klunderbunker
Welcome to My (And Not Sly's) House
Monday
Monday Night Raw
Date: June 13, 2016
Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: John Bradshaw Layfield, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole
It's the go home show for Money in the Bank so it's hard to say how much will actually happen this week. In this case we'll have the buildup to the actual ladder match but one of the participants will be crossing over to the main event as well as Dean Ambrose hosts a special Ambrose Asylum with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Let's get to it.
Opening sequence.
We have a moment of silence for Orlando.
Here's New Day to get things going. During their entrance we see a sign in the crowd reading The guy behind me can't see. That actually made me groan and furthers my loathing of most wrestling fans. They talk about the upcoming four way but stop to make fun of Kofi for wearing the new Steph Curry shoes, which apparently look old. Kofi: These shoes are hot on the streets! Woods: What streets? The streets of Greenwich, Connecticut? Kofi: Those are some mean streets. They promise to keep the titles but here are Enzo and Big Cass to interrupt.
Cass says they're going all in on Sunday and walking out with the titles. He implies that the unicorn horns are made for her pleasure and asks if Kofi is serious with the Jerry Seinfeld shoes. After New Day makes fun of the shoes as well, Cass wants to talk about Francesca. Woods: That's my girl. Cass: Well where was your girl last night? Apparently she was with Enzo, who had his lips all over her like Satchmo.
Woods gets very serious and says he's the only one who blows his girl. Kofi introduces the verbal joust of wits between New Day and Enzo/Big Cass but the Vaudevillains interrupt. English sings about how the new era but Anderson and Gallows cut them off. Gallows makes fun of the New Orleans Saints so Cass calls them S-A-W-F-T.
New Day/Enzo Amore/Big Cass vs. The Club/Vaudevillains
This is joined in progress with Kofi working over Gotch before bringing in Big E. for the Unicorn Stampede. Cass throws in some elbows before Enzo tags himself in so Cass can throw him at Gotch. English shoves Gotch out of the way of a high cross body, only to have Gotch run Amore over. It's time for Enzo to take a beating as all of the villains take a shot at him. English gets kicked out to the floor though and a kick to the chest is enough for the hot tag off to Cass as everything breaks down. Kofi dives on everyone and we take a break.
Back with Big E. in trouble but countering a sunset flip and dropping Gotch with an elbow to the jaw. Gallows gets in a clothesline though and Big E. is in trouble again. The Vaudevillains chop away before it's off to Karl for a kick to the face in the corner. Big E. gets in a shot to the ribs though and it's off to Kofi as things speed up again. A high cross body gets two on Anderson as Enzo and Gotch are sent out to the floor. English does the same to Cass, only to have Big E. LAUNCH him with a belly to belly. Gallows comes in off a blind tag and the Magic Killer puts Kingston away at 13:26.
We look back at the debut of the Shield at Survivor Series 2012 to help set up the Ambrose Asylum later tonight.
Bob Backlund/Darren Young segment from Smackdown with Backlund telling him to save money, including only having one pair of clothes.
Shane and Stephanie are bickering over who should run Raw and/or Smackdown when Kane comes in to offer his services. He has a resume and a letter of recommendation from Undertaker so Stephanie lets Shane handle this one.
Zack Ryder is laughing with some random people about Apollo Crews knocking Sheamus down on Smackdown. Sheamus comes in and says he'll beat Ryder up tonight, just like he'll do to Crews on Sunday. Ryder says hi to Crews.....who isn't there, allowing Ryder to run away like any former United States and Intercontinental Champion would do.
Clip of Shield's face turn.
The Shining Stars brag about Puerto Rico's water. How is this supposed to make money?
Titus O'Neil comes out for a match but Rusev jumps him from behind and beats him down on the stage. The referees have to come out and break the Accolade.
Clip of Shield breaking up. So to recap: they arrived, they turned face, and they split with nothing in between.
It's time for the Ambrose Asylum with special guests Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Before they come out though, Ambrose says he feels like he's just woken up from a coma because this Sunday feels like Wrestlemania. There are two major matches and we're focusing on one of them here. Therefore, let's bring out his first guest, the scum of the Earth, Seth Rollins.
Reigns is brought out as well and we get the big visual of the three of them standing there. Ambrose: This is great huh? He asks Rollins about the knee and Rollins is stunned that Ambrose hasn't watched his special on the WWE Network (he should because it's awesome). Dean thinks Seth's face must be hurt because it's killing him. Reigns on the other hand had a great time on Bourbon Street last night.
Dean wants Rollins to calm down and stop being a party pooper. After the party pooper chant dies off, Rollins lists off some fun moments they've had like Wrestlemania XXX, flying in on a helicopter to fight Undertaker and HELL NO in London and finding Dean unconscious next to a dumpster in.....what town was that? Seth brings up the matches against Evolution and we get a BLUETISTA chant.
Rollins gets to the Wrestlemania XXXI cash-in and violence starts boiling over. Dean breaks it up and says Reigns beat Ambrose for that title in the first place. Yeah Reigns accomplished a lot in Rollins' absence but he's never beaten Seth one on one. Rollins rants about how he's going to get the title back on his own but Dean laughs the idea off. Reigns actually says Rollins is right because it's going to be one on one Sunday and then they'll call him the guy because he beat Seth. Dean asks the fans which one it's going to be but offers a third option: he wins the Money in the Bank contract and cashes in on either of them.
The music plays and the brawl is on with Reigns throwing Dean away so he can beat Seth up himself. That earns Seth a Superman Punch but Dean gives Reigns Dirty Deeds because that's what friends do to each other. Ambrose looks up at the briefcase and the fans seem to like the idea.
Back from a break and Stephanie makes Ambrose vs. Jericho for the main event. Over the weekend I made a comment about how Smackdown is worthless because the matches mean nothing and there's a good chance that they'll just repeat a match on Monday anyway and I had a feeling it would be this one because it's the one that didn't need to happen again.
Paige vs. Charlotte
Natalya and Becky Lynch are at ringside. Non-title and the second match of the show starts an hour and twenty one minutes in. Paige runs her over with a knee to start but gets small packaged for two. Charlotte yells at Natalya and walks into the Rampaige for the pin at 2:31. I'm not even going to bother getting mad about this.
Cesaro is about to talk about Money in the Bank when Sami Zayn comes in to give the real answers. Cesaro is ticked off and says Sami is acting like a child but Sami says Cesaro can't talk down to him like this. Apparently they're in the same match tonight so Cesaro says he'll see him out there.
Charlotte yells at Dana for failing and implies that Dana is her assistant. Dana is of course mad but Charlotte says her payment is to be part of Charlotte's legacy.
Sheamus vs. Zack Ryder
This is the second match in a row with no entrances, likely for the sake of more backstage stuff. Sheamus attacks early to start but gets caught by a quick dropkick and the Broski Boot. The Elbro gets two but the Rough Ryder is easily blocked. The Brogue Kick puts Ryder away at 1:53.
Sheamus beats him up even more until Crews runs out for the save.
We get a video of Kane winning Money in the Bank in 2010 and cashing in the same night.
Kevin Owens interrupts Kane and Shane's talk but he wants to talk to Stephanie. Apparently Alberto Del Rio just arrived twenty minutes ago and should be taken out of the Money in the Bank match as a punishment. Del Rio, already in his gear, comes in to blame Owens for calling airport security to get him delayed for five hours. They start yelling in Spanish and French until Kane cuts them off with an idea. How about a tag match against the Lucha Dragons with the winners getting the spot in the ladder match? Shane likes the idea and makes the match.
Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro
Feeling out process to start with Cesaro nipping up out of a wristlock but getting armdragged right back down. A nice tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Sami for and Cesaro sends him into the post as we take a break. Back with Cesaro hitting a corner uppercut and stomping on Sami's chest for two. A quick Michinoku Driver gets two for Sami but he takes too long going to the top, allowing Cesaro to power through the apron superplex for another near fall. Back up and the Blue Thunder Bomb gets two, followed by the sunset bomb for.....actually for three on Cesaro at 8:06.
It's time for the contract signing between John Cena and AJ Styles as moderated by Michael Cole. Cena hypes up Money in the Bank as a show bigger than Wrestlemania with a match fifteen years in the making. For years, the WWE bosses had told AJ Styles that he didn't belong here. That's nonsense because from PWG to New Japan to Ring of Honor, AJ Styles has been the best everywhere he's gone. Sidebar: Is there any real reason why they won't say TNA? Ring of Honor is arguably bigger and New Japan is definitely bigger but TNA isn't allowed? Unless there's some legal reason, I see no logical justification for not saying it.
Anyway Cena tells Cole to leave because this is going to get rowdy. AJ comes out and says he's turned Cena's world upside down. Cena agrees that it's been done but there's something up his sleeve. There are two contracts here, one of which says John Cena vs. AJ Styles and the other which says John Cena vs. AJ Styles w/The Club. Cena would love to sign the first one so we can have one heck of a fight on Sunday but if they sign the second one, AJ will win on Sunday and then start complaining the very next night when he doesn't get the same respect.
AJ thinks Cena is so confident because of all the things he's won but Styles wants to know what would have happened if AJ had been here fifteen years ago. My guess is not much because he still would have been a nothing tag guy but I get his point. AJ says he would have been the one on the covers of magazines and in all the movies. Cena cuts him off and says he's heard this before and AJ doesn't get it because he has the chance to prove it on Sunday.
AJ can sign one contract and prove how great he is or sign the other one and be put on a bullet train back to Japan because that's where he left his balls. AJ grabs a pen and looks at the contracts before signing the one on one version. Styles says after Sunday, Cena's time is up. As usual, this was AWESOME stuff.
We see Randy Orton winning Money in the Bank in 2013 and cashing in on Daniel Bryan at Summerslam.
Kevin Owens/Alberto Del Rio vs. Lucha Dragons
The winners are in Money in the Bank. Del Rio beats on Kalisto to start before it's off to Owens who isn't happy with the way Alberto is acting, only to calm down at the threat of a DQ. Owens teases walking out but comes back in when Alberto is rolled up for two. Kevin and Alberto get in a shoving match and get dropkicked to the floor, setting up a double dive from the Dragons as we take a break.
Back with Kalisto eating a clothesline but Del Rio won't tag out. Owens and Alberto get in another argument, allowing Kalisto to hit a quick Salida Del Sol to send Del Rio outside. Kevin throws his partner back in and it's off to Sin Cara for the Swanton, only to have Owens breaks it up at two. The Pop Up Powerbomb ends Cara at 8:15.
Del Rio superkicks Owens post match.
Back from a break with Owens telling Stephanie that Sami Zayn is going to be on commentary for the main event. Stephanie is furious because that's something so horrible so she makes Owens a commentator as well. Del Rio comes in and says he wants to be out there too so Stephanie makes him guest timekeeper.
Stephanie yells at Shane about his decisions so Shane makes Cesaro guest ring announcer. On another note, Kane isn't getting the job running Smackdown. Kane comes in and asks if this is about electrocuting Shane's testicles with a car batters. Shane tells Stephanie they'll keep running Raw but he'll run Smackdown on his own. This is getting old in a hurry and it's only going to get worse.
Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose
All of the other Money in the Bank participants are at ringside. Dean chops him down to start and scores with a quick suplex. Jericho is sent to the floor for a suicide dive before Dean knocks Owens' headset off. Back in and Dean flips out of a Walls attempt but eats an enziguri. The corner dropkick puts Dean on the floor and it's time for the announcers, timekeeper and ring announcer to stare at each other.
We come back from a break with Dean fighting out of a chinlock. Some clotheslines stun Jericho but he counters the top rope standing elbow drop into the Walls. Owens: I taught him that! Dean grabs the ropes but can't get Dirty Deeds. Instead Jericho takes him down for two off the Lionsault, only to have Dean get up top for the elbow.
Byron asks how Kevin would handle not winning Sunday. Owens: I would handle it the same way: I would come out here and slap your face. Dean tries to put on the Walls but settles for a catapult out to the apron. Jericho runs to the top but dives into a kick, only to have the Codebreaker countered into Dirty Deeds for the pin at 11:58.
Everyone brawls after the match with Owens bringing in a ladder, only to have Sami flip dive off the top onto the pile of people. Jericho wasn't in that group though and goes up the ladder to pull down the briefcase to end the show.
Results
The Club/Vaudevillains b. New Day/Enzo Amore/Big Cass Magic Killer to Kingston
Paige b. Charlotte Rampaige
Sheamus b. Zack Ryder Brogue Kick
Sami Zayn b. Cesaro Sunset Bomb
Kevin Owens/Alberto Del Rio b. Lucha Dragons Pop Up Powerbomb to Cara
Dean Ambrose b. Chris Jericho Dirty Deeds
Tuesday
Impact Wrestling
Date: June 14, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: D'Angelo Dinero, Josh Matthews
It's past Slammiversary and we have a new World Champion as Lashley took the title from Drew Galloway via knockout. Tonight is a special show though as we have four title matches with the World, King of the Mountain, Tag Team and X-Division Titles all on the line. Let's get to it.
We open with.....the feed screwing up as it's a bunch of looping commercials.
Eighteen minutes in and we see Eli Drake coming out to face Jeff Hardy for the King of the Mountain Title. And never mind as we're back to the commercial loop.
Apparently that match ran about two minutes as Lashley comes out to the ring for a chat at 9:21. Never mind again as the loop is back on at 9:22. At 9:23 Lashley is back to say that anything can happen on live TV. Oh and the audio is screwed up and out of sync. He talks about how Drew Galloway lost the title and it's back to the loop at 9:25.
At 9:32 (with a LIVE graphic in the corner), Ethan Carter III is in the back talking to Drew Galloway about how tough his schedule is and we're back on the commercials in about twenty seconds.
It's 9:45 and the only word from anyone is that Pop TV is having technical issues. Still nothing on screen or anything as the only information is coming from Twitter.
10:00 and no changes.
At 10:14 we get a crawling message saying the show will be airing in its entirety. This message airs once and doesn't say what time the show will be starting. The graphic starts running on a loop a few minutes later and is gone by 10:20.
10:40 and the graphic is still gone with no updates in sight.
The show starts airing at 10:50 with no announcement whatsoever. It just started airing, complete with the crawler still airing.
We open with a package from Slammiversary with the footage turning to stills before the big moments actually happen.
Josh Matthews: Tonight LIVE on Impact, witness the fallout from Slammiversary.
Lashley comes out to open the show, meaning the very brief clips we saw earlier were out of order. Last week Lashley promised to win the title and here he is with the belt. Everyone else has run out the building to get away from him but here's Ethan Carter III to interrupt. Lashley says Carter is a joke and doesn't want this fight. After Lashley beats him, there's no one left.
Cue Drew Galloway to interrupt but Lashley calls him a loser. Drew tells him to shut up but Lashley thinks he looks like garbage. Lashley says he's flat out better than Drew and everyone knows it, including EC3. Drew doesn't care because he's invoking his rematch clause right here tonight.
Yesterday, Jeff Hardy challenged Eli Drake for the King of the Mountain Title.
King of the Mountain Title: Eli Drake vs. Jeff Hardy
Drake is defending. Jeff starts fast and sends Eli out to the floor for a baseball slide, only to eat a big clothesline. Hardy takes forever to get back in and eats a swinging neckbreaker for two before we hit the chinlock. A powerslam out of the corner gets two for Eli but Jeff comes back with a quick Whisper in the Wind. Eli dives into a powerbomb but grabs a second powerslam for two. Blunt Force Trauma is countered into the Twist of Fate followed by the Swanton, only to have Matt Hardy run in and bite Earl Hebner's hands and face. Jeff goes after him for the DQ at 7:37.
Ethan and Drew are in the back with Carter saying Drew worked himself too hard with his schedule as champion. Drew knows how to face Lashley and after he gets the belt back, Ethan is getting a title shot.
Jeff is still in the ring and says he's sore after Sunday but he did what he had to do to get rid of his brother (Brother Moore. If I can be Brother Nero, he can be Brother Moore). Apparently that wasn't enough though because Matt is still crazy. Matt pops up above the video screen to say this is where Broken Matt Hardy was born. This was where Jeff Hardy tried to end his career with no remorse for Matt, Reby or Maxill.
Matt wants Jeff to be DELETED but Jeff thinks Matt would be better off cutting a six minute promo in a hotel than this bull. Apparently Jeff has to come up and fight him or they'll fight again next week. Jeff comes towards the stage and grabs a table but Matt says they should fight with hon-uh (his way to say honor). That's fine with Jeff who climbs the steps and starts fighting, only to have Reby sneak up and spray him with a fire extinguisher. Matt slides Jeff down the railing and through a table.
After a break, Matt wants to face Jeff next week in Six Sides of Steel. Matt does this weird biting thing as he talks.
X-Division Title: Eddie Edwards vs. Trevor Lee
Lee is challenging and his manager Shane Helms jumps Eddie from behind to give Trevor an early advantage. Trevor starts firing off some right hands but charges into a boot in the corner. Eddie can't hit his Backpack Stunner and another Helms distraction lets Lee get in a jumping knee to the jaw for two. Eddie dives through the ropes to take out Shane before a running knee to the chest (The Boston Knee Party. Seriously.) takes out Lee for the pin to retain at 4:00.
Video on the Hall of Fame.
The BroMans spy on Raquel as a way to plug a Big Brother show.
We see a clip of Ethan and Lashley talking during the break, despite the fact that this version is being aired with no breaks due to the technical issues. Ethan says he doesn't care who the champion is because he's coming for the title. That sounds fine with Lashley because he'd love to take Ethan out.
Dixie Carter is in the ring to announce the new Hall of Famer as the roster is on the stage. After a quick speech about what this means, the newest inductee is announced as Gail Kim, which was pretty easily guessed months ago. Gail comes to the ring in tears and we go to a package on her, including the fact that she's a five time Knockouts Champion with 232 days as champion. I have no idea where they got that number from as according to Wikipedia, her last reign alone was 232 days and she's held it for over 700 days combined. They can't even get their HALL OF FAME packages right?
Dixie praises Gail for creating the greatest female divisions in the world and thinks she'll go down as the greatest in the world. The official induction is at Bound For Glory. Gail talks about how great her career has been because of this company and how important it's been to her. She thanks everyone she's ever worked with and is so grateful to be here.
Decay says they feel the presence of someone's darkness.
We see Marti Bell costing Jade the Knockouts Title on Sunday.
Marti rants about how screwed up the Dollhouse was but through it all, she and Jade stood by each other. Once Jade became champion though, that title was her new best friend. Cue Jade for a brawl.
Tag Team Titles: Decay vs. BroMans vs. Mahabali Shera/Grado vs. Tribunal
Decay is defending and this is one fall to a finish. You would think Shera and Grado losing to the Tribunal would prevent them from getting a title shot immediately but things rarely go as they should around here. Baron Dax and Shera get things going and work on a wristlock each. It's off to Robbie vs. Abyss with the latter easily destroying E. until Baraka comes in to steal a two count. A chinlock keeps Robbie down but he comes back with a Boom Drop and the tag off to Jesse as house is cleaned.
Jesse springboards in to dropkick Abyss to the floor before a quick BroDown sets up the Adonis Lock on Steve. Abyss makes the save though and chokeslams Jesse, only to have Shera come off the top to take Abyss down. Everything breaks down with Grado working on Steve in the ring until Snow shoves Grado off the top. Abyss chokeslams Steve onto Grado for the pin to retain at 6:46.
Maria tells Allie to leave her and Mike Bennett alone. She is FURIOUS that Gail is going into the Hall of Fame because no one appreciates them. Mike is ready to leave right now but Maria says they need to go to the ring and get everything they want.
Jeff Hardy accepts Matt's challenge for next week.
Here are Mike (in a shirt covered in pineapples) and Maria with something to say. Mike says TNA needs a hero like him but the people have rejected him. Maria screeches that the loss on Sunday was a conspiracy from TNA management and they want it stripped from the record books.
They demand Dixie get out here right now but get Billy Corgan instead. Mike says he's disappointed so here's Dixie to back Billy up. Maria yells at her a lot but Dixie reminds her that we are LIVE tonight. Dixie says there's too much talking and not enough wrestling here, especially from Maria who hasn't had a single one on one match yet. If Maria has issues she should set up a meeting about it but Maria says the finger of blame should be pointed at Dixie because she's the problem.
Maria thinks she could run this place better than Dixie and Billy must agree with her. She and Mike should be in the Hall of Fame but Dixie calls her self absorbed and thinks Maria shouldn't be running the Knockouts division. Maria goes on and on about how awesome she is and how she's a self made woman, only to have Dixie slap her in the face. Lame slap of course but did you expect anything else?
TNA World Title: Drew Galloway vs. Lashley
Drew, with heavily taped ribs, is challenging and Ethan Carter III is on commentary. They immediately fight on the floor with Drew taking over early and making sure to slide back in to break up the count. Lashley goes after the ribs and steps on the taped up part before dropping him on the apron with a side slam. They get inside for the first time with Lashley throwing Drew over the top and down to the floor for a big crash. Lashley is in full control but stops to stare at Ethan, allowing Drew to come back with some chops.
Back in and Lashley misses the spear and gets caught in something like a Kimura. Lashley escapes and grabs a Crossface, only to have Drew reverse into a Tombstone but Lashley reverses that as well, only to get caught in a piledriver for two. Drew's super Celtic Cross gets two but the Claymore takes out the referee. Lashley hits a pair of spears and grabs a chair, only to have Ethan take the chair away. Carter hits Drew by mistake (nice Summerslam 1997 ending) and Lashley side chokes Drew for the knockout win at 10:18.
Results
Jeff Hardy b. Eli Drake via DQ when Matt Hardy interfered
Eddie Edwards b. Trevor Lee Boston Knee Party
Decay b. BroMans, Tribunal and Mahabali Shera/Grado Abyss chokeslammed Steve onto Grado
Lashley b. Drew Galloway Side Choke
Wednesday
NXT
Date: June 15, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
It's the week after Takeover and possibly the last taping cycle before the Brand Split really screws things up. Not a lot of major changes took place last week aside from new Tag Team Champions as Revival took the belts back from American Alpha in a pretty surprising upset. Next up is Brooklyn in August so let's get to it.
We get a We Stand With Orlando graphic.
Long recap of Takeover, running the better part of four minutes.
We'll be hearing from Finn Balor and Samoa Joe later tonight.
Authors of Pain vs. ???/???
The Authors of Pain are the monsters who attacked American Alpha last week and have Paul Ellering (who somehow looks younger than he did when he first came to the WWF in 1992) in their corner. The announcers have no names for the jobbers, who are run over at the bell to start. To be fair they don't have individual names for the Authors either with one of them being referred to as the Tattooed One.
Some hard knee strikes have the first jobber in trouble before it's off to the other one for more of the same. The non-tattooed Author throws one jobber into the other and it's a side slam/big boot combo for one and a running clothesline/Russian legsweep combo to the second for the pin at 1:36. Total dominance, though names for the Authors would be helpful, as well as a better finisher.
Andrade Cien Almas (speaking of needing a better name) is happy with his win last week when Tye Dillinger comes in to interrupt. Dillinger: Now listen up you six. A rematch is requested and seems to be granted.
Ellering is asked what he and the Authors are doing here but he'll only say in due time.
Carmella vs. Tessa Blanchard
Carmella grabs a quick rollup for two to start and a dropkick makes things even worse for Tessa. Blanchard drops her with a forearm and asks how the fans are doin. A legsweep doesn't work though as Carmella dances away, only to get caught in an abdominal stretch. Carmella just blasts her with a right hand to the jaw, followed by a superkick to set up the Bronco Buster. A Downward Spiral into the Code of Silence (that leg crossface) is enough to put Tessa away at 2:47.
After last week's cage match, Samoa Joe says he destroyed his brother and hunted a demon around the world to get his title. This cage match ended all the questions and officially started the reign of Joe. No one can take it from him.
Blake and Murphy say there were no problems until Murphy started causing the issues. The blame seems to go towards Alexa Bliss but they agree to get their Tag Team Titles back.
TM61 vs. Blake and Murphy
It's now TM Six One instead of TM Sixty One. In case it's gone over your head (which was the case with most people, including me), the 61 is the international calling code for Australia. The fans want to know where Alexa is. Blake and Thorn start things off with Shane nipping up out of a wristlock before it's off to Miller for a shot to the face. A slingshot hilo gets two for Thorn and a standing moonsault/jumping fist drop combo gets the same on Murphy. TM61 is moving very quickly here and even better than they were in their debut.
Murphy comes back with a clothesline, which Graves thinks could have taken out Lord Humongous. We hit the chinlock on Thorn for a bit before it's time for the heel miscommunication as Blake clotheslines Murphy by mistake, which allows the hot tag off to Miller as everything breaks down. Murphy is sent outside and Thunder Valley (a double gorilla press slam) puts Blake away at 5:37.
Revival said they told you so and now have their titles back. Dawson: Clink me Jack! That means bang the titles together.
The announcers talk about Bobby Roode debuting in the UK over the weekend.
We look at Bayley injuring her knee against Nia Jax.
Bayley has a doctor's appointment next week and if she's cleared there, she can get back in the ring.
Tye Dillinger vs. Andrade Cien Almas
Takeover rematch and Dillinger is still crazy over. The fans start the dueling chants with something about one hundred and then a much louder PERFECT TEN response. Almas flips over the top rope to start and a springboard cross body sends Tye outside. Back in and Tye takes over, only to run into a dropkick to send him outside again so Almas can do his pose in the ropes as we take a break.
Back with Almas getting two off a sunset flip and slapping on an armbar. Tye gets free and they run the ropes, only to have Almas dropkick Dillinger as he tries to drop down. Dillinger gets one off a backbreaker and some crossface shots to the face have Almas in more trouble. Back up and Almas hits some forearms to the face and a spinwheel kick, followed by a dive over the top to take Ty out again. A Rey Mysterio sitout bulldog sets up the double running knees in the corner to give Almas the pin at 10:48.
Here's Finn Balor to address the crowd but first he has to soak up a THANK YOU FINN chant. That switches to a PLEASE DON'T GO before Finn starts talking about watching NXT in Ireland and wanting to be a part of that. He became a part of NXT but it became a part of him as well. Finn was NXT Champion for 292 days (YOU DESERVE IT) and he went to wars with Neville, Tyler Breeze, Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe. At the end of it though, he's not the champion. Now the question is what's next for him. Fans: BALOR CLUB! Finn: Too sweet!
Balor asks what's next for him again.....and here's Shinsuke Nakamura. They shake hands and the fans instantly think this is awesome. Nakamura says when he was in Japan, he watched Balor become the icon of NXT but now he's no longer champion. Balor is still an icon though and if Nakamura wants to be champion, he has to beat the icon. The fans lose their minds over that and start the MATCH OF THE YEAR chant. Balor says that's the answer to what's next for him so the match is on at some point in the future.
Results
Authors of Pain b. ???/??? Russian legsweep/clothesline combination
Carmella b. Tessa Blanchard Code of Silence
TM61 b. Blake and Murphy Thunder Valley to Blake
Andrade Cien Almas b. Tye Dillinger Double running knees in the corner
Monday Night Raw
Date: June 13, 2016
Location: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Commentators: John Bradshaw Layfield, Byron Saxton, Michael Cole
It's the go home show for Money in the Bank so it's hard to say how much will actually happen this week. In this case we'll have the buildup to the actual ladder match but one of the participants will be crossing over to the main event as well as Dean Ambrose hosts a special Ambrose Asylum with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Let's get to it.
Opening sequence.
We have a moment of silence for Orlando.
Here's New Day to get things going. During their entrance we see a sign in the crowd reading The guy behind me can't see. That actually made me groan and furthers my loathing of most wrestling fans. They talk about the upcoming four way but stop to make fun of Kofi for wearing the new Steph Curry shoes, which apparently look old. Kofi: These shoes are hot on the streets! Woods: What streets? The streets of Greenwich, Connecticut? Kofi: Those are some mean streets. They promise to keep the titles but here are Enzo and Big Cass to interrupt.
Cass says they're going all in on Sunday and walking out with the titles. He implies that the unicorn horns are made for her pleasure and asks if Kofi is serious with the Jerry Seinfeld shoes. After New Day makes fun of the shoes as well, Cass wants to talk about Francesca. Woods: That's my girl. Cass: Well where was your girl last night? Apparently she was with Enzo, who had his lips all over her like Satchmo.
Woods gets very serious and says he's the only one who blows his girl. Kofi introduces the verbal joust of wits between New Day and Enzo/Big Cass but the Vaudevillains interrupt. English sings about how the new era but Anderson and Gallows cut them off. Gallows makes fun of the New Orleans Saints so Cass calls them S-A-W-F-T.
New Day/Enzo Amore/Big Cass vs. The Club/Vaudevillains
This is joined in progress with Kofi working over Gotch before bringing in Big E. for the Unicorn Stampede. Cass throws in some elbows before Enzo tags himself in so Cass can throw him at Gotch. English shoves Gotch out of the way of a high cross body, only to have Gotch run Amore over. It's time for Enzo to take a beating as all of the villains take a shot at him. English gets kicked out to the floor though and a kick to the chest is enough for the hot tag off to Cass as everything breaks down. Kofi dives on everyone and we take a break.
Back with Big E. in trouble but countering a sunset flip and dropping Gotch with an elbow to the jaw. Gallows gets in a clothesline though and Big E. is in trouble again. The Vaudevillains chop away before it's off to Karl for a kick to the face in the corner. Big E. gets in a shot to the ribs though and it's off to Kofi as things speed up again. A high cross body gets two on Anderson as Enzo and Gotch are sent out to the floor. English does the same to Cass, only to have Big E. LAUNCH him with a belly to belly. Gallows comes in off a blind tag and the Magic Killer puts Kingston away at 13:26.
We look back at the debut of the Shield at Survivor Series 2012 to help set up the Ambrose Asylum later tonight.
Bob Backlund/Darren Young segment from Smackdown with Backlund telling him to save money, including only having one pair of clothes.
Shane and Stephanie are bickering over who should run Raw and/or Smackdown when Kane comes in to offer his services. He has a resume and a letter of recommendation from Undertaker so Stephanie lets Shane handle this one.
Zack Ryder is laughing with some random people about Apollo Crews knocking Sheamus down on Smackdown. Sheamus comes in and says he'll beat Ryder up tonight, just like he'll do to Crews on Sunday. Ryder says hi to Crews.....who isn't there, allowing Ryder to run away like any former United States and Intercontinental Champion would do.
Clip of Shield's face turn.
The Shining Stars brag about Puerto Rico's water. How is this supposed to make money?
Titus O'Neil comes out for a match but Rusev jumps him from behind and beats him down on the stage. The referees have to come out and break the Accolade.
Clip of Shield breaking up. So to recap: they arrived, they turned face, and they split with nothing in between.
It's time for the Ambrose Asylum with special guests Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Before they come out though, Ambrose says he feels like he's just woken up from a coma because this Sunday feels like Wrestlemania. There are two major matches and we're focusing on one of them here. Therefore, let's bring out his first guest, the scum of the Earth, Seth Rollins.
Reigns is brought out as well and we get the big visual of the three of them standing there. Ambrose: This is great huh? He asks Rollins about the knee and Rollins is stunned that Ambrose hasn't watched his special on the WWE Network (he should because it's awesome). Dean thinks Seth's face must be hurt because it's killing him. Reigns on the other hand had a great time on Bourbon Street last night.
Dean wants Rollins to calm down and stop being a party pooper. After the party pooper chant dies off, Rollins lists off some fun moments they've had like Wrestlemania XXX, flying in on a helicopter to fight Undertaker and HELL NO in London and finding Dean unconscious next to a dumpster in.....what town was that? Seth brings up the matches against Evolution and we get a BLUETISTA chant.
Rollins gets to the Wrestlemania XXXI cash-in and violence starts boiling over. Dean breaks it up and says Reigns beat Ambrose for that title in the first place. Yeah Reigns accomplished a lot in Rollins' absence but he's never beaten Seth one on one. Rollins rants about how he's going to get the title back on his own but Dean laughs the idea off. Reigns actually says Rollins is right because it's going to be one on one Sunday and then they'll call him the guy because he beat Seth. Dean asks the fans which one it's going to be but offers a third option: he wins the Money in the Bank contract and cashes in on either of them.
The music plays and the brawl is on with Reigns throwing Dean away so he can beat Seth up himself. That earns Seth a Superman Punch but Dean gives Reigns Dirty Deeds because that's what friends do to each other. Ambrose looks up at the briefcase and the fans seem to like the idea.
Back from a break and Stephanie makes Ambrose vs. Jericho for the main event. Over the weekend I made a comment about how Smackdown is worthless because the matches mean nothing and there's a good chance that they'll just repeat a match on Monday anyway and I had a feeling it would be this one because it's the one that didn't need to happen again.
Paige vs. Charlotte
Natalya and Becky Lynch are at ringside. Non-title and the second match of the show starts an hour and twenty one minutes in. Paige runs her over with a knee to start but gets small packaged for two. Charlotte yells at Natalya and walks into the Rampaige for the pin at 2:31. I'm not even going to bother getting mad about this.
Cesaro is about to talk about Money in the Bank when Sami Zayn comes in to give the real answers. Cesaro is ticked off and says Sami is acting like a child but Sami says Cesaro can't talk down to him like this. Apparently they're in the same match tonight so Cesaro says he'll see him out there.
Charlotte yells at Dana for failing and implies that Dana is her assistant. Dana is of course mad but Charlotte says her payment is to be part of Charlotte's legacy.
Sheamus vs. Zack Ryder
This is the second match in a row with no entrances, likely for the sake of more backstage stuff. Sheamus attacks early to start but gets caught by a quick dropkick and the Broski Boot. The Elbro gets two but the Rough Ryder is easily blocked. The Brogue Kick puts Ryder away at 1:53.
Sheamus beats him up even more until Crews runs out for the save.
We get a video of Kane winning Money in the Bank in 2010 and cashing in the same night.
Kevin Owens interrupts Kane and Shane's talk but he wants to talk to Stephanie. Apparently Alberto Del Rio just arrived twenty minutes ago and should be taken out of the Money in the Bank match as a punishment. Del Rio, already in his gear, comes in to blame Owens for calling airport security to get him delayed for five hours. They start yelling in Spanish and French until Kane cuts them off with an idea. How about a tag match against the Lucha Dragons with the winners getting the spot in the ladder match? Shane likes the idea and makes the match.
Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro
Feeling out process to start with Cesaro nipping up out of a wristlock but getting armdragged right back down. A nice tilt-a-whirl backbreaker plants Sami for and Cesaro sends him into the post as we take a break. Back with Cesaro hitting a corner uppercut and stomping on Sami's chest for two. A quick Michinoku Driver gets two for Sami but he takes too long going to the top, allowing Cesaro to power through the apron superplex for another near fall. Back up and the Blue Thunder Bomb gets two, followed by the sunset bomb for.....actually for three on Cesaro at 8:06.
It's time for the contract signing between John Cena and AJ Styles as moderated by Michael Cole. Cena hypes up Money in the Bank as a show bigger than Wrestlemania with a match fifteen years in the making. For years, the WWE bosses had told AJ Styles that he didn't belong here. That's nonsense because from PWG to New Japan to Ring of Honor, AJ Styles has been the best everywhere he's gone. Sidebar: Is there any real reason why they won't say TNA? Ring of Honor is arguably bigger and New Japan is definitely bigger but TNA isn't allowed? Unless there's some legal reason, I see no logical justification for not saying it.
Anyway Cena tells Cole to leave because this is going to get rowdy. AJ comes out and says he's turned Cena's world upside down. Cena agrees that it's been done but there's something up his sleeve. There are two contracts here, one of which says John Cena vs. AJ Styles and the other which says John Cena vs. AJ Styles w/The Club. Cena would love to sign the first one so we can have one heck of a fight on Sunday but if they sign the second one, AJ will win on Sunday and then start complaining the very next night when he doesn't get the same respect.
AJ thinks Cena is so confident because of all the things he's won but Styles wants to know what would have happened if AJ had been here fifteen years ago. My guess is not much because he still would have been a nothing tag guy but I get his point. AJ says he would have been the one on the covers of magazines and in all the movies. Cena cuts him off and says he's heard this before and AJ doesn't get it because he has the chance to prove it on Sunday.
AJ can sign one contract and prove how great he is or sign the other one and be put on a bullet train back to Japan because that's where he left his balls. AJ grabs a pen and looks at the contracts before signing the one on one version. Styles says after Sunday, Cena's time is up. As usual, this was AWESOME stuff.
We see Randy Orton winning Money in the Bank in 2013 and cashing in on Daniel Bryan at Summerslam.
Kevin Owens/Alberto Del Rio vs. Lucha Dragons
The winners are in Money in the Bank. Del Rio beats on Kalisto to start before it's off to Owens who isn't happy with the way Alberto is acting, only to calm down at the threat of a DQ. Owens teases walking out but comes back in when Alberto is rolled up for two. Kevin and Alberto get in a shoving match and get dropkicked to the floor, setting up a double dive from the Dragons as we take a break.
Back with Kalisto eating a clothesline but Del Rio won't tag out. Owens and Alberto get in another argument, allowing Kalisto to hit a quick Salida Del Sol to send Del Rio outside. Kevin throws his partner back in and it's off to Sin Cara for the Swanton, only to have Owens breaks it up at two. The Pop Up Powerbomb ends Cara at 8:15.
Del Rio superkicks Owens post match.
Back from a break with Owens telling Stephanie that Sami Zayn is going to be on commentary for the main event. Stephanie is furious because that's something so horrible so she makes Owens a commentator as well. Del Rio comes in and says he wants to be out there too so Stephanie makes him guest timekeeper.
Stephanie yells at Shane about his decisions so Shane makes Cesaro guest ring announcer. On another note, Kane isn't getting the job running Smackdown. Kane comes in and asks if this is about electrocuting Shane's testicles with a car batters. Shane tells Stephanie they'll keep running Raw but he'll run Smackdown on his own. This is getting old in a hurry and it's only going to get worse.
Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose
All of the other Money in the Bank participants are at ringside. Dean chops him down to start and scores with a quick suplex. Jericho is sent to the floor for a suicide dive before Dean knocks Owens' headset off. Back in and Dean flips out of a Walls attempt but eats an enziguri. The corner dropkick puts Dean on the floor and it's time for the announcers, timekeeper and ring announcer to stare at each other.
We come back from a break with Dean fighting out of a chinlock. Some clotheslines stun Jericho but he counters the top rope standing elbow drop into the Walls. Owens: I taught him that! Dean grabs the ropes but can't get Dirty Deeds. Instead Jericho takes him down for two off the Lionsault, only to have Dean get up top for the elbow.
Byron asks how Kevin would handle not winning Sunday. Owens: I would handle it the same way: I would come out here and slap your face. Dean tries to put on the Walls but settles for a catapult out to the apron. Jericho runs to the top but dives into a kick, only to have the Codebreaker countered into Dirty Deeds for the pin at 11:58.
Everyone brawls after the match with Owens bringing in a ladder, only to have Sami flip dive off the top onto the pile of people. Jericho wasn't in that group though and goes up the ladder to pull down the briefcase to end the show.
Results
The Club/Vaudevillains b. New Day/Enzo Amore/Big Cass Magic Killer to Kingston
Paige b. Charlotte Rampaige
Sheamus b. Zack Ryder Brogue Kick
Sami Zayn b. Cesaro Sunset Bomb
Kevin Owens/Alberto Del Rio b. Lucha Dragons Pop Up Powerbomb to Cara
Dean Ambrose b. Chris Jericho Dirty Deeds
Tuesday
Impact Wrestling
Date: June 14, 2016
Location: Impact Zone, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: D'Angelo Dinero, Josh Matthews
It's past Slammiversary and we have a new World Champion as Lashley took the title from Drew Galloway via knockout. Tonight is a special show though as we have four title matches with the World, King of the Mountain, Tag Team and X-Division Titles all on the line. Let's get to it.
We open with.....the feed screwing up as it's a bunch of looping commercials.
Eighteen minutes in and we see Eli Drake coming out to face Jeff Hardy for the King of the Mountain Title. And never mind as we're back to the commercial loop.
Apparently that match ran about two minutes as Lashley comes out to the ring for a chat at 9:21. Never mind again as the loop is back on at 9:22. At 9:23 Lashley is back to say that anything can happen on live TV. Oh and the audio is screwed up and out of sync. He talks about how Drew Galloway lost the title and it's back to the loop at 9:25.
At 9:32 (with a LIVE graphic in the corner), Ethan Carter III is in the back talking to Drew Galloway about how tough his schedule is and we're back on the commercials in about twenty seconds.
It's 9:45 and the only word from anyone is that Pop TV is having technical issues. Still nothing on screen or anything as the only information is coming from Twitter.
10:00 and no changes.
At 10:14 we get a crawling message saying the show will be airing in its entirety. This message airs once and doesn't say what time the show will be starting. The graphic starts running on a loop a few minutes later and is gone by 10:20.
10:40 and the graphic is still gone with no updates in sight.
The show starts airing at 10:50 with no announcement whatsoever. It just started airing, complete with the crawler still airing.
We open with a package from Slammiversary with the footage turning to stills before the big moments actually happen.
Josh Matthews: Tonight LIVE on Impact, witness the fallout from Slammiversary.
Lashley comes out to open the show, meaning the very brief clips we saw earlier were out of order. Last week Lashley promised to win the title and here he is with the belt. Everyone else has run out the building to get away from him but here's Ethan Carter III to interrupt. Lashley says Carter is a joke and doesn't want this fight. After Lashley beats him, there's no one left.
Cue Drew Galloway to interrupt but Lashley calls him a loser. Drew tells him to shut up but Lashley thinks he looks like garbage. Lashley says he's flat out better than Drew and everyone knows it, including EC3. Drew doesn't care because he's invoking his rematch clause right here tonight.
Yesterday, Jeff Hardy challenged Eli Drake for the King of the Mountain Title.
King of the Mountain Title: Eli Drake vs. Jeff Hardy
Drake is defending. Jeff starts fast and sends Eli out to the floor for a baseball slide, only to eat a big clothesline. Hardy takes forever to get back in and eats a swinging neckbreaker for two before we hit the chinlock. A powerslam out of the corner gets two for Eli but Jeff comes back with a quick Whisper in the Wind. Eli dives into a powerbomb but grabs a second powerslam for two. Blunt Force Trauma is countered into the Twist of Fate followed by the Swanton, only to have Matt Hardy run in and bite Earl Hebner's hands and face. Jeff goes after him for the DQ at 7:37.
Ethan and Drew are in the back with Carter saying Drew worked himself too hard with his schedule as champion. Drew knows how to face Lashley and after he gets the belt back, Ethan is getting a title shot.
Jeff is still in the ring and says he's sore after Sunday but he did what he had to do to get rid of his brother (Brother Moore. If I can be Brother Nero, he can be Brother Moore). Apparently that wasn't enough though because Matt is still crazy. Matt pops up above the video screen to say this is where Broken Matt Hardy was born. This was where Jeff Hardy tried to end his career with no remorse for Matt, Reby or Maxill.
Matt wants Jeff to be DELETED but Jeff thinks Matt would be better off cutting a six minute promo in a hotel than this bull. Apparently Jeff has to come up and fight him or they'll fight again next week. Jeff comes towards the stage and grabs a table but Matt says they should fight with hon-uh (his way to say honor). That's fine with Jeff who climbs the steps and starts fighting, only to have Reby sneak up and spray him with a fire extinguisher. Matt slides Jeff down the railing and through a table.
After a break, Matt wants to face Jeff next week in Six Sides of Steel. Matt does this weird biting thing as he talks.
X-Division Title: Eddie Edwards vs. Trevor Lee
Lee is challenging and his manager Shane Helms jumps Eddie from behind to give Trevor an early advantage. Trevor starts firing off some right hands but charges into a boot in the corner. Eddie can't hit his Backpack Stunner and another Helms distraction lets Lee get in a jumping knee to the jaw for two. Eddie dives through the ropes to take out Shane before a running knee to the chest (The Boston Knee Party. Seriously.) takes out Lee for the pin to retain at 4:00.
Video on the Hall of Fame.
The BroMans spy on Raquel as a way to plug a Big Brother show.
We see a clip of Ethan and Lashley talking during the break, despite the fact that this version is being aired with no breaks due to the technical issues. Ethan says he doesn't care who the champion is because he's coming for the title. That sounds fine with Lashley because he'd love to take Ethan out.
Dixie Carter is in the ring to announce the new Hall of Famer as the roster is on the stage. After a quick speech about what this means, the newest inductee is announced as Gail Kim, which was pretty easily guessed months ago. Gail comes to the ring in tears and we go to a package on her, including the fact that she's a five time Knockouts Champion with 232 days as champion. I have no idea where they got that number from as according to Wikipedia, her last reign alone was 232 days and she's held it for over 700 days combined. They can't even get their HALL OF FAME packages right?
Dixie praises Gail for creating the greatest female divisions in the world and thinks she'll go down as the greatest in the world. The official induction is at Bound For Glory. Gail talks about how great her career has been because of this company and how important it's been to her. She thanks everyone she's ever worked with and is so grateful to be here.
Decay says they feel the presence of someone's darkness.
We see Marti Bell costing Jade the Knockouts Title on Sunday.
Marti rants about how screwed up the Dollhouse was but through it all, she and Jade stood by each other. Once Jade became champion though, that title was her new best friend. Cue Jade for a brawl.
Tag Team Titles: Decay vs. BroMans vs. Mahabali Shera/Grado vs. Tribunal
Decay is defending and this is one fall to a finish. You would think Shera and Grado losing to the Tribunal would prevent them from getting a title shot immediately but things rarely go as they should around here. Baron Dax and Shera get things going and work on a wristlock each. It's off to Robbie vs. Abyss with the latter easily destroying E. until Baraka comes in to steal a two count. A chinlock keeps Robbie down but he comes back with a Boom Drop and the tag off to Jesse as house is cleaned.
Jesse springboards in to dropkick Abyss to the floor before a quick BroDown sets up the Adonis Lock on Steve. Abyss makes the save though and chokeslams Jesse, only to have Shera come off the top to take Abyss down. Everything breaks down with Grado working on Steve in the ring until Snow shoves Grado off the top. Abyss chokeslams Steve onto Grado for the pin to retain at 6:46.
Maria tells Allie to leave her and Mike Bennett alone. She is FURIOUS that Gail is going into the Hall of Fame because no one appreciates them. Mike is ready to leave right now but Maria says they need to go to the ring and get everything they want.
Jeff Hardy accepts Matt's challenge for next week.
Here are Mike (in a shirt covered in pineapples) and Maria with something to say. Mike says TNA needs a hero like him but the people have rejected him. Maria screeches that the loss on Sunday was a conspiracy from TNA management and they want it stripped from the record books.
They demand Dixie get out here right now but get Billy Corgan instead. Mike says he's disappointed so here's Dixie to back Billy up. Maria yells at her a lot but Dixie reminds her that we are LIVE tonight. Dixie says there's too much talking and not enough wrestling here, especially from Maria who hasn't had a single one on one match yet. If Maria has issues she should set up a meeting about it but Maria says the finger of blame should be pointed at Dixie because she's the problem.
Maria thinks she could run this place better than Dixie and Billy must agree with her. She and Mike should be in the Hall of Fame but Dixie calls her self absorbed and thinks Maria shouldn't be running the Knockouts division. Maria goes on and on about how awesome she is and how she's a self made woman, only to have Dixie slap her in the face. Lame slap of course but did you expect anything else?
TNA World Title: Drew Galloway vs. Lashley
Drew, with heavily taped ribs, is challenging and Ethan Carter III is on commentary. They immediately fight on the floor with Drew taking over early and making sure to slide back in to break up the count. Lashley goes after the ribs and steps on the taped up part before dropping him on the apron with a side slam. They get inside for the first time with Lashley throwing Drew over the top and down to the floor for a big crash. Lashley is in full control but stops to stare at Ethan, allowing Drew to come back with some chops.
Back in and Lashley misses the spear and gets caught in something like a Kimura. Lashley escapes and grabs a Crossface, only to have Drew reverse into a Tombstone but Lashley reverses that as well, only to get caught in a piledriver for two. Drew's super Celtic Cross gets two but the Claymore takes out the referee. Lashley hits a pair of spears and grabs a chair, only to have Ethan take the chair away. Carter hits Drew by mistake (nice Summerslam 1997 ending) and Lashley side chokes Drew for the knockout win at 10:18.
Results
Jeff Hardy b. Eli Drake via DQ when Matt Hardy interfered
Eddie Edwards b. Trevor Lee Boston Knee Party
Decay b. BroMans, Tribunal and Mahabali Shera/Grado Abyss chokeslammed Steve onto Grado
Lashley b. Drew Galloway Side Choke
Wednesday
NXT
Date: June 15, 2016
Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
It's the week after Takeover and possibly the last taping cycle before the Brand Split really screws things up. Not a lot of major changes took place last week aside from new Tag Team Champions as Revival took the belts back from American Alpha in a pretty surprising upset. Next up is Brooklyn in August so let's get to it.
We get a We Stand With Orlando graphic.
Long recap of Takeover, running the better part of four minutes.
We'll be hearing from Finn Balor and Samoa Joe later tonight.
Authors of Pain vs. ???/???
The Authors of Pain are the monsters who attacked American Alpha last week and have Paul Ellering (who somehow looks younger than he did when he first came to the WWF in 1992) in their corner. The announcers have no names for the jobbers, who are run over at the bell to start. To be fair they don't have individual names for the Authors either with one of them being referred to as the Tattooed One.
Some hard knee strikes have the first jobber in trouble before it's off to the other one for more of the same. The non-tattooed Author throws one jobber into the other and it's a side slam/big boot combo for one and a running clothesline/Russian legsweep combo to the second for the pin at 1:36. Total dominance, though names for the Authors would be helpful, as well as a better finisher.
Andrade Cien Almas (speaking of needing a better name) is happy with his win last week when Tye Dillinger comes in to interrupt. Dillinger: Now listen up you six. A rematch is requested and seems to be granted.
Ellering is asked what he and the Authors are doing here but he'll only say in due time.
Carmella vs. Tessa Blanchard
Carmella grabs a quick rollup for two to start and a dropkick makes things even worse for Tessa. Blanchard drops her with a forearm and asks how the fans are doin. A legsweep doesn't work though as Carmella dances away, only to get caught in an abdominal stretch. Carmella just blasts her with a right hand to the jaw, followed by a superkick to set up the Bronco Buster. A Downward Spiral into the Code of Silence (that leg crossface) is enough to put Tessa away at 2:47.
After last week's cage match, Samoa Joe says he destroyed his brother and hunted a demon around the world to get his title. This cage match ended all the questions and officially started the reign of Joe. No one can take it from him.
Blake and Murphy say there were no problems until Murphy started causing the issues. The blame seems to go towards Alexa Bliss but they agree to get their Tag Team Titles back.
TM61 vs. Blake and Murphy
It's now TM Six One instead of TM Sixty One. In case it's gone over your head (which was the case with most people, including me), the 61 is the international calling code for Australia. The fans want to know where Alexa is. Blake and Thorn start things off with Shane nipping up out of a wristlock before it's off to Miller for a shot to the face. A slingshot hilo gets two for Thorn and a standing moonsault/jumping fist drop combo gets the same on Murphy. TM61 is moving very quickly here and even better than they were in their debut.
Murphy comes back with a clothesline, which Graves thinks could have taken out Lord Humongous. We hit the chinlock on Thorn for a bit before it's time for the heel miscommunication as Blake clotheslines Murphy by mistake, which allows the hot tag off to Miller as everything breaks down. Murphy is sent outside and Thunder Valley (a double gorilla press slam) puts Blake away at 5:37.
Revival said they told you so and now have their titles back. Dawson: Clink me Jack! That means bang the titles together.
The announcers talk about Bobby Roode debuting in the UK over the weekend.
We look at Bayley injuring her knee against Nia Jax.
Bayley has a doctor's appointment next week and if she's cleared there, she can get back in the ring.
Tye Dillinger vs. Andrade Cien Almas
Takeover rematch and Dillinger is still crazy over. The fans start the dueling chants with something about one hundred and then a much louder PERFECT TEN response. Almas flips over the top rope to start and a springboard cross body sends Tye outside. Back in and Tye takes over, only to run into a dropkick to send him outside again so Almas can do his pose in the ropes as we take a break.
Back with Almas getting two off a sunset flip and slapping on an armbar. Tye gets free and they run the ropes, only to have Almas dropkick Dillinger as he tries to drop down. Dillinger gets one off a backbreaker and some crossface shots to the face have Almas in more trouble. Back up and Almas hits some forearms to the face and a spinwheel kick, followed by a dive over the top to take Ty out again. A Rey Mysterio sitout bulldog sets up the double running knees in the corner to give Almas the pin at 10:48.
Here's Finn Balor to address the crowd but first he has to soak up a THANK YOU FINN chant. That switches to a PLEASE DON'T GO before Finn starts talking about watching NXT in Ireland and wanting to be a part of that. He became a part of NXT but it became a part of him as well. Finn was NXT Champion for 292 days (YOU DESERVE IT) and he went to wars with Neville, Tyler Breeze, Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe. At the end of it though, he's not the champion. Now the question is what's next for him. Fans: BALOR CLUB! Finn: Too sweet!
Balor asks what's next for him again.....and here's Shinsuke Nakamura. They shake hands and the fans instantly think this is awesome. Nakamura says when he was in Japan, he watched Balor become the icon of NXT but now he's no longer champion. Balor is still an icon though and if Nakamura wants to be champion, he has to beat the icon. The fans lose their minds over that and start the MATCH OF THE YEAR chant. Balor says that's the answer to what's next for him so the match is on at some point in the future.
Results
Authors of Pain b. ???/??? Russian legsweep/clothesline combination
Carmella b. Tessa Blanchard Code of Silence
TM61 b. Blake and Murphy Thunder Valley to Blake
Andrade Cien Almas b. Tye Dillinger Double running knees in the corner