Browsing: Iyo

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Still riding off their win at WaGames, the members of The Vision ran rough shot this week. After being slapped in the face by Rey Mysterio last week, Logan Paul was looking for revenge. He would get that revenge as Rey was heading to the ring for a match with Finn Balor. As the attack went on, L.A. Knight came to Reyâ€s rescue. This would lead to a match between Knight and Paul in this weekâ€s main event.

To no surprise, other members of The Vision (including a mystery one) would play a role in the matchâ€s outcome and the aftermath. In addition to that, we had Gunther send one last message to John Cena, Iyo Sky go one on one with Kairi Sane, and another fiery promo from Bron Breakker aimed at C.M. Punk.

Gunther vs. John Cena

Latest developments:

On the November 1 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, it was announced that there would be a Last Time is Now Tournament taking place to decide who John Cenaâ€s last opponent would be on the December 13 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event. Over the last three weeks, Gunther defeated Jeâ€von Evans, Carmelo Hayes, and Solo Sikoa to reach the finals. Last Friday on Smackdown, Gunther faced LA Knight in the final round to decide who Cenaâ€s last opponent will be. After a long and competitive match, Gunther made Knight tap out to the Sleeper to get the win. After the match, Gunther looked into the camera and told Cena that heâ€s going to make him give up when they face each other.

This week, Gunther came out to open the show to a hoard of “We Want Cena†chants that Gunther responded to by saying he wasnâ€t coming tonight. He called Cena the greatest sports entertainer of all time, but that heâ€ll be facing the greatest professional wrestler of all time on Saturday. He then had a countdown clock to the match put on the titantron so that the crowd knows how much time they have left to admire Cena as their hero. Gunther stated that beating him isnâ€t enough, and that heâ€s going to break his spirit, bully him, and drop him on his head. Gunther ended the promo by saying heâ€s going to squeeze his arms around Cenaâ€s neck until he forces him to do the one thing he said heâ€d never do and thatâ€s give up.

Analysis:

This promo was short, sweet, and everything that it needed to be. With Cena vs. Gunther happening this weekend, there isnâ€t really much else to say beyond what was said here. As great as LA Knight is and as fun as it wouldâ€ve been to see him and Cena face each other, Gunther was too perfect of a last opponent for Cena for it to have been anyone else. As heâ€s one of the best heels in the company, this match wonâ€t have any question about who the audience will be rooting for compared to many of Cenaâ€s other matches this year. All the elements for this match make it one that has Match of the Year candidate written all over it.

While Cenaâ€s retirement run has been a mixed bag, the last few months combined with what we have coming this weekend are allowing it to go out with a bang. The main story going into this match on Saturday is whether Gunther will be able to make Cena give up. As Cenaâ€s only tapped out three times in his career and those times were before he became a top guy, having him do it in his last match of all matches would be an odd way to send him out. Gunther being able to say he retired Goldberg and Cena in the same year would be huge for his career, but there would also be a huge sense of gratification if Cena were somehow able to go out with a win. While the outcome of this match wouldâ€ve been more predictable a month ago, itâ€s a match perhaps more than any Cena has had in his retirement run that can really go either way.

Grade: B

Iyo Sky vs. Kairi Sane

Latest developments:

On the September 22 Raw, Asuka & Kairi Sane turned on Iyo Sky after Iyo tried to stop the two of them from attacking Rhea Ripley. At Crown Jewel, Rhea & Iyo defeated Asuka & Kairi after Kairi sacrificed herself for Asuka. The following Monday on Raw, Asuka & Kairi brutally attacked Rhea & Iyo and put them out of action for several weeks. On the November 10 Raw, Asuka & Kairi defeated Charlotte & Alexa Bliss to win the Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship and as they along with Nia Jax & Lash Legend attacked them afterwards, a returning Rhea & Iyo came to the rescue of Charlotte & Alexa. Last week as Rhea & Iyo faced Charlotte & Alexa to decide who will get a shot at the titles, Asuka & Kairi attacked all of them to have the match end on a disqualification.

This week, Iyo went one on one with Kairi in a match where Asuka pulled the rope down to cause Iyo to fall out of the ring as she ran to her and Kairi then hit her with a clothesline from the apron. Iyo eventually made a comeback with a German Suplex on the apron and a Moonsault on the floor. As Iyo went for the Over the Moonsault, Asuka pulled her leg down onto the top rope. Having enough of her interference, Rhea hit Asuka with a SuperKick outside the ring and threw her over the timekeeperâ€s area. Kairi attempted to stomp on Iyo as she hung from the top rope, but Iyo hit her with a Hurricanrana and followed that with the Over the Moonsault to pick up the win.

Analysis:

After Rhea & Iyoâ€s match was thrown out last week due to Asuka & Kairi getting involved, it was gratifying to see them get a measure of revenge here. This was a solid match that gave us a preview of the many great matches weâ€ll likely see involving the Womenâ€s Tag Team Division going into next year. As great as she always was, itâ€s incredible to see how popular Iyo has become with the audience. While the partnership with Rhea has helped, she has a real connection with the audience now that she didnâ€t really have up until this year. From the win she got here, it feels like her along with Rhea are going to get the next shot at the titles.

Considering the long feud between both teams and how popular Rhea & Iyo are as a team; this is a match that has to happen again soon. While the segment that ended last weekâ€s show displayed how stacked the division is, this match feels like the biggest one they can do. With the Raw on January 5 being a big show, that would be the right place for this match to happen. As thatâ€s still a month away, Rhea & Iyo could even win a Number One Contenderâ€s match to beforehand to set it up. Even though the belts feel like they would be a good fit for any of the teams gunning for them, it would be the biggest let down if Rhea & Iyo donâ€t end up getting them with how popular they are as a team.

Grade: B

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Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Latest developments:

At Survivor Series, Womenâ€s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer successfully defended her title with a win over Nikki Bella. On the same night, Liv Morgan returned after a five-month absence to help Dominik Mysterio regain the Intercontinental Championship. Last week, Liv confronted Vaquer backstage to let her know she was coming for her title. Later that night, Liv along with Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez attacked Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, Charlotte, & Alexa Bliss. As Perez handed one of the Womenâ€s Tag Titles to Liv, Liv handed it back to her and raised Perez & Raquelâ€s hands up as they held up the titles.

This week, Vaquer came out to cut a promo before she was interrupted by Nikki.Nikki said that the two of them werenâ€t done and demanded a rematch. As Nikki stood on the apron, Raquel Rodriguez pulled her down and long darted her into the post. Raquel told Vaquer to the name the time and place as sheâ€ll be there to kick her ass and take her title. While later backstage Liv asked Raquel why she didnâ€t run what she was going to do by her first, Raquel said she didnâ€t know that she had to as Liv responded by saying it was fine and acted supportive.

Analysis:

While it looked like Liv was going to be coming for Vaquerâ€s title, it now looks like Raquelâ€s going to get a shot at it first. Having her attack Nikki and then challenge Vaquer herself was a huge relief as seeing Nikki get another title match after she just lost one wouldnâ€t have made any sense. Raquel is also someone whose improved a lot throughout the year and having her face Vaquer again is a spot sheâ€s deserving of. More than her challenging for the title, what stood out most from this was the interaction Raquel had with Liv after.

While Liv played it off like she wasnâ€t mad about Raquel jumping ahead of her in line, this was a clear first sign of trouble in their relationship. Although something like this was inevitable at some point, it was surprising to see it happen already. As Liv has established herself as the leader of Judgment Day, itâ€s only a matter of time before some of her actions come at the groupâ€s expense. Thereâ€s even a chance that she could end up “accidentally†costing Raquel the title and things between them will escalate further from there. Despite how nice and supportive sheâ€s been acting towards everyone in the group now, thereâ€s no way that sheâ€s going to allow Raquel or Perez to get the title before her.

Grade: B

L.A. Knight vs. Logan Paul

Latest developments:

After being slapping in the face last week by Rey Mysterio, Logan Paul was encouraged by Paul Heyman to get revenge on him this week. As Rey was on his way to the ring for a match with Finn Balor, Paul attacked him from behind. Rey fought back as Paul was about to hit him with brass knuckles but as he was setting up Paul for a 619, the mystery man in the hoodie from Survivor Series hit him with a SuperKick and Curb Stomp before disappearing. Paul then hit Rey with a pair of brass knuckles and as Paul stood over him, L.A. Knight came to the ring to chase him off. Knight challenged Paul to a make for later in the night, and it was made official.

In the showâ€s main event as Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed stood at ringside, Paul had the advantage into Knight mounted a comeback that included a Leaping Elbow. Reed hit Knight with a head butt while the referee was distracted, but the referee kicked him along with Breakker out of ringside as he noticed them both standing on the apron. Knight dropkicked Paul through the second rope and as he was pumbling him, the mystery man in the black hoodie hit him with a Curb Stomp on the announce table. Paul picked up the win with a Frog Splash and after the match, Breakker hit Knight with a Spear and Reed followed that with two Tsunamiâ€s. As they saw Knight being helped to the back on the titantron, Reed & Paul went backstage to put him through a table and Reed hit him with another Tsunami from a platform on top of a car.

Analysis:

This was one hell of a way to write Knight off TV going into the holidays. With The Vision having new members and Breakker on the verge of becoming champion, a beat down like this to establish their dominance was necessary. With the mystery man in the black hoodie appearing again this week, it looks like his identity isnâ€t going to be revealed until the January 5 Raw. In addition to that considering how brutal this beating was, we probably wonâ€t see Knight again until the Royal Rumble. Once he returns, he has a ready-made feud with Reed waiting for him that has a lot of potential.

After Knight lost to Gunther last week, lost to Paul here, and took the beating that he did after, many of his fans are likely upset with the way heâ€s been treated throughout this year. While admittedly thereâ€s some legitimacy to those concerns, heâ€s maintained his popularity and is still in the main event mix. What happened here could potentially be setting up something big for him when he returns. If he returns and ends up in the same place and doing the same thing that heâ€s been for the last year, then itâ€ll time to worry about his future. In the meantime, weâ€re likely to see many beats downs like the one we saw here as this revamped version of The Vision continues to run rough shot.

Grade: B+

Bron Breakker vs. C.M. Punk

Latest developments:

On the November 1 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, C.M. Punk won the vacated World Heavyweight Championship as he defeated Jey Uso. At Survivor Series, Bron Breakker defeated Punk following outside interference from a mystery man in a black hoodie and a Spear from Breakker to win WarGames for his team. Last week, Paul Heyman revealed that Breakker will challenge Punk for the title on the January 5 Raw. In a fiery promo, Breakker said heâ€s going to take Punkâ€s career and every good memory his fans have of him. He ended the promo by saying Punk is going to realize after their match that heâ€s the real best in the world as he aggressively dropped the mic.

After Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, & Logan Paul beat down LA Knight this week, they all stayed in the ring as Breakker cut another promo on Punk. He asked where Punk is and not where he is physically, but where the real Punk is. Breakker said he doesnâ€t buy the new nice guy version of him and how despite being straight edge, he looks like the biggest crack head anyoneâ€s ever seen. He went on to say he doesnâ€t want to face this version of Punk; he wants to face the old Punk from 2011-2013 that he looked up to when he was younger. He then got down on his hands and knees and pleaded with Punk to bring the old version of him back so that he could say that he beat him. He said if that Punk doesnâ€t show up, heâ€s going to destroy him, take his title, and his wife too. He ended the promo by saying on January 5, itâ€s going to be Spear 1-2-3 repeatedly.

Analysis:

In many ways, this was even better than Breakkerâ€s promo last week. What added to it was Breakker talking about how he used to look up to Punk when he was a kid and how he needs the old Punk to show up to their match on January 5. The unexpected line that pushed this over the top was when he said he was going to take everything from Punk, including his wife. Lines like that one are something we donâ€t hear people say that often in WWE anymore, but it really added to the promo here. While many have doubted whether or not Breakker can cut a long promo, he proved for the second straight week that he can.

From how this year is ending for him, itâ€s clear that Breakker is going to be the centerpiece of the show in 2026. Whether he wins the title on January 5 or his title win is held off until the Royal Rumble, Breakkerâ€s rise to the top is inevitable. With Punk missing the show for the second straight week, itâ€s starting to feel like we wonâ€t see him until the Raw before he and Breakker are set to face each other. As Breakkerâ€s done a good job selling this match on his own so far, waiting until then for Punk to come back wonâ€t really hurt the build up. Even though thereâ€s still another three and a half weeks until the match happens, itâ€s already feeling like one of the biggest title matches on Raw in years.

Grade: B+

A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee vs. War Raiders

Latest developments:

With New Day sitting at ringside for commentary, A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee defended their World Tag Team Titles against the former champions, the War Raiders. Lee attempted to jump onto Eric on the apron, but Eric pushed him into Ivarâ€s arms as he hit Lee with a Powerslam on the floor. Styles later hit a Hurricanrana from the top rope on Ivar onto Eric and that led to Styles finishing Ivar with a Phenomenal Forearm to retain the titles. The New Day confronted Styles & Lee after the match, and they were soon joined by Jimmy & Jey Uso. The Usos announced that they were now back in the Tag Team Division, then knocked down New Day as they tried to attack them and faced off with Styles & Lee as they held up the titles.

Analysis:

The match itself was good, but it was meaningless compared to what happened after. Having the Usos back together is a much-needed boost for the Tag Team Division that will result in some great matches going forward. As great as itâ€ll be to see them go against New Day for old time’s sake and challenge Styles & Lee for the titles, it doesnâ€t feel like Jimmy & Jey are destined to be back together long term. After Jey crashed out the way he did last week, it would be odd for that all to be for nothing. Even though things looked great between them here, this story will likely end with the two of them failing to win the titles and Jey turning on Jimmy from there.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez

Latest developments:

After she along with Bayley were attacked by Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, & Roxane Perez last week, Lyra Valkyria had Bayley in her corner this week as she went one on one with Perez (who had Liv in her corner). Perez threw Lyraâ€s shoulder into the steel steps and worked over it until Lyra rebounded with several strikes and a drop kick attempt through the second rope. Lyra went for the Nightwing as Liv distracted the referee, but Bayley pulled Liv down as Perez then dropkicked Bayley through the second rope. Lyra had Perez rolled up until she kicked out and as Lyra fell into the second rope, she was hit in the face by Livâ€s boot. Perez capitalized on this and hit the Pop Rocks onto Lyra to pick up the win.

Analysis:

This match was okay, but it was clear that the finish didnâ€t go as planned. Instead of Liv hitting Lyra, Lyra just ran into her boot and then they went into the finish right after. Despite that, this accomplished what it needed to as it gave Perez a credible win to give more momentum to Judgment Day. Now that Raquel Rodriguez is going after the Womenâ€s World Title, it looks like Liv & Perez are going to go after the Womenâ€s Tag Titles instead of the other way around. From how this match went, itâ€ll likely result in Liv along with Perez facing Lyra & Bayley as early as next week.

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

Fresh off their team winning the womenâ€s WarGames match at Survivor Series, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky opened the show this week. As the two of them still have unsettled issues with the Womenâ€s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Kairi Sane, Rhea & Iyo demanded a shot at their titles. They were soon interrupted by the former champions and their WarGames teammates Charlotte & Alexa Bliss. As they never received their rematch after losing the titles three weeks ago, Charlotte & Alexa claimed they were the ones more deserving of a title shot. The arguing between both teams led to a match at the end of the show to decide who will get the next shot at the Womenâ€s Tag Team Titles.

As both teams put on a great match, the outcome would leave things unsettled as it became an afterthought to everything that happened after. In addition to that, we had both semi final matches in the My Last Time is Now Tournament, Liv Morgan staking her claim as the leader of Judgment Day, and a fiery promo from Bron Breakker directed at C.M. Punk.

L.A. Knight vs. Jey Uso

Latest developments:

On the November 1 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event, it was announced that there would be a My Last Time is Now Tournament taking place to decide who John Cenaâ€s last opponent will be. In a first round match on the November 14 Smackdown, Jey Uso defeated The Miz to advance in the tournament. On the same night, LA Knight advanced to the next round as he defeated a returning Zach Ryder. Last Friday on Smackdown, Jey defeated Rusev to punch his ticket to the semi finals. Later that same night, LA Knight defeated The Miz (who was a late substitute for Sheamus) to advance to the semi finals.

This week, Knight and Jey went one on one in the semi finals of the tournament in a match where both men took turns hitting each other on the top rope until they fell off of it. After making it back in the ring to avoid being counted out, Jey hit a Spear for a close near fall. Knight soon recovered and hit Jey with a Megaplex, but it still wasnâ€t enough. Jey hit another Spear and followed it with an Uso Splash but as he went for the pin, Knight pulled his arms back into a pinning position to get the win and advance to the finals. After the match, an upset Jey pushed over the display of Prime bottles sitting at ringside and walked away in anger.

Analysis:

Solid match between these two that produced the right outcome. Considering the bad blood these two had a few months ago that was never really resolved, at least we got a match between them here with a clean finish. As weâ€ve seen Jey vs. Gunther countless times this year, Knight vs. Gunther is a fresh match. While the outcome to it may be predictable, itâ€s still the better route to go as the crowd reaction alone will make it stand out. While Knight may not win marquee matches as often as many would like him to, heâ€s still someone that belongs in that main event mix.

Another reason why this was the right outcome is because of the story now being told with Jey. Jey crashing out the way he did after the match made perfect sense for his character considering all the huge losses heâ€s had lately. As it was being teased initially during his feud with Knight a few months ago, it now feels like the time for Jey to turn heel. As popular as he is, a heel turn feels like it would be the best thing for his character. From the way he acted after the match combined with all the great stories they could tell with him going into next year, choosing not to pull the trigger on a heel turn for him would be a huge mistake.

Grade: B+

Liv Morgan Promo

Latest developments:

On the June 16 Raw, Liv Morgan injured her shoulder during a match with Kairi Sane and it was later revealed that she would be out of action until early 2026. At Survivor Series, Dominik Mysterio challenged John Cena for the Intercontinental Championship that he lost to Cena three weeks earlier. As the match progressed, a returning Liv came out to get involved in the match. Liv initially slapped Dominik and jumped into Cenaâ€s arms to hug him as the expression on her face slowly changed. She then kicked Cena below the belt and that led to Dominik hitting him with a Frog Splash to regain his title.

Dominik along with Judgment Dayâ€s Finn Balor, JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez, & Roxanne Perez were in the ring as he introduced Liv. Liv shouted out the words “Iâ€m back†and said that no one saw her coming, especially John Cena. She went on to say she missed everyone but that sheâ€s been hearing things since sheâ€s been gone. Some of those things she said sheâ€d been hearing is that the group is falling apart, but that it all ends now because sheâ€s back. Liv said theyâ€re coming for everything thatâ€s theirs and they officially run Raw as she then slapped Dominik before jumping in his arms.

Analysis:

From this segment combined with what happened later in the show, itâ€s clear that Liv is the leader of Judgment Day. Itâ€s funny that Liv first debuted on the main roster eight years ago as a part of a group and now sheâ€s the leader of her own. This all felt like a reset for the group as the tension Liv had with Finn as well as Perez before she got hurt looks like itâ€s been pushed to the side. Livâ€s return has breathed new life into Judgment Day and a clear sign that theyâ€re going to continue to be the dominant faction on the show. While everything seems cool between everyone in the group right now, their tension will likely brew up again as we get into WrestleMania season.

With the momentum Liv has right now combined with the brief confrontation she had with Stephanie Vaquer later in the show, itâ€s clear that sheâ€s going to be back in the title picture soon. While she is already a heavy favorite to win the womenâ€s Royal Rumble, thereâ€s also a chance she could become the champion again before that. As thereâ€s already been a major title match made for the January 5 Raw, a title match between these two is another one they could potentially add to that show. Itâ€s clear from how she was presented on the show this week thatâ€s sheâ€s going to be a focal point of the show going forward, more so than Vaquer. Regardless of whenever it happens, this new version of Liv is tailor made for another title reign.

Grade: B

Bron Breakker vs. C.M. Punk

Latest developments:

On the October 13 Raw, Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed turned on World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. As Rollins had to forfeit the title due to injury immediately after, C.M. won the vacated championship by defeating Jey Uso on the November 1 Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event. At Survivor Series, Punk teamed with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Jimmy, & Jey Uso to face Breakker, Reed, Brock Lesnar, Logan Paul, & Drew McIntyre in WarGames. As Punk and Breakker started the match, both men brutalized each other throughout it, including a Doomsday Device Punk & Cody hit on Breakker that caused him to land on his neck. After interference from a mystery man under a black hoodie that attacked Punk, Breakker hit Punk with a Spear to win the match for his team.

Breakker was in the ring this week along with Reed, Paul, & Paul Heyman where Heyman revealed that Breakker will get a shot at Punkâ€s title on the January 5 Raw. Breakker went on to say that Punk is no different than any other veteran living off past glory, and no different than Rollins sitting at the top while holding everyone else down when he should be more concerned about his wife being a bigger star than him. He brought up how Punk tried to break his neck during WarGames and said heâ€s coming for Punkâ€s career and every single good memory the people remember him for. Breakker then brought up Punk coming up to him backstage at WrestleMania last year and Punkâ€s saying, “letâ€s see if you can cut a promo with the big dawgs†and he said to now consider the promo cut. Breakker ended the promo by saying on January 5 when they announce him as the new champion, Punk will look into his eyes and realize that heâ€s not even close to the badass Bron Breakker, the real best in the world as he aggressively dropped the mic.

Analysis:

This was by far the best promo that Breakker has ever cut in his career. He was intense, believable, and sold himself as someone whoâ€s ready to be the champion. While itâ€s unfair to compare this promo to other great ones like Punkâ€s pipe-bomb from 2011, it still delivered and accomplished what it needed to. Breakker had a lot of steam after he turned on Rollins, and he seemed to have cooled off over the last month. From defeating Punk to win WarGames to the promo he had here, itâ€s clear that everything is back on track for him.

With the match between him and Punk set to take place on the first Raw of the new year, it feels like the right time to do a title change. If Breakker is the man that they wanna strap the rocket on, having him win the title on that show would set the tone for 2026. If it ends up not happening there, then it should definitely happen at the Royal Rumble. As tempting as it would be to wait until WrestleMania to have him win the title, this doesnâ€t have the same story that Cody had two years ago to stretch out that long. If thereâ€s one thing anyone walked away from this promo feeling, itâ€s that Punkâ€s days as champion are numbered.

Grade: B+

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

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Gunther vs. Solo Sikoa

Latest developments:

On the November 17 Raw from Madison Square Garden, Gunther made his return as he defeated Jeâ€Von Evans in a thrilling match to advance in the My Last Time is Now Tournament. On the same night, Solo Sikoa defeated a returning Dolph Ziggler to also advance in the tournament. Last week, Gunther defeated Carmelo Hayes in another competitive match to advance to the semifinals. Later that night, Solo faced Penta in another tournament match where Penta suffered a shoulder injury several minutes into the match. Penta was unable to continue the match due to the injury, so Solo was awarded the match by forfeit and advanced to the semifinals to face Gunther.

As the match took place, Solo blocked a Powerbomb attempt and despite Gunther stopping his Samoan Drop attempt by pulling on his thumb, Solo succeeded with the second attempt for a near fall. Solo went for the Samoan Spike, but Gunther hit him with a hard chop to the chest followed by several more as he backed him into the corner. Solo rebounded with a Spinning Solo Slam and followed that with a Splash from the top rope, but Gunther kicked out. Solo went for another Spike, but Gunther trapped him in the Sleeper until Solo grabbed the rope to escape, and Gunther hit him with a German Suplex as Solo ripped off the top turnbuckle. While the referee was distracted, Talla Tonga hit Gunther with a big boot outside the ring and held him up for Solo to do the Spike before the referee stopped them and Gunther escaped. Gunther later hit Solo with a low blow followed by a Powerbomb to advance to the finals.

Analysis:

For the third straight week, Gunther showed why heâ€s been the MVP of this tournament. Without him, this tournament would be looked down upon a lot more than it has been. As weird of a dynamic as it looked like on paper with Gunther and Solo both being heels, they still put on a great match here. Even though heâ€s worked with people like Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, this was the best match Solo has ever had on the main roster. While Gunther deserves a lot of the credit for why this match was so good, Solo more than held up his end of it.

With Gunther set to face LA Knight in the finals, that match should be no less good than the ones weâ€ve seen with him so far. Itâ€s a fresh match we havenâ€t seen before with very high stakes, and one thatâ€ll have the crowd invested from start to finish. While this tournament has been underwhelming for the most part, it looks like itâ€s going to have a satisfying conclusion. As great as it would be to see Knight win this tournament considering that he usually doesnâ€t win big matches, a match with him and Cena doesnâ€t have the same appeal as one between Cena and Gunther does. That combined with how great his matches have been throughout the tournament and the fact heâ€s never faced Cena before; Gunther is just too perfect of a final opponent for Cena to let that spot go to someone else.

Grade: A

Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs. Charlotte & Alexa Bliss:

Latest developments:

At Survivor Series, Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, AJ Lee, Charlotte, & Alexa Bliss defeated Asuka, Kairi Sane, Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, & Lash Legend in WarGames. Rhea & Iyo came out to open the show this week and challenged Asuka & Kairi for the Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship. The two of them were soon interrupted by Charlotte & Alexa, who claimed they deserved a title shot first since they held the titles last and never got a rematch. Rhea said she respected them, but that they needed to respectfully get to the back of the line since they couldnâ€t beat Asuka & Kairi. Alexa then challenged them to a match for later in the night to decide who would get the next shot at the titles, and Iyo accepted on behalf of her & Rhea.

In the main event of the show, Rhea hit a Riptide onto Alexa as Iyo tagged in and hit the Over the Moonsault, but Charlotte tackled Rhea onto Iyo to interrupt the count. As all four women were down, Asuka & Kairi came into the ring and attacked everyone to end the match on a double disqualification. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria then ran to the ring to fight them off and as Lyra was about to jump off the announce table onto Asuka, Liv Morgan tripped her on top of it. Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez then appeared to attack all the women in the ring and as they held the titles up, Perez handed one of them to Liv. Liv then immediately handed the title back to Perez and she raised up the hands of Raquel & Perez as they held up the titles to end the show.

Analysis:

Before the finish, this was one incredible Tag Team match. With a match as good as this one, having it end with no clear winner was disappointing. While the angle they did after the match didnâ€t fully make up for that, it was still a strong angle that made for a good ending to the show. If it wasnâ€t obvious in the segment earlier in the show, it became very obvious here that Liv is the real leader of Judgment Day. Liv, Raquel, & Perez standing tall together at the end of the show is something weâ€re going to be seeing a lot of on the show in the next few months.

This ending also showed how stacked the womenâ€s tag division is right now compared to the menâ€s. From Asuka/Kairi, Rhea/Iyo, Charlotte/Alexa, Bayley/Lyra, and Raquel/Perez, that division feels more competitive and unpredictable than it ever has since those belts were first introduced. While thereâ€s a case for all these teams to have a run with the titles, the way the show ended makes it seem like Raquel & Perez are going to get them while Liv eventually gets back the Womenâ€s World Title. As great as the post match angle was here and all that it gave us to look forward to, it couldâ€ve still been done while giving us a clear winner to the match. If the match we got here before the finish is any indication, weâ€re going to have an endless amount of great Tag matches involving these women going into 2026.

Grade: B+

A.J. Styles & Dragon Lee vs. New Day

Latest developments:

After being granted a World Tag Team Championship match by Adam Pearce last week, the New Day challenged the champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee this week. Despite Styles getting the hot tag, New Day would get the better of him as Kofi hit him with a Scissors Kick while Xavier held him up for a near fall. Styles later rebounded and trapped Kofi in the Calf Crusher before Xavier interrupted the hold. As Lee moved out of the way when Kofi attempted the Trouble in Paradise, Lee hit him with a clothesline that knocked him inside out and he then tagged in Styles. Lee then hit Kofi with a double stomp as he hung from the top rope and Kofi fell right into the arms of Styles, who hit him with the Styles Clash to get the win and retain the titles.

Analysis:

The highlight of this match was the finish when Lee stomped onto Kofiâ€s back from the top rope and then Kofi fell into the arms of Styles for the Styles Clash. While a solid match overall, itâ€s hard to get too excited about the Tag Team Division for the men on either show these days. Styles & Lee are a fun team to watch, but itâ€s clear that theyâ€re not a team destined to have the titles long term. With this week being the year anniversary of that great segment when Kofi & Xavier turned on Big E, seeing where they are now is both confusing and sad. The more time goes by, the decision to split both Tag Titles last year looks worse and worse.

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Recently, it was revealed that besides IYO SKY, Rhea Ripley has a close relationship with a first-time WWE Champion.

On the November 17 episode of Monday Night Raw emanating from the iconic Madison Square Garden, Maxxine Dupri shocked the world by defeating Becky Lynch and becoming the new WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Recently, WWE shared behind-the-scenes footage of Maxxine Dupri’s monumental victory.

The vlog shows Dupri preparing for her match against The Man at World Wrestling Entertainment’s Performance Center, where she got advice and words of encouragement from trainer and WCW legend, Norman Smiley. The vlog then shows Dupri preparing herself on the night of the match, where she is shown backstage getting encouraged by Triple H.

Moments before stepping out to the ring, Rhea Ripley is shown having a brief interaction with Dupri. The Eradicator is shown hugging Dupri and sharing some words of encouragement, which seemingly brought a smile to Dupri’s face. You can get the heartwarming moment in the video below:

Rhea Ripley Seemingly Repairs Relationship With Longtime WWE Rival

The Eradicator recently made her return to television and allied with IYO SKY, Alex Bliss, Charlotte Flair, and AJ Lee to take on the team of Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Becky Lynch at Survivor Series: WarGames. While initially everyone seemed to be on the same page, Charlotte Flair revealed on the November 14 episode of SmackDown that she did not want to be a part of the WarGames match as she did not trust The Eradicator.

The Queen seemingly changed her stance as she ran out on the next episode of RAW to save Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, and IYO SKY from a beatdown at the hands of Jax and team. Though she helped out Ripley, the two still did not seem to be on the same page.

However, those doubts were put to rest on last week’s episode of SmackDown, where the two had a conversation and seemingly ironed out their differences.

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WWE legend Leilani Kai has high praise for former Womenâ€s World Champion IYO SKY, calling her the best wrestler in the women’s division today. Kai, a former WWE Womenâ€s Champion who competed at the inaugural WrestleMania, has reconnected with the WWE family over the past year, attending events such as Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event and NXT live shows.

During a recent appearance on Busted Open, Kai shared her thoughts on the current landscape of women’s wrestling. She singled out NXT star Blake Monroe for her character work, noting that she believes Monroe has what it takes to succeed in the industry.

“I like Blake Monroe. She has a good personality, sheâ€s doing real well with what she does and her little gimmick sheâ€s doing. I think sheâ€s the real thing though.â€

When asked to identify the top talent in the division, Kai pointed to IYO SKY. The legend shared her belief that while the entire roster is talented, SKY stands above the rest as the premier in-ring competitor.

“Thereâ€s IYO SKY – I think sheâ€s the greatest lady wrestler at the moment. Theyâ€re all good, but sheâ€s ahead. I just watch and I think sheâ€s probably the best wrestler at the moment.â€

IYO SKY is currently scheduled to compete in the Womenâ€s WarGames match at Survivor Series: WarGames on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Petco Park in San Diego, California. SKY is set to team with Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair to take on Nia Jax, Lash Legend, and The Kabuki Warriors, though both teams are expected to add final members before the event.

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Following a chaotic scene after the Kabuki Warriors dethroned Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to become tag team champions with interference from Lash Legend and Nia Jax, IYO SKY came running to the ring to save Bliss and Flair from the beat down they were receiving at the hands of the new champions, Jax, and Legend.

SKY leveled Legend and took down Sane and Asuka with a double dropkick. The women continued brawling when Rhea Ripley’s music hit and she joined the melee. Flair, Bliss, and SKY all kicked Jax’s head before Ripley used Sane for a Razor’s Edge and dumped her on top of Asuka, Legend, and Jax. Clad in her face guard, Ripley yelled for a microphone. She partially climbed over the top rope with SKY by her side as she screamed “WARGAMES!” into the mic while the women that will be on the other side of the ring were laying in a heap on the floor.

Ripley has been out following an injury to her nose while competing against Stephanie Vaquer, SKY, and Raquel Rodriguez for Vaguer’s Women’s World Champinoship. SKY recently competed in Marigold while in Japan. Earlier on “Raw”, Regal declared WarGames when CM Punk said he had his team. He’ll be joined by Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso against Paul Heyman’s team.

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IYO SKY suddenly disappeared from WWE RAW, despite being prominently featured on the flagship show till recently.

This year, the Japanese star has consistently been featured in the main event picture. Beginning with scoring the Women’s World Championship on the Road To WrestleMania 41 from Rhea Ripley, SKY worked against top stars like Bianca Belair, Naomi, and Stephanie Vaquer. At The Show of Shows, IYO SKY handed Bianca Belair her first pinfall loss at the PLE.

In October, The Genius of the Sky formed a tag team with Ripley. The two defeated The Kabuki Warriors at Crown Jewel: Perth, before being ambushed by Asuka and Kairi Sane two days later on RAW. It turns out, the former Women’s World Champion has been off television because she is taking an extended break after her recent showing in Japan.

WWE Star IYO SKY Reveals Her Whereabouts In Latest Instagram Post

IYO SKY performed at the Marigold Grand Destiny event on October 26, where she defeated Mayu Iwatani.

She articulated her honest sentiments following the bout, stating that it was “nostalgic, warm, painful, and bitter,” while also noting she was “heartbroken” when the match ended. This was not SKY’s first rodeo for Marigold, where she debuted in June 2024. She concluded by leaving the door open for a return to Japan at some point down the line.

On Instagram, SKY has revealed that she is still in Tokyo.

Iâ€m enjoying my brief Tokyo life. Part 1📸 Cat street, Harajuku,” wrote IYO SKY.

Meanwhile, The Kabuki Warriors have been regaining momentum on RAW, where they picked up a victory over Bayley and Lyra Valkyria this past Monday. WWE has left their program with IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley open-ended, with there still being a possibility of the babyfaces returning to take them down once and for all.

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In 2019, a couple of years after first reviving the stipulation, WWE held its first WarGames match featuring the women’s division, with two teams of NXT stars facing off. There have been numerous women’s WarGames matches since, with the match type having moved up to the main roster and taken the place of traditional Survivor Series matches each November. One constant through each of the women’s WarGames matches is IYO SKY, who has participated in each one.

Speaking on “Insight with Chris Van Vliet,” SKY honed in on the infamous trash can spot from Survivor Series WarGames 2024 as one of her most memorable moments from the matches.

“That was tough,” SKY said. “I’m always thinking, ‘[My] next match will [be] better than [my] last match.’ … All WarGames I was in, which means all WarGames [must be] special. … I already used [a] trash can, I already used a trash can on my head jumping off the cage, so … what else can I do? Maybe [a] moonsault.”

SKY admitted that she was initially worried the spot would be too dangerous, as it renders the wrestler unable to see. However, she stuck with the idea and decided to practice. The wrestler revealed that she went to the WWE Performance Center, found a trash can, cleaned it, and got to work.

“That was only from [the] top rope, but I made it,” SKY continued. “That’s why I [thought], ‘Oh, it should be fine from the cage.'”

The trash can moonsault helped ensure SKY’s team pulled out a victory in last year’s WarGames match. With the next iteration of WarGames just a few weeks away, it remains to be seen if “The Genius of the Sky” continues her streak of appearing inside the dual-ring, steel cage setup.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Insight with Chris Van Vliet” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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CM Punk shared high praise for WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY during a recent YouTube vlog documenting WWE’s tour of Japan. Punk highlighted both superstars as key figures for the company’s future.

Ripley and SKY have recently formed an alliance, stemming from their shared rivalry with the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). This partnership was evident during the Japan tour, where they shared an in-ring moment with Punk after a live event.

In the vlog, Punk spoke highly of SKY’s in-ring abilities. “IYO SKY is consistently I think the best wrestler that we have,” Punk stated. He placed Ripley close behind, noting her overall star power. “Rhea is probably a close second, but you talk about superstar…”.

Punk also touched upon his connection with Ripley, acknowledging her past fandom. “…and I donâ€t think itâ€s a secret that I was one of Rheaâ€s favorites when she was a kid growing up…”. He compared this connection to fans crediting him for personal milestones, expressing his gratitude and desire to give back. “…itâ€s kind of no different than the fan that says ‘Iâ€m sober because of you†or ‘I waited 19 years to see you.†I just want to give back because Iâ€m so full of gratitude”.

He added his thoughts on Ripley and SKY by noting their importance to WWE’s trajectory. “Those two are the future,†Punk declared. CM Punk is currently preparing for his World Heavyweight Championship match against Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1.

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IYO SKY has explained her chemistry with Rhea Ripley.

The former WWE Women’s World Champion recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet. She talked about things such as what was special about her WrestleMania 41 victory, the WarGames trash can moonsault spot and more.

The Japanese star has formed a popular partnership with Rhea Ripley in recent times and the two even teamed to defeat The Kabuki Warriors at Crown Jewel last week. When asked why she thinks she has great chemistry with The Mami, IYO SKY explained that their different styles make them great partners:

“I think so, because she has muscle. Iâ€m running fast. Iâ€m so small, but I can flip and sheâ€s not a flipping person, like so much the opposite. So thatâ€s why I think we have great chemistry.â€

They Shape Who We Are: IYO SKY

The High-Flying star also explained her love for wrestling during the interview. She discussed the difference between other combat sports and wrestling, mentioning how losses are just as important in the business as the wins:

“Wrestling is my life. It is hard to explain. So in combat sport, wins and losses are all that matter.

However, itâ€s only pro wrestling where losses have a value because they shape who we are and give us a chance to turn into something special. Additionally, in pro wrestling, it is important for a character to have weaknesses.â€

SKY was on Ripley’s side when the former NXT UK champion picked up a victory over Kairi Sane on this week’s Raw. Asuka unleashed a post-match attack on the two afterward, however. The Kabuki Warriors stood tall at the end of the segment, signalling that this rivalry is not over just yet.

The quotes in this article have been edited for clarity

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IYO SKY believes her WWE pairing with Rhea Ripley works so well because of how different they are from each other.

Currently, SKY & Ripley are aligned as teammates. The two have been rivals in the past as well — and SKY feels they have great chemistry in either role. She admires how cool Ripley is as a performer and just as a person.

“I think Rhea Ripley and me is — we have chemistry, I think,” SKY said on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet. “We are totally different person. Because she’s tall, she’s muscle, and she’s so cool.

“I’m not as cool as Rhea Ripley, for sure. She’s super cool. Even when I just having casual conversation to look at her, she’s so cool. Like, oh my God. Sometimes I feel, ‘Oh yeah, Rhea is so cool. Yeah.’ I feel like as a fan.”

SKY feels their in-ring styles also complement each other well with Ripley being stronger and SKY being a better high-flyer.

“Because she’s so nice and muscle. I’m running fast. I’m so small. But I can flip and she’s not so flipping person. Like so much opposite,” SKY said. “So that’s why I think we are making great chemistry.â€

SKY & Ripley teamed together for a tag team victory over Asuka & Kairi Sane at Crown Jewel: Perth last weekend. Ripley then got a singles win over Sane on Raw this Monday, but there was a post-match angle where Asuka and Sane stood tall after laying SKY and Ripley out.

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