Welcome back! Another week, another show. Originally I was going to use our Maron talk to point out that Hell in a Cell was shaping up to be a Raw-branded show, but then they finally added Happy Corbin vs Madcap Moss in a WrestleMania Backlash Backlash match, but it's Friday and I don't feel like adding a whole match preview/booking for it. Go back and re-read their last match. I'll help, here's a link. For the record, I'd both book and pick Riddick Moss for the win.
However, before I spent my Friday night working on that because I'm super cool, Wrestling Twitter told me some very sad news: on tonight's June 3rd AEW Rampage, AEW World Champion CM Punk revealed he is injured and requires surgery.
What the hell. The good news (I think?) is that as of right now it looks like he will remain champion, and on next week's Dynamite there will be a battle royal to determine who will face Jon Moxley for the interim AEW World title at AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door. In my non-MMA mind, the idea of interim champions is still new and weird to me, but I think it happens a bit in UFC? And we've already seen it twice in AEW/ROH with Sammy Guevara's interim AEW TNT title and Mercedes Martinez's interim ROH Women's title when they couldn't face champions Cody Rhodes and Deonna Purrazzo respectively.
The easy pick for the battle royal would be Bryan Danielson, but Moxley and Danielson literally just feuded (if that's what their... disagreement? can be called) before joining forces with William Regal in the Blackpool Combat Club. I also don't want to see the other former champions Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega (who is still injured also), or Adam Page in the spot either. Looking through the roster, I'd first narrow it down to Adam Cole, Darby Allin, Eddie Kingston, Malakai Black, MJF. Malakai Black is purely a "I want better more important things for him" pick, so let's eliminate him. Adam Cole is almost the opposite - he just won the Owen Hart Cup and is still more recently the longest reigning NXT Champion so could be plugged in at any time, but he's needed for the Bullet Club Civil War, right? Eddie Kingston would be really fun in the same way Danielson would be fun, but Kingston and Moxley have already main evented an AEW PPV for the title. That leaves the two men that also have history with the champion: Darby Allin and MJF.
Maxwell Jacob Freeman has recently been removed from the AEW roster page after his own pipe-bomb promo on the June 1st AEW Dynamite in which he begged Tony Khan to fire him (see above) which may be a shoot that became a work, or a work the whole time, or hell maybe it is a shoot, but also it's wrestling and it's all a work, brother. So don't rule MJF out, but don't be shocked if he is one for a bit longer. Hell, I love the fact that the promo is not on AEW's official YouTube page.
That leaves my actual pick to face Jon Moxley and defeat him for the interim AEW World title: Darby Allin. Especially as the interim champion, there's a sense of less pressure to be the absolute top guy? But with Sting by his side (or even not), Allin has that specially thing, that connection with the fans that I think would make it work right away, plus he would be the first (or second) absolutely truly AEW original to hold the (interim) belt, depending on if you see Hangman Page as an AEW original or not since he had held gold in ROH with the ROH 6-Man Tag Team belts. Plus if we want an instant story when CM Punk is able to return: the first man he faced and beat in AEW now has his (interim) title, and he needs to face him again to get it back after forming a bond with him after that first match. Hell, you want an easy heel turn for CM Punk? Done, he turns on Allin and Sting. And maybe we could get some form of CM Punk vs Sting, the match I never knew I needed until both joined AEW? Plus, and from a purely marketing stand point, you can rename the September PPV from All Out back to All In, or and stay with me here: AllIn. Darby All In. Get it? Do you guys get it? This is marketing gold.
I hope we still get CM Punk vs Hiroshi Tanahashi at some point though, that sounded good.
Let's check in with the new results from the Amazing Spectacular Web of Quixotronic Wrestling Shame Challenge! I'm starting to think making picks for every major show is not going to work out for me.
Previously on Fanboy Wrestletronic…
Standings going into AEW Double or Nothing 2022 :
1st Place: Tim 66.7%
2nd Place: Kyle 56.0%
3rd Place: Andy 0.0%
3rd Place: Ryan 0.0%
AEW Double or Nothing (05/29/22) results :
Hookhausen (Danhausen & Hook) def. Mark Sterling & Tony Nese by pinfall.
Andy: Hookhausen (1-0)
Kyle: Hookhausen (1-0)
Tim: Hookhausen (1-0)
Wardlow def. MJF by pinfall.
Andy: MJF (1-1)
Kyle: Wardlow (2-0)
Tim: MJF (1-1)
The Hardy Boyz (Jeff & Matt Hardy) def. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) by pinfall.
Andy: Hardy Boyz (2-1)
Kyle: Hardy Boyz (3-0)
Tim: Hardy Boyz (2-1)
AEW TBS Title Match : Jade Cargill © def. Anna Jay by pinfall.
Andy: Jade Cargill (3-1)
Kyle: Jade Cargill (4-0)
Tim: Jade Cargill (3-1)
The House of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews, & PAC) def. Death Triangle (PAC, Penta Oscuro, & Rey Fenix) by pinfall.
Andy: House of Black (4-1)
Kyle: House of Black (5-0)
Tim: Death Triangle (3-2)
Owen Hart Cup Men's Final : Adam Cole def. Samoa Joe by pinfall.
Andy: Samoa Joe (4-2)
Kyle: Adam Cole (6-0)
Tim: Adam Cole (4-2)
Owen Hart Cup Women's Final : Dr. Britt Baker, DMD def. Ruby Soho by pinfall.
Andy: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD (5-2)
Kyle: Ruby Soho (6-1)
Tim: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD (5-2)
American Top Team (Ethan Page, Paige VanZant, & Scorpio Sky) def. Frankie Kazarian, Sammy Guevera, & Tay Conti by pinfall.
Andy: n/a (5-2)
Kyle: n/a (6-1)
Tim: n/a (5-2)
Kyle O'Reilly def. Darby Allin by pinfall.
Andy: n/a (5-2)
Kyle: n/a (6-1)
Tim: n/a (5-2)
AEW Women's Title Match : Thunder Rosa © def. Serena Deeb by pinfall.
Andy: Thunder Rosa (6-2)
Kyle: Thunder Rosa (7-1)
Tim: Thunder Rosa (6-2)
Anarchy in the Arena Match : The Jericho Appreciation Society (Angelo Parker, Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, Jake Hager, & Matt Mendard) def. Eddie Kingston, Ortiz, Santana, & the Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Jon Moxley) by submission.
Andy: Jericho Appreciation Society (7-2)
Kyle: Eddie Kingston & Friends (7-2)
Tim: Jericho Appreciation Society (7-2)
AEW Tag Team Titles Match : Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus © def. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland, Team Taz (Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks) by pinfall.
Andy: Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland (7-3)
Kyle: Team Taz (7-3)
Tim: Jurassic Express (8-2)
AEW World Title Match : CM Punk def. Adam Page © by pinfall to win the AEW World title.
Andy: Adam Page (7-4)
Kyle: CM Punk (8-3)
Tim: CM Punk (8-3)
And now the conclusion…
Final standings after AEW Double or Nothing 2022 :
1st Place: Tim 70.6%
2nd Place: Andy 63.6%
3rd Place: Kyle 59.0%
4th Place: Ryan 0.0%
Who will survive!?
To watch NXT 2.0 In Your House 2022 live on Saturday, June 4, at 7:00p CST, you can subscribe to Peacock.
To watch WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 live on Sunday, June 5, at 7:00p CST, you can subscribe to Peacock.
Until then, here’s your Quixotronic preview of the weekend.
As always: cards are subject to change.
NXT 2.0 In Your House 2022
Losers Join Winners' Family : Legado del Fantasma (Cruz del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, & Santos Escobar) vs Channing Lorenzo, Tony D'Angelo, & Troy Donovan
The Background: After defeating Tommaso Ciampa at NXT 2.0 Stand & Deliver 2022 to become the new Don of NXT, he moved onto his next feud with Santos Escobar after an altercation at a restaurant. You see, D'Angelo has Italian-based family members while Escobar has Latino-based family members, and they are now having legitimate disagreements. Like gentlemen. Escobar defeated D'Angelo in singles competition on the May 17th NXT 2.0, so now they will face off in 6-man gang warfare. And after another legitimate conversation on the May 31st NXT 2.0, it's been decided they will merge families with the winners taking in the losers' members.
Fanboy Fantasy: The two families have a legitimate match and adhere to all of the match rules and even tell the referee that they're doing a good job. They go back and forth but it's Escobar who again pins D'Angelo to win the match for Legado del Fantasma and gladly incorporates the unnamed family into his fully-copyrighted and trademarked Legado del Fantasma family. Every week we get a new bit with D'Angelo's crew learning what tacos are and what a quinceanera is (what a quixonera is?), while D'Angelo tries to subtly turn Del Toro and Wilde against Escobar. Narrator: it does not work.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Tony D'Angelo & family - I think it would be funnier to watch D'Angelo deal with not being the made guy, but I don't trust NXT 2.0 to make the right call.
NXT Women's Tag Team Titles Match : Katana Chance & Kayden Carter vs Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne) ©
The Background: Katana Chance (formerly Kacy Catanzaro) and Kayden Carter have been teaming going back to Pre-Crisis NXT based purely on their initials being the same. They most recently made it to the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, losing out to eventual winners Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray (now Alba Fyre?). Now they will finally get a shot at the NXT Tag Team titles against Toxic Attraction after running afoul of the team.
Fanboy Fantasy: Katana Chance & Kayden Carter take the advantage early and never lose it - they easily defeat the shocked Toxic Attraction and set the tone of the night: maybe it’s going to be a bad one for Toxic Attraction. The next week on Raw and Smackdown when they start a tournament for new WWE Women’s Tag Team champions, both teams are plugged in against each other, but they get a double DQ to eliminate both, also eliminating a future match in the tournament. Toxic Attraction fail to win the belts back in their official rematch and Chance/Carter hold the belts at least for the summer.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Katana Chance & Kayden Carter - C'mon, just do it NXT. They've been the most consistent team in the background for years.
NXT Men's Tag Team Titles Match : The Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) vs Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) ©
The Background: On the April 12 NXT 2.0, former NXT UK Tag Team champions Pretty Deadly debuted as a surprise entrant in the gauntlet match to crown new NXT Men's Tag Team champions after MSK was stripped of the titles. The problem is that the Creed Brothers were owed a shot at the champions, only to get thrown into a gauntlet match instead. The next week on the April 19 NXT 2.0, Pretty Deadly defeated Duke Hudson & Dexter Lumis in what was apparently a loser-leaves-town match in Lumis' case, and then defeated Diamond Mine members Roderick Strong & Damon Kemp on the May 31 NXT 2.0. Now Diamond Mine's resident tag team will finally get their 2-on-2 title match.
Fanboy Fantasy: Pretty Deadly mock the Creed Brothers and Diamond Mine for losing their leader for a bunch of women before the match - but this allows Ivy Nile to low blow them both for being Pretty Sexist and the referee allows it because the bell hadn’t rung yet. Bell rings and the Creed Brothers suplex Pretty Deadly a bunch of times, but neither will stay down when the Creeds go for a pin. Roderick Strong gets frustrated with this and grabs the ring bell and tells Nile to distract the referee, but she refuses. Strong is still able to smack Kit Wilson anyway but as Brutus goes for the pin, Nile points and Strong and Creed let’s go of the pin. Diamond Mine argues long enough for Wilson to recover and roll up Brutus for a quick 1-2-3 and the champions retain. Diamond Mine formally kicks out Roderick Strong, he gets his request release (and a quick squash title match with Breakker), and shows up in AEW to join the Undisputed Elite just in time for it all to implode around him.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: The Creed Brothers - NXT has never been big on short title reigns, but I think we've teased the Creed Brothers winning long enough already.
NXT North American Title Match : Carmelo Hayes vs Cameron Grimes ©
The Background: Cameron Grimes survived a ladder match at NXT 2.0 Stand & Deliver 2022 to win the NXT North American title, ending Carmelo Hayes' reign. Since then Hayes and Solo Sikoa have been circling the new champion, though Sikoa and Grimes have found an alliance against Hayes and Trick Williams. Grimes retained against Sikoa on the April 12 NXT 2.0, and then both Sikoa and Hayes at the May 3rd NXT 2.0 Spring Breakkin'. Grimes & Sikoa teamed up to defeat Hayes & Williams on the May 17th NXT 2.0, and now Hayes will get his official rematch.
Fanboy Fantasy: These two go for at least 30 minutes and go back and forth the whole time - it's hard to peg a winner. Instead of circling the ring, both Solo Sikoa and Trick Williams join commentary and amazingly stay there the whole time. Williams tries to get up at one point but Sikoa gets him to stay and let the two settle the match like men on their own, plus it doesn't matter since Sikoa gets the next shot anyway though he admits he'd prefer it to be Grimes. In the end it's Grimes who once again gets the pin and retains his title, sending Hayes to the back of the line. Grimes and Sikoa's alliance ends with their upcoming match that Grimes is able to retain again while Hayes starts picking up wins to show that he didn't lose, he's just decided to leave the North American division and focus on the NXT title division.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Cameron Grimes - I actually wouldn't be surprised to see Grimes lose the title to Solo Sikoa in a few weeks, but I think he'll get past Hayes first.
NXT Women's Title Match : Wendy Choo vs Mandy Rose ©
The Background: Wendy Choo debuted shortly before the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, now a pajama enthusiast instead of the shell of an immortal dragon, and teamed with Dakota Kai. They made it to the finals but lost to winners Io Shirai & Alba Fyre on the March 22 NXT 2.0. After mixing it up with Toxic Attraction, Dakota Kai lost her title shot against champion Mandy Rose in what was also a loser-leaves-town match after the fact. Since that, Choo has been taking revenge (without specifying why she's taking revenge) ever since - she even messed with Rose's tanning bed on the May 3rd NXT 2.0. Due to this transgression, Rose will now face Choo in combat.
Fanboy Fantasy: With Mandy Rose already mad at her stable partners, it’s now Wendy Choo’s match to lose. Rose dominates first out of pure rage, but with that rage comes stupid mistakes. Choo is able to dodge a kick that sends Rose into the turnbuckles, allowing Choo to pummel the champion. Once Rose gets an eventual rope break, Dolan and Jayne are tasked with distracting the ref and Choo while Rose fights for the advantage again. However Choo knows what they’re doing and knocks Jayne down and she goes right after Rose. While Rose goes for a strong right punch, Choo is able to dodge and hook Rose’s arm in her pajama pouch, spin her around and hit a strong face buster and then hooks a Boston Crab. Rose taps and we have a new NXT Women’s champ and Toxic Attraction has lost all their gold. Rose takes some time off, but it’s cut short when she pops up on the main roster as Sonya Deville’s surprise partner in the WWE Women’s Tag Team tournament.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Mandy Rose - I still don't see Rose losing the title yet.
NXT Men's Title Match : Joe Gacy vs Bron Breakker ©
The Background: Joe Gacy started messing with Bron Breakker as soon as he regained his title by messing with Breakker's dad, now WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner. Gacy stole Steiner's Hall of Fame ring on the April 12th NXT 2.0, and then used its return to barter for a title shot. Breakker defeated Gacy on the May 3rd NXT 2.0, but for some reason Gacy and his druids are still around so Breakker has to face him in a title match again.
Fanboy Fantasy: Joe Gacy plays chicken shit heel for the first few minutes by running in and out of the ring while Breakker chases him. However, once Breakker grabs him, he does not let go. At his point Breakker destroys Gacy. Breakker hits a Frankensteiner, hooks a Steiner Recliner, and each time holds the pin or submission until the last possible point and then releases Gacy so he can play with his food just a little longer. Gacy gets no offense in. Gacy finally passes out during the third Recliner, putting an end to the feud. Gacy moves onto mess with Duke Hudson and Indi Hartwell, claiming to have been behind their significant others' disappearances, while Bron Breakker moves into a feud with Grayson Waller while keeping an eye on Carmelo Hayes as they both pick up wins looking for a shot at the NXT title.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Bron Breakker - I think we should have stopped with one title match on this feud.
WWE Hell in a Cell 2022
Bobby Lashley vs MVP & Omos
The Background: Bobby Lashley defeated Omos at WWE WrestleMania 38, so MVP turned on him and aligned with Omos the next night. It worked out since Omos then defeated Lashley at WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022. Lashley then defeated Omos on the May 16th Raw in a cage match when Omos foolishly threw Lashley through the cage wall to the floor, giving Lashley the win. Now Lashley will have to face both Omos and MVP in a handicap match.
Fanboy Fantasy: MVP teases starting the match but as soon as Lashley runs at him, MVP quickly tags Omos and slides out of the ring. Omos and Lashley brawl with Omos gaining the advantage over Lashley. Omos throws Lashley around like a rag doll for a minute or two and then MVP feels comfortable enough to tag in. While Lashley is recovering, MVP is able to show that he’s still got it. He even goes for a pin, but Lashley pushes MVP into the air off of him, showing he’s regained full power. Lashley spears MVP into the corner and Omos, knocking the giant off the apron. Lashley rolls up MVP and scores an easy pin to win the match. Omos storms back into the ring and attacks Lashley while MVP slowly picks himself up. Lashley is able to spear Omos into the nearly-up MVP and rolls both up with the referee shrugging and making the second count. MVP and Lashley have a sit down the next night on Raw and sign an end-of-aggression contract, ending the feud and going separate ways, but MVP that he’s going to build Omos up so that one day he will beat Lashley. It’ll be a process just like it was with Lashley at first. Lashley nods and walks away.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Bobby Lashley
Ezekiel vs Kevin Owens
The Background: Ezekiel debuted on the April 4th Raw, hoping to step out the shadow of his brother, former WWE superstar Elias. Kevin Owens, for reasons known only to him, has claimed that Ezekiel is actually Elias despite them looking completely different and photos existing showing both brothers side by side. He even passed a lie-detector test. Alpha Academy's Chad Gable & Otis Dozovic got roped into Owens' lie about Ezekiel, so Ezekiel defeated Gable on the April 18th Raw in his first match, and then he teamed with Cody Rhodes and RK-Bro to defeat Owens, Alpha Academy, & Seth Rollins on the April 25th Raw. Kevin brought his brother Kenneth Owens to the May 9th Raw, but due to all of Owens claims against Ezekiel it was hard to take Kenneth seriously. Ezekiel & the returning Mysterios later defeated Owens & Alpha Academy on the May 30th Raw.
Fanboy Fantasy: Owens dominates early, but he tries too soon for a Stunner and Ezekiel is able to escape. The two trade blows but Kevin Owens is clearly the superior wrestler as he works Ezekiel down. Unfortunately for Owens, he starts showing off thinking he can win at any time and is openly mocking Ezekiel. Owens connects with the Stunner and pins Ezekiel 1-2-3. Owens calls for a microphone and tells everyone now that he’s beaten Ezekiel, there’s no reason for them to fight for any more shows - Ezekiel just needs to admit that he’s Elias. Just as Owens sticks the mic in Ezekiel’s face, Elias’ music hits. Owens takes this as confirmation - until Elias steps out from the back. Owens is frozen in place as Elias makes his way to the ring, helps his brother up, and takes him to the back. When Owens regains his composure, he asks if he just had a cinematic match, because he though Ezekiel was Elias. The Samson brothers start feuding more with Alpha Academy as a team while Owens moves into a feud with Bobby Lashley.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Ezekiel - I want Kevin Owens to win, and I think I'll be hurt like usual.
AJ Styles, Finn Bálor, & Liv Morgan vs Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Edge, & Rhea Ripley)
The Background: Edge defeated AJ Styles at WWE WrestleMania 38 after requesting the match and then turning on AJ Styles for drama, all while also turning Damian Priest to his dark agenda. While Finn Bálor stepped up as an ally to Styles to counteract Priest, the two had a rematch at WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022 that saw a new attacker help Edge defeat Styles again: Rhea Ripley. With the numbers up 3-to-2, Liv Morgan has appeared to counteract her former partner Rhea Ripley, and all three have popped Two-Sweets up, adding another division in the upcoming Bullet Club Civil War, obviously. Now the two teams will face off to see who will turn on AJ Styles next.
Fanboy Fantasy: Standard WWE intergender rules apply so while Morgan and Ripley are supposed to only face each other, they both try to face the men until the referee stops them each time. Of course the match is mostly the men fighting and this is by design: it’s not the Demon who turns on his team to join Judgment Day, it’s Liv Morgan. With Styles and Bálor both beaten up, Morgan “accidentally” tags Styles in right as Priest blasts him from the outside. The gender switch automatically makes Priest the legal participant without a tag while Edge and Bálor spill to the outside as well. Ripley throws Morgan into Bálor, giving Edge time to break away and to hit a double spear/leg sweep with Priest on Styles to get another pin on Styles and win the match for Judgment Day. Morgan helps up Bálor, but then knees him in his Prince, downing him quickly. Styles isn’t even up yet as Morgan joins Ripley, Priest, and Edge as they all pose above his body, giving a mocking too-sweet above him. Judgment Day is now complete: in very loose Evolution terms Edge is in the Ric Flair role, Priest in the Batista role, Morgan in the Orton role, and Ripley in the Triple H role. But now they also have a team to compete in the upcoming WWE Women’s Tag Team tournament. Unfortunately for them, Styles and Bálor have allies also entering the tournament that will not, I repeat NOT turn on them: the returning Bayley and debuting Io Shirai. Neither team makes it to the final (Deville & Rose defeat Doudrop & ASH to win the belts) but we get the (Bullet) Club of Styles, Bálor, Bayley, and Shirai vs Judgment Day in a 8-man tag the Raw before Money in the Bank with the winners getting slots in each Money in the Bank matches later that night. Bullet Club gets the final win, though none of them get the briefcases.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Judgment Day - someone's turning and joining and once again AJ will be sad. Probably Bálor? Maybe Morgan? What if it was AJ!? No, probably not AJ.
WWE United States Title Match : Mustafa Ali vs Austin Theory ©
The Background: Austin Theory defeated Finn Bálor to win the WWE United States title on the April 18th Raw in a match you forgot happened. Since then Theory has loosely allied with The Miz and Tommaso Ciampa against the returned Mustafa Ali, back after 5 months of unneeded exile. Ali first returned and defeated The Miz on the April 25th Raw, but then Theory and Miz defeated Ali in a handicap match the next week. Theory defended his title against Mustafa Ali in a quick match on the May 30th Raw right after Ali won a match with Ciampa, but it was decided Ali will get a more-fair rematch at Hell in the Cell.
Fanboy Fantasy: The match is a repeat of the last Raw and sees Austin Theory cheat alongside both The Miz and Ciampa into a far-too-quick win against Mustafa Ali. However, Adam Pearce comes out and decides that since both Miz and Ciampa have so much interest in the United States title, he's going to make it fair - it's now a fatal four way for the title and it starts right now. The Miz hits a Skull-Crushing Finale on Ali right away and as a friend presents the downed body to Theory. Theory goes for the pin - but Ciampa breaks it. Miz and Theory are both shocked at Ciampa, but they didn't really know Daddy. Ciampa fights off both Theory and Miz, though he and Ali never get on the same page either. The end sees Ali pin The Miz yet again to win the WWE United States title, though giving Theory the easy rematch since he was never pinned. However, they go full Attitude-era with the title and it bounces between all four men throughout the summer with Ciampa leaving SummerSlam with the belt because this is my fantasy and Ciampa is the best.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Austin Theory - Like Owens, my enjoyment of Mustafa Ali makes me too paranoid to pick them.
Raw Women's Title Match : Asuka vs Becky Lynch vs Bianca Belair ©
The Background: Bianca Belair won the a Women's title at WWE WrestleMania 38 for the second year in a row, this time defeating Becky Lynch. After a brief defense against former authority figure Sonya Deville on the April 25th Raw, Belair looked to defend her title against Asuka who won a #1 contendership match against Becky Lynch on the May 16th Raw that was totally not supposed to be won by Naomi for some reason. However, Lynch then defeated Asuka on the May 23rd Raw to get added to the match, making it a triple threat.
Fanboy Fantasy: As it should be, this is a complete mess. No one can form an alliance because Belair doesn't want to lose her title, Lynch hates everyone, and Asuka is Asuka. Everyone gets a turn at being the focus of attention, but no one truly dominates. The end sees Asuka and Lynch square off and Asuka spit the green mist at Lynch and hit her with a stiff left kick. Belair sneaks in behind and hits Asuka with the K.O.D., but when Asuka rolls out of the ring from the impact, Belair rolls up Lynch to pin the former champion again. Sent to the back of the line, Lynch wins her way into a spot in the Money in the Bank match while Asuka gets a one-on-one title shot against Belair at the show. Lynch, Bayley, & Io Shirai are joined in the Money in the Bank ladder match by Raw's Zelina Vega, and Smackdown's Charlotte Flair, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi Blackheart, and Xia Li. Shayna Baszler wins it because goddamnit I want Shayna Baszler to murder on the main roster and I want Baszler vs Rousey. Have Baszler surprise Rousey on a random night (but soon) to steal the Smackdown Women's title while the men's briefcase is in a slower-burn program.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Bianca Belair - absolutely no reason to take the belt off of Belair.
Hell in a Cell Match : Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins
The Background: Cody Rhodes returned at WWE WrestleMania 38 as Seth Rollins' mystery opponent, hand picked by Mr. McMahon, though somehow wasn't immediately aligned with him and Austin Theory in a new Corporation. Rhodes won the match, but Rollins claimed it was because he couldn't prepare for his opponent. They had a rematch at WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022 that Rhodes won again, despite Rollins having a month to prepare. Because Rollins isn't done yet, Rhodes proposed a Hell in a Cell match between the two so they could settle their differences like gentlemen.
Fanboy Fantasy: Give these guys an hour, no joke. These two can have a long, bloody match. Yes, let Cody finally bleed in WWE. They kick the crap out of each other for a while, they both use weapons (Cody gets Triple H's hammer, Rollins gets the Fiend's toolbox), but we're going to stay in the cage. Despite the splash picture above, going up top is over done still. Rollins tries to scrap Cody's neck tattoo off with the cage wiring and while Cody tries to recover, Rollins hits a curb stomp into the cage. I think you need to be pinned in the ring (or at least above it), so Rollins has to get Cody back in the ring but he recovers by then. After more weapons and blood, Cody hits not one, not two, but three Cross Rhodes on Rollins to put him away one more time and get the third win. On the next Raw, Cody Rhodes declares for the Money in the Bank match, but is confronted by both Bobby Lashley and Kevin Owens. Adam Pearce forces them to compete in a triple threat for one spot, which Cody wins (Owens and Lashley begin a feud at have a match at MITB). Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, & Finn Bálor are joined by Seth Rollins because he just won't go away, plus Smackdown's Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, Sami Zayn, & Xavier Woods. Cody almost wins, but its Sami Zayn who wins the briefcase and holds onto it for safe-keeping as a fully-sanctioned member of the Bloodline. As long as Roman keeps Zayn close, he doesn't have to worry about a cash-in to deal with.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Cody Rhodes - with Cody as the likeliest person to dethrone Roman Reigns in the near-future (if it happens at all), he'll continue to pick up big wins.
That's it for our preview and fantasy booking for NXT 2.0 In Your House 2022 and WWE Hell in a Cell 2022.
This is week 2 of a 6-week march through wrestling and you know what? I'm already tired so we'll be skipping next week's NWA Alwayz Ready and NJPW Dominion 2022. Plus with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Matt Cardona having a torn bicep and needing surgery (maybe?), they might not have a main event? Unless Cardona's lying? Which is actually more likely? Either way, we made it 2 of 6 so far so we're already batting .333. That's something. But guess what: quick picks!
NWA Always Ready 2022:
Natalia Markova vs Taya Valkyrie (Fantasy: Valkyrie, PIck: Markova)
Fixers vs Mortons vs AJ Cazana & ?? (Fantasy: Fixers, Pick: Mortons)
Aron Stevens vs Trevor Murdoch (Fantasy: Stevens, Pick: Stevens
NWA Television Title : Matthew Mims vs Tyrus © (Fantasy: Mims, Pick: Tyrus)
NWA National Title : Chris Adonis vs Jax Dane © (Fantasy: Dane, Pick: Dane)
NWA Women's Tag Team Titles : Pretty Empowered vs Hex © (Fantasy: Hex, Pick: Empowered)
NWA Worlds Tag Team Titles : Commonwealth Connection vs La Rebelión (Fantasy: Commonwealth, Pick: Commonwealth)
NWA Worlds Women's Title : KiLynn King vs Kamille © (Fantasy: Kamille, Pick: Kamille)
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title : Nick Aldis vs Matt Cardona © (Fantasy: Cardona, Pick: Cardona)
NJPW Dominion 2022:
Provisional KOPW 2022 Trophy : Taichi vs Shingo Takagi © (Fantasy: Takagi, Pick: Takagi)
NEVER Openweight Title : Karl Anderson vs Tama Tonga © (Fantasy: Tonga, Pick: Anderson)
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles : United Empire vs Bullet Club © (Fantasy: Bullet Club, Pick: United Empire)
IWGP World Heavyweight Title : Jay White vs Kazuchika Okada © (Fantasy: White, Pick: Okada)
Please checkout a full season of all-fantasy Quixo booking with WWE 2021 : Quixo-WrestleMania 37, Quixo-Great American Bash 2021, and Quixo-SummerSlam 2021! What's better than some fantasy booking? All fantasy booking.
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