– Michael Cole welcomed everyone into the show as shots of
Nashville aired. Scenes of The Bloodline, #DIY and The
Street Profits entering the building from earlier in the day
also aired.
– Country singer Hardy was then introduced and he was
already in the ring. Hardy then introduced “The Phenomenal
Forearm” (his words, not mine) AJ Styles.
The AJ Styles/Carmelo Hayes/LA Knight segment
I get a kick out of turns like this. “Hey, everybody. The
last time you saw me, I was feuded with the beloved World
Champion and I even lied about retiring just to get a match
with him. But, shoot. I went away for a couple months and
I’m sorry, so bring out the bad guys!” I tend to like AJ
Styles, so I didn’t mind this all that much, but that
doesn’t mean it’s not all so silly. Anyway, it’s good to
have Styles back and I’m curious if he’ll be worked into the
U.S. title picture after this. You have to think he doesn’t
have a lot more towns left in him.
Styles received somewhat of a babyface response from the
live crowd. Styles was also wearing his ring gear. Styles
soaked in cheers after his music cut off. The crowd thanked
him with “AJ!” chants. “Welcome back” and “AJ Styles!”
chants followed that initial chant. Styles said he had
“missed you guys so much” and talked about how it was
fitting that they were in Nashville because that’s where it
all started for him. Styles said he’s done a lot of things
he regrets over the last few months, but he was there to
rebuild the legacy of AJ Styles. Styles said it is still
“The House That AJ Styles Built.” On cue, Carmelo Hayes’s
music hit and Hayes walked out.
Hayes said he wasn’t surprised that there weren’t a lot of
guys in line to welcome him back. Hayes stepped into the
ring and introduced himself to Styles and said he’s been
holding it down on SmackDown while Styles has been gone.
Hayes called Styles an old-timer and said Styles was
probably out there to announce a legends contract. Melo said
a guy like Melo, who deserves to be the U.S. Champion … and
then Styles interrupted Melo to say that LA Knight is
relentless, “yeah!” Styles recalled how Knight went to
Styles’s house and how Styles and Knight had a match at
WrestleMania.
Melo chimed back in and said he didn’t need advice from
Styles because Hayes doesn’t take advice from quitters.
Styles said if Melo was actually “him,” he would be the U.S.
Champion. Melo said if Styles actually phenomenal, Styles
would be world champion. Styles challenged Hayes to a match
on the spot. Hayes said, “Nah, I’m good,” and tried to walk
away, but LA Knight’s music hit and Knight walked out to a
good pop. The crowd broke into “LA Knight!” chants. Knight
said, “Let me talk to ya!” Knight mocked Hayes and noted how
Styles had misled the entire world when he said he was going
to retire a few months ago. Knight said Hayes will get
stomped out and there are two options – one is that Knight
could punch Hayes and walk down to Broadway to have a good
night. The second choice is that if Melo can beat Styles,
Melo could have a shot at the U.S. title. Without Melo
saying anything, the match was made and the segment ended.
**********
Carmelo Hayes defeated AJ Styles via ref stoppage [8:34]
Welp. I was wondering how they’d get out of Styles losing in
his return, considering the pop-up stipulation that Knight
added, and I guess this was the best way? Maybe? Probably? I
don’t know. The match was fine while it lasted, but the
truth is that I’d like to see these two get five more
minutes and no commercials. We got what we got. I’ll
reiterate perhaps the biggest question coming out of the
first half-hour of this show: Where does Styles go from
here? I’m genuinely curious.
Knight sat at ringside for the match. Hayes took Styles down
early and then Styles returned the favor. Hayes kept control
early, led by some chops. Styles fought back with chops of
his own and a nice-looking standing dropkick. Hayes rolled
to the outside and hopped back on the apron before hopping
back off the apron. Hayes stalled, which incited boos from
the crowd. Hayes finally stepped back into the ring and had
the edge, complete with a springboard clothesline and two-
count. Hayes threw Styles to the outside and joined Styles
outside the ring, where Melo threw Styles into the
commentary table. The show then went to a commercial break.
The show returned and Melo was working a half-crab inside
the ring. Styles made it to the ropes for a break. Styles
then fired up and landed a fury of strikes, taking Hayes
down. Styles then hit a pop-up neck-breaker, but after Melo
came down on Styles’s leg, the ref called the match off due
to an injury that Styles suffered to his leg earlier in the
match. As Melo was announced the winner of the match, Knight
stepped into the ring and hit a BFT on Hayes.
**********
– A dumpster was rolled to ringside for the next match.
Michin defeated Chelsea Green in a Dumpster Match [10:25]
This was a blast. Plus, it’s a great example of a very good
mid-card program that built over a series of weeks in a low-
key way and then ultimately had a payoff that worked in all
of the ways. A good WWE-style brawl that incorporated comedy
– and in this instance, actually warranted comedy – while
offering up a way to get both wrestlers involved to the next
level. It worked. Kudos to Michin, who continues to build
her bad-ass-ery, and kudos to Green, who has no shame (in
the best way) and has no problem being a ham in the name of
entertainment. This was as perfect as it could be.
Both women had kendo sticks to start the match and that led
to Michin hitting a suicide dive on Green on the outside.
Michin then grabbed a chair and a trashcan from under the
ring. Michin also found a table. Green ran at Michin, which
meant Green ran into a baking sheet shot from Michin. Michin
went to the top and landed a dropkick from the top rope. The
two went outside and Green slammed Michin into the dumpster.
The show then went to a break.
The show returned and Green and Michin were battling on the
apron. Michin got inside the ring and landed a Tornado DDT
and a German Suplex. Michin went for Eat Defeat, but Green
countered and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Green then threw
Michin into the dumpster, but Michin stopped Green from
closing the lid. Michin then beat Green with a bunch of
garbage bags. Back in the ring, Michin finally hit Eat
Defeat and put Green into a trashcan and hit a splash onto
Green with Green in the can. Michin then grabbed another
table and draped it across the dumpster.
Out of nowhere, Piper Niven showed up and attacked Michin.
Niven then ran at Michin, but Michin moved and Niven hit the
dumpster. With the two on the apron, Green tried to suplex
Michin, but Michin blocked it and power-bombed Green through
the table into the dumpster. Michin then closed the lid on
the dumpster and won the match. Green popped out of the
dumpster out of the match and had garbage all over her.
**********
– AJ Styles was shown in the trainer’s room in the back.
Corey Graves said Styles was transported to a hospital.
– Naomi was shown in the back and Bianca Belair and Jade
Cargill walked up to her. Naomi mentioned how Belair and
Cargill won their tag titles. As it goes, Naomi will now
also be a host, along with Belair and Cargill, at Bad Blood.
Bayley walked into the scene and reassured Naomi that they
are friends, which means Naomi will be the No. 1 contender
should Bayley win the women’s title at Bad Blood.
The Bayley/Nia Jax segment
Bayley showed good fire here. Or, well, at least more than
she has in recent weeks. The Stratton/Jax stuff continues to
be fun in a weird novel WWE way. And I only say that because
I was dreading the will she/won’t she dynamic that the
Jax/Stratton story was obviously going to have from the
jump. Instead, the creative minds have done a great job
keeping things fresh between those two. As a result, this
should be a fun segment when it comes to the PLE. Everyone
involved has stepped up enormously in the walk up to all
this.
Bayley said she wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time and she
called out Nia Jax right away. Jax’s music hit and Jax
walked out with Tiffany Stratton. Jax said if Bayley had
something to say, she should say it to Jax’s face. Bayley
said Jax never understood the importance of the women’s
championship. Bayley referenced a lot of WWE women’s legends
and said they made the title seem larger than life. Bayley
said Jax doesn’t do that for the title. Bayley said even so,
none of them have had the dominant championship run that Jax
is on right now.
Bayley noted that she plans to take the title off Jax’s
shoulders. The only other person who wants to take Jax’s
title is Tiffany Stratton. Bayley said Stratton will cash
her briefcase in on Jax … and then Stratton chimed in
because Bayley said Stratton isn’t good enough. Stratton
said she didn’t need the briefcase to beat Jax. Jax said,
“Excuse me.” Stratton was flustered and called Bayley “Pam,”
which was kind of fun, and told Bayley to bow down to Jax.
Bayley said at least she could respect Jax’s dominance, but
meanwhile, Stratton is a “stupid bi%!” From there, Stratton
tried to hit Bayley with the briefcase, but Bayley moved and
Bayley took out both Jax and Stratton. The segment ended
with Bayley holding the title and draping it over Jax.
But it didn’t. Because Stratton creeped her way over to Jax
sith the briefcase in hand and a referee appeared. The crowd
chanted “Cash it in!” But Jax left the ring and Naomi’s
music hit for the next match.
**********
– Niven and Green were walking backstage and they ran into
Pretty Deadly, who sold how bad Green smelled. Ditto for
Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. Again for Berto and Angel.
And finally, Nick Aldis, who apologized and used a bunch of
puns. Melo walked up to Aldis and said he wanted his U.S.
title match. Aldis said they’d talk next week about it
because Aldis has to see how Styles is doing.
Naomi defeated Tiffany Stratton [10:01]
This result only makes me believe more and more that
Stratton gets a successful cash-in this weekend. Look at all
the opponents they have set up for her at this point. Naomi,
for her part, pretty much has a promised title match against
Stratton or Bayley, no matter how this weekend shakes out.
As for this match, it was pretty good. Two professionals
working a professional wrestling match. Nice stuff.
Naomi had control early, complete with a running clothesline
and a running head-lock. Stratton fought back and went for a
clothesline, but Naomi ducked it and kicked Stratton before
hitting a knee to the face. Naomi face-planted Stratton for
a two-count and then set up for a draping DDT, but Stratton
got out of it. Still, Naomi hit a suplex for a two-count.
Stratton found herself on the apron and that resulted in a
springboard double-knees onto Naomi for a two-count. The
action spilled to the outside, where Naomi hit a split leg-
drop onto Stratton on the apron. The show then went to a
commercial break.
Back from the break, Naomi was on the defensive until she
took back control and the two then traded blows. Naomi ended
that exchange with a series of kicks and a spinning bulldog.
Naomi landed a sliding slap and got a two-count out of it.
Stratton came back with a counter face-plant into a shotgun
dropkick. Naomi was on the top rope and hit a cross-body,
but Stratton rolled through and picked Naomi up, but Naomi
worked out of it and went for a split-legged moonsault, but
Stratton moved and tried the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, but
missed that. The two traded roll-up attempts, but Naomi was
the one to get the best of it for the win.
**********
– The Bloodline were walking backstage and Jacob Fatu yelled
into the camera, calling out everyone, including Roman
Reigns. Fatu went on and on about worshipping his Tribal
Chief. It concluded with Fatu saying Solo Sikoa is the true
Tribal Chief. The faction then made their entrance.
– Stratton was walking backstage and Jax showed up. Jax
brought up Stratton teasing cashing in her briefcase and
suggested Stratton cashes in on Liv Morgan at Bad Blood. The
other option for Stratton, Jax said, was that Stratton
promises she will never cash in on Jax. Stratton said she
would never do that to Jax.
– The commentary team ran down the Bad Blood card for
Saturday.
The Bloodline (Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) defeated #DIY (Johnny
Gargano & Tommasso Ciampa) and The Street Profits (Montez
Ford & Angelo Dawkins) to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.
[19:56]
The best part of this was the idea that Tonga and Loa could
have actually lost because it was an easy way to get the
belts off them without actually taking a loss … and then
they didn’t lose. I like it. In the meantime, everyone
looked great, especially the two babyface teams, who both
feel like they are on the verge of breaking through to the
next level in their own ways – mostly as a result of this
match. The point here is that everyone won, really. Coming
away from it, it was a net positive for all the wrestlers
involved. Really good stuff and most definitely main event
worthy for a WWE TV show (and no, I don’t say those last
five words patronizingly).
The match started with everyone brawling, the four babyfaces
attacking the two heels. The two babyface teams were alone
in the ring, but all that meant was the four kept working
over the two. The show went to a commercial break. The show
returned and the teams were battling on ladders. Things were
broken up and Tonga and Loa hit everyone with a ladder.
Dawkins was suplexed onto a ladder and the Bloodline duo
stood tall for a moment as the crowd booed. Loa and Tonga
worked over Ciampa on the outside of the ring until Dawkins
took out Loa and Tonga … until Gargano took everyone out
with a suicide dive … until Ford took out everyone with a
dive. “This is awesome!” chants began.
B-Fab told Ford to get a table from under the ring. Ford
obliged to the delight of the live crowd. The show then went
to a commercial break. Back from the break, Tonga was a
victim of a Shatter Machine from #DIY. Loa found himself
with his head in the middle of a ladder and a #DIY hit him
with a Meet In The Middle. Gargano set up a ladder and
climbed a bit, but Dawkins cut him off. Gargano came back
with a spear and Ciampa hit a knee on Dawkins. Ciampa tried
to climb the ladder, but Dawkins cut Ciampa off. Ford then
hit a Blockbuster over a ladder on Ciampa, who was held by
Dawkins, and things reset.
“This is awesome!” chants broke out. Dawkins climbed a
ladder, but Tonga pushed the ladder over. The Bloodline
pushed a ladder into Dawkins’s head. B-Fab grabbed a chair
from Tonga’s hands and as a result, Gargano and Ciampa hit
The Bloodline with chairs. Gargano and Ciampa worked over
The Bloodline with the chairs and put Loa on a table. Ford
went to the top rope and hit a Frog Splash on Loa through
said table. Gargano and Ciampa cleared the commentary table
and with Dawkins hit a triple power-bomb on Tonga.
#DIY took out Dawkins after that and pushed another ladder
into the ring. Ciampa climbed the ladder, but Ford jumped
onto it. The four babyfaces fought on the ladder. Loa
appeared and pushed the babyfaces onto other ladders. The
crowd booed loudly. Tonga held the ladder and Loa climbed to
the top to get the belts and win the match.
