Posted on 11/02/125 by Bob Magee
Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes [c] vs. Drew
McIntyre
McIntyre got cranky a few weeks ago and put Rhodes’ head
through the announce table with a Claymore. After Rhodes
shooed away the little cartoon birds that were circling his
head, he and McIntyre went to war at Wrestlepalooza. Rhodes
won that bout, but via a controversial call by the official.
McIntyre then beat Jacob Fatu to again become No. 1
Contender to the Undisputed WWE Title. This time though,
McIntyre had a plan, which he put into action on Smackdown
and got Rhodes to agree that the title could change hands on
a DQ or Count out.
Lillian Garcia read us the tale of the tape, with McIntyre
insisting she call him the “Real American Dream” and we were
off. Rhodes charged off the bell, but McIntyre dodged it and
hit a back elbow. Rhodes sent McIntyre into the corner and
the two started trading chops.
McIntyre went for a suplex, but Rhodes reversed it with one
of his own and McIntyre rolled out of the ring, trying to
lure Rhodes into a count out. Rhodes didn’t bite though and
McIntyre got back in at 9. The two locked up and McIntyre
tried to throw Rhodes into the official to cause a DQ.
Rhodes pulled up though and remained qualified.
McIntyre kept trying to goad Rhodes into getting DQ’ed, but
it wasn’t working. Instead he went for a kick in the gut and
laid Rhodes out on the ropes. McIntyre then bit Rhodes’
forehead without the Ref seeing. Rhodes fired up and started
throwing jabs and kicks at McIntyre. He got too agressive
with stomps in the corner and almost shoved the ref when he
broke it up.
McIntyre came back and threw Rhodes into the ringpost. On
the outside, he tossed Rhodes over the barricade to try and
get the count out. Rhodes made it back into the ring at 8
though. McIntyre started throwing punches and hit a belly-
to-belly throw across the ring.
McIntyre put Rhodes in an upper octopus huld, but Rhodes
fought out of it and went off the ropes to be struck by
McIntyre for a two count. The two started trading forearms
and McIntyre hit a high back body drop for another two
count.
McIntyre took a moment to mug for the crowd before climbing
the turnbuckles. Rhodes met him there though and they threw
hands on the top rope. Rhodes got McIntyre up and landed a
mean looking superplex.
After some punching, Rhodes landed a powerslam on McIntyre
and started powering up. He hit a Disaster Kick and then a
Cody Cutter for a two count. Rhodes hit a Bionic Elbow and
charged, but McIntyre caught him with a spinebuster and sit
out powerbomb.
McIntyre rolled out of the ring and grabbed the title belt.
Cody ripped it out of his hands and tossed it to the ref.
That opened him up for a Claymore kick, but McIntyre could
only get a two count. Rhodes rolled out of the ring and
McIntyre set him up in front of the announce table. Rhodes
caught him with a fist in the gut and put them both back in
the ring.
McIntrye then knocked Rhodes off the ring apron and through
the announce table looking for a countout, but Rhodes made
it back at 9.5. McIntyre set himself up for another
Claymore, but Rhodes ducked it. McIntyre tried a future
shock, but Rhodes dodged and went up the turnbuckles. Before
he could do anything though, his knee buckled and he fell to
the mat clutching it.
Rhodes tried again and hit a supercutter, but McIntyre
kicked out at two. Rhodes set up CrossRhodes, but McIntyre
kicked him in the face and sent him into the corner,
squashing the official in the process. McIntyre hit a
Glasgow Kiss, but the ref was still out. Using that to his
advantage, McIntyre grabbed the belt again.
McIntyre went to hit Rhodes with it, but Rhodes ducked and
the two collided with crossbodies in the center of the ring.
The ref continued to nap.
McIntyre went for the belt again, but Rhodes managed to DDT
him on the belt and then throw it out of the ring. The ref
then began to stir in time to see Rhodes hit a CrossRhodes
and get the pin to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Match Result: Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre
Decent match from these two to kick things off. There were
more than a couple moments where I thought that McIntyre had
it in the bag, but Rhodes pulled it off nicely. I give it 7
Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s out of 6.
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton [c] vs Jade
Cargill
In January, Stratton cashed in the Money in the Bank
contract on Nia Jax to put the title on her shoulder. She’s
successfully defended it against Jax, Charlotte Flair and
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. Stratton also beat Cargill
at Summerslam. However, that wasn’t enough for Cargill who
stepped in to save Stratton from an attack by Giulia and
Kiana James, only to turn on the champion and lay a beating
on her. It was a subtle move, but she seemed to to be
communicating that she wanted another title shot. Because
wrestling, she got it and here we are.
Before the match, Smackdown GM Nick Aldis checked on
Stratton to make sure she was 100% for the match. She said
she was. Hey, that’s great. Extremely relevant actor and
comedian Pauly Shore was shown in the audience, as was Post
Malone. Expect to see him vs Jelly Roll at Summerslam next
year.
Right off the bell, Stratton jumped Cargill. Cargill easily
reversed it though and began sweeping legs and throwing
stomps. She grabbed Stratton and flattened her with a huge
chokeslam. Cargill then hit a pumphandle flip slam for a two
count.
Cargill threw Stratton across the ring and into the corner.
She charged, but Stratton moved. Stratton went up top, but
Cargill knocked her into a tree of woe, wrenching the knee
of Stratton. Cargill pulled Stratton out of the ring and
dropped her headfirst onto the ring apron (the prettiest
part of the ring!).
Cargill laid Stratton out on the stairs, but Stratton caught
her and tripped her face first into the steps. Stratton
threw Cargill into the ring and went up top again, but
Cargill met her there. Statton threw Cargill off and hit a
swanton, but only got a two count.
Clutching her bandaged knee, Stratton got up, but Cargill
clotheslined her back down and hit a blue thunder bomb for
the customary two count. Cargill landed a fallaway slam and
then another, keeping the pace in her favour. She hit
another, but Stratton kicked out at two.
Cargill hit a sit out powerbomb for another two count, then
a pair of Power Bomb Classic’s. Cargill hit a Jaded and then
sat on Stratton for the 1-2-3 to become the new WWE Women’s
Champion!
Match Result: Jade Cargill defeated Tiffany Stratton
Good for Cargill! She’s got money written all over her and
it’s time she ascended to that upper echelon. She was
aggressive and powerful through the whole match. Stratton
did a good job making a fight out of it and the Cargill era
is here. 16 Addison Barger’s out of 10
During the break, it was announced that the next Saturday
Night’s Main Event (and the preceding Smackdown) will come
from my hometown of Montreal, Quebec! If I start the
GoFundMe now, I might be able to afford tickets!
Intercontinental Championship Triple Threat Match: Dominik
Mysterio [c] vs Penta vs Rusev
Can we all just agree that Mysterio is the best thing going
in WWE right now? Ok, good. What we didn’t know at the time
was when Dom was up on that pole 20 years ago, he got a
great view of what Rey Mysterio and his real father Eddie
Guerrero were doing in the ring. He’s channelled that into
multiple titles including the AAA Mega Championship and the
WWE Intercontinental Title.
On Raw, Rusev and Penta had their Intercontinental Title No.
1 Contenders match interrupted by the arrival of their
Starbucks order as El Grande Americano, Rayo Americano and
Bravo Americano attacked them. Raw General Manager Adam
Pearce threw up his hands and said “all right, everybody
into the pool!” and made this Triple Threat Match.
As the bell rang, Rusev and Penta attacked Mysterio, taking
turns stomping and punching him. Mysterio rolled out and
Rusev dropkicked Penta. Rusev went for the cover, but
Mysterio returned and broke up the count. Rusev put Penta
out and turned his attention to Mysterio, suplexing him
repeatedly.
Rusev picked up Mysterio like a small child and threw him
across the ring like a small child. Mysterio rolled out of
the ring, Rusev followed and Mysterio put his head into the
ring post. Penta dove through the ropes and took out Rusev.
Then Mysterio did the same and took out Penta.
Back in the ring, Penta and Mysterto battled in the corner
with Penta delivering his drop headstand kick for a pin
attempt. Rusev pulled Penta out of the ring and threw a
lariat before tossing him into the barricade. He threw Penta
into the barricade again and Mysterio dove at Rusev through
the ropes. Rusev caught him and slammed his head onto the
newly-repaired announce desk.
Rusev took a moment to connect with the Intercontinental
Title Belt, saying “I’m coming for you” before entering the
ring and kicking Mysterio in the back. Rusev went for a
lariat, but Mysterio tripped him and went for a 619. Rusev
caught him though and slapped on the Accolade. Panta broke
that up with a superkick to Rusev.
Penta hit a backbreaker for a two count and then threw some
kicks at Rusev as he tried to stand up. Penta went for a
springboard, but Rusev caught him and slammed him for a two
count of his own. Rusev set up Penta on the top turnbuckle,
but Penta fought out of it. Rusev pulled Penta off the
ropes, seemingly hurting his knee.
Mysterio brought a chair into the ring and pulling a page
from his real father, threw it at Rusev and pretended he hit
him. The ref did nothing, since there is no DQ in the triple
threat. Pentat took out Mysterio with a Mexican Destroyer
then hit a tornado DDT on DDT on Rusev.
Penta went for a Destroyer on Rusev, but he caught him and
hit an Alabama Slam. Penta hit a big sit out driver, but
Rusev kicked out at two. Penta went up top again and leapt
off, but Rusev caught him with a kick to the gut. He put the
accolade on. and the bell rang!
Everyone seemed very confused, with Rusev thinking he won,
but the camera caught Mysterio with a hammer in his hand. He
hit the bell to cause a distraction. That made Rusev very
very mad and he ragdolled Mysterio around the outside of the
ring.
Mysterio shoved Rusev into the steel steps and then climbed
back into the ring with the bell hammer. Penta stopped him
though, grabbed the hammer and went to hit Mysterio.
Mysterio ducked and Penta took out Rusev with the hammer.
Mysterio took out Penta and then hit a frog splash on Rusev
to get the pin and retain the Intercontinental Title.
Match Result: Dominik Mysterio defeated Penta and Rusev
Very fun match! It did not drag anywhere like a lot of
Triple Threats can. Penta and Rusev would have both been
great IC Champs, but Mysterio continues to steal the show.
From the Eddie chair spot to the ringing of the bell, he’s
pure entertainment. 27 George Springers out of 10.
Next, a promo aired for December’s Saturday Night’s Main
Event aired, speculating on who John Cena’s final opponent
will be. It was announced that starting one week from Monday
(November 10th), at RAW in Boston, a 16-man “The Last Time
Is Now” tournament will begin, with the winner facing Cena
in his final bout. What was intriguing, was it mentioned the
possibility of the tournament including someone (or
someones)”who doesn’t even work here.”
PS – how do you not call it “The Last Tournament Is Now”
WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: CM Punk vs Jey Uso
A few RAW’s back, Punk beat Jey Uso and LA Knight to receive
the right to face Seth Rollins for his World Heavyweight
Title. Unfortunately, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed decided
they had enough of Rollins’ giant should pads and turned on
him, delivering a beating so bad that Rollins was put out of
action with a totally real maybe for sure kinda legit injury
(you never know with Seth. We’ve been fooled before).
Anyway, RAW General Manager and plaid sport coat enthusiast
Adam Pierce stripped Rollins of the title and the next week,
Uso earned his way back into the hunt by winning a Battle
Royal. So that brings us to tonight where Uso looks to
regain the title and Punk wants to get a taste of his first
gold since returning to WWE almost two years ago.
Lilian Garcia did her thing and the crowd was clearly behind
Punk, even though there was a lot of Yeeters out there. The
bell rang and we were off. Punk a Uso circled each other,
both looking for an opening. Uso blinked first and the two
tied up.
Punk ran Uso into the corner and backed off, leading to
another tie up, which the ref broke up in the corner. Uso
gave Punk a little shove and Punk tried to quickly hit a
GTS, but Uso wriggled out of it. They tied up again, this
time with Punk working Uso’s arm with a wristlock.
Punk went for a cover, but only a two. He put a headlock on
Uso and transitioned to working the arm again. He came off
the ropes, but Uso intercepted with a crossbody. Uso stomped
Punk, keeping him off his feet. Uso wrestled Punk to the
mat, but couldn’t get a count.
Uso seemed confused with the crowd started chanting “CM
Punk” and it opened him up for Punk to try to get another
GTS. He didn’t and Uso rolled out of the ring.
After a moment, Uso climbed back in through the ropes and
tied up again. Punk started throwing forearms and dopped a
few elbows for good measure. Punk hit a neckbreaker, but
couldn’t get a cover. Uso seemed dazed as Punk started
throwing chops. Punk charged and Uso caught him in a Samoan
Drop that was so hard, it took Uso’s shirt off.
Uso went for a spear, but Punk caught him and hit another
neckbreaker. The pace of the match was slow and controlled
by Punk, who put a crossface on Uso in the middle of the
ring. Uso fought out of it and thew hands. Punk sent him off
the ropes, but Uso grabbed them and Pink drop-kicked the
air.
Punk grabbed Uso and connected with a GTS, but Uso fell out
of the ring with the momentum. Instead of just going and
getting him, Punk decided to stay shocked for a few minutes.
He jumped out and grabbed a water bottle, dumped it on Uso
to wake him up, and then threw him back in the ring. Weird.
Punk hit a suplex on a limp and dazed Uso, but could only
get a two. Punk put Uso on the top turnbuckle and tried for
a superplex. Uso blocked it though and headbutted Punk back
to the mat. Uso went for a stomp, but Punk moved out of the
way. Not missing a beat, Uso threw a bunch of right hands,
knocking Punk down in the corner.
He thew a hip at Punk and went for a spear, but Punk caught
him with a GTS attempt. Uso got out of it and hit the spear
and then an Uso Splash, but Punk kicked out at two. Uso went
back up top, but Punk met him with a fist. Punk landed a
superplex, but took a bunch of damage to do it.
The two traded blows in the center of the ring. Punk came
out on top, throwing Uso into the ropes and hitting him with
a clothesline and then a dropkick. Punk threw a high knee
into a bulldog and called for the GTS.
He got Uso on his shoulders, but Uso got out of it and
superkicked Punk out of the ring. He followed that with a
suicide dive and the ref started counting. Uso got back in
first and the Punk followed to reset the count. Punk then
rolled out on the other side to catch his breath.
Uso climbed out and charged, hitting a spear and driving
Punk through the barricades. Uso dragged Punk back into the
ring and hit another Uso splash, but Punk got the knees up.
He hoisted Uso up and hit a GTS, but Uso kicked out at 2.5!
Punk set up Uso for a piledriver, but Uso countered and hit
a GTS on Punk! Then Punk got up and hit Uso with a spear!
Punk got to his feet first and hit another GTS on Uso, who
collapsed onto Punk’s shoulders. Uso was playing possum
though and locked in a sleeper hold in the center of the
ring!
Punk rolled it over into an anaconda vise but Uso grabbed
the ropes, breaking the hold. Punk dragged him back to the
center of the ring and Uso hit a pair of superkicks. he went
for a spear, but Punk caught him for a pair of GTS’s. With
that, Punk pinned Uso to get the victory and become the new
WWE World Heavyweight Champion!