This is a professional wrestling blog that includes reviews, recaps, some news and any wrestling-related discussions of my choosing. Companies span from WWE to New Japan Pro Wrestling to AAA in Mexico. Don't just read recaps... watch them!
We find out that Austin Aries' tag team partner is "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura.
Austin Aries and "The King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura beat Blake and Murphy. After the match, Alexa Bliss turns her back on Blake and Murphy, and then Blake turns his back on Murphy, effectively ending them as a tag team and faction.
We see a video package of Asuka.
Bayley knows that Nia Jax loves to use her size to intimidate, but she says that's not going to happen. She admits that Nia Jax is tough, but she is beatable. After tonight, she will re-focus on becoming NXT Women's Champion once again.
Cathy Kelley interviews No Way Jose, who calls his style "Jose being Jose." He says his smile is why opponents underestimate him and that he has high energy. He says he's here in NXT to have a fiesta.
Carmella says that Enzo Amore will be back soon, and that she is happy for Big Cass' recent success on the main roster. She says she's still in NXT to become Women's Champion.
Carmella beats Peyton Royce by submission.
We see footage from last Saturday's house show in Portland, Oregon, which ended in a brawl between Finn Balor and Samoa Joe that involved most of the locker room. We then see a new contract signing as shown on Facebook Live, where it is revealed that Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship at TakeOver will take place in a steel cage, making the match the first-ever steel cage match in NXT history.
Alexa Bliss tells Blake and Murphy that it's about her now, and that it will be easier without them on their back. Murphy gives Blake a disapproving stare.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa beat Danny Burch and Rob Ryzin.
NXT General Manager William Regal congratulates the team of Enzo Amore and Bigg Cass and The Vaudevillains for their recent main roster success. He then announces that American Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable) will defend the NXT Tag Team Championships against The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder) in a tag team title rematch at TakeOver.
Nia Jax beats Bayley after Bayley lands hard on her injured left knee and Nia works on it to the chagrin of the ref.
Cage meets up with Dario Cueto as Dario tries to hide some money. He tells Dario that Chavo Guerrero, Jr. has stolen his ancient Aztec medallion. The Aztec medallion ceremony is about to happen, and if Chavo puts his medallion in the belt, he's in the match. After Cage says he'll have to get through him, Cueto asks Cage to join him in the ring for the medallion ceremony. Cueto announces that the seven-way match for the Gift of the Gods Championship is tonight. Texano, Joey Ryan, El Siniestro de la Muerte (who now appears with a hood), Aerostar, The Mack, Sexy Star and Chavo Guerrero, Jr. show up to place their medallions in the Gift of the Gods Championship belt. When Chavo Guerrero shows up, however, Cueto lets the two of them fight it out, taking the "he'll have to get through me" statement literally. Chavo has a steel chair, but Cage beats him to the punch and gets it back...or so he thinks. The blue pouch has a washer, and the real medallion is in the steel chair, which popped out when he hit Cage with it. Chavo puts the medallion in the belt, and Cage is out of the match, according to Cueto. Cage then hits Chavo with Weapon X.
Famous B interrupts ring announcer Melissa Santos to push his 423-GET-FAME phone number and introduce Mascarita Sagrada before the next match.
Daga beats Kobra Moon, Argenis and Mascarita Sagrada after Kobra Moon lets him win. During the match, Kobra Moon tries to seduce Daga.
Killshot comes face-to-face with Marty "The Moth" Martinez, who says that they have a match tonight and hopes that he's ready for battle. Killshot makes it very clear as he hits Marty for playing around with him that he is. Marty then goes insane as he lies on the ground.
Killshot beats Marty "The Moth" Martinez. Martinez attacks Killshot after the match and becomes overly fascinated by Killshot's dog tags.
Chavo Guerrero Jr. beats Texano, Joey Ryan, El Siniestro de la Muerte, Aerostar, The Mack and Sexy Star to become the Lucha Underground Gift of the Gods Champion after Cage shows up, levels everyone and then lays Chavo on top of Texano. Cage then congratulates Chavo on his win before announcing that Dario Cueto has scheduled Chavo to defend the title next week...against Cage himself.
Vampiro breaks Pentagon Jr., and tells him that only the weak cry out in pain, show their suffering and are afraid. He tells Pentagon not to let the pain control him, and says that the medication he got from the asylum does not control him. He tells Pentagon that "this" is nothing compared to what Matanza Cueto did to him, with "this" being hit in the back with a lead pipe wrapped in barbed wire. The show ends before Vampiro hits Pentagon Jr. with it.
Triple H shows up to start the show along with Stephanie McMahon, who makes her first appearance on Raw in a while. Stephanie says she's happy to be back, especially after Seth Rollins' victory at Payback. They pay tribute to Rollins with "Seth Rollins: Architect of a Dream." They then pull the black cloth off the table behind them to reveal the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and declare that the vacant title will be defended at Elimination Chamber in two weeks time in an Elimination Chamber Match after Stephanie makes fun of Daniel Bryan's injuries. Suddenly, Sheamus shows up, talks about how he "ended Daniel Bryan's career," says an Elimination Chamber Match isn't necessary, and demands the title be handed over to him. Ryback shows up, makes fun of Sheamus' mohawk, tells him that Daniel Bryan is more of a man than he ever will be, then challenges him to a match tonight. Stephanie McMahon puts them in the Elimination Chamber Match for the Intercontinental Championship, but Triple H feels there's a good idea in letting them fight tonight, and lets them have at it right now.
Sheamus beats Ryback after faking having something in his eye to get a cheap Brogue Kick in on Ryback.
Seth Rollins celebrates his title win with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, J&J Security (Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble) and Kane (who he continues to make fun of) until Dean Ambrose shows up and challenges Rollins to a rematch for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Kane lets Rollins decide, and Rollins rejects the challenge. Ambrose then makes fun of Kane after everyone else but Kane leaves, calling him "Seth Rollins' neutered little lapdog." In retaliation, Kane puts Ambrose in a match against Bray Wyatt. Ambrose says "okay," then drinks Kane's wine.
Renee Young interviews Neville in the ring. Neville, now with a wrap around his left leg, says there's nothing like competing in the WWE. As Renee asks more questions, Bo Dallas shows up and makes fun of Neville's rise to the top until Neville tells him he beat him for the NXT title. Bo Dallas attacks Neville, then runs out of the ring. Barrett then shows up for his match with Neville as Bo Dallas guests on commentary.
Bo Dallas guests on commentary for the next match.
King Barrett beats Neville, and leaves him to be attacked by Bo Dallas, who tries to further injure Neville's leg.
Rusev shows up. He says Lana won't be here, as she needs to learn her place and that she does not speak for him. As he says that he never said he quit, Lana shows up and tells Rusev that she has believed in him from the very beginning, and that she threw in the towel to protect him. Rusev is still furious, and tells Lana that all he needs is himself. He tells Lana to get out of the ring and go back to wherever she came from.
Bray Wyatt beats Dean Ambrose after J&J Security (Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble) distract the ref and shove Ambrose directly into Wyatt's Sister Abigail. Seth Rollins toasts to this after the match.
We see some more Tough Enough videos.
Big E and Kofi Kingston (minus Xavier Woods, who is banned from ringside for this match) complain about having to defend the WWE Tag Team Championships against five tag teams at once at Elimination Chamber.
Tyson Kidd and Cesaro versus The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) for the WWE Tag Team Championships ends when Big E and Kofi refuses to let Kidd out of the corner. Xavier Woods shows up to give The New Day the numbers advantage. The Lucha Dragons (Sin Cara and Kalisto) then show up to take out The New Day, then attack Kidd and Cesaro. Los Matadores (Fernando and Diego), The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), and The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O'Neil) all rush in afterward and start a brawl, which ends after The Prime Time Players get their hands on Xavier Woods and The Ascension launch a team suicide dive on everyone else outside of the ring. All six teams are in the Tag Team Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
Roman Reigns returns this Thursday night on SmackDown!
John Cena shows up. After dedicating the United States title to the men and women of the American armed forces, and declaring it "our championship," Cena declares an open challenge for the title. That challenge is answered by Kevin Owens, who congratulates Cena on his victory at Payback. After harsh words are thrown on both sides, Owens pretends to back out of the open challenge and declare he'll face Cena on his own terms only to get a cheap shot on Cena and hit him with the pop-up power bomb he's known for in NXT. He then stomps on the US title, lifts up the NXT title and tells Cena he can't see him.
Rusev, R-Truth and King Barrett are in the Elimination Chamber Match for the vacant WWE Intercontinental Championship along with Sheamus and Ryback.
Dolph gets a quick win against Stardust. After the match, Michael Cole interviews Ziggler, and it is revealed that Ziggler is the sixth man in the Intercontinental title match at Elimination Chamber. Suddenly, Lana shows up and after some hesitation, she kisses Ziggler not one, but twice. After the second kiss, an angry Rusev shows up and fights Ziggler. After knocking Ziggler down, he is about to take his anger out on Lana when Lana slaps him. Rusev is about to charge her when Ziggler hits the Zig Zag.
As he gets the ring ready for "Seth Rollins: Architect of a Dream," Kane sees Adam Rose and Rosa Mendes making out backstage again.
Luke Harper and Erick Rowan beat Zack Ryder and Fandango.
The Bellas (Brie and Nikki Bella) are backstage when Stephanie McMahon stops them to tell Brie that she apologizes for making light of Daniel Bryan's injury and that she's scheduled counseling sessions for Brie in the most patronizing manner possible. She also bans Brie from accompanying Nikki to her match tonight "due to her mental health."
Naomi vs. Nikki Bella for the WWE Divas Championship ends when Tamina breaks the Rack Attack with a super kick. Naomi and Tamina attack Brie Bella until Paige shows up out of the blue and clears out the ring. When Nikki gets back up, Paige hits her with a Ram-Paige.
After being congratulated by Triple H, Kevin Owens is interviewed by Renee Young. Owens declares that he is facing John Cena for the WWE United States Championship at Elimination Chamber.
Triple H, Kane and Stephanie McMahon introduce Seth Rollins to the ring for "Seth Rollins: Architect of a Dream." As everyone in the ring celebrates Rollins' victory at Payback, Kane thanks Rollins and shows off a Seth Rollins video package on the TitanTron. Jamie Noble thanks Rollins for the privilege of working with him, and Joey Mercury almost does the same when Dean Ambrose shows up and crashes the party. Ambrose still wants that title rematch at Elimination Chamber, but Rollins won't give it to him. Stephanie tries to defuse the situation by sicking Rollins on him, and when Ambrose goes at it with Rollins, Noble and Mercury go for Ambrose as well. Ambrose fights them all off - and Kane, too - and threatens to smash Rollins' head through a set of cinderblocks with a steel chair. Triple H and Stephanie relent, and promise to give him the match if he lets Rollins go. Ambrose almost reneges, but Mercury and Noble get the chair away from him. Ambrose fights them all off again and goes after Rollins, but Rollins is able to fight off Ambrose and take him down with a Pedigree to end the show.
