Joe and Wade are at the announcer’s desk, with Mark Nash taking care of announcing.
The Buckeye Powerhouse
The highlight of my afternoon was seeing Alexa Bliss clinch her spot in the Elimination Chamber. As a fellow Buckeye, seeing that Columbus grit on display was exactly what I needed. Lexi is the ultimate example of “Outside the Ring” resilience. She’s handled the breaks, the health scares, and the noise, and she came back as a powerhouse who doesn’t need a faction to win. Happy Singles Day to the Goddess!
The Physical Toll
We saw the raw reality of the business in the Women’s Tag Title match. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky went to war with Nia Jax and Lash Legend, and while it ended in a “No Contest,” the toll was very real. Tables, barricades, and pure chaos—this is the physical cost these women pay every single week. That’s the “Outside the Ring” story that deserves our respect.
The Paper Champion Fatigue
I am officially past it when it comes to the contract drama. Watching Drew McIntyre use legal loopholes to strip away Cody’s rematch—and then interfere to try and hand-pick the winner today—is exhausting. It’s narrative clutter that’s injuring the show. But Cody winning despite the sabotage proves one thing: you can try to lawyer your way to the top, but real champions win in the ring, not on paper.
The Crews Connection
You called it—Apollo Crews finally got back on the main roster today after being away for over a year! He’s been working the house shows and Main Event, but it was a big moment to see him run out and join the fight against Solo Sikoa and the MFTs.
The Match: It started as a chaos-fest after the MFTs jumped Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov. Apollo Crews and Matt Cardona ran out to even the odds, followed by Shinsuke Nakamura. Apollo’s Spot: He looked great out there—he even hit a massive flip dive over the top rope onto Talla Tonga at ringside. That powerhouse athleticism is exactly why you like him. The Finish: Unfortunately, the MFTs took the win after Tama Tonga hit Melo with the Cutthroat.
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