NXT 6/28/16

[Danny]

Pyro goes off all throughout the arena and the camera zooms around, showing numerous fans all showing their support for the return of NXT, We then go ringside where Corey Graves and Tom Phillips are standing by.



Tom Phillips: Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to NXT! I'm Tom Phillips and

Suddenly Tom gets interrupted when...

The NXT fans' attention is piqued when the lights dim and the titantron flash to life....



"Godzilla" blasts through the PA, and they instantly start booing as loud as they possibly can. Kevin Steen soon walks out on to the stage, sporting his UWF International Championship, which is draped over his shoulder. His other hand holds a microphone. "Mr. Wrestling" looks around the arena at the irate UWF Universe and raises his title belt high, reminding them all of who he is. This only infuriates them more, but Steen doesn't seem bothered at all. He lowers the belt, his music fades, and the crowd finally settles down, he lifts his mic to speak, still standing on the stage.

Steen: ... and still....

He lets the words sink in, pausing to look around and gloat at the disappointed fans.



The two words you were all so afraid to hear at No Mercy, but Tony Chimel said 'em loud and clear, just like he has before and he's going to keep doing. Everybody keeps betting against me, and I just keep on proving you wrong. Now there's one more notch in my belt. One more accolade, and it's one of the best ones yet. Make no mistake about it - I'm not the underdog anymore. The odds are in my favour. I'm a four time, reigning, defending world championship. You make a list of the best to ever step foot in this company - now I've beat each and every last one of them. I'm a dynasty. Living and breathing modern day legend. You're all living in my era. Witnessing me.

The crowd continues to hate on Kevin, but he just continues despite them.

There's a few things I wanted to say to you all before we move forward into the next chapter of NXT. It's going to be a big summer - I'd bet the best ever in the UWF. Team Meltzer is taking this brand to new heights and better places than you could ever have imagined... or deserved.

First things first, though. Let's talk about No Mercy, and what happened in the main event. I beat Daniel Bryan. I pinned him clean in the center of that ring - MY ring - after driving his head into the canvas. He was your hero. Despite everything I've done for this sport, and what I'm still doing, you couldn't help but put that annoying egomaniac up on your shoulders to celebrate his ultra-entitlement movement. You raised up a false idol and I knocked him right back down. And here's the hilarious part.... roll the footage...

Kevin points up at the titantron as a clip from No Mercy appears on the screen.

===

Both men squirm on the mat, holding their heads. Bryan is able to get up first though while Steen just lies there. Bryan walks over to the ropes and knows he's got a big opportunity here. Steen begins to stir and Bryan points his fingers towards the sky. The crowd screams "YES!"in unison with every finger point as they get ready to see Bryan finish the match. Kevin uses the ropes in the corner to get up while Bryan crouches down, getting ready to run. Steen finally turns around and Bryan runs towards him but Kevin catches him with a superkick to the face! Bryan stumbles backwards, dazed by the hit but Steen follows up by grabbing him and throwing his head between his legs. He hooks his arms and lifts him up before planting him square on his head with the Package Piledriver! Kevin then turns him over and the ref counts the cover.


1 . . .


2 . . .


3 . . .


Tony Chimel: Here is your winner, and STILL the International Champion, Kevin Steen!


Kevin demands his title be brought to him and the ref goes out to grab it. He hands it to Steen who rips it away and holds it tight.

Tom Phillips: And Kevin Steen is still our International Champion.

Corey Graves: Don't sound so dour Tom, Kevin Steen is the champion of NXT! If you don't like it, you can blame these idiots fans. Maybe if they weren't too busy chanting with Daniel Bryan, Kevin Steen wouldn't have known exactly what was coming.

===

Steen is smiling ear-to-ear as he the video finishes.




Did you see that? Were you listening? By all rights, Daniel Bryan had me right where he thought he wanted me. We has setting up a big move there - maybe one that could have won him the fight. You ruined it for him. You spoiled it all. You and your awful little "YES" chant telegraphed it, and it cost him everything. It was the same clueless fans that elevated Daniel Bryan that ended up dragging him away from achieving his dreams. That's beautiful. That's poetry.

Not to take anything away from myself, of course. I kicked his ass and I didn't need your help to do, but I sure didn't mind getting it. I can't wait to hear Bryan still sucking up to you despite it, too. He's so desperate for affection since Bischoff left him, he'll do just about anything to get you chanting for him.

And that brings me to my next point. I promised to end Bryan's career at No Mercy - just like I've done to so many guys before him. I could have done it, even though I was pretty beat up after the match. The Bucks came out, they were ready to do the deed. We could have put him down for good, and nobody in that locker room would have lifted a finger, believe me. Remember when the Dudleyz walked out on him a few weeks ago? We would have been doing a public service, crippling that little idiot.

But holding my championship belt and looking down on him, it dawned on me...

Dragons don't exist. There's cartoons fictions. I know that. The Bucks know that. Dave Meltzer knows that. Daniel Bryan does not know that, and when he wakes up, he still won't know it. He's too stubborn. Too self-righteous. He's going to keep on believing in the myth of his legend no matter how many times I crack his skull.

So I could have put him out of his misery, but that would have been too easy. Daniel Bryan didn't deserve my mercy. He's earned himself some hell. I allowed him to walk out of MY ring and fight another day. I'm not offering him and immediate rematch - it's insulting to think that a contender would ever deserve one. But he's competing in the G1, clawing his way back to the top all over again, building up that hope that this time his dreams will come true. And if he makes it back up the mountain to face me, I'll knock him down again. And again. Over and over until he's finally as mentally broken as he is physically. I'm letting him fight on because now we know I'm truly the better man, and I'm happy to prove it again.

The fans are sick of listening to Steen, but he isn't quite finished yet.

Now eight men are going to tear each other apart to get a shot at my belt. I love the G1, I love meritocracy. Good for them. But there's no chance that any of those guys ever take this title away from me. Still, it will be an honour to be the first man to defeat a UWF G1 Climax winner. After that, I'm looking to beat the King of the Ring winner, and when ever Rey Mysterio grows the stones to cash in that Money in the Bank briefcase, I'll beat him too. Next Wrestlemania, when I'm the new longest-reigning UWF International Champion, I'll defend against the Royal Rumble winner, and I'll beat them just like I beat the Aztec Warfare winner.

Pick your contenders however you'd like. I'll beat them regardless. I've got big plans. Team Meltzer is changing the game, and I'm spearheading that as the finest champion this company has ever seen. Raw has a couple of world titles with some paper champions, people are always talking about unifying them, too. Why not send them my why? I'd be glad to crush this idea that John Cena is worth a damn, and I'd love to finally get my rematch for the UWF Championship, even if that means making a mockery of the Princess and her gigantic boy toy. Hell, especially if it means that.

I'm finally achieving what I promised I would since day one. I'm still looking for a real fight. So come one, come all. Line yourselves up at my feet and see it for yourselves. I am "Mr. Wrestling" - everything about this great sport, in the flesh. I am the UWF International Champion, and nobody is going to take this away from me.

Steen lifts his belt again as his music hits. He tosses the mic aside and walks to the back, the crowd relieved to finally see him go. NXT continues elsewhere.


The scene opens up inside the locker room of Kurt Angle. He is warming up and he notices that the camera is on him. He directly address the camera.

Kurt Angle

“NXT, are you ready? I said, are you ready?! Now clearly I’m not a member of DX, but I am an Olympic Gold medal winner and that’s ten times better than that. I am about five minutes away from opening up an Olympic sized ass whooping on the rookie Trevor Lee. I’m not one that condones for violence, especially when it involves endangered species but listen, someone has to stop the Carolina Caveman. Someone has to put that kid out of his misery. So why not me? Why not allow me to shut him up and break him down on my wrestling debut at NXT? Sounds appropriate and very fitting right? Slaying an animal may not be as high on my accomplishments list, but I plan on making an immediate impact on this show. I plan on adding whatever it is that I can to this show so that the fans and the wrestlers on it can all get better. I plan on helping this company move forward, and first, disrespectful teenagers need to be shut up and put in their place. And who better to silence Trevor, the hot young rookie, than me, myself and my three I’s?”

Scene fades to black




The former Olympic gold medalist makes his way out from the back to applause and adoration from the fans. Kurt's got a big smile on his face, ready for his first match on NXT.

Tony Chimel: The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Making his way to the ring, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 240 pounds, Kurt Angle!

Kurt walks straight down to the ring and goes up the steps. Once he enters the ring, spins around in a few circles, letting the crowd se him in all his glory and they respond by giving him a hero's welcome.



Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" cuts into Kurt's sentence before he could finish, the fans quickly begin to boo as they know this is the theme of Trevor Lee.

Tony Chimel: And his opponent, from Cameron, North Carolina, weighing in at 225 pounds, Trevor Lee!

Trevor's coming off of a huge debut win against David Finlay, some may say he took it too far, attacking him after the match, but that was Trevor's way of keeping his promise to get rid of Finlay. This week he's got another test, this time in the form of an Olympic Gold Medal winner. He hops into the ring and stands in the middle of the ring like a statue and raises his arm out but garners multiple boos.


DING DING DING


The two men walk right up to each other and get into a collar and elbow tie up. Both men push forward with neither man backing down. Angle may be bigger but the raw caveman strength of Trevor Lee keeps him holding his own. Nobody is giving an inch until Trevor Lee just spits in Angle's face. It catches Kurt off guard and it allows Trevor to push him into the ropes and straight up choke him with both hands until the ref counts to 5. On the 4 count, Trevor glares at the ref, daring him to do something but Angle quickly goes behind him and lifts him up in a hammerlock and throws him to the mat with a front powerslam. He keeps a hold of him and rolls around in the ring before finally letting him go and getting back to his feet.


Corey Graves: Angle just flat out showing that he can out wrestle this kid any time he wants.

Tom Phillips: Trevor Lee was certainly impressive in his debut and he has a lot of tenacity but Kurt Angle is completely different machine.


Trevor rushes over to the ropes and makes sure Kurt is kept at a distance. Angle stands there with his hands on his knee's, telling Trevor to bring it. Trevor gets angry from being mocked and walks right up to Angle but Kurt trips him up with a drop toe hold. He rolls over his body up to his head to throw on a headlock. It doesn't take long however for the Carolina Caveman to use his strength to get back to a vertical base. He elbows Kurt in the side to get some room, and then runs towards the ropes but Angle holds onto his hair and brings him back into a side headlock.

Angle wrenches on the head until Trevor walks backwards this time into the ropes to shoot Angle off. Angle runs to the other side of the ring, rebounds off the ropes and runs right into a shoulder block by Trevor. Trevor poses, showing off his strength to the crowd. He then runs towards the ropes but Angle flips over and jumps closer to the ropes. Trevor hops over Angle and continues running. He comes off the ropes and into the waiting arms of Angle who catches him and then throws him back with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Trevor lands with such impact that he rolls out of the ring.


Tom Phillips: I don't think Angle was taking Trevor that serious until he spit in his face.

Corey Graves: You spit in a man's face and that'll about do it to get any man angry.


Angle slides out of the ring and walks over to Trevor but the Carolina Caveman throws a quick stiff forearm right to the jaw of Angle that drops him hard on the mat. Trevor then proceeds to stomp him over and over again as he lies next to the apron. He then picks him up and throws him into the barricade. The vicious assault has Kurt a little out of it and Trevor continues to use it to his advantage as he picks up Angle in a military press and then drops him down, chest first onto the barricade. People in the front row can be heard yelling obscenties at Trevor but he just waves them off and throws Angle back into the ring. He gives a fan the old one fingered salute before heading back into the ring and covering Angle with a forearm in his face.


1 . . .


2 . . .


And Angle kicks out. Trevor stays in control though by grabbing the waist of Angle's and turning him on his stomach. He throws a couple of knees to the shoulders and neck before picking him straight up. Trevor walks around the ring a bit with Angle's limp body still caught in the waistlock until he then throws him back with a gutwrench suplex. Trevor then covers him again.


1 . . .


2 . . .


Yet another kickout from Angle. This time Trevor sits Angle up and drives his knee into his back before applying a chinlock.


Corey Graves: You've got to hand it to the kid, he's come in here with a gameplan that started with getting Kurt angry and then taking advantage of it and targeting the neck. He's got smarts, he's got raw power, this kid could definitely be something here.


The crowd starts a slow clap to help motivate Angle and it seems to be working. Trevor shakes his head, yelling to the crowd to shut up but Angle manages to pry Trevor's fingers free and escape the hold. Trevor runs at Angle but Kurt goes for a double leg takedown and lifts up the young man before slamming him back down to the mat. He still has a hold of Trevor's legs so he turns him over and applies the Ankle Lock!

Pain is searing across Trevor Lee's face as he tries to scramble to the ropes. The crowd is chanting for him to tap but Trevor won't give in. He slams his fist down on the mat and crawls closer to the ropes, going fist over fist until he finally reaches out and grabs the bottom rope. The ref tells Angle to break the hold and he does. Trevor slides out onto the apron to create some separation and also to use the ropes to help get back to his feet. Kurt immediately goes over and grabs Trevor by the head and tosses him back into the ring. Trevor arches his back in pain but Angle kicks him in the stomach and then heads to the top rope.


Tom Phillips: Uh oh! What could Angle have in mind here?

Corey Graves: I think he's trying to show the crowd everything he has which in my opinion is the wrong idea. Just keep targeting the leg Kurt, there's no reason you need to do this.


Angle makes it all the way to the top rope before he leaps off with a moonsault! Trevor though is able to get his knees up and Angle land right square on them and it takes all the air out of Angle's lungs. The Olympic gold medalist hunches over, trying to breath while Trevor rolls over to get up. He limps a bit on his way over to Angle and he stomps his foot to get back some feeling. He then wraps his arms around the waist of the hunched over Angle and lifts him up in a deadlift german suplex! He keeps the bridge locked in for the pin.


1 . . .


2 . . .


But Angle kicks out! Trevor Lee can't believe it as he holds up three finger to the ref. The ref tells him it was only a two and it only infuriates Lee. He grabs Angle and picks him back up. He walks him over to the corner and smashes his face on the top turnbuckle over and over until the count of 5. He gets in the face of the ref but Angle comes to life and quickly goes behind him for a german suplex! The crowd is pumped and it only intensifies Angle's adrenaline. He pulls down the straps and walks behind a staggered Trevor Lee and lifts him up for the Angle Slam! Trevor though slips behind him and shoves him into the ropes. Angle comes back but Trevor jumps high into the air and come stomping down on the chest of Angle. His ankle gives out though and he lands in a sitting position on Angle's chest and tells the ref to count it.


1 . . .


2 . . .


Angle gets the shoulder up at two!


Tom Phillips: Kurt Angle continues to fight hard in the face of adversity.

Corey Graves: Nobody wants to start off their return to the ring by losing Tom.


Trevor pulls at his own hair, angry that that didn't finish the match for him. He then grabs at his ankle and rubs it before standing back up and dragging Kurt over to the corner. Trevor then tries to climb the ropes. maybe going for a moonsault of his own but he's awfully slow to climb with that hurt ankle of his. It takes awhile but he's finally able to reach the top rope. Just as it looks like he's about to jump off, Angle scurries up to the top and grabs Trevor. Both men fall back into the ring with a top rope Angle Slam! Angle then hurries over and hooks the leg for the count.


1 . . .


2 . . .


3 . . .


Tony Chimel: Here is your winner, Kurt Angle!




Tom Phillips: And Kurt Angle is victorious in his debut!

Corey Graves: But let's not take anything away from Trevor Lee. The kid fought hard and nearly beat an Olympic gold medalist. I'm sure we're going to be seeing a lot more from Trevor Lee.

Angle continues to celebrate in the ring as the cameras go elsewhere.


The scene opens on Bray Wyatt sitting in his chair rocking back and forth.

Bray Wyatt: Tonight is about a lot of things for the Wyatt Family man, it's opportunities within opportunities. Because you see, after what happened at No Mercy, so many questions have been asked questioning our stability and credibility as a team, our abilities as performers. Doubt has been raised that we can even recover from our loss to The Bloodline, man, and that's why tonight is what it is, opportunities within opportunities.

The opportunity to prove our stability and credibility, the opportunity to prove that we can recover from our loss to The Bloodline, and the opportunity to prove our ability as performers since that's been brought into question by our opponents as well.

Teddy Hart, it's good that you're angry at me and my Wyatt Family, because you're going to need every ounce of that anger just to survive. So embrace what you're feeling and capitalize on it, because my brothers want a fight.

But at the end of the day, whether you're angry or all smiles making Duck Dynasty jokes, the result is going to be the same. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan are going to be the number one contenders to the Tag Team Championships.


Tony Chimel: The following contest is a G1 Climax match and is scheduled for one-fall! Introducing first, representing Bulletproof... from Ireland... weighing in at 190 pounds... Finn Balor!



Five Finger Death Punch's "Bulletproof" tears into the open air of the arena as the titular team's Irish representative, Finn Balor, emerges from the back - no face paint, all business. Balor heads straight down the ramp and looks ready to rip his opponent a new one as he runs up the ring steps and enters between the ropes, heading straight for a turnbuckle to work the crowd who are booing the living shit out of him. Balor climbs down and awaits his opponent.

Tony Chimel: And introducing the opponent, representing the Dudleyz... from Dudleyville, weighing 145 pounds, Spike Dudley!

YER, WE'RE COMIN' DOWN
GET UP, GET UP, GET UP
DROP THE BOMBSHELL



As Spike's music hits the fans get on their feet, cheering the crap out of the man whose early UWF Career reads like a straight-up Cinderella story. Spike's all smiles, nothing like his opponent, as he marches down the ramp and claps hands with every fan looking for a high-five and even some who weren't. Dudley rolls into the ring and heads for a corner, climbing it and throwing his arms up to another pop, before climbing back down. The official conducts some pre-match checks and then calls for the bell.

-VERSUS-

DING DING DING!

Finn and Spike circle the ring looking for a gap in each others' defenses to exploit. Spike is the first to bite, covering the distance between the two and bringing his fist to bear with some quick rights that drive Finn back, but Balor soon returns the offense with some rights of his own before the two begin trading punches in the middle of the ring. That is, until Finn ducks under one of the punches while swinging out with his leg and bringing it around to connect with Spike's stomach in a spinning heel kick. Spike doubles over and Finn pushes down on his shoulder with one hand while leaping up and bringing his knee down on the back of the Dudley's neck. Spike eats the canvas and the audience hits Finn with some heat as he shouts something at Spike and smacks him upside the back of the head.

Corey Graves: Finn Balor establishing early who the real man is in that ring.

Tom Phillips: Spike Dudley has edged the International Champion and his most recent number one contender in recent weeks, you really can't disrespect him like that.

Corey Graves: Whatever, I do what I want.

Finn pulls Spike to his vertical base, then Irish whips him into the ropes. When Spike rebounds Finn connects with a corkscrew back elbow. He then kips up and as Spike gets to his feet, Finn charges him and connects with another. Once more, Spike gets up but this time Balor plants him with a well-executed Russian leg sweep and goes for the cover.

1...

...NO!

Tom Phillips: Like every Spike Dudley match, this one seems to be starting off as a one-sided affair.

Corey Graves: I'm getting kinda sick of the Cinderella stories, being honest.

As Spike tries to recover from Balor's pinfall attempt, Finn has no intent of letting him get any momentum going and locks him into a side headlock. Spike struggles with the hold but there seems to be little he can do, so he wraps an arm around Finn's waist and lifts him up and over with a back suplex! Finn rolls away on impact, but Dudley gets back up as the fans pop for his maneuver and moves to cover the gap. He pulls Finn back from the ropes and lays into him with a boot, stomping heavily down on Finn's shoulder and chest and trying to take some of the wind out of the Irishman's sails. Balor, however, rolls out to the outside and stumbles away from the ring holding his shoulder and grimacing.

Tom Phillips: Finn Balor looking like he's in a bit of pain from those stomps.

Corey Graves: That was a targetted assault, but we're talking about Spike Dudley here. This isn't Brock Lesnar or something. He'll be fine.

As Finn turns around to head back to the ring, Spike takes off full-flight for the side of it and suicide dives between the ropes! Spike connects, shoving Finn back-first into the barricade! The Irishman cries out at the impact but Dudley is up fast and leaves Finn smarting even more as he grabs him by the hair and throws him face-first into the ring post! Spike then rolls Finn into the ring and climbs up onto the apron before leapfrogging over the ropes with a legdrop. Spike makes the cover.

1...

2...

...NO!

Balor gets a foot on the ropes and the referee breaks the pin. Dudley gets to his feet quickly, looking to keep the momentum going as he hauls Balor up and then connects with a DDT. The fans pop as Dudley heads for the top rope!

Tom Phillips: And here we go with the high-risk maneuvers!

Corey Graves: I really don't know why people bother with these things. They rarely ever work.

Dudley makes the top and leaps off, looking to hit a falling knee drop on Balor. Instead, Finn rolls out of the way and Spike goes knee-first into the apron, then rolls onto his back clutching the knee and crying out in pain. Balor looks to capitalize as he grabs Spike's ankle, turns the damaged leg out to the side and starts dropping elbows in on the knee joint. As Dudley claws at the air, the fans boo Balor.

Corey Graves: Why the Hell are you booing him? He's taking advantage and showing sound ring technique!

Finn continues to isolate the knee, stomping on it as Spike tries to roll away from him. Dudley gets to the outside of the apron and uses the ropes to haul himself up but when he does he's gut-punched by Balor who hooks him into suplex position and brings him back up and over the ropes and crashing down to the inside with a picture-perfect suplex! Balor makes the cover.

1...

2...

...NO!

The fans pop as Spike gets the shoulder up!

Tom Phillips: Spike Dudley stubbornly holding on!

Corey Graves: He just doesn't know the definition of the word 'quit' and one of these days, it's going to cost him.

Balor pulls Spike to a doubled-over position and connects with some downright nasty-sounding clubbing blows to his spine before throwing him rather unceremoniously into the corner. Finn then charges, connecting with a nasty shoulder lunge to Spike's gut before pulling back, lifting Spike up and hanging him up on the Tree of Woe. The fans are booing as Finn heads to the corner directly across from the one he has Spike Dudley hanging in. Finn then makes a cut-throat gesture and charges, connecting with a basement dropkick directly to Spike's chest! Dudley cries out - or would, if all of the oxygen hadn't just been purposefully kicked out of his lungs - and falls from the Tree of Woe into an awkward position on the canvas. No matter. Balor pushes him out of the corner onto his back and climbs to the top rope as Dudley tries just to get his breath back. Balor leaps off and connects with the Coup de Grace, then makes the cover!

1...

2...

...NO!

Spike Dudley kicks out!

Tom Phillips: Oh my God!

Corey Graves: Gotta admit, that was impressive.

Finn Balor is speechless, his eyes wide as he runs a hand through his short hair and tries to figure out what the Hell he's going to do to a man that's just kicked out of his finisher. Finally he comes up with the solution as he again heads for the corner and to the top!

Corey Graves: Guess we're going to have an encore.

Balor indeed looks as though he's intending to execute another Coup de Grace, but seemingly out of nowhere Spike finds some fight and he scrambles to dive on the rope right near where Finn is, throwing the Irishman off balance and bringing him crashing down groin-first on the ropes! Dudley wastes no time capitalizing as he clutches Finn's head in the cutter position and drags him so his ankles are suspended on the ropes before executing a rope-assisted cutter! The fans pop as Spike, having found a second wind, gets to his feet, then hauls Finn to his vertical base, positions him again for a cutter, runs to the corner and connects with the Dudley Dog! The fans lose their shit as Spike makes the cover and they count with the official.

1...

2...

...3!

DING DING DING!

Here is your winner,
SPIKE DUDLEY!



Tom Phillips: And the Cinderella story continues as Spike Dudley advances with a win in his first Climax Tournament match-up, Corey!

Corey Graves: I'm actually pretty speechless here, Tom. Don't have a thing to say.

Spike continues to celebrate as Finn Balor heads out of the ring, holding his neck as he stares daggers at his victorious opponent. The feed heads elsewhere with Dudley still celebrating while Finn beats a retreat to the back.


The titantron switches from the UWF NXT graphic to a live feed from backstage, where the UWF World Tag Team Champions - The Young Bucks - are standing by.



Matt: Oh sup dweebs? Young Bucks here. That's UWF World Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks.

Nick: Greatest tag team on either side of the Mississippi.

Matt: Greatest tag team in the country. Greatest tag team on this planet. That's why these are right here are the WORLD Tag Team Championship belts. We've run through every promotion we've ever been a part of. Now we're here, the UWF, finest company in the world, and we're doing it all over again.

Nick: We out-flipped and out-amazed the indy darlings in high schools and community centers in every county. We went to Japan and out strong-styled the toughest sons of guns they could put in front us. Now we're here, the "big leagues", sports-entertaining the heck out of you week after week.

Matt: Just when you were all freakin' positive that The Dudley Boyz were the best team there ever was, is or will be, we show up and embarrass them. We beat them in our debut. We beat them at Vengeance. We beat them at No Mercy. That's domination. That's a statement. This is our division now. Plain and simple - so simple, in fact, that even those bloated doofuses can understand that this feud is over. We won.

Nick: EC3 gets it too, cause he's set up a little tag-team contenders match this week. We're gonna figure out who's next in line.

Matt: That's cool with us. From what I've seen, there aren't really any teams that can match our pace, but we're more than happy to defend our titles against any and all comers. It's some good practice in case the UWF ever decides to sign some real tag teams.

Nick: That's right. We're going to perform at the elite level every time we step into that ring. This division has been a mess for so long. We're here to set the standard. If anyone can reach out level, well God bless them. Otherwise you all can just sit back and enjoy watching us superkicking their lights out.

Nick flashes a cocky grin and Matt winks at the camera. They take a moment to bask in their egos before continuing.

Matt: Sooooooooooo we've got two teams facing off to determine the contenders here tonight. First up... The Wyatt Family. Neato. Some out-of-shape inbreds who clearly have no idea what a washing machine is because they've been wearing the same clothes as ring gear for months.

Nick: You know what else they've been doing for months? Losing. Them and Bayou Santa Clause haven't been able to string together consecutive wins since coming back around. Just the latest disappointing chapter in these losers' careers. If they're sniffing at title shots, then this division must be as shallow as the Wyatt gene pool.

Matt: Just because a chin stands over six feet and has a beard on it doesn't mean we can't superkick it.

Nick: Now their opponents... well what can I say?

Matt: Not much. The cocaine cowboy and shameful black sheep of Canada's most overrated family has once again tricked somebody into trusting him. Teddy Hart's about as sketchy a junkie as you'll ever meet, but I guess when you're a gangsta-wannabe tool like Jack Evans, you'll do just about anything to make friends.

Nick: It's a freaking farce that they're getting this opportunity in their first match, but really, who cares? The New Day are jokes. Bulletproof is going to be too busy fighting each other in the G1. Mysterio's goons gotta chased outta town. We beat the Dudleyz. We beat the Usos. We beat the Wetbacks.

Matt: Did we?

Nick: Uh... well... wait... do they even work here anymore?

Matt: Probably not. Dweebs.

Nick: Then it doesn't matter. My point is -

Nick stops speaking when Kevin Steen walks up to him.



Steen: Hey, sorry to interrupt, but...

Dave Meltzer returns! He follows behind Steen. Dave is still sporting some crazy bruising around his jaw, but that doesn't stop him from smiling when he sees his favourite tag team ever.

Nick: Dave! You're back!

Matt: Finally!

Meltzer: I was just cleared to return. The Doc says I should take it easy, stay out of any more fights, but otherwise I'm good to go. Team Meltzer is back!

Matt: I really enjoyed reading about your return rumors on the observer site.

Meltzer: Well there were a lot of good scoops about when I'd be back on the road. Inside sources indicated it might be at No Mercy for a surprise run-in, but plans changed last minute.

Nick: But wouldn't you... like... know something... or... what?

Meltzer: Well, journalism is a tricky beat kid, especially in this industry. But I'm here now and we need to focus on what we can do to take NXT to the next level. The International Championship and World Tag Team Championships are an excellent platform. It's time to take another step forward from there.

Steen: I couldn't agree more. But tonight... let's just sit back and watch everyone else clamoring over what belongs to us. Let's watch them figure out which of them deserves to challenge us for what we have. We made the mark, let's see if they can reach as high as we've reached.

Meltzer: Your accomplishments are what will spur them on to be better. Your talent is the catalyst for a better UWF.

Nick: And our superkicks are catalysts for their broken faces!

Nick is smiling but there's an awkward "too soon" silence from the others, given Dave's messed up jaw. It's him that breaks the silence, though.

Meltzer: Gentlemen... I'm proud of you all. Here's to the future. Here's to change. Here's to Team Meltzer!

The champions clink their belts together and walk off. NXT continues elsewhere.



Fans in the arena are chanting "NXT" as they're excited for the show when all of a sudden we hear



Fans pop for Rey Mysterio and out comes the former International Heavyweight Champion, and Mr. Money in the Bank Rey Mysterio comes out and the fans are cheering. Rey is limping still with his match from Punk. The knee injury is clearly visible, but Rey is still making his way to the ring. Rey goes and he rolls inside of the ring.



A thud is heard throughout the arena which excites the Roman Empire. Reigns once again makes his way on out from the entrance way. Reigns looks to the crowd on each side and heads to the ring



As Reigns gets to ringside, he walks around the ring a few times and stalks Rey Mysterio before he climbs up on the apron near the announcers table. Reigns heads inside the ring.


DING DING DING!


Reigns and Mysterio both begin to circle with similarly heroically-skiddish postures. Of course, this is a symptom of one sole case -- The G1 Climax tournament. The two first engage each other in a collarbone-elbow tie-up. Rey can only hold for so long, until he's shoved to the ground by the far greater strength of Roman Reigns.


Tom Phillips: "Not sure what the point was, in Rey going for that."


Corey Graves: "It was a test against Reigns. Rey knows Roman won't capitalize off him getting downed right off the bat, because Roman knows he has worse stamina than he does. It was an assurance of information."


Tom Phillips: "Alright."


At this point, Reigns and Mysterio are both up on their feet, and it looks like we're back to square one with the start of the match. Just as it appears they're about to re-ingage, Rey performs something quite unorthodox. As such, Rey shoots under Reigns, and takes him down with a quick double-leg takedown. There's no lifting involved, and it seems to be more of a trip.

Thus, Rey has taken advantage of Reigns' relative blindspot. He slides over the left, anatomical positon of Reigns, and applies a minor wrench to Reigns' right arm so he can't take a swing at him, while he tries to move over. Likewise, Rey lines him up perfectly with a modified, downed headlock.


Tom Phillips: "That was unexpected."


Corey Graves: "Rey's got to play mind games with Roman, Tom. He's faster than him, granted. But, Roman's got plenty of moves in his arsenal to take him out of the sky, and effectively so."


Tom Phillips: "For me, it's like Rey telling a story to Roman. Off the bat, Roman showed Rey he has the blatant strength advantage, but Rey's double-leg just showed us he's willing to do anything to bounce back from his loss against Punk."

Reigns tries to rise to his feet to get out of the headlock from a standing position, and is seemingly successful as he does so. He leans Rey against the ropes, and sends him across the ring with an Irish whip. However, Rey comes launching back with determined posture, as he places himself between Reigns with his legs, and pops back up for a wheelbarrow bulldog onto Reigns that props him back up onto his feet from the stun!


Corey Graves: "But, he's still standing!"


Tom Phillips: "And, not for long!"


Reigns is clearly stunned. However, Rey runs and bounces off the adjacent ropes from Reigns, and quickly props himself up on the middle rope, springboard style, and connects with springboard crossbody that sends Reigns down for good!


Corey Graves: "And Rey Mysterio connects with a springboard crossbody!"

Rey stays on top of Reigns for the cover, as the ref' dives to count the fall-


1...


2...


But, Reigns kicks out at two!


Reigns throws his arm up, clearly kicking out. But, Rey uses this to advantage, by hooking the front of Reigns' elbow and the back of his knee together, and flipping over him for a modified small package. The ref' dives for the cover, once again-

Tom Phillips: "But, Rey Mysterio uses Reigns' arm he used to kickout, and uses it to turn into a small-package!"


1...


But, Reigns' quickly kicks out at one!


Both men rise to their feet at the same time, but Reigns' is the first to effectively respond, as he forces Rey back to the canvas with a short-arm clothesline! Reigns' then picks up Rey by his mask from the ground, and tosses him into the corner with impressive strength, too. Reigns taunts to the crowd, and gets a positive reaction from his fans in the crowd. Reigns turns his attention back to Rey, where he runs at him, and has ill-intentions for him with what looks like a Spear in the corner.

Tom Phillips: "Reigns is looking for a Spear in the corner!"

However, Rey has different plans, as he props himself up on the top rope, which allows for Reigns' shoulder to painfully connect with the steel-post through the top-middle rope. Rey then quickly rolls over the Reigns' back, and there's no more beating around the bush, as he hits him with a sunset flip for the pin!


1...


2...


But, Reigns powers out at two!


Rey attempts to roll Reigns over for a single-leg Boston crab, but he's not quite able to, as Reigns quickly grabs the bottom rope to his left to break up the hold. Rey walks to the center of the ring, and Reigns attempts to spear him again, but Rey leapfrogs over Reigns as he tries again. CRUCIALLY, however, as Rey comes back down from the leapfrog, he jolts, as it appears his past-injured knee is coming into play, and at a horrible time, too. Rey yelps from the sudden, shooting pain.

Tom Phillips: "Oh no, this is bad! Rey just came down bad on his previously-injured knee, and Roman's up and-"

Tom Phillips gets cut off from the next proceeding action. Rey's helpless, as he turns around to meet Reigns who had rebounded off the ropes from his attempted Spear. And decisively so, he tries again with a successful Spear this time, as Rey's spears Rey out of his boots!

Corey Graves: "Shit! What a spear from Reigns!"

Reigns falls on top of Rey for the cover, as the official dives in to make it count-


1...


2...


3..!


DING DING DING!


Tony Chimel: "And, your winner by pinfall..."




ROMAN REIGNS!!!


Roman Reigns has his hand raised by the official, and his fans in the audience are up-and-cheering for him. Though, not all are, since Rey's still popular, as well.


Tom Phillips: "I gotta' say, that was just bad luck with Rey."

Corey Graves: "It is what it is, Tom. It was a good match, but Reigns had to take advantage in order to put the match away."


Roman props himself up on the middle rope in one of the corners, as he then throws his hands up for his signature taunt. In no short supply, it signals for a pop from the audience in attendance. It's the last image we see, as NXT rolls on...




Teddy and Jack appear on screen as they are hanging out in the back as Teddy who was leaning against the wall moves forward towards the camera as he leans in with a smirk

Teddy Hart
Here's the deal Wyatt family. We all know it ain't going to be two on two cuz with y'all everyone sticks there nose where it don't belong so me and Jack will be kick, elbow, and take y'all out from above. We were all jokes before but it's time to get serious and tonight will the night that Aerial Assault reigns supreme.

Teddy taps Jack on the chest as he walks off as Jack leans in with a smirk.

Jack Evans
And you know this.....man!!

Jack scoffs as he walks off screen


[The Scene opens when Jey n Jimmy Uso is in the back celebrating there victory while Renee young stops them]


Renee: Pardon me Gentlemen but Um, we have some difficult about your match two weeks ago on No mercy PPV So any thoughts Jey ?


Jey: Well you see Renee, the reason that we mopped the floors with the Wyatt Family is because we got so sick in tired of them bullying us around like we some kinda idiots or something but anyways we defeated the Wyatt's eight days ago including in our tag team match with Rowan and Harper when they got us Disqualified a couple weeks ago on NXT when the Wyatt's had there revenge against us on the final week on NXT and after we got through with them then it's time for us to move right on to someone else on NXT next week on UWF.

Renee: Jimmy u in your brother wouldn't mind interfere with Harper and Rowan's match against Teddy Hart and Jack Evans this Tuesday.

Jimmy: that depends on who wants a piece against The Usos I mean we just got rid of the Wyatt Family two weeks ago at No Mercy PPV and end it right there in the middle of the ring so for now on it's us alone for now until we figure out who can challenge us into a Rivalry with me and my bro Jey Uso from NXT to Summer Slam PPV right after our Gm Ethan Carter third announce our next Opponent will be on NXT this week on UWF.

Jey: Cause we're the OOOHH!

Crowd: SOS!

(The Bloodlines leaves when Renee young Continues talking)

Renee: there you have it folks cause Jimmy n Jey Uso will find out who they will face next week on NXT since they done got rid of the Wyatt Family two weeks ago at No Mercy PPV until they get an Opponent next Tuesday on UWF.

Renee: So we hope that there Gm can find someone for Jey n Jimmy Uso in see who's gonna challenge them next week on NXT from Summer Slam PPV in a Rivalry against them next Tuesday on NXT on UWF.

[Camera Scene fades when Jey n Jimmy Uso heads back to there Locker Rooms before there match next week]


Tony Chimel: The following contest is a tag team match and is scheduled for one fall!



Tony Chimel: Introducing first, at a combined weight of 590 pounds, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper... the Wyatt Family!

The air in the room seems to go out with the lights as the Wyatt Family Anthem plays over the arena soundsystem. Harper and Rowan enter alone, no lantern, and walk down the ramp in practical darkness before the lights come back up to show them waiting at ringside. They both grab the top ropes in unison and haul themselves up onto the apron before entering over the ropes, the fans hitting them with a moderate amount of heat as they head to their corner to await their opponents.



Tony Chimel: And their opponents, at a combined weight of 351 pounds, Jack Evans and Teddy Hart!

Evans and Hart enter without any showmanship as the fans hit them with some heat as well -- mostly for Hart and not as much for the debuting Jack Evans. The pair head down the ramp looking cocky as fuck before sliding into the ring and heading straight for their corner, the official wasting no time to call for the starting bell.


-VERSUS-


DING DING DING!

It's decided that Jack Evans will get something of a baptism by fire as he stays in the ring while Teddy Hart steps out onto the apron to stand by his team's corner. On the other side is Luke Harper, who tugs at his beard and half-chuckles before charging Evans, intending to clean his clock with a nasty lariat. Evans ducks under! Harper keeps plowing, though, driving a shoulder into an unsuspecting Hart and sending him crashing off the apron to the floor below. The fans boo this, even though they're not particularly cool with Teddy. They pop, however, when Harper turns around into a roundhouse kick that clearly has him seeing stars as he stumbles back into the corner. Evans follows through on the kick with a dash and shoulder lunge that skewers Harper, before backing off to let the big man stumble out of the corner. As he does, Evans runs for the corner he just vacated, dashes up it, and flips backward off of it to connect with a moonsault crossbody on Harper! The fans pop at the display of acrobatics as Evans hooks the leg but he doesn't even get a one before being bodily tossed off of Harper, who is back on his feet quickly and cracking his neck, clearing taking the smaller man as more of a threat now.

Tom Phillips: Well I never thought I'd have a good thing to say about a guy aligned with Teddy Hart but... that was pretty spectacular, Corey!

Corey Graves: This is a horribly matched pair of teams and it's going to end badly for Hart and Evans, mark my words.

Harper's fixing to make the Savior of Misbehavior's words a fact as he lurches forward, aiming again with a lariat but Evans again ducks under. This time as Harper rebounds off the ropes, he has Evans scouted and as the smaller man lifts his foot Harper smacks it aside, causing his opponent to stumble into the doubled-over position just in time to eat a nasty knee to the jaw. Evans crashes to the canvas but he isn't there long as Harper hauls him up on a shoulder and carries him to the Wyatt corner, then throws him face-first into the top turnbuckle. Evans drapes over the ropes, out of it, but Harper has no intent of letting his opponent get back in the game as he covers the gap, grabs Evans by the hair and smashes his face into the turnbuckle until the official tells him to stop - five times, to be precise. Harper tags in Rowan as Teddy is just getting back on the apron to see his partner in bad shape, and Rowan doesn't help reverse those fortunes as he clutches Evans around the waist, drags him out of the corner and lands an ugly German suplex. Evans lands practically folded in half and Rowan marches over to him, shoves him down to the apron and covers.

Corey Graves: Told yah!

1...

2...

...NO!

Tom Phillips: Told me what?

Somehow, Evans manages to get a shoulder up! The fans pop at his sheer resiliency. Rowan growls, gets to his feet, and hauls Evans to his before Irish whipping him into the corner. Then Rowan charges intending to hit a corner big boot, but Evans slips out and Rowan racks himself on the ropes. Evans uses that to his advantage, springboarding off the ropes with a lateral dropkick to Rowan's head that sends him flipping to the floor outside. Evans, still somewhat out of it, lands on his back on the mat and uses the time he's bought himself to try and shake some sense back into his skull.

Tom Phillips: What an explosive opening to this tag team contest. There can be no doubt, Corey, that you were wrong.

Corey Graves: And there can be no doubt, Tom, that you're a dickhead.

Evans rolls onto his stomach and then crawls, hands and knees, to his corner to tag in Teddy Hart. Hart enters looking cocky as all get out as Rowan climbs back onto the apron, but Teddy has no intent of allowing him to stay there and charges the bigger man, hitting a dropkick that sends him back to the outside. Teddy then recovers and leaps up and over the top with a suicide plancha that sends Rowan crashing to the floor! The referee starts a count, but doesn't get to three before Teddy has Rowan up and back in the ring to break it. Teddy climbs up on the apron, and then up to the top rope, before looking for a frogsplash... Rowan counters with a boot in the air that connects with Teddy's shoulderblade and sends him crashing and burning to the canvas in an ugly way.

Tom Phillips: That had to hurt!

Corey Graves: This is what I was talking about. Teddy Hart and Jack Evans love their high-flying, high-risk moves but all it takes is one power move or nasty counter and they're done like turkey at Thanksgiving.

Rowan uses the ropes to get to his feet, then pulls Teddy to his before forcing him back into the corner where Rowan drives some mean-looking knees into Teddy's stomach, cutting them up with the occasional back elbow to Teddy's face. Rowan continues this for about a minute before the official tries to reason with the big man, who grasps just enough of it with his simple mind to back off and give Teddy a short breather before coming right back in for some shoulder thrusts. On one of the thrusts, however, Teddy has the wherewithal to clutch Rowan around the head and as the Wyatt member backs out, he brings Hart with him. Lifting Teddy, Wyatt turns as if to slam him but Hart uses the momentum to spin into a DDT and Rowan eats canvas. Harper bellows, "C'mon, Rowan!" from the corner as Teddy rolls away, but again, both men seem the worse for wear and nobody's moving to capitalize. The official starts a count on them before they both find enough gas to make it to their respective corners and make a tag.

Corey Graves: And it's Evans versus Harper, round two. How much you wanna bet this one doesn't go any better?

Luke Harper, again looking to prove Graves right, charges but Evans leapfrogs clean over him and as Harper rebounds he does so into a mule kick from Evans that sends him flailing back to lean on the ropes. Evans grins as he runs up the turnbuckle and launches a spinning side kick that connects flush with the side of Harper's head and sends him reeling to the canvas. Evans then grabs the big man's ankle and tries to drag him away from the ropes, but Harper's weight is such that Evans can hardly get him to budge and so the smaller man leaps over him, leaps onto the ropes, and springboards into a moonsault! Harper regrets resisting as he eats it full-blast, and Evans then uses Harper's own upward momentum from the impact to roll him away from the ropes and hook the leg.

1...

...NO!

Again, Harper powers out of the pinfall. Evans is flabbergasted for a moment, but decides not to let the nerves get the better of him. Instead he gets to his feet, stomps on Harper's gut to sit him up, then backs into the ropes and surges forward with a basement dropkick! Harper snaps back to hit the canvas hard, but rolls out of the ring to avoid another cover, leaving Jack shouting questionable things about the big man's mother while he tags in Teddy Hart.

Tom Phillips: What did Jack Evans just say about Luke Harper's mom?

Corey Graves: That she's as fat and hairy as he is, I think. Not exactly original, but whatever...

Teddy doesn't bother entering the ring. Instead he sizes up the stumbling Harper and runs along the apron, intending to leap off and connect with a dive, but Harper turns around just in time to catch him with one arm and perform a massive swinging backbreaker! Hart sells the move, writhing in pain on the outside as Harper rolls back into the ring to again escape his opponent. Harper heads to his corner and makes the tag, but Rowan - unlike Hart - enters the ring and simply stares down his opponent who is still in agony on the outside, waiting for him to enter. Hart eventually uses the apron to haul himself up and slide back into the ring, but when he does he gets no separation as Rowan sets right into him with some huge blows to the back of his head and shoulders. In spite of the assault, Hart manages to get to his feet and shove Rowan off. Rowan runs at him intending to hit a power move, but Hart flips back on to his hand and spins his foot up and inward, connecting with the side of Rowan's head, sending him careening to the side in a daze! Hart capitalizes by flipping back to his feet, then runs and dropkicks the back of Rowan's knee to send him crashing down to one knee. Hart tags in Evans on landing and rolls out to the apron as Evans leapfrogs the ropes to hit a sort-of rope-assisted Famouser! Rowan rolls away from the ropes - fortuitous, because Evans hooks the leg.

1...

2...

...NO!

Corey Graves: Kick out from Rowan!

Tom Phillips: Helluva match!

Corey Graves: Better than expected.

Evans is clearly disappointed as he gets to his feet, but all the momentum is with him as a lethargic-looking Rowan is still on his back. Evans hauls Rowan to his feet, then kicks him in the gut to double him over before clutching him in suplex position, hooking under his leg and executing an unbelievable fisherman buster on Rowan! Evans rolls onto hands and knees and springs back to his feet as he heads to the corner and climbs to the top, the fans cheering him on. Evans shouts something inaudible, then leaps off to connect with his 630 corkscrew senton! He hooks the leg.

1...

2...

...3!

DING DING DING!

Here are your winners,
Jack Evans and Teddy Hart!



Tom Phillips: Admit it, Corey: You were wrong! You said this would all end badly for Jack Evans and Teddy Hart and yet, here they are, victorious!

Corey Graves: Well, I guess the underdog has to have his day eventually.

Jack and Teddy take some time to celebrate their victory as Rowan is pulled out of the ring by Harper, who flat-out smacks him in the face and shouts something at him before the pair of big men head to the back. Evans and Hart are still celebrating - to a mixed reaction - as the feed moves on.


The titantron flickers with Rhino sitting backstage on a crate of supplies. He's not looking directly at the camera, as he begins to speak-

Rhino: "No Mercy..."

Rhino pauses for a moment-



Rhino: "Wasn't my best night. But, there's not a damn lick of sense in being upset over spilt beans. I'll be honest. That match could've gone either way. Given the second chance, I could beat Steve Blackman, and to a bloody pulp for the fun of it, too. Just like I did at Vengeance. Just like I did when I pinned him in Aztec Warfare. It's a loss, there's no denying that. I'm not going to inflate my ego with saying I didn't give it my all, because I clearly did. It just wasn't my night. Plain and simple."

Rhino turns to look at the camera, as he cocks his head to the left-

Rhino: "But, tonight is mine. I've been entered into the G1 Climax tournament, and all my anguish, and all my regret from my match at No Mercy, I'm going to unleash onto you, CM Punk. I've been a fighting champion, through-and-through. I survived falls on Sunday that most men would've retired, or be resting in a morgue, otherwise. Punk's been trotting about saying he's going to beat me, because he's managed to do it before. But, make no mistake, Punk. You're facing a different kind of Rhino, tonight. I want to win the G1 Climax, and I'll do anything to prove it. I want Steen's International Championship, and I'll do anything to have it. And you can bet, I'll do anything to make up for my loss on Sunday. Oh, and Steen-"

Rhino rises from his seated position on the crate, and looks dead at the lense of the camera-

Rhino: "I'm coming for your belt, Frenchie."

Rhino then grabs the camera, and violently throws it at the concrete wall where it flickers to a shutdown. Likewise, NXT rolls on.


10....9....8....7....6....5....4....3....2....1....



The fans explode as "The Final Countdown" by Europe begins playing over the loudspeakers. After the countdown, Daniel Bryan emerges, pointing upwards and leading the crowd in screaming "YES!" He walks to the edge of the ramp and soaks in the ovation.

Tony Chimel: The following contest is a G1 Climax tournament match. Introducing first, from Aberdeen, Washington, weighing in at 210 pounds, Daniel Bryan!

He then slowly walks down the ramp, getting mentally prepared for this big match against the Intercontinental Champion. He goes up the steps and into the ring and starts another YES chant.

FAAAAAAAME!



As the legendary voice of David Bowie penetrates the arena air, the Daniel Bryan fanboys maintain their "YES! YES! YES!" chants. Dolph's fans, meanwhile, simply pop for the arriving Intercontinental Champion as he enters the arena with his title worn proudly around his waist and performs his trademark taunt at the top of the ramp.

Tony Chimel: And his opponent, from Hollywood, Florida, weighing in at 218 pounds, Dolph Ziggler!

Ziggy then jogs down the ramp and circles the ring, collecting a microphone before heading up the ring steps, entering the squared circle and pointing to his fans who have by now taken up a "WE WANT ZIGGY!" chant to rival the "YES!" chants, creating an incredibly surreal atmosphere. The two men stand in their respective corners as the ref calls for the bell


DING DING DING


As a show of mutual respect, Daniel Bryan extends his hand out. Dolph looks around, not sure if he should trust a man willing to do anything to win and it wasn't too long ago Bryan was a despicable person. Dolph thinks it over but decides to shake Bryan's hand and the crowd reacts with a big ovation for the two men.


Tom Phillips: These two men are maybe the most popular superstars on the roster today.

Corey Graves: Popular to these people maybe but certainly not to me. While I appreciate them having mutual respect for one another, respect doesn't win you matches.


The two circle around each other before meeting in the middle for the collar and elbow tie up. Bryan immediately turns it into a side headlock but Ziggler quickly moves back and shoots him off the ropes. Bryan comes back and runs right into a dropkick from Dolph! It hits Bryan square on the chin and he falls through the ropes and onto the floor below but is able to land on his feet. He holds his chin and Ziggler smiles at him from inside the ring. Bryan decides to hop right back on the apron and enter the ring.

Bryan and Ziggler stare at one another with brief smiles appearing on their faces. They go to tie up again but Bryan quickly turns it into a wrist lock. Ziggler grabs at his shoulder before twisting under his own arm and reversing the wrist lock onto Bryan. Bryan does the same thing instead this time he transition into a hammerlock. Dolph tries to elbow Bryan in the side of the head but Bryan quickly turns the hammerlock into a crossface chicken wing! Dolph scrambles for a way out but Bryan is making sure Dolph just goes in a circle. Dolph can't find a way out of the hold so instead he just rolls forward, taking Bryan with him and ultimately reaching the ropes with their feet.


Corey Graves: The crossface chicken wing is a hell of a move to get out of but credit to Dolph for thinking of a clever way to get out of it.

Tom Phillips: And not only that Corey but Bryan has been targeting the arm and shoulder of Dolph's the same tactic he used to win at Aztec Warfare.


Both men get up to their feet but Bryan kicks Dolph in the back on the knee, bringing Ziggler to his knees. Bryan then proceeds to kick him in the chest 3 times, the crowd coming to life with YES chants after each kick. Bryan takes a step back for the final blow but Dolph ducks under it. He hops back to his feet and pushes Bryan towards the ropes. He bounces off them and comes back to a waiting Ziggler who tries for a super kick but Bryan ducks under it and comes back with a crooked arm lariat. Ziggler gets back up and gets taken down with another. Ziggler stands back up and swings wildly but Bryan ducks under it and grabs Dolph in a waistlock. He goes for a german but Ziggler elbows him in the back of the head a few times. He then turns around and irish whips Bryan into the corner. Dolph then runs and leaps at him with the stinger splash but Bryan moves out of the way and Dolph eats nothing but the turnbuckles.

Ziggler turns around and sees Bryan run to the opposite corner before running straight for him and landing a big corner dropkick to the face. Bryan isn't done however and he simply runs back to the opposite corner, smacking hard against the turnbuckles before running back with another big dropkick. Ziggler looks out of it so Bryan runs to the corner again. On the way back however, Ziggler steps out of the corner and superkicks Bryan right in the jaw! Dolph then falls on top of him for the first cover of the match.


1 . . .


2 . . .


And Bryan kicks out!


Corey Graves: The pace of this match just went from 0 to 100.

Tom Phillips: Instead of feeling each other out, both men just decided to go all out.


Dolph stays on the mat and looks to the ref as he holds up 2 fingers asking if it was only a two. The ref informs him that it was in fact just a two but this brief interaction allows Bryan to get back up and groggily make his way over to stomp Ziggler in the back. He then grabs the Intercontinental Champion's head and brings it back into his arms, trying to lock in the dragon sleeper but Ziggler slides through his legs and ends up locking in the sleeper hold on Bryan. Bryan reaches to the back of Ziggler's head and rolls him forward to release the hold. Dolph uses the momentum to pop right back up so he jumps at the still kneeling Bryan and takes him down with the Famouser! He quickly turns him over for the pin.


1 . . .


2 . . .


Bryan kicks out at 2! Dolph doesn't waste any time though as he steps right back up and delivers an elbow drop right to the heart. He follows it up with even more elbow drops, hitting 9 of them in a row before he finally stops at the last one, spins around a few times in typical show off fashion before jumping up high for the 10th one. Bryan however kicks up his legs and catches Ziggler's arm as he falls and traps him in the Yes Lock! Ziggler is trying top push forward but Bryan keeps turning him in a circle until he can finally pull back on the head of Ziggler.


Corey Graves: This could be it Tom! Ziggler could tap out and Daniel Bryan could be one step closer to getting back on top!


Ziggler tries to reach out to the ropes but it's too far. Dolph isn't sure what to do so he starts to punch at the grip of Bryan's over and over again. This seems to only make Bryan pull back harder but as he does, the sweat mixed in with the high angle allows for Dolph's head to slip out and roll forward out of harm's way. The Intercontinental Champion tries to get a breather by resting against the turnbuckles but Bryan hits yet another corner dropkick, this time to the back of the Show Off's head. Bryan than picks up Dolph and places him on the top rope. The Absolute Best then climbs up and picks up Dolph again. He grabs him form the side by the waist and goes for a side suplex from the top rope! Unfortunately for him, Ziggler turns it into a crossbody in mid air and comes crashing down on top of Bryan! The ref then drops down for the cover.


1 . . .


2 . . .


But Bryan is still in it! The crowd is on their feet, cheering for both men as they fight hard for this big opportunity. They both slowly get up with help from the ropes before meeting again in the center. Bryan throws a stiff forearm but Ziggler retaliate with one of his own. Bryan than throws a high kick to the chest but Ziggler throws a big back handed chop. Bryan goes for another big kick but Ziggler blocks it and pushes it back down before jumping at Bryan with a DDT. Bryan however is able to push Dolph off of him, the Show Off sliding back on his knees. Bryan then goes for a big head kick but Dolph ducks under it and catches Bryan with a school boy!


1 . . .


2 . . .


3 . . .


Tony Chimel: Here is your winner, Dolph Ziggler!





Bryan can't believe it as Ziggler has his hand raised in victory. Bryan gets up looking rather disappointed but he still reaches his hand out to Ziggler. Dolph looks at the hand and then Bryan before accepting it an the two raise their arms up for the adoring crowd.


Tom Phillips: And that right there is what this sport is all about. Two men competing for one goal with no other obstacles or distractions.

Bryan then leaves the ring while Dolph continues to celebrate as the cameras go elsewhere.


NXT moves forward as on the big screen, an interview with NXT's newest talent, Baron Corbin is standing by



Baron Corbin: At NXT's pay per view, No Mercy, I made my debut and what a memorable debut it was. Let me ask you, who predicted that the fourth member of The Bloodline was going to be me. No one can honestly say that they knew it was going to be me. And why would anyone predict that. Roman and myself, we are nearly two of the same guy out there. He is an ass kicker just like I am. He doesn't take anything from anyone and neither do I. And just like he says, it's one versus all, I am the one who's a lone wolf. However, I know, that when my friends need my back, I got it, just like they got mine. It's not often, but we do what we need to do.

I have been asked, why, why did I join them. I know that I am not blood, but like I said, Roman, he is a friend. I don't know the Usos too well, so my help for them was out of a favor to Roman. See, Roman and I are cut from the same exact background. Professional wrestling, it was not our first passion. Football was our first passion. And yet while the both of us never did get drafted, we did make practice squads and that is a lot than most can say. Hell, even Brock Lesnar was only a practice squad guy. So, that is why I joined The Bloodline that night. Roman and I have a lot in common and I know he needed me. Roman, he didn't ask for my help, I volunteered on my own. I wanted to kick some ass and take some names.

As for the Wyatt family. They all got what they deserve at No Mercy. They like to run their mouths over and over again until they get their mouth busted in. I know I got into a fight that was not my own, but that's how I been since I was a little kid. I never mind my own business and make everything my business whether anyone likes it or not. So if the Wyatt's want so more, then I'll be glad to remind them of what happened at No Mercy.

Now the question is, was this a one night deal at No Mercy, the answer is no. I'm here to stay. Roman, for weeks has been saying it, but I don't think anyone listened to what he said or how he put it. While he is a Bloodline member, he and I though, we are The House of Pain. Right now, he's got to focus on getting back his title, but the two of us, we will still kick ass together. I have his back and he has mine. So for everyone in the locker room, welcome to your end of days!

The camera fades away as NXT moves forward



Ladies and Gentlemen

E

C

3



trouble trouble trouble trouble trouble trouble trouble
trouble trouble trouble

The General Manager of NXT makes his way down to the ring in a very tight shirt. He has a big smile on his face that only makes the crowd boo. He enters the ring and already has a microphone in hand.



EC3: 3 weeks in a row you people have been gifted with my presence so your welcome for that but that's not why I'm here. I'm out here because while 8 of the best men on NXT fight to get an International title shot at Summerslam, our esteemed International Champion is without a challenger at Final Battle. Now it wouldn't be fair for me to just pick someone who loses in the tournament to face Steen so then, I had a brilliant idea.

Instead of giving a returning former champion like Kurt Angle an immediate title shot like those in charge before me would, I've decided to give it to a man who actually deserves it. A man who as far as i know, has never received a one on one title shot. A man who's been here for over 3 years and has never held any gold. A man who has actually been held down unlike some of you who pretend like you're never given opportunities. This man has had people snicker behind his back and even to his face yet he shows up week in and week out and gives it his all. I can't think of a single man who is more overdue for a title shot. So ladies and gentlemen, at Final battle, Kevin Steen will defend the International Championship against ..... Jey Uso!

The crowd pops for Jey finally getting himself a world title match.


Tom Phillips: Can you believe this?

Corey Graves: This is great news! Jey Uso finally gets the spotlight. Jimmy had his chance on Smackdown and Thunder and now Jey gets to shine on NXT!

Tom Phillips: Are you listening to yourself Graves? It's clear EC3 has been begging for someone to take out the Usos. He's brought guys in specifically for that but he finally decides to give the job to the man who's made a career out of ending other's.

Corey Graves: You say it like this is already over. Have a little faith in Jey Tom!


Ethan has a big shit eating grin on his face as he exits the ring and walks back up the ramp as the live feed heads elsewhere.


We see a brief recap of that Last Man Standing match where we see Blackmans hand raised with the belt. Then we see some quick static, then we end up seeing the lovely Jojo backstage of NXT.



Jojo: Hello, I am Jojo and I am back here in NXT about to talk to the man who defeated the Man Beast and claimed what's his last night in No Mercy .

Blackman appeared dressed up in his regular black pants, a Tommy Hillfigure like jacket with sunglasses on his eyes as he walks towards her with his title; he oogles his eyes on Jojo then his belt as she speaks to him.

Jojo: Blackman, how did it feel to come out alive in that brutal match for the Hardcore Championship?

Blackman pulls his sunglasses over his head then he places the heavy title on her shoulders to which she struggles to carry as he speaks to her.

Blackman: I see you struggling with holding that belt, when you are holding it; you will have sense of feeling that you just had intercourse with Man Beast named Destiny.

Then Jojo tries to hold the belt in postion that is comfy for her.

Jojo: What do you mean about that?

Blackman: What I mean is this; I have waited for a LONG time to break out the solo tip. Rhino was that stubborn cherry who would not pop for daddy. When we first gone at it for the belt, he was the cuckolder for that strap you have on your shoulder. That belt was waiting to be on the arms of the Dead Prez away from its true master.

Jojo then cracks a smile.

Jojo: You must have had a wet dream about this title!

Blackman: No no not JUST a wet dream, I was living in the pleasure of taking down the Man Beast. When he was on that floor for the ten counts, I was pleased to the point I wanted to make out with the first person I was in the back with. As you see me as the Hardcore champion, just know I will protect my first ever title in this company and will put up a fight to ANYONE who tries to take what's mines, baby gurl.

Then we see him taking the strap off her shoulders, puts on his sunglasses, and gives her nice lip lock for this interviewer and leaves as the segment continues.


Chimel: The following contest is a G1 Climax match and is scheduled for one-fall! Introducing first, representing Bulletproof... from Chicago, Illinois... weighing in at 218 pounds... CM Punk!



The song "BulletProof" by Five Finger Death Punch begins to play throughout the arena, signifying the arrival of The Straight-Edge Superstar and former UWF World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk. Within ten seconds of his theme music beginning, Punk casually walks out from the back with an arrogant smirk on his face. He looks out at the crowd who deliver a mixed reaction. Punk slowly begins to take a knee at the top of the ramp, running his hand along the stage before raising a clenched fist and gazing at his wrist as if checking a watch. Punk raises his hands to his mouth and screams "It's Clobberin' Time!" as the fans deliver a mixed-reaction once again.

Punk heads down the ramp and enters the squared circle after his signature turnbuckle pose and rope jump. He does that wrist-twisty thing as he waits for his opponent.

Phillips: There's a lot of talent in the G1 looking to establish themselves as the next top guy on NXT, but CM Punk has to be one of the odds-on favourites to win the whole thing. Bulletproof has been nothing short of unstoppable since forming, and at No Mercy Punk made it clear that he doesn't need his team's help to win against top competition.

Graves: He's certainly not going to get help whenever he faces off against Finn Balor. It's inevitable that those two will clash at some point soon as they are in the same pool in this tournament. But the G1 is all about figuring out who the true number one contender for the UWF International Championship is. It's a singles title, only one man can hold it, and the path to being that man means fighting anyone and everyone - even your teammates.

Phillips: In this opening night of the tournament, though, CM Punk will take on Rhino, a man he has some significant history with.

Graves: That's true. These two were fighting over the International title a few years ago. They are both former world champions who have seen some ups and downs in their careers. Now they're back and looking better than ever on NXT. Only one of them can take the win tonight. There's no love lost between them and both guys want that spotlight. It's gonna get interesting, and it ain't gonna be pretty.

Punk is pacing around the ring, eager to get things started.

Chimel: And his opponent... from Detroit, Michigan... weighing in at 295 pounds... Rhino!

"Gore!"

"Gore!"

"GORE!"



BThe chants for The Gore have spurred up around the arena. And just a week removed from his grueling Last Man Standing match with Steve Blackman, the fans are in disbelief! At No Mercy, Rhino had fallen twenty feet below onto an unforgiving concrete surface, and had risen less than ten seconds later. He had been beaten to a loss with ancient martial arts weapons that were considered state-of-the-art tactics for outright killing a man. Whether it's a result of a miracle, or his own raw tenacity, it just doesn't make sense how he's even alive.

Rhino walks out onto the stage, and to everyone's disbelief, he's still walking. Though, he isn't no selling one bit, as his pace is much more deliberate, and there's a bandage wrapped around his forehead. Regardless he throws his hands up for his signature taunt, and though he isn't running for the ring, he keeps his eyes locked on Punk as he marches down towards it.

Phillips: Wow... I'm not sure if Rhino is in good enough shape to be competing. He looks like he just jumped out of a hospital bed.

Graves: At No Mercy he went to war with Steve Blackman. He came up short. He lost his title. And that only happened because Blackman was crazy enough to take the fight to hell and back. You can see the toll that took on Rhino, but you better believe that he's dead set on getting himself back on track. Rhino is a fighter - we all know that, he's tough as nails and now he's got an even bigger chip on his shoulder than usual.

Phillips: He could have cracked ribs, and almost certainly a concussion...

Graves: Yeah, he's tough. But that doesn't make him smart. Punk isn't the kind of guy you want to take on at anything less than one hundred percent. Look at what he did to Mysterio after he got hurt in their match. I'm not liking Rhino's chances here, not one bit. I respect his guts, but it won't be enough.

Phillips: Stranger things have happened, and the former UWF Hardcore Champion is a man you can never count out.


Rhino enters the ring and gets face to face with Punk in the center. Chimel exits and the official calls for the bell.

VS.


DING DING DING

Punk instantly throws a knee into Rhino's midsection that doubles him over. He follows up with several more up into the Man Beast's damaged ribs. The former Hardcore champ is pushed back into the corner and Punk goes after with a vicious combo, firing rapid jabs into his opponent's torso that quickly take a significant toll. Rhino's gripping the ropes so the referee forces Punk to back off. The Bulletproof member lifts his hands innocently and obliges, taking several steps back as Rhino, gasping for air, stubbornly composes himself.

The War Machine steps out to engage Punk again, trying to lock up collar-and-elbow. Punk does so, only to once again shoot a knee into Rhino's ribs. He transitions into a Muay Thai clinch and mimics Anderson Silva's assassination of Rich Franklin, obliterating Rhino's bread basket with a flurry of knees. The Straight Edge superstar then folds the other man's arms up and flips him up and over for a backbreaker. Welcome to Chicago, Mother Fucker. Rhino rolls on to the canvas and Punk swiftly hooks a leg for the cover...





1...





Rhino rolls out early, but the veteran Punk expected nothing less. He stays on the offensive, propping himself up before slamming some more knees into Rhino's midsection. The Michiganite tries to rolls away. Punk springs up and follows up with some nasty soccer kicks, targeting the same area. Rhino makes the ropes and holds on. The official intervenes again, giving Punk a five count to back off, which he makes the most of without warranting a disqualification.

A concerned hush has come over the crowd as Rhino struggles to pull himself up. CM Punk waits until he's standing and off the ropes before going after him. The hardcore legend takes some wild swings at his opponent, but Punk ducks them and wraps himself around Rhino, shoving him over into a corner. He then hoists the Man Beast up and drapes him the intersecting ropes, following up with a wild boot to the gut. Rhino's body contorts and he crumbles down off the ropes to the floor on the outside.

Punk looks down at his handiwork. Rather than following him out, he walks into the center of the ring and sits down cross-legged, arrogantly insisting the official start the ten-count.

Graves: Oh my god. What a brutal start to this match up. CM Punk immediately went after those ribs and that last kick might have shattered a few, if they weren't broken already.

Phillips: It's hard to watch. There's no way Rhino should be out there right now. I admire his fighting spirit, but Punk is too savvy not to capitalize on such a glaring injury.

Graves: If Rhino knows what's best for him, he'll just wait out that ten count.

Phillips: I don't know if he's capable of doing otherwise.

The official ignores Punk and climbs out of the ring, checking that Rhino doesn't in fact need immediate medical support. Rhino is clutching his injuries, but when the ref asks if he just wants to end, he looks up at him with a frenzy in his eyes and screams something unsavory at him. The official, terrified, hops back into the ring and starts his count, with Punk still sitting cross-legged nearby.


1...


2...


3...


4...


Rhino uses the barricade to help himself stand...


5...


6...


7...


8...



Rhino leans against the apron and somehow pulls himself back into the ring as the official hits nine. The fans are ecstatic, but Punk just shakes his head. He seems to be taking no pleasure in it.

Phillips: Well, The War Machine lives to fight another day.

Graves: It's hard to believe. I'm not looking forward to what Punk does to finish this.

The Straight Edge superstar approaches his crawling opponent non-chalantly, almost strutting as he comes to stand over top of his. He hoists Rhino up by the hair, just to slap him across the face. His head whips aside, and Punk follows up with a knife-edge chop across the chest. The fans are in no mood to validate it with the traditional "WHOOO!". Again, Punk just shakes his head.

Pulling Rhino towards the center of the squared circle, Punk reaches around him and steps over his leg, locking in a standing abdominal stretch. Rhino screams in pain while Punk shouts over that, telling him to give up and that the pain isn't worth it. Rhino isn't about to quit, though, even as the Bulletproof member wrenches harder and harder.

Eventually, he releases the hold, letting Rhino falls back down to the canvas. CM Punk circles him, sporadically stomping down on his torso, exacerbating the damage. Rhino tries to fight back, swinging wild, desperate fists out at him, all of which the Second City Saint dismissively kicks aside.

Phillips: It's like he's just toying with him now.

Graves: Rhino needs to be careful, or he's going to push Punk into taking this too far. CM Punk wants to end this, and he's not a man who liks to be insulted.

Again, Punk grabs his opponent by the hair and pulls him up. He twists his arm around, locking in a hammerlock, which he uses to torture Rhino's arm for a minute before turning into a DDT. Rhino goes down fast, getting planted head-first into the canvas. Punk hooks a leg and goes for a pin...




1...




2...




Rhino kicks out and Punk sighs, disappointed. He stands up, bringing Rhino with him before whipping him hard into the corner. The Man Beast nearly collapses on impact, but is caught when Punk charges him and connects with a running knee lifts to the face. Before Rhino can collect himself, The Straight Edge Superstar follows him with a running bulldog. Rhino face-plants hard, and Punk crawls over, looking for another pin...

Graves: Signature Punk stuff here. He's just breaking down whatevers left, and if Rhino knows what's good for him, he'll stay down and take some time to heal so he can have a career after tonight.





1...





2...





But Rhino lifts his shoulder. He's bleeding from his forehead wound now, and quite profusely. Punk gets some of that blood on him and wipes it off onto Rhino's tights, disgusted. He stands and stares down at Rhino, asking him why he's still fighting when it's already over. Rhino doesn't reply, he's still trying to shake the cobwebs out. Punk, now glaring, lifts his head and looks around the arena before calling for the GTS to a mixed reaction.

Punk picks him up and lifts him into the fireman's carry position, but Rhino, finding some life, nails Punk in the face with a vicious elbow. Punk drops him and furiously whips him against the ropes. Rhino hits them and rebounds, charging back across the ring. Punk swings for a clothesline, but The War Machine ducks it, bouncing off the ropes on the adjacent side. Punk turns to face him when Rhino springs forward and nails a GORE outta nowhere!

CM Punk goes down hard. Rhino lands nearby but isn't moving. The crowd can't believe it, and they're going ballistic.

Phillips: This one isn't over yet! Rhino is still in it, and if he can make the cover, that might be it for Punk!

Graves: Unbelievable...

Punk appears to have been knocked out cold on impact. He hasn't moved a muscle since the spear. Rhino is starting to move though, and he gradually begins to crawl over. When he's close enough, he drapes an arm over Punk's chest, effectively making a cover. The official makes the count...




1...





Phillips: He made it! This is it!





2...





Graves: What a comeback...





3....





BUT NO! Punk kicks out at the very last possible second! The crowd can't believe it. Rhino is shocked. CM Punk rolls away, finally coming to.

Rhino, on his hands and knees, looks over at Punk. Punk sits up and leans against the ropes, staring back at Rhino. The Straight Edge Superstar can't believe there's still fight left in his opponent. The War Machine has nothing but wrath in his eyes as he stares back. A nervous calm falls over the capacity crowd for that moment suspended in time.

Both men somehow spring to their feet at the same time, charge each up, and start trading blows in the center of the ring. It's all-out war.

The fans are on their feet, screaming, with cheers breaking out for both me, although Rhino is the more favoured of the two. The people are just amazed by the spectacle or the fight. Punk isn't targeting the ribs anymore, he's just swinging fists to survive. Rhino is a man possessed, clobbering away at his opponent.

Graves: This is insane. Both these men are willing to put it all on the line to get ahead in this tournament.

Phillips: Rhino just lost his Hardcore Championship. He needs to prove he can move on from that and be better. He wants to show he belongs in the main event. But Punk wants to be in the International title picture more than anything - he's trying to take Bulletproof to the next level. Something's gotta give.

Rhino stars to get the upper hand, pummeling Punk towards the ropes. Punk tries to counter with a whip, but Rhino turns that into one of his own. As the Second City Saint bounces back, the Michiganite catches him and goes for a spinebuster, but Punk spins out, lands on his feet, and nails Rhino with a lariat. The former clutches his chest in pain, but keeps his footing.

CM Punk locks up with Rhino and they tussle around the ring, vying for the dominant position. Rhino somehow finds the strength to overpower him, shoving Punk into a corner. Before the official can intervene, The Man Beast bashes the other man's skull into the top turnbuckle - twice for good measure. He then face-washes him across the top rope.

The Bulletproof member counters that with a swift elbow to Rhino's bleeding head that temporarily stuns him. Punk then nails an aggressive push-kick right into Rhino's chest that sends him stumbling back all the way across the ring. Punk is still draped on the ropes, trying to recover, while Rhino uses the momentum of the attack to bounce off the far ropes. He runs back at his opponent like a maniac and dives at him, hitting a GORE that sends both men through the ropes and out to the floor below!

"HOLY SHIT" chants erupt around the arena as both men crash down on the ground near the commentary tables. The official looks horrified as he stares down, but starts to make his ten-count...


1...


2...


3...



Graves: Neither man has moved since the impact. If both of them are counted out, it will certainly be an interesting start to the G1.


4...


Punk starts to come to and instinctively stand. Looking up, Rhino sees his opponent recuperating and this motivates him to do the same.


5...


Rhino stumbles towards Punk, looking to go on the attack again. The GORE has taken a lot out of both men, and The War Machine is favouring his ribs even more now, clutching them with one arm as he approaches the Straight Edge Superstar.


6...


The Man Beast reaches Punk and delivers a headbutt to stun. He follows up with a boot to the stomach, and Punk doubles over. With the crowd screaming in support, Rhino sets up for a Rhino Driver on the outside.


7...


Phillips: Rhino looking to take things even further here! This will no doubt put an end to this match.

Graves: This started ugly and has gone well beyond a typical wrestling match. These two have been teetering on the edge of the rule book since that bell rang. Rhino has always been an extreme dude, and that could be what wins him this match, if not this tournament.


8...


The War Machine hoists Punk up into Piledriver position, but Punk uses his weight and the momentum to awkwardly flip out of his grip. Rhino is caught off guard, and Punk seizes an opportunity to deliver a quick superkick straight into Rhino's severely injured ribs.


9...


Rhino collapses, gasping for air. Punk dashes towards the ring and slides under the bottom rope just in time for...


10...


DING DING DING


Chimel: Your winner of this G1 Climax match... CM PUNK



The official raises Punk's hand, and he takes a moment to celebrate before heading up the ramp.

Graves: A big victory for Punk in this opening round of matches for the G1. He overcame some game competition, and that early momentum is vital.

Phillips: Rhino fought hard, but the question is whether he was even ready to compete on such a short layoff following his hellacious Last Man Standing match at No Mercy. His ribs are in bad shape, his head is banged up - will he be fit to compete in the rest of the tournament?

Graves: I don't think anybody will be able to stop him from trying.

Rhino refuses the assistance of the medical team rushing to his aid, instead choosing to walk to the back on his own power while the crowd showers his with praise for a hard fought battle. Punk is still celebrating in the ring while the cameras fade out.


End of Show



Confirmed for Final Battle


International Championship
Kevin Steen vs Jey Uso

Finals of the G1 Climax tournament

World Tag Team Championship
Young bucks vs Jack Evans and Teddy Hart


Credits

Promos - Respective TTers

Punk vs Rhino - Fauche

Reigns vs Mysterio - Soup

Wyatts vs Hart & Evans, Spike vs Balor - Crann

Angle vs Trevor Lee, Bryan vs Ziggler - Danny