WWE Bad Blood Live Coverage & Results (October 5, 2024)

The following is the ongoing live results of tonight's WWE Bad Blood premium live event, courtesy of Mike Hogan of Rajah.com:

Vignette: Cody's Special Assignment

We get a lengthy video, starting with the clip from yesterday that featured HHH meeting with Cody Rhodes in a parking lot to give him a special assignment. We then see Cody with Metro, staking out the State Farm Arena at night. The video moves on to hype more of our card, from the Punk/McIntyre III match to our main event. The video ends with Cody telling Metro that it's time.

WWE Bad Blood Starts Now; Hosts Introduced

Wendy's is announced as our official sponsors of Bad Blood. We're shown HHH walking backstage and are informed Triple H has a major announcement for tonight. Cody Rhodes is shown arriving with Metro Boomin and pyro goes off as Cole geeks out over the main event. We're then introduced to tonight's hosts, Naomi and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair. The WWE Women's Tag Team Champions get a nice welcome. Cargill speaks first, going for the cheap pop in Hotlanta. Belair welcomes us to Bad Blood and promises tonight will be a history-changing night. Naomi says its their job to get the party started with Hell in a Cell and the crowd pops. The Cell begins to lower.

Match One - Hell in a Cell Match: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre

At 6:10pm, our first Superstar makes his way out. The "Scottish Psychopath," perhaps best known as one-third of legendary faction 3MB, makes his way out. Drew McIntyre gets a good pop and works the crowd lightly as Samantha Irvin kills it on introductions. Cole reminds us that McIntyre has never won in a Hell in a Cell match then goes on to promote Atlanta's rich wrestling history. Bill Goldberg is shown in the audience, along his son and Killer Mike. At 6:14pm, CM Punk begins his entrance. After declaring it's clobberin' time, Punk makes his way to the ring. We're reminded Punk is 2-2 in HIAC matches but hasn't had one in nearly twelve years (he last defeated that punk-bitch Ryback in a HIAC). The cage is sealed and the ref calls for the bell at 6:16pm. The crowd loudly chants for Punk as the two stare each other down. Cole declares the "trilogy starts now." (Fact check: as this is the third match in a trilogy, the trilogy actually started months ago.)

McIntyre and Punk close the distance and begin to throw fists. The crowd is on fire as Punk and McIntyre exchange blows in the corner. McIntyre unloads on Punk for a second time in the corner, but the Chicago-Made one fights out of the corner with a flurry of strikes. McIntyre looks to break up the combo with a choke. Punk tries to fight out of it but McIntyre batters him into the opposite corner and takes the first lead of the night! McIntyre with a vicious chop to Punk, then slings him out of the ring. Drew follows Phil outside and stalks him, taking his time. Both Superstars attempt to use the cage, battling in a corner. Both men exchange loud blasts before Punk whips McIntyre into the steel. Punk with a shoulder thrust, dropping Drew. Punk takes charge, continuously slinging McIntyre into the change. The crowd pops, then erupts as Punk goes under the ring. Punk retrieves a table for another huge pop!

Drew recovers while Punk's distracted shoving the table into the ring and takes control. At one point, Drew steps on Punk's head--which is on the steel steps. McIntyre goes under the ring and retrieves a metal toolbox, which he dumps out on the apron. A wrench, a chain, and other tools spill out. McIntyre charges Punk with a wrench but Punk ducks it! Punk with fists to McIntyre's face before using the wrench to scrape McIntyre's forehead. The crowd rips off a loud Punk chant. Cole reminds us in 2004, HBK was in a 47-minute Hell in a Cell match then questions if this match will run as long. McIntyre rips the legs off a table in the ring and attempts to use it as a weapon. Punk dodges then uses a drop toehold to send McIntyre throat-first into the table's edge. Punk uses the ripped-off legs as a weapon to choke McIntyre to a big pop.

Punk continues to maintain control, slamming Drew's head into the table and popping the crowd big. Drew slips to the outside and Punk follows, stalking his prey around the ringside area. Punk kicks McIntyre in the gut and sets up a Go to Sleep (GTS) but McIntyre grabs the cell cage to escape. Drew with a Claymore outta nowhere! Punk was caught completely off guard and is down! McIntyre pulls Punk up over his shoulder, charges the cage and lawn dart (missile launches) Punk face-first into the cage! Punk is bleeding, and blood is pouring down the right side of his face (from a laceration at his temple) and his shoulder. McIntyre charges Punk with the steel steps and pancakes Punk's face between the steps and the cage. McIntyre places Punk's head on the steel steps and jumps up, stomping it. McIntyre pulls Punk up, tells him "I'm gonna end your career--your wife is gonna leave you" then slugs him. McIntyre takes it back into the ring and the crowd pops big...because they entered the ring. Punk tries to get to his feet but McIntyre takes a wrench right to Punk's wound! Punk writhes and screams in pain as McIntyre grinds the wrench into Punk's forehead! McIntyre looks at the blood on his hands and heads outside.

McIntyre slows the pace, toying with Punk like a dog with a bone. Punk digs deep and after several long moments manages to hit a running knee. Drew attempts to dump Punk over the ropes but Punk escapes! Punk heads up top and hits a double axe-handle strike to drop McIntyre. Punk heads back up top, the wrench in hand. Punk dives off, attempting to use the wrench, but McIntyre counters! McIntyre catches Punk mid-air and hits a belly-to-belly suplex! Both men are down and the crowd chants loudly that it's awesome. McIntyre kips-up and, with the crowd loudly counting down, looks for a Claymore. Punk quickly rolls out to boos! Punk starts to look through the tool box at ringside, his back to McIntyre. McIntyre assumes Punk's just bent over and eats the toolbox! Drew is busted open! It's gushing blood down his face! Punk grabs the toolbox and smashes McIntyre in the face with it! Punk heads up top, toolbox in hand, and dives off, driving the toolbox into Drew's face! The crowd pops big. Drew's face is covered with a mask of blood!

Punk hits three consecutive running knee strikes to a vulnerable McIntyre in the corner. Punk hits his signature, then calls for the GTS. Punk sets up the GTS but McIntyre wiggles free! McIntyre charges in for a clothesline; both men engage in a quick series of counters, leading to Punk hitting the GTS! McIntyre rolls out the ring, his instincts keeping him in this match! We get replays as the crowd loudly chants again "this is awesome!" Punk remains in the ring, laughing at McIntyre, before heading outside. Punk rolls Drew into the ring and enters the ring--walking right into a Claymore! The crowd roars and McIntyre covers punk for two! CM Punk gets the arm up just in the nick of time and both men are down! Loud chant for Punk from the Chicago crowd. Both men are slow to their feet; McIntyre rises first, wrench in hand. McIntyre charges in for a Claymore but Punk steps back and McIntyre misses! Punk slaps on a Sharpshooter! This is the same move that McIntyre tapped out to in Berlin! McIntyre yells in pain, trying hard to break the hold.

McIntyre grabs the wrench he'd dropped and smacks Punk in the back of the head! McIntyre takes the wrench and begins to again attack Punk's forehead. The ref checks on Punk. Punk and McIntyre both rise to their feet. Quick jab from Punk to McIntyre; Drew responds with a big right of his own. Both men slowly slug it out, strike after strike, as the crowd "boo" and "yay"'s them. McIntyre looks for the Future Shock DDT--the same move that injured Punk at the Royal Rumble--but Punk escapes. Punk and McIntyre exchange blows again, with both men dropping after Punk connects with a side kick to the head. Both men are down for a few moments. Both men rise to their feet on the apron and begin to struggle on the apron. McIntyre wins control and hits a power suplex off the apron and through a table set up at ringside (inside the cage). The crowd erupts for this. McIntyre is up first, using the cage to help pull himself up. McIntyre begins to disassemble the steel steps, then tries to take the bottom step into the ring but can't due to back pain. He struggles for nearly a minute to get the steps into the ring, giving Punk precious moments to rest. McIntyre finally approaches Punk and sends him into the ring.

McIntyre is slow to get into the ring himself, then collapses once inside. McIntyre pulls Punk over towards the steps in the ring but Punk wiggles free and hits a GTS! Punk covers McIntyre for another close fall! Punk pulls McIntyre up but Drew quickly grabs Punk, carries him up the steel step in the ring, and hits a White Noise on the steel step! McIntyre covers for a close two! We get replays, showing the loud, impactful move. It's currently 6:44pm and we're 28 minutes into this match. Drew pulls Punk up but Punk wiggles out and hits a vice submission! The crowd erupts! Drew reaches out desperately, finding the wrench. Before he can use it to break the hold, Punk rips it away and clobbers McIntyre multiple times with the wrench. McIntyre tries to beg off Punk, distracting him long enough to hit a low-blow right in front of the ref! McIntyre takes his time, spending nearly a minute to retrieve a cloth sack. He pours it all over Punk--it's filled with the same kind of beads used in Punk's bracelet. McIntyre looks for a Claymore but Punk counters, sending McIntyre flying down hard into the steel step still in the ring! Punk pulls a chain out from the toolbox and wraps it around his left knee, just above it, then cinches it in place. Punk grabs a handful of beads in his fist and shoves them in Drew's mouth! Punk hoists McIntyre up and hits the GTS! Punk covers and picks up the win at 6:48pm!

Your Winner, CM Punk! (32 minutes)

The ring is a bloody mess, so expect a lengthy period between matches. (Estimating 12-15 minutes). Punk collapses while walking down the ramp, and medical staff (and Adam Pearce) both check on him. He's given oxygen, selling it well, before returning to the back under his own strength. At 6:54, we finally cut from the ring to a commercial for Bray Wyatt's The Fiend--who'll be added to WWE 2k24 on October 16th. We're eventually shown some Hall of Famers and WWE Alumni in the audience. Jacqueline, Lillian Garcia, and Booker T are all shown in the front row and get a good pop.

Backstage: Our Hosts are Hosting a Party

We're shown all three of our hosts, with a party in the background. They mention several celebrities are in attendance, and we eventually see DDP very briefly.

WWE Women's Championship Match: Nia Jax(c) vs Bayley

At 7:02pm, Bayley makes her way out first for this match. WWE Women's Champion Nia Jax is out next, to a milder reaction. The crowd is a bit quiet for this one. We get our official announcement by the always-talented Samantha Irvin, then our bell at 7:06pm. Both women charge each other, with the champ battering Bayley into the corner. Jax sends Bayley across the ring then charges her with a smash in the opposite corner. The champ continues to unload on Bayley, looking to end this one early with a cover attempt barely a minute in. Jax transitions to a rear sleeper on a prone Bayley. Bayley squirms out but Jax sends her into the corner, following it up with a splash. Jax continues to work the challenger over, dropping her yet again with a running thrust. Bayley looks for a low-angle Sunset Flip but Jax quickly transitions into a submission move, similar to a Lion Tamer. Jax maintains control as we enter our third minute of our match. Jax uses working holds on Bayley's shoulders and neck, slapping a modified Camel Clutch on for several long moments. Bayley finally shows some signs of life, connecting with a leg drop to the back of Jax's neck that sends the champ outside. Bayley hints at a Suicide Dive so Jax moves out of the way. Bayley audibles, connecting with a missile dropkick to Jax's chin. Bayley takes it back inside and covers for two. Bayley continues her stretch in control, using the ropes to assist with a neckbreaker. Bayley looks for a Suicide Dive on Jax outside before taking it back inside. Jax immediately clubs Bayley, stopping her momentum.

Jax takes Bayley to the corner and starts to ascend, only to have Bayley escape. Bayley slides between Jax's legs and attempts a powerbomb. Jax somehow counters with about as good of a Hurricanrana as we'll get out of Nia Jax. Jax hoists Bayley up but the challenger begins to throw elbows, trying to escape the carry. Jax sends Bayley into the canvas and charges the corner, only for Bayley to move. Bayley starts to fight back, taking the champ down. Bayley charges Jax in the corner, hitting a Sunset Flip bomb onto the turnbuckle! Cole expresses concern for Bayley's knee after the corner move but she seems fine. Bayley heads up top and hits a top-rope elbow drop for a close cover! Jax kicks out violently, sending Bayley outside. Jax recovers first and heads outside. Jax charges Bayley but Bayley dodges, letting Jax crash into the steel steps. Bayley checks on her knee or leg and Cole & Graves express some concern. Bayley with an elbow to the spine of Jax outta nowhere, dropping the champ! Bayley struggles to drag the champ to the ring; instead, she rolls into the ring and out to reset the ref's count.

Jax takes control outside and powerbombs Bayley onto the steel steps before swinging her into the barricade. Jax takes it into the ring and whips Bayley into the ropes. Both women collide, with Jax hitting a pop-up Samoan Drop. Jax begins to climb the turnbuckles and Bayley hops up on her back. Jax discards Bayley and climbs down, only to be whipped into the ropes by Bayley and eat a pop-up Samoan Drop of her own! The ref is accidentally taken down as the two competitors spar. Before referee Jessica Carr can recover, Bayley strikes Jax and Jax collapses on the ref. The ref is down! Bayley quickly rallies, hitting her finisher and a Frog Splash! Bayley covers and the crowd loudly counts to eight. Music plays and Tiffany Stratton runs down to cash-in! Bayley attempts to attack her but Stratton uses the case to take out Bayley! Stratton gives the briefcase to the ref, who is slow to recover. Right as the ref is about to cash-in, Nia Jax sits up! Jax rises and Tiffany pretends that she wasn't about to cash in. Bayley hits a small package roll-up on the champ for a close two! Jax rises and charges Bayley in the corner, but Bayley side-steps and avoids it! Bayley climbs up the turnbuckles but Tiffany distracts her with the case. Jax strikes Bayley then climbs the middle turnbuckle. Samoan Drop off the middle turnbuckle! Jax drags Bayley back into the corner an hits The A-Nia-Later (a sitdown splash) off the middle rope. Jax covers and retains at 7:20pm!

Your Winner AND STILL WWE Women's Champion, Nia Jax! (14 Minutes)

Match III - Singles Match: Damian Priest vs Finn Balor

We get a lengthy video hyping this match between the former the Judgment Day brothers. We're shown Tully Blanchard and other WWE Alumni in the audience once again, as are Quavo, Lil Baby, and Metro Boomin. A hooded Finn Balor makes his way out at 7:30pm. Two minutes later, Damian Priest is out next to a decent pop. We get our official announcements ahead of our bell at 7:34pm. Both men huff, and puff, and threaten to blow each other's houses down. Finally Priest smacks the heck out of Finn, dropping him. Priest takes charge immediately, battering Finn in one corner before charging him across the ring to repeat the process in the opposite corner. The ref warns him off. Priest sends Balor into the ropes and pancakes him down into the canvas. Priest jaws off at Finn as he hammers him with stiff kicks and shots before using a strong Irish Whip to introduce Balor's spine and the turnbuckles. Balor escapes to the apron and begins to kick Priest as he reaches through the ropes. Balor eats a kick from Priest, then tumbles to the floor. Priest heads outside, pursuing his former brother. Priest charges, Strowman Express-style, but runs right into a Sling Blade! Balor rolls into the ring as the ref begins a to count Priest out.

Finn takes control for a brief period, raking Priest's eyes and resorting to working holds. Balor heads up top and looks for a leaping strike. Priest slugs Finn so hard and loud, commentary questions if his fist his broken and he shakes some life into it. Priest fails to monopolize on the uppercut and Balor slaps an abdominal stretch on Priest. Finn holds the lock for several long moments before Priest can escape with a modified hip toss. Priest breathes deep, trying to fire up. Priest blocks two strikes, then levels Finn twice with big rights of his own. Priest with a mixed strike combination that again drops Balor. Priest hoists Balor up, but Finn wiggles free. Finn looks for a suplex but Priest counters with a Broken Arrow for a close two! Both men spend the next several moments battling control. Finn takes the legs out from Priest and hits a standing double-foot stomp to Priest' chest. Finn looks for a suplex but Priest counters with a Razor's Edge! Priest covers, hooking the leg, but only gets a two. The crowd's quieting down a bit. Priest rises first and Finn rolls to the outside. Priest charges around the ring and shoves Balor across the announce table. Priest rips off the protective hood from the table. Priest hits a Razor's Edge on the hard apron, then takes it back inside.

Priest pulls down his shoulder straps, waking the crowd up. The crowd loudly boos and we see Carlito and JD McDonagh hit the ring! Carlito distracts the ref, allowing JD to hit a neckbreaker behind the ref's back. Finn attacks the distracted Priest and hits a Coup de Grace for a close cover. Priest kicks out to a pop. Balor looks at his the Judgment Day cohorts as the crowd loudly yeets. Finn gives them distractions. Carlito distracts the ref, and JD slides a chair in to Finn. Finn goes to strike Priest, but Priest kicks the chair into Finn's face. Priest takes out Carlito, then JD! Finn attacks the distracted Priest, but Damian escapes. Priest looks for a South of Heaven but Finn escapes. Finn with a Coup de Grace on Priest! Finn heads back up and hits a double-foot stomp to Priest' back! Finn heads up for a third but Priest catches him mid-air and hits the South of Heaven Chokeslam for the win at 7:47pm!

Your Winner, Damian Priest! (17 minutes)

Triple H's Big Announcement; Brawl Ensues

It's time to play the game! WWE's chief content officer makes his way out at 7:52pm to a huge pop. He works the Atlanta crowd, thanking everyone for attending before making his big announcement. Before that, he gets a cheap pop while mentioning that he lived just up the hill in 1994 when he was "terrorizing WCW." He mentions there are 16,092 in attendance--and marking their sixtieth sellout, another history maker. He calls the State Farm Arena the largest-grossing arena event in WWE history. "But while we're in the middle of that history-making event, let's talk about...the next in just four weeks." He hypes Crown Jeweland gets booed. "And this year at Crown Jewel we will make history because it will be the beginning of a new era for WWE. (It'll be) an annual event that will take place (at Crown Jewel), where our reigning WWE Champion will face our reigning World Champion for both the men and the women. But here's the catch; neither title will be on the line, but I promise you there will be a definitive winner. And that winner will be crowned 2024's Crown Jewel Champion." He then shows us the belt, complete with "50 carats of diamonds that will signify the winner as the best of the best." World Champion Gunther makes his way out.

Gunther begins to rib Triple H, then points out Bill Goldberg at the ringside. He wants to clarify his past comments to Bret Hart a few weeks ago and states that Goldberg is not Gunther's childhood hero. He begins to lay into Goldberg and the crowd rips off a loud chant for the former Superstar. Gunther then addresses Bill's son, Gage, saying "man, I really hope for you that Bill is a better father than he is a professional wrestler." Goldberg gets up angrily and approaches the ring. Gunther teases him, stating "I've got three minutes for you (Goldberg)!" A flock of security guards keep Goldberg from entering the room. Adam Pearce tries to corral Goldberg to the back as Gunther yells insults off-mic and hoists up his title. The Atlanta crowd loudly cheers for Goldberg--and Sami Zayn, who attacks Gunther from behind! Security separate them and Gunther hits a cheap shot. Sami Zayn charges up the ramp after Gunther and the two brawl at the top of the ramp! Finally Gunther leaves and Goldberg's theme plays while the Atlanta gives him one last chant.

Match IV - Women's World Championship Match: Liv Morgan(c) vs Rhea Ripley

At 8:05pm, we get our first vignette to hype our next match. Note: Dominik Mysterio is suspended above the ring in a shark cage for this match. We're explained that Rhea wanted this stipulation because Dom is afraid of heights....claustrophobic? We get a video showing Dom and Liv in a Low Rider, before we cut to the arena at 8:12pm. Dom drives them into the arena/on the stage in a Lucha Low Rider (available in stores, now!) Liv's music plays and they make their way down. Cole remind us it's been seven years since the last match. Rhea makes her entrance next, and we get our second product-placement of our entrances--first it was a collectible Low Rider toy, now "Dirty" Dom toilet paper! Ripley showcases it, wiping mock tears as she makes her entrance. Corey Graves call Scott Steiner "the big bad booty daddy." Dom finally, at 8:17pm, makes his way into the cage and is "hesitant" because that's how claustrophobia works, I suppose. Ripley gets on the mic to reveal another "secret phobia" of Dom's, that he's scared of heights. Dom sells freaking out well as the cage is raised. At 8:19pm we finally get the bell--over half an hour after our last match ended.

Liv Morgan looks to attack Rhea while she's distracted by Dom, but Ripley quickly recovers and begins literally tossing Liv across the ring. Ripley easily drops the champ before sending her outside. Ripley pursues, and Morgan shoves the challenger into the steel steps. Ripley again recovers rapidly and takes the action back inside. Morgan rolls outside to buy herself some time. Ripley quickly heads outside and begins to toy with the champion, sending her into the barricade hard. The crowd chants for Mami as she takes it back inside. Corey Graves comments that he hopes Ripley meets a nice fellow, someone strong with muscles and from Australia (Buddy Murphy ftw). Morgan begins to get some offense in, taking the challenger down and kicking her in the gut. Morgan take sit inside and continues to pummel Ripley with kicks. Liv sends Ripley into the corner and charges in with a strike. Morgan looks for a half-crab on Rhea's "bad" left knee. Morgan keeps the lock cinched in for several moments in the middle of the ring. Ripley attempts to break out with back elbow strikes, but Morgan slips down out of striking range and slaps on a calf hold.

Ripley escapes and drops Morgan with a series of clotheslines. Ripley with a ripcord into a gut-kick, followed by a bridging suplex pin attempt. Morgan gets the shoulders up at two. Morgan slows the pace as she focuses her offense on Ripley's left knee. Morgan pounds away at a vulnerable Ripley in the corner, using the ring post to inflict further damage on Ripley's left knee. The crowd loudly chants "Dom, you suck!" Morgan continues to use the ring post to stretch and twist Rhea's knee before sending Ripley to the ground. Morgan whips Rhea shoulder-first into the barricade. The crowd is, generally, dead for this match. Morgan again sends Ripley into the barricade before rolling in and out of the ring to break the ref's count. Morgan eventually climbs the middle turnbuckle and hits a Code Breaker for a two-count. Morgan looks for an ObLIVion but Rhea escapes! Liv hits her new move, which Graves informs us is called the "Home Wrecker," and nearly picks up the win. Liv rises and kicks Rhea in the back of the head repeatedly, taunting her opponent. "That's my title! That's my man! You're nothing," she screams before pummeling Rhea yet again.

Liv with a suplex--no, wait, she holds on and is looking for the Three Amigos! The crowd loudly boos this. Morgan connects with the first two Amigos but Rhea blocks the Third from visiting. Ripley with a Razor's Edge! The champ is down! Dom gets his cage open--Cole thinks Dom picked the lock and wonders if Dom learned that in prison. Ripley heads up top, staring right at Dom as she does the Eddie Guerrero shuffle. Rhea with a Frog Splash off the top for another close cover! Ripley locks in a submission but Liv eventually escapes. Rhea slows the pace, taking time to stare up at Dom as Liv rolls to the outside, beneath the hanging cage (it's over the ramp, not the ring). Ripley works over the champ and mocks Dom at the same time, giving him a front-row seat as she dismantles the "love of his life." Riptide to the champ on the entrance ramp! The ref continues his count, so Rhea takes it inside. Dom somehow falls out of the cage and his leg is caught in a chain or something. Rhea laughs at him and heads outside, slapping at the stuck Mysterio. Rhea heads back inside; the champ is still down.

Rhea Ripley is shown by a different camera angle, asking the ref for a minute to whoop Dom's ass! The ref tells her to do it, as she deserves it. Ripley gets a kendo stick from under the ring to a pop! Rhea slowly approaches Dom, says "happy birthday to me" in the camera, then beats Dom like a piñata over and over! Suddenly Raquel Rodriguez suddenly shows up and attacks Rhea at 8:34pm, causing the DQ! The crowd has very little reaction; they may not know it's her. Cole and Graves explain that Rhea Ripley is "partily to blame" for Raquel being on the shelf for an extensive period of time. Raquel powerbombs Ripley (I believe it's the Tejana Bomb).

Your Winner by Disqualification, Rhea Ripley! Liv Morgan Retains (15 minutes)

Match V - Tag Team Main Event Match: WWE Champion Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns vs Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu

At 8:43pm, we get the entrance for the Bloodline as represented by Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa. Michael Cole points out our ref is also wearing a body cam, then starts to talk trash about the last ref and calls him Richard Nixon. Not sure how that correlates as they didn't have body cams during Nixon's era to my knowledge, but okay. Up next, at 8:46pm is the elaborate entrance for Cody Rhodes--featuring the high school band that went viral a few weeks ago. They don't announce the band's name or school or I'd list it (I'll update this shortly). Performed by the Arkansas Pine Bluff band! The crowd eats it up as they play "Kingdom," complete with the WHOA-OH bit! Very well done by this talented group of youngsters! Finally the theme kicks in over the loud speakers, complete with the band dancing and playing along. Cody's sporting his skull-winged mask and the crowd erupts loudly for the "whoa-oh" bit again. Cody gets announced first at 8:48pm. The Undisputed WWE Champion is announced as hailing from Atlanta for another cheap pop. Cole reminds us that Dusty Rhodes wrestled over 200 matches in Atlanta, spanning from 1974 until the end of his career. At 8:51pm, the music starts for our true Tribal Chief--and he gets played in by a band of his own! Cole informs us that this is Roman Reigns' first match entrance without the title in nearly four years. We finally get our bell at 8:55pm and our main event is off!

Roman and Cody discuss who should start the match, as do Solo and Jacob, before deciding Rhodes & Fatu will start us off. Fatu uses a side headlock and Irish Whip to send the Undisputed Champ into the ropes. Both men collide and neither budges. Rhodes with a quick slide and a Goldust-style, drop-down punch-up, followed by a Disaster Kick! Fatu shrugs it off and immediately fires off a Superkick, unphased! Roman Reigns tags in and the crowd rips off a loud "OTC" (original/only tribal chief) chant. Reigns tags back out before anything happens and Rhodes squares off with Fatu again. The crowd with a loud "fuck you, Solo" chant. Fatu continues to stall; it's been a minute since anyone's do anything other than tag in and out. Solo tags in and Rhodes slowly evaluates the situation, letting the crowd rip off another OTC chant before teasing a tag to Roman. This is old-school, 80's storytelling-wrestling Roman Reigns tags in and, for the first time since WrestleMania 40, enters the ring as a competitor. Roman and Solo circle as the crowd readies for the two tribal chiefs to slug it out. Roman starts first, attacking Solo Roman whips Solo into the ropes but Sikoa counters with a kick and ropes Reigns. Roman recovers and takes Solo into the corner for mounted ten-count punches.

Sikoa makes a mistake in taunting Reigns; the OTC fires back, battering the impostor before Solo Jacob Fatu enters the ring illegally. The ref warns Fatu to exit the ring; the distraction allows Solo to attack Roman from behind. Solo begins talking trash, yelling "who's the real tribal chief?" and yells for Roman to "get your ass up." Solo turns his attention to the crowd, taunting them, then slows the pace as he spends more time taunting than striking. Solo with a charging hip strike to Roman in the corner. Solo finally tags in Fatu, who kicks up the speed with a running hip strike of his own. Fatu yells at Roman and strikes Roman with fists and headbutts. Fatu pulls Reigns up in the corner and thrusts shoulder strikes into his abdomen. Fatu repeatedly tells Roman that Solo is Reigns' tribal chief. Fatu looks for a running splash in the corner but Roman dodges. Roman dodges a charging Fatu once again, sending him out the ropes to the floor. Rhodes tries to fire up the crowd and calls for a hot tag. Reigns hits it and Rhodes enters, clashing with Fatu in the middle of the ring. Strikes from the champ to get the Samoan Werewolf off balance. A powerslam lays out Fatu, but only briefly. Rhodes uses his father's striking combination to a big pop.

Cody follows it up with a Cody Cutter to leave Fatu down on the mat finally! Cody looks for a Cross Rhodes but Sikoa distracts. Fatu capitalizes and hits a pop-up Samoan Drop (those are in fashion tonight, it seems). Solo tags in and hits a Spinning Solo to Rhodes on the hardened apron. Fatu and Sikoa continue to waste precious time, taunting the crowd and their opponents. Rhodes reaches out for a tag but Sikoa prevents it and again mocks Reigns. Sikoa stomps and stands on Rhodes' taped right hand. As the ref is distracted by Sikoa, Fatu hits a sucker strike on Rhodes. Sikoa pulls Rhodes up, and Rhodes attempts to escape. Sikoa holds onto Rhodes' right hand, refusing to let him tag Reigns in. Sikoa tags in Fatu, and they hit a double team attack on Rhodes--an old fashioned Wishbone! Fatu stares down Roman Reigns then turns his attention to Rhodes. Corey Graves & Michael Cole praise the old-school tag team feel to this match. Fatu looks for a missile attack on Rhodes and connects, then acknowledges his tribal chief--Solo Sikoa.

Fatu spends several long moments dominating Cody Rhodes. Rhodes strikes Fatu, who stumbles back into a blind tag from Solo Sikoa. Both men double-team Cody before Solo takes over. Sikoa pounds away at the champ in a corner and the ref warns him. Solo tags in Fatu, then whips Fatu into Rhodes! Solo immediately charges afterwards, crashing into Cody right after Fatu flattens him in the corner. Fatu with a trap lock on the seated champ. Cody tries to power to his feet. Cody finally dumps Fatu with a toss. Solo tags in and stops Cody from tagging in Roman, but only briefly. Cody mule-kicks Solo away to gain some separation! To prevent the hot tag, Fatu yanks Roman off the apron. Solo uses the distraction to again attack Cody from behind. Cody's been in the ring several long minutes now. Fatu and Solo use shorter tags to isolate Cody in their corner. Its 9:12pm as Fatu hits a scoop slam on Cody. Fatu heads up to the top rope as Solo holds the Ones to the sky, so to speak. Fatu dives off but Cody gets the knees up, breaking up the Swanton Bomb attempt! Reigns is shown recovering at ringside just in time, and begins to rally the crowd behind Rhodes. Finally at 9:13pm both men make hot tags!

Roman Reigns hits the ring at the same time as Solo and drops him repeatedly to a pop. Reigns with a Big Boot to drop Solo, but refuses to cover; instead, Reigns mount-and-pounds Sikoa to another pop! Reigns sends Solo face-first into the top turnbuckle and soaks up the adoration of the State Farm Arena! Reigns locks-and loads, then calls for the Superman Punch. Sikoa blocks by catching Reigns and attempts a Solo Spike. Reigns ducks and rolls up Solo for a two! Solo escapes but eats a Superman Punch for another close cover at 9:15pm! Reigns posts up in the corner and, along with nearly seventeen thousand fans, calls for the Spear. Fatu interrupts; Fatu is alone against both Fatu and Sikoa. The Bloodline with a double-Superkick to Reigns. Sikoa with a pair of splashes to Reigns and covers as our pace quickens greatly. Rhodes makes the save. Reigns and Solo are our legal men despite the chaos.

Cody Rhodes is back up and into the mix. Fatu and Cody brawl at the ringside area, with Cody sending a charging Fatu through the barricade! The sumbich doesn't stay down--Fatu climbs up and starts to throw steel chairs at everyone! Cody and Fatu continue to brawl at the commentary table, with Rhodes hitting a pair of side kicks to drop Fatu on the commentary table. Rhodes enters the ring and climbs the top turnbuckles as the crowd comes to their feet. Rhodes dives off the top of the ring post itself, using a big splash to take Fatu through the table at 9:18pm! The crowd rips off a "holy shit" and "this is awesome" chant. In the ring, Reigns and Sikoa begin to recover, and both men start to slug it out on their knees. Both men rise to their feet while exchanging big rights. Reigns with a big kick to gain separation, then posts up for a Spear. Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa hit the ring to distract Reigns, allowing Sikoa to hit a Spear of his own! Solo yells at Roman, accusing him of "lying" to Solo. The Bloodline surround the ring and we see someone in a hoodie and a bandana at the ringside. Tonga & Loa are then taken out with Superkicks at 9:21 by the returning Jimmy Uso! Reigns hits a Spear and covers Sikoa for the cover immediately to pick up the win!

Your Winners, Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns! (26 minutes)

After the Match; FINALLY The Rock Has Come Back...

Jimmy Uso squats over Solo Sikoa, then turns his attention to Roman Reigns. Jimmy and roman hug it out to a big pop. Roman turns his attention to Cody and stares lazily before he & Jimmy leave together. We hear Jimmy talking to Roman as they walk up the ramp, with Jimmy checking in on his cousin. In the ring, Cody Rhodes is attacked by the Tongas and Solo! Jimmy begs Roman to "c'mon, Uce!" Roman refuses to help. Jimmy tells Roman "you're the OTC, I'm with you!" Roman and Jimmy then hit the ring to a big pop! Roman and Jimmy clear the ring of the Bloodline! The New Bloodline retreats to the commentary area as Roman Reigns eyes Cody's title. Then the music hits, the crowd erupts, and The Rock has come BACK to the WWE!

The People's Champion poses with the Brahma Bull title at the top of the ramp as the crowd (and Superstars) react. The Rock stares at Cody, then counts the 1-2-3 on his fingers. No mic, no words--the Final Boss leaves and we fade to black!