We open the evening with the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes after the events that transpired last week when he and Kevin Owens were in the same room at the same time as Rhodes made the decision to engage in a Ladder match versus Owens for the Undisputed Championship and the Winged Eagle belt at the Royal Rumble.
Rhodes informed us that he isn’t medically cleared to compete just yet due to that stomp to the neck he endured at the feet of Owens. While he’s doing all this, Drew McIntyre arrived out of nowhere, but not as shocking as I thought because of the transfer window that’s been left open. He might jump through that window.
I disagree with Corey Graves when he said that McIntyre’s moral understanding is similar to Owens. While Kevin acknowledged that he didn’t have to shelf Randy Orton the way he did in order to get to Rhodes, Drew doesn’t see any of what he’s said and done as wrong, or inaccurate. He continues to bulldoze towards his current path. His eyes have gotten crazy-looking… But I was surprised when he hugged Cody. I felt like I watching anime all of sudden. Ha!
Rhodes didn’t believe McIntyre when he said he’s here to help him, that the resident truth-teller is a liar. Drew actually wanted a title shot. However, he threw it back in Cody’s face warning him that he should watch bis back since McIntyre isn’t the one who’ll put hands on the American Nightmare. Just as McIntyre made his exit, Owens assaulted the Champion from behind. It took quite a while for security and other officials to separate them.
Andrade vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
As soon as the bell rang, Nakamura quickly went after Andrade. Luckily, El Edolo fought back with a drop kick sending the champ tumbling off the apron. He followed that up with a Moonsault. We return in-ring to a fight that Andrade demonstrated to have the upper hand. He wanted to continue with that momentum, but Shinsuke was finally able to get back on his feet with a knee to the stomach.
Nakamura has taken the reigns with his vintage sliding suplex move that nearly awarded him the victory. While Shin was looking to utilize the exposed turnbuckle a second time, Andrade drop kicked in him right into his own trap. El Edolo squashed the Champion with a running Meteora that didn’t end this and neither does the double Moonsault.
Just as Andrade was looking for the Message, Nakamura counted it with that striking back elbow to the jaw. El Edolo readjusted with a back elbow of his own. That was too close. Nakamura made him pay by bouncing Andrade’s head against the top of the post. Ouch!
Shin took advantage of that opening with the Kinshasa. But never mind that, LA Knight was here with a few fistful of words. Nakamura was able to escape slightly unharmed.
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura
Backstage, Pretty Deadly’s little lie about who attacked the Street Profits bit them in the ass since Legado del Fantasma are here to collect their pound of flesh. Kit Wilson and Elton Prince have been sneaky worms for a while now, so much so that DIY hinted that they’ll be leaving as Champions after their match tonight with no exceptions.
Michin vs. Piper Niven
Michin tried to get the upper hand on Piper, but that quickly backfired when Niven utilized her power to shove Michin into the turnbuckles, then striking her mid-section very harshly. Fortunately, Michin retaliated with three Hurricaranas, one against the main floor. Due to Green’s presence, Michin lost her focus causing her to be on the receiving end of a sidewalk Piper slam.
Michin regained some control with the bulldog, yet that momentarily stopped when Niven squashed her in the corner. Michin managed to move out of the way in time as Piper cannonballed into the turnbuckles. She’s been on a slim roll, which annoyed Chelsea, who’s voice is louder than any attending fan in the crowd. God…
Michin was unable to execute the Eat the Feet finishing maneuver two times already, but third times the charm, she succeeded.
Winner: Michin
Next up, we have Paul Heyman on the stage. He narrated the story that he and Reigns trained, breed and mentored Solo Sikoa to become the next Tribal Chief… once Roman is gone, that is. The problem here is that neither of these men realize that that’s the reason why Solo pressed the gas pedal a little early in the first place. No one understood that Sikoa would never come out from Roman’s shadow until he’s gone, which isn’t fair, nor right. Why wait? I think Solo has shown that he’s more than capable after WrestleMania 40.
But credit where credit is due, Heyman made me laugh when he called Solo a “twisted son of b*tch,” That was funny and unexpected. Love it. Anyway, Heyman reckoned that when Sikoa got rid of Jimmy and himself it was because he knew no one would blindly acknowledge him the same way they did with Reigns, so he sought out the Tongas and Fatu. “Filthy animals that don’t belong in professional wrestling,”
Heyman promised that Roman will leave victorious on Jan 6 in Tribal Combat versus Sikoa. Finally, Solo made his entrance. Paul spat a lot of words, now it’s time for a response. Solo wanted Heyman to be the one to hold the Ula Fala during the upcoming match because he’s the only one the Anoa’i family knows they can trust with this task. If Roman wins, Heyman will put the Ula Fala on his neck as Solo acknowledges him. However, if or when Sikoa wins, the Ula Fala will be placed on his neck. Following that, he’ll own the ceremonial neckless and Heyman as his wise man. According to him…
DIY (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns – Tag Team Championship match
Chris Sabin and Tommaso Ciampa started this match off. At some point, Sabin got a handle on Ciampa’s arm, twisting it numerous times before guiding his collision towards the turnbuckles. Machine Guns perform a double team on Ciampa, then on an incoming Gargano trying to assist. Tommaso has been on the receiving end of multiple attacks orchestrated by their opponents’ fuming rage. That might cost them if they’re not careful.
DIY haven’t really gotten their footing during the majority of this fight to the point that I’m thinking this was planned. Waste your challengers’ energy as much as possible, so either one of them could swoop in and capitalize. Sabin took out the champs with a suicide dive with the help of Shelley.
Ciampa was whiplashed by a sudden collision with Sabin, so both men were in desperate need of a tag. Once they do, Shelley and Gargano rush toward each other. Alex had Johnny rocked on a number of occasions that almost awarded his team the victory. Double team provided by the Machine Guns on DIY. Unfortunately, Shelley is seen favoring his right knee coming off that suicide dive. Oh oh… He better hope no one saw that.
Despite that, Shelley and Sabin were doing very well as they managed to stack up Johnny for a cover. Alas, they forgot about Ciampa. Later on in the match, DIY were on a losing end, so Pretty Deadly showed up as requested earlier to distract the Machine Guns. Although that was successful, the closing cover wasn’t. Shelley kicked out. Pretty Deadly were beside themselves that didn’t work just as Los Garza hunted them down for their lie.
Back inside the ring, Shelley and Sabin had DIY trapped in two different submissions, and it appeared the Champions were at the verge of tapping, but, but, but the brawl between Los Garza and Pretty Deadly forced a premature conclusion in favor of DIY.
Winners: DIY
Naomi vs. Nia Jax (c) – WWE Women’s Championship match
Naomi started off strong in the early goings and made sure to keep at it with her attacks. As Naomi tried to chop down her bigger opponent, Nia’s headbutt stopped her cold. Jax had her way with Naomi. Miss Glow did her best using her quickness to strike Nia in the face. The champ fired back with a slam on Naomi that almost ended the match.
Because of the kick out, Nia started barking at Naomi, shouting at her that she can’t handle the weight of the Championship, so Naomi fought back. Regardless of the slam again, Naomi remained in the game. Commentary believed that Nia was too overconfident in her cover, hence it not being a ding, ding, ding yet.
Jax applied her strength with a chin lock on Naomi, trying to slow her down and knock her out. Naomi’s retaliation only encouraged Nia to shove her into the post and crushed her head as well. Miss Glow did flip the momentum in her favor for a few seconds, but that was all it took for Nia to make a comeback. Luckily, Naomi caught Jax by kicking her in the calves, followed by a double stomp to the stomach, then a spilt-legged cover for a near fall.
After that suicide dive from Naomi, she shocked us all with that Samoan Drop on Nia. She demonstrated that she has a lot more resilience left in her when she kicked out of another attempt to put her down by Jax. That tornado DDT didn’t stop the champ either. Nia’s elevated Samoan Drop and Naomi’s blockbuster were futile for both women, but it was amazing to watch.
Naomi kept going with a submission move that had Nia reeling, so Candice LeRae ventured to distract the official. Bianca Belair didn’t take too kindly to that as she tossed LeRae into the barricade, then proceeded to punch her. Like a real-like beating. Nia saw this and threw a Tag Team Championship belt towards her stomach, then shoved her into the steel stairs.
Everything seemed to be going in Naomi’s direction after she shifted her weight in order for Nia to hit the mat first off the second rope. In spectacular fashion, Tiffany Stratton rushed to the ring to cash-in her contract, yet last minute she noticed that Nia saw her, so she shoved the referee into the timekeeper’s area, out of Jax’s sight. Stratton used her briefcase to knockout Naomi, resulting in Jax retaining.
The celebrations only lasted a few seconds as Stratton assaulted Nia from behind, then disposed of Candice for good measure. Bianca came in and delivered a KOD, so Tiffany could slither back in and claim gold.
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Next week, Shinsuke Nakamura defends his title versus LA Knight.
Sami Zayn, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso vs. The Bloodline – 6-man Tag Team match
It was meant to be Jimmy starting this off, but Tama and Jacob were pacing around inside the ring instead of one of them leaving. Since that didn’t happen, Jey, Sami and Solo enter as well and brawl. During the tussle, the Usos were able to send the Bloodline over the ropes. Things finally settled down as Jey came in off the tag with Jimmy to fight Jacob… until Tama came in.
Tonga had Jey for a little while with those stomps in the corner, luckily, Jey Jey was able to regain some power by slinging Tama relentlessly into the turnbuckles. That really hurt given he held his lower back. In order for Tama not to escape, Jey grabbed onto his leg as he tagged Sami, who made great work out of Tonga. Once Jimmy came in, he continued with that streak until Solo got involved.
Jimmy was in trouble in the Bloodline corner as Sikoa beat him up while shouting for him to get his ass up. It’s been all Bloodline since Solo came in, and Jimmy has been suffering. Later on, he was able to ward Sikoa off long enough to tag Sami. He was finally able to deliver a triumphant clothesline towards Solo’s throat. Zayn went up high with an elbow, but he got caught by a Spinning Solo. Sami returned fire with the Blue Thunderbomb.
Jey Jey pushed the pace as he tackled Tama. The Uso twins worked together to dampen Tonga’s efforts. They were doing very well, hence Jacob Fatu’s entrance. Naturally, he was sent over the ropes. Unfortunately, Jimmy hit the apron hard on his way down. Realigning our focus to the legal competitors, Jey surprised Tama with a neck breaker.
My attention was redirected towards another commotion with Jacob slamming Jimmy’s face against the stairs. Sami blindsided Fatu as comeuppance. Solo also got mixed up. Jey made him pay with a loud, very loud slap to the face. Ha! Ha! Tama came out of nowhere with a massive DDT that didn’t end the match.
Because that didn’t work, Jacob started yelling at Jey that he should have joined Solo. A kick by Jey sent Fatu back, way back into the corner. Ha! I noticed that Jey’s kicks really effect Jacob since that’s one of the rarest moments where he falls backwards like that. And to add more beauty to the attack, Sami and the twins back it up on Fatu. It was great!
Jey and Sami team up to dispose of Tama and Solo on the outside, while Jimmy dealt with Jacob. That Uso splash looked a little wonky, so I think that was the reason why Jimmy’s cover didn’t finish this. He may have wanted to protect his foot after War Games. Zayn broke things up after the assault Jimmy endured.
The Usos delivered a set of incredible Super Kicks, but that wasn’t sufficient to keep Jacob down. And if things weren’t moving in favor of Sami and the twins, Drew McIntyre had the nerve to show up again. Jey saw him coming and performed a suicide dive. That momentary divergence had Jey caught in Samoan Drop by Fatu.
I don’t know why the fans started chanting “OTC!”, but his ass was definitely not coming. Y’all are delusional for thinking he would.
Anyway, Jey had enough in him to dodge Jacob’s hip attack, deliver a Super Kick and an Uso splash, yet he didn’t notice the tag made to Solo. Once he did, it came in the brutal form of a Samoan Spike as the bell rang. I’m pretty sure that if it weren’t for that sudden tag, Jey would have pinned Jacob like I know he could. Alas…
Winners: The Bloodline
TOP PHOTO: Stratton wins the WWE Women’s title. Courtesy of WWE
