HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Because of last week’s sudden, but very expected attack, Tiffany Stratton demanded that Jade Cargill show herself as we open the evening. Her anger was swiftly extinguished when Nick Aldis came out and tried to put a stop to any attempt at jeopardizing Stratton’s title match tomorrow night with petty squabbling. That didn’t matter, though since Cargill arrived as called. She claimed she wasn’t going to do anything but point out that “Taffy Time” is up. That, of course, pissed Tiffany, so she ran towards her and got intercepted by security. Wow, they actually did their job correctly.
As we continue with the show, God knows what was happening backstage after the previous foolishness, but DIY and Fraxiom were fighting, too. Ilja Dragunov came in to separate them while asking himself the same question I was asking, what the hell is going on? That’s not all. In the midst of that brawling, Tama Tonga made his intentions clear that he wants that US Championship.
Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. Nathan Frazer – US Championship Open Challenge
Dragunov is a very, very intense man in and out of the ring. He displayed his ruthlessness by striking Frazer in the gut with his knee like he was possessed. Nathan was dropped in the corner due to a chop, even more so later when he was looking to leap springboard, but he was forced to put on the brakes resulting in Ilja kicking him in the face as he collided with the commentary table with rapid speed.
Dragunov joined Frazer on the main floor, whispered in his ear that this isn’t personal and delivered a German suplex. No matter how hard Nathan tried to keep Ilja down, nothing worked. Corey Graves literally said that Dragunov invoked Michael Meyers levels of relentlessness and no die attitude. Perched at the top, Dragunov performed a painfully quick superplex to Frazer, who barely moved ever since.
The room went unusually quiet. Nevertheless, Nathan remained in the game only to suffer at the hands of a triumphant H-Bomb.
Winner: Ilja Dragunov
Carmelo Hayes vs. Kit Wilson
You know, this is the first time I’ve seen only half of Pretty Deadly compete in the ring. Wilson tried to hoist Hayes up, yet Carmelo was able to fight back with no stop in sight. Hayes drove Kit face first into the mat. In all seriousness, Melo had most the match in his favor when he leaped and landed on Kit outside.
However, while the referee was distracted with Kit, The Miz came out of nowhere and shoved Melo into the post before sending him back inside the ring. Wilson was looking to steal a win here with that elbow from the top, alas, he failed. Ha! That was even more apparent when Melo beat Kit with the First 48. Because of that, Miz put Hayes through the Skull Crashing Finale prior to making his exit.
Winner: Carmelo Hayes
Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax
Charlotte Flair looked genuinely concerned for her Tag Team partner, Alexa Bliss, while facing the Irresistible Force Nia Jax. Flair was doing a great job catching Alexa on the outside to prevent her from hitting the ground harder than necessary. Bliss ventured to perform some offense and managed to do so by flipping Nia onto her ass.
I was actually surprised that Bliss’ crossbody was remotely strong enough to result a two count out of Jax, when I think that wouldn’t have dented her in the slightest. Not to be mean, mind you. Anyway, Nia may have avoided a DDT attempt, but she bumped shoulder first into the post, then went down with thunderous precision. It was something, just not sufficient as Jax delivered a Samoan Drop. That nearly ended Alexa. Charlotte could see that, too.
Alexa rolled out of the ring to catch her breath. Nia followed suit and bulldozed her right in front of Charlotte, then proceeded to shove her off as well. It seemed like Nia was going for the Annihilator, Flair got up on the apron to confuse her, which allowed Alexa to kick Jax in the back of her leg. She fell down, and Bliss stacked her up real good.
Talk about more confusion on Nia’s face. Ha!
Winner: Alexa Bliss
In the background bellows, Tiffany assured Aldis that she won’t do anything else that’s considered stupid or dangerous prior to her Championship match, despite nearly reverting to her old ways when Giulia and Kiana James warned her that she would have needed backup. Following this, Chelsea Green saw Giulia’s title reign as unworthy and wants a match. Everyone is in agreement. Let’s not forget that jumpscare from Nikki Cross… oof.
Tama Tonga & JC Mateo vs. Motor City Machine Guns – Tag Team match
Alex Shelley managed to kick Tonga away to create some space as he tagged Chris Sabin to take on Tama. JC Mateo attempted an interception, unfortunately for him, Sabin was able to take out both men with a tornado DDT. Two to Tama. That’s all the assaults he was going to land on this man because Solo had the referee’s attention, Tonga Loa shoved Shelley off the top, and Tama used that to deliver the Cutthroat to nail Chris in his casket. And to continue to prove a point, the Bloodline weak havoc. Rey Fenix and Shinsuke Nakamura did their best, but they got floored. Effortlessly.
Winners: The MFTs
As we come to the conclusion of the night, Aldis and Rhodes were hoping, praying more like, for McIntyre to sign the contract and initiate their Saturday Night’s Main Event match. But, but, but, but Drew here doesn’t want to because he believed the contract to be lopsided in favor of Cody. Nick unsuccessfully stroked McIntyre’s ego by threatening to find someone else, the reply left him flabbergasted since Drew encouraged him to do it.
Cody convinced Drew to sit down and address him. Rhodes, to some degree, acknowledged the unbalanced nature of this Championship match and decided to make it even. If Rhodes gets disqualified, he loses his title. If he gets counted out, he loses his title. That’s fair game. Aldis strongly advised against it, still we know what’s really going to happen. Nick had no choice but to accept it.
“Nice guys used to finish last, then I showed up.” said Rhodes after dispersing of McIntyre’s roast across the floor. That enraged the Scottish Warrior to practically call Cody exactly what I was thinking when I saw him wearing that suit, a blond pumpkin head. McIntyre got inside Rhodes’ head when he mentioned his daughters, not by name, of course, since he made the joke of not knowing them. That momentary lapse of idiocy caused Cody to get a Claymore where his brain should be. Aldis didn’t have to suffer, though.
Rhodes and McIntyre will battle it out for the Undisputed Championship. My boy Jey Uso has a daunting task if he wants to become World Champion again, to beat CM Punk. Jade Cargill gets another shot at facing Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship. And Intercontinental Champion, Dominik Mysterio, has two brick walls to fight, Penta and a much cathartic version of Rusev.
Enjoy the show!
TOP PHOTO: McIntyre looming over Rhodes’ body. Courtesy of WWE
