– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as Salt Lake
City scenery was shown. A video recapping last week’s
Bloodline developments was shown. Solo Sikoa’s music hit
back inside the arena and Sikoa make his entrance with his
War Games team.
The Bloodline 2.0 segment
Not much to this. I wonder if there was a travel issue or
something of the sort that actually did lead to Reigns not
being in the building yet because this segment felt
incomplete. Either way, it’s a good hook for the rest of the
show to see what happens once Roman comes around.
Loud “OTC!” chants broke out. Sikoa had a microphone and
told Salt Lake City to acknowledge him. The crowd instead
booed. Sikoa said he and his crew are ready to dominate War
Games. “OTC!” chants broke out again. Sikoa said Roman
Reigns isn’t ready because he wasn’t even in the building.
Sikoa said when Roman gets there, he wants Roman to meet him
in the middle of the ring later to accept his terms of
surrendering. Sikoa said once Roman surrenders, Roman and
his crew will acknowledge him.
**********
Chelsea Green defeated Blair Davenport and Jade Cargill to
advance in the women’s U.S. title tournament [9:50]
And so that’s how you protect Belair but give the beloved
Green a welcome win in an important spot on television.
Kudos to the production team because it really did look like
a crime scene backstage with Cargill laid out on top of the
hood of a car. I didn’t know someone in WWE cannon hated
Cargill so much that they would attempt to actually kill
her, but here we are. Back to the match. It was good and I
was glad to see the under-used Davenport get some time to
enjoy a spotlight here and there. Green going over was the
right call; my only fear now is I’m not sure she actually
wins the whole thing, and it’ll be quite the disappointment
when she loses, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get
there. For now, this was a good, action-packed 10 minutes.
Green made her way to the ring without Piper Niven. Green
rolled up Davenport to start the match, but Belair rolled up
Green and then Green rolled up Davenport and then Belair
rolled up Green. None of the pin attempts resulted in a win.
Obviously. Davenport was on the outside and Belair hit a
standing moonsault on Green for a two count. Davenport
reasserted herself, but it wasn’t long before Belair landed
a splash on Green, who was on the outside. Davenport then
landed a double stomp on Belair on the apron. The show then
went to a commercial break.
The show returned and Belair had control over both
wrestlers. Belair was working over Davenport, but Green
broke it up and hit a Rough Rider on Belair. Davenport
followed that with a double stomp on Green. Belair went for
a moonsault, but Davenport got the knees up. Green then
dropkicked Belair and landed on Davenport for a two count.
Belair came back and landed a German Suplex on Davenport and
Green at the same time. Belair got a two count out of it.
Belair ran at Green, but Green moved and Belair hit the ring
post. Davenport climbed to the top, but Green cut Davenport
off and landed a super-plex from the second rope. Belair hit
a 450 on Davenport and went for the pin, but Green pulled
Belair off Davenport. Belair returned the favor and got a
good near-fall on Davenport. Video then cut in to show Jade
Cargill on top of a car with a cracked windshield. Belair
left ringside to tend to Cargill. Back inside the ring,
Green hit her finisher after a Davenport rollup and Green
got the win.
**********
– Belair was shown hopping in an ambulance with Cargill
right before the ambulance sped away. Naomi and Bayley were
also shown showing concern.
LA Knight defeated Santos Escobar to retain the United
States Championship [8:13]
A fine-enough match, even if the shadow of Nakamura hung
over the entire thing, between his physical presence at the
end of the bout and the opening-match video. Escobar was
given a ton of offense, which was a little surprising,
considering Knight’s standing in the WWE food chain. I’m all
for this mini reboot for Nakamura and I continue to be
intrigued by his pairing with Knight. The clash in styles
should be something to watch, for better or perhaps for
worse. Here’s hoping this doesn’t end up being a quick
three-to-four week arc for Nakamura and then he quickly gets
defined down for the 59th time. I’d love to see him be a
main player each week.
Before the match began, the lights went out and a Nakamura
video aired. Nakamura said he had been watching LA Knight
and now knows Knight better than Knight knows himself.
Nakamura said Knight is insecure and consumed with fear.
Nakamura said Knight’s fears are justified because this is
the beginning of Knight’s end. The lights turned back on and
Escobar attacked Knight, who was befuddled. Escobar hit a
splash on Knight, who was on the outside. The show then went
to a commercial break.
The show returned and Escobar continued to have control
inside the ring, chopping Knight. Finally, Knight fought
back for a few seconds, but Escobar cut Knight off and
landed a Senton for a two-count on Knight. Escobar stretched
Knight until Knight fought out of it. With Knight on the
apron, Knight hit a slingshot shoulder tackle on Escobar.
Knight punched Escobar repeatedly. Knight landed a neck-
breaker for a near-fall.
Escobar came back and perched Knight on the top. Knight
headbutted Escobar away and was going to try his elbow drop,
but Nakamura appeared and distracted Knight. Escobar took
advantage and hit a frog splash from the top. Escobar set up
for his finisher, but Knight countered out of it into a BFT
for the win. Nakamura immediately hit the ring and attacked
Knight, throwing Knight into the ring post repeatedly.
Nakamura then landed a running knee to the back of Knight’s
head and left the ring.
**********
– Johnny Gargano was seen talking to Motor City Machine Guns
backstage apologizing for Ciampa’s actions last week.
Gargano wanted a tag title match, but MCMG said the next
shot goes to the Street Profits. The Profits then appeared
for a quick second, said a few words, and Gargano kept
talking as a shot of Roman Reigns and his Bloodline walked
backstage.
– Nia Jax and Nick Aldis were talking backstage. Aldis asked
if Jax knew what happened to Cargill. Jax laughed and said
she wants to take Cargill out at War Games. Aldis ran away
to stop Cody from going to the ring. Aldis said he didn’t
think Owens was in Salt Lake City and Cody said he didn’t
think so because he didn’t think Owens would miss the
opportunity. Cody then continued his trek to the ring as his
entrance music hit.
The Cody Rhodes/Kevin Owens segment
Lots and lots and lots and lots of fire here. Cody has
really showed up for this program with Owens, albeit for
only a couple weeks at this point, but there is a noticeable
difference in Cody’s delivery, passion, focus – all of it.
The logic here is a little bit flawed, but there’s no use in
being that picky. There is a reason Owens is often looked at
as the only reasonable wrestler in pro wrestling with the
things he says in promos, babyface or heel, and this was no
exception. For years, he did take on Roman Reigns. For
years, Roman Reigns was trying to kill his career. For
years, he supported Cody in his fight against Roman Reigns.
Then, at the drop of a dime, Cody forgives and forgets Roman
Reigns in the name of a tag team match? As one of Owens’s
(not so) favorite people has been known to say, tell me
where Owens is telling lies. Either way, this was really
inspired on both ends. Good stuff.
Turns out, Cody will be a guest on The Tonight Show with
Jimmy Fallon on Thanksgiving night next week. The crowd
showered Cody with loud “Cody!” chants. Cody noted how Randy
Orton wasn’t there. He also said he didn’t believe that
Owens wasn’t there. Cody then begged Owens to come to the
ring. Cody kept shouting and Owens’s voice could be heard as
Owens walked through the crowd with a microphone.
Owens said he was summoned to be on SmackDown because “The
Great Cody Rhodes wanted me here.” Owens noted how Owens was
wearing his best tuxedo t-shirt while Cody didn’t even wear
one of his suits. Cody yelled about Owens coming to the ring
and Owens said he doesn’t get what he wants because he wants
it. Cody hopped out of the ring, but officials stopped Cody
from going into the crowd. Owens asked Cody what has him so
upset because what’s happened to everybody has been Cody’s
fault. The two yelled over each other and Owens walked to
ringside.
Owens stood on the commentary table and said for four years,
he fought the Bloodline and they tried to end his career.
Owens said Roman Reigns tried to end Owens’s career, but
Owens kept fighting and then Cody came back and Owens stood
by Cody to fight the Bloodline. Owens noted how he
celebrated with Cody when he beat Roman Reigns and finished
his story. But then when Roman needed a partner “because
he’s pissed off everyone around him,” Cody agreed to be
Roman’s partner. Owens said Roman tried to take Owens’s life
and yet Cody still teamed with Roman.
Cody screamed “enough!” and told Owens that if Owens wants
to justify his actions because Cody teamed with Roman,
that’s fine, but in reality, Owens always has to be a
victim. Cody said nobody holds Kevin Owens down more than
Kevin Owens. Cody said Owens’s self-sabotage is next level
and Owens is obsessed with being the No. 1 guy and he
doesn’t realize it’s a team effort. Cody said Owens is a
Grand Slam Champion and one of the best superstars in recent
memory. Cody said everyone knows that except Owens.
Cody said at Bash In Berlin, Owens didn’t pull the trigger
on Cody and if he did, he could have become Universal WWE
Champion. Cody said Owens eventually did pull the trigger –
but not on Cody and instead on Orton. Cody said Orton didn’t
deserve was Owens did to him. Cody said Owens crossed every
line he possibly could. Cody said this lesson won’t happen
in a promo; instead, Cody will have to beat it in Owens.
Cody said wherever it is, it’s coming, and the ball is in
Owens’s court.
Owens grinned and asked Cody if he wanted to fight him.
Owens said Cody will get his match when Owens says it’s
happening. The crowd booed and Owens said it’s definitely
not happening tonight now. Owens said when it does happen,
he’ll just be doing his job. Owens said he loved Randy
Orton, but he hates Cody Rhodes. Owens walked back through
the crowd as Cody shouted at Owens. Cody said he didn’t
think Owens hates Cody and instead, Owens hates himself. Now
that he knows the lengths to which Owens will go, Cody said
there isn’t a single line he won’t cross, either. Cody’s
music hit and that ended the segment.
**********
– Roman and his Bloodline were shown sitting around
backstage. They were tossing around ideas for a fifth man.
Someone suggested Cody, but Roman said no because Cody is
old news and he’s moved on. Sami Zayn suggested Seth Rollins
and Roman gave Zayn a nasty look, so that idea was out.
Roman said he didn’t think they needed anyone else because
if they go out there together, they’re good. And if they
die, they die together, too. Jey, Jimmy and Sami agreed and
Sami asked Roman what the plan would be. Roman thought about
it and said, “I don’t know.”
– Cody was shown walking backstage and Carmelo Hayes it was
about time someone told the truth about Cody. Cody pushed
Hayes and Aldis quickly appeared to break things up. Cody
told Aldis he should evaluate his first-round draft pick.
Cody looked angry and the show went back to the ring for the
next match.
Naomi & Bayley defeated Tiffany Stratton & Candice LeRae via
DQ [7:48]
Not much to this. A standard match with the expected
bickering between Stratton and LeRae. The most interesting
thing to me was to see if Bayley and SKY would have a tiny
reunion after the post-match attack angle, but the show
didn’t stick with things long enough to see if that was a
thing either way. They are doing their best in trying to
heat up the women’s War Games match, but I just don’t think
they can get there in time. This wasn’t a feud that needed a
War Games; it’s a War Games that needed a feud, and as such,
it just doesn’t feel imperative.
Naomi went after Stratton to begin the match. Naomi kept
control until Stratton rolled to the outside. Naomi followed
Stratton and the heels hid behind Nia Jax. The heels took
advantage and attacked Naomi and Bayley. Back inside the
ring, LeRae tagged in, but Naomi quickly fought off both
heels. Bayley tagged in and hit a suicide dive on Stratton
on the outside. Bayley hit a dropkick on LeRae between the
ropes and Bayley and Naomi posed as the show went to a
commercial break.
Upon return, Stratton had the upper hand on Bayley inside
the ring. LeRae tagged herself in while Stratton was posing
and the heels bickered. LeRae still stopped Bayley from
tagging in Naomi, completely with a moonsault from the
second rope. Stratton tagged herself in and hit a boot to
Bayley’s face for a two-count. Naomi took out LeRae on the
outside and Stratton missed a splash in the corner. When
Bayley went to tag Naomi, Jax pulled Naomi off the apron to
give Naomi and Bayley the win.
After the match, the heels were beating down the babyfaces,
but IYO SKY’s music hit and SKY ran out for the save. SKY
hit a springboard dropkick on Jax, but out of nowhere, Liv
Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez showed up and joined in the fun.
Rhea Ripley’s music hit and Ripley ran to the ring with a
kendo stick. Ripley took everyone out with said kendo stick.
**********
Montez Ford defeated Tommaso Ciampa [7:49]
These guys worked hard for the time they were given and I
like the attitude that both Ciampa and Ford has developed in
recent weeks (Dawkins, too, but he didn’t show up until the
post-match stuff). It’s odd in that I was convinced the
Profits were turning heel after last week and this week, the
crowd was behind Ford and they kind of managed to keep the
heel intensity while keeping the babyface ethos. How long
can they successfully walk that line, only time will tell. I
applaud all the teams involved in this. That tag division
needed a kick in the nuts, and these three teams – MCMG,
#DIY, Street Profits – are doing their best to give it just
that.
Ciampa walked to the ring slowly and in an ominous way.
Ciampa ran at Ford to start the match, but Ford moved and
stomped Ciampa. Ford landed a nice dropkick and kicked
Ciampa’s back for a quick pin attempt. Ciampa chopped Ford’s
throat to get control, but it didn’t last for long because
Ford clotheslined Ciampa before landing a step-up enziguri,
which took Ciampa to the outside. Ford followed it up with a
flip onto Ciampa, but Ciampa came right back and kneed Ford
from the apron into the commentary table. The show then went
to a commercial break.
Back to the action, Ford powerbombed Ciampa from the top to
reset whatever happened during the break. Ford hit a back
elbow, clothesline and back suplex to take control. Ford
added a standing moonsault for good measure. The two traded
blows until Ford kicked Ciampa’s midsection. Ciampa landed a
spinning neck-breaker for a two-count. Ciampa set up for a
Fairytale Ending, but Ford countered with a knee. It wasn’t
long, though, before Ford ran into a knee from Ciampa.
Ciampa went for his finisher again and Ford instead rolled
Ciampa up for the win.
After the match, Ciampa attacked Ciampa until Dawkins ran
out and took care of Dawkins. Gargano then showed up to pull
Dawkins off Ciampa. Gargano and Ciampa bickered and Ciampa
pushed Gargano to the mat. MCMG then joined the party and
Ciampa left the ring as MCMG helped Gargano to his feet.
Ciamped yelled “Whose team are you on?” at Gargano as he
retreated up the entranceway.
**********
– Next week, Cody will take on Carmelo Hayes. The women’s
U.S. title tournament will continue featuring a match
between Michin, Piper Niven and a mystery third competitor,
who was supposed to be Jade Cargill.
The Bloodline(s) segment
I love it. I whined last week about Seth Rollins potentially
being the fifth guy and even followed that up by whining
some more about it in a column and a podcast appearance for
another website this week. I knew the possibility of Heyman
returning to call in a favor from Punk would be on the
table, but these types of things often get leaked these days
and the piss is taken out of it before it’s even revealed.
Not this time. And hat’s off to Punk, who somehow finds a
way to consistently make impactful returns to whatever
company he’s in after he goes away for a tiny bit. We know
he’s around and he’s back in the wrestling business. And we
also knew, going into Survivor Series, there was a chance
something like this could happen. But once it finally
happened, even here, it somehow felt jarring in a good way.
This sets up so much coming out of Survivor Series and into
next year. What a fun wrinkle.
Solo’s version of the group entered first. Roman’s music
then hit and his group walked out. The teams stared at each
other inside the ring and Soo had a microphone. The crowd
erupted in “OTC!” chants. Solo told Roman he wasn’t there to
fight him and in fact, Solo said he still loves all four of
this counterparts. Solo said he wanted Roman to understand
that if Roman and his team joined Solo’s team, they could
run the company for decades. Solo said Roman doesn’t have a
fifth man, a wise man and no choice, so Roman should
surrender and join his team – or Roman and his guys will die
where they stand.
Solo gave Roman the microphone. The crowd returned to its
“OTC!” chant. Before Roman could speak, Paul Heyman’s voice
was heard saying, “Ladies and gentlemen!” The crowd went
nuts as Heyman walked to the ring. Heyman noted how he was
put through a table, so perhaps his math was off, but he
knew there was no way to do War Games four vs. five. Heyman
said that math didn’t make sense to the wise man. So, Heyman
said, it won’t be four vs. five. Instead, Heyman said it
will be five vs. five and from there, CM Punk’s music hit.
Punk walked to the ring with purpose and all 10 men brawled
in the ring.
With everyone else down, Roman and Punk were the two left
standing inside the ring. “CM Punk!” chants erupted. Punk
and Roman shared a moment and Heyman hopped up on the apron.
“This is awesome!” chants began. Heyman grinned as Punk and
Roman stared at each other. The rest of the Bloodline hopped
in the ring. Punk’s music hit and Punk pointed at Heyman,
signaling he was there for him. The show just kind of ended
as the Bloodline stood on one side of the ring and Punk
stood on the other.
