tonight.

It starts with what should be tonight’s main event. LA Knight got one shot at Reigns already, and he has another on Saturday albeit with the complications of AJ Styles and Randy Orton in the mix. He’ll go one on one with Solo Sikoa in a classic case of either gaining momentum or giving him one last moment of triumph before he takes an ‘L’ tomorrow.

(And even though we love Knight, we have a feeling it’s going to be the latter.)

There’s a women’s tag team title match as well, one that could hint at some developments in the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Bayley is the favorite there, but the Kabuki Warriors are going for gold in Miami. Should they win, does that put even more pressure on the Role Model to win on Saturday? Or might it finally signal the beginning of her end in Damage CTRL?

We have no idea, which is why we’ll be tuned in tonight. Here we go.

WWE SmackDown results from Miami:

(scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)

  • Katana Chance and Kayden Carter are shown walking into the arena earlier, as are their challengers, the Kabuki Warriors; after that, a video package is shown to promote the Fatal Four-Way at Royal Rumble
  • Randy Orton, AJ Styles and LA Knight all make their cases for dethroning Roman Reigns
  • Santos Escobar def. Carlito by pinfall, but the big news is that Elektra Lopez, who was part of Legado Del Fantasma in NXT, joins Escobar’s new version of that group and helps neutralize the LWO
  • A scowling Styles (is there any other kind these days?) is stopped by Jimmy Uso, who proposes that he help The Bloodline take out Knight tonight; when approached by The O.C. and Michin asking what that was about, Styles sneers “don’t worry about it”
  • Ava’s meeting with Nick Aldis is interrupted by Bobby Lashley drawing his number for the Royal Rumble and Santos Escobar doing the same
  • Bayley talks about her goals of winning the Royal Rumble and ensuring Damage CTRL wins all the gold
  • R-Truth is confused about what he’s doing while drawing his Rumble number, as well as mistaking Nick Aldis for Adam Pearce, whose hair has grown in awfully fast
  • The Kabuki Warriors def. Katana Chance and Kayden Carter by pinfall to become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions
  • Paul Heyman begs Solo Sikoa to “fix the problem” tonight and show no mercy while doing so; he simply says “OK” in response before walking away, while Heyman suggests that there will be a moment for Jimmy Uso to seize this weekend by winning the Royal Rumble
  • Bayley comes in to pick her Royal Rumble number and looks a little less excited about hers than Bianca Belair did right before her
  • Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits’ encounter with The Final Testament goes poorly
  • Jimmy Uso draws his number and says “No Yeet” in response … so is he No. 1?
  • Austin Theory def. Carmelo Hayes by pinfall, pulling the tights to do so; but when Theory and Grayson Waller try to attack Hayes after the bell, Trick Williams comes to Hayes’ aid — though it doesn’t seem all good between them
  • Eladio Carrión is confronted backstage by The Bloodline but is wise enough not to push things with them
  • LA Knight def. Solo Sikoa by DQ (presumably) after Styles attacks Knight; Orton also joins the fight, which ends badly for Sikoa and Uso, and ultimately Orton after a Blunt Force Trauma by Knight

Randy Orton has something to say ahead of Royal Rumble, but so do AJ Styles and LA Knight

Eladio Carrión introduces Orton, who thanks him for the “RKO” video. The Viper is here to talk about The Bloodline, however, and specifically Roman Reigns holding his Universal title for almost 1,300 days. No one can stop The Bloodline … except maybe Randy.

Orton claims that the only number that will mean anything to anyone after Saturday night will be 15, the number of times he’s been world champion. How will he do it? The three most destructive letters in sports entertainment, naturally.

That boast brings out AJ Styles, who wants to remind Orton there are other people in that title match. Styles says he asked for a match with Solo Sikoa, and was ticked that Nick Aldis gave it to LA Knight instead.

Now he’s upset that Orton seems to have forgotten about him, and he says Randy should know better as they have history. He also promises a receipt coming for the RKO he got last week, and he’s about to talk about stepping over the other challengers when LA Knight’s music hits.

Let him talk to you. Knight mocks Styles for crying about people “stepping over me” and ponders why he’s the only one with a match tonight. Is it because Paul Heyman thinks he’s the biggest threat?

As he finishes his statement, Styles makes one of his own, hitting Orton with a Pele kick.

And new … The Kabuki Warriors take down Katana Chance and Kayden Carter to once again wear tag team gold

You figure the champs will want to start fast, which is exactly what Chance does while working against Asuka. She treats both challengers to some arm drags while talking smack, and she flies to the floor to take out both of them to boot.

As is often the case, the Kabuki Warriors have battled back during a commercial break, though Chance is able to lure Asuka into flying through the ropes to the floor. She also sends Kairi Sane out of the ring on the other side, but the delay allows Asuka to grab her briefly in an ankle lock.

Carter tags in and flies from the top rope to the floor to take out both challengers. She smashes Asuka with a boot to the face, followed by a springboard legdrop for two.

Double team offense by the Kabuki Warriors now has Carter in trouble, but Chance is able to make the save. Sane sees an opening for the Insane Elbow, but Carter gets both feet up to ward it off.

Asuka tags in but misses a sliding kick, and Carter treats her to a facebuster. Chance is finally back on the apron to tag in, but while the Keg Stand nails Asuka, Sane is quick enough to break up the pin at the last moment.

The champs aren’t as lucky. After a brief scramble takes chance out of the equation, Sane delivers the Insane Elbow, and the Kabuki Warriors are titleholders once more, celebrating with the rest of Damage CTRL.

Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits come face to face with The Final Testament, to their detriement

Not that he really needs to, but Lashley introduces himself and the Profits to the crowd. He says the people of Miami came to see a fight, so he tells The Final Testament to come on out “and come get some.”

That group obliges, complete with new t-shirts and black and white entrance effects. Lashley and the Profits are unimpressed that they send only Scarlett into the ring, but Paul Ellering says it’s not because of fear. Karrion Kross says when he looks at them, he sees desperation because things aren’t going according to plan, a feeling he understands.

Kross ticks off the fans by saying he won’t give them a fight tonight, but Lashley and the Profits try to bring it to them. Scarlett rakes Lashley’s eyes, allowing Kross to head into the ring to send Bobby into the post. The Authors of Pain make short work of the Profits too, leaving Lashley to try to fight one-on-three.

It goes poorly, with the Kross Hammer laying him out. The Final Testament wins this round, easily.

LA Knight, Solo Sikoa settle nothing as the main event descends into chaos

Again, Knight seems to have a good strategy in mind, as he goes right after Solo’s right hand. That’d be the one he uses to deliver the Samoan Spike.

After a commercial break, though, Sikoa is in control, pummeling the Megastar in one corner and still very much using that right hand. The announcers remind us that Jimmy Uso is lurking on the outside as well if need be.

A clothesline is answered by a bulldog from Knight, leaving both men on the canvas. He pours on shots with both hands, then hits a leaping lariat and a Russian leg sweep.

Over in the corner, the fans do the “yeah!” thing to stomp his foe into the corner. A DDT is next, then a swinging kick that forces Solo into the announce table. Sikoa’s head is bounced repeatedly off the table, much to the delight of the Miami crowd.

Alas, AJ Styles isn’t one of the people in the seats who’s enjoying this, and he hits a Phenomenal Forearm off the barricade. Uso grabs a steel chair, then lays it in front of AJ. But lest we think Styles is down with The Bloodline, he throws Uso into the ring.

Randy Orton quickly joins the fray as well, dropping Sikoa on the announce table before turning his attention back to the ring. Uso tries to flee but can’t escape the hanging DDT … nor can Styles. AJ also eats an RKO, leaving Orton the last man standing ahead of the Royal Rumble.

Or maybe not, as Knight returns and lays out Orton with Blunt Force Trauma just as the show is about to fade to black.