[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize

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sleestaklightning
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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jun 26, 2023 13:48:10 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jun 26, 2023 13:48:10 GMT 1

NXT On USA Network

Tuesday -- Week 4 -- April 2023

LIVE! from the WWE Performance Center

- Dusty Classic Round 1: Roderick Strong & Nathan Frazer defeated Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams at 9:38 when Frazer pinned Williams | 66

- Backstage, DIJAK challenged KUSHIDA and Ikemen Jiro to a handicap match. | 44

- Roxanne Perez cuts a promo backstage where she says she won't be intimidated by Tessa Blanchard. Roxanne even wonders if Tessa is going to still compete for the title since she's apparently on Raw now. | 52

- Dragon Lee pinned Axiom at 4:28. During the match Vidal Duran & Leticia Salazar were seen watching from the stage. | 51

- Another Santonio Bolton vignette. He talks about the warrior's spirit that lives within him and how he realizes it is at odds with his peaceful nature. He says sometimes his need for competition gets in the way but when he arrives in NXT he is going to show both sides of himself. And he is confidence that success will follow. | 38

- The Schism come out to the ring. Alexander Hammerstone is with him. He looks straight ahead with no facial expressions the entire time. They get into the ring and Joe Gacy begins a process to induct Hammerstone into the Schism. But before the ceremony even gets going, Hammerstone comes to life and lays out the Dyad and then grabs Gacy is about to hit him when Ricky Banderas runs out and attacks Hammerstone. The Dyad joins in on the attack until Aussie Open rush out to make the save. Hammerstone and Aussie Open clear the ring. | 52

- Women's Dusty Classic Round 1: Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacey Jayne) defeated Meiko Satomura & Sarray at 13:38 when Dolin pinned Sarray. | 58

- Alba Fyre is interviewed backstage re: her #1 contender's match with Tessa Blanchard tonight. She says she saw Tessa on Raw last night and she's wondering why she was there when she's got a #1 contender's match tonight. If Tessa thinks she can get the NXT Women's title and then take the title to the main roster with her she's mistaken. Alba says she won't let that happen and she is gonna end Tessa's run to the NXT Women's title tonight. | 44

- Tony D'Angelo and OMERTA return with an in-ring promo. D'Angelo talks about losing to Dragunov in the Lupara Bianca Gauntlet match. He blames OMERTA and tells them that they are going to have to face the consequences of losing. OMERTA talk amongst themselves and then both men turn to leave. D'Angelo yells at them and they stop, turn, and then fire punches at D'Angelo and knock him down before walking out. | 47

- Von Wagner beats two local jobbers in a handicap match in 2:19. During the match Robert Stone came out to do commentary and he trash talked Wagner the entire time. Stone says he has wrestlers from all around the world begging him to manage their careers. | 44

- After the match Wagner and Stone begin arguing, Stone at the announce table and Wagner in the ring. Suddenly someone jumps the barricade from the crowd and enters the ring behind Wagner and attacks him. The man removes his hood and it's PARKER BOUDREAUX! He picks Wagner up and hits an F-5 on him. Stone runs in the ring and raises Boudreaux's hand and looks down at Wagner and begins laughing. | 37

- A sit-down interview with Gable Steveson is next. He sits down with Vic Joseph and talks about a number of topics. Joseph asks him why he hit Bron Breakker with the car. He says that Bron represents everything he despises in these so-called "second generation superstars." He says Bron is a big dummy who isn't smart enough to realize that Gable never liked him and was setting him up from the start. Gable says that to be a national champion wrestler and an Olympian you need to be smart AND an athlete. You can't be stupid. Bron is stupid. Gable took advantage of him the whole way. Steveson says that an opportunity presented itself to get Bron out of the picture for a while and he took it. Vic asks if he regrets it -- he says no. Gable says he doesn't regret anything he's ever done because you can't change the past so it's pointless to regret anything. Vic asks him about his relationship with Kurt Angle. Gable says Kurt is an idol of his. He's always looked up to Kurt and when he got to the Performance Center to train he met Kurt and they hit it off as elite athletes often do. Vic asks if Kurt is aware of his actions ahead of time and if he condones them and Gable smirks and says "You'd have to ask him." Vic asks Gable what he thinks the future holds for him and Gable says he's a future World Heavyweight Champion. He says that it's just a matter of time. Gable says he's already surpassed Bron Breakker as the #1 prospect in WWE's developmental system. Vic has one last question -- Will Gable agree to face Bron one-on-one? Gable laughs and says Bron doesn't deserve a match with Gable. Gable says he's focused on becoming NXT Champion and moving on to the main roster. | 48

- We get a rundown of what's scheduled for next week on NXT: Dusty Classic 1st Round - Coffey Bros vs Aussie Open | Women's Dusty Classic 1st Round - Ivy Nile & Zoey Stark vs The KCs | DIJAK vs KUSHIDA & Ikemen Jiro in a handicap match. | 50

- We're getting ready for the main event when NXT Champion Grayson Waller comes down to the ring. He's pissed that he's the NXT Champion and he wasn't even given a chance to show up on tv this week. Grayson says there's a match scheduled for right now but as far as he's concerned it's not happening until he gets something off his chest. Waller says that he's still embarrassed from losing to that idiot Charlie Dempsey last week and he blames Wes Lee. He doesn't want to reward Wes Lee with a title match but he wants to fight him. He challenges Wes to a non-title match next week. The NXT production staff tell Waller he has to leave the ring and Alba Fyre's music hits and they quickly move on to the main event and Waller leaves. | 64

- Alba Fyre pins Tessa Blanchard to become #1 Contender to the NXT Women's Championship after Becky Lynch shows up unexpectedly and attacks Tessa, leading to her losing. | 66

- After the match Roxanne Perez comes out to confront Alba Fyre and they have a staredown in the ring while Becky and Tessa have to be separated on the stage. | 80

OVERALL RATING: 68

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jun 28, 2023 4:50:59 GMT 1 Asaemon and johnnyboombatz like this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jun 28, 2023 4:50:59 GMT 1

Friday Night SmackDown!

Friday -- Week 4 -- April 2023

Live! from Calgary, Alberta, Canada

*Results are typed NXT style in order to save time with the PPV event coming up next*

- The show opens with WWE Universal Champion Sami Zayn coming down to the ring. He talks about the Pick Your Poison stipulation for tonight between him and Jey Uso. He says that he's been told that Jey Uso has selected Ona Leaga to be his opponent tonight and Sami wants to announce that he's selected SOLO SIKOA to be Jey's opponent -- and if Solo wins, Sami will give him a Universal Championship match next week. Sami laughs and says that he thinks he's won this one. He's interrupted by Trinity Fatu. She comes down to the ring and tells Sami that he's just entered the final 24 hours of his Universal Championship reign. Sami asks why she's out here and she says that Jey, Solo, and Ona haven't arrived yet. But she's already here because she got in town early. Trinity says that Sami doesn't realize how dangerous it is for his career to keep messing with the Bloodline. With the draft coming up next week, Sami better hope he ends up being drafted on a different show from the Bloodline. Because they will destroy him: physically, mentally, emotionally. Sami awkwardly laughs and then tells Trinity that he never backs down from a fight. He says he's going to be honest -- he really can't win this one because he's not going to get physical with her. Trinity shoves Sami and he awkwardly puts his arms up in the air to show that he's not going to fight. Suddenly he is ambushed from behind by Solo Sikoa. Solo drops him with a clothesline to the back of the head and then a Samoan Drop. The segment ends with Sami selling his back in the middle of the ring and Trinity and Solo meeting up with Jey Uso and Ona Leaga on the stage. | 69

- WWE United States Champion Austin Theory is out after the commercial break. He is here to issue an open challenge to the SmackDown locker room. Before he can continue speaking Pat McAfee stands up at the announce table. He tells Theory that he's sick of seeing Austin whine and cry every week. He says Theory is a great young talent but he's also a whiny punk. McAfee wants a shot at the US title. Theory agrees and McAfee climbs in the ring. | 65

- WWE United States Champion Austin Theory defeats Pat McAfee by pinfall with the A-Town Down (8:30). McAfee has a good showing and gets some good offense in but he takes one too many chances and misses a flying crossbody and that allows Theory to take over the match and eventually get the clean win following the A-Town Down. | 56

- Rey Mysterio is interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton. She mentions that if Rey wins the triple threat match tonight he will have two matches tomorrow night. Rey says he welcomes the chance to work double duty tomorrow night. He's not afraid of pushing his body with two hard-hitting contests in one night. | 59

- Next is a new in-ring talk segment called Bad News Tonight with Wade Barrett. The ring is set up to look like a late night talk show. Barrett welcomes WWE Universal Women's Champion Sasha Banks and her opponent at Backlash, Lacey Evans. The two women come out and Barrett asks Sasha what she thinks about Lacey being her challenger. Sasha says that she doesn't think Lacey is the most deserving woman in the division but she respects her as a competitor. Lacey responds by saying that Sasha is obviously stupid and that Lacey doesn't respect Sasha at all. Lacey says that she proved her worth by winning the Sensational Invitational at WrestleMania and now she'll prove it again when she wins the Universal Women's Championship. The two women eventually come to blows and brawl in the ring as Barrett cheers them on. | 69

- WWE Draft #1 Pick On The Line: Karrion Kross (SD) beat Bobby Lashley (Raw) by pinfall (8:02) after Scarlett sprays Lashley with pepper spray and Kross is able to hit Lashley with a running knee for the three count. | 71

- Ilja Dragunov is out next. He calls out Gunther again and demands his title shot. Gunther and Imperium show up on the stage. Gunther tells Ilja that he's spoken to SmackDown General Manager William Regal and Mr. Regal has agreed to make a match between Gunther and Ilja for Backlash tomorrow night but Gunther will not sign the contract unless Ilja agrees to join Imperium if he loses. Ilja doesn't hesitate to agree and says that he will not lose. | 58

- The Bloodline is discussing strategy backstage. Trinity tells Solo that he better lay down for Jey tonight and he better do it quickly. She doesn't care if Solo can earn a title match next week -- he'll have plenty of chances in the future to be champion. Solo doesn't say anything. He just stands there and tapes up his hands. Trinity yells at him and he finally acknowledges her. | 55

- LA Knight defeated Sheamus and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match to be added to the #1 Contender Triple Threat at Backlash when he pinned Rey Mysterio after Dominik Mysterio distracted Rey. (15:32) | 73

- Shinsuke Nakamura and Drew McIntyre wrestled to a No Contest after LA Knight interfered and attacked both men (10:03) | 66

- Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez cut a promo backstage promising to win tomorrow night and send Shayna, Jessamyn, and Marina off to be with their friend Ronda. | 48

- Jey Uso pinned Solo Sikoa (3:48). Both guys are nursing injuries so this was more of an angle than a match. Solo and Jey stalled for a couple minutes as they negotiated what was going to happen. Solo eventually, reluctantly, laid down for Jey to pin him. | 33

- WWE Universal Champion Sami Zayn beat Ona Leaga by DQ (13:34) after Jey Uso and Solo Sikoa ran in and attacked Sami. | 80

- The Bloodline is in the ring attacking Sami Zayn. He eats a superkick from Jey, a Samoan Drop from Leaga and then just as Solo is about to hit the Samoan Spike -- Kevin Owens comes running down with a chair. He slides in and lays out Leaga and Solo with chairs. Jey goes for a superkick but KO ducks and hits a Stunner on him. The show goes off the air with the Bloodline recovering on the stage and Owens checking on Sami. | 70

OVERALL RATING: 74

----

WWE Backlash
Saturday -- Week 4 -- April 2023
Live! from Milwaukee, WI

[MAIN EVENT]
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
Cody Rhodes (C) |VS| Omos w/MVP

WWE Universal Championship Match
Sami Zayn (C) |VS| Jey Uso

WWE Universal Women's Championship Match
Sasha Banks (C) |VS| Lacey Evans

WWE World Women's Championship Match
Rhea Ripley (C) |VS| Alexa Bliss

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
GUNTHER (C) |VS| Ilja Dragunov
*If Dragunov loses, he must join Imperium*

#1 Contender Triple Threat Match
Shinsuke Nakamura |VS| Drew McIntyre |VS| LA Knight

Luchas de Apuesta | Mask vs Hair
Rey Mysterio |VS| Dominik Mysterio

Special Guest Referee: Jay White
AJ Styles |VS| Finn Balor

Seth Freakin' Rollins |VS| Kota Ibushi

Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez |VS| Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir

sleestaklightning
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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 4, 2023 5:55:08 GMT 1 Asaemon and johnnyboombatz like this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 4, 2023 5:55:08 GMT 1

WWE Backlash

Saturday -- Week 4 -- April 2023

LIVE! from Miami, FL

Pre-Show

- Shawn Michaels arrives to the building with a contingent of NXT superstars for an upcoming NXT Showcase match that will be taking place on the pre-show. The match is designed to let Raw and SmackDown GMs Mick Foley and William Regal get one last look at the draftable NXT prospects before the draft begins tomorrow night. The announcers mention that for every NXT superstar selected in the draft, NXT will receive one supplementary draft pick and be able to take any available superstar with the very next pick. | 52

- Nick Aldis pinned Dolph Ziggler in 6:31. | 66

- Bronson Reed, Von Wagner, Carmelo Hayes, Gable Steveson & DIJAK beat Wes Lee, Tyler Bate, Odyssey Jones, Nathan Frazer & Duke Hudson at 9:45 when DIJAK pinned Nathan Frazer. | 48

BACKLASH HYPE

The PLE opens with a hype video highlighting some of the big stars we'll see in action tonight. The main focus seems to be on the Bloodline story and of course Cody Rhodes beating Roman at WrestleMania earlier this month. | 79

KOTA IBUSHI |VS| SETH FREAKIN' ROLLINS

These guys don't have great chemistry but I guess they wanted to make sure Seth got his win back because these guys worked hard but had a clunky, almost schizophrenic opener where they couldn't seem to decide if they were having a blood feud brawl or an instant classic high flying match. Ibushi was allowed to shine to start but Rollins cuts him off quickly with a thumb to the eye. Rollins throws Ibushi outside and they brawl. Ibushi lights Seth up with a brutal sounding kick to the chest but Rollins avoids a second kick and whips Ibushi into the steps. Rollins bashes Ibushi's head off the steps and then rolls him inside. Rollins goes to the top turnbuckle and comes off with a Ray Stevens-style flying knee but Ibushi moves. Rollins sells the knee well and Ibushi takes over. He hits a couple suplexes and a short-arm lariat. Ibushi goes to the apron and climbs up top. When Seth gets to his feet Ibushi crashes down on top of him with a meteora and hooks the legs for a two count. Rollins rolls to the ropes and pulls himself up and Ibushi goes for a running knee but SFR ducks and back body drops Ibushi over the top and to the floor. Rollins goes up top but then changes his mind and starts laughing. He hops down off the apron and grabs Ibushi and places his hand on the steel steps. Rollins curb stomps Ibushi's hand and Ibushi screams and sells the move. Rollins rolls Kota back into the ring and then follows up with some kicks and then a spin kick to knock Kota down. Rollins covers but only gets a two count. Rollins picks Ibushi up and backs him into the corner. Seth fires some European uppercuts into Ibushi at a rapid pace until the referee forces a break. Ibushi is staggered and maybe out on his feet. Rollins backs up but then charges for a flying knee. Ibushi avoids it and Rollins hits the turnbuckles knee first and takes a flipping bump. Ibushi quickly grabs him and hits a Falcon Arrow and then rolls through and hits a brainbuster. Ibushi goes up top and goes for a Shooting Star Press but Rollins gets his knees up. Ibushi lands hard on Seth's knees and shins and Rollins quickly turns that into a pin attempt but Ibushi barely kicks out. Rollins gets up first and goes for the Curb Stomp but Ibushi dodges it. Rollins lands and Ibushi hits a Pele Kick to Seth's face. Seth's lip gets busted open and he bumps and then rolls to the ropes to check himself. Ibushi grabs Seth by the ankle and drags him to the middle of the ring but Seth uses his free leg to kick off of Ibushi and flip onto his feet. As Seth lands on his feet facing Ibushi, Kota immediately grabs him for an STO but Rollins elbows Kota in the side of the head and shoves him away. Ibushi charges and Rollins lifts him into the air for a flapjack but instead hits a Codebreaker on Ibushi on the way down. Kota looks like he's out on the mat but Rollins wants to beat him with his move. He backs up and goes for another Curb Stomp but Kota avoids it again. Kota sweeps Seth's leg and then drops a knee onto Seth's head. Kota picks Seth up and whips him into the corner. Seth hits hard and barrels out of the corner and eats a spinning heel kick. Kota goes up top but before he can do anything Seth pops up and runs up the turnbuckle and hits a belly-to-belly overhead release suplex but Kota lands on his feet. Rollins leaps off the top rope and catches Ibushi with a facebuster. Rollins is up and he hits the Curb Stomp this time and covers Ibushi for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall: Seth Freakin' Rollins (14:16) | 63

WWE WORLD WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: RHEA RIPLEY (C) |VS| ALEXA BLISS

Another quality match but these two don't get a ton of time. For a match with basically no build they do a good job of telling a story with the action. Alexa plays the underdog babyface role well and Rhea throws her all around the ring. At one point Rhea misses an elbow drop to the mat and Alexa takes over with a swinging neckbreaker. Alexa's run ends quickly as Rhea cuts her off with a powerslam when Alexa tries for a flying crossbody. Rhea has had enough of Alexa and looks to end the match with the Riptide and she hits it and covers Alexa for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE World Women's Champion: Rhea Ripley (8:14) | 75

LUCHA DE APUESTA | HAIR VERSUS MASK: REY MYSTERIO |VS| DOMINIK MYSTERIO

Before the match it is announced that Judgment Day has been banned from ringside during this match and if they interfere Dom will be immediately disqualified and all of Judgment Day will be suspended indefinitely. The match begins with a stand-off in the middle of the ring. Dom acts like an asshole gets some heat when he slaps Rey and then backs off. Dom uses his size and reach advantage by slapping Rey and then backing off. Rey is frustrated but outsmarts Dominik by waiting for him to lean in and then diving at his legs for a double leg takedown. Rey fires punches to Dom's head but Dom covers up and quickly gets to the ropes forcing Rey to back off. Dom stalls for another minute or so until he gets distracted by his mom and sister at ringside and Rey is able to hit a baseball slide that sends Dom flying into the barricade. Rey beats on Dom outside and then rolls him inside and continues the assault. At one point Rey goes for the 619 but Dom sees it coming and catches Rey's legs. Dom pulls Rey into the ring and locks him in a Boston Crab. Rey eventually finds a way out of it and the action really picks up with both men hitting some big moves on the other. Dom drops Rey with a ddt and then goes up top and hits a Frog Splash. Dom thinks he's won and celebrates but Rey kicks out at two. Dom is mad at the referee and loses focus and Rey hits a drop toe hold knocking him into the ropes. Rey hits the 619 and then a springboard legdrop. Rey goes up top and hits a big splash and covers Dom for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall: Rey Mysterio (11:24) | 68

HAIRCUT TIME

The crowd pops for Rey's win but get even more excited when it comes time to cut Dom's hair. Dom is in the ring crying like a baby and begging his dad not to cut his hair. Rey tells him that this is a lesson he has to learn -- don't make bets you can't win. But just as Rey starts cutting Dom's hair, JD McDonagh hits the ring and attacks Rey. McDonagh, who is not a member of Judgment Day, lays Rey out with a Fireman's Carry into an Emerald Flowsion. McDonagh grabs Dom and they are about to head to the back when Dom has an idea. He stands up and walks over to his father. He bends down and grabs the scissors and cuts Rey's mask in half from back to front. Dom and McDonagh walk off laughing and Rey tries to cover his face despite everyone already knowing what he looks like. | 69

TRIPLE THREAT #1 CONTENDERS MATCH: DREW MCINTYRE |VS| SHINSUKE NAKAMURA |VS| LA KNIGHT

On paper this seems like a clash of styles and doesn't make for a particularly good match but all three guys work hard and LA Knight makes the most of the opportunity to be in a big match by doing some spots we wouldn't normally see from him. All three men stand in the middle and talk shit to one another to start. Then they each starts throwing punches and chops at each other until eventually LA Knight bows out after a particularly hard chop from McIntyre. McIntyre and Nakamura brawl around the ring. LA comes back in and lays into McIntyre and then into Nakamura. From there the match follows your typical triple threat formula where one guy is out of the ring at a time so the match can be one-on-one for most of the match. McIntyre hits a Claymore Kick on LA Knight and goes to cover him but Shinsuke hits the Kinshasa on McIntyre and gets a two count. Shinsuke picks LA Knight up and hits a spinning back fist that knocks him into the corner. McIntyre gets up and charges Shinsuke, but Nakamure moves and McIntyre is about to hit LA Knight but Knight dodges as well. McIntyre hits the corner hard. LA Knight grabs Shinsuke and tosses him out of the ring. Knight grabs McIntyre and hits the Gravy Train on him. He goes to cover McIntyre but Shinsuke is back in the ring. Shinsuke hits the Kinshasa on Knight and then covers McIntyre for the win.

WINNER by pinfall: Shinsuke Nakamura (16:27) | 74

WWE UNIVERSAL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SASHA BANKS (C) |VS| LACEY EVANS

This ended up being good, not great. Sasha worked hard to make Lacey look good but the definitive finish tells me this feud was a one-off and won't be continuing any longer. Lacey jumped Sasha before the bell and was in control early. She did a good job playing to the crowd and taunting Sasha which ended up costing her as she turned her back on Sasha long enough to yell at fans in the front row which lead to Sasha getting back into the match. Sasha took over and her offense looked good but Lacey isn't nearly as good as Sasha at selling so the match got worse during this section. Eventually Sasha locked in the Banks Statement and Lacey tapped out.

WINNER by submission and STILL WWE Universal Women's Champion: Sasha Banks (9:17) | 67

THE CLUB HISTORY

Next up is a video that somewhat explains the Bullet Club and the issue between AJ Styles, Finn Balor, and Jay White. | 53

SPECIAL GUEST REFEREE: JAY WHITE -- AJ STYLES |VS| FINN BALOR

This one was a bit disappointing. Not so much because the in-ring action was bad but because the finish was flat. AJ started off on fire. He hit Finn with hip tosses and arm drags and dropkicks. Finn got frustrated that he couldn't get close to AJ and eventually dodged a flying clothesline and started to go after AJ. Finn throws AJ outside and then hits a suicide dive. Finn picks AJ up and whips him into the steps. He rolls AJ back in the ring and goes up top. AJ runs up the turnbuckle and kicks Finn in the head. Finn falls to a seated position on the top turnbuckle. AJ sets him up for a superplex but Finn blocks it. Finn shoves AJ off the turnbuckle. AJ lands on his feet. Finn hits a missile dropkick that knocks AJ back to the opposing turnbuckle. Finn pops up and charges and hits a corner clothesline. Finn throws AJ down and quickly goes up top for the Coup de Grace but AJ rolls out of the way. Finn rolls through and AJ charges him and shoves him into the corner. AJ lights Finn up with some combo kicks and then a spinning back fist to end the flurry. Finn is staggered and AJ goes for the Styles Clash but Finn fights out of it. Finn gets on his feet and when AJ turns around, Finn hits a Pele Kick. AJ is knocked backwards into the ropes. Finn charges for a clothesline but AJ ducks and Finn goes flying to the outside. AJ hits a springboard crossbody onto Finn. AJ gets in the ring and goes for a baseball slide but Jay White gets in his way. AJ yells at White and White shoves him. AJ is distracted and Finn slides back in the ring and attacks AJ from behind. Finn says something to Jay White and White yells back at him. Finn kicks AJ hard in the side of the head and picks him up. Finn hits a suplex and then a fist drop. Finn stands up and is about to go up top when Jay White "trips" into the top rope and causes Finn to crotch himself on the top turnbuckle. AJ gets to his feet and goes up top but Jay White grabs him and powerbombs him. White straddles AJ and throws punches to his face. Finn Balor hops down from the top rope and goes after Jay White. AJ gets up and he goes after White too. Suddenly all three men begin brawling and they brawl until road agents and referees rush out to break up the fight.

NO CONTEST (22:30) | 65

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: GUNTHER (C) |VS| ILJA DRAGUNOV

This was incredible. Absolutely a Match of the Year contender (probably the frontrunner as of now). The match began with the two men standing in the middle of the ring. After some trash talk Gunther tells Ilja to hit him and Ilja hammers him with a forearm shot to the chest but Gunther no sells it. Ilja does it again and Gunther takes a step backward but otherwise doesn't sell it. Gunther returns the favor by slapping Ilja's chest. Ilja's chest immediately turns red in the shape of Gunther's hand. Ilja collapses to one knee and Gunther boots him in the face. Gunther picks Ilja up and whips him into the near corner. Ilja hits hard and comes bounding out of the corner and Gunther hits a back body drop. Gunther wastes no time walking over to Dragunov and dropping a knee on his head. Gunther picks Ilja up and backs him into the corner. He fires another hard chop and then drives his knee into Ilja's midsection. Gunther biels Ilja into the middle of the ring. Gunther hits a big splash on Ilja and then covers him for a two count. Gunther picks Ilja up and lifts him up and drops Ilja throat first down onto the top rope. Ilja bounces up and Gunther hits a charging lariat. He covers Ilja again but the Russian kicks out. Gunther picks Ilja up and shoves him into the nearest corner. Gunther charges Ilja but Dragunov moves and Gunther hits the corner hard. Ilja takes advantage of the mistake with a couple hard European uppercuts. Ilja goes to whip Gunther across the ring but Gunther reverses it. Ilja hits the corner but immediately runs out of it and Gunther is charging and Ilja hits Torpedo Moskau. Gunther is staggered and Ilja hits a step-up enziguiri. Gunther is even more staggered Ilja backs up and runs off the ropes for momentum but Gunther sees it coming and lifts his boot up and catches Ilja in the face. Ilja bumps and Gunther picks him up. Gunther throws Ilja to the outside and then staggers to the corner. Gunther was clearly rocked by the step-up enziguiri and he shakes the cobwebs off as Dragunov climbs back in. Gunther storms over to his challenger and Ilja fires a European uppercut and then kicks Gunther in the stomach. Ilja chops Gunther again and again and again and again and again and again and then Gunther is in the corner. Ilja climbs up onto the second turnbuckle and fires some right hands to Gunther's face but Gunther powerbombs him to break it up. Gunther covers Ilja but he kicks out at two. Gunther is getting frustrated. He kicks Ilja in the head and then bends down and picks him up. He throws Ilja into the corner. Gunther chokes Ilja with his boot and then goes to set Ilja up on the top turnbuckle but Ilja headbutts him. Gunther is staggered Ilja leaps off the top turnbuckle and Gunther ducks. Ilja bumps and then when he gets to his feet Gunther locks him in a sleeper. Gunther keeps it locked in until Ilja is close to passing out when he suddenly gets a burst of energy and drops to his knees and hits a chinbuster to break the hold. Gunther staggers backwards again and Ilja hits a running dropkick that knocks Gunther into the corner. Ilja pops up and goes for a running uppercut but Gunther cuts him down with a running lariat that sends Ilja flipping through the air. Gunther sees Ilja on the mat and decides that it's time to end the match. Gunther climbs out onto the apron and then climbs up onto the top rope. Gunther leaps off for a big splash but Ilja rolls out of the way. Gunther lands flat on his face in the middle of the ring. The match kicks into another gear from here as Ilja Dragunov senses blood in the water and immediately goes after Gunther. A running dropkick knocks Gunther into the corner. Ilja hits a flying forearm and then gets back to the middle of the ring and does it again. And then another. And then one more. Gunther is seemingly out on his feet in the corner. Ilja thinks he now has a chance. He grabs Gunther and hits a T-Bone suplex out of the corner. He follows it up with jumping senton. Gunther immediately rolls onto his stomach so he can't be pinned and Ilja is calling for him to get up. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci come running down the aisle and hop up onto the apron. Ilja takes both men out. He hits a flying knee to Kaiser and then a running lariat to Vinci. Dragunov turns around and Gunther is up on his feet and goes for a boot to the face but Ilja ducks it and hits the Greetings From Moscow lariat that actually drops Gunther. Gunther goes for a cover but Gunther kicks out at two! Ilja quickly hops up onto the top turnbuckle he leaps off for a flying headbutt but Gunther moves. Ilja hits the mat and Gunther stands up. He grabs Ilja by the tights and picks him up. The two men stand in the middle of the ring and fire shots at one another. Gunther with a chop and a slap and then Ilja responds with a headbutt. Gunther kicks him in the midsection and powerbombs him. Gunther grabs Ilja for another powerbomb but Ilja hooks the middle rope. Gunther boots him in the side of the head. Gunther yanks Ilja away from the ropes and hits another powerbomb in the middle of the ring. Gunther looks around, almost unsure how to put Ilja away. He decides to go up to the top rope. Gunther leaps off the top turnbuckle and this time he hits the big splash on Ilja and immediately covers him for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Gunther (14:55) | 96

WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SAMI ZAYN (C) |VS| JEY USO

Jey Uso is still dealing with an injured shoulder so this one was a bit of a cluster as they tried to protect him. Sami was on fire to start but Jimmy Uso showed up and distracted him to allow Jey to get the advantage. Sami eats a superkick and Jey covers but only gets a two count. Jey misses a corner avalance and Sami hits a Blue Thunder Bomb but Jimmy is back up on the apron. Sami lays him out with a Helluva Kick. Sami turns around and Jey superkicks him and covers him but Sami kicks out at two! Jey picks Sami up and goes to whip him into the corner but Sami reverses it and we get a ref bump. This allows Solo Sikoa and Ona Leaga to run out. Sami is battling them in the ring and losing until Kevin Owens runs out with a chair. He levels Leaga with it and then hits Solo in the ribs with it and then gives both men a Stunner. He picks the chair back up and for a second it looks like he might decide to nail Sami with it but instead he hits Jimmy with it when Jimmy gets to his feet. Jey sneaks up behind Sami and when he turns around Jey lifts him up and hits a flapjack. Sami is on his knees and Jey goes for a superkick but Sami ducks it. Sami gets to his feet and gets a German suplex on Jey. The referee is back up and Jey goes for a running lariat but Sami ducks. Jey nearly bumps the ref again but he stops. He turns around and Sami goes for a move but Trinity Fatu is there and she grabs Sami's ankle. He bends down to get her to release and Jey superkicks him. Sami falls into the ropes and Jey throws him down onto the mat. Jey goes up top and tries for a big splash but Sami moves. Jey hits the mat and Sami picks him up and hits a Michinoku Driver but Jey kicks out at two. Trinity distracts the referee and Solo Sikoa pops up and charges Sami and drops him from behind with a clothesline to the back of the head. Solo picks Sami up and goes for the Samoan Spike but Sami ducks it and Solo hits Jey with it instead. Sami clotheslines a shocked Solo to the floor. Jey gets to his feet and Sami whips him into the corner and hits a Helluva Kick and then covers Jey for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE Universal Champion: Sami Zayn (12:37) | 75

CHARLOTTE FLAIR, LIV MORGAN & RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ |VS| SHAYNA BASZLER, JESSAMYN DUKE & MARINA SHAFIR

This was a short squash match that saw each of the faces hit their signature spots. Duke and Shafir were beat all around the ring and at one point Shayna Baszler walked out on them. Charlotte hit the Natural Selection on Shafir and picked up the win for her team.

WINNERS by pinfall: Charlotte Flair, Raquel Rodriguez, and Liv Morgan (7:31) | 43

MAIN EVENT -- WWE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: CODY RHODES (C) |VS| OMOS w/MVP

This wasn't much of a main event so it's interesting that they put it on last. Cody was jumped before the bell by Omos. Omos threw Cody all around the ring and Cody sold fantastically for him. Most of Omos' offense was strikes and throws and at one point he hit Cody with a big boot. Cody rolled to the ropes and pulled himself up. Omos attacked but Cody ducked a swing and back body dropped Omos to the arena floor. Cody hit a dive but when they began brawling on the floor, Omos whipped Cody into the steel steps. Cody sold like he was genuinely hurt and Omos rolled him into the ring. Omos got in the ring and covered Cody for a two count. Omos picked Cody up over his head and Cody raked the eyes out of desperation. Cody took over with a Disaster Kick. Cody goes for the Cody Cutter but Omos throws him out of the ring. While the referee is telling Omos to back up MVP levels Cody with his cane. Cody sells his ribs and MVP rolls Cody into the ring. Omos bends down to pick Cody up but Cody hits a chinbuster. Omos staggers backward and Cody goes for another Cody Cutter and this time he hits it. Omos falls backwards into the ropes. Cody hits a running clothesline and sends Omos to the outside. Cody immediately follows it up with another dive. Omos is knocked into the barricade. Cody rolls Omos back into the ring. Cody climbs up to the top rope. MVP stands up on the apron and goes to shake the ropes but Cody jumps before he can. Cody hits a bulldog on Omos and then immediately stands up and levels MVP with a right hand. Omos is trying to get to his feet and Cody breaks out an old finisher, the Silver Spoon ddt. Cody rolls Omos over and covers him but Omos kicks out at two. Cody goes back up to the second turnbuckle. He waits for Omos to get up and he hits a Cody Cutter from the second rope. Cody immediately covers Omos and gets the pinfall victory.

WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Cody Rhodes (11:59) | 68

FINAL SEGMENT

Cody celebrates the win as MVP climbs into the ring and starts talking trash. Cody holds up the belt as MVP yells "This ain't over!" at him as the event fades to black. | 73

OVERALL RATING: 68

Last Edit: Jul 8, 2023 7:15:07 GMT 1 by sleestaklightning

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 8, 2023 7:11:47 GMT 1 Asaemon and johnnyboombatz like this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 8, 2023 7:11:47 GMT 1

WEEK 1 -- MAY 2023

WWE Monday Night RAW

Monday -- Week 1 -- May 2023

LIVE! from Kansas City, MO

WWE DRAFT -- ROUND 1

The show opens with SmackDown announcer Pat McAfee standing alongside the newest member of the WWE announce team, Ian Ricaboni. They are standing by in the "WWE Draft War Room" backstage. They welcome everyone to Night 1 of the 2023 WWE Draft. They go over the pool of available superstars for tonight and then go over the rules of the draft. There will be 7 rounds of picks tonight, with both Raw and SmackDown having multiple picks in each round. Raw, being a 3-hour show, will receive extra picks in each round to accommodate for the extra hour. SmackDown GM William Regal and Raw GM Mick Foley approach their podiums to announce their Round 1 picks.

ROUND 1

Pick #1: SmackDown selects WWE Universal Champion Sami Zayn

Pick #2: Raw selects WWE World Women's Champion Rhea Ripley

Pick #3: Raw selects Seth "Freakin'" Rollins

Pick #4: SmackDown selects WWE Universal Women's Champion Sasha Banks | 56

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: GUNTHER (C) |VS| JOHNNY GARGANO

This came out of nowhere with no build and ended up being an awesome match. Gargano tried to avoid Gunther's strikes early on but eventually got caught anyway. Gunther threw Gargano around the ring and Gargano bumped and sold well. Gargano turned the momentum with a spinning heel kick that rocked Gunther. After a break Gunther was wearing Gargano down with a chinlock but Gargano managed to wiggle out of it and go back on offense. At some point the cameras picked up Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci, and Ilja Dragunov standing on the stage. Dragunov, who had to join Imperium because he lost to Gunther at Backlash is not looking happy as the other two members of Imperium are giving him orders. Dragunov reluctantly walks down to the ring as if he's going to interfere. Gunther tries to pin Gargano multiple times but Johnny Wrestling keeps kicking out. Gunther, fed up with being unable to pin Gargano, hits him with four consecutive short-arm lariats and Gargano is staggered. Gunther goes behind him and locks on a sleeper hold. Gargano fades quickly.

WINNER by referee stoppage and STILL WWE Intercontinental Champion: Gunther (18:09) | 81

WWE DRAFT -- ROUND 2

McAfee and Ricaboni are back. They quickly discuss the picks from Round 1 and then Foley and Regal come back over to their podiums to announce Round 2.

ROUND 2

Pick #1: SmackDown selects Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci, and Ilja Dragunov)

Pick #2: Raw selects Becky Lynch

Pick #3: SmackDown selects John Cena

Pick #4: Raw selects WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions the Street Profits

Pick #5: Raw selects Finn Balor | 70

CHELSEA HURLS...INSULTS

Chelsea Green is backstage with Cathy Kelley. Chelsea ignores Cathy's question about the Draft and instead says her dress is really ugly and that she shouldn't be allowed on tv wearing it. This catches the attention of Tegan Nox, who was apparently walking past or something. Nox enters the picture and says Chelsea is still grumpy over Becky Lynch kicking her ass last week for something she didn't even do. Chelsea gets mad and slaps Tegan. Tegan goes to retaliate but stops and says she'd rather use this to further her career and challenges Chelsea to a match later tonight. Chelsea tries to weasel out of it at first by giving some excuses as to why she can't wrestle but then seemingly has an epiphany and changes her mind and accepts. | 48

ASHANTE ADONIS & APOLLO CREWS |VS| ALPHA ACADEMY

Before the match we get a quick backstage promo from Ashante and Apollo explaining that they've decided to explore becoming a team. Crews says that he sees something in Ashante that reminds him of himself and he wants to mentor him and help him advance in his career. But that advancement hit a snag in the form of Alpha Academy. Gable was incredible in this one. He worked the vast majority of the match and had great exchanges with both Adonis and Apollo. Gable tried for a German suplex on Apollo, but Crews turned himself over and landed on his feet. He dropkicked Gable and Gable tagged out. Otis got some power offense in on Apollo but Crews is able to avoid a corner avalanche and tag out to Ashante. Ashante comes in and looks ok in his comeback but Otis cuts him off with a knee to the midsection and a double axe handle smash to the back. Otis tags back in to Chad Gable and Gable goes off. At one point he leaps up onto the top turnbuckle from the mat and then goes for a flying bulldog but Ashante avoids it. Ashante picks Gable up for an implant ddt but Gable fought out of and quickly rolled up Ashante and grabbed the ropes for leverage to get the victory.

WINNERS by pinfall: Alpha Academy (11:03) | 74

CHALLENGERS EMERGE

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Cody Rhodes comes out next. He gets on the mic and talks about how he is not eligible to be drafted tonight but he is positive that he will be the #1 pick on Friday night and will be returning to Raw in the draft as Raw holds the very first pick on Friday night. Cody says he hopes his next challenger will be named tonight -- or at the latest -- next week. Before he can continue Seth Freakin' Rollins music hits and Seth comes down to the ring. Seth says that since he's already been drafted to Raw he is the #1 contender. Before Seth can answer The Street Profits' music plays and they come down to the ring. Montez reminds everyone that they're currently the only champions on Raw and Dawkins says that makes them the #1 contenders as far as they're concerned. Once again there's an interrruption -- this time by The Revival and Jim Cornette. Cornette says that the Profits shouldn't be allowed to hold both titles. If the Revival get drafted to SmackDown they won't ever be able to challenge for the belts. So he wants his charges to get a title match. Cody chimes in with a solution. He suggests a six-man tag -- himself and the Street Profits against Rollins and the Revival. And the winning team will earn WWE World Heavyweight Championship matches. Everyone agrees and we have our main event for tonight. | 79

WWE DRAFT -- ROUND 3

Corey Graves joins Pat McAfee at the Draft War Room. They're here to announce the next picks.

ROUND 3

Pick #1: Raw selects Drew McIntyre

Pick #2: SmackDown selects Asuka

Pick #3: Raw selects LA Knight

Pick #4: SmackDown selects Shinsuke Nakamura

Pick #5: Raw selects Randy Orton | 61

FROM THE HEART

Immediately after Orton's name is announced his music hits and he comes down to the ring in street clothes (that includes pants -- weird). He gets in the ring and he's handed a microphone. The crowd gives him a great reaction and he seems moved by it. Orton thanks the crowd and then acknowledges that there's been some rumors going around about him lately. He says that it's true that he did return too quickly when he wrestled Austin Theory at WrestleMania. He says that his doctors told him that his neck and his back are messed up to the point where he should consider hanging up his boots. He says the doctor told him that years of doing the RKO have had an extremely negative effect on his body and he needs to stop doing it immediately. Orton says that he's being totally honest and sincere right now and he says that he still feels guilty about the feelings he's felt lately. He's wavered back and forth about whether or not to come back. One on hand he values his family and his wife and his kids more than anything and he wants to be able to be there for them without being in a wheelchair. But on the other hand -- the ring, the fans, the boys in the back, the thrill of winning, even the agony of defeat -- they're like a drug. And him being here tonight and soaking in the crowd's admiration doesn't satisfy him the way competing in the ring does. He feels guilty picking wrestling over his family but he's a third-generation superstar so it's in his blood and every single strand of DNA in his body. Orton says he's not going to be totally stupid. He's going to make adjustments. He said he feels like he still has 10 or 11 RKOs left in his body. So he's going to try and be the old dog that learns new tricks and figure out new ways to win. And once he hits that final RKO -- he's hanging up his boots. To make sure he doesn't get out of this later, when he signed his new contract extension he had verbiage put in the contract that he is only allowed 11 more RKOs. Once he hits the 11th RKO he has to retire from in-ring competition. He says it's the only way he can guarantee that he won't just be out here RKOing everyone and anyone. He told his doctor about the 10 RKO plan and the guy shook his head. "He doesn't approve. My wife doesn't approve. My kids don't approve. But I've never been one to do the right thing." As soon as he finishes talking Jay White's music hits and he comes down to the ring. Jay White cuts a promo on Orton and compares him to a broken down old car on the side of the rode. You see it, and you realize that someone looks upon it fondly, feels nostalgic for it, and it sorta sad that they've had to leave it on the side of the road. But to everyone else who sees it, it just looks like a broken down piece of junk on the side of the road. White says Orton needs a tow truck to send him off to the salvage yard and White would be happy to give him a lift. Orton stands there with an amused look on his face. He starts to respond but then hits an RKO out of nowhere! White is laid out and Orton stands up and puts up 10 fingers, indicating he has 10 RKOs left. | 79

TEGAN NOX |VS| CHELSEA GREEN

This was just okay. These two just didn't click. Nox got to shine to start but Chelsea cut her off with a kick to the surgically repaired knee. Chelsea took over and they told the story that Chelsea just couldn't get any sustained offense because Tegan kept coming back. Tegan eventually hit a brainbuster and then a Shining Wizard and covered Chelsea for the pinfall victory.

WINNER by pinfall: Tegan Nox (8:30) | 48

JUDGMENT DAY MCDONAGH?

Up next is the "breaking in" ceremony for JD McDonagh as he is officially welcomed into Judgment Day. Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dom Mysterio, and Rhea Ripley get in the ring and Balor cuts a promo about expansion of the group. He says that JD McDonagh is a guy who Finn goes back a long ways with. He's someone they can trust and someone that will help them continue to thrive as a group. He takes the formal vote on if they should admit McDonagh into the group. Rhea and Dom immediately raise their hand but Priest is a bit conflicted, it seems. But he eventually does raise his hand. Finn calls out JD and he comes down to the ring with a huge grin on his face. He gets in the ring and Finn hands him a purple handkerchief. Finn then positions him in the middle of the ring and tells Priest to "do it" and Priest lifts Balor up and hits a chokebomb. Finn goes up top and hits the Coup de Grace and then Dominik hits a Frog Splash. They help JD to his feet and hug him and celebrate their newest member. | 73

NICK ALDIS |VS| RIDGE HOLLAND

Ridge put up a bit of a fight early but Aldis' talent and size allowed him to engulf Ridge with some hard hitting offense and eventually locks Ridge in a Cloverleaf and gets him to tap out.

WINNER by submission: Nick Aldis (7:38) | 64

WWE DRAFT -- ROUND 4

Corey Graves and Pat McAfee are back for another round of picks.

ROUND 4

Pick #1: SmackDown selects Kota Ibushi

Pick #2: Raw selects Damian Priest

Pick #3: SmackDown selects Bayley

Pick #4: Raw selects WWE Womens Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky

Pick #5: Raw selects Dominik Mysterio | 65

CIAMPA RETURN VIGNETTE

Next up is a vignette about Tommaso Ciampa's return to the ring. It's an excellent clip that shows him working out in the gym and in the ring and features him talking about how he went to his wife and daughter to get their premission before he started working toward an in-ring comeback. This segment seemed to be the beginning of a Ciampa face turn. | 70

XAVIER WOODS |VS| JAY WHITE

A technically good match where nothing of note really happened. This was just a match to give Jay White a win on Raw. White won with his finish and then after the match he got on the mic and announced that he spoke with William Regal and has been given a match against Randy Orton this Friday night on SmackDown. If Orton accepts.

WINNER by pinfall: Jay White (10:39) | 69

KING THEORY?

Austin Theory is in the back with Byron Saxton. Theory says that even though he's the United States Champion he is going to enter the King of the Ring and win it. He says he doesn't care what brand he ends up getting drafted to. You're looking at the next King of the Ring! | 52

WWE DRAFT -- ROUND 5

Road Dogg and Steve Corino(!!!) are introduced to announce the next two rounds of picks.

ROUND 5

Pick #1: SmackDown selects Sheamus

Pick #2: Raw selects Matt Cardona

Pick #3: Raw selects Omos w/MVP

Pick #4: SmackDown selects Alpha Academy

Pick #5: Raw selects Chelsea Green |56

ROUND 6

Pick #1: SmackDown selects Nick Aldis

Pick #2: Raw selects Tommaso Ciampa

Pick #3: Raw selects Bronson Reed

Pick #4: SmackDown selects Johnny Gargano

Pick #5: SmackDown selects Raquel Rodriguez

Pick #6: Raw selects Rick Boogs | 53

BECKY LYNCH |VS| CARMELLA

This was really good because the crowd was really into Becky and Carmella got a ton of heat but jumping her before the bell. Carmella dropped Becky to her knees with a heavy kick and then slammed Becky's face off the mat. Carmella rubbed her face in the mat and then Becky began to fight back. Becky beat Carmella around the ring and then pinned her with the Manhandle Slam.

WINNER by pinfall: Becky Lynch (7:42) | 80

POST-MATCH ATTACK

As Becky celebrates her win, she is jumped from behind by Tessa Blanchard. Tessa drops Becky with a hammerlock ddt and then stands over Becky and poses. She starts to leave but Becky gets up and returns the favor, attacking Tessa from behind. Tessa bails and heads up the ramp. | 75

WWE DRAFT -- ROUND 7

Foley and Regal are back for the final round of picks for the evening. Anyone in tonight's draft pool who is not selected here will be available in the Supplemental Draft that will be streaming on WWE.COM and all other WWE social media platforms immediately after Raw tonight.

ROUND 7

Pick #1: SmackDown selects Piper Niven

Pick #2: Raw selects JD McDonagh

Pick #3: SmackDown selects The New Day

Pick #4: Raw selects Gable Steveson

Pick #5: SmackDown selects Ricochet

Pick #6: Raw selects Joe & Mark Coffey | 48

MAIN EVENT: WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CODY RHODES & THE UNDISPUTED WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE STREET PROFITS |VS| SETH FREAKIN' ROLLINS & THE REVIVAL

This was an excellent main event. Cody started the match against Dax Dawson and they chain wrestled and exchanged holds for a few minutes and gradually ramped up the action until Dax got frustrated and hit an eye poke and then a double arm ddt for a two count. Dax tagged out and he and his teammates kept Cody isolated in their corner for a while. They worked over Cody's back but he eventually is able to lift Rollins up and drop him throat first on the top rope in a desperate attempt to turn the tide of the match. Cody gets a hot tag to Angelo Dawkins. Big Dawk comes in and is on fire. He fires right hands and dropkicks but Jim Cornette grabs his ankle when he bounces off the ropes and it trips him up. He eats a spinebuster from Dash Wilder. The heels isolate Dawkins but he catches Dax with a big boot and collapses to the mat and then crawls to his corner to make the tag. Montez flies around the ring, looking fantastic. Montez drops Dax with a flying crossbody for a two count. The action continues through a commercial break and when the show comes back Montez and Rollins are both down and working their way back to their feet. Seth is up first and goes for a Curb Stomp but Montez avoids it. He pops up and grabs Rollins and dumps him to the arena floor. Montez hits a springboard plancha onto Rollins and then rolls him back in the ring. As soon as Montez is back in the ring, he's met by the Revival who hit the Shatter Machine while Cornette distracts the referee. Rollins covers Montez, 1---2---NO! Montez kicks out and Rollins goes for another Curb Stomp but Dawkins hits the ring and spears him. The referee admonishes Dawkins and Cornette throws his tennis racket in to Rollins. Rollins grabs it, looks at it, and throws it down. When he turns around, Montez kicks him and hits a ddt. Montez tags in Cody and Cody hits some right hands and then the flip, flop, and fly. The crowd is happy to see it but the Revival cut Cody off by attacking him from behind. The Street Profits hit the ring and things break down as all six men are in the ring at once. When the dust settles, we're left with Dash Wilder and Angelo Dawkins as the legal men in the match. Dawkins eventually sets Dash up on the top turnbuckle and goes for a superplex but Dash blocks it and shoves Dawkins off. As Dawkins is about to fall he tags in Montez. Dawkins takes a bump and Dash leaps off for an elbow drop. Dawkins gets his knees up and Dash is hurt. Dawkins rolls out of the ring and Montez leaps off the top and hits a big splash and covers Dash for the pinfall.

WINNERS by pinfall: Cody Rhodes & The Steet Profits (30:39) | 81

OVERALL RATING: 77

Next week On Raw:

- Cody Rhodes vs Angelo Dawkins | WWE World Heavyweight Championship

- KOTR and QOTR Tournaments Begin

WWE Draft -- Supplemental Draft Picks

RAW gets: Los Lotharios - Lacey Evans - Natalya - Tyler Bate - Blair Davenport - Shayna Baszler - Shelton Benjamin - Drew Gulak - R-Truth - Jinder Mahal

SmackDown gets: Cedric Alexander - Carmella - Candice LeRae - The Viking Raiders - Valhalla - Mickie James - Ridge Holland - Mustafa Ali - Nikki Cross

Last Edit: Jul 9, 2023 7:03:08 GMT 1 by sleestaklightning

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 9, 2023 4:15:14 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 9, 2023 4:15:14 GMT 1

NXT On USA Network

Tuesday -- Week 1 -- May 2023

LIVE! from the WWE Performance Center

- The show opens with Bron Breakker throwing a fit backstage. NXT GM Shawn Michaels confronts him and Bron says that he saw Gable Steveson get drafted to Raw last night and so he knows his time to get his hands on Gable is coming to an end. Shawn says he's going to address that tonight in the ring and asks Bron to calm down until then. Bron asks for a match tonight to get his frustration out on someone. And Shawn promises a match. | 71

- NXT North American Champion DIJAK defeats KUSHIDA & Ikemen Jiro in a handicap match at 6:29. | 54

- Dusty Rhodes Classic First Round Match: Aussie Open beat Mark & Joe Coffey at 12:29. | 58

- Von Wagner is interviewed backstage and he demands a match with Parker Boudreaux. He says he doesn't care when, and he doesn't care where, but if it's not made official soon then he'll just get him in the parking lot or where ever else he may be. | 39

- We get a recap video of Becky Lynch attacking Tessa Blanchard last week. | 72

- Women's Dusty Classic First Round Match: The KCs (Katana Chance & Kayden Carter) defeated Ivy Nile & Zoey Starks at 7:23 | 59

- Robert Stone responds to Von Wagner's challenge and says that no, Parker Boudreaux will not be wrestling Von Wagner any time soon. | 51

- Shawn Michaels is out in the ring and announces Bron Breakker and Gable Steveson will meet one-on-one next week on NXT. | 78

- Joe Gacy is in the ring to officially induct Ricky Banderas into Schism. He introduces the rest of Schism and their music plays but no one comes out. Gacy is a bit confused. Suddenly Hammerstone's voice is heard and we see him standing in the crowd. He says "they're not coming" and when Gacy asked for clarification, Hammerstone starts making his way to the ring. He hops the barricade and starts to climb in while he tells Gacy that he locked the Schism guys in their locker room. Hammerstone tells Gacy to leave him alone. He says if Gacy refuses to leave him alone, Hammerstone will smear him on the mat. Hammerstone backs Gacy into the corner and grabs his shirt to intimidate him more. But Gacy headbutts Hammerstone and flees when Hammerstone is staggered and backs away. Gacy stands in the entrance way with blood dripping down his forehead and he yells that Hammerstone just made a huge mistake. | 51

- DIJAK is backstage with Shawn Michaels. He tells him that he wants some real competition for the North American Championship. DIJAK says that as far as he's concerned, Kushida's chance is over -- he failed. HBK says he agrees and promises to find a suitable opponent for DIJAK. | 64

- Nautica Cabrera (Tasha Steelz) beat Thea Hail in 3:48. Cabrera was just recently signed and was making her debut in NXT. | 39

- Santonio Bolton vignette. He was outside enjoying the trees and the breeze and he got a sign from nature that it was time for him to leave the peace and tranquility of Mother Earth to answer the call of his warrior heart. He says he's on his way to NXT now. See you soon. | 44

- NXT Champion Grayson Waller and Wes Lee wrestled to a 20-minute time limit draw in their non-title match. | 71

- After the match Waller takes his belt and starts to leave when Wes Lee grabs a mic and challenges him to a rematch. Waller gives Wes a thumbs down and then storms off. | 64

OVERALL RATING: 68

Last Edit: Jul 17, 2023 5:36:36 GMT 1 by sleestaklightning

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 11, 2023 18:22:06 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 11, 2023 18:22:06 GMT 1

Friday Night SmackDown!

Friday -- Week 1 -- May 2023

Live! from New York City

WWE DRAFT NIGHT 2 -- ROUND 1

No opening this week as the show cuts right to the point. SmackDown GM William Regal and Raw GM Mick Foley are standing at the podiums already. Tonight, Raw gets the first pick.

ROUND 1

Pick #1 -- Raw selects WWE World Heavyweight Champion Cody Rhodes

Pick #2 -- SmackDown selects The Bloodline

Pick #3 -- Raw selects Edge

Pick #4 -- SmackDown selects Charlotte Flair

Pick #5 -- Raw selects Bianca BelAir

After these picks are announced, Edge comes out to the ring. He starts to cut a promo about how this might be last run in wrestling and he wants to make the most of it by becoming the champion. Before he can continue, The Bloodline interrupts. Jey Uso says SmackDown is his show and this is his ring so Edge has until the Bloodline gets to the ring to get out or else he'll face the consequences of disobeying the Bloodline. Edge laughs and says Jey needs to go back and learn a little bit about Edge's career if he thinks Edge is intimidated or willing to go along to get along. The Bloodline hits the ring and Edge spears Jimmy as soon as he gets in the ring. But Solo and Ona hit Edge from behind and are beating him up. Jey makes them hold Edge up while he goes for a superkick but before he can hit it JOHN CENA'S music hits and the legend runs down to the ring. Jey Uso bails and Cena exchanges punches with Solo as Edge takes out Ona. Solo gets the upperhand and is about to hit the Samoan Spike on Cena but Edge spears him. The segment ends with Edge and Cena standing tall as the Bloodline heads to the back. | 72

JOHNNY GARGANO |VS| CHAD GABLE

This was a great match as these two have excellent chemistry with one another. The story of the match was that Gable underestimated Gargano and thought he could win easily. But Gargano kept fighting and even outwrestling Gable at times. Eventually Gable got frustrated and began to use strikes and cheat. Gargano missed a flying crossbody and Gable hit a German suplex and then won with a fisherman buster.

WINNER by pinfall: Chad Gable (12:20) | 84

A HANDSHAKE

After the match Chad Gable helped Gargano to his feet and then offered him a handshake. Gargano accepted and the two men shook hands. Otis came in and he shook Gargano's hand too. | 62

DRAFT NIGHT 2 -- ROUND 2

Foley is back at his podium but this time William Regal's assistant Jinny is at the SmackDown podium. She says Regal is on the phone trying to strike some sort of deal so she will announce SmackDown's picks.

Pick #1 -- Raw selects AJ Styles

Pick #2 -- SmackDown selects Kevin Owens

Pick #3 -- Raw selects Logan Paul

Pick #4 -- SmackDown selects The Revival w/Jim Cornette

Pick #5 -- Raw selects WWE United States Champion Austin Theory | 77

SHEAMUS |VS| APOLLO CREWS

Another good match as Sheamus and Crews worked hard and hit harder. Crews was allowed to get enough offense in to look credible but Sheamus took most of the match. The finish comes when Sheamus misses a Brogue Kick and crotches the top rope. Crews suplexes him back into the ring and then picks him up and sets him on the top turnbuckle. Crews goes for a superplex but Sheamus blocks it and headbutts him until Crews falls to the mat. Sheamus hops down and waits for Crews to get to his feet. When he does, Sheamus hits the Brogue Kick and covers Crews for the win.

WINNER by pinfall: Sheamus (11:01) | 79

SHINSUKE ATTACKS

WWE Universal Champion Sami Zayn is backstage with Kayla Braxton. She asks him about his upcoming title defense against Shinsuke Nakamura at the WWE Ring Royalty event in 3 weeks in London, England. Sami starts to talk when he's attacked from behind by Shinsuke Nakamura. Shinsuke drops Sami to the ground and then begins stomping and kicking him. He tells his young boy to join in and the boy does as he's told, crouching down and straddling Sami and firing off punches. Nakamura grabs YB by the hair and picks him up to his feet. Then Shinsuke goes back on the attack, driving his knee into Sami's head and neck. Road agents rush over and separate the men from Sami. | 77

DRAFT NIGHT 2 -- ROUND 3

Triple H comes to the podium to announce the picks from Round 3.

Pick #1 -- SmackDown selects Rey Mysterio

Pick #2 -- Raw selects Liv Morgan

Pick #3 -- SmackDown selects Bobby Lashley

Pick #4 -- Raw selects Karrion Kross

Pick #5 -- Raw selects Cameron Grimes | 63

BACKSTAGE CONFRONTATION

Kayla Braxton is backstage again with Bobby Lashley. She asks him about being drafted to SmackDown. He's happy to be on SmackDown but he's upset that Karrion Kross got sent to Raw because Lashley feels like he's owed a rematch from last week. Scarlett suddenly enters the picture. She tells Lashley that the outcome of his match with Kross last week was inevitable, she just sped it up by getting involved. She tells Lashley that Kross doesn't owe him a rematch but she knows he'd love to get his hands on Bobby one last time before they end up on separate brands. Lashley says that they can do it tonight if Regal allows it. Scarlett says she'll go ask him. | 66

NIKKI CROSS |VS| LIV MORGAN

Nikki attacks Liv during her entrance and beats her up pretty bad before the bell. The referee checks to see if Liv can continue and she insists she can. When the bell rings Nikki goes on the attack again. She is ruthless as he fires punches and kicks at Liv. Liv covers up and Nikki bends down and grabs her by the hair. She picks Liv up and goes for a suplex but Liv blocks it and turns it into a ddt. Liv goes up to the second turnbuckle and comes off with a knee to Nikki's head. Liv picks her up and whips her across the ring into the corner. Liv follows with a corner clothesline and an STO. Liv covers Nikki and gets the win.

WINNER by pinfall: Liv Morgan (8:08) | 67

DRAFT NIGHT 2 -- ROUND 4

Triple H is back at the podium.

Pick #1 -- Raw selects Tessa Blanchard

Pick #2 -- SmackDown selects Jay White

Pick #3 -- Raw selects The Miz

Pick #4 -- SmackDown selects Alexa Bliss

Pick #5 -- Raw selects Gallows & Anderson | 59

BOBBY LASHLEY |VS| KARRION KROSS w/SCARLETT

These guys were laying it in in this one. Lashley and Kross had a really good, hard-hitting brawl. Lashley controlled to start but was too cognizant of Scarlett's presence and keeps getting distracted. This allows Kross to take control with a running knee to Lashley's back. Kross gets the Kross Jacket on Lashley but Lashley powers out of it to the amazement of everyone. Lashley hits a spinebuster and then goes for a powerbomb but Scarlett pops up on the apron and goes to spray Lashley again but the referee sees it and stops her. In the process both the referee and Scarlett get sprayed with the pepper spray. Scarlett falls off the apron and the referee is down and calls for the trainer to wipe his eyes. Lashley throws Kross down and goes to check on the referee. Kross takes advantage and drops a headbutt into Lashley's kidneys. Lashley falls to one knee, Kross picks him up to his feet and whips him into the corner. Kross charges but Lashley raises his foot and boots Kross in the face. Lashley runs out of the corner and hits a charging lariat. He picks Kross up and locks him in the Hurt Lock. Kross taps but the referee doesn't see it. Kross hits a low blow mule kick on Lashley to break the hold. Scarlett gets up and Kross goes to see if she's ok. He turns around and Lashley is down on his knees. Kross walks over to Lashley and goes to apply the Kross Jacket again but Lashley won't let him. Lashley turns around and kicks Kross in the midsection and whips him into the ropes. Kross ducks a clotheslines and comes off the ropes with a big boot but Lashley ducks it. Both men turn around and Lashley kicks Kross in the midsection and then hoists him up and hits a Dominator. He covers Kross, 1---2---3!!!

WINNER by pinfall: Bobby Lashley (11:26) | 74

DRAFT NIGHT 2 -- ROUND 5

Triple H is back one final time for the last picks of the draft.

Pick #1 -- Raw selects Tegan Nox

Pick #2 -- SmackDown selects Braun Strowman

Pick #3 -- Raw selects Butch (NOTE: he is announced as Pete "Butch" Dunne when they announce this pick)

Pick #4 -- SmackDown selects Legado del Fantasma

Pick #5 -- Raw selects CARLITO(!!!) | 57

MAIN EVENT -- EDGE & JOHN CENA |VS| THE BLOODLINE (JIMMY USO & SOLO SIKOA)

Due to Jey Uso's shoulder injury Solo Sikoa takes his spot in this match. The match starts slow with the Jimmy Uso stalling and trying to get the veterans frustrated. Edge and Jimmy finally lock up and Edge gets the upper hand at first. Eventually Jimmy get Edge in the heel corner and Jey Uso trips Edge when he tries to come out of the corner for a clothesline. This allows the heels to take control. Edge is worked over by both Jimmy and Solo for a few minutes but eventually hits an inverted atomic drop on Jimmy and makes the hot tag. Cena comes in and is on fire. He hits both Jimmy and Solo with strikes and kicks and power moves but is cut off by Solo when he avoids a flying tackle and headbutts Cena in the back of the neck. Cena drops to one knee and Solo and Jimmy then work him over. They repeat the early portions of the match but this time it's Cena who is cut off. The three members of the Bloodline on the outside of the ring are too much to overcome until suddenly Kevin Owens comes down to the ring with a chair to prevent Jey and Ona from interfering. Cena gets a desperation AA on Jimmy and tags in Edge. Edge spears Solo and then waits for Jimmy to get up. Trinity grabs Edge's ankle and he looks down at her. KO walks over and grabs her arms and pulls her off of Edge and eats a superkick from Jey Uso for his trouble. Ona pops up on the apron and Edge spears him. But he turns right into a Samoan Spike from Solo. Edge is down and Solo covers but Cena breaks the count at two. Everything breaks down and all four men are brawling in the ring. Jimmy goes for a superkick on Edge but Cena shoves Edge out of the way and Jimmy kicks Solo instead. Another AA to Jimmy allows Edge to cover Solo and get the pinfall.

WINNERS by pinfall: Edge & John Cena (20:26) | 68

TENSION AND DISSENSION

After the match is over Edge and Cena celebrate on the ramp and stage with Kevin Owens while the Bloodline are in the ring trying to figure out what went wrong. Solo is not happy with Jimmy for kicking him and Jey is not happy with either man for arguing. The show goes off the air with Trinity yelling at all three men to stop fighting spliced with shots of the babyfaces laughing and celebrating on the stage. | 65

OVERALL RATING: 72

------

Supplemental Draft Night Two

Raw Gets: Robert Roode - Dabba-Kato - Dolph Ziggler - Maximum Male Models - Mike Bennett - Riddick Moss - Emma - Tamina - Mia Yim

SmackDown Gets: The Von Erichs - Davey Boy Smith Jr - Nikki Cross - Shotzi - Indi Hartwell - RVD - Apollo Crews - Roderick Strong - Sonya Deville - Von Wagner - Ashante Adonis - Akira Tozawa - B-FAB

NXT has purchased the contracts of undrafted free agents Baron Corbin and Elias.

-----

WWE Ring Royalty 2023
Saturday -- Week 4 -- May 2023
LIVE! from London, England

WWE Universal Championship Match
Sami Zayn (C) |VS| Shinsuke Nakamura

WWE King of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw Semi-Final Winner |VS| SmackDown Semi-Final Winner

WWE Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw Semi-Final Winner |VS| SmackDown Semi-Final Winner

Raw KOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

SmackDown KOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

Raw QOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

SmackDown QOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

Last Edit: Jul 11, 2023 18:22:32 GMT 1 by sleestaklightning

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 15, 2023 6:57:25 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 15, 2023 6:57:25 GMT 1

Post Draft Roster Update

RAW ROSTER

GENERAL MANAGER: Mick Foley

WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Cody Rhodes

WWE World Women's Champion: Rhea Ripley

WWE Undisputed World Tag Team Champions: The Street Profits

WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky

WWE United States Champion: Austin Theory

AJ Styles

Angel Garza

Angelo Dawkins

Austin Theory

Bronson Reed

Cameron Grimes

Carlito

Cody Rhodes

Dabba-Kato

Damian Priest

Dolph Ziggler

Dominik Mysterio

Drew Gulak

Drew McIntyre

Edge

Finn Balor

Gable Steveson

Humberto Carrillo

JD McDonagh

Jinder Mahal

Joe Coffey

Karl Anderson

Karrion Kross

LA Knight

Logan Paul

Luke Gallows

Mace

Mansoor

Mark Coffey

Matt Cardona

Mike Bennett

Montez Ford

MVP

Omos

Pete "Butch" Dunne

Randy Orton

Rick Boogs

Riddick Moss

Robert Roode

R-Truth

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins

Shelton Benjamin

The Miz

Tommaso Ciampa

Tyler Bate

Becky Lynch

Bianca BelAir

Blair Davenport

Chelsea Green

Dakota Kai

Emma

Iyo Sky

Lacey Evans

Liv Morgan

Mia Yim

Natalya

Rhea Ripley

Shayna Baszler

Tamina

Tegan Nox

Tessa Blanchard

Coffey Brothers

The Dirty Dawgs

Los Lotharios

The Good Brothers

The Street Profits

MVP

Scarlett

Mauro Ranallo

Corey Graves

Wade Barrett

Byron Saxton

Cathy Kelley

SMACKDOWN ROSTER

SMACKDOWN GENERAL MANAGER: William Regal

SMACKDOWN ASSISTANT GM: Jinny

WWE Universal Champion: Sami Zayn

WWE Universal Women's Champion: Sasha Banks

WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions: The Street Profits

WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky

WWE Intercontinental Champion: GUNTHER

Akira Tozawa

Apollo Crews

Ashante Adonis

Big E (Injured)

Bobby Lashley

Braun Strowman

Cedric Alexander

Chad Gable

Cruz Del Toro

Dash Wilder

Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Dax Dawson

Erik

Giovanni Vinci

GUNTHER

Ilja Dragunov

Ivar

Jay White

Jey Uso

Jimmy Uso

Joaquin Wilde

John Cena

Johnny Gargano

Kevin Owens

Kofi Kingston

Kota Ibushi

Ludwig Kaiser

Marshall Von Erich

Mustafa Ali

Nick Aldis

Ona Leaga

Otis

Rey Mysterio

Ricochet

Ridge Holland

Rob Van Dam

Roderick Strong

Ross Von Erich

Sami Zayn

Santos Escobar

Sheamus

Shinsuke Nakamura

Solo Sikoa

Von Wagner

Xavier Woods

Alexa Bliss

Asuka

Bayley

Candice LeRae

Carmella

Charlotte Flair

Indi Hartwell

Mickie James

Nikki Cross

Piper Niven

Raquel Rodriguez

Sasha Banks

Shotzi

Sonya Deville

Trinity Fatu

Valhalla

Zelina Vega

Alpha Academy

Imperium

Legado del Fantasma

The New Day

The Revival

The Von Erichs

The Way

Viking Raiders

B-FAB

Jim Cornette

Michael Cole

Pat McAfee

Daniel Cormier

Kayla Braxton

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 15, 2023 7:31:27 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 15, 2023 7:31:27 GMT 1

WEEK 2 -- MAY 2023

WWE Monday Night RAW

Monday -- Week 2 -- May 2023

LIVE! from Vancouver, Canada

A CONTENTIOUS START

After a brand new opening video and song we get a shot of the ring and then Seth Freakin' Rollins' music hits. Rollins comes to the ring looking ridiculous as always. He talks about the six-man tag main event last week and says that if Cody is giving title shots to the Street Profits then he should also have to give one to Seth since he had nothing to do with the loss. Seth said his resume and reputation alone should make him the #1 contender and put him against Cody Rhodes in London in three weeks. LA Knight's music hits and he comes out to a big ovation. He gets in the ring and tells Rollins that if anyone should be in that title match, it's L-A-Knight! Rollins and Knight keep verbally sparring until Mick Foley comes out. Foley says that with the King and Queen of the Ring tournaments starting tonight the show is too action packed to add another match to but Foley is happy to make Rollins versus Knight for next week. And you know what? The winner of that match WILL go to London to challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Ring Royalty! Knight offers a handshake and Rollins reluctantly accepts. But both men try to double cross one another and that leads to an awkward moment where they both go for punches but stop. They laugh and Knight pats Seth on the shoulder and Seth pats Knight on the back. Knight goes to leave but turns around and punches Seth and drops him to the mat anyway. | 73

KING OF THE RING FIRST ROUND: TOMMASO CIAMPA |VS| CAMERON GRIMES

Good opening match of the tournament. Both guys fought hard and the match was free of cheating or anything of the sort. Grimes did a great job showing urgency as he kicked out of big moves and tried to hit Ciampa with his finish. But Ciampa's experience was too much for Grimes and Ciampa took advantage of Grimes going up top for a double foot stomp and shook the ropes, causing Grimes to crotch the top turnbuckle. Ciampa hit an avalanche fireman's carry slam and covered Grimes for the win.

WINNER by pinfall: Tommaso Ciampa (11:10) | 69

POST-MATCH

After the match is over, Ciampa walks over to Grimes and yanks him up to his feet. Ciampa gives Grimes a hug and then raises his arm and points at him out of respect. | 57

THE RE-EDUCATION OF RHEA RIPLEY

WWE World Women's Champion Rhea Ripley comes out to cut a promo about being champion. She says that it's early in her reign but when she looks out across the landscape of the women's division on Raw post-Draft she doesn't see anyone who can take the title from her. Rhea acknowledges Becky Lynch's existence but says that she's took busy with personal grudges. Rhea then talks about how she put Bianca BelAir out of action for the foreseeable future and...Bianca's music hits and the crowd pops as Bianca comes out onto the stage. Bianca tells Rhea that she looks like she's just seen a ghost but maybe that's how she always looks. Bianca says she's back and stronger than ever. Rhea's attack did put her out but she worked hard to recover and is now ready to get back in the ring. Rhea tells her to stop yapping and get in the ring. | 87

Bianca runs down to the ring and immediately starts brawling with Rhea. They throw punch after punch at one another until referees and road agents rush out to break them up. | 70

QUEEN OF THE RING FIRST ROUND: EMMA |VS| CHELSEA GREEN

This was pretty much the opposite of the men's match from earlier. It was short, and not very good. But Chelsea Green got a clean win and got to celebrate in the ring afterward so there was clearly a purpose for this match.

WINNER by pinfall: Chelsea Green (4:39) | 33

THEORY ISN'T HAPPY

United States Champion Austin Theory is backstage with Byron Saxton. Saxton asks Theory about how he plans to manage being the US Champion and competing in the King of the Ring tournament at the same time. Theory scoffs at the question and says Byron is dumb if he thinks that matters to Theory. He says that what happened last week during the WWE draft was a travesty and that he was drafted way later than he had any right to be. Theory says that the rest of the Raw locker room is going to pay for Foley and Regal's oversight. Theory says Byron is standing next to the next King of the Ring and there isn't anything anyone can do about it. | 46

AN INVITATION

The announcers pitch to a pre-recorded video message that Jim Cornette has asked be aired on the broadcast tonight. Cornette formally invites the Street Profits to visit Jim and the Revival on SmackDown this week so they can conduct some business. | 68

THE COFFEY BROTHERS |VS| DREW GULAK & RIDDICK MOSS

A quick squash for the Coffeys debut on Raw. Gulak got some offense in early but he tagged out to Riddick Moss and never got tagged back in. The Coffeys hit Moss with a spinning powerbomb/second rope elbow drop for the pinfall victory.

WINNERS by pinfall: The Coffey Brothers (4:33) | 38

NEW CHALLENGERS EMERGE

Street Profits and Bianca talking backstage about Montez's title match main event when Judgment Day interrupts. Balor says Profits better not get too obsessed with chasing singles gold because Balor and Priest are coming for their tag titles. Bianca asks where Rhea is and Balor says Bianca got one lucky shot in and Rhea had to get minor medical attention and that Bianca better watch out because Rhea is going to be looking for her. Montez tells Balor off and welcomes the challenge from Balor and Priest. | 65

QUEEN OF THE RING FIRST ROUND: NATALYA |VS| TEGAN NOX

A really good match where both women are desperate to win. Natalya works over Nox's back and knee and tries to win with the Sharpshooter but Nox keeps getting out of it and fighting back. Natalya puts Nox up on the top turnbuckle and goes for a superplex but Nox fights back and shoves Natalya off the turnbuckles. Natalya lands on her feet but Nox leaps off and hits a Molly-Go-Round. Nox gets up and when Natalya starts to get to her feet, Nox hits a Shining Wizard and covers Natalya for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall: Tegan Nox (11:35) | 56

BECKY WANTS TESSA

After a commercial break, Becky Lynch's music hits and Becky storms down to the ring. She says that she's been trying to get a chance to come down to the ring all night so far and this is the first time the producers would allow it so she's not going to waste any time. She calls out Tessa Blanchard. Tessa answers her by coming out onto the stage. Tessa says that normally she'd be happy to come down to the ring and beat Becky's ass but she doesn't want to risk accidentally injuring herself because she's headed back down to NXT to try to get a rematch after Becky Lynch screwed her out of the #1 contendership. Becky calls her a coward and says she'll follow her to the ends of the earth if she has to in order to get her hands on Tessa. | 84

DREW MCINTYRE |VS| JINDER MAHAL

Drew's Raw debut is successful as he basically squashes Jinder Mahal and wins with the Claymore Kick. After the match, Jinder Mahal gets on the mic and runs down Drew and tells him that he will pay for disrespecting him. McIntyre laughs as he heads to the back.

WINNER by pinfall: Drew McIntyre (4:31) | 67

KAI AND SKY --- OPPONENTS?

Byron Saxton is backstage with WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky. He says that both women have entered the Queen of the Ring tournament and the draw has them facing one another next week. He asks them for their thoughts about having to compete against one another. Dakota Kai says it's a conspiracy to try and take them down since they have no competition. She says that Iyo and her will compete and the best woman will win and they'll continue to be teammates and partners after the match. Iyo says that she will be the Queen of the Ring and then smiles and fist bumps Dakota who then says "Not if I can help it." | 55

ORTON SPEAKS

Randy Orton is being interviewed by Cathy Kelley when Logan Paul interrupts and asks Orton for selfie of him getting RKO'd. Kelley tells Logan about Orton's promo last week. Paul smirks and apologizes but Orton walks off pissed off. When he does, Kross and Scarlett enter the picture and Kross rubs his hands as he follows after Orton. | 54

KING OF THE RING FIRST ROUND -- AUSTIN THEORY |VS| TYLER BATE

Theory looks like a star in the making in this one. Tyler Bate is a great foil for him and he's making his main roster debut with this match. They give Bate a lot of offense for that reason but ultimately Austin Theory picks up the win here with the A-Town Down.

WINNER by pinfall: Austin Theory (13:28) | 67

EDGE HYPE VIDEO

A video airs hyping up Edge upon his return to the Raw brand. | 79

JUDGMENT DAY (FINN BALOR, DOM MYSTERIO & DAMIAN PRIEST) |VS| AJ STYLES, KARL ANDERSON & LUKE GALLOWS

This was non-stop action from beginning to end. The Good Brothers brawled on the outside with Dom and Priest for most of the match while Balor and Styles had a good exchange in the ring. Balor hit the Sling Blade and went for the Coup de Grace but Gallows pulled Styles out of the way. Balor hit a dive on Gallows and Styles and then Dom grabbed AJ and rolled him into the ring. Dom went in after him and hit a flying clothesline and then a running knee drop and then went up to the top rope. Dom hit a Frog Splash on AJ and covered him but AJ kicked out. Dom is shocked and he stands up and Karl Anderson kicks him in the stomach and hits a spinebuster. Balor comes in the ring and takes Anderson out with a shot from behind and then throws him out of the ring. Balor turns into a kick from Styles and then the Styles Clash. AJ covers Balor, and the referee realizes Balor is the real legal man and starts to count but Dom breaks up the pin at two. Dom goes to his corner and gets tagged in. He comes off the second rope for a flying ddt but AJ catches him with a dropkick and tags in Anderson. Karl Anderson gets in and lifts Dom up in the air to hit the Stun Gun but Dom fights out of it, over Karl's shoulders and gets a sunset flip for a near fall. Both men get up and hit running clotheslines. Both men go down but Dom gets to his feet first. Dom tags in Balor and then attacks AJ Styles on the apron. Outside of the ring Priest and Gallows are brawling in the aisleway. Balor hits the Sling Blade and then the Coup de Grace and then covers Anderson for the pinfall.

WINNERS by pinfall: Judgment Day (11:47) | 63

A NEW MODEL?

Backstage, Maxxine Dupri and the Maximum Male Models are getting ready to do an interview with Cathy Kelley. Cathy asks them about being on Raw when suddenly Angel Garza enters the frame. He has a rose for Maxxine Dupri and he tells her that he's absolutely stunned by her beauty. He kisses her hand and winks at her and walks off. Mace and Mansoor are impressed and tell her that she needs to sign Angel too. Maxxine is stunned and doesn't remember the question and just sort of walks off. | 39

MAIN EVENT -- WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: CODY RHODES (C) |VS| MONTEZ FORD

This is an excellent back-and-forth title match. Cody gives Montez a ton of offense and really helps to establish him as a singles star. They shake hands to start and then lock up. Both guys get some offense in early but things settle down and Ford's speed and agility help him gain the upper hand. Eventually Montez goes for a leap frog but Cody stops running and catches him with an inverted atomic drop. Cody takes over and starts to get going when Ford hits a dropkick and it sends Cody to the arena floor. Montez baseball slides under the ropes but Cody gets out of the way and gets back in the ring. Montez climbs back in and they lock up again. Cody wins the exchange and gets a side headlock. Montez slowly gets out of it and they ramp up again. The match builds with a series of near falls from both guys until Cody and Montez both hit flying crossbodys and are down in the middle of the ring. Montez crawls to the ropes and pulls himself up. He gets to the corner and climbs to the top rope. Montez leaps off the top rope and hits a big splash. He covers Cody, but Cody uses Montez' own momentum to get a hold of him and roll over into a pin attempt for the 3-count.

WINNER by pinfall and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Cody Rhodes (24:53) | 73

POST-MATCH ATTACK
After the match, Cody and Montez shake hands and Cody raises Montez's arm. But suddenly Seth Freakin' Rollins and LA Knight hit the ring and jump Cody. Montez quickly steps in to try to stop them but they lay him out. They begin to push and shove each other and Angelo Dawkins hits the ring and the heels bail. The show goes off the air with the Street Profits and Cody recovering in the ring as Rollins and Knight argue on the ramp. | 71

OVERALL RATING: 77

-----

KING OF THE RING 2023 BRACKET

==

Queen Of The Ring 2023 Bracket

-----

Raw Next Week:

- Cody Rhodes vs Angelo Dawkins | WWE World Championship
- AJ Styles vs Dominik Mysterio | King of the Ring First Round
- Montez Ford vs Pete "Butch" Dunne | King of the Ring First Round
- Dakota Kai vs Iyo Sky | Queen of the Ring First Round
- Liv Morgan vs Shayna Baszler | Queen of the Ring First Round

----

WWE Ring Royalty 2023
Saturday -- Week 4 -- May 2023
LIVE! from London, England

WWE Universal Championship Match
Sami Zayn (C) |VS| Shinsuke Nakamura

WWE King of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw Semi-Final Winner |VS| SmackDown Semi-Final Winner

WWE Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw Semi-Final Winner |VS| SmackDown Semi-Final Winner

Raw KOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

SmackDown KOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

Raw QOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

SmackDown QOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

Last Edit: Jul 15, 2023 7:35:33 GMT 1 by sleestaklightning

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 17, 2023 6:29:02 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 17, 2023 6:29:02 GMT 1

NXT On USA Network

Tuesday -- Week 2 -- May 2023

LIVE! from the WWE Performance Center

- Tessa Blanchard opens the show by demanding an NXT Women's Title match because Becky Lynch cost her her chance. Alba Fyre answers and tells Tessa to suck it up. Alba says she earned her title shot and she's not about to give it up. This brings out NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez. Roxanne says that as far as she's concerned she'll wrestle both women. Suddenly, Becky Lynch comes from the crowd and hits the ring and attacks Tessa. Tessa flees through the crowd and security grabs Becky and holds her back. This brings out Shawn Michaels who tells security to let Becky go and says she's always welcome here. He says that he knows Becky wants to get her hands on Tessa and so he's offering her a shot to compete for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT Breakdown. Becky says she'll think about it. Michaels announces Roxanne Perez vs. Alba Fyre vs. Tessa Blanchard for the title at Breakdown and then says Becky will be added to the match if she accepts the opportunity. | 72

- Dusty Classic -- Round One: Dragon Lee & Vidal Duran defeated OMERTA at 6:29. | 54

- NXT North American Champion DIJAK cuts a promo begging HBK to find him someone to fight. | 54

- Joe Gacy challenges Alexander Hammerstone to a match for Breakdown. | 50

- Nautica Cabrera pinned Santana Garrett in 5:17. | 48

- Von Wagner finds Robert Stone's car and destroys it with a baseball bat until Stone and Boudreaux arrive and attack Wagner. They're pulled apart and Stone has Wagner arrested for the vandalism. | 51

- Wes Lee promo. He calls Grayson Waller a coward and once again challenges him to a match for NXT Breakdown. | 48

- Carmelo Hayes defeated Noam Dar at 8:39. | 62

- NXT Champion Grayson Waller is interviewed by McKenzie Mitchell and he says Wes Lee can get his rematch if he can beat Xyon Quinn and Nebo McKing. | 60

- Women's Dusty Classic -- Round One: Thea Hail & Sol Ruca upset Tiffany Stratton & Franky Monet at 4:55. | 41

- Santonio Bolton made his in-ring debut pinning Sam Beale in 4:49. | 44

- "Filthy" Tom Lawlor hype video. | 57

- Baron Corbin came out to the ring and announced that he had returned to NXT and said he couldn't wait to leave again. He issues an open challenge so he can get a big win and remind Raw and SmackDown why he is too good for NXT and have them come crawling back. He's interrupted by Hammerstone who says nothing but gets in the ring and punches Corbin. | 64

- Hammerstone defeated Baron Corbin by pinfall in 8:42. | 58

- After the match, the Dyad rushes out and attacks Hammerstone but he fights them off until Ricky Banderas attacks him from behind. Banderas grabs Hammerstone and holds him in place until Joe Gacy comes out to berate him. Hammerstone headbutts Gacy, breaks free from Banderas and tosses him from the ring. Hammerstone grabs Gacy and is about to hit him with something before the Dyad grabs Gacy and bail to the back. | 55

- Bron Breakker is out to the ring for the face-off with Gable Steveson. Breakker says that last week HBK promised him a match but didn't give him one. Breakker says he's been seething since last week and if Shawn doesn't want an all out massacre of Gable Steveson tonight he better send someone out for Breakker. Suddenly Elias shows up and tells Breakker he'll sing him a song to cheer him up. Breakker immediately spears Elias and then grabs the guitar and destroys it. Elias gets up and Breakker hits his finish on him and then kicks him out of the ring under the ropes. | 57

- Michaels comes to the ring and says that Gable Steveson has refused to come to the ring without a team of security. Michaels says that the match between Breakker and Steveson will happen at Breakdown. Breakker is ready for Steveson to come out and so Gable comes out with a ridiculous amount of security. He gets in the ring and Breakker tries to get at him but the security holds him back. Damon Kemp, who the announcers acknowledge is Steveson's brother, slides into the ring behind Breakker and takes out the back of Breakker's knee with a club of some kind. Breakker falls to the mat. Michaels kicks Kemp out and Steveson tells security to step aside. When they do, Gable slowly walks up to Breakker and slaps him in the face as Breakker is down on one knee. Breakker lunges for Steveson but Steveson backs up and Breakker falls forward. Breakker tries to stand but can't. Steveson pie faces him and shoves Breakker to the mat. Breakker grabs the ropes and uses them to try to pick himself up. He punches his knee a couple times and Steveson tells his security to help Breakker up. They do and hold him in place for Steveson to walk up to him and do something but Michaels steps in front of Steveson. Michaels tells him to back off. Breakker fights away from the security and goes for Steveson but collapses to the mat. Gable and HBK are arguing and Breakker gets back up punches his knee a couple times and then charges Steveson. Steveson moves and Breakker spears HBK by accident. Breakker is stunned at the mistake and this allows Gable Steveson to grab him and slam him to the mat and quickly grab Breakker's bad leg and locks him in a kneebar with a grapevine. Breakker screams and tries to fight out of it. Michaels gets back to his feet and tries to get Steveson to break the hold but he won't. Michaels superkicks Steveson and the show goes off the air with the announcers saying HBK has seemingly lost control of NXT. | 68

OVERALL RATING: 64

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Next week on NXT...

- Dusty Classic Round 2: Aussie Open vs Vidal Duran & Dragon Lee
- Women's Dusty Classic Round 2: Toxic Attraction vs The KCs
- Wes Lee vs Xyon Quinn

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NXT Breakdown
Saturday -- Week 1 -- June 2023

MAIN EVENT
Bron Breakker |VS| Gable Steveson

NXT Women's Championship Match
Roxanne Perez (C) |VS| Alba Fyre |VS| Tessa Blanchard
*Becky Lynch has invitation to join this match if she chooses*

Dusty Classic Tag Team Tournament Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

Women's Dusty Classic Tag Team Tournament Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

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[WWE 2023] Ragnarok And Revolutionize Jul 21, 2023 4:38:48 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by sleestaklightning on Jul 21, 2023 4:38:48 GMT 1

Friday Night SmackDown!

Friday -- Week 2 -- May 2023

Live! from Charlotte, NC

CHAOTIC OPENING

Immediately after the SmackDown opening video we're thrown right into chaos as Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are standing up at the announce desk and pitch to a replay of Brock Lesnar jumping Daniel Cormier as Cormier was making his way to the ring to announce SmackDown. Lesnar attacked Cormier from behind and Cormier turned around and started throwing fists. Security rush in and separate the two men but Lesnar gets another shot in, sucker punching Cormier and knocking him down. Lesnar is forced to leave and Cormier is escorted to the back. | 82

KING OF THE RING -- ROUND 1: RICOCHET |VS| SANTOS ESCOBAR

Energetic opener. They start off with a face-off in the middle of the ring. Escobar offers a handshake and Ricochet accepts. They shake hands and then immediately lock-up. Escobar wins the opening exchange and takes control of the match but he misses a dropkick and Ricochet takes over. Each man goes back and forth with fast-paced, high flying offense but neither man can get a lasting advantage. Eventually they work toward the finish where Ricochet goes up top but Escobar recovers quickly and runs up and gets a hurricanrana that sends Ricochet crashing to the mat. Escobar picks Ricochet up and hits Thrill of the Hunt (Samoan Driver) and covers Ricochet for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall: Santos Escobar (12:36) | 75

THE BLOODLINE HAS A SERIOUS DISCUSSION

The Usos and Trinity are backstage having a discussion when a camera man approaches them from behind and begins rolling. It turns out someone showed them footage of Solo Sikoa texting someone during their meetings backstage last week. Jey wants to know who he was texting. Jimmy says he'll look into it. Trinity notices the camera man and yells at him to get out and the Usos stop talking and turn around to run the guy off. | 65

A NEW CHALLENGER

Kayla Braxton is backstage with Bobby Lashley. She officially welcomes him to the SmackDown roster. Lashley thanks her and then says he's excited to be here and that he has his sights set on Gunther and the Intercontinental Championship. Somehow, Kaiser and Vinci of Imperium happened to hear this and they interrupt and tell Lashley that he has to go through them to get to Gunther. Lashley says he's fine with that and all three men agree to go to William Regal to ask for a match later tonight. | 58

QUEEN OF THE RING -- ROUND 1: BAYLEY |VS| ALEXA BLISS

This match was shorter than I expected it to be but they had to cram a lot into two hours so I get it. Alexa was in control early and got a really close near fall after an implant ddt but Bayley got her foot on the bottom rope. Alexa picked her up but Damage CTRL's music hit and she was distracted. That allowed Bayley to turn the tide of the match as she attacked Alexa from behind. Bayley hit a belly-to-belly suplex and then waited for Alexa to stand up and then locked in the Cobra Clutch to the surprise of the announcers. Bliss passed out in the hold and Bayley got the win.

WINNER by referee stoppage: Bayley (6:41) | 64

AN INTERROGATION

Solo Sikoa is standing backstage when Jimmy Uso walks up to him. Jimmy wants to speak with him in private, away from the cameras, but Solo isn't interested. Solo asks him to say his peace right here. Jimmy asks him about texting last week during Bloodline meetings. Solo doesn't say anything. Jimmy asks him who he was texting. Was it Paul Heyman? Maybe Roman? But Solo just looks at his brother in disgust and walks away. | 67

KING OF THE RING -- ROUND 1: MUSTAFA ALI |VS| CHAD GABLE

Chad Gable is cranking out amazing performances every week now it seems. This match is no exception. They only had 8 minutes to make something happen but they went all out and had a tremendous match. Gable and Ali started with a technical display and worked their way up to more exciting moves. Gable tried to do his O'Connor roll German suplex but Ali hooked his arms on the ropes and hit a springboard Pele Kick that sent Gable into the ropes. Ali charged him and Gable back body dropped him to the floor. Gable climbed out to the apron and hit a rolling senton. Gable rolled Ali into the ring and climbed in. Gable picked Ali up and tossed him into the air and went for a Lung Blower but Ali flipped in mid-air and landed on his feet to Gable's side. He kicked Gable in the head and then hit a Lionsault for a near fall. Ali picked Gable up and whipped him into the corner. Gable hit chest first and bounded out of the corner and Ali bounced off the ropes and went for a lariat but Gable ducked and wrapped his arm around Ali's and turned it into a tornado ddt. Gable hit a deadlift gutwrench suplex and then climbed up onto the 2nd turnbuckle and leaped off for an elbow drop but Ali moved. Gable bounced off the mat and Ali got up and went for a running knee but Gable dodged it. Ali kept running and Gable grabbed him around the waist and this time he did hit the O'Connor Roll German Suplex. But he held on and hit two more rolling German suplexes. On the third one, he held it for a pin but Ali kicked out at two. Ali got up and charged Gable. Gable lifted Ali into the air and hit a Codebreaker on Ali and then covered him for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall: Chad Gable (8:06) | 79

BLOODLINE ARGUMENT

Jimmy is backstage reporting back to Jey and Trinity what happened with Solo earlier. Trinity is angry at the idea that Solo might be communicating with Heyman or Roman. Jey tells her to calm down and she flips out on him about the Bloodline losing last week. She says it's unacceptable and not the standard they were previously held to. Jey tells her to stop and reminds her that he's the Tribal Chief and she needs to watch how she talks to him. Trinity storms off and Jimmy yells at Jey for yelling at his wife and then Jimmy walks off to join her. Jey turns to Ona Leaga who has been just off-camera this entire time and tells him that he's going to need his help to get things back on track. | 63

JAY WHITE |VS| ASHANTE ADONIS

Apollo Crews accompanies Ashante to the ring so it appears Apollo as Ashante's mentor is something they're continuing. But this match is basically a long squash match. Ashante gets some offense in from time-to-time but for the most part Jay White controls the entire match. White hits the Blade Runner and covers Ashante for the pinfall.

WINNER by pinfall: Jay White (3:11) | 64

CHALLENGE ISSUED

When we come back from commercial break, Jim Cornette is already in the ring and he introduces the Revival. They come out to a good reaction and Cornette cuts a short promo about why they are the next WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions. Dax Dawson gets the mic and says that it isn't fair for SmackDown to not have tag team titles so he wants the Street Profits to come out and agree to face the Revival. The Street Profits come out to the ring and tell the Revival that they never back down from a challenge. But before they can officially accept, the New Day come out onto the stage. Xavier reminds everyone that the New Day is still owed a rematch. He says that it wouldn't be cool to have the Revival battle the Street Profits and leave the New Day at home. This brings out William Regal's assistant Jinny. She says that Mr. Regal has already made up his mind and the match will take place in London, England and Ring Royalty. It will be the Street Profits defending against the Revival and the New Day in a two-falls triple threat match where the first fall will be for the WWE World Tag Team Championship and the second fall will be for the WWE Universal Tag Team Championship. | 74

QUEEN OF THE RING -- ROUND 1: CHARLOTTE FLAIR |VS| SHOTZI

Another good tournament match. Charlotte is hugely over in her hometown and works like the face while Shotzi works heel. The announcers explain it as Shotzi both being upset at the crowd's reaction and also being desperate to get what would be the biggest win of her career. Shotzi did well working as the heel and had Charlotte on her heels early. Shotzi pulled Charlotte's hair and whipped her around the ring for a bit. But Shotzi missed a corner clothesline and Charlotte turned her around and chopped her in the chest multiple times. Charlotte snapmared her out of the corner and hit the Natural Selection on Shotzi and then locked her in the Figure Eight for the submission victory.

WINNER by submission: Charlotte Flair (8:05) | 69

PIPER NIVEN MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT

Piper Niven is backstage with Kayla Braxton. Kayla says that Piper requested this time because she has an announcement to make. Piper says that she has decided that she is going to cash-in the Money In The Bank briefcase at Ring Royalty in London, England. She says that she is excited to have a chance to wrestle for the Universal Women's Championship in the United Kingdom. It's as close to a home game as she may ever get. Piper says Sasha Banks is an amazing competitor but Piper doesn't want to use the briefcase when Sasha's down and out like some would. She would much rather earn it properly in front of her fellow countrymen and women. | 66

MAIN EVENT: HANDICAP MATCH -- IMPERIUM |VS| BOBBY LASHLEY

Imperium comes out to the ring with Intercontinental Champion Gunther but Gunther sits next to the announce table to keep an eye on the action. Lashley comes down to the ring and poses in the ring but is jumped from behind by both members of Imperium. They beat Lashley up a bit to start but he fights back. Lashley drops Vinci with a heavy lariat and then hits a spinebuster on Kaiser. Imperium bails out and walk over to Gunther. Gunther stands up and tears into them. He yells at them and sends them back into the ring. They climb back in and go back after Lashley. Imperium takes over at this point and they take turns hitting Lashley with suplexes and strikes. But Lashley ducks a clothesline from Vinci and spears Kaiser. Kaiser bails and Vinci eats a spear as well. Lashley immediately picks Vinci up and locks him in the Hurt Lock and Vinci quickly taps out.

WINNER by submission: Bobby Lashley (6:36) | 70

AN ATTACK

As Lashley celebrates in the ring, Gunther stands up and yells at Kaiser and Vinci. He rips his jacket off and climbs in the ring and jumps Lashley from behind. Gunther slams Lashley into the corner and slaps him in the chest and then hits a running clothesline. Gunther powerbombs Lashley and then stands over him with his foot on Lashley's chest. Ludwig Kaiser rushes into the ring and hands Gunther the Intercontinental Championship and Gunther holds it high over his head before stomping Lashley two more times for good measure and walking to the back with Kaiser and Vinci. | 74

A CONTRACT SIGNING

WWE Universal Champion Sami Zayn comes out to a big pop. He gets in the ring and cuts a promo on his opponent for Ring Royalty, Shinsuke Nakamura. He says that he and Nakamura have a history as he was Nakamura's first opponent in NXT and yeah, Sami lost that match but he's a completely different competitor now. And...he has the belt to prove it. Sami holds the belt up and the crowd cheers and then Nakamura's music hits. He comes out with his Youngboy. They get to the ring and he makes the Youngboy get on all fours and Shinsuke uses him as a step stool to climb into the ring. When he gets into the ring he gets handed a microphone and he immediately reminds Sami of their match in NXT. Shinsuke says he won that match not because he was the better wrestler but because he's a better man. Shinsuke says that Sami knows Shinsuke is better. Sami doesn't have the confidence or respect for himself to beat Shinsuke. Sami interrupts and says that yeah, sometimes he is crippled by anxiety or self doubt but he's standing in this ring as the WWE Universal Champion and he earned it! He earned this title and that's something Shinsuke has never done in WWE. So Sami hopes Shinsuke takes him lightly. He hopes Shinsuke doesn't think he can do it -- because he wants to see that look of shock on Shinsuke's face when Sami beats his ass and retains the title. Suddenly Jinny comes out onto the stage. She says that Mr. Regal has tasked her with getting the contract for this match signed tonight. She hands Shinsuke the contract and a clipboard and he signs it. She then hands it to Sami and he signs but as soon as he finishes signing he's attacked by Nakamura. Shinsuke fires kicks into Sami's body and then a kick to his head. Sami staggers backward into the corner. Shinsuke charges and hits a running knee to Sami's head. Sami staggers out of the corner and falls to his knees and Shinsuke hits the Kinshasa and then grabs the Universal Championship and poses with it. | 86

SOLO ON THE PHONE

As Shinsuke celebrates in the ring, the copyright information pops up on the screen but just as the show is about to go off the air the camera cuts to Solo Sikoa walking in the parking lot. He is on the phone talking to someone. He stops as he opens his car door and we hear him say "I understand that but he won't listen to me." He gets in the car and drives off as the show goes off the air. | 73

OVERALL RATING: 62

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WWE King of the Ring 2023 Bracket

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WWE Queen of the Ring 2023 Bracket

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WWE Ring Royalty 2023
Saturday -- Week 4 -- May 2023
LIVE! from London, England

WWE Universal Championship Match
Sami Zayn (C) |VS| Shinsuke Nakamura

WWE Universal Women's Championship Match
Sasha Banks (C) |VS| Piper Niven

WWE King of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw Semi-Final Winner |VS| SmackDown Semi-Final Winner

WWE Queen of the Ring Tournament Final
Raw Semi-Final Winner |VS| SmackDown Semi-Final Winner

Raw KOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

SmackDown KOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

Raw QOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD

SmackDown QOTR Semi-Finals
TBD |VS| TBD