Teams find out where they are traveling to and whom they are playing
Groups were drawn in stage by Mark Carney, Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum who’s countries are co-hosting the competition. Credit: AP
England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama at next year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 after being placed in Group L during today’s draw.
The draw took place at the John F. Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in Washington, DC, USA.
The 42 qualified nations were involved in the draw alongside a vacant six spaces that will be filled next year following the play-offs, which are scheduled to take place in March 2026 to complete the full line-up of 48 teams at the World Cup.
The draw
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Winner of Play-Off D
Group B: Canada, Winner of Play-Off A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of Play-Off C
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of Play-Off B, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of Play-Off 2, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Winner of Play-Off 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
US Soccer Mascot
The USA hosted an elaborate and fabulous draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC determining the initial group stage matchups for the expanded 48 team tournament.
FIFA World Cup draw on Friday, Dec. 5 revealed the groups and bracket for the 2026 tournament in North America, with some of the new s at play as the qualified field spread to 48 teams.
The 12 groups were drawn from four pots based on world rankings with the USA, Mexico and Canada placed in the first group as the tournament’s co-hosts, practically guaranteeing the hosts easier path out of the group stage.
Additionally, the top four teams – Spain, Argentina, France and England – were spread out in separate groups to avoid their clashing before the semifinals.
Singer Robbie Williams, and singer and actor Nicole Scherzinger performed a duet during the draw ceremony. Credit: AP
Sports legends were used as draw assistants alongside former England captain Rio Ferdinand and broadcaster Samantha Johnson to add razzmatazz and splurges of color here and there to already stars spangled tournament that will showcase the earth’s bests footballing skills ever.
Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and more were all there to add additional glitter to the snazzy.
Tom Brady helped FIFA usher in the Final Draw
Joining Ferdinand, the event’s host, FIFA rolled out several American sports who-is-who to help unfurl the matchups, and it was just as well. Here are who were at the party:
Tom Brady, 7-time NFL Super Bowl Champion
Shaquille O’Neal, 4-time NBA championship winner and Hall of Famer
Wayne Gretzky, 4-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer
Aaron Judge, 7-time MLB All-Star
Shaquille O’Neal will help FIFA usher in the Final Draw.(FIFA)
Plenty of politicians and sports stars will be at World Cup draw
Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady is among the notable sports stars that will be helping out during the FIFA World Cup draw. (Scot Tucker / Associated Press)
President Trump, along with Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, were all in attendance for the World Cup draw, but some notable sports stars will actually be helping on stage.
Former England soccer captain Rio Ferdinand actually ran the draw, and it was clear FIFA wanted to play up to its North American hosts by bringing in familiar sports stars.
Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, Shaquille O’Neal and Wayne Gretzky helped Ferdinand on stage during the draw.
Trump played a central role in the draw and received FIFA’s newly created peace prize after FIFA President Gianni Infantino describing Trump as a “close friend” last month.
Aaron Judge will help FIFA usher in the Final Draw.(FIFA)
World Cup draw pots
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA playoff A, B, C and D, FIFA playoff tournament 1 and 2
Wayne Gretzky will help FIFA usher in the Final Draw.(FIFA)
How the pots worked:
Entering the draw, the 48 teams were placed into four pots of 12 based on the November FIFA world rankings. The final six countries (from the various playoffs) were in the fourth pot by default, irrespective of who ended up qualifying.
As the co-hosts, the USA, Canada and Mexico were placed into the first pot by disregard, alongside the event’s nine highest-ranked teams.
Except Europe (16 places), no continental federation can have more than a team in each group.
FIFA modified the draw for 2026 to create separate pathways to the semifinals for the four-highest ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France and England. That means if Spain and Argentina win their groups, the world’s Nos. 1 and 2 teams can not meet prior to the final.
Below were the pot assignments in clearer view:
A break-down chart of teams in each of the four pots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw
Table with 2 columns and 25 rows.
POT 1
POT 2
U.S.
Croatia
Mexico
Morocco
Canada
Colombia
Spain
Uruguay
Argentina
Switzerland
France
Japan
🏴 England
Senegal
Brazil
Iran
Portugal
South Korea
Netherlands
Ecuador
Belgium
Austria
Germany
Australia
POT 3
POT 4
Norway
Jordan
Panama
Cape Verde
Egypt
Ghana
Algeria
Curacao
🏴 Scotland
Haiti
Paraguay
New Zealand
Tunisia
UEFA playoff A
Ivory Coast
UEFA playoff B
Uzbekistan
UEFA playoff C
Qatar
UEFA playoff D
Saudi Arabia
Playoff qualifier 1
South Africa
Playoff qualifier 2
World Cup draw pots
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA playoff A, B, C and D, FIFA playoff tournament 1 and 2
3-Hour Special for November 19, 2025 — Undisputed ROH Women’s World TV Title, Kenny Omega Returns, More
We are now just three days from AEW Full Gear presented by DC in Newark, New Jersey, but tonight, we’re in Boston, Massachusetts, for AEW Dynamite and Collision on a LIVE 3-Hour Special at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TBS and streaming on HBO Max! And it will be a night full of matches with major championship implications!
ROH Women’s World TV Champion Red Velvet, who was recently cleared for action after a five-month absence, faces Interim ROH Women’s World TV Champion Mercedes Moné in a match to determine the undisputed ROH Women’s World TV Champion!
And before “Hangman” Adam Page puts his AEW World Championship on the line against Samoa Joe this Saturday at Full Gear inside a steel cage, he looks for retribution tonight against the man who attacked him last week, one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions, Katsuyori Shibata of The Opps!
We’ll also see the last two matches in the quarterfinals of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament, and we’ll determine the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in the Casino Gauntlet to determine the first ever AEW National Champion, Plus, Kenny Omega returns and much more!
It all goes down tonight on a 3-Hour LIVE Special of Dynamite and Collision in Boston! Here’s your complete AEW Dynamite and Collision preview for November 19, 2025.
AEW Dynamite and Collision Matches, Preview for Wednesday, November 19
Undisputed ROH Women’s World TV Championship Match: ROH Women’s World TV Champion Red Velvet vs. Interim ROH Women’s World TV Champion Mercedes Moné
Mercedes Moné claimed her 13th championship over the weekend in New York, and tonight, she’ll be in her hometown of Boston to determine the undisputed ROH Women’s World TV Champion.
ROH Women’s World TV Champion Red Velvet has been out of action with an injury for five months, but she has been cleared and will return to action against Moné tonight! Velvet initially won the title in July 2024 from Billie Starkz at ROH Death Before Dishonor in Arlington, Texas, and made seven successful defenses. Velvet was injured in the midst of an impressive 10-match winning streak in ROH.
This will be the first meeting between Velvet and Moné, which adds another intriguing layer to this unification bout. Plus, Moné is just three days away from challenging Kris Statlander for the AEW Women’s World Championship at Full Gear. Will Moné finish what she started when she took the Interim ROH Women’s World TV Title from Mina Shirakawa at AEW WrestleDream? Or will Red Velvet earn one of the most significant victories of her career and take full ownership of the ROH Women’s World TV Championship?
Non-Title Match: AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page vs. AEW World Trios Champion Katsuyori Shibata of The Opps
Last week, Page and Powerhouse Hobbs fought all over Greensboro during their Falls Count Anywhere match, which Page won by sending Hobbs off the mezzanine through a table. However, Page’s celebration was cut short by Katsuyori Shibata, who, along with Samoa Joe, went on the attack and tried to trap Page in the Blood & Guts cage, before Eddie Kingston and HOOK ran out for the save. That angered Page to the point he demanded that the AEW World Championship rematch against Samoa Joe at Full Gear be contested inside a steel cage!
Before Hangman and Joe enter the cage on Saturday in Newark, though, Page will look for some revenge against Shibata. While this first-time matchup is quite a treat for the fans, this match is about Shibata trying to soften up Page for Joe – and about Page looking to take down another member of The Opps before he defends the AEW World Title against Joe.
Double Jeopardy Match: AEW Unified Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada vs. CMLL World Trios Champion Máscara Dorada
Title opportunities hang in the balance when Okada takes on Dorada in this Double Jeopardy Match! If Okada wins, the Don Callis Family will get a future shot at the CMLL World Trios Titles, held by Dorada, Místico and Neon of Sky Team. However, if Dorada is victorious, he’ll earn a future title match for the AEW Unified Championship!
This will be the first time Okada and Dorada face off in one-on-one action, a match that has been highly anticipated since they met in an exhilarating 3-Way along with Konosuke Takeshita for Okada’s AEW Unified Championship at AEW All Out two months ago. Okada was successful in that unforgettable contest and is now looking for his fifth defense of the AEW Unified Championship. Dorada will try to hand Okada his first singles loss since December 7, 2024, and there’s no doubt he’ll give Okada his very best to make it happen. It’s an international dream match with high stakes, and it happens tonight in Boston!
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Timeless Love Bombs (“Timeless” Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa) vs. Alex Windsor & Riho
The quarterfinals of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament roll on tonight, with Timeless Love Bombs looking to put last week’s brutal loss in Blood & Guts behind them when they face the formidable duo of Alex Windsor and the first AEW Women’s World Champion, Riho.
Windsor and Riho looked very impressive in a win over Maya World and Hyan on Collision this past weekend, and despite their lack of experience as a team, they seem to be on the same page. Will Storm and Shirakawa bounce back after a harrowing week? Or can Windsor and Riho take the first step to becoming the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions?
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament Quarterfinal Match: TayJay (Tay Melo and Anna Jay) vs. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir
Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir have been a team for less than a month, but in that time, they’ve quickly become a force to be reckoned with. On the flip side, Tay Melo and Anna Jay formed TayJay five years ago and dreamed of what it would mean to be the first-ever AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions even before the titles were created.
Bayne and Shafir were part of the winning Blood & Guts team last week, as they displayed their dominance and brutality throughout the bloody affair. They eventually gave “Timeless” Toni Storm no choice but to surrender after an uncomfortable decimation of Mina Shirakawa.
Shafir brought that same violence to Melo this past weekend on Collision after Melo’s victory over Taya Valkyrie when she locked Melo in Mother’s Milk. Afterward, Melo said Shafir might be “The Problem,” but Melo will be the solution.
Can TayMelo overcome this dangerous combination to begin their dream run? Are Shafir and Bayne inevitable? We’ll find out in this quarterfinal matchup tonight!
For the No. 1 Spot in the Casino Gauntlet at Full Gear: Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet
Bobby Lashley and Ricochet have been fighting a factional war for months between The Hurt Syndicate and The Demand, yet they’ve yet to go one-on-one in AEW. That changes tonight when Lashley and Ricochet meet in singles action with the No. 1 spot in the Casino Gauntlet on the line, as both men look to become the first AEW National Champion at Full Gear.
Earning either of the first two spots in the Casino Gauntlet gives you the best chance to win, as the match can end at any time, even before everyone has entered. Lashley and Ricochet were two of the first athletes to enter the field, and tonight, they can improve their odds significantly by earning the coveted No. 1 spot. Will it be Lashley or Ricochet who takes it?
For the No. 2 Spot in the Casino Gauntlet at Full Gear: “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Shelton Benjamin
A fantastic clash of styles will determine who enters the Casino Gauntlet in the No. 2 spot. Bailey and Benjamin have crossed paths in a couple of tag matches earlier this year, but this will be their first one-on-one showdown in AEW.
Who will take the No. 2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet, joining the winner of Ricochet vs. Lashley as the first two men in the match? Find out tonight in Boston!
Kenny Omega Returns!
We haven’t seen Kenny Omega since WrestleDream, when he came to the aid of Jurassic Express following an attack from The Don Callis Family just minutes after “Jungle” Jack Perry and Luchasaurus defeated the Young Bucks to win $500K. Callis has been trying to recruit Matt and Nick Jackson to the Family, including getting them the million-dollar match for Full Gear, where they’ll team with “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander against Omega and Jurassic Express.
Alexander has already taken out Omega’s friend Kota Ibushi, and this past Saturday on Collision, he attacked another Omega ally in Michael Nakazawa. What will Omega have to say days before he battles for a million dollars? And will the Don Callis Family be far behind?
Tag Team Match: Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli of the Death Riders vs. Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong
After their defeat at Blood & Guts, the Death Riders made it clear to AEW GM & CEO Tony Khan that they were looking for a fight against anyone else who had been on the opposite side in that match.
Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli will have that wish fulfilled when they take on Orange Cassidy and Roderick Strong in Boston tonight!
Trios Match: Josh Alexander of the Don Callis Family & Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs. SkyFlight (Scorpio Sky, Dante Martin and Darius Martin)
The Don Callis Family’s Josh Alexander is itching for a fight of his own ahead of the $1,000,000 Trios Match at Full Gear, in which he’ll team with the Bucks against Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express. And with the Bucks always looking for an opportunity to get into the ring, Alexander and the Bucks will face off with SkyFlight tonight in Boston!
Bandido Gets Win in All Star 8-Man Tag, Fletcher Retains, More
AEW Collision brought another epic night of thrilling action to you live from Erie, Pennsylvania, just one week ahead of AEW Full Gear presented by DC!
In our main event, Bandido, JetSpeed and Juice Robinson fended off FTR and LFI’s Sammy Guevara and RUSH to emerge victorious, as the ROH World Champion and one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions fought against the odds late in the match to finish RUSH off with his patented 21 Plex! Plus, after Daniel Garcia took out Daddy Magic at the announce desk at the very start of the show, Jon Moxley was on commentary for almost the entire night – right up until a message from Kyle O’Reilly from this past Wednesday seemed to get to the former AEW World Champion!
TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher also defended his title against a former champion in his own right in Scorpio Sky, while Mark Briscoe defeated Fletcher’s fellow Don Callis Family member, Mark Davis, setting the stage for Briscoe and Fletcher to square off in a No Disqualification Match for the TNT Title next Saturday at Full Gear – in a match where if Briscoe loses, he has to join the Family!
All that and much more went down on Saturday night in Erie. Here’s your full AEW Collision recap and results for November 15, 2025.
Death Riders (Daniel Garcia, PAC and Wheeler Yuta) def. Jay Lethal, “Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington & Adam Priest
We kicked things off with Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness and Daddy Magic on commentary, as Tony and Nigel ran through the night’s card. We then saw a fantastic package recapping Wednesday night’s epic Blood & Guts event.
Back in Erie, it was time for the first match of the night – a Trios Match between the Death Riders, who were defeated in the Men’s Blood & Guts Match, against Lethal, Billington and Priest. The Death Riders came out first, with Garcia and Daddy Magic briefly exchanging words as Garcia made his way to the ring. Garcia then smacked the headset off of Daddy Magic, prompting Menard to strike the Death Rider. Garcia fought back until he was pulled off of Daddy Magic by PAC and Yuta and brought into the ring to get ready for the match.
As Lethal, Billington and Priest entered, Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir entered the scene, with Mox deciding to sit down in Daddy Magic’s place at the commentary desk. The match began with multiple quick exchanges and tags, culminating in Lethal sending PAC to the mat and attempting the first pin of the match.
Moxley opined about how Daddy Magic had invited the violence upon himself with his negative energy while Billington and Priest double-teamed Garcia in the ring. Billington and Priest continued to exchange tags, leveling Garcia with a double shoulder block, only for Yuta to come into the ring and send Priest flying to the outside. Billington followed after he and Garcia ran the ropes perpendicularly before Yuta low-bridged Billington.
Back from commercial, the Death Riders went to work on Billington in their corner, with Yuta and PAC laying in a series of vicious boots to the downed Dynamite Kid. All three Death Riders then stepped on Billington deep in the corner, with PAC continuing to shove his boot into Billington’s face after the ref called off Garcia and Yuta.
Yuta tagged in and looked like he was going for a suplex, but Billington blocked, only for Yuta to back the Dynamite Kid back into the corner. All three Death Riders ran a symphony of splashes, uppercuts, back elbows and more onto Billington as he stood against the turnbuckles, before PAC planted Billington with a Tombstone Piledriver. Dynamite Kid’s teammates broke up the pin, but Moxley questioned the wisdom of not just letting the match end there.
Perched on the top turnbuckle, Billington sent Yuta to the mat with rapid headbutts, followed by a missile dropkick. But when Billington went for the tag, Garcia knocked both Lethal and Priest off the apron. Both Billington and Yuta went for tags at the same time, with Lethal finally relieving Billington while PAC tagged in for the Death Riders. Lethal cleared house, then locked the figure-four leglock on PAC right in the middle of the ring. Garcia broke the hold, then Priest cleared Garcia out of the ring. Lethal went for Lethal Injection on PAC, but The Bastard moved out of the way, setting Priest up to take the hit from his teammate. Just a few moments later, PAC had Lethal locked into the Brutalizer for the submission victory.
PAC grabbed a microphone and addressed the fact that Darby Allin wasn’t in the building. PAC considered watching Darby burn at Blood & Guts his magnum opus. “It was pretty cool, guys,” Mox said on commentary. PAC then said that if Darby is still alive, there’s no doubt he’ll want some kind of petty revenge. That’s no problem for PAC. Mano-a-mano, any time, anywhere. And what better time than at AEW Full Gear?
Darby gets a chance at retribution, but PAC gets a chance to prove in front of everyone that a “punk” like Allin doesn’t belong in the same conversation as a man like PAC. So, PAC encouraged Darby to think about it. He’ll be waiting. As the Death Riders exited and Moxley talked about how great PAC is, Mox decided he was going to hang out.
Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis Are Ready for Collision
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis of the Don Callis Family. As Nair talked about both men’s matches tonight and Fletcher’s potential defense of the TNT Title against Mark Briscoe, Fletcher said he was sick of hearing about Briscoe. First, Briscoe would have to deal with Davis, and Davis was ready to turn Chicken into dinner. That left Fletcher to discuss his match with Scorpio Sky, in which the champion vowed to make the former two-time TNT champion say Fletcher’s full name.
“Timeless” Toni Storm Warns Against Asking for Mercy
After the commercial, Nair was backstage with Storm and Shirakawa. The Timeless One said that at Blood & Guts, five women forced her to watch a mugging. You can do whatever you want to Toni Storm. But when you hurt the woman she loves, you get a ticket to a cinéma vérité. One where Storm is going to bring vengeance against those same women. So she and Shirakawa will be ready to fight. Don’t ask God for mercy. He’s a big fan of their work.
Mark Briscoe def. Mark Davis
Mark Briscoe made his way to the ring, followed by Mark Davis in the night’s Battle of the Marks. Briscoe didn’t wait for Davis to make it to the ring, though, as he attacked the Don Callis Family member as he came down the entranceway. Davis fended Briscoe off, however, sending him into the barricade and tossing him into the ring, as the bell rang!
Briscoe caught Davis as he tried to come into the ring, stunning him with a dropkick on the apron and hitting a running blockbuster to the floor! Mox, still on commentary, didn’t answer Nigel’s question about how he was feeling after Blood & Guts, calling Briscoe’s move a “Darby Allin move” – inefficiently throwing oneself at the concrete.
Perhaps Mox was right, as Davis regained the advantage, tossing Briscoe around outside the ring, then rolling him back inside by the back of his head. Davis took Briscoe to the corner for a couple of big chops then whipped him into the opposite corner, only for Briscoe to float over the top and counter Davis. Briscoe climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Davis met him there with repeated fists to the head followed by a massive superplex! Davis got a two-count, but Briscoe kicked out.
Back from commercial, Briscoe fought out of an abdominal stretch by Davis, only for Davis to absolutely level Briscoe with a lariat. Davis lifted Briscoe up and wrenched the arm, then chopped Briscoe back down to the mat. Without letting go of Briscoe’s wrist, he brought the Conglomeration member back to his feet and chopped him back down, then went to do it again. But this time, Briscoe dug deep and stayed on his feet, somehow absorbing the blows before ducking a chop and countering with a series of knife-edge chops of his own. Briscoe ran the ropes and hit Davis with a shoulder block, then a big forearm that finally knocked Davis off his feet!
Both men met in the center of the ring to exchange ringing chops. Briscoe gained the advantage momentarily with a couple of clubbing forearms, but Davis followed him into the ropes and clubbed Briscoe, only for Briscoe to return the favor! Briscoe rolled Davis up for a two-count then hit a pump kick to the face when both men got back to their feet, with Briscoe dumping Davis with a suplex. Briscoe went for the Froggy Bow, but Davis got his knees up and laid in a crushing clothesline after rebounding off the ropes twice. Briscoe kicked out and seemed to try to shake off the damage, only for Davis to plant him with a short piledriver.
Briscoe rolled out of the ring and sat in a chair near the barricades, only for Davis to take advantage of the situation by smashing into Briscoe. Davis rolled Briscoe into the ring and threw a chair into the ring, then grabbed another one as he climbed in. Briscoe cut him off and knocked Davis off the apron, then set the chair up to assist him in a dive over the top rope! Briscoe rolled Davis into the ring and went for another Froggy Bow, but Davis rolled out of the way. Briscoe landed on his feet and met Davis in the corner, but Davis caught him and lifted Briscoe up only to bring him crashing down straddling the top rope. Briscoe returned the favor, and as Davis writhed on the mat, Briscoe finally hit the Froggy Bow for the three count.
Scorpio Sky Looks to Get Selfish Against Kyle Fletcher
Backstage, Scorpio Sky and Christopher Daniels were getting ready for Sky’s TNT Title shot later tonight. Daniels reflected on how Sky has led SkyFlight to some great victories. But it’s time for Sky to get a little bit selfish and regain that gold. Sky has thought about that title ever since he’s lost it. The past few years have not been easy, but none of it compares to what’s standing in front of Sky tonight. Kyle Fletcher is every bit as good as he thinks it is. But defeat comes for us all, and tonight, the Protostar’s comes from the Sky.
Josh Alexander Taunts Kenny Omega, Hurts Another Friend
Back from commercial, Tony Schiavone informed us something was happening backstage. A camera found Josh Alexander attacking someone in the locker room, as Alexander taunted Kenny Omega, saying that this is fun for him and asking what Omega thought, given that, he would do for his share of a million dollars. Alexander then dealt a final blow to his victim, who was revealed to be Omega’s friend Michael Nakazawa!
MxM TV Casting Call: Tay Melo def. Taya Valkyrie
Would it surprise you to learn that Jon Moxley “likes” MxM TV? As they made their entrance, the former AEW World Champion explained that he likes that MxM TV brings it “100%” every night. And if Mox respects it, who are we to question it?
With all four members of MxM TV in the ring, Mansoor grabbed a microphone and ran down Erie, as his style. “The only thing that’s going to be Erie is how ugly [their opponents] are going to be after we rearrange their face!” With that, Mansoor asked for the Casting Call opponent to be revealed.
It was time to have a one-on-one women’s match, as Tay Melo answered the call to take on Taya Valkyrie, with Anna Jay home sick and Melo still looking for a fight! The bell rang, and Melo knocked Taya to the ground with a kick before Valkyrie could put down her oversized hat. Melo followed Taya into the corner, with Valkyrie trying to fight out and then ducking out of the opposite corner after an Irish whip. Valkyrie set Melo up on the ropes, kicked her in the back of the head, then slid under the bottom rope and sent Melo crashing face-first to the mat. On the outside, Taya grabbed Melo by the back of the hair and planted a kiss on Johnny TV, only for Melo to reverse the momentum and send Taya crashing into the steel steps.
As MxM TV helped Taya up, Melo climbed the top rope and leaped off. Madden saved Taya, but Melo crashed onto Mansoor and Johnny TV! She then took out both Madden and Taya, rolling Valkyrie back into the ring and hitting the Tay-KO for the pinfall victory. As Melo celebrated, one of her upcoming opponents in the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Title Tournament, Marina Shafir, sneaked in from behind, taking out Tay and locking in Mother’s Milk.
But then “Timeless” Toni Storm’s music hit, and the former AEW Women’s World Champion stormed to the ring and destroyed Shafir with a Storm Zero! Storm stood tall then exited the ring, as Moxley admitted he did not see that coming, but that he wasn’t concerned, because Marina Shafir “has a neck like a mustang.”
We were next treated to a recap of the Blood & Guts Falls Count Anywhere Match between AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page and Powerhouse Hobbs, as well as the post-match assault by Hobbs’ Opps teammates Katsuyori Shibata and Samoa Joe, culminating in Hangman challenging Joe to make their title match at Full Gear a Steel Cage Match!
Sky asked for a handshake on the opening bell, but Fletcher kicked the former TNT Champion’s hand away. The two locked up and Fletcher worked Sky back into the corner before the ref broke things up. Back in the middle of the ring, the two laced fingers in a test of strength, with Sky gaining the initial advantage. Fletcher countered, wrenching on Sky’s wrist and taking Sky to the mat.
Sky regained his vertical base and the two once again engaged in a test of strength, with Sky backing Fletcher into the corner himself this time. Fletcher then decided to take a breather outside the ring after the ref backed Sky off of him. Sky took the opportunity to don Fletcher’s cape, mocking him. That brought Fletcher back into the ring, where Sky cut him off, catching Fletcher in a toe hold and then applying a submission on Fletcher’s left arm.
Fletcher and Sky exchanged blows in the middle of the ring before Sky sent Fletcher sprawling with a back elbow. Fletcher went to the outside and Sky gave chase, laying in blows to the midsection and head of Fletcher. Fletcher caught Sky after ducking a punch and dropped him back-first onto the apron. And as Sky was in agony, Fletcher leveled Christopher Daniels with a big boot to the face for no reason! That fired up Sky, who drilled Fletcher with a couple of stiff blows then sent the TNT Champion crashing into the steel steps!
Back from commercial, Fletcher had gained the upper hand in the middle of the ring. But Sky taunted Fletcher from his knees, asking the champ for more. When Fletcher laid in big forearms, Sky was able to power through, backing Fletcher into the corner and mounting him for big punches to the skull. Sky then seemed to bite Fletcher’s scalp as they were both back in the middle of the ring, following that with a clothesline over the top rope. Fletcher evaded Sky when he came crashing to the outside for a moment, but Sky recovered for a head-scissors takeover from the apron!
The two men re-entered the ring and fought back and forth for momentum, with Fletcher tossing Sky into the corner with an explosive half-and-half suplex. Fletcher got back to his feet and hit Sky with a big kick in the corner, but Sky fought out of a sheer-drop brainbuster attempt by biting Fletcher’s finger. Sky reversed a kick into a dragon screw leg whip, as Fletcher rolled out to the apron. Fletcher moved out of the way when Sky tried to hit Fletcher through the ropes, but Sky countered an attempted brainbuster on the apron by Fletcher. Sky came flying over the top rope and hit a cutter on the apron on Fletcher, but Sky also crashed to the floor in his own right, as both men stayed down.
Back in the ring, Sky climbed to the top rope and hit a DDT off the top on Fletcher in the middle of the ring, but Fletcher kicked out at two. Both men staggered to their feet and exchanged forearms, but Fletcher caught Sky with a big kick against the ropes. Sky recovered and hit Fletcher then tied the TNT Champion up in a single-leg Boston Crab, only for Fletcher to make it to the ropes. Sky charged into the corner, but Fletcher countered with a kick and a huge Michinoku Driver. Sky kicked out of that, but a big boot and a sheer-drop brainbuster got the three count for Fletcher as the TNT Champion retained!
Mark Davis quickly came out after the bell and attacked Sky before Top Flight and Mark Briscoe ran out to make the save. With Fletcher’s successful title defense, it’s official – Briscoe and Fletcher will square off for the TNT Championship next Saturday at Full Gear in a No DQ Match where if Briscoe loses, he has to join the Family!
Briscoe grabbed a microphone and told Fletcher that no matter what the Don Callis Family has done, they haven’t been able to stop him. And the next time that Daddy Don has Fletcher shine up that bald dome of his, make sure to shine up the TNT Title too, because in one week, that thing is coming home with Briscoe!
Fletcher had a microphone of his own, and he denied that he or anyone else in the Family had anything to do with attacking Briscoe. And Fletcher pointed out that he is one defense away from breaking the record for most defenses in a single reign with the TNT Championship. And when that happens, there is a spot with Briscoe’s name on it right next to The Protostar in the Don Callis Family. And then, Briscoe will have no choice, just like all of these people, but to say Fletcher’s full name.
$200,000 4-Way Tag Match at Tailgate Brawl!
Tony Schiavone informed us that next Saturday before Full Gear, there would be a $200,000 4-Way Tag Match on Tailgate Brawl! Max Caster and Anthony Bowens said that’s not nearly enough money for them to tag, but that they apparently don’t have a choice. Juice Robinson said that the Bang Bang Gang apparently plans to put the money in their tax-deferred 401Ks, which is … you know, smart. Big Bill, on the other hand, told Bryan Keith he has some boys up in New Jersey who could put the money to work for them. Meanwhile, The Outrunners know something about getting some tail and spending some money, so they’ve got plans to win that cash themselves next Saturday!
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander vs. Mercedes Moné By the Numbers
Back from commercial, Renee Paquette ran through the numbers behind the upcoming AEW Women’s World Championship Match between the champion, Kris Statlander, and the TBS Champion, Ultimo Moné, at next Saturday’s Full Gear! One number in particular that stood out: a win at Full Gear would give Statlander the record for most singles victories by anyone in the women’s division at 82!
Riho & Alex Windsor def. Maya World & Hyan
Riho and Windsor displayed outstanding tag-team chemistry from the opening bell, chaining together offense and tags to maintain control over Maya World and Hyan from the opening bell. That trend continued on the outside of the ring, as Windsor wiped out both women with a cannonball off the apron to the floor, then set up both of her opponents for Riho to come crashing off of the top rope onto World and Hyan.
Back from commercial, Maya World was in control against Riho with a chin lock, but Riho managed to make the tag to Windsor, who came in like a house on fire, pummeling World with forearms and clotheslines off the rope. Windsor planted World with a swinging powerbomb variant, but Hyan made the save before the three count. Riho then came into the ring to counter Hyan, only for World to level Windsor with a German suplex. Riho then responded with a dragon suplex on World, followed by a combo crucifix driver/lariat from Riho and Windsor for the win!
As Riho and Windsor celebrated, we heard the voice of “Timeless” Toni Storm. Storm and Mina Shirakawa appeared on the jumbotron, with Storm saying that their upcoming AEW Women’s World Tag Team Title Tournament match against Windsor and Riho isn’t personal. Storm and Shirakawa are merely on a warpath of violent vengeance!
Kyle O’Reilly Gets Under Jon Moxley’s Skin
We looked back to after Blood & Guts, as Kyle O’Reilly addressed his history with Jon Moxley, all of which led up to O’Reilly earning the submission victory on Moxley in that very, very violent match. Mox is a shark, O’Reilly said, but once you know how a shark moves, a shark is easy to defeat. And O’Reilly showed that at Blood & Guts. Any other time, any other place, Moxley is welcome to try to prove Kyle wrong.
Schiavone asked Moxley at the desk for his response, as the crowd serenaded Mox with chants of “You tapped out!” Mox ripped his headset off and grabbed a microphone, standing outside the ring. Kyle O’Reilly and the Conglomeration had the night of their life at Blood & Guts, Moxley said. But let’s be clear, O’Reilly is nothing like Moxley. He is not built like Mox. His team is not built like Mox’s team. And O’Reilly shouldn’t forget it.
He won one match. Good for him. Can he do it again? And again? Any time, any place, Mox said to O’Reilly and the Conglomeration. They know where to find Mox and the Death Riders. And with that, Moxley stormed off through the crowd, flipping the bird as he disappeared in the tunnel.
Tay Melo is the Solution to Marina Shafir’s Problem
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Tay Melo to get Melo’s reaction to Marina Shafir’s post-match attack and the save by “Timeless” Toni Storm. First, Melo told Storm that while she respects her, she doesn’t need The Timeless One to step in for her unless she asks for it. Make no mistake; Melo will kick Storm’s head off to get the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Titles!
As for Shafir, the next time that The Problem puts her hands on Melo, she’s going to find out that Tay is the damn Solution! Melo hopes that Shafir and Megan Bayne are ready for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Title Tournament. Because while those two women like to make a statement, here was Melo’s: They can start things. She’ll finish them.
ROH World Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion Bandido, Juice Robinson & JetSpeed (“Speedball” Mike Bailey and “The Jet” Kevin Knight) def. FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) & ROH World Tag Team Champions Sammy Guevara and RUSH of LFI
LFI were the first team out, followed by the Top Guys, FTR, accompanied by Stokely, who exchanged a quick fist bump with RUSH. Juice Robinson was the first man out for his side, with JetSpeed out next and Bandido last but certainly not least!
Bandido and Dax Harwood started things off, with the two men locking up and Bandido cinching in a head lock, as Harwood backed him into the corner then smacked the ROH World Champion across the jaw! Harwood suplexed Bandido into the center of the ring then made the tag to Wheeler. Wheeler chopped Bandido in the corner and whipped him across the ring, but Bandido put on the brakes and hit Wheeler with a back elbow, following up with a quick series of strikes and a kick right on the chin!
Bandido tagged in Speedball, who put his educated feet to work with rapid kicks to the sides of Wheeler. Wheeler caught Speedball off the ropes however and slammed him to the mat before making the tag to Guevara. Guevara climbed the top turnbuckle, taking his time to taunt, before jumping down and hitting Speedball with a thrust kick. Guevara continued to taunt, giving Speedball time to tag in Knight, as JetSpeed leveled Guevara with some tag team offense.
When Speedball left the ring, though, Guevara was able to put his shoulder into Knight’s gut and back him into the opposing corner, where RUSH and Guevara double-teamed The Jet. RUSH got a two-count then tagged in Harwood. Dax laid in a couple of stiff shots on Knight before Knight was able to counter and tag in Robinson.
Robinson took down Harwood with a couple of big shoulder-tackles, then leveled Wheeler and hit an atomic drop on Harwood. Juice followed that up by dropping Guevara face-first on the mat, then knocked RUSH off the apron for good measure. Robinson punched both Wheeler and Harwood in the face repeatedly with his patented right jabs, then crushed their skulls together and hit Wheeler with a spinebuster for good measure. But with Juice’s head turned, RUSH came in and elbowed Juice right on the jaw.
RUSH went to suplex Juice but Robinson floated over, giving Bandido a chance to kick RUSH in the face and send him to the outside. Bandido, Juice and JetSpeed all then teamed up to take out Guevara, as Bandido and Speedball went flying from opposite top turnbuckles to the floor, giving Juice a chance to score a two-count on Harwood back in the ring!
Back from commercial, Guevara and Speedball were squaring off in the ring after Knight was sent crashing to the outside. With Speedball concerned for his partner, Guevara hit a reverse face-buster on Bailey, then made the tag to Cash. Speedball tried to claw his way to his corner, but there was no one to make the tag anyway. Wheeler prevented Bailey from making a tag to Bandido when the latter got back onto the apron, but Speedball was finally able to make the tag to one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions!
Bandido cleared house and laid out RUSH then climbed the top rope and hit a frog splash, channeling Eddie Guerrero with a little shoulder shimmy before he leaped off the top, but RUSH kicked out at two. All of RUSH’s teammates then ganged up on Bandido, taunting him in the middle of the ring. Bandido tried to fight all four men off, laying out RUSH with a superkick, but the numbers seemed to be too much.
That was, until FTR tried to whip Bandido into the ropes, and he ducked out of the way, giving JetSpeed time to take out FTR! That left Bandido and RUSH squared off in the middle of the ring, as the crowd erupted into chants of “Bandido!”
RUSH charged into the corner with Bandido down, but the ROH World Champion got to his feet and cut off RUSH. The two men exchanged fierce blows before RUSH landed a devastating headbutt that left both men stunned on the mat. On the outside, Guevara took out Robinson with a huge moonsault, before JetSpeed took out Guevara then brawled with Wheeler, taking out Cash as well. Speedball then locked horns with Harwood, as Dax tried to German suplex Bailey to the floor. Speedball gained the advantage and sent Dax onto the apron, but Harwood moved out of the way of a knee-drop moonsault, taking Speedball out of commission.
That left FTR and RUSH in a 3-on-1 advantage against Bandido, but Bandido cleared Dax and Cash out of the ring, knocked Harwood off the apron, then sent RUSH crashing into both members of FTR. That gave Bandido the window he needed for the 21 Plex on RUSH for the pinfall victory! JetSpeed, Juice Robinson and Bandido celebrated with the fans as Collision came to an end from Erie!
Manchester United 4 Albion 2: Danny Welbeck and Babis Kostoulas score late on but Seagulls suffer first defeat in six
Danny Welbeck made it 3-1 with this free-kick in the second half. 📷James Boardman
Albion suffered an evening to forget at Old Trafford – despite a superb late fightback that moved them to within sight of a point.
Fabian Hurzeler’s men had fallen three goals behind after little more than an hour.
But two goals in the final 16 minutes raised hopes that the visitors might snatch a point.
Danny Welbeck’s magnificent free-kick was followed by a header from substitute Charalampos Kostoulas as the clock ticked into overtime.
At this stage, there was still five minutes to play but despite Albion’s frantic efforts, Bryan Mbuemo added a fourth with the last kick of the game to finally settle matters.
It was an eventful evening in Manchester that started with Albion enjoying the best chance of the opening quarter.
Danny Welbeck made it 3-1 with this free-kick in the second half. 📷James Boardman
Georginio Rutter broke clear down the left, leaving Casemiro in his wake before pulling the ball back to Welbeck. The former Manchester United man fired off a left-foot shot from 12 yards out that home keeper Senne Lammens saved.
But the forward appeared to be caught after the ball had gone by Bruno Fernandes.
Certainly Fabian Hurzeler felt it was worthy of closer inspection. However, his appeals to the fourth official went unheeded.
Neither team had established any foothold. But all that changed after 24 minutes.
Albion wasted a chance to clear their lines and Casemiro’s short pass found Fernandes who helped it on to Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian found the bottom corner of the net with a curling right foot effort.
Albion were struggling for fluency and fell further behind ten minutes later.
It’s unconventional but Jan Paul van Hecke brings the ball under control. 📷James Boardman.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s pass to Rutter was intercepted by Luke Shaw. The ball broke into midfield and was picked up by Casemiro.
The Brazilian strode forward and, although his shot lacked power, it took a deflection off Yasin Ayari and rolled into the net.
A goal before the interval might have set nerves jangling inside Old Trafford.
Maxim de Cuyper’s shot into the turf bounced up for Rutter who found himself alone, unmarked, at the far post. But the forward missed the ball completely and the chance was lost.
Bart Verbruggen pulled off a save from Fernandes three minutes after the re-start after the Portuguese wriggled free inside the area.
Yankuba Minteh went close with this first-half opportunity. 📷James Boardman
Hurzeler made three changes on the hour in an attempt to elicit a positive response.
Tommy Watson took his bow in the Premier League as Diego Gomez and James Milner were asked to spark a revival.
But the trio had not been on the pitch for more than 60 seconds when the hosts added their third.
It came after Shaw was very fortunate not to be pulled back for grabbing Rutter’s shirt in the build-up.
The ball was switched quickly to Mbuemo who cut inside onto his left foot and fired the third through the legs of Lewis Dunk.
Watson, however, made his presence felt two minutes later, threading a pass into the path of Yankuba Minteh.
Tommy Watson was a threat when he came on to make his Premier League debut. 📷 James Boardman.
The striker outpaced Leny Yoro but the second of his two touches was heading into the hands of Lammens before he was clipped.
Referee Anthony Taylor cautioned the defender and awarded a free-kick which Welbeck expertly lifted over the wall and into the net.
Ferdi Kadioglu tested Lammens again as the visitors pushed until the final whistle.
They gave themselves a lifeline when Kostoulas found the net for his first Albion goal from Milner’s corner only for Mbeumo to have the final word.
Lukic scores his side’s equaliser, above, with Botman suffering a game-ending head injury in the process, below Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
By Geoff Pruce
The manner of Fulham’s loss to Newcastle United was a tough pill for Alex Iwobi to swallow.
The lads fought back well and looked set to take at least a point away from St James’ Park, but a 90th minute Bruno Guimarães effort meant we left empty handed.
“Of course, we’re very disappointed,” Iwobi said. “We knew it was going to be a hard game and a tough place to come to, but if we don’t win then we shouldn’t lose, and maintain the draw.
“Unfortunately, a last minute winner is a dagger in the heart, but we have to pick ourselves up, go into next week’s game.
“Going into the second half, we had the bigger spark. Obviously, there was a lot of changes, there was a lot more dynamism going on down the flanks, so we were able to hurt them and create a few chances, but if we don’t take our chances, good teams like Newcastle can punish us.
“We were able to create chances against a great Newcastle side. We limited their chances as well, even though a couple of mistakes punished us.
“As long as we stay consistent, give 100 per cent and stay focused until 90-plus minutes, I’m sure we can get the results that we need to.”
The fixture marked Iwobi’s 300th Premier League appearance, making him the first Nigerian player to reach that milestone.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s a big achievement to lead that, with the likes of Shola Ameobi and even my uncle [Jay-Jay Okocha] that’s participated in the Premier League.
“It’s an honor, but I’m not done yet, I’m going to keep on going and hopefully keep the record going.”
Marco Silva says Fulham were punished for two mistakes in Saturday’s defeat by Newcastle United.
We had looked on course for a hard fought point, but Bruno Guimarães pounced on a loose ball in the 90th minute to secure victory for his side.
The Whites would have been good value for the draw, and when that sentiment was put to him by the media, Silva replied: “I definitely agree.
“Difficult game, as you expect coming here to St James Park, the team full of motivation after the good win and the good game they played last Tuesday [against Benfica], and the reality that we knew that always the beginning of the games here, they are always very tough.
“They try to start always in the front foot, pushing the crowd, and the crowd plays a big part always on the way they start games here. And we knew that we have to go through those moments in the best way possible, knowing that the reaction and the pressure is going to be huge in that moment on ourselves.
“They had a big chance with a wide free-kick very close to our box, one second ball that we should have reacted stronger [to]. Another good shot from the edge of the box.
“After the first 10-15 minutes, we started to settle our game. And we knew that if we settle our game, it’s going to be difficult for them. And we did it.
“You know that if you lose the ball, with [Anthony] Gordon, with [Jacob] Murphy and with a striker [Nick Woltemade] that is very strong receiving the ball and linking up with the midfielders. We knew all the situations, but we started to play in a way that we should be proud of.
“I told our players that, these type of games, we have to be very strong collectively, and I didn’t see any difference between both sides. I think in many moments of the game, [from a] collective point of view, we were stronger. The way we dominated the game, the way we were able to play in their offensive half.
“But football matches are about individual decisions as well. We have to do the basic things well, and we were punished by two moments.
“We have to give credits for our opposition side, but when you give away two goals like we gave, it’s difficult to talk about credit and not blame ourselves. That is the thing – simple.
“The first goal, our central defender has the ball without pressure at all. We have to circulate the ball from one side to the other, and of course, attract the pressure. We tried to go against the pressure, not a normal thing in the way we prepared ourselves, and we are punished by that.
“The reaction of the team was very good, I have to say. Coming for the end of the first half, we were feeling that we had a chance with Raúl, a good chance with Emile as well. Good corner where Raúl was alone to equalise the game.
“And the reaction in the second half went in the same direction. We scored a good goal, again, under our identity, our principles – switching very well the game from one side to the other, the right bodies inside the box. And we did it very well, very good goal from us.
“And after the game restarted, both teams were trying to win the game. They matched us, we matched them. They started to take more risks as well. They pressed us high, they put a lot of energy in the attack line.
“They were able to change all three players in their attack line. They were able to put a player like [Sandro] Tonali in the middle of the park, too.
“It’s their reality, and our reality right now is that moment could be a moment for us with Rodrigo or with one of the two right wingers, to freshen up our frontline. We are not able to do it. We are not in conditions to do it right now.
“We tried to win, to go in a different direction with Alex on the right, with Josh King and Tom Cairney to freshen up a bit our middle line.
“They put us under pressure, but not with the big chances, apart from one header from Bruno, not massive chances for them.
“The game was more with them on the front foot, but under control from us. And one mistake again, a mistake that we cannot do. And they punished us in a counter attack moment, when you have to do the basics well, and we didn’t.
“We have to face it. We have to improve, clearly. The collective feelings from ourselves is that we were good, but we want more. I don’t like to take positives when the things are so simple to do, and we we didn’t do so well, like this afternoon.”
A 90th minute goal from Bruno Guimarães denied Fulham what would have been a deserved point at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
Having trailed to Jacob Murphy’s finish after a mistake at the back, the Whites rallied in the second half and restored parity through Saša Lukić’s first goal of the season.
Both teams pushed for the winner thereafter, with Newcastle having more of the chances towards the end, and they duly took one when Guimarães reacted first after Bernd Leno had denied William Osula.
Marco Silva made six changes to his side, a number of which were enforced. In came Kenny Tete, Issa Diop, Calvin Bassey, Lukić, Adama Traoré and Emile Smith Rowe, replacing Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Jorge Cuenca, Tom Cairney, Harry Wilson and Josh King.
A bright start from the hosts saw them hit both posts inside the opening six minutes, with Nick Woltemade and Murphy’s efforts against the woodwork sandwiching a dangerous Guimarães shot that sailed a yard wide.
The Fulham response came in the form of Ryan Sessegnon who picked out Raúl Jiménez with an excellent cross, but the striker was crowded out as he looked to get his shot away, which deflected wide.
The boys were enjoying a decent spell, so it was a gut punch when Newcastle took the lead, Murphy dispossessing last man Bassey and placing a precise shot across Leno and in via the far post.
Two big chances came our way in the 27th minute. First, Sander Berge drew a good sprawling save with a bending shot from the edge of the box, with Adama then drilling wide after picking up the loose ball.
Raúl then had a couple of opportunities in quick succession, but was unable to find the target with his header from Lukić’s corner, before failing to connect properly with a shot after being found by Lukić again.
Murphy had the chance to double his and Newcastle’s lead when he sprung the offside trap to go in one-on-one, but Leno made a fine save to deny him.
Pope was the next goalkeeper called into action, getting down to claim Smith Rowe’s placed effort after we had won possession high up the pitch.
Kevin was brought on for Smith Rowe at the break, and will have been disappointed not to find a green shirt with his cross 10 minutes into the second half, following a smart reverse pass from Raúl.
The Brazilian’s next delivery was miles better, though, picking out Raúl at the far post who was unfortunate to see his first time effort cannon off the bar, but Lukić showed great anticipation and desire to nod the ball over the line.
Guimarães should have immediately restored his side’s lead when he had a free header from Anthony Gordon’s cross, but he sent his effort some way over.
At the other end, Raúl drew a routine save from Pope with an overhead kick.
The game was becoming more and more stretched, with both teams smelling victory. Guimarães was next to try his luck, and wasn’t far away when he let fly from 20 yards, fractionally missing the target.
Anthony Elanga then had a dangerous shot bravely blocked by Sessegnon, and Sandro Tonali tested Leno’s grip with a firm strike, as the momentum began to swing in the home side’s favor.
The United fans thought Joelinton had headed them back in front with six minutes to play, but he’d actually nodded into the side-netting when meeting Kieran Trippier’s hanging cross.
A minute later, Tonali came close to a spectacular goal, lashing in a brilliant volley from a tight angle, but Leno’s save was just as good to deny the Italy international.
Our number one was beaten again in the 90th minute, though. Despite denying Osula, Leno could do nothing to stop Guimarães slamming the rebound home, as a point slipped agonizingly through our fingers.
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman (Schär 61′), Burn, Bruno Guimarães, Miley (Tonali 61′), Joelinton, Jacob Murphy (Barnes 61′), Woltemade (Osula 86′), Gordon (Elanga 76′)
Drew McIntyre drops Cody Rhodes after defeating Jimmy Uso in No DQ Match
After defeating Jimmy Uso in a No Disqualification Match, Drew McIntyre launched an assault on his opponent before also taking out Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Plus, Damian Priest helped Ilja Dragunov retain his championship against Aleister Black in a United States Title Open Challenge, and Jade Cargill unleashed a surprise attack on WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton.
SmackDown Results :Quick Hits
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was interrupted by Drew McIntyre. Jimmy Uso emerged to brawl with McIntyre.
In the final moments of a heated tag team match, a distraction from Solo Sikoa allowed Talla Tonga to lay out Rey Fenix on the unforgiving ring apron. This allowed Tama Tonga to hit Fenix with the Cutthroat for the huge victory for himself and JC Mateo.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton def. Kiana James
After Tiffany Stratton defeated Kiana James with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever, Giulia unleashed a post-match assault on the WWE Women’s Champion. This brought Jade Cargill to the ring to help Stratton. Just when it looked as if the dust would settle, however, Cargill suddenly unleashed a surprise attack on Stratton.
Ilja Dragunov def. Aleister Black in a United States Title Open Challenge
After returning from injury last week to capture the star-spangled title from Sami Zayn, Ilja Dragunov took center stage on SmackDown to celebrate his success and continue the United States Championship Open Challenge. His opponent? Aleister Black.
Seconds after Zelina Vega got him ejected from ringside during the match, Damian Priest emerged at ringside to cause a distraction that enabled Dragunov to defeat his ominous challenger with Torpedo Moscow.
Drew McIntyre def. Jimmy in a No Disqualification Match
The brutal No Disqualification Match spread across the arena and featured tables, chairs and animosity. Although Jimmy Samoan Dropped Drew through a table, McIntyre hurled a chair at his opponent as Jimmy was going for the Uso Splash. He then followed up with the Claymore for the three-count.
When McIntyre attacked Uso with the chair after the match, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes came to the rescue, only to suffer a vicious Claymore. As SmackDown concluded, The Scottish Psychopath stood tall heading into his championship fight against Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Nov. 1.
Amos Pieper was delighted with three points and the clean sheet (Photo: WERDER.DE)
By Werder Bremen
The three points are in the bag.In their 1-0 win against 1. FC Union Berlin, the Green-Whites had to build a long attack and then defend passionately in the closing stages.WERDER.DE summarizes the comments from head coach Horst Steffen and the other players.
Head coach Horst Steffen: “The effort was top-notch, and the game plan was also top-notch in some respects. We were one goal better, even though Union repeatedly threatened and we had to defend many crosses and set pieces. The team accepted the expected game and deserved the three points accordingly.”
Captain Marco Friedl: “It was an unpleasant, tough game. I think the first half was extremely boring to watch, but it got better in the second half when we played them well. When Union was on the attack, we scored. We defended extremely well over the 90 minutes. The win is fortunate, but certainly not entirely undeserved.” Winning goal scorer
Marco Grüll: “We prepared well for the game. We expected them to play a lot of long balls, and we held up well. My goal felt like it was offside. So far, it’s one of my better goals, but more importantly, we won the game.”
Boniface, starting debutant: “I felt good; for me, it was the first time in a long time that I’d started from the beginning. It was a good game; we knew our opponents were very strong defensively. This win will do us good. The atmosphere was fantastic; that’s exactly what we need from the fans to give our all for them.”
Amos Pieper: “It’s good to know that we can be this solid, which we don’t manage every week. Defensively, everyone has been particularly good. Everyone worked hard and gave it their all to win the game. Overall, it was a bit lackluster, but Grüllo’s goal made up for it.”
Head of Professional Football Peter Niemeyer: “It was the tough and difficult game we expected. We accepted the challenge and fought for every inch. From my perspective, we played a good, structured game in which we had solutions going forward, with Boni repeatedly keeping possession of the ball well.”
Victor Boniface made his starting debut for the Green-Whites in a 1-0 win against FC Union Berlin.
SV Werder Bremen kicked off Matchday 8 of the Bundesliga season against FC Union Berlin withHead coach Horst Steffen making two changes to the team’s starting eleven that drew 2-2 draw at FC Heidenheim.
On loan from Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Boniface has made five brief appearances for SVW so far and joined Senne Lynen in the Steffen’s squad against Union.The Belgian missed the trip to the Ostalb region due to the birth of his second child.
Patrice Čović and Cameron Puertas started on the bench, along with Niklas Stark, who has recovered in time from a hip injury and was included in the matchday squad.Due to the death of Werder legend Max Lorenz, the Werder wore a black armband.
SV Werder Bremen secured their second home win of the current season at the start of Bundesliga Matchday 8. The 41,800 spectators had to wait a long time for the 1-0 winner against FC Union Berlin, which Marco Grüll scored with a magnificent curler just before the final whistle (72′).
FIRST HALF: Werder with more game shares, scoring chances scarce
Rønnow was only able to catch Grüll’s long-range shot after a second attempt (Photo: WERDER.DE)
12th minute: Burke is set up in the right half-lane, and Friedl and Coulibaly combine to drive the Scotsman further out wide.The former Bremen player still manages to shoot from a tight angle – but Backhaus is alert.
After the resulting corner, an Ilic header misses the target. 22nd minute: The best chance of the game so far!Boniface cleverly shifts play to the right, where Sugawara takes the shot.
Leite heads the ball just over his own goal. 27th minute: Grüll simply fires from 30 meters.The ball flies past Rønnow, who only manages to catch it after a second attempt. 45th +1 minute: That was close.A Trimmel corner finds Doekhi, who heads the ball just wide.
SECOND HALF: Union retreats – until Grüll scores fantastically
47th minute: A strong move ends with Trimmel clearing a Sugawara cross to the penalty spot.Stage’s left-footed shot isn’t clean, so the danger fizzles out.
67th minute: Friedl clears Trimmel’s free-kick into the back area, where Skarke immediately shoots.The ball misses the target by a good meter.
72nd minute: A dream goal!Grüll is fed behind the back line by Sugawara and cuts in on his left foot.The Austrian curls the ball into the top corner, leaving Rönnow unable to save.
90th +8th minute: Final whistle!Werder wins their home game against 1. FC Union Berlin.SVW will host 1. FSV Mainz 05 next weekend.
For the first time with dimmed lights: Werder celebrates the opening goal (Photo: WERDER.DE)
CONCLUSION
In an evenly matched first half, Werder had more possession, but both teams struggled to create chances.Therefore, the goalless halftime scoreline was a good reflection of the previous period.After the break, the visitors retreated even further until Grüll scored the winner with a perfect finish.The Green-Whites mastered the defensive work that was now required until the final whistle.