Ladies, gentlemen and non-binary friends, accompanied by Tiffany Stratton and Pretty Deadly, please welcome our queen of the ring and new WWE Women’s Champion, Nia Jax. My God… Jax’s entrance was mesmerizing to watch. She came in sitting on her throne in prestigious outwear. Nia liked the idea of everyone bowing to her, so she wanted to start with Stratton, however, that’s why she brought Pretty Deadly out here. All this is great to see, but I was paying too much attention to Wilson and Prince groveling. Ha!
Even more so to the point where they prepared a song for Nia from their under construction musical. They were off key… Yikes… Anyway, Michin happily destroys the festivities at the request of crying fans. Backstage, Naomi, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill witnessed the comedy attack.
Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade
During the early goings of the match, Carmelo kept playing with Andrade by keeping away from his grasp using the ropes or rolling out of the ring. Andrade finally lands a hit by kicking Melo in the face while he stood on the apron. Hayes makes him pay by causing his opponent to come unbalanced off the top turnbuckles.
Andrade makes a comeback with a sudden drop kick to the face of Hayes, then follows that up with a Moonsault to the outside, catching Melo on the right shoulder. A little bit of back and forth between these two leads to Andrade colliding with the apron.
After a lot of shuffling and jocking for position at the top of the ring, Andrade was finally able to initiate the Spanish Fly, but he couldn’t get the win since Hayes kicked out much to dismay of the WWE Speed Champion. He managed to perform two out of Three Amigos until Hayes turns it around with a cutter. Andrade refused to relent.
Melo almost lost after that surprise spinning back elbow from Andrade, but he shocked his challenger by kicking out again. Andrade goes back on the attack by trying to initiate the Message, but Hayes counters by stacking him up and winning this battle. Bravo! That makes it 2 to 1 in favor of Andrade… still. Obviously, Hayes may have noted on that, so he continues to gloat to point where Andrade had enough. It took a while to separate them.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes
I was a little confused with Solo’s assessment of the situation he’s in with Roman. He says he’s the Tribal Chief as long as he keeps hold of the Ula Fala neckless, but if he loses them, he’s forced to acknowledge Reigns again. The Tongas and Jacob Fatu will have to do the same… just like that. But why? I prefer Tribal Combat like I said before rather than simply retrieving an item and putting in around your neck, then call it a day.
Although, Sikoa appreciates Tama Tonga’s thirst to crush Roman’s head into concrete if he shows up tonight, Solo advises him to stand down for now because he’s the Tribal Chief.
Naomi vs. Blair Davenport
Right off the opening bell, both women waste no time delivering heavy alterity on each other’s jaws and faces. Blair manages to drive Naomi down to her knees for a couple of moments until she started to regain control over Davenport with the Rearview. Naomi continues to one-up Davenport with that spilt drop from the apron and a crossbody.
After the break, Blair turned the tied by stomping on Naomi’s back from the top of the ring. She kept her foot on the gas paddle with a back breaker to Naomi. However, Miss Glow makes a comeback with a double crossbody collision in the middle, where I think Blair got the worst of it.
Naomi throws hands with a big split splash in the ring for a near fall. Blair tries to reverse an incoming assault, but she ends up meeting with a kick to face by Naomi. Just as Miss Glow was about to preform her split legged Moonsault, Blair stops her with a big knee to the face that awards her the victory… shame.
Winner: Blair Davenport
I was in shock, to say the least, when I learned that recently deceased Sika Leati Anoa’i’s brother and Tag Team partner known as the Wild Samoans, Afa Anoa’i, also passed away earlier today after dealing with two months of health issues. Eager to give back to professional wrestling, Afa opened The Wild Samoans Training Center to help prepare future talents, one of them being Batista. He and his wife also established a foundation to award scholarships to disadvantaged youths. “Take care of each other, and trust in God.” Rest in peace, Afa Anoa’i. 1943 – 2024. Thank you.
Kevin Owens vs. Grayson Waller
Owens still beats himself up for having an opportunity for gold knowing his losing streak for several months. But, he agreed with Grayson for calling him a “loser”, I hate that word, and someone who gets chances handed to him. Even though I could potentially agree with Kevin for not earning this opportunity, I still believe he deserves it in more ways than one. Some of which, he may not be aware of.
Just as the bell rings, Kevin delivers a drop kick to Grayson in the corner of the ring, then pursuits to knocking him down repeatedly. Waller did gloat that this match will be an easy one to win. The ramblings of a delusional man is both funny and irritating to hear. He momentarily gets the jump on Owens, though.
Just as Owens was preparing himself for the Cannonball, Theory drags Waller out of the way, so Kevin follows him with a clothesline in tow. The Prize Fighter pounds into Waller for a great amount of time, then shoves him back inside the ring. Kevin catches sight of Theory sneaking behind him, so he gets distracted long enough for Grayson to plough through him. The supposed Aussie Icon pats himself on the back even harder by sitting down on chair in the crowd area.
Owens snatched him by the throat, then dragged him towards the floor on his side of the barricade. He goes after Theory, too. Waller retaliates by shoving Kevin into a post, then delivers a suplex. Later on, Grayson tries to superplex Owens, yet Kevin fights back with multiple headbutts.
Amazingly so, Waller wanted to do his signature rolling DDT, yet Kevin intercepts with a Stunner. Owens ends this match with a beautiful Pop Up Powerbomb. Following the win, Kevin wanted to inflict further damage by smashing Waller against the apron, alas, Theory prevents that from happening. That results in a 2-on-1 assault. Luckily, Cody Rhodes arrives to return the favor.
For now, boiling eruptions will have to wait till Bash in Berlin.
Winner: Kevin Owens
When LA Knight witnessed Legado del Fantasma’s roasting dinner they were having belittling the US Champion, Knight spits some fire in return that Santos is going to get stomped out by the very person he had the nerve to call “trash.”
Elsewhere, Michin rubs in Chelsea Green and Piper Niven’s faces that after ruining Nia’s celebration, she got a Championship opportunity. Jax finally catches up to Michin by shoving her against Nick Aldis’ office door.
The Street Profits vs. DIY – WWE Tag Team Championship Number One Contender’s match
Montez Ford and Johnny Gargano start this match with a bit of rolling and tumbling on the mat as they attempt to suppress the other down. Once they notice how allusive they can be towards one another, a sign of respect is called to order. Ford tags Dawkins while Gargano brings in Ciampa. Angelo almost makes quick work out of Tommaso.
A display of double team from the Profits against both DIY members is put into play for us to see. Dawkins bulldozes through Ciampa on the main floor, one Tommaso didn’t see coming. After the commercials, DIY are seen to have made a comeback as Johnny becomes a one-man wrecking crew for the moment while Ciampa recuperates elsewhere.
Ford escapes through the back door and shoves Tommaso into Gargano. Montez thought after getting tagged by Angelo, that he would be fine, yet the Profits were being squashed by Tommaso… for a bit. Fortunate for Ciampa, Angelo missed with the Swanton, then he hammers down with a swift knee kick to Dawkins’ jaw.
When Gargano gets tagged in, Angelo thwarts his efforts with a sudden back body drop. Johnny manages to swat Dawkins away, and Montez does the same with Ciampa. Following that, they clothesline each other at the same time during a showdown in the middle. Oof.
“What a horrible landing,” is what Wade Barrett said reacting to a zigzag move Ford initiated on Ciampa’s surgically repaired neck. Tommaso retaliates by putting his knees up just as Montez frog splashes him. DIY continue with Shatter Machine that ALMOST awarded them the win if it weren’t for Dawkins.
The Profits were so close, too, with the Revelation, but at the last possible second, Johnny kicked Angelo to keep things alive. This is awesome indeed. DIY apply even more pressure with the Fairytale Ending, incredibly so, Dawkins kicked out. Whoo! Lord, it was a massive mess of stupendousness.
Montez drags Tommaso out of the ring, then Gargano suicide dives after him. Just as he was going for the spear, Angelo caught him with a spinning neck breaker. The Profits become the number one contenders for next week with a victorious super Blockbuster. We want the smoke!
Winners: The Street Profits
Next Friday, the Big Three in Naomi, Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair enter a 6-women Tag Team match versus the Unholy Union and Blair Davenport. LA Knight defends his US Championship for the first time against Santos Escobar.
As we conclude the night, Solo Sikoa calls out Roman Reigns to the ring. Tama Tonga is the only one on Sikoa’s side since Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu are still injured. As Solo demands the audience to acknowledge him, they prefer to chant “OTC!” You know, I forgot to mention this last week, but when I saw the letters “OTC” on Roman’s shirt at SummerSlam, I thought it was some unknown medical condition. I laughed a little when I finally realized it’s an acronym for “Original Tribal Chief.” Ha!
Is it really my fault? It’s hilarious.
Although Tama said he had Solo’s back, Sikoa instructs him to wait outside the ring as the stare down we’ve been waiting for explodes even higher. This little brawl between Solo and Roman becomes a 2-on-1 situation because of Tama’s inclusion. Reigns plants him after that. Things were going in Roman’s direction for as long as he wanted, he even managed to get the Ula Fala around his neck… for ten seconds until Jacob Fatu dismantled him wearing a leg cast. Oopsie.
TOP PHOTO: Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga face Roman Reigns. Courtesy of WWE