Whoo-Hoo! The RadiantGame Team is now in you city - Washington, D.C.!
Tonight's show promises to be a big night, featuring a tag team championship match and clashes like Miz against Ivar, and Otis seeking revenge on Shinsuke Nakamura. Let's get it started!
WarGame Teams' Staredowns
The show kicks off with Cody Rhodes taking the stage. The American Nightmare pledges that he and Jey Uso will secure the tag team championships tonight and, come WarGames, they will successfully vanquish The Judgment Day. Cody's allies Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Seth Rollins make their way to the ring. The history of their complicated relationships is not forgotten.
Members of The Judgment Day, including Demian Priest, Finn Balor, JD Mcdonagh, and Dominik Mysterio, make their entrance. As highlighted in the recent SmackDown main event segment where Damage CTRL faced Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Asuka, there's a clear distinction between a united team and a collection of exceptionally talented solo performers. Each member of The Judgment Day has a unique history with their teammates.
Demian and Finn emphasized the fact that the champion, Seth Rollins, has never been able to secure a victory against his ally Cody Rhodes. On the flip side, they acknowledged Cody's prowess, noting that he can easily defeat any member of his own team. However, the twist lies in Cody not currently holding a championship despite his evident skill and dominance. Sami Zayn, despite proclaiming himself as a champion-caliber fighter, failed to win last week. Finn questions Jey Uso's loyalty after his betrayal in the name of the Bloodline in the past.
Cody further manipulates the leadership dynamics within The Judgment Day, making Priest proclaim himself as the leader. While this move could potentially cause internal strife, it seems unlikely given the unity within the group. After Cody, Seth Rollins takes the mic, suggesting a match between himself and Sami Zayn against JD Mcdonagh and "Dirty" Dominik. The stage is set for an intense showdown.
Seth "Freakin" Rollins & Sami Zayn vs. "Dirty" Dom & JD McDonagh
As anticipated, The Judgment Day strategically placed their perceived weaker members in this matchup. "Dirty" Dom and JD McDonagh faced an uphill battle against the champion, Seth Rollins, and the energized Sami Zayn. Just when Seth was gearing up for the Buckle Bomb on Mysterio to potentially end the match, chaos ensued.
Finn Balor, Demian Priest, and Mommi launched a surprise attack on Rollins. Cody, Jey, and additional security personnel rushed to their aid. Amidst the chaos, Adam Pearce intervened and took action. In response to the interference, Adam Pearce banned every member not directly involved in tonight's main event. The situation escalated, promising an intense main event.
Zoey Stark Confronts Rhea Ripley
As the backstage tension brewed among the WarGames teams, Rhea Ripley and Adam Pearce found themselves in the ring. Despite Rhea being the Women's Champion and a potential leader of The Judgment Day, Adam Pearce made it clear that, as the General Manager, he holds authority.
Soon, Rhea's future opponent, Zoey Stark, interrupted the scene. Stark urged Ripley to focus on their upcoming match at Survivor Series instead of engaging in other activities. Ripley responded with an emotional and powerful statement, expressing respect for Stark. She saw a reflection of herself in Zoey but emphasized that if Stark aspires to be a champion, she needs to change her brand because Mommi can handle anything and always remains on top.
The episode concluded with Rhea attempting to attack Stark from behind, but the attempt failed, and no physical contact was made.
I firmly believe that Zoey Stark has a substantial chance of winning the title. At Crown Jewel, she showcased her impressive Z-360 move and came remarkably close to claiming the championship from Rhea Ripley. This performance serves as a testament to Starck's capabilities and positions her as a formidable contender for the title at Survivor Series.
Seth and Cody's Backstage Agreement
Backstage, Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn encountered Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare approached Zayn, requesting a brief conversation with the champion.
"I know there's no love lost between us, Seth, but I'm asking for just one night. Let's keep it civil," Cody stated.
"I don't like you, and maybe I never will. But I do respect you, Cody. We made a promise at WarGames that there would be no issues between us. Now go out there and win those tag team championships," replied Seth.
Despite their enduring rivalry, there was a palpable sense of respect between these longstanding competitors. This mutual understanding could potentially play a role in overcoming the challenges posed by The Judgment Day, offering a slim but tangible possibility.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs Otis
In a continuation of his mysterious messages to an undisclosed opponent, Shinsuke Nakamura opened the match with Otis. Although speculations surround the identity of Nakamura's hidden adversary, the answer may unfold at Survivor Series.
Facing Otis this week, Nakamura elevated the difficulty level after overcoming Akira the previous week. Otis, a unique performer known for his strength, size, and charisma, posed a challenge for Nakamura. While Otis might not have had many standout moments in recent years exept dating Maxxine, his physicality could potentially cause issues for Nakamura.
In the match, Otis initially displayed dominance over Nakamura, exploiting his size advantage. However, Nakamura, known for his resilience and adaptability, found the key to victory. Three Kinshasa strikes were sufficient to bring Otis down.
Following yet another triumph, Nakamura taunted Chad Gable, seemingly challenging the final boss of the Alpha Academy. Hopefully, this challenge won't involve Maxxine Dupri
Tegan Nox vs Piper Niven
This match appears to be another attempt by WWE to garner fan support for Tegan Nox. However, Tegan's character seems to lack a distinct identity or something that captures attention. She comes across as a performer capable of executing moves in the ring but is at risk of sustaining injuries. In comparison, Chelsy Green, who started similarly, has developed a compelling persona that makes her matches and backstage promos interesting. Tegan's alliance with Natalia hasn't significantly elevated her status.
Despite Niven's misstep, Nox managed to secure a victory with a roll-up, adding another "significant" win to her record. Nonetheless, the WWE Universe doesn't seem particularly invested in Tegan Nox at this point. Personally, I don't foresee a promising future for this superstar, but only time will reveal whether my assessment proves to be accurate or not.
Ludwig Kaiser vs Tommaso Ciampa
In this enduring conflict between two talented teams, Ludwig faces off against Tommaso. It's worth noting the unique musical theme for Imperium members, a logical addition to their identity.
Kaiser's growth is evident each week, showcasing extreme talent that hints at a promising future. Despite a challenging opponent tonight, I have a feeling that external interference might come into play.
The match didn't start favorably for Kaiser as the referee sent Giovanni Vinci away from ringside. However, this didn't significantly impact the outcome as Ludwig fought impressively, securing a clear victory. The sneak attack by Vinci on Jonny distracted Ciampa, ultimately aiding Ludwig in securing another significant win for Imperium.
Xia Li vs Indi Hartwell
In this encounter between enigmatic competitors, Xia Li continues her streak of attacking everyone with her devastating high kick. This move has proven to be highly effective, even causing significant damage to the likes of Becky Lynch. While Xia possesses the physicality to become a top performer, her ring entrance, with the blades and shouting, can be somewhat off-putting, along with her face painting and a lack of mic skills.
On the other side, we have the "Impressive" Indi Hartwell. However, her story seems centered around her size, lacking standout ring skills and memorable mic moments. The most notable period of her career involved a romance with Dexter Lumis.
The match, though short, followed a predictable pattern. Xia executed her lethal kick, leaving Indi unable to continue. Fortunately, the bout wasn't over as The Man, Becky Lynch, made her appearance, announced a match for the next week, and launched an attack on Xia. While the odds may seem stacked against Xia, could we witness a miracle on the next Raw?
The Miz vs. Ivar
Mike faces a monumental challenge today against Ivar, who has evolved into a solo machine of destructionâ€â€Âpowerful and technically proficient. Ivar's potential to become a champion adds an extra layer of excitement to this match.
What intrigues me the most is how Miz will employ his cunning tactics to secure a victory. Backstage, Bronson Reed was directly involved in the confrontation with Ivar, setting the stage for a collision between these two colossal figures.
As expected, Miz's chances against Ivar were relatively low. Physically, the Viking is a powerhouse, and Miz can only rely on tricks to survive. An interesting moment occurred when Reed made an appearance, taking a steel chair and sitting down near the ring an ingenious mind game.
The turning point came when Bronson, distracting Ivar for a brief moment, allowed Miz to catch him off guard. Using the ropes, Miz rolled the big man down and stole a victory.
Post-match, Reed delivered a Tsunami splash on Ivar, setting the stage for a new, intense confrontation.
Gunther Praises Vinci. The Indus Sher Comeback
Backstage, Gunther expresses his appreciation for Giovanni Vinci's efforts in Ludwig's victory. Tonight, the spotlight is on Vinci, making him a happy and proud General. However, Kaiser seems embarrassed by the attention.
As Gunther and Vinci leave, Indus Sher makes a surprising appearance. Having not been seen for a while, their return raises questions about potential new challenges in the tag division. Will we witness a renewed threat soon?
Tag Team Championship Match: Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso vs. Damian Priest and Finn Balor
It's time for the main event of the evening, featuring a solid confrontation between two teams without an obvious leader. Both teams exchange blows and execute impressive moves. However, a crucial moment unfolds for Judgment Day. Cody executes Crossroads on Priest and a Spear on Finn, seemingly on the verge of securing the tag team championships. But, to everyone's surprise, Drew McIntyre appears near the ring and delivers a devastating Claymore Kick to Uso. Finn takes advantage, pinning Jey, and successfully defends their tag team titles.
After the match, Rhea Ripley appears on the ramp and shakes hands with Drew. Questions arise about Drew's potential involvement with Judgment Day or the nature of their agreement. We'll find out more in the coming weeks.
While the overall show might not have been as intriguing, the OMG with Drew in the main event elevates the rating to 7/10. Join us on SmackDown don't miss it!
