Tag: WWE

Backstage Update On Why Kiana James Was Removed From Internal WWE Active Roster

WWE quietly releasing stars has seemingly become more common than their mass “budget cuts” of years prior, presumably in an attempt to draw less negative attention. Recently, reports noted that “WWE Raw” talent Kiana James was moved off of WWE’s active roster page to the “miscellaneous” section, leading many to speculate that she might have been quietly released. 

Since then, PWInsiderElite has updated their original report, and while they initially hinted that a severe injury was likely the cause for her move on WWE’s website, they’ve now confirmed that this is the case. PWInsiderElite says their sources confirmed James suffered a leg injury that will likely keep her sidelined upward of six months. Notably, James was drafted up to “Raw” earlier this year, but has barely been used since, with “Fightful Select” even going so far as to inquire into her and former WWE star Dijak’s status on the roster at one point. Unfortunately, Dijak ultimately ended up being released, which is likely why many have been concerned for James’ future with WWE.

It remains to be seen when or if James returns to action in WWE, but the star got quite a vote of confidence from Booker T shortly after her main roster call-up, who believes she checks all the boxes that the promotion needs to cultivate a major star. The veteran also noted that he was excited to see her next step, that she had matured enough in “NXT,” and would someday set a lot of records. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 9/9/2024

The season premiere of WWE RAW tonight live on USA Network from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

  • WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart to appear
  • We will hear from Drew McIntyre
  • Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio vs. LWO’s Dragon Lee
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill (c) vs. The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn)
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contenders Match: Jey Uso vs. Braun Strowman vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Pete Dunne
  • Street Fight: Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan and Nikki Cross) vs. American Made (Julius Creed, Brutus Creed, Chad Gable and Ivy Nile)
  • Lyra Valkyria, Zelina Vega, and TBA vs. Pure Fusion Collective (Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and Sonya Deville)

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/6/2024: Final show on FOX

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will be the final live broadcast on FOX. The show returns to the USA Network beginning next Friday. SmackDown will take place from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Fallout from Bash in Berlin

  • The return of Giovani Vinci
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will respond to Solo Sikoa
  • The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) and DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa)
  • Tiffany Stratton vs. Bayley

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will go head-to-head with a special Friday night (live) episode of AEW Collision on TNT.

WWE Reportedly Reviving Saturday Night’s Main Event

A revival of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event is in the works.

The original WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event specials aired on NBC from 1985 to 1991, replacing Saturday Night Live. In 1992, WWE presented the special on FOX before it was discontinued.

WWE brought Saturday Night’s Main Event back to prime time in March 2006 as part of RAW on USA Network. This continued until August 2008. WWE has previously used the theme for a limited number of house shows.

WWE is expected to announce its first NBC primetime special since August 2008 in the coming days. There has been internal discussion about whether WWE would use the Saturday Night’s Main Event name.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported, “WWE told us that the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event will be announced very soon so that would indicate this is accurate.”

The exact air date of the special remains unknown at this time.

Source: eWn

Musician Files Lawsuit Against Cody Rhodes, WWE & Fanatics

Musician Wesley Eisold, vocalist of the band American Nightmare, has filed a lawsuit against Cody Rhodes, WWE, and Fanatics. The lawsuit, filed on September 4, alleges that the defendants have broken terms that Rhodes previously agreed to regarding merchandise that used the “American Nightmare” phrase. Eisold has accused the defendants of breach of contract, inducing breach of contract, and intentional interference with contractual relations.

According to court documents, Eisold filed a trademark for “American Nightmare” in November 2016, relating specifically to music and clothing. Rhodes, whose legal name is Cody Runnels, did not file a trademark on the term until more than two years later. In 2021, Runnels and AEW came to an agreement with Eisold, in which Runnels paid the musician $30,000 and in return was able to continue using “The American Nightmare” moniker under certain conditions.

One of those conditions was that “Cody Rhodes” must be featured on any shirt that uses “American Nightmare,” and the Rhodes name must be 75% larger. The lawsuit alleges that Rhodes’ merchandise with WWE and Fanatics has not adhered to the agreement, with photo evidence showing shirts featuring “The American Nightmare” text and logo without Rhodes’ name. What will likely be determined in court is whether or not that agreement can be enforced after Rhodes left AEW in favor of WWE.

Additional Details On Wesley Eisold’s Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

In the lawsuit’s preliminary statement, Eisold’s lawyers claim that there is “widespread confusion” regarding WWE fans contacting Eisold, asking the musician if he has any association with Rhodes. Additionally, it is alleged that fans of American Nightmare — the band — often find themselves accidentally buying Rhodes’ WWE merchandise.

Despite allegedly being contacted by Eisold’s representatives, WWE and Fanatics are accused of ignoring notices regarding the trademark infringement. Eisold is now asking for a jury trial in the matter, as well as up to $900,000 in damages across all five counts.

There is some level of irony to the lawsuit, as the band American Nightmare was actually forced to change their name in the early 2000s under the threat of a lawsuit from another band with the same name. The hardcore punk band changed their name to Give Up The Ghost and broke up several years later before eventually reuniting under the American Nightmare name. The band continues to play on a part-time basis while Eisold dedicates much of his time to the synth wave project Cold Cave.

Eisold has evidently been contacted online by a number of WWE fans since the news about the lawsuit became public. The vocalist addressed wrestling fans in a post on social media platform X last night, defending his decision to file the lawsuit.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bryan Danielson Received Legal Letter From WWE After Applying For ‘Yes’ Trademark

In a recent interview with “Luke James Chats,” Bryan Danielson revealed that he received a legal notice from WWE after filing a trademark for his “Yes! Yes! Yes!” catchphrase.

Danielson submitted the trademark application in July and continued to use the chants as recently as AEW All In London 2024.

Danielson said, “I applied for it, but then I got, it wasn’t necessarily a cease and desist. I got some sort of legal letter from WWE. It’s really weird because my manager texted me and said, ‘Hey, this thing is available, do you want to get it?’ I was like, ‘How much does it cost?’ It wasn’t that much. ‘Okay, sure.’ Shortly after that, I got an email from WWE saying, ‘This is infringing on this or that or whatever.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not trying to sell anybody anything. I just do my thing.’ It did feel good to see the crowd raising their hands like that after such a long time.”

Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland to win the AEW World Championship at All In London 2024 at Wembley Stadium. He will defend the title against Jack Perry this weekend at All Out 2024 in Chicago.

Source: eWn

Backstage Report Details Odyssey Jones’ Removal From WWE TV

Odyssey Jones (real name Omari Palmer) has been absent from the last several tapings of “WWE Raw,” with a flurry of discussion emerging around his status in the last few days. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has posted an update on social media regarding the situation, alleging that Jones was taken off TV after the company learned about domestic violence claims against the wrestler.

There don’t appear to be any charges filed against Palmer right now, and Sapp noted that talent had not been informed about the situation. Wrestling Inc. has reached out to WWE for comment.

Palmer had begun making regular appearances on “WWE Raw” last month, joining forces with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of the New Day. The trio defeated The Final Testament on the August 19 episode of “Raw,” which marks Palmer’s last in-ring appearance with the company as of now.

WWE signed Palmer in 2019, with his first televised match taking place two years later, on an episode of “205 Live.” He then spent the next several years in WWE’s NXT developmental system before getting called up in the WWE Draft earlier this year and eventually winning his debut “Raw” match last month.

Earlier yesterday, Fightful Select posted a brief report on Palmer’s status before Sapp’s more recent update. The wrestler was reportedly removed from the company’s creative plans for the foreseeable future, despite being in the midst of a storyline with prominent performers, including a former WWE Champion in Kingston.

Additionally, a report from PWInsider Elite backs up the claim that there are no longer creative plans for Palmer. However, he is still currently listed on the company’s internal roster, leaving some wiggle room as to his current status.

Bryan Alvarez reported on Wrestling Observer Live that Palmer had, indeed, been released by WWE, though it’s yet to be confirmed. “There has not been a press release or anything like that. But I’ve been told Odyssey Jones is fired. There are rumors online, also from Fightful, that it was a domestic violence allegation. Apparently no arrests at this point but I was told fired.”

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Raw Preview 9/2/2024

WWE Raw airs live tonight on the USA Network from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

  • Fallout from Bash In Berlin
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contenders Tournament Match: Sheamus vs. Bronson Reed vs. Ludwig Kaiser
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contenders Tournament Match: Ilja Dragunov vs. Dragon Lee vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles No. 1 Contenders Match: Unholy Union (Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn) vs. Damage CTRL (IYO SKY and Kairi Sane)
  • Zelina Vega vs. Shayna Baszler
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Celebration with new champs Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair
  • American Made (Julius Creed, Brutus Creed and Ivy Nile) vs. Alpha Academy (Otis, Akira Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri)

WWE NXT No Mercy 9/1/2024 (Results), Giulia Makes WWE Debut

Axiom & Nathan Frazer vs. Chase U (Andre Chase & Ridge Holland) (c) (NXT Tag Team Championship)

Axiom and Chase to start, Andre takes him down with a right hand, cover for two and Chase U keep on rolling even as Frazer tags in. Challengers mounting a comeback, takedown, DDT, Superkick party, running shooting star press… ANDRE KICKS OUT! Tag to Ridge, running hot, diving headbutt, Frazer breaks it up!

Chase back in, Nathan stacks him up top, dropkick, tag to Axiom, thinking Spanish Fly but Andre crotches him as Holland blasts Frazer out of the ring! Chase up top… SPANISH FLY OF HIS OWN! Underhooks… TIGER DRIVER BUT AXIOM KICKS OUT! To the floor, Ridge blasts both of them over the barricade but they dive right back on him!

Kicks cut Andre off, tag to Nathan, springboard 450 splash… ANDRE CHASE KICKS OUT! Enzuigiri gets a backfist, tag to Holland, up top… DOOMSDAY DEVICE CAN’T CUT IT! Northern Grit, but Axiom breaks it up and all four men are down and out! Challengers running double-teams, Golden Ratio… NOT ENOUGH!

Powerbomb / lungblower combination… AXIOM KICKS OUT! Frazer dives on Ridge, Axiom with a small package, Chase kicks out! Swinging neckbreaker connects, Spanish Fly, Nathan off the top…

Axiom & Nathan Frazer win by pinfall with the Phoenix Splash from Frazer on Andre Chase, becoming your new NXT Tag Team Champions.

Post-match, Ridge Holland snaps and lays waste to his Chase U teammates, throwing them barricade to steps, drawing Andre Chase up and military pressing him over the ropes and to the floor before clearing the announce desk! He shoves Thea Hail aside and puts Andre on teh table… CAPTURE DDT INTO THE ANNOUNCE DESK!

Ridge looks at how violent his hands are while Thea sobs and Andre is stretched out.

We get dueling promos for the ongoing feud between Pete Dunne and Trick Williams.

Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz

Jawing, Wentz ducks a right hand but eats a back elbow, handsprings and springboards and a stalemate. Drop down, crotch chop, rolling Koppu Kick, heel trips, Zach fakes one out, Lee catches a kick, stomp comes up empty, ducking and dodging and they stalemate again! Punch to the midsection, big slap from Wes, drop down, leapfrog, Wentz kicks his leg out of his leg!

Up and over, front kick, springboard tornillo… NOPE! To the floor, more ducking and dodging and Lee trips him up on the apron and puts his shoulder into the post! Zach falls to the floor, chest kicks, he blocks one and hauls off on Wes with chops! Lee back suplexes him into the apron, back inside with him, cover for two!

Smashing Wentz’s face into the turnbuckles, off the ropes, dropkick to the shoulders! Wrist-clutch stomps, top wristlock applied, Wentz tries for a comeback with right hands, handspring knee and he’s got some separation! German suplex, rolling hot, rising knee in the corner, roll through, Penalty Kick connects!

A second Penalty Kick off the apron, springboard cannonball! back inside, trading shots, half nelson blocked, O’Connor roll for two! Off the ropes, knees, right into the Boston Crab! Break free, upkicks, back body drop sends Zach to the apron, he lands a kick, heads up top, Lee cuts him off with an enzuigiri!

Nearfall sets up a Cardiac Kick… WENTZ KICKS OUT! Lee with right hands, Zach ducks a kick, sidesteps a boot… ESSEX DESTROYER! Wes to the floor, cuts Wentz off with a knee lift and throws him into the steel steps! Zachary sidesteps and Lee puts his knee hard into the steel!

Punch and a superkick, Wentz takes a tumble into the wreckage of the announce desk, Wes climbs up top… DIVING SEATED SENTON TO THE FLOOR! Wentz gets back in the ring, Wes gets a chair to finish him but Trey Miguel is here and takes the chair away from him! FLIP PILEDRIVER FROM ZACH WENTZ!

Fired up, back inside, springboard… UFO! IT’S OVER!

Zachary Wentz wins by pinfall with UFO.

Trick Williams meets with Joe Hendry backstage and pledges to call it down the middle as special guest referee in the NXT Championship match. Joe reminds him that he said he’d give him the first match and Trick says he believes in Joe Hendry.

Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Wendy Choo (NXT Women’s North American Championship)

Mat grappling in the feeling out, Choo stomps her hand, test of strength covers, wrenching Jordan’s arms, moving up top, Tree of Woe angled out at the apron and Wendy blasts her with a hesitation dropkick! Back inside, superkick in the corner, cover for two! Pressing the attack, now Kelani’s on the comeback trail!

Handspring caught into a German suplex, Choose turns to attack further but Jordan gets a boot up and follows it with a handspring elbow and kips up! Heel kick sets up an implant DDT… NOPE! Wendy sits up vicious, Jordan off the ropes with a crossbody but again Choo pops back up! Wrist-clutch stomps from the champion, frog splash… STILL NO!

Mounted punches in the corner, Wendy counters with a powerbomb, full nelson slam, only two! Kelani struggles to the apron, jawbreaker over the ropes! Back inside, Cobra Clutch applied, champion fading, falling back but she passes the referee’s arm drop test! Ramming Wendy into the turnbuckles, breaking free, stomping her down!

Reverse STO connects, Jordan off the top with the 450 splash! No cover, back up top…

Kelani Jordan wins by pinfall with the split-legged moonsault, retaining the NXT Women’s North American Championship.

Post-match, Tatum Paxley appears and chokes Wendy Choo out with a Dragon sleeper before leaving a doll in her likeness on her unconscious body!

Ridge Holland is interviewed backstage but he refuses to explain his actions from earlier.

Oba Femi (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo (NXT North American Championship)

Collar and elbow, stalemate! Back to the lockup, Femi gets a side headlock, wrenches it in, shot off, shoulder block, and he piefaces the Don! D’Angelo double legs him into mounted punches and follows it with a Cactus Clothesline! Oba bounces his head off the apron, back inside, headlock, shot off, flying forearm and a German suplex and Tony’s rolling!

Clothesline sends the champion to the floor and challenger holds back this time! Femi returns to the ring, waistlock, leg trip to get out of it, the Don kicks him away, Oba stampedes him into the corner! Float over a slam, waistlock, Femi breaks his grip and hammers him with a back elbow!

Off the ropes, D’Angelo dead weights to block a Rock Bottom! Oba puts boots to him, straight suplex, cover for two! Northern lights suplex from Tony, charging in, Femi catches him and walks him across the ring to set up a suplex of his own! Off the ropes, northern lariat, scoop and a slam!

Tony with lariats, belly-to-belly suplex, fisherman suplex, electric chair in the corner, electric chair drop… SO CLOSE! Oba to the floor and getting into it with the rest of the D’Angelo Family, the Don takes him back in, off the ropes, spear… STILL NO! Powerbomb, Tony floats over, clothesline takes them both out, Femi with a lariat to stagger him.

Back inside, pop-up powerbomb connects… D’ANGELO KICKS OUT! Float over, spinebuster connects but Tony is slow to capitalize! Oba back on his feet, powerbomb after powerbomb…

Oba Femi wins by pinfall with several powerbombs, retaining the NXT North American Championship.

Trick Williams tells “All Ego” Ethan Page that he’s gonna call it down the middle and Page is going to abide by his rules, but Ethan tells him to cut the crap, he knows he’s going to do everything in his power to make sure Joe Hendry leaves with the title. Trick says it’s not about any of that, it’s about him abiding by the rules.

The Rascalz are interviewed backstage.

Zachary Wentz says he won a match but lost a brother, and he needs to look forward and be grateful for Trey Miguel, the brother he does have. Miguel says they’re gonna keep moving and they’ve got their eyes on Axiom, Nathan Frazer, and the tag titles.

Jaida Parker cuts a promo about how she’s going to win the title tonight on her way through the arena.

Jaida Parker vs. Roxanne Perez (c) (NXT Women’s Championship)

Standing switch, hammerlock, Parker shoves the champion off. Waistlock, float over, cover for one, reverse chinlock applied, Perez rolls to a hammerlock, headlock takeover over her own. Big slap, Jaida is incensed, arm wringers, whip across, Roxanne ducks a lariat, crossbody caught and Parker sets her in the turnbuckles and chops her tummy!

Champion bails to the floor, back inside, shoulder block from Jaida, butterfly suplex, sent to the floor, Roxanne dives and gets caught! Parker marches her up the stairs in a fireman’s carry, Perez slips out and trips her into the steps! Dropping Jaida into the steel, breaking the count, stomping her into the steel!

Back inside, more stomps to the ribs, armbar with pressure on the ribs, trading right hands! Parker boots up in the corner, Roxanne with a Shotei, now Jaida is laying across the second and Perez hits a slingshot seated senton and mocks her challenger’s strut! Jawing at her, penalty kick blocked, Roxanne begs off but Jaida hoists her up for a Liger Bomb… SO CLOSE!

Whip across, Perez with a boot, off the ropes, Parker catches her with a spinning spinebuster… STILL NO! Roxanne floats over a suplex, goes up top, diving crossbody caught, Jaida stampedes her into the corner and sets her across the second rope! Clubbing blows, up top… SEATED SENTON OFF THE TOP BUT ROXANNE KICKS OUT!

Some kinda suplex fails because of Jaida’s ribs, second try lands, off the ropes, hip attack caught into a schoolboy for two and Perez has the arm-trap crossface! Rings of Saturn now, wrenching back but Parker posts up and gets to her feet! Fallaway slam connects, Vader Bomb but nobody’s home!

Roxanne thinking La Casita, only two! Rolling solebutt, Pop Rox blocked, Parker with the hip attack but Perez falls to the floor! Out after her but Roxanne shoves her through the timekeeper’s barricade! POP ROX ON THE FLOOR! Referee counting and both women beat the count! Pop Rox inside…

Roxanne Perez wins by pinfall with Pop Rox, retaining the NXT Women’s Championship.

Post-match, Giulia makes her entrance and obviously positions herself as Roxanne’s next challenger.

Ava Raine is interviewed backstage but doesn’t have an update on Andre Chase for us as of yet.

She announces a three-way tag title #1 contender’s match to set a defense up for the first CW show, as well as noting that the NXT Champion will be defending his title on the first CW show.

Commentary hypes up Tuesday’s show for us.

All Ego cuts a promo in Gorilla about how he’s going to retain the title.

“All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Joe Hendry (NXT Championship)

Trick Williams is your special guest referee for this one.

Page backing Hendry into the corner, grinding his forearm into his face, Williams orders him to back off and Ethan gives him some guff for it. Collar and elbow, this time Joe gets him in the corner and grinds his forearm into his face and Trick pulls him away! Hendry with a fireman’s carry takeover into a wristlock, All Ego reverses and works his own wristlock!

Back to the lockup, All Ego with a side headlock, shot off, face-to-face and jawing! Off the ropes, shoulder block, Hendry doesn’t budge! Front kick, pieface, off the ropes, Joe right behind him, shoulder block takes Page off his feet! Suplex lift, delayed vertical, marching All Ego around the ring before completing a neckbreaker, cover for two!

Arm drag, cover for two, Page reverses, grounded punches, drawing Joe up, smashing him into the turnbuckles and punching away! Posing in the turnbuckles, shoulder blocks, back elbow sends Hendry spinning out. Guillotine choke, Joe to his feet, counters with a suplex! Fired up, fireman’s carry, Ethan floats out, roundhouse kick, posting Hendry!

Straight suplex, cover for two! Up in the turnbuckles, Page with an avalanche powerslam… SO CLOSE! Back up top, Joe cuts him off with an uppercut, avalanche fallaway slam and All Ego rolls to the floor! Hendry fired up, trust fall suicide dive, but Ethan throws him into the steel steps! EGO’S EDGE INTO THE APRON! JOE BARELY BEATS THE COUNT!

Headlock punches from the champion, Hendry slips out of Ego’s Edge, gets All Ego up for his own.. RAZOR’S EDGE FOR TWO! Trading right hands, big lariat from Joe, fallaway slam, kip-up and he’s rolling! Standing Ovation… ALL EGO’S FOOT IS UNDER THE ROPES! Trick patiently explains to Hendry that he had to make the call, Page shoves Joe into Trick, Standing Ovation of his own, referee Darryl Sharma slides in… NOT ENOUGH!

Page grabs the belt and goes back in, schoolboy counters for two, DDT on the belt… TRICK SLIDES IN TO STOP SHARMA’S COUNT BECAUSE OF THE BELT! WILLIAMS DUCKS AND ALL EGO DECKS DARRYL! TRICK IS DISTRACTED AND DOESN’T SEE A LOW BLOW! Up in the crucifix…

“All Ego” Ethan Page wins by pinfall with Ego’s Edge, retaining the NXT Championship.

Post-match, Ethan insists Trick raise his hand and he does so reluctantly.

Pete Dunne attacks Trick on the floor and lays him out with Bitter End!

WWE Bash In Berlin 8/31/2024 (Results)

“American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE Undisputed Tag Team Championship)

Soaking in the atmosphere, squaring up, Code of Honor handshake and we’re off! Rhodes with a wristlock, moving up the arm into an armbar, Owens gets him in the ropes and breaks clean. Cody shoots low, Kevin blocks, front chancery applied, Rhodes with a hammerlock and into a side headlock.

KO steps on the back of his knee to reverse to a side headlock of his own, shot off, shoulder block, stalemate. Back to a headlock, Cody takes a knee for leverage, shot off, drop down, leapfrog, Cody Cutter blocked! Rhodes shoots in for a waistlock, standing switch, Cody working on an escape, back elbow, Kevin ducks Beautiful Disaster and hits a senton!

Jockeying for position, Cross Rhodes reversed, Stunner blocked, and they go forehead-to-forehead! Owens shoves him and jaws at him, grabs a waistlock, Cody reverses, passes him to the floor, off the ropes, suicide dive blocked and KO throws him into the apron and follows it up with a cannonball to the floor!

Back inside, Beautiful Disaster connects this time and Owens crashes to the floor! Cody off the ropes, this time the suicide dive lands true! Popping up on the apron, posing for the Berlin crowd. Back inside, judo throw sets up a short armscissors! Kevin rolls through and gets the ropes!

Off the ropes, kitchen sink knee gets Cody a two count, chops from Owens and Rhodes dropkicks him to set up a figure four leglock! To the ropes, back on their feet, Cody runs the ropes and gets passed to the apron and KO blasts him off of it and into the barricade! Owens working the ribs, elbows, punches, side Russian legsweep for two.

Headlock, shot off, drop down, shoulder block, both men go for lariats and end up down and out. Manhattan Drop, Rhodes off the ropes, up and over, snap scoop powerslam! Back and forth, chops for forearms, pumphandle fisherman neckbreaker over the knee from Owens! Up top, avalanche Finlay Roll… CODY KICKS OUT!

Stunner attempt, countered into Cross Rhodes… OWENS KICKS OUT! Up in the turnbuckles, jockeying for position… KO COUNTERS WITH THE AVALANCHE FISHERMAN BUSTER AND IT’S ONLY A NEARFALL! Trading punches in the middle of the ring, trading superkicks, neither man falling, Cody with the drop down slap!

He goes up for the Cody Cutter but his knee gives out, as Kevin Owens predicted! He charges to attack it but stops short, unwilling to have a tainted victory! Back inside, pressing the attack, Stunner… RHODES KICKS OUT! Back up top, senton atomico… CODY GOT THE KNEES UP! Staggering over, inverted facelock…

Cody Rhodes wins by pinfall with Cross Rhodes, retaining the WWE Undisputed Championship.

Post-match, Kevin Owens refuses help and gets to his feet under his own power and has a moment in the ropes before turning around and hugging Cody Rhodes and then raising his hand. Cody tries to return the favor but Kev isn’t having it and raises his hand again.

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) (c) (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)

Belair in the ring with both champions, referee Dan Engler failing to control the situation, all four women in the ring. Things settle down, Belair on Fyre, fighting in the corner, moonsault up and over, Alba whips her into the turnbuckle by her own hair and the champions are in control!

Heat segment rolls on at some incredible length, tag champs keeping the ring cut in half. Bianca sidesteps a dropkick and the path is clear! Back body drop sends Fyre to the floor, lands on her feet off a back suplex from Dawn, back suplex of her own, Jade mere feet away… TAG MADE! Jade in like a house afire, Jackhammer on Isla… NOPE!

Blind tag from Alba, Cargill with a superkick on Dawn, tag to Bianca, Fyre cuts her off, up for the KLR Bomb, reverse STO combination… JADE BREAKS IT UP! Challengers with a double military press, assisted big splash… NOPE! Bianca rolls away from a double-team, Jade tags in, roll through, wheelbarrow DDT…

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill win by pinfall with the wheelbarrow DDT / wheelbarrow suplex combination, becoming your new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre (Strap Match)

McIntyre attacks him during his entrance, brawling on the floor, into the ring and Drew puts the strap on his wrist and whips Punk with it while encouraging referee Rod Zapata to securit on CM’s wrist! McIntyre does it himself and yells at Zapata to hit the bell and we’re off! Back and forth, Punk hits a Go to Sleep but chooses not to tag the turnbuckles and presses the attack!

To the floor, CM looking under the ring for plunder but McIntyre cuts him off and bounces him off the announce desk! Underhooks on the desk but Punk back body drops him instead! Whipping him with the strap, back inside, Drew turns the tide and slams him on a steel chair and CM Punk is busted open!

Hammering with punches, headbutts to the wound! Running bulldog sends Drew crashing to the floor, Punk goes out after him and sets a table up, back inside, McIntyre hits a Claymore! Drew hits two turnbuckles, a third, heading for the fourth but CM bails to the floor and McIntyre goes spiraling face-first into a steel chair wedged into the turnbuckles!

Drew recovers and counters a bulldog with a powerbomb over the ropes and through a table on the floor! Back inside, touching the turnbuckles, one, two, Punk touching them himself as well, all three of them, CM slips out, trying to keep him away from the turnbuckles, both men reaching, stretching, desperate, no deal!

Frye/Takayama punches, Claymore blocked with a kick, Punk with a Sharpshooter, Drew tapping but no finish! CM dragging himself over, one turnbuckle, two turnbuckles, Drew yanks on the strap and hits a neckbreaker to reset the turnbuckles! McIntyre pulls the friendship bracelet out, counts down… CLAYMORE!

One turnbuckle, a second, a third, just one more but Punk pulls him in, Go to Sleep and both men are down! A second Go to Sleep! Turnbuckle! Turnbuckle! A third Go to Sleep! Turnbuckle! The path is clear but he wants to keep McIntyre down and hits a fourth Go to Sleep! He takes the bracelet…

CM Punk wins, touching all four turnbuckles to put us all out of our miseries.

Sebastian Hackl is in the ring to read an announcement auf Deutsch about how Bash in Berlin is the highest grossing arena show in WWE history.

Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan) vs. Terror Twins (Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley) (Mixed Tag Team Match)

Priest and Mysterio to start, circling, Dominik begging off, ducking and dodging, front kick, overhand chop and Damian boots him down hard! Throwing Mysterio into the corner, windmill punches, off the ropes, under the lariat, Priest with a back elbow! Elevated wristlock, whip into the corner and a boot follows!

Tag to Morgan, Priest piefaces her so Ripley can blast her with a missile dropkick. Shoulder block in the corner, mounted punches! Liv rolls to the corner and tags Dom in, Rhea is game to fight him but referee Dan Engler warns her off. Damian takes Mysterio to the floor, scoop dropping him face-first into the apron!

Dominik knocks Priest into the announce desk and shoulder checks him into the steel steps! Morgan running interference, allowing Mysterio to work Punishment over for a while! Rhea tags in, running hot, big lariat takes Liv out! Dropkick follows, she’s fired up, Dominik in the ring and begging off, trying to reconcile but she’s not having it!

Back elbow drops Liv Morgan, Ripley turns to Mysterio and drops him with a series of short-arm lariats! Facebuster, figure four headlock in the turnbuckles! Letting go of Dom, kicks to Liv, pumphandle but Morgan saves Mysterio from Riptide! Striking away, lungblower connects and Rhea crawls to the corner!

Rising knee, Liv throws her aside, flipping Cobra Twist slam…. SO CLOSE! Tag back to the men, Priest lighting Dom up with kicks, big elbow, back elbow in the corner, lifting reverse STO connects!

Off the ropes, lariat… LIV BREAKS IT UP! Terror Twins standing together, boxing the heels’ ears, stereo Razor’s Edges! Ripley throws Morgan out of the ring like a sack of trash, Damian takes the straps down and lifts his chokin’ arm! The rest of Judgment Day is here to run interference!

Finn Balor with a Sling Blade, Dominik hits 619, off the top for the frog splash… PRIEST KICKS OUT! Liv dives on Rhea, throws her back inside, arm drag, she’s got Morgan isolated and blasts her with a headbutt! Pumphandle…

Terror Twins win by pinfall with Riptide from Rhea Ripley on Liv Morgan.

GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

Circling, soaking in the atmosphere, collar and elbow, struggling in the corner, Orton breaks clean. Trading headlocks for headscissors to a stalemate, GUNTHER looking for a double wristlock, Randy in the ropes, and the Ring General breaks clean. Cobra Clutch attempt, Orton backs him into the corner, clean break again.

Uppercuts in the corner, Randy down and out, fighting back into it, trading punches and GUNTHER cuts him down with a huge chop! Action to the floor, Orton puts him hard into the steel steps a few times and back suplexes him into the announce desk! A second back suplex into the desk, break the count, back outside to torment the Ring General some more!

A third suplex into the desk, back inside, Gojira Clutch but Randy shoulder armbreakers the champion a few times to block and follows with a judo throw! Throwing his wrist into the mat again and again, back on their feet, trading chops, Divorce Court, cover for two! Scoop and a fallaway slam but nothing he does can keep the champion down for long!

Randy clubbing away, choking GUNTHER in the ropes, and the champion comes back with lariats, clutching his arm in agony after each one! Big boot staggers Orton, off the ropes, Randy cuts him off and drops him with a lariat! Snap scoop powerslam connects… NOPE! To the apron, hanging DDT blocked and GUNTHER hits an inverted Hot Shot!

Up top, jockeying for position, superplex from Orton and both men are down and out! Back on their feet and trading punches, backing the Ring General into the corner, he comes out of the corner with boots, clutching the injured are but Randy thumbs his eye and sets him on the apron… HANGING DDT CONNECTS!

Orton posing for the crowd, going to that special place, hammering the mat with both fists, waiting, RKO reversed into a German suplex! Randy turns into the shotgun dropkick, GUNTHER up top, diving splash connects… SO CLOSE! He wants the Tenryu Powerbomb but his arm gives out!

Trying again, powerbomb, lateral press… NOT ENOUGH! Trying again, powerbomb denied, RKO outta nowhere… GUNTHER KICKS OUT! To the floor, Randy clears the German announce desk, doing a little feng shui with the steel steps, GUNTHER meets him on the floor and they brawl! Back suplex into the steel steps!

Orton goes and gets the other half of the steps, GUNTHER breaks the count as Randy stacks the steel stairs back up right in front of the German desk. Bouncing the champion’s face off of the diamond plate, climbing the stairs, drawing him up… BACK SUPLEX OFF THE STEPS AND THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE DESK!

Posing on the steel steps, dragging the Ring General back towards the ring, throwing him inside. Posing for the crowd, back to that special place, GUNTHER blocks the RKO! GOJIRA CLUTCH IS IN! THE CHAMPION FALLS BACK! Orton gets to his feet and rams the Ring General into the turnbuckles to loosen his grip but he rolls through and keeps the hold on!

Randy fading, face a rictus, prying GUNTHER’s arm down, in position for the RKO, blocked and a chop to the back of the neck! Back to the Gojira Clutch! Overhead elbows, lock the hold back on, Orton gets to his feet, GUNTHER off of his, senton to force the break… BUT GUNTHER SITS RIGHT BACK UP AND LOCKS THE GOJIRA CLUTCH BACK IN! More overhead elbows! Back to the Gojira Clutch… IT’S OVER!

GUNTHER wins by referee stoppage with the Gojira Clutch, retaining the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.