-Rules for WWE Gauntlet Match! I'm excited for GUNTHER/Zayn, but I hope there's something for Gable at Mania. Let's begin!
– It's official: WrestleMania XL: IC Title: GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn! It's going to be awesome to see Sami destroyed and fighting from below!
-Megan Morant welcomes us to the show and Sam Roberts joins her. They briefly touch on Gunther vs. Zayn and then move on to Becky Lynch vs. Rhea Ripley.
-Go to video of Nia Jax attacking Liv Morgan and Becky backstage. Jax puts Becky through the merchandise table with a rock bottom. Next week, it's time for Lynch and Nia to square off in a Last Woman Standing Match.
-Jey Uso also challenged Jimmy Uso to a match at WrestleMania. Will this be the second sibling (legitimate) match at Mania? X had Bret/Owen, but it's hazy if there was anything else (Taker/Kane doesn't count).
-There will also be a tag team 6-pack ladder match for the tag titles. It's really great to have a ladder match at Mania because MITB has always been fun, but then they had an IC ladder match two years before they discontinued it. Obviously, this is also a great way to get 12 people on the card, and if they get creative and want to hang both title sets, they could end up being champions on RAW and SmackDown.
-Go to video of Damian Priest defeating R-Truth and Judgment Day laying out DIY. You have to think DIY and Awesome Truth will be in the ladder match.
-Next week will feature three qualifying matches: New Day vs. Otis/Tozawa, DIY vs. The Creed, and Awesome Truth vs. Indus Shah. Well, New Day and Awesome Truth seem like a no-brainer. DIY vs Creeds could be difficult as I can see they want to feature both teams. DIY is in a feud with Judgment Day, so we need to earn it. Their time will come because Creed is the future of the division.
– Kathy Kelly Behind the Scenes of DIY They're Still Selling Attacks from Judgment Day. Ciampa says that Judgment Day feels threatened and is holding the tag team titles hostage. Gargano points out that Creed has the numbers, but this is his path to WrestleMania. Their dream is to win the tag titles at WrestleMania, and they have worked their whole lives for this moment. Ciampa told Creed that this was nothing personal, just business. They are coming on Judgment Day!
-Megan and Sam discuss the tag division. So, two teams will be added to Smackdown. I really hope Dunn and Bate get one spot, but you never know. Street profits?
-Then increase the damage CTRL. Indy and Candice later!
-WrestleMania World commercial!
-Go to video of Michael Cole doing a sit-down interview with Cody Rhodes in the ring. Cody tearfully cuts a promo with a peppy babyface talking about his mom and dad. That guy has to win this year or he's toast. You can't crush the spirit of the fans again. It's time for Roman to successfully defend his title and close out Mania for the third year in a row. It's over!
-Megan and Sam discuss Cody trying to end the story once again.
-Go to video of the Kabuki Warriors successfully defending the tag team titles against Stark and Baszler. I think there will be another multi-team match for the women's tag titles at Mania. There is even a threat for the Kabuki Warriors as they may need to form a super team soon.
– Kathy Kelly is backstage and Dakota Kai actually takes on the leadership role in this group. It is clear that she is set to be Bayley's challenger going forward. She calls Bayley an overrated failure, and when Damage Control goes on vacation, that's it.
-This Friday's SmackDown is Bayley vs. Dakota Kai!
-Next up is Candice and Indy!
-The Rock returns to Memphis this Friday, and I'm sure he'll react to being slapped by Cody.
-Go to the video when things get real in the Indy/Candice vs. Maxine/Nile tag team match. Candace acts like Christian Cage on Maxine, making her cry by bringing up how the women behind her hate her, that she doesn't belong here, and about her dead brother. I'm all for Candace's heel turn, but that's certainly the way to get there.
– Jackie Redmond is backstage with Indy and Candace, and Indy looks annoyed. Candace isn't here to talk about Maxine, she's not here to talk about winning, so this interview ends and she storms out. Carter and Chance come in and tell Indy that they need to examine her girl.
-Sam takes Candace's side and says that Candace contributed to the team's victory. What she did wasn't cool, but she won the game.
– Watch the video ending of each segment of the Gauntlet Match. Ricochet and his JD hit the banger and Ricochet won. After that, he will face a fresh-faced Bronson, but it will be decided by TSUNAMI. Sami then defeats Reed, but gets hit with a TSUNAMI to tease Nakamura that he will be easily chosen, but Sami struggles and wrests the victory. Finally, we end with two guys who had a real chance to win and they beat it too. Gable is a weirdo, so he wants you to give him something in your mania. If nothing else, let him win The ARMBAR. Sami wins and gets the GUNTHER. This was a good spot for Sami after his year since competing in the main event of Night 1.
-The Bump Plug: The Wolf Dogs are coming to the studio! Wednesdays at 1pm!
-Megan is off work this week. thank you for reading!