Hey hey, guess who’s back? We’ve got a fantastic night ahead of us as we open the curtains with the American Nightmare, the Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. Knowing that his upcoming Ladder match versus Kevin Owens is looming for next week, what’s on most people’s minds is how he felt. He’ll make sure that he has the title on his way in and out, regardless of what he’s seen in Owens’ eyes lately.
Backstage, Pretty Deadly approached DIY to know the game plan for their match against Motor City Machine Guns, unfortunately, Johnny Gargano warned them that he just found out that he has a match with Apollo Crews, so he won’t be able to “help”. Somehow, DIY managed to convince these two idiots to handle their business without them because they believe in them. Ha!
Motor City Machine Guns vs. Pretty Deadly – Tag Team match
Chris Sabin and Elton Prince started this match off as Prince momentarily had the upper hand on Sabin, until his opponent quickly turned it around. A little while later, Elton found himself on the receiving end of a double team from the Machine Guns. Once Wilson got tagged in, he suffered the same downfall.
Due to some sneaky maneuvering, Pretty Deadly showed a more aggressive version of themselves, which was in desperate need of blooming. Sabin was driven face first into the post, his mouth actually. Ouch. Then he’s sent over the barricade, following that, Pretty Deadly are finally applying more ruthlessness to their strikes. Luckily, Sabin fought back, pushing both challengers away long enough to reach Shelley. Two for one special.
The motions were moving in Sabin and Shelley’s favor, yet Prince denied them the opportunity to perform Skull and Bone. Pretty Deadly connected with that Bad Apple gutbuster on Alex. An elevated Bulldog nearly pinned Shelley. Whatever advantage Pretty Deadly had, they lost it in a matter of moments with Skull and Bone. Nevertheless, Wilson and Prince have shown their original prowess that we haven’t seen in too long. That’s one good thing to come out of this.
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns
In Nick Aldis’ office, The Miz is welcomed on the blue brand for something other than reviving Miz TV. Apparently, he’s been transferred here. Miz was distraught because he remembered that the Wyatt Sicks are on SmackDown. Fortunately, he realized that Karrion Kross may have had something to do with that.
As the evening continued, Kevin Owens arrived at ringside abruptly. He scared Joe Tess and Wade Barrett, yelling at Joe for interviewing Rhodes, but not him. That’s improper journalism to the point that he might actually be missing Michael Cole. Owens also took a potshot at Academy-Award Winner Matthew McConaughey sitting in the crowd area behind commentary. What surprised me was Jimmy Uso’s appearance, even Kevin was confused. “Because you talk too damn much.” said Jimmy as he threw the first punch. Let’s have things get even weirder with a match between Jimmy and Kevin later tonight.
Elsewhere, Carmelo Hayes got pissy because he was suppose to have a match with Jimmy. Instead, Aldis mentioned that he has a new Superstar he’s added to the blue brand roaster that he thinks Hayes would be a perfect first challenger. Given that’s happened before with Braun Strowman, Melo wanted to see the men before they enter the ring. He hopes for their to be no surprises again. Ha! Ha! Damian Priest scared him sh*tless.
Michin & B-Fab vs. Piper Niven & Chelsea Green – Tag Team match
Michin stepped up against Piper in the early goings of the fight. Later on, Chelsea tagged herself in, yet Michin forcibly brought her into the ring and was lining her up in the corner. However, Michin took too long by twerking, allowing Piper to distract her, only for Green to move out of the way and collide with the turnbuckles. That hung her on the ropes for a bit.
Once B-Fab was brought into the mix, she squared off against Chelsea. B-Fab had Green’s ass reeling in the corner with her legs for days, she was doing very well, so Niven got involved with a Senton on top of B-Fab and Chelsea. Niven didn’t notice the tag being made between her challengers as Michin disposed of her, then ended the match with Eat the Feet on Chelsea’s face. Now that Michin has backup in B-Fab, she was able to get Nick Aldis to agree to another rematch for the Women’s US Championship next week between Michin and Chelsea.
Winners: B-Fab & Michin
To my delight, Charlotte Flair will be making her return to the ring at the Royal Rumble. Woo! Up next, we have the WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton to the stage. With her first successful title defense against Bayley last week, she proudly informed the audience that she isn’t nervous in the slightest… that’s until Rhea Ripley’s song kicked in. She’s glowing after retrieving the Women’s World Championship from Liv Morgan at the Netflix premier.
The stars are out as Nia Jax made her entrance, with Candice LeRae, after her name was dropped out of Ripley’s mouth. She came to announce that she’ll be entering the Royal Rumble and has every intention of winning it. Now, we’re adding the Women’s Tag Team Champions Naomi and Bianca Belair to the fold. They both declared themselves as contestants in the Rumble. Liv Morgan, which I’m shocked is in the same room as Rhea, has arrived with Raquel Rodriguez. Morgan also declared an early Rumble victory since she’s certain to win with Raquel’s assistance. Just as she was saying those things, Rhea headbutt her in the face. Ha! An amazing abruptness… as is this upcoming match.
Naomi, Rhea Ripley & Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax, Liv Morgan & Candice LeRae – 6-Women Tag Team match
Nia and Rhea were in the ring first as the match became official, yet Jax quickly and hilariously tagged Candice in. She was befuddled probably knowing she can’t take on Ripley. And she couldn’t. Rhea absorbed those punches like blissful gusts of wind, they were nothing, as she slammed LeRae on the mat. A little teamwork between Ripley, Belair and Naomi as Miss Glow body splashed Nia.
The Tag Team Champions double team on Morgan for a near fall. Belair and Liv are now squaring off in-ring as Bianca rammed Morgan in the corner. Due to LeRae’s input, Bianca didn’t notice the tag Morgan made to Jax while yanking on her braid. She found out the hard way with a clothesline to the throat. Jax was using Bianca’s braid for further punishment. Comically enough, Belair was able to shove Nia in ways that made her very wonky-looking.
LeRae was only in for a short while until Naomi dealt with her real quick just as Nia came in. Naomi was doing well. That Sunset Flip was ambitious, yet Jax saw that as the opening to squash her with her whole weight. It was sudden, but not completely match-ending. Bianca and Rhea almost got involved. Nonetheless, Naomi was trapped in the corner of her opposition. Morgan got her with the Three Amigos.
Rhea finally entered the fray as she took down Morgan, however, due to Rodriguez’s outside interference, Ripley took her eye off the ball to extinguish Raquel only to suffer a back cracker. Belair came in and brawled with her. A strange collision in the middle, more in favor of Bianca, almost ended this match if it weren’t for Nia. She headbutt Naomi. Rhea swooped in and performed an effective Riptide with Morgan on top of Nia since she wasn’t able to harm Jax earlier because of Liv.
Candice neutralized Rhea with double knees to the jaw, then Bianca came in to KOD her ass for a cover she was swiftly pulled out of with a sudden, but triumphant roll up by Morgan.
Winners: Liv Morgan, Candice LeRae & Nia Jax
Johnny Gargano vs. Apollo Crews
Gargano went after Crews as fast as he could, but Apollo’s toughness was greater as he delivered a vertical suplex to Johnny. He was looking for the frog splash, yet Johnny retaliated with a Super Kick to the jaw of an unsuspecting challenger. That very closely laid him out. Luckily, Crews woke up from his slumber as he flattened Johnny with a standing Moonsault.
That simply encouraged Gargano to come back twice as hard with a couple of well-placed kicks to the body of Apollo, followed by a back cracker. Since Crews wasn’t going down easily, after Johnny sent him outside and distracted the official, Tommaso Ciampa delivered a running knee to the jaw of Crews before shipping him back. DIY didn’t count of the strutting of the Machine Guns as Apollo rolled Johnny for a three count.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Tama Tonga vs. LA Knight
After some clever and funny words from LA Knight, he exploded out of the gate with fire in his step. That didn’t veer Tama away one bit as he applied triple the assault on the Megastar. He rammed LA Knight towards the barricade. Luckily, the Megastar has the upper hand by forcing a collision between Tama’s face and the barricade. Tonga retaliated with a clothesline off the barrier.
A back body drop turned the tides towards LA Knight, but his attention to Fatu lurking at ringside prevented him from avoiding a crash into the steel stairs at the hands of Tonga. Jacob nodded with satisfaction as Tama was now in control, performing a running clothesline. Back inside the ring, Tonga continued to plough through the Megastar, snarling and merciless.
LA Knight almost had Tama with that cover, but it wasn’t enough. As payback, Tonga applied a dragon screw maneuver on Knight’s leg that momentarily stunned him. Later on, the Megastar reversed a suplex attempt into a neckbreaker. That knee to the gut of Knight slowed him down. At some point, Knight performed a neckbreaker after Tama ricocheted off the turnbucles.
Tonga caught LA Knight off guard with that jump-up DDT that has taken others out in the past, but not the Megastar. The match was still moving forward as Knight reversed out of a superplex attempt, followed by the flying elbow. A distraction from Jacob Fatu almost cost him, yet Knight delivered a successful BFT. Honestly speaking, I thought Tama was going to win. Alas, that encouraged Fatu to wreak havoc on the Megastar until his Saturday’s Night Main Event opponent, Braun Strowman, arrived. Tama tried to stop him, but to no avail.
Winner: LA Knight
Carmelo Hayes vs. Damian Priest
A smack to the back of Priest’s head angered him to bulldoze through Hayes with accurate and brutal precession. Oof, and the following right hands were loud as hell as you see proof of how painful it is on Melo’s face. Surprisingly, Carmelo unbalanced Damian on the main floor. He was proficient at what he did. For Damian, he landed an uppercut on the jaw of Him.
After some significant time it took for Carmelo to gain the upper hand, Hayes had Damian compressed in the middle of the ring for a few seconds. Priest had some strength in him to shake it off almost effortlessly. But Hayes was relentless. Despite his smaller frame, Melo’s strikes were quicker and precise. He kept his attention on Damian’s left shoulder. The effects were showing on the Punisher.
Suddenly, untethered rage within Damian began to spill over with those uppercuts to Hayes. He also connected with a Broken Arrow. Just as he was lining Carmelo up for South of Heaven, I believe, Hayes ducked out. Priest gave chase by sending his challenger flying into the timekeeper’s area. What would have annoyed me is if Carmelo won after that First 48 that came out of nowhere.
Hayes thought that roll up was it, and instead of continuing to apply pressure, he argued with the referee, which allowed Priest to deliver a clothesline and a winning South of Heaven.
Winner: Damian Priest
Next Friday, DIY and Pretty Deadly team up to battle the Motor City Machine Guns and Los Garza. Michin gets her rematch for the Women’s US Championship versus Chelsea Green. Naomi and Liv Morgan meet in the middle. Jimmy Uso and Carmelo Hayes get their match.
As for Saturday’s Night Main Event: Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will be there to moderate the contract signing for the Ladder match at the Rumble between Owens and Rhodes. Braun Strowman versus Jacob Fatu is one of the highly anticipated matches tomorrow. Sheamus takes on Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship. Rhea Ripley defends her title against Nia Jax. Yeet! Jey Uso squares off against the Ring General and World Champion Gunther for the title.
Jimmy Uso vs. Kevin Owens
Prior to the match, backstage Carmelo mocked Jimmy by saying it’ll take more than four moves to beat KO, so Jimmy fired back a warning that he’ll Hayes with three next week. As Jimmy was making his entrance, Carmelo wasn’t far behind as he jumped him. Uso didn’t let that go, holding his own as officials arrive to disrupt the dispute.
Joe Tess pointed out that KO was wearing Naomi’s WWE Fanatics’ shirt to trip Jimmy since that’s his wife. I think Owens heard that, so he marched his way towards the commentary desk to start shouting at Joe again. Given that was happening, Jimmy swooped in and delivered a big uppercut. That momentum turned quickly after that Senton back inside the ring. KO sent Jimmy into the turnbuckle so harshly that some parts of it broke off.
It’s been all KO for the majority of the match, as awful as this may sound, it was expected. Regardless, Jimmy still tried his best against Owens. He kicked out of a pin attempt. Kevin berated loudly too much the entire time, but I feel like I can understand his unhinged perception. Anyway, Jimmy met Kevin up top before he could body crash him later. That seemingly didn’t matter because Jimmy put his knees up as Owens came down with the Swanton. A big hip attack followed afterwards.
I was surprised to see KO perform the Blue Thunderbomb, but Sami Zayn is his friend, so… I shouldn’t react that way. Ha! A Super Kick from KO only encouraged a Super Kick from Jimmy in return. That didn’t end this battle. Nearly got the win after the latest Super Kick from Jimmy. So, he went for the nostalgic spear to Kevin. That didn’t work either, but Owens displayed fuming anger on his face as he got up to shove Jimmy into the post as he was climbing to the top for an Uso Splash.
The Prize Fighter concluded the brawl with a massive Pop Up Powerbomb. Regrettably, he wasn’t done yet as he was lining up for a Pile Driver on Jimmy using the commentary table while pointing at McConaughey in the front seat. Luckily, Rhodes came to save him from Randy Orton’s fate.
Winner: Kevin Owens
TOP PHOTO: Jimmy and Kevin face-to-face. Courtesy of WWE
