[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

 

 

A video recap of last week in which Rey Mysterio challenged Roman Reigns for the Royal Rumble and the Tribal Chief accepted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January Week 3

Spectrum Center

Charlotte, NC

 

We go live backstage where Karrion Kross is perched over a bloody LA Knight. Kross wipes his hand over Knight’s bloody forehead and then smears it on his own chest. He and Scarlett walk away as medical staff attend to Knight.

 

 

 

In his office, Adam Pearce is with Paul Heyman. Pearce tells Heyman that next week we’ll have the official contract signing between Mysterio and Reigns and there will be no Bloodline or LWO present.

 

Heyman agrees but tells Pearce the devil is always in the details.

 

 

ROUGH RIDERS VS AOP W/WILLIAM REGAL

 

The Rough Riders start hot and surprise AOP with a fast flurry but once Akam and Rezar gain the upper hand it’s all but over. They pummel their opponents, and end it with the Last Chapter on Storm. 

 

RESULT: AOP WIN BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Cora Jade is backstage. She turns to the camera and says she always thought Iyo Sky was smarter than to stick her nose in the business of Cora Jade. But apparently she thought wrong. Last week Iyo proved that she should be called the dummy of the sky because no genius would do what she did. But that’s okay. Because we have the Royal Rumble coming up and if their paths cross, Iyo is going to fly…right over that top rope.

 

 

 

Kayla Braxton is with Keith Lee. She asks him about last week and he says that Solo Sikoa thought he’d get away with costing Lee the Undisputed Championship. But Lee says he has a long memory and he will not rest until he gets his hands on Solo again. A count out victory doesn’t give him satisfaction. Now if Solo will stop running, he’ll learn why they call Lee Limitless.

 

 

BAYLEY VS GIGI DOLIN

 

Gigi fights like a woman possessed, taking several high risks which pay off….until they don’t and she misses a springboard moonsault. Bayley recovers and uses her veteran skills to take Gigi apart, focusing on her neck and back. Dolin starts to make a comeback, but Bayley shuts it down with a knee to the guy and a Roseplant.

 

RESULT: BAYLEY WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

We see the Brand in their locker room through an open door. They appear to be strategizing about Logan Paul’s steel cage match tonight. Grayson Waller notices the camera and slams the door shut.

 

 

 

We’re taken to the Snake Pit. Jake Roberts casually strokes the water in a bubbling well as Asuka appears to be picking spiders off a web.

 

Roberts says that people mistakenly think Asuka’s darkness is ebbing because of the match with Bianca Belair. Far from it, the darkness grows. Asuka changed Bianca, changed her soul, and that’s all one can really ask for, isn’t it? The Royal Rumble draws near, dozens of souls yearned to be changed by the evil which runs through her veins. The Empress of Darkness accepts the challenge.

 

 

JUDE LONDON VS OMOS W/MVP

 

Omos just stares down at his opponent who is throwing everything he has into strikes and attacks. Finally, Omos brings a clubbing right forearm down on his, knocking him flat. From there the Nigerian Giant plays with his food while showing off his amazing strength before he ends the match with a huge chokeslam.

 

RESULT: OMOS WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Kayla is standing by with WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. Charlotte says she’s looking forward to the Royal Rumble and hopes that whoever wins, is smart enough to choose her for the REAL main event of WrestleMania.

 

Kayla asks about Bianca Belair winning it, and Charlotte scoffs, saying twenty-nine other women beg to differ before walking off.

 

 

 

The LWO is backstage and Rey reiterates to his friends that he will go out there next week alone and look Roman Reigns in the eyes when they sign that contract. None of them trust the Bloodline to stay out of it, but they say they will abide by his wishes.

 

 

NAOMI VS IYO SKY

 

This is a very good match between evenly matched opponents. Iyo likes to fly and Naomi tries to ground her. Iyo is getting the better of it, until the action spills to the outside. Iyo rolls Naomi back in but as she’s about to climb onto the apron, we see a fire extinguisher swipe out from under the ring right into Iyo’s ankle. The referee is busy with Naomi and doesn’t see who emerges.

 

 

Cora Jade crawls out from the ring and grabs Iyo, who’s down holding her ankle and rolls her back in the ring before ducking down again. Naomi sizes up Iyo and hits the Rear View for the win.

 

RESULT: NAOMI WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Kross and Scarlett are walking backstage, headed to their car when LA Knight, his head heavily bangaed, flies into the scene, blasting Kross from behind. Kross, caught off guard, gets his head slammed into the hood of his car, once….twice….the crowd counts along as if Knight is using the car like a turnbuckle. 

 

Scarlett is screaming and when he drops Kross, Knight turns to her and tells her when her old man wakes up, tell’em who put him to sleep….YEAH!. 

 

 

 

 

STEEL CAGE MATCH

BOBBY LASHLEY VS LOGAN PAUL © W/PAT MCAFEE

 

Lashley throws Paul around in the early going and there is nothing that McAfee at ringside can do about it. Paul gets a small opening when he stuns Lashley with a kick to the head and tries to climb out of the cage, but Lashley catches him and delivers a german suplex from the second rope.McAfee is panicking and begins waving to the back.

 

 

Austin Theory and Grayson Waller rum down and begin climbing the cage. Lashley knocks them down but the distraction allows Paul to regroup and he chop blocks Lashley’s right knee. With Lashley down, Theory and Waller climb in and now all three of them are beating down the challenger, something Barrett reminds us is completely legal.

 

Lashley fights back, knocking everyone down and puts Paul in the Hurt Lock. McAfee looks under the ring and pulls out a kendo stick, slipping it into the cage through the fencing. Waller whacks Lashley across the back and he releases Paul. Lashley turns around and is scooped up by Theory who delivers A-Town Down. Waller and Theory pick up Lashley and allow Waller to hit his Down Under DDT. With Lashley on his back, Paul goes to the top and hits an impressive frog splash. He covers Lashley as Theory and Waller dogpile for the three count.

 

RESULT: LOGAN PAUL RETAINS THE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP BY PINFALL]

 

 

 

The OC continue their attack on Lashley as Waller and Theory use zip ties to bind Lashley’s wrists to the cage over the ropes. Paul wields the kendo stick, taking his time in striking Lashley’s back over and over as McAfee taunts him. When Paul isn’t hitting Lashley, Theory or Waller are punching to kicking him in the ribs. 

 

Lashley drops to his knees, and the Brand celebrates to the crowd’s boos, but then the boos turn to cheers as Lashley begins to force himself back to his feet, inviting another group beatdown. It’s taken four men to handle the Almighty but Wade Barrett warns, when those ties are broken and Lashley is free, the Brand will have a lot of trouble on their hands.

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

Nowhere to Run

After being given a one week reprieve, United States Champion Logan Paul will have to step into the confines of a steel cage and defend his title versus Bobby Lashley. The Brand is still protesting but we have been told by Smackdown Managing Director Adam Pearce that the match will be this week’s main event whether Paul likes it or not. Will the Influencer be able to outflank the Almighty?

In other action:

The Nigerian Giant Omos

AOP vs The Rough Riders

Iyo Sky vs Naomi

 

All this and more, this Friday night, LIVE on FOX!

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

 

 

 

In a video labeled ‘earlier today’ we see the Brawling Brutes running into Ilja Dragunov and Pete Dunne in the parking lot area and it doesn’t take long before they’re at each other and it takes a horde of officials to pull them apart and off of the cars. They’ll meet in action again tonight!

 

 

 

 

January Week 2

Smoothie King Arena

New Orleans, LA

 

 

 

 

The full Bloodline comes to the ring and Roman is all smiles. Following Heyman’s introduction he takes the mic demanding to be acknowledged.  He says being in New Orleans is fitting because he’s in a party mood. Last week Adam Pearce threw a challenge in his way and he did what he always does. He put them down and he continued his record setting title reign. 

 

So now comes the big announcement. The next thing on the horizon is WrestleMania. He doesn’t care about the Royal Rumble so he’s not even going to show up. As a matter of fact you won’t see the Tribal Chief until Wrest…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rey Mysterio comes out to the crowd’s delight. He says he has not forgotten what the Bloodline tried to do, trying to take his mark…his honor. But he knows Roman has no honor. He holds a belt that Rey himself held. That Eddie Guerrerro held. That the greatest champions in the world have held…and none of them would skip the Royal Rumble. None would run and hide to extend a title reign that has more days missed than matches fought.

 

Roman is incensed but Rey says he has a way for Roman to redeem himself in the eyes of the WWE Universe. Put that title on the line at the Royal Rumble and leave his Bloodline in the back and defend that title like a real champion and a real man.

 

Now Roman is ready to explode. He tells Rey that he’ll see him at the Royal Rumble and he’ll do it on his own but Rey better be ready for the last match of his career because Roman’s not coming to defend his title, he’s coming to make the great Rey Mysterio….acknowledge him.”

 

As the segment ends, Rey is nodding with a grin as Heyman and the Bloodline behind Roman look concerned.

 

 

A replay is shown of Rey Mysterio interrupting Roman Reigns and challenging him for the Royal Rumble.

 

 

THE BRAWLING BRUTES VS ILJA DRAGUNOV AND PETE DUNNE

 

These four men don’t like each other as seen earlier. Their parking lot war continues in the ring and they do not hold back. By the time the match reaches the halfway point, the chests of all four are beet red.

 

As the match goes on, Dunne and Dragunov begin pulling away, especially against Holland who can’t withstand their combined attacks.  Dunne takes out Sheamus with a suicide dive and Ilja hits Torpedo Moscow for a hard fought win.

 

RESULT:  ILJA DRAGUNOV AND PETE DUNNE WIN BY PINFALL

 

 

 

We go to Adam Pearce in his office with Pat McAfee and United States Champion Logan Paul berating him about Bobby Lashley’s challenge and their appear. He finally stands and shouts them down to shut them up. Collecting himself, he says the Board has agreed with them and says Bobby Lashley will not get a title shot this week.

 

McAfee and Paul celebrate but they slowly stop and look back at Pearce. He says he’s not done. Logan Paul will defend that United States Championship against Bobby Lashley next week….inside a steel cage.

 

Paul is shocked into silence and McAfee can barely find the words before they both quickly leave.  Cole and Barrett put over what a huge match that is for Smackdown next week.

 

 

Backstage, Bayley is on cloud nine saying with the three “Bloodline” girls in the Royal Rumble it’s almost a guarantee that one of them will win it. Naomi and Tamina just watch her until she tells them she’ll see them later and hurries off.

 

Tamina looks exasperated. “When are you gonna tell her?”

 

Naomi shakes her head. “I will….I will.”

 

 

ZELINA VEGA VS CORA JADE

 

A good match which sees both get equal offense. Cora is fighting with a chip on her shoulder following her loss to Charlotte Flair and continuously flirts with breaking the referee’s five count until she just doesn’t care anymore and keeps choking Zelina on the rope causing a disqualification.

 

RESULT: ZELINA VEGA WINS BY DISQUALIFICATION

 

 

But Cora’s not done. She collects a chair from ringside and jabs it into Zelina’s head.  Zelina is dazed and Cora follows up with a russian leg sweep back onto the chair. Finally she wraps it around Zelina’s right foot and goes to the second rope, intent on jumping off and breaking her ankle……

 

 

Iyo Sky runs down to the ring and Cora ditches to the outside. She yells at Iyo to mind her own business but the Genius of the Sky isn’t going anywhere and helps her friend.

 

 

 

Backstage, the Street Profits are sitting in silence, both looking very troubled. Finally Montez says he doesn’t have the answer. They were champs, they were top of the mountain and now….now they’ve lost their way.

 

Dawkins nods in agreement but says the one thing he knows, is that the only path back up that mountain is together. Montex and he share a very complicated handshake and seem to be back on the same page.

 

 

CEDRIC ALEXANDER VS LA KNIGHT

 

Cedric and Knight have an open match and there are moments where Knight looks to be in trouble, but he recovers and brawls his way back into control of the match. Cedric attempts a desperate enziguri but Knight ducks, and when Cedric gets up quick he’s met with some Blunt Force Trauma.

 

RESULT: LA KNIGHT WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

As Knight celebrates with his fans, Karrion Kross and Scarlett appear on the tron. Kross informs Knight that his time is running out and the clock strikes zero at the Royal Rumble. One way or another, Kross will ensure that Knight has a very bad night….Yeah.

 

 

 

In the Bloodline Lounge, Reigns is furious, saying Mysterio tried to upstage him and put him on the spot. He’s angrily pacing as everyone watches when he stops and calls Solo over. He tells his enforcer that he has a match next and he wants EVERYONE to see what happens when the Tribal Chief is angry. And he wants Solo to do it on his own…no Bloodline allowed.

 

Solo tells Roman his will shall be done and leaves.

 

 

IKEMEN JIRO VS SOLO SIKOA

 

Solo was given a mission by the Tribal Chief and he delivers in spades. Sikoa dominates the match, showing off both his power and his viciousness. He ends it with a devastating Samoan Spike.

 

RESULT:  SOLO SIKOA WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Solo no sooner gets up off Jiro, then the crowd pops and Keith Lee comes running down the aisle and gets in the ring.  They collide and begin beating the hell out of each other.  Lee absorbs a tremendous amount of damage before slinging Solo into the corner and giving it as good as he got before clotheslining Solo over the top. With no Bloodline to get involved, Solo wildly stares at Lee as we go to break.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHIN VS LACEY EVANS VS BIANCA BELAIR

 

Lacey is nobody’s friend in this one and she pays the price early as Bianca and Michin double team her in the first few minutes before they dump her out and turn their attention on one another. Lacey, to her credit, hangs out at ringside allowing them to wear each other out and choosing her time to reenter the ring.

 

Lacey waits until Michin has her back turned and then attacks, focusing on her neck and then knocking Bianca to the outside. Lacey continues to focus on Michin, hitting a neckbreaker but Michin kicks out. Lacey backs up, sizing Michin up for the Cobra Clutch when Bianca slides back in and scoops her up for the KOD. Michin gets up and charges but Bianca kicks her in the chest, knocking her back into the corner and then drops Lacey with the KOD for the win.

 

RESULT: BIANCA BELAIR WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

After the match Bianca gets a mic and invites Charlotte to come into the ring which the Champion does, with a smirk. Bianca says that she’s made it clear for months that she wants a shot at that title, she’s wanted one since Charlotte tricked her into giving up her shot at Asuka. And what did Charlotte tell her?  Earn a shot. Well she will earn it because she WILL win the Royal Rumble and then at WrestleMania, Charlotte won’t be able to duck her anymore.

 

They’re face to face as Charlotte raises her title in the air and as the show ends any sort of friendliness between them is clearly gone.

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

And Still…..

Last week at New Years Revolution, the Tribal Chief defended his Undisputed Universal WWE Championship against Keith Lee before the entire Bloodline put him through the announcer’s table. The Bloodline will open this week’s show and it’s being said Roman Reigns has an important announcement. What’s on the mind of the Head of the Table?

Last week we saw the Brawling Brutes cost Pete Dunne and Ilja Dragunov the WWE Tag Team Championship. After months of tension, it explodes this week when the four meet in tag action. Given how hard each of these men hit, will there be anything, or anyone, left?

Bianca Belair, Solo Sikoa, and LA Knight will all be in action as well!

All this and more, this Friday night, LIVE on FOX!

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

 

 

 

The Bloodline is shown arriving ‘earlier today’. Everyone looks tense as they enter the building.

 

 

 

 

January Week 1

Ball Arena

Denver, CO

 

ILJA DRAGUNOV AND PETE DUNNE VS THE USOS

 

The show begins with the WWE Tag Team Championship match already under way and the Usos are getting the better of it as they seamlessly move in and out of the ring, isolating Dunne in their corner.

 

Dunn fights back, hitting a series of forearm smashes on both Jimmy and Jey before making the tag to Dragunov. Ilja is a ball of non stop energy, attacking both Usos before focusing in Jey who is legal. When Jimmy tries to get involved, Dunne returns to the ring and clotheslines him over the top, before following with a springboard catapult leap. As this is happening, Dragunov is setting up for Torpedo Moscow but at the last second, Jey pulls the referee in front. With an opening presented, two more men join the action.

 

 

Sheamus and Ridge Holland come down to ringside and immediately attack Dunne, running him fast first into the post. This allows Jimmy to help his brother. Together they overwhelm Dragunov, knocking him flat with a double superkick then hitting a double splash off the top. Jimmy wakes the ref who makes the count.

 

RESULT:  THE USOS WIN THE WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP BY PINFALL

 

 

 

The Usos grab their titles and embrace as more than a few people in the crowd hold up their fingers in celebration. The Usos have brought more gold to the Bloodline!

 

 

 

Iyo Sky is backstage. She says when she wins the Royal Rumble and goes to WrestleMania she will show everyone why they call her the Genius of the Sky.

 

 

 

The WWE Women’s Champion walks out and slowly spins to show off her robe. She gives the crowd a big WOOOOOOOOO when….

 

Cora Jade flies out from the back with a chair and smashes it across Charlotte’s back. Cora begins wearing out the chair, slamming it down on Charlotte again and again. Barrett mentions this is completely legal and on top of that the match hasn’t even begun yet.

 

Officials force Cora away and she goes to the ring, taunting Charlotte and waiting for her to get up.

 

 

SUBMISSION MATCH

CORA JADE VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR ©

 

Charlotte is already hurt and Cora wastes no time in continuing her attacks. She reaches under the ring and pulls out a kendo stick.  Rolling back in, she uses it across Charlotte’s back until it frays and cracks.

 

Cora puts Charlotte in a STF but Charlotte reaches the ropes. Cora berates her, continuing to focus on attacks on the champion’s back. She turns her attention to the crowd and that opening is a disaster for her.  When she turns back to Charlotte she’s met with a heavy chop across the chest, then several more. 

 

Charlotte is up and with anger in her eyes. She begins to show her younger challenger why they call her the Queen. Cora is overwhelmed by Flair, and Charlotte then begins to focus on Jade’s left knee. Charlotte puts Jade in the Figure eight but Cora reaches the rope. When the referee tells Charlotte to break it, she screams at him that it’s anything goes. He can’t argue that, and Cora realizes that not only did she not have to break the STF earlier but she’s dead to rights. She tries to hang on, but has to submit.

 

RESULT:  CHARLOTTE FLAIR RETAINS THE WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP BY SUBMISSION

 

 

 

The camera sees Rey Mysterio walking backstage. He stops in front of Adam Pearce’s office before knocking and walking in.

 

 

 

We go to the Bloodline Lounge where the victorious Usos walk in with their new WWE Tag Team Championship titles. Roman stands, and motions for them to approach. They do and he hugs them both. Some of the earlier tension is gone and he tells them how proud he is of them. Heyman stands in the back, beaming next to a stoic Solo.

 

 

AJ STYLES VS CARMELO HAYES

 

Before the match we see a quick pre-recorded video where Styles tells Gallows and Anderson to stay in the back, he wants to deal with Hayes himself. AJ cheap shots Carmelo just before the bell rings and holds the advantage for several minutes. 

 

Carmelo stuns Styles with a standing enziguri and then begins to show off his own skills, hitting AJ with a flurry of offense from several angles. With AJ stunned, Carmelo goes to the top and hits Nothing but Net, but Styles rolls out of the ring. 

 

Hayes goes to the outside to throw him back in but AJ reverses it into the stairs. He pushes Carmelo back in, but only gets a two count.  AJ goes to the apron and readies for the Phenomenal Forearm. When he soars, Carmelo ducks and rolls. AJ lands on his feet and runs at his opponent but Hayes stops him with a side kick to the stomach. He then grabs AJ and hits the HIMplex for the win. 

 

RESULT:  CARMELO HAYES WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Bobby Lashley is pacing backstage when he turns to the camera. He says that 2024 will be the year the Almighty gets back on track and it starts with Logan Paul. He’s been waltzing around with the United States Championship….Lashley’s United States Championship. That ends next week and Lashley says he can’t wait to hear Paul begging for mercy when he puts him in the Hurt Lock!

 

 

 

A video recap of all the attacks and mind games that Asuka has perpetrated on Bianca Belair over the last months. Bianca finally gets her chance at ending this nightmare….next!

 

 

ASUKA W/ JAKE THE SNAKE ROBERTS VS BIANCA BELAIR

 

Asuka tries to ambush Bianca before the bell but the EST is ready and blocks it. She begins taking the fight to Asuka, showing off her power advantage. Roberts on the outside, watches carefully as his Empress of Darkness is thrown around the ring.

 

But Asuka has been playing possum and when Bianca lets her guard down for a moment, Asuka jabs her in the throat. Bianca is sidelined whole Asukla begins to pick her apart with strikes and kicks, at one point ripping at her eyes.

 

Asuka tries to apply the Asuka Lock but Bianca fights her off, swinging around behind her and nailing a big german suplex. Asuka and Bianca are both somewhat dazed, and at this point, Roberts reaches under the ring and pulls out a writhing green sack, shoving it into the ring.  Bianca crawls forward, her vision finally clearing as she nears it. She recoils in fear, right into the Asuka Lock.  

 

Bianca is fading but the crowd wakes her up and she rolls, slowly standing with Asuka on her back.  She runs backwards, smashing Asuka into the corner three times before Asuka releases her. Bianca swirls around and clotheslines her into the corner before turning Asuka around and delivering the KOD for the win.  

 

RESULT:  BIANCA BELAIR WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Bianca climbs the corner and swings her ponytail around as the crowd cheers. She has vanquished Asuka after months of torment!

 

 

 

Kayla Braxton catches Paul Heyman outside the Bloodline Lounge. She asks him how Roman Reigns is preparing for Keith Lee tonight and Heyman plays it off, saying that the Tribal Chief doesn’t prepare for anyone, everyone prepares for him and thus far they’ve all failed. Frankly, Keith Lee should be furious at the incompetent Managing Director Adam Pearce for forcing him into a guaranteed loss with millions of eyes on him.

 

Heyman begins to walk away but stops, turning back to Kayla before telling her that tonight the Bloodline will leave no doubt.

 

 

 

 

KEITH LEE VS ROMAN REIGNS © W/ PAUL HEYMAN

 

Lee and Reigns approach each other face to face before they begin trading punches. Lee gets the better and whips Reigns over the ropes to the outside. Heyman looks concerned as Roman gets up partly shocked and partly angry. 

 

Roman reenters the ring and suckers Lee into a kick to the stomach, another drops him to a knee, and then Reigns begins to hammer down right hand. The champion is in control as he measures Keith for several elbows to the back of the head. Now the Tribal Chief begins to talk down to Lee but he gets cut off when Lee grabs him by the throat and delivers a choke slam.

 

1

 

2

 

Roman kicks out.  

 

 

Jey and Jimmy come down to ringside and begin distracting Lee. He finally has enough of this and rolls to the outside. They try a double superkick but he catches each of their feet in his hands.before lifting their legs onto his shoulders and delivering a double power bomb. The crowd pops big for it, but when he turns around right into a Superman Punch. 

 

Roman gets Lee back into the ring and goes for a pin but Lee kicks out.  Roman readies for a spear but when he hits Lee, Keith catches him in a front facelock which is turned into a standing sleeper.  Roman is flailing and accidentally strikes the ref who’s kneeling to check on him.  

 

Roman slowly begins to stop fighting as Heyman screams encouragement.

 

Solo Sikoa jumps the barrier and slides into the ring behind Lee, jabbing him with three straight Samoan Spikes to get him to release the hold on Reigns, who drops like a rock. Lee turns and begins trading right hands with Solo who is eventually clotheslined over the top. Lee shakes his head several times, clearing his mind from the spikes. Roman is up and Lee turns right into a Superman Punch, then another, then another, and finally a spear which puts him down for the three count.

RESULT:  ROMAN REIGNS RETAINS THE UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP BY PINFALL

 

 

 

The Bloodline isn’t done yet. As the Usos and Solo hit the ring and continue their attacks on Lee, with Roman directing traffic. They roll Lee to the outside and clear the announcer’s table. Jimmy, Jey, and Solo help lift him onto Roman’s Shoulders as they deliver a Shield bomb through the table. 

 

As the show ends, the Bloodline stands tall and more united than ever.

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

NEW YEAR--SAME ACTION

 

To kickoff 2024, Smackdown is proud to present New Years Revolution, LIVE on Fox!

 

In action:

Bianca Belair vs Asuka

 

AJ Styles vs Carmelo Hayes

 

WWE Women’s Championship [Submission Match]

Cora Jade vs Charlotte Flair ©

 

WWE Tag Team Championship

Pete Dunne and Ilja Dragunov vs The Usos

 

Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

Keith Lee vs Roman Reigns ©

 

All this and more, this Friday Night*

 

*Show will be posted on Wednesday!

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

 

 

 

 

January Week 1

Desert Diamond Arena

Glendale, AZ

 

 

 

The show begins with Zelina Vega, Iyo Sky, and Michin in the midst of a loud argument with Bayley, Naomi, and Tamina. Just as it looks like it will turn physical Sonya DeVille shows up and stands between them. She says she will not allow them to waste a fight backstage because they can do it in the ring tonight!  

 

 

THEA HAIL VS SHAYNA BASZLER

 

Thea Hail is a ball of energy and it takes Baszler a few minutes to counter her attacks. When Shayna does figure it out, Thea’s in trouble and it shows as Baszler stretches and grinds her down, before slapping on the Kirifuda Clutch for the win.

 

RESULT: SHAYNA BASZLER WINS BY SUBMISSION

 

  

 

Kelly Kinkaid is standing by with Piper Niven. Niven says that she is entering the Royal Rumble and make no mistake, she will win it. Kinkaid asks about what happens if she runs into one of her friends during the match and Niven responds with a scoff, ‘what friends?’

 

 

 

 

LIV MORGAN VS VALHALLA

 

Valhalla beats the hell out of Liv for several minutes, taking great pride in the punishment, but Liv keeps kicking out of pinfalls. Valhalla goes to the top but Liv intercepts her and launches her down to the mat.  Valhalla begins to get up and is met with Liv who nails ObLIVion for the win.

 

RESULT:  LIV MORGAN WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

A vignette is shown to hype Smackdown’s New Years Revolution and the Submission Match we’ll see between Charlotte Flair and Cora Jade for the WWE Women’s Championship.

 

 

BAYLEY, NAOMI AND TAMINA VS MICHIN, IYO SKY AND ZELINA VEGA

 

Quick pacing in this match that sees all six women get in by the end. The Tribal Trio, as Bayley tells Michael Cole to call them, dominate the beginning but the faces make a comeback and Naomi looks to be in trouble as Iyo goes to the top for her moonsault but Bayley had made a blind tag and when Iyo soars, Bayley pulls Naomi out of the way. Bayley quickly hits the Rose Plant for the win.

 

RESULT:  BAYLEY, NAOMI AND TAMINA WIN BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Mami is alone backstage as she smiles into the camera. She says that at long last we know who she will beat for the Women’s World Championship at the Royal Rumble and she could not be happier that it’s Becky Lynch. Becky took something from her, she stole a part of Rhea’s soul and she will take it back at the Royal Rumble by any means necessary.

 

The show ends with Ripley’s smile fading and her intense stare.

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

Thanks for catching that, should have been Matt Bailey.  Graphic is fixed.

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

 

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

FREE AGENTS 

JANUARY 2023 ROSTER

 

ALBA FYRE

ALEXA BLISS

APOLLO CREWS

BRAUN STROWMAN

CARMELLA

DAKOTA KAI

ISLA DAWN

ROXANNE PEREZ

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JANUARY 2024 ROSTER

 

UNIVERSAL WWE CHAMPION

ROMAN REIGNS

 

WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPION

CHARLOTTE FLAIR

 

UNITED STATES CHAMPION

LOGAN PAUL

 

ADAM PEARCE

AJ STYLES

AKAM

ANGELO DAWKINS

ASUKA

AUSTIN THEORY

BAYLEY

BIANCA BELAIR

BOBBY LASHLEY

AMERON GRIMES

CARMELLO HAYES

CEDRIC ALEXANDER

CHARLOTTE FLAIR

CORA JADE

CRUZ DEL TORO

ELTON PRINCE

GIGI DOLIN

GRAYSON WALLER

ILJA DRAGUNOV

IYO SKY

JAKE ROBERTS

JAMES STORM

JEY USO

JIMMY USO

JOAQUIN WILDE

KARL ANDERSON

KARRION KROSS

KAYLA BRAXTON

KEITH LEE

KIT WILSON

LA KNIGHT

LACEY EVANS

LOGAN PAUL

LUKE GALLOWS

MICHAEL COLE

MICHIN

MONTEZ FORD

MVP

NAOMI

OMOS

PAT MCAFEE

PAUL HEYMAN

PETE DUNNE

REZAR

REY MYSTERIO

RIDGE HOLLAND

ROMAN REIGNS

R-TRUTH

SANTOS ESCOBAR

SCARLETT

SHEAMUS

SOLO SIKOA

TAMINA

WADE BARRETT

WILLIAM REGAL

ZELINA VEGA

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

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JANUARY 2024 ROSTER

 

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

JOHN CENA

 

WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPION

BECKY LYNCH

 

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION

BIG E

 

UNIFIED WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS

KEVIN OWENS AND SAMI ZAYN

 

BECKY LYNCH

BIG E

BRONSON REED

BYRON SAXTON

CANDICE LARAE

CARLITO

CHAD GABLE

CHELSEA GREEN

CODY RHODES

COREY GRAVES

DAMIAN PRIEST

DOLPH ZIGGLER

DOMINIK MYSTERIO

DREW GULAK

DREW MCINTYRE

EMMA

ERIK

FINN BALOR

GIOVANNI VINCI

GUNTHER

IVAR

JD MCDONAGH

JOHN CENA

JOHNNY GARGANO

KATANA CHANCE

KAYDEN CARTER

KEVIN OWENS

KOFI KINGSTON

LITA

LIV MORGAN

LUDWIG KAISER

LYRA VALKYRIA

MARIA KANELLIS

MARYSE

MATT RIDDLE

NATALYA

NIKKI CROSS

OTIS

PIPER NIVEN

RANDY ORTON

RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ

REX STEINER

RHEA RIPLEY

RICOCHET

RONDA ROUSEY

SAMI ZAYN

SETH ROLLINS

SHAYNA BASZLER

SHELTON BENJAMIN

SHINSUKE NAKAMURA

STEPHANIE MCMAHON

THE MIZ

TOMMOSO CIAMPA

TRISH STRATUS

VALHALLA

VIC JOSEPH

WES LEE

XAVIER WOODS

ZOEY STARK

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A video recap of last week is shown with Adam Pearce announcing his plan for the new WWE Tag Team Championship culminating at New Years Revolution. It ends with Pearce informing Paul Heyman that at NYR Roman Reigns will defend his title against Keith Lee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER WEEK 4

COW PALACE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Brand opens the show, coming down to the ring. McAfee brags on United States Champion Logan Paul, who he claims John Cena is afraid to face, as heard on the world renowned Pat McAfee Show. He then turns his attention to Austin Theory and Grayson Waller who in just 2 weeks will be the new WWE Tag Team Champions. Tonight they have all respect for Pretty Deadly, they’re a hell of a team, but the Brand….is the Brand. As for the other bums, well, they’re lucky to be in the match.

 

 

DREW GULAK VS SOLO SIKOA

 

Solo is in a bad mood and poor Gulak pays the price. Drew tries to actually wrestle Sikoa but that doesn’t last long as Solo makes him pay with numerous power moves. Working like a smaller Umaga, Solo flies around the ring, even hitting a diving headbutt off the second rope. Match comes to an end after a Samoan Spike.

 

RESULT:  SOLO SIKOA WINS BY PINFALL 

 

 

 

Adam Pearce is in his office when Keith Lee enters. They shake hands and Lee just wanted to thank Pearce for the opportunity next week. Pearce says he can’t wait for the match but he tells Lee that he doesn’t want the Bloodline ruining it, so Lee ought to leave the arena. Lee smiles but shakes his head. He says that if they want to find him, he’s hard to miss, before leaving the room.

 

 

 

In their dressing room, Elton Prince and Kit Wilson are psyching themselves up for their match tonight. They’re extremely confident that they will win because really, who is more beautiful than them?

 

 

R-TRUTH VS KARRION KROSS W/SCARLETT

 

Truth is a very entertaining person. That does him zero good against a maniacal Kross who brutalizes him for several minutes, hitting his trifecta of the elbow smash, Saito suplex, and finally locks on the Kross Jacket for the win.

 

RESULT: KARRION KROSS WINS BY SUBMISSION

 

 

 

Kross and Scarlett are about to walk out of the ring when….

 

 

 

 

LA Knight walks out from the back, mic in hand. He runs them down as the Addams Family on Wish. Knight says he isn’t in the mood to play cards. He doesn’t like Go Fish, he doesn’t like Old Maid, he doesn’t like blackjack, though he may make an exception for strip poker if Scarlett is in the mood.  Kross is incensed as Knight continues. He says it’s good that Kross looks pissed off because Knight is pissed off and maybe if Kross plays his…cards right….they’ll come face to face in the Royal Rumble and then everyone will let Karrion know who’s game it is….L…A….Knight, YEAH!

 

 

 

Charlotte Flair is backstage and when the camera pans a little to the right she’s standing face to face with Cora Jade. Jade asks Charlotte if she’s a fighting champion or if she’s afraid, which Charlotte laughs off. She says in many ways she respects Cora for the challenge because not many people would do that after they were utterly embarrassed at Survivor Series.

 

Cora is not in a mood to be lectured and raises her voice asking if it’s a yes or a no. Charlotte leans in, with a grin and says it’s a yes. Cora returns the grin, thanking the champ before he headbutts her in the face.  Charlotte is stunned and Cora takes advantage going on the attack, hitting Charlotte with everything she can get her hands on.

 

Charlotte looks dazed as Cora locks on a crossface on the floor.  Charlotte is locked in and as officials rush in, Cora won’t give it up until Charlotte taps. As Cora gets up and backs off with her hands up she tells Charlotte next week is the beginning of the Generation of Jade!

 

 

 

Bayley is in a great mood as she runs up to Naomi and Tamina who were talking quietly.  They look a little annoyed at her arrival but she doesn’t recognize it. She tells them it will be her pleasure to end what they began on Superstars when she finishes what’s left of Zelina Vega. Naomi tells her that’s good and they wish her well. Bayley holds up a finger and after glancing at each other, Naomi and Tamina do the same. When Bayley leaves Naomi can only say, “What. The. …....” before we go to commercial.

 

 

BAYLEY VS ZELINA VEGA

 

Bayley picks the bones of a still hurt Zelina but her overconfidence is her undoing. When Bayley misses a running elbow drop, Zelina fires back and puts Bayley on her heels. Bayley tries to hit a Rose Plant but Zelina reverses it into a belly to back suplex, followed by a springboard moonsault for the win.

 

RESULT: ZELINA VEGA WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Zelina can’t even take a moment to celebrate before Naomi and Tamina hit the ring. Soon, Bayley is joining in, but the crowd pops a moment later…..

 

 

Iyo Sky and Michin run down to the ring and now it’s three on three.  Naomi and the Bloodline are sent from the ring and this looks far from finished.

 

 

Ilja Dragunov and Pete Dunne are in their locker room. There isn’t any talking or boasting. They’re silent, but exchange a few glances. They look ready to go.

 

THE STREET PROFITS VS AOP W/WILLIAM REGAL

 

The Street Profits look like they have something to prove after being left out of the qualifiers and early on it works as they use quick tags to keep Rezar on the defense, something he’s not used to. That works until Rezar ducks a double team and floors both Ford and Dawkins with a double clothesline. Akam gets the tag and that is when the wheels come off. With Regal giving commands from the outside, AOP begin to decimate the Profits. When they hit the Last Chapter on Dawkins, Regal orders them to do it again.  After the second, he allows them to end the match.

 

RESULT: AOP WIN BY PINFALL 

 

 

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett explain how we go to this new WWE Tag Team Championship and how these teams made it through the qualifiers. The main event is next!

 

 

PRETTY DEADLY VS PETE DUNNE AND ILJA DRAGUNOV VS AUSTIN THEORY AND GRAYSON WALLER

 

The match has one man of each team legal and there is an early alliance between Pretty Deadly and the Brand. Dunne and Dragunov pay the price for that but eventually the Brand are the ones to turn on their newfound friends. Their backstabbing does nothing but allow Dunne and Dragunov to recover. When they hit the ring they begin beating the hell out of all four opponents.

 

As Ilja hits a series of snap suplexes, Dunny has Prince in the corner, virtually tearing his fingers apart with joint manipulation. Waller goes to the top but Dragunov crotches him and hits a big superplex. Dunne tags in and hits a package driver but Theory breaks it up.

 

Meanwhile, Pretty Deadly have climbed to opposite corners and hit a double fist drop on Waller. Prince makes the cover, but Dunne kicks him squarely in the head, then throws him into the corner. Dunne tags his partner in and whips Prince to the ropes right into a Torpedo Moscow that gets the win.

 

RESULT:  PETE DUNNE AND ILJA DRAGUNOV WIN BY PINFALL 

 

 

 

Dragunov and Dunne have done it! 

 

 

 

The Usos come out from the back and the show ends with both teams in a staredown.

 

Next week…New Years Revolution.  We’ll have new tag champions….but who will it be?

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

Who Will It Be?

Following a series of qualifiers last week, we have a triple threat main event to decide who will face the Usos at New Years Revolution for the new WWE Tag Team Championship. While Pretty Deadly have the long-time chemistry and Theory and Waller have the Brand to fall back on, Ilja Dragunov and Pete Dunne have only themselves to rely on. Which of these teams will move on and will the Usos play a role in that decision?

Cora Jade challenged WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to a submission match for the title next week. Charlotte promised on Superstars to give an answer.  Will the Queen say yes, or will she leave Jade in her rearview mirror?

Managing Director Adam Pearce told Paul Heyman last week that Roman Reigns will defend his WWE Undisputed Universal Championship next week against Keith Lee. Heyman has let it be known he and the champion will be absent this week while Reigns trains, but do the Bloodline have a plan to deal with Lee before the match ever happens?

All this and more, this Friday Night*, LIVE on Fox!

 

*Show will be posted this Wednesday!

[WWE 2k23: Playing the Game]

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DECEMBER WEEK 4

OREGON CONVENTION CENTER

PORTLAND, OR

 

 

 

Becky Lynch arrives at the arena. She looks to the cameraman who’s running to meet her. She says Rhea tried her best to get into her head but it didn’t work. She’s trying to divide and conquer because she knows that when her enemies are united she’s a lifetime away from this title. 

 

Tonight she’ll meet her challenger face to face. As respected competitors, not enemies. Sorry Rhea.

 

 

 

A spotlight video of Zoey Stark is shown.

 

 

CORA JADE VS GIGI DOLIN

 

Jade loves to deal out punishment and Dolin seems intent on taking it, refusing to stay down, and even begging for more with a wild look in her eye. Cora does as she requests and connects with a kick to the temple when Dolin is on her knees. She muscles up the limp Gigi and hits the Jaded DDT for the win.

 

RESULT: CORA JADE WINS BY PINFALL 

 

 

Naomi and Tamina are seen lying in wait and a moment later we see why. Zelina Vega walks past, and they ambush her. Tamina holds the smaller Zelina while Naomi both attacks and badmouths her. When she’s satisfied, Naomi gives a nod to Tamina who lifts Zelina up from her double underhook and delivers a Glam Slam onto the floor.  

 

Officials run in and stop any more attacks, while checking on Vega.

 

 

RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ VS VALHALLA

 

Valhalla is like a wild animal but Raquel has the height and power to deal with her.  Rodriguez muscles Valhalla around who does a good job of selling the power moves she’s put through. Raquel ends it with a Tejana Bomb.

 

RESULT: RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ WINS BY PINFALL

 

 

 

Kelly Kinkaid welcomes WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. She asks her about the challenge Cora Jade made last week about a submission match at next week’s New Years Revolution. Then she asks if Charlotte watched Cora’s match earlier.

 

Charlotte smiles, and says she heard the challenge and she can’t believe that she has to say out loud that Gigi Dolin is not Charlotte Flair. Nobody is Charlotte Flair. This Friday she’ll give her answer to that poor little girl, but until then, she can keep wondering. 

 

 

BIANCA BELAIR VS BAYLEY

 

Bianca hasn’t forgotten about Bayley’s cheap win on Smackdown and begins the match hot by using her power to make Bayley back off, begging for a time out, which Bianca is not in the mood to grant. She keeps up the pressure, whipping Bayley with her ponytail. 

 

This keeps up until Bayley uses Bianca’s own momentum against her and helps throw her out of the ring. Bianca is angry at herself for allowing it to happen but as she begins to climb back into the ring, an arm reaches out from under the ring and grabs Bianca’s ankle, pulling her down and then under the ring.

 

The referee didn’t see what happened but as she makes her ten count, we see who was responsible.

 

 

Asuka climbs out from under the ring on all fours with a devilish smile as the count reaches ten.

 

RESULT:  BAYLEY WINS BY COUNTOUT.

 

 

 

We go to the back where Becky Lynch stands face to face with Lita. 

 

Becky says Rhea thinks she doesn’t have it in her to do what needs done at Day 1. Lita says they both know that isn’t true, but Lita isn’t planning on being another title defense, she plans to leave Raw as the Women’s World Champion and then beat Rhea at the Royal Rumble.

 

Becky says she wouldn’t have it any other way and offers her hand which Lita shakes. 

 

“May the best woman win.”