- Jul 18, 2012
- 36,507
- 38,492
Wrestle Kingdom 12 Pick'em
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...t1eUa9SEZysltpxbl4qgWfjA/viewform?usp=sf_link
They probably can’t top Raw’s surprise announcement, but Team Blue will try as they come out of their own pay-per-view (PPV) and start building to Royal Rumble tonight in Newark, New Jersey.
The Headliners
And those efforts will include putting the last two matches from Clash of Champions into one six-man tag while we all wonder about the power struggle backstage, and what it means for the Road to WrestleMania... and beyond.
The official preview for tonight’s show on WWE.com barely mentions General Manager Daniel Bryan and commissioner Shane McMahon, but their conflicting officiating styles in the Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s job-saving victory over Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton are the focus of the commercial for the episode that ran on Monday night:
And even if fast-counting Dan and no-counting Shane don’t factor into the rematch (which adds WWE champion AJ Styles to the good guys and keeps the man he defeated two nights ago atop the card for at least one more show), their issues will certainly be addressed throughout the evening in backstage segments... or possibly even in-ring pronouncements.
McMahon didn’t get to fire the guys who screwed him at Hell in a Cell. So could he take that out on the man who saved their jobs by handing them a victory? Since the brand split, we’ve seen his sister go through a General Manager over on Raw, but the DB/Shane team has seemed rock solid - until now. Could we hear Shane utter one of his dad’s favorite sayings in Jersey?
And, who gets their win back in the tag match? 50/50 booking usually sees these PPV rematches go the other way, but with winners and losers from Sunday on each side of Owens, Zayn and Mahal vs. Nakamura, Orton and Styles, something’s gotta give!
Perhaps more importantly, will we see AJ’s next challenger emerge from this match? All signs point to The Modern Day Maharajah moving on to something else, but keep a look out for indicators of who The Phenomenal One could face on Jan. 28 - and possibly even on April 8.
The Title Scene
After successfully defending her title against Natalya, Women’s champ Charlotte Flair is also on the lookout for new competition. Natty is teasing... not retirement, but something... but is definitely not up for another rematch. The lumberjacks ringside at Clash proved there is no shortage of heels for The Queen to rumble with... provided they’re not all in the just-announced Royal Rumble match.
Sunday didn’t feature many surprises, but the Dolph Ziggler’s United States title win was certainly one. Former champ Baron Corbin is pissed, and not just because The Show-Off being a late addition to the match put him at a disadvantage. Ziggler is planning to celebrate in Newark, but watch for The Lone Wolf to try and prove he didn’t squander another opportunity at the PPV.
Even though it was clearly Rusev Day in Boston, it was sadly not Rusev Day’s day, as The Usos retained their tag team championship. Aiden English and The Handsome One’s popularity should earn them future opportunities, but first up are Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. The amateur standouts still believe they’re owed another title shot after winning their last one in a countout, and they’re getting the old “beat the champs to earn a match with the belts on the line” opportunity tonight.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- They also came up short in their quest to reclaim tag gold (or blue and silver, I guess), but The New Day and their holiday preparations are actually the second thing hyped in the preview. What does it mean? Probably pancake-related, with a side of pushing their Mixed Match Challenge vote.
- Now that Mojo Rawley has shown Zack Ryder, and the WWE Universe, his killer instinct, what’s next for the former Hype Bro?
- Another team asking “what next?” is Breezango. Tyler Breeze and Fandango saw their show moved to the web and the case they were pursuing end with a Bludgeoning at the hands of Harper and Rowan. Those brothers look to be on the way up, while the Fashion Police are back to looking for answers.
- H
It’s the Clash of Champions fallout show!
What will you be looking for on SmackDown Live tonight?
WWE Holiday Week” is over, but the action never stops. Raw is in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Headliner(s)
After many rumors and conflicting reports - some of which earned Finn Bálor a new meta-gimmick*, others that said next month’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view might be without Raw’s version of a World title - Universal champion Brock Lesnar will return to our screens tonight.
And he’s back to address the two potential #1 contenders, Braun Strowman and Kane. Those two monsters have been feuding since Undertaker’s baby brother put The Monster Among Men in a garbage truck at TLC. A main event match last Monday which was supposed to end their rivalry by moving one of them into a program with Brock ended instead in double countout, and left us without answers.
Now Lesnar’s back to talk about it. Or, Paul Heyman is, anyway. Last I checked, booking wasn’t officially among The Beast Incarnate’s many powers, but if the powers-that-be are willing to waive the 30-day defense rule for him, they’ll probably give him whatever challenger or challengers he wants.
Whether internet fans like you and me like it, it does sound like we’re heading to a multi-man in Philadelphia on Jan. 28. If Strowman’s previous match with Brock, and his series with Kane, are any indication, it probably won’t be a five-star affair, but at that show, it doesn’t need to be. And the presence of The Devil’s Favorite Demon protects Braun from a pinfall loss while keeping the champ on his date with WrestleMania destiny.
So, we all know where we’re headed. Let’s see if they can make the ride enjoyable.
* Are the Twitter jokes and new merch leading somewhere? Will this end up being more “B+ player” or “Cesaro Section”? Any chance The Demon (or his more leather jacket-y alter ego) finds his way into this scene on the Road to WrestleMania?
The title scene
Over Roman Reigns’ shoulder, the Intercontinental championship has been showing up and delivering great matches - at least for the few weeks we’ve had The Big Dog’s challenge series running. After putting down Jason Jordan and Cesaro in recent weeks, WWE.com’s official preview for this show is teasing a new challenger, but at some point, Roman is going to have to deal with Samoa Joe. Joe’s not only been a consistent thorn in the side of all Reigns and his Shield brothers, but he’s proven to have the champ’s number.
Alexa Bliss and her Women's title had mostly been sticking to the sidelines as the undefeated Asuka padded her record win streak and Paige’s new Absolution stable ran roughshod over Raw. But those storylines have been colliding, and when The Anti-Diva, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville made to surround The Empress of Tomorrow, the ladies of Team Red came to her side... including the champ. Absolution put down Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James at Tribute to the Troops. Will they have to deal with Asuka and The Goddess tonight?
Also at TTTT, tag champs The Bar took a loss in six-man action alongside Samoa Joe against Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Reigns. That capped a bad week for Cesaro and Sheamus, who also lost their one-on-one battles with The Hounds of Justice on Raw last week. Will they be able to raise their game, or are they just keeping the belts warm for Seth and Dean?
Real world events forced a bit of a reset, but we’re finally getting a match to determine who will next challenge Cruiserweight champion Enzo Amore. Will it be Cedric Alexander, or Zo’s right-hand man Drew Gulak? “Gabba” Gulak reluctantly ditched his Team Powerpoint partner Tony Nese to stay allied with the champ last week, but he looked conflicted. A collision aboard The Zo Train seems inevitable. Will a babyface Drew be the thing that finally results in a winning “Campaign for a Better 205 Live”?
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- Fans familiar with his work in TNA rejoiced when Matt Hardy awoke, but after a second straight week of split screen promo work with feud-mate Bray Wyatt, some in the WWE Universe got restless. Is it already put up or shut time for The Woken One?
- When he’s not concerned with hOw ValuablE he’s peRceived to be by management, Finn is rehabbing his win/loss record with a healthy does of matches against Miztourage members Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.
- Dana Brooke finally had an angle advance when she joined Titus Worldwide as their “official statistician and head of research and development”. Her former running buddies Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows think her new gig makes her a nerd, though.
- General Manager Kurt Angle’s son has been getting a lot of time on television, and winning support from fans (ironically) as a whiney, thinly-veiled heel.
- Speaking of Angle, expect lots of Mixed Match Challenge talk and possibly even segments devoted to Team Red’s potential pairings for the upcoming Facebook Watch series.
Six weeks until Royal Rumble!
What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?
Survey For Clash of Champions
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...xy1NAxtWYs34kJiEMF8j1_JQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
The Modern Day Maharaja is looking to reclaim the crown he lost to The Phenomenal One on SmackDown Live in Manchester.
Charlotte defends the SmackDown Women's Championship against Natalya in a Lumberjack Match with the ring surrounded by superstars.
The United States Championship is up for grabs in a triple threat match and the SmackDown tag titles on the line in a fatal 4-way encounter.
Meanwhile Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura face Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as referees!
Here is a match-by-match breakdown of the show.
Nature Boy director Rory Karpf - 'Richard Fliehr and Ric Flair are really one and the same'
(Image: © WWE)
Singles match
Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley
Former tag team partners in The Hype Bros, Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder, face each other this evening after Rawley broke up their team by attacking Ryder. Mojo's justification for the betrayal was his success as a singles star without Zack, when he won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33. He said being forced to team again with Ryder was holding him back and that the former Intercontinental Champion had always been a hindrance to him.
The pair have since tried to ramp up the rivalry with a Twitter spat - where all feuds seem to develop in 2017 - with Zack mocking Mojo's wrestling skills. He may have a point in that regard but Rawley's intense heel character is a welcome development and he should get a career-boosting victory here.
Predicted winner: Mojo Rawley
(Image: © WWE)
Tag team match
Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
Breezango are a consistently entertaining duo thanks to the natural wit and charisma both Tyler Breeze and Fandango exhibit in their weekly Fashion Files backstage skits. They will no doubt raise a few laughs at the start of this match but any laughter will soon be cut short by a brutal beating at the hands of The Bludgeon Brothers. The former Wyatt Family henchmen Erick Rowan and Luke Harper - now rechristened simply Rowan and Harper - are a truly formidable tag team with great potential. They should be competing for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship before long and tonight will be the first step on that journey for the bruising behemoths.
Predicted winners: The Bludgeon Brothers
(Image: © WWE)
Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
Baron Corbin (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
The 2016 feud between Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler was a disappointing introduction to the main roster for Corbin, as it started with a bang, but then dwindled out as they failed to click together. Tonight gives the Lone Wolf and the Showoff a chance to redress the balance, but WWE has wisely added former NXT Champion Bobby Roode to the mix, in an effort to spice up the rivalry. Roode was part of the Survivor Series men's five-on-five elimination match last month, which shows WWE hold him in high regard. His main roster run is yet to ignite, but he will be protected here. A win for Baron - whose theme was the last entrance music composed by Jim Johnson, WWE's recently departed musical maestro - will therefore probably come at the expense of Dolph.
Predicted winner: Baron Corbin
(Image: © WWE)
Singles match
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Natalya - Lumberjack match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
A title rematch sees Natalya try to reclaim the SmackDown women's title from Charlotte Flair, whom she lost the belt to on an emotional night ahead of Survivor Series. However, Ric Flair's daughter doesn't just have to worry about her Canadian rival and will need eyes in the back of her head if she is to emerge unscathed this evening. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan and Sarah Morgan) have been causing mayhem with a series of ambushes on SmackDown's women's division, including Charlotte.
As a result this will be a Lumberjack match with the Riott Squad plus the likes of Naomi, Lana, Carmella and Tamina waiting to attack any woman who strays out of the ring. This could be the perfect scenario for Carmella to finally cash in her Money in the Bank contract, most likely on a weakened Charlotte after she just manages to retain.
Predicted winner: Charlotte Flair
(Image: © WWE)
Fatal four-way tag team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Usos (c) vs. The New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable vs. Rusev and Aiden English
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Uso look to see out their sensational 2017 in style by defending their titles in a Fatal 4-Way contest, which should be absolutely wild. Their opponents tonight are long time rivals The New Day, impudent challengers Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable, plus newly formed comical duo Rusev and Aiden English. SmackDown's tag division is looking very strong at present, with the addition of The Bludgeon Brothers, plus the likes of Breezango and The Ascension in mainly enhancement roles.
Everyone should know by now that The Usos and The New Day create magic whenever they are in the ring together, but Benjamin and Gable are starting to show signs of real potential. Gable in particular is developing a great cocky dork character, reminiscent of another ex-Olympian, Kurt Angle, while Benjamin brings power and ring prowess. Tonight could be their night.
Predicted winners: Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable
(Image: © WWE)
Tag team match with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as special guest referees
Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
The biggest non-title clash this evening is undoubtedly Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura versus Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. This tag team match will see SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon and the show's general manager Daniel Bryan as special guest referees. Shane O'Mac is sick to the back teeth of Owens and Zayn, after they conspired to help KO defeat him at Hell in a Cell, then undermined his SmackDown team at Survivor Series. He says if they lose this match, they will be fired. But standing in his way is Bryan, who has sympathy for the Canadian duo, having had his fair share of problems with McMahons.
Daniel has repeatedly said he wishes to return to the ring, having been forced to retire due to a head injury, then held back from competing by WWE due to concussion issues. How physically involved he gets in this match will therefore be fascinating, as will the direction WWE decides to take in resolving this growing divide between him and Shane. The logical outcome is of course a win for Owens and Zayn, because they are not going to be fired. But which of the special guest referees will help hand them victory?
Predicted winners: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
(Image: © WWE)
Singles match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (with The Singh Brothers) - Singles match for the WWE Championship
AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to become WWE Champion for the second time on SmackDown Live in Manchester on November 7. It was a night UK fans will never forget, as it marked the first WWE world title change ever to take place outside of North America, but now Mahal gets his mandatory rematch. In the past, the Modern Day Maharaja has relied upon the combined might of his Khallas finisher and his cronies the Singh Brothers to prevail over his opponents.
There is no way he should reclaim the title from the single most talented wrestler in all of WWE, as Styles has to be readying himself for a WrestleMania 34 main event spot. Yet it's also important WWE don't completely abandon the Jinder project, so this match needs to be competitive, rather than him simply being crushed by the Phenomenal One. A move in the right direction for both talents would be for Mahal to ditch the Singh Brothers, showing he can thrive as a talent in his own right, but not at the expense of Styles.
Predicted winner: AJ Styles
Full card
1. Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley - Singles match
2. Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers - Tag team match
3. Baron Corbin (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler - Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
4. Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Natalya - Lumberjack match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
5. The Usos (c) vs. The New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable vs. Rusev and Aiden English - Fatal four-way tag team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
6. Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn - Tag team match with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as special guest referees
7. AJ Styles (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (with The Singh Brothers) - Singles match for the WWE Championship
They technically still have Thursday night’s Tribute To The Troops show, but since that was filmed last week, expect this edition from Cincinnati to be Team Blue’s last hurrah before their pay-per-view (PPV) Sunday.
The Headliners
As my main man Geno pointed out over the weekend, SmackDown isn’t so much “The Land of Opportunity” as it is Shane McMahon-land. The commissioner’s presence will certainly loom over Clash of Champions tag team showdown pitting Shane’s sworn enemies Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn against Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura. Will he factor into tonight’s warm-up between Owens and Nak?
The most interesting part about last Tuesday’s episode might have been the tension between McMahon and his General Manager Daniel Bryan when the commish revealed that KO and Sami’s jobs would be on the line this weekend. Bryan knows the Canadian pals are a problem, but he’d prefer to let guys like Swagsuke and The Viper keep beating on them rather than send them packing. Or, you know, hand cuff them to things.
DB knows a thing or two about standing up to power-mad McMahons. Whether or not WWE Medical will let him do it himself this time is a whole ‘nother matter.
In the meantime, we have Owens and Zayn against Team Big Names Who Are Currently Babyface And Not Doing Anything Else. Not a bad way to fill time on the Road to WrestleMania, but this program remains about waiting for the other show to drop on the management feud.
Who knew SmackDown would be the show focused on authority figures?
The Title Scene
He’ll “come face-to-face” with the man he beat for the belt, but how nervous is WWE champion AJ Styles heading into his Clashwith Jinder Mahal? The Modern Day Maharajah says all the right things, but if WWE wanted him unhindered, they probably wouldn’t have had him lose his belt, then get pinned by Triple H in front of his people. We’ll see how they try to convince us he’s still a threat to The Phenomenal One tonight.
With the Women’s division serving as lumberjacks for Charlotte Flair’s latest Women’s championship defense against Natalya, they stuff happening outside the ring might be more interesting than what’s going on between the ropes. We’ll get a head start on that when the new Riott Squad faction battles Carmella, Tamina and Lana in trios action tonight. Yep, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan will be working with Lana and Tamina. This should be something.
A common theme for this weekend’s show in Boston is getting as many people involved in the matches as possible. It’s the only logical explanation for Bobby Roode AND Dolph Ziggler getting the United States title shot at Baron Corbin. The Show Off stood tall last Tuesday. Reverse Momentum theory adherents will be watching to see what happens tonight. They may be the only ones.
On Sunday, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin, The New Day and Rusev and Aiden English will try to take down tag champs The Usos. On this glorious Rusev Day, Rusev Day will go two-on-two with Jimmy and Jey. Happy Rusev Day!
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- In the last chapter of the Fashion Filessaga, The Ascension proved their best friend credentials by sacrificing themselves to save Tyler Breeze and Fandango from a torture porn death trap. Breezy and Dango plan to honor Konnor and Viktor’s sacrifice with a tribute.
- Who will the Bludgeon Brothers bludgeon, brothers (and sisters)?
- Getting the feeling the whole Mojo Rawley heel turn/Hype Bros feud may just be on the back burner until after Clash.
- Hurry back, Becky Lynch.
It’s the Clash of Champions ‘go home’ show!
What will you be looking for on SmackDown Live tonight?
After a weekend in Asia and the Middle East, WWE returns to Middle America. What up, Cleveland?
The Headliner(s)
Elias was just trying to play his song about hating Angelenos, when Braun Strowman starting throwing The Drifter around the ring. Strowman was just trying to do his job and give Elias the competition he’d asked General Manager Kurt Angle for.
Then Kane had to come along and ruin everything.
Now, The Big Red Monster takes another step toward fulfilling his destiny of being the latest “monster” to put over The Monster Among Men when they go one-on-one in another official match tonight.
Will this be the bout that finally breaks this feud out of the not-as-good-as-the-one-with-Big-Show rut? It doesn’t have a stipulation on it (yet), so it’s probably not ending here, so we better hope so.
The other open question is... Strowman’s run this year has been built on escalating buzz-worthy spots. After Braun running powerslammed Kane through the mat last month, what stunt will they pull to try and top that?
Just thinking about this makes me hope Show returns soon... or WWE thinks of something to do with their new giant besides pit him against their old ones.
The title scene
The venue says Universal champion Brock Lesnar will work next Monday’s show in Rhode Island, but he’s still not on the “Featured Superstars” list for the event page on WWE.com. Either way, you can safely not worry about this title for another week.
Which is something it feels like we can say about the Women's title,too. Alexa Bliss is around - she sat at commentary for Paige’s comeback last week - but the focus recently has been on the women who’ve arrived on Team Red over the last few months. The group were here before Asuka arrived from NXT have taken a backseat... including the champ.
If you’re at all like me, you got worked into thinking the tag team championship would be changing hands last Monday. The Bar is craftier than we give them credit for, however. Even after Angle restarted things to account for The Celtic Warrior’s love of ***-kicking, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins still weren’t prepared for Sheamus and Cesaro’s secret weapon - Samoa Joe. Which is fitting, since the third man in The Shield, Intercontinental champ Roman Reigns also hasn’t had an answer for Joe lately. At least the addition of the Samoans has added some possibilities to the GM’s go-to formula. As a result, we’re getting Roman vs. The Swiss Cyborg, Joe vs. Dean and Seth vs. Sheamus (they can’t all be fresh match-ups).
The Zo Train’s guest conductor Drew “Gabba” Gulak was supposed to have a match tonight which would determine if he’d face his mentor, Cruiserweight titleist Enzo Amore, for the belt. If a #1 contender contest happens, it won’t be against the guy Drew was supposed to face. But the where, when and who of a wrestling match is pretty low on the priority list. How ‘bout that Nia Jax?
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- His first post-awakening appearance on WWE television was more DELIGHTFUL than most of us imagined it could be. Now that The #GreatWar is upon us, what treats does Matt Hardy have in store for us? And will a battle with the Woken One be the thing that helps Bray Wyatt finally achieve his potential as a character? There’s so much potential in Hardy’s gimmick to not only entertain, but to refresh (or should we say “reincarnate”) other acts, we’re giddy with ANTICIPASHUN about what might be coming next.
- Her return to action was against Sasha Banks, but WWE.com’s official preview tonight is telling us to pay attention to what Paige has been doing with the undefeated Empress of Tomorrow. That seems like a collision that might need to wait so Absolution can built up (and maybe so Asuka can be ready for Ronda Rousey, or vice versa). Might be time to revisit Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville vs. Bayley and Mickie James.
- Doesn’t matter why we hate him at this point, the fact is Jason Jordan is so despised he can make a smark cheer Roman Reigns. Kurt’s whining, manipulative son is already a heel, but stay on the lookout for an official turn.
- Being pushed to the limit by a member of The Miztourage is a hell of a way to get over, but Finn Bálor will do whatever it takes. And then tweet about it.
T
onight’s show finds us at Full Sail, for the first episode from a taping which starts us on the road to TakeOver: Philadelphia. Here's what to expect.
Tonight's Show
The Headliner(s)
After his shocking win over Drew McIntyre at WarGames, Andrade “Cien” Almas deserves the chance to celebrate his NXT championship. And seeing how many were ready to write Almas off a busted prospect or perennial mid-card gatekeeper prior to her arrival, so does his associate Zelina Vega.
The pair should party while they can. An injury to McIntyre has taken the usual contractually obligated rematch off the table, but General Manager William Regal already announced a defense for El Ídolo on Royal Rumble weekend. And Vega will want to get the champ focused, because the eight men who will fight for a chance to take the belt from Almas include past rivals, seasoned veterans and up-and-coming heavyweights.
Lars Sullivan vs. Roderick Strong and Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black, but the official preview for this episode says we’ll be getting Killian Dain vs. Trent Seven and Kassius Ohno vs. Velveteen Dream tonight to determine the first two competitors in a Fatal 4Way to determine the #1 contender.
While we wonder if the battle between British and Irish heavyweights will produce our first NXT champ from the UK since Neville, there are also very interesting questions about the Ohno/Dream affair - and they go beyond just whether or not KO is still a contender and how Black acknowledging him has changed Velveteen (for a spolier-y discussion of those questions, head here).
That’s a lot to think about. But first... tranquilo. It’s time to celebrate.
The Title Scene
Doesn’t sound like new Women’s champ Ember Moon is going to get a chance to throw herself a party. Maybe next week. Although by then, we might already know who’s coming for her belt (our money is on Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross or even Peyton Royce, although she may need to go to the back of the line after losing to Sane last week).
They still have the tag team titles, but SAnitY probably doesn’t feel like celebrating. Eric Young took the pin in the WarGames match, and Adam Cole won’t be the only member of Undisputed ERA gunning for gold. Plus, Authors of Pain STILL haven’t gotten a straight-up rematch from Brooklyn!
By virtue of their tag loss last week, he’s avoided owing Mark Andrews a title shot. But the Welsh high-flier probably still wants a piece of United Kingdom champion Pete Dunne after The Bruiserweight gave him a post-match beating. And while his partner is in the hunt for the main belt, Dunne’s rival Tyler Bate has a case for a rematch after pinning the champ last week.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...t1eUa9SEZysltpxbl4qgWfjA/viewform?usp=sf_link
They probably can’t top Raw’s surprise announcement, but Team Blue will try as they come out of their own pay-per-view (PPV) and start building to Royal Rumble tonight in Newark, New Jersey.
The Headliners
And those efforts will include putting the last two matches from Clash of Champions into one six-man tag while we all wonder about the power struggle backstage, and what it means for the Road to WrestleMania... and beyond.
The official preview for tonight’s show on WWE.com barely mentions General Manager Daniel Bryan and commissioner Shane McMahon, but their conflicting officiating styles in the Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn’s job-saving victory over Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton are the focus of the commercial for the episode that ran on Monday night:
And even if fast-counting Dan and no-counting Shane don’t factor into the rematch (which adds WWE champion AJ Styles to the good guys and keeps the man he defeated two nights ago atop the card for at least one more show), their issues will certainly be addressed throughout the evening in backstage segments... or possibly even in-ring pronouncements.
McMahon didn’t get to fire the guys who screwed him at Hell in a Cell. So could he take that out on the man who saved their jobs by handing them a victory? Since the brand split, we’ve seen his sister go through a General Manager over on Raw, but the DB/Shane team has seemed rock solid - until now. Could we hear Shane utter one of his dad’s favorite sayings in Jersey?
And, who gets their win back in the tag match? 50/50 booking usually sees these PPV rematches go the other way, but with winners and losers from Sunday on each side of Owens, Zayn and Mahal vs. Nakamura, Orton and Styles, something’s gotta give!
Perhaps more importantly, will we see AJ’s next challenger emerge from this match? All signs point to The Modern Day Maharajah moving on to something else, but keep a look out for indicators of who The Phenomenal One could face on Jan. 28 - and possibly even on April 8.
The Title Scene
After successfully defending her title against Natalya, Women’s champ Charlotte Flair is also on the lookout for new competition. Natty is teasing... not retirement, but something... but is definitely not up for another rematch. The lumberjacks ringside at Clash proved there is no shortage of heels for The Queen to rumble with... provided they’re not all in the just-announced Royal Rumble match.
Sunday didn’t feature many surprises, but the Dolph Ziggler’s United States title win was certainly one. Former champ Baron Corbin is pissed, and not just because The Show-Off being a late addition to the match put him at a disadvantage. Ziggler is planning to celebrate in Newark, but watch for The Lone Wolf to try and prove he didn’t squander another opportunity at the PPV.
Even though it was clearly Rusev Day in Boston, it was sadly not Rusev Day’s day, as The Usos retained their tag team championship. Aiden English and The Handsome One’s popularity should earn them future opportunities, but first up are Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin. The amateur standouts still believe they’re owed another title shot after winning their last one in a countout, and they’re getting the old “beat the champs to earn a match with the belts on the line” opportunity tonight.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- They also came up short in their quest to reclaim tag gold (or blue and silver, I guess), but The New Day and their holiday preparations are actually the second thing hyped in the preview. What does it mean? Probably pancake-related, with a side of pushing their Mixed Match Challenge vote.
- Now that Mojo Rawley has shown Zack Ryder, and the WWE Universe, his killer instinct, what’s next for the former Hype Bro?
- Another team asking “what next?” is Breezango. Tyler Breeze and Fandango saw their show moved to the web and the case they were pursuing end with a Bludgeoning at the hands of Harper and Rowan. Those brothers look to be on the way up, while the Fashion Police are back to looking for answers.
- H
It’s the Clash of Champions fallout show!
What will you be looking for on SmackDown Live tonight?
WWE Holiday Week” is over, but the action never stops. Raw is in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Headliner(s)
After many rumors and conflicting reports - some of which earned Finn Bálor a new meta-gimmick*, others that said next month’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view might be without Raw’s version of a World title - Universal champion Brock Lesnar will return to our screens tonight.
And he’s back to address the two potential #1 contenders, Braun Strowman and Kane. Those two monsters have been feuding since Undertaker’s baby brother put The Monster Among Men in a garbage truck at TLC. A main event match last Monday which was supposed to end their rivalry by moving one of them into a program with Brock ended instead in double countout, and left us without answers.
Now Lesnar’s back to talk about it. Or, Paul Heyman is, anyway. Last I checked, booking wasn’t officially among The Beast Incarnate’s many powers, but if the powers-that-be are willing to waive the 30-day defense rule for him, they’ll probably give him whatever challenger or challengers he wants.
Whether internet fans like you and me like it, it does sound like we’re heading to a multi-man in Philadelphia on Jan. 28. If Strowman’s previous match with Brock, and his series with Kane, are any indication, it probably won’t be a five-star affair, but at that show, it doesn’t need to be. And the presence of The Devil’s Favorite Demon protects Braun from a pinfall loss while keeping the champ on his date with WrestleMania destiny.
So, we all know where we’re headed. Let’s see if they can make the ride enjoyable.
* Are the Twitter jokes and new merch leading somewhere? Will this end up being more “B+ player” or “Cesaro Section”? Any chance The Demon (or his more leather jacket-y alter ego) finds his way into this scene on the Road to WrestleMania?
The title scene
Over Roman Reigns’ shoulder, the Intercontinental championship has been showing up and delivering great matches - at least for the few weeks we’ve had The Big Dog’s challenge series running. After putting down Jason Jordan and Cesaro in recent weeks, WWE.com’s official preview for this show is teasing a new challenger, but at some point, Roman is going to have to deal with Samoa Joe. Joe’s not only been a consistent thorn in the side of all Reigns and his Shield brothers, but he’s proven to have the champ’s number.
Alexa Bliss and her Women's title had mostly been sticking to the sidelines as the undefeated Asuka padded her record win streak and Paige’s new Absolution stable ran roughshod over Raw. But those storylines have been colliding, and when The Anti-Diva, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville made to surround The Empress of Tomorrow, the ladies of Team Red came to her side... including the champ. Absolution put down Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James at Tribute to the Troops. Will they have to deal with Asuka and The Goddess tonight?
Also at TTTT, tag champs The Bar took a loss in six-man action alongside Samoa Joe against Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Reigns. That capped a bad week for Cesaro and Sheamus, who also lost their one-on-one battles with The Hounds of Justice on Raw last week. Will they be able to raise their game, or are they just keeping the belts warm for Seth and Dean?
Real world events forced a bit of a reset, but we’re finally getting a match to determine who will next challenge Cruiserweight champion Enzo Amore. Will it be Cedric Alexander, or Zo’s right-hand man Drew Gulak? “Gabba” Gulak reluctantly ditched his Team Powerpoint partner Tony Nese to stay allied with the champ last week, but he looked conflicted. A collision aboard The Zo Train seems inevitable. Will a babyface Drew be the thing that finally results in a winning “Campaign for a Better 205 Live”?
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- Fans familiar with his work in TNA rejoiced when Matt Hardy awoke, but after a second straight week of split screen promo work with feud-mate Bray Wyatt, some in the WWE Universe got restless. Is it already put up or shut time for The Woken One?
- When he’s not concerned with hOw ValuablE he’s peRceived to be by management, Finn is rehabbing his win/loss record with a healthy does of matches against Miztourage members Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.
- Dana Brooke finally had an angle advance when she joined Titus Worldwide as their “official statistician and head of research and development”. Her former running buddies Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows think her new gig makes her a nerd, though.
- General Manager Kurt Angle’s son has been getting a lot of time on television, and winning support from fans (ironically) as a whiney, thinly-veiled heel.
- Speaking of Angle, expect lots of Mixed Match Challenge talk and possibly even segments devoted to Team Red’s potential pairings for the upcoming Facebook Watch series.
Six weeks until Royal Rumble!
What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?
Survey For Clash of Champions
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1...xy1NAxtWYs34kJiEMF8j1_JQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
- Zack Ryder vs Mojo Rawlings
- Breezango vs The Bludgeon Brothers
- Baron Corbin vs Bob Roode vs Dolph Ziggler (US Championship)
- The Usos vs "The New Day" vs Rusev & English vs Gable & Benjamin (SmackDown Tag-Team Championship)
- Owens & Zayn vs Nakamura & "The Viper" Randy Or-ton (D-Bry & Shane McMahon as guest referees )
- Charlotte Flair vs Natalya (SmackDown Women's Championship-Lumberjack Match)
- A.J. Styles vs Jinder "Juice" Mahal (WWE Championship)
The Modern Day Maharaja is looking to reclaim the crown he lost to The Phenomenal One on SmackDown Live in Manchester.
Charlotte defends the SmackDown Women's Championship against Natalya in a Lumberjack Match with the ring surrounded by superstars.
The United States Championship is up for grabs in a triple threat match and the SmackDown tag titles on the line in a fatal 4-way encounter.
Meanwhile Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura face Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as referees!
Here is a match-by-match breakdown of the show.
Nature Boy director Rory Karpf - 'Richard Fliehr and Ric Flair are really one and the same'
(Image: © WWE)
Singles match
Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley
Former tag team partners in The Hype Bros, Mojo Rawley and Zack Ryder, face each other this evening after Rawley broke up their team by attacking Ryder. Mojo's justification for the betrayal was his success as a singles star without Zack, when he won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33. He said being forced to team again with Ryder was holding him back and that the former Intercontinental Champion had always been a hindrance to him.
The pair have since tried to ramp up the rivalry with a Twitter spat - where all feuds seem to develop in 2017 - with Zack mocking Mojo's wrestling skills. He may have a point in that regard but Rawley's intense heel character is a welcome development and he should get a career-boosting victory here.
Predicted winner: Mojo Rawley
(Image: © WWE)
Tag team match
Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers
Breezango are a consistently entertaining duo thanks to the natural wit and charisma both Tyler Breeze and Fandango exhibit in their weekly Fashion Files backstage skits. They will no doubt raise a few laughs at the start of this match but any laughter will soon be cut short by a brutal beating at the hands of The Bludgeon Brothers. The former Wyatt Family henchmen Erick Rowan and Luke Harper - now rechristened simply Rowan and Harper - are a truly formidable tag team with great potential. They should be competing for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship before long and tonight will be the first step on that journey for the bruising behemoths.
Predicted winners: The Bludgeon Brothers
(Image: © WWE)
Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
Baron Corbin (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler
The 2016 feud between Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler was a disappointing introduction to the main roster for Corbin, as it started with a bang, but then dwindled out as they failed to click together. Tonight gives the Lone Wolf and the Showoff a chance to redress the balance, but WWE has wisely added former NXT Champion Bobby Roode to the mix, in an effort to spice up the rivalry. Roode was part of the Survivor Series men's five-on-five elimination match last month, which shows WWE hold him in high regard. His main roster run is yet to ignite, but he will be protected here. A win for Baron - whose theme was the last entrance music composed by Jim Johnson, WWE's recently departed musical maestro - will therefore probably come at the expense of Dolph.
Predicted winner: Baron Corbin
(Image: © WWE)
Singles match
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Natalya - Lumberjack match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
A title rematch sees Natalya try to reclaim the SmackDown women's title from Charlotte Flair, whom she lost the belt to on an emotional night ahead of Survivor Series. However, Ric Flair's daughter doesn't just have to worry about her Canadian rival and will need eyes in the back of her head if she is to emerge unscathed this evening. The Riott Squad (Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan and Sarah Morgan) have been causing mayhem with a series of ambushes on SmackDown's women's division, including Charlotte.
As a result this will be a Lumberjack match with the Riott Squad plus the likes of Naomi, Lana, Carmella and Tamina waiting to attack any woman who strays out of the ring. This could be the perfect scenario for Carmella to finally cash in her Money in the Bank contract, most likely on a weakened Charlotte after she just manages to retain.
Predicted winner: Charlotte Flair
(Image: © WWE)
Fatal four-way tag team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Usos (c) vs. The New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable vs. Rusev and Aiden English
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Uso look to see out their sensational 2017 in style by defending their titles in a Fatal 4-Way contest, which should be absolutely wild. Their opponents tonight are long time rivals The New Day, impudent challengers Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable, plus newly formed comical duo Rusev and Aiden English. SmackDown's tag division is looking very strong at present, with the addition of The Bludgeon Brothers, plus the likes of Breezango and The Ascension in mainly enhancement roles.
Everyone should know by now that The Usos and The New Day create magic whenever they are in the ring together, but Benjamin and Gable are starting to show signs of real potential. Gable in particular is developing a great cocky dork character, reminiscent of another ex-Olympian, Kurt Angle, while Benjamin brings power and ring prowess. Tonight could be their night.
Predicted winners: Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable
(Image: © WWE)
Tag team match with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as special guest referees
Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
The biggest non-title clash this evening is undoubtedly Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura versus Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. This tag team match will see SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon and the show's general manager Daniel Bryan as special guest referees. Shane O'Mac is sick to the back teeth of Owens and Zayn, after they conspired to help KO defeat him at Hell in a Cell, then undermined his SmackDown team at Survivor Series. He says if they lose this match, they will be fired. But standing in his way is Bryan, who has sympathy for the Canadian duo, having had his fair share of problems with McMahons.
Daniel has repeatedly said he wishes to return to the ring, having been forced to retire due to a head injury, then held back from competing by WWE due to concussion issues. How physically involved he gets in this match will therefore be fascinating, as will the direction WWE decides to take in resolving this growing divide between him and Shane. The logical outcome is of course a win for Owens and Zayn, because they are not going to be fired. But which of the special guest referees will help hand them victory?
Predicted winners: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
(Image: © WWE)
Singles match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (with The Singh Brothers) - Singles match for the WWE Championship
AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to become WWE Champion for the second time on SmackDown Live in Manchester on November 7. It was a night UK fans will never forget, as it marked the first WWE world title change ever to take place outside of North America, but now Mahal gets his mandatory rematch. In the past, the Modern Day Maharaja has relied upon the combined might of his Khallas finisher and his cronies the Singh Brothers to prevail over his opponents.
There is no way he should reclaim the title from the single most talented wrestler in all of WWE, as Styles has to be readying himself for a WrestleMania 34 main event spot. Yet it's also important WWE don't completely abandon the Jinder project, so this match needs to be competitive, rather than him simply being crushed by the Phenomenal One. A move in the right direction for both talents would be for Mahal to ditch the Singh Brothers, showing he can thrive as a talent in his own right, but not at the expense of Styles.
Predicted winner: AJ Styles
Full card
1. Zack Ryder vs. Mojo Rawley - Singles match
2. Breezango vs. The Bludgeon Brothers - Tag team match
3. Baron Corbin (c) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler - Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
4. Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Natalya - Lumberjack match for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship
5. The Usos (c) vs. The New Day vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable vs. Rusev and Aiden English - Fatal four-way tag team match for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
6. Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn - Tag team match with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan as special guest referees
7. AJ Styles (c) vs. Jinder Mahal (with The Singh Brothers) - Singles match for the WWE Championship
They technically still have Thursday night’s Tribute To The Troops show, but since that was filmed last week, expect this edition from Cincinnati to be Team Blue’s last hurrah before their pay-per-view (PPV) Sunday.
The Headliners
As my main man Geno pointed out over the weekend, SmackDown isn’t so much “The Land of Opportunity” as it is Shane McMahon-land. The commissioner’s presence will certainly loom over Clash of Champions tag team showdown pitting Shane’s sworn enemies Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn against Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura. Will he factor into tonight’s warm-up between Owens and Nak?
The most interesting part about last Tuesday’s episode might have been the tension between McMahon and his General Manager Daniel Bryan when the commish revealed that KO and Sami’s jobs would be on the line this weekend. Bryan knows the Canadian pals are a problem, but he’d prefer to let guys like Swagsuke and The Viper keep beating on them rather than send them packing. Or, you know, hand cuff them to things.
DB knows a thing or two about standing up to power-mad McMahons. Whether or not WWE Medical will let him do it himself this time is a whole ‘nother matter.
In the meantime, we have Owens and Zayn against Team Big Names Who Are Currently Babyface And Not Doing Anything Else. Not a bad way to fill time on the Road to WrestleMania, but this program remains about waiting for the other show to drop on the management feud.
Who knew SmackDown would be the show focused on authority figures?
The Title Scene
He’ll “come face-to-face” with the man he beat for the belt, but how nervous is WWE champion AJ Styles heading into his Clashwith Jinder Mahal? The Modern Day Maharajah says all the right things, but if WWE wanted him unhindered, they probably wouldn’t have had him lose his belt, then get pinned by Triple H in front of his people. We’ll see how they try to convince us he’s still a threat to The Phenomenal One tonight.
With the Women’s division serving as lumberjacks for Charlotte Flair’s latest Women’s championship defense against Natalya, they stuff happening outside the ring might be more interesting than what’s going on between the ropes. We’ll get a head start on that when the new Riott Squad faction battles Carmella, Tamina and Lana in trios action tonight. Yep, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan will be working with Lana and Tamina. This should be something.
A common theme for this weekend’s show in Boston is getting as many people involved in the matches as possible. It’s the only logical explanation for Bobby Roode AND Dolph Ziggler getting the United States title shot at Baron Corbin. The Show Off stood tall last Tuesday. Reverse Momentum theory adherents will be watching to see what happens tonight. They may be the only ones.
On Sunday, Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin, The New Day and Rusev and Aiden English will try to take down tag champs The Usos. On this glorious Rusev Day, Rusev Day will go two-on-two with Jimmy and Jey. Happy Rusev Day!
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- In the last chapter of the Fashion Filessaga, The Ascension proved their best friend credentials by sacrificing themselves to save Tyler Breeze and Fandango from a torture porn death trap. Breezy and Dango plan to honor Konnor and Viktor’s sacrifice with a tribute.
- Who will the Bludgeon Brothers bludgeon, brothers (and sisters)?
- Getting the feeling the whole Mojo Rawley heel turn/Hype Bros feud may just be on the back burner until after Clash.
- Hurry back, Becky Lynch.
It’s the Clash of Champions ‘go home’ show!
What will you be looking for on SmackDown Live tonight?
After a weekend in Asia and the Middle East, WWE returns to Middle America. What up, Cleveland?
The Headliner(s)
Elias was just trying to play his song about hating Angelenos, when Braun Strowman starting throwing The Drifter around the ring. Strowman was just trying to do his job and give Elias the competition he’d asked General Manager Kurt Angle for.
Then Kane had to come along and ruin everything.
Now, The Big Red Monster takes another step toward fulfilling his destiny of being the latest “monster” to put over The Monster Among Men when they go one-on-one in another official match tonight.
Will this be the bout that finally breaks this feud out of the not-as-good-as-the-one-with-Big-Show rut? It doesn’t have a stipulation on it (yet), so it’s probably not ending here, so we better hope so.
The other open question is... Strowman’s run this year has been built on escalating buzz-worthy spots. After Braun running powerslammed Kane through the mat last month, what stunt will they pull to try and top that?
Just thinking about this makes me hope Show returns soon... or WWE thinks of something to do with their new giant besides pit him against their old ones.
The title scene
The venue says Universal champion Brock Lesnar will work next Monday’s show in Rhode Island, but he’s still not on the “Featured Superstars” list for the event page on WWE.com. Either way, you can safely not worry about this title for another week.
Which is something it feels like we can say about the Women's title,too. Alexa Bliss is around - she sat at commentary for Paige’s comeback last week - but the focus recently has been on the women who’ve arrived on Team Red over the last few months. The group were here before Asuka arrived from NXT have taken a backseat... including the champ.
If you’re at all like me, you got worked into thinking the tag team championship would be changing hands last Monday. The Bar is craftier than we give them credit for, however. Even after Angle restarted things to account for The Celtic Warrior’s love of ***-kicking, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins still weren’t prepared for Sheamus and Cesaro’s secret weapon - Samoa Joe. Which is fitting, since the third man in The Shield, Intercontinental champ Roman Reigns also hasn’t had an answer for Joe lately. At least the addition of the Samoans has added some possibilities to the GM’s go-to formula. As a result, we’re getting Roman vs. The Swiss Cyborg, Joe vs. Dean and Seth vs. Sheamus (they can’t all be fresh match-ups).
The Zo Train’s guest conductor Drew “Gabba” Gulak was supposed to have a match tonight which would determine if he’d face his mentor, Cruiserweight titleist Enzo Amore, for the belt. If a #1 contender contest happens, it won’t be against the guy Drew was supposed to face. But the where, when and who of a wrestling match is pretty low on the priority list. How ‘bout that Nia Jax?
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- His first post-awakening appearance on WWE television was more DELIGHTFUL than most of us imagined it could be. Now that The #GreatWar is upon us, what treats does Matt Hardy have in store for us? And will a battle with the Woken One be the thing that helps Bray Wyatt finally achieve his potential as a character? There’s so much potential in Hardy’s gimmick to not only entertain, but to refresh (or should we say “reincarnate”) other acts, we’re giddy with ANTICIPASHUN about what might be coming next.
- Her return to action was against Sasha Banks, but WWE.com’s official preview tonight is telling us to pay attention to what Paige has been doing with the undefeated Empress of Tomorrow. That seems like a collision that might need to wait so Absolution can built up (and maybe so Asuka can be ready for Ronda Rousey, or vice versa). Might be time to revisit Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville vs. Bayley and Mickie James.
- Doesn’t matter why we hate him at this point, the fact is Jason Jordan is so despised he can make a smark cheer Roman Reigns. Kurt’s whining, manipulative son is already a heel, but stay on the lookout for an official turn.
- Being pushed to the limit by a member of The Miztourage is a hell of a way to get over, but Finn Bálor will do whatever it takes. And then tweet about it.
T
onight’s show finds us at Full Sail, for the first episode from a taping which starts us on the road to TakeOver: Philadelphia. Here's what to expect.
Tonight's Show
The Headliner(s)
After his shocking win over Drew McIntyre at WarGames, Andrade “Cien” Almas deserves the chance to celebrate his NXT championship. And seeing how many were ready to write Almas off a busted prospect or perennial mid-card gatekeeper prior to her arrival, so does his associate Zelina Vega.
The pair should party while they can. An injury to McIntyre has taken the usual contractually obligated rematch off the table, but General Manager William Regal already announced a defense for El Ídolo on Royal Rumble weekend. And Vega will want to get the champ focused, because the eight men who will fight for a chance to take the belt from Almas include past rivals, seasoned veterans and up-and-coming heavyweights.
Lars Sullivan vs. Roderick Strong and Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black, but the official preview for this episode says we’ll be getting Killian Dain vs. Trent Seven and Kassius Ohno vs. Velveteen Dream tonight to determine the first two competitors in a Fatal 4Way to determine the #1 contender.
While we wonder if the battle between British and Irish heavyweights will produce our first NXT champ from the UK since Neville, there are also very interesting questions about the Ohno/Dream affair - and they go beyond just whether or not KO is still a contender and how Black acknowledging him has changed Velveteen (for a spolier-y discussion of those questions, head here).
That’s a lot to think about. But first... tranquilo. It’s time to celebrate.
The Title Scene
Doesn’t sound like new Women’s champ Ember Moon is going to get a chance to throw herself a party. Maybe next week. Although by then, we might already know who’s coming for her belt (our money is on Kairi Sane, Nikki Cross or even Peyton Royce, although she may need to go to the back of the line after losing to Sane last week).
They still have the tag team titles, but SAnitY probably doesn’t feel like celebrating. Eric Young took the pin in the WarGames match, and Adam Cole won’t be the only member of Undisputed ERA gunning for gold. Plus, Authors of Pain STILL haven’t gotten a straight-up rematch from Brooklyn!
By virtue of their tag loss last week, he’s avoided owing Mark Andrews a title shot. But the Welsh high-flier probably still wants a piece of United Kingdom champion Pete Dunne after The Bruiserweight gave him a post-match beating. And while his partner is in the hunt for the main belt, Dunne’s rival Tyler Bate has a case for a rematch after pinning the champ last week.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- They’re (respectively) Raw and SmackDown stars now, but Sonya Deville and Ruby Riott have some unfinished business. The Punk Rock Ragdoll won their last one-on-one encounter despite spending a lot of time in an ankle lock. There will be no reason for the MMA practicioner to release her holds in their no disqualifications showdown on this episode. Will it be enough for Deville to take out The Riott Squad’s leader and head to the main roster on a win streak?
- The rise of Street Profits continued with another win over Tino Sabatelli and Riddick Moss. Who will next be placed in Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford’s way?
- Can Johnny Gargano find his smile?
Last edited:
