A reminder:
WWF Title: Cody Rhodes v Prince Devitt (if Devitt loses, he can never challenge for WWF Title again)
IC Title: Tyler Black v. Drew McIntyre (w/Dunne/Bate)
Women's Title: Asuka v. Iyo Sky (special guest referee: Kairi Sane)
Women's Tag Title: Fight Forever (Flair/Lynch) v. Belair/Bayley
Falls Count Anywhere: Randy Orton v. Damian Priest
Survivor Series (Number One Contender Tournament)
JD McDonagh v. Dragon Lee
Jey Uso v. Dominic Mysterio
Semi Final:
Sami Zayn (w/Steen/Gargano/Ciampa) v. Santos Escobar (w/Twisted Sun Gods)
Walter (w/Heyman) v. The Miz
Semi Final:
Finals:
In part 1, everything but the tournament was set up. The tournament wasn't initially part of the build, but instead got structured after the return of the Number One Contender Battle Royal.
From very early on in the Mania era, every other year (sometimes every year) there would be a battle royal either before Summer Slam or the Survivor Series to determine the number one contender for the WWF Title.
That returned this year. The number one contender for both the mens and womens titles would be claimed not for Survivor Series, as those matches were set coming out of Summer Slam, but instead for the Rumble.
Women's Winner: Jordynne Grace
Mens Winner: None
One of the bigger moments for TNA in its history, they send Grace to WWE, she wins the battle royal (Stratton is the last elimination) and she will be taking on the Womens Champ in January at the Rumble. Couple of notes - Ripley no longer being part of the Horsewomen, but also still being a heel is emphasized - her inability to get past Lynch/Flair an important story point in the match. Also - Belair and Bayley work together in this match and that leads to the creation of their team that gets the tag title shot as discussed in part 1.
The men's match final 3 is Lesnar/Walter/Reigns -- Lesnar had been MIA since he and Walter lost the tag belts at Summer Slam, once Lesnar/Walter/Reigns become the last 3 men standing, Lesnar gestures to Walter they should work together to eliminate Reigns - Lesnar, however, will attempt to eliminate Walter - he'll be unsuccessful and then Walter turns around and eliminates Lesnar - Brock then goes nuts - destroying the ring, just a full tantrum, he rips the ropes down, that sort of thing - it has to be enough destruction that it makes sense that Walter and Reigns don't continue and finish the match (there's also a spot where Orton RKOs Dom and throws him out)
The decision is made to include the tournament, a Survivor Series, if you will, to the PPV, winner becomes the number one contender to the mens title.
The matches:
McDonagh d. Dunne
Dragon Lee d Rey
Jey d Riddle
Dom d. Reed
McDonagh gets a win for the babyface side in that feud; Dragon Lee gets the rub from the veteran Mysterio - this is Riddle's last match, we'll backfill the Knight/Riddle split in the build to the Rumble since that's when Knight is working next, Dom and Reed don't wrestle - instead, Orton RKOs Reed in the back, Dom takes the walkover win - and postmatch, Orton RKOs Dom one more time.
Zayn d Steen
Escobar d Ciampa
Walter d. Ricochet
Miz d. Reigns
Ciampa and Gargano are understandably concerned about the Zayn/Steen matchup, is this going to rip apart their tentatively regained relationship the four are trying to establish? It doesn't - Zayn goes, over, he and Steen hug and it seems to further solidify the trust Gargano/Ciampa have for them.
Escobar gets a win for the heels in that feud; Walter wins the workrate match - Miz wins when Reigns doesnt show up for the match.
And so the card is set up - add in the rematch between Steiner and Dragunov for the Dark Ride Title in one of the dark matches and, you know, whatever fun Chicago might have in store for us, who can say, really, and you've got the big, big event coming up in November, Survivor Series 2023! It's gonna be a happening!
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