Kick-Off Show
The Stomping Grounds pre-show begins with The Coach, Charly Caruso, David Otunga, and Booker T running down the entire card.
The first match they dive into is Kofi Kingston Vs. Dolph Ziggler. Booker T and Charly are inside the ring, surrounded by the steel cage, and T talks about how to win a barbaric match like this. He says matches like this test your mental fortitude and both guys are willing to go the extra mile. Big E and Xavier Woods have joined the panel and E pours water all over himself. Big E says that Kofi does not need them to beat anyone. Woods says Kofi is going to do it, just like they will do it against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
Next up is Seth Rollins Vs. Baron Corbin. We see Corbin backstage with Kayla Braxton, rocking a pretty awful beard. He says his special referee is a secret and says he wants to keep Rollins on his toes. Braxton says maybe nobody is taking his offer seriously after what Rollins did to the people he chose. Corbin says what Rollins did was heinous and tonight he slays the beast-slayer. Back with the panel, Booker T says he’s been watching Rollins grow for years. He says Rollins is peaking right now. Caruso says she thinks Seth is scared, and Otunga says he thinks it’s Corbin who is scared. Coach then mentions that there’s always the chance Brock Lesnar cashes-in.
Bayley Vs. Alexa Bliss is the next match up for discussion. Otunga reminds us that Alexa is accused of a manipulator but she’s been hurt by Bayley in the past. Booker says all women do that kind of thing and Charly more or less agrees. And that’s the height of that discussion.
Ricochet has joined the Kick-Off panel. Ricochet talks about how great his journey to WWE has been but it gets even better tonight. Coach says in a few hours he has to get in the ring with the meanest man in WWE, so how does he feel? Ricochet says he’s worked for years to get to this spot, and Samoa Joe is going to bring out the best in him. He says Joe is a bully, relentless and tonight he’s in for the fight of his life. Samoa Joe interrupts the panel from backstage. Joe says Ricochet can’t talk about things like respect because he’s been here for a cup of coffee and it was a bad one. Joe says tonight he’s going to teach Ricochet that there are levels to this and he is not on his level. Ricochet says he’s heard enough talking, that he will show Joe what he’s capable of in the ring.
We see Daniel Bryan backstage, screaming at a referee. He turns back to the camera and tells us that the referee just walked into his shot. He’s angry because he and Rowan aren’t just defending their Championships, they’re trying to save the division from people like The Uso’s, The New Day, and Heavy machinery, teams that shake their hips and make a joke of wrestling. He says people should be thanking them for saving the tag team division, but they aren’t doing it for the people, they’re doing it for wrestling and for the planet. He says they’re fighting for the greater good. Back with the panel, Booker T says he agrees with Bryan. He remembers when he and his brother had to clear the division of trash. Otunga says he feels the same way as well.
Now it’s time to look at Roman Reigns Vs. Drew McIntyre. Shane and Drew are backstage and McIntyre says he’s going to hurt Roman, so much that his children scream at his appearance. Otunga says Roman is too emotional and is prone to making mistakes.
Cruiserweight Championship Match
(C) Tony Nese Vs. Akira Tozawa Vs. Drew Gulak
The bell rings and Gulak dropkicks Nese right away. Gulak tosses Tozawa from the ring but Nese shoves him to the corner and tees off. Gulak is knocked from the ring and Nese floors Tozawa with a kick to the chest.
Nese looks for a suplex but Tozawa reverses. Nese hits Gulak with a German suplex while also pinning Tozawa for a two. Nese jumps over the ropes and kicks Gulak. Tozawa then hits a suicide dive to Nese, before running along the apron and diving onto Gulak.
Tozawa gets Nese back in the ring and hits a missile dropkick but Gulak breaks the pin. Gulak is thrown out of the ring and Tozawa goes up top but Nese hits him with a palm strike. Nese hits a gutbuster to Tozawa but again Drew breaks it up. Gulak puts Nese on the apron and drapes him between the ropes, then suplexes Tozawa into Nese.
We come back from a lengthy commercial to see Tozawa tying Gulak up with an octopus stretch. Nese pulls Tozawa off and tosses him into Gulak. Drew reverses Tony and gets him in the body scissors. Nese stretches for the ropes but can’t reach. Tozawa comes out of nowhere with a senton from the top rope to break the hold.
Tozawa hits Gulak with a hurricanrana, then hits a running knee for a two count. Gulak tosses Tozawa out, then tries to do the same to Nese, but the Champion lands on the apron and kicks him. Nese floors Gulak and hits a springboard moonsault for a near-fall. Tozawa and Nese exchange chops until Tozawa feigns one, then sucker-punches him. Gulak superplexes Tozawa, then Nese looks for a 450 but nobody’s home. Nese grabs Gulak and hits an interesting move but Tozawa breaks the pin attempt with a shining wizard and all three men are down. A standing ovation from the fans.
Gulak and Tozawa have an exchange that results in Tozawa dropping him in the corner. Tony Nese hits his running in the corner, then he and Tozawa exchange pin attempts. Tozawa looks for an armbar but Nese lifts Tozawa above him with one arm and powerbombs him into the turnbuckles for a near-fall. Nese looks for the running knee to Gulak again but Drew avoids it. Nese it then knocked out of the ring and Gulak hits Tozawa with the torture rack neckbreaker for the win!
Winner: Drew Gulak
The panel run down the entire card once more, before doing a deep-dive into Becky Lynch Vs. Lacey Evans. Otunga says Lynch has to remember what brought her this far if she wants to retain her belt. Booker T says that Becky has reached the highest heights of the business, while Evans is a thirsty newcomer, so Evans could steal the win. Booker predicts that Lacey Evans will win. And that’s it for the Kick-Off Show!
