Mauro Ranallo: Get ready folks… it’s time for Warfare! Tonight, we are live from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, and kicking things off we’ve got Adam Cole versus Maxwell Jacob Friedman in the first round of the Gateway Championship tournament!
“All About Tha (Boom!)” hit and the crowd cheered as Adam Cole made his way to the ring. When Cole was in the ring, “Better Than You” hit and the cheers quickly turned to boos as MJF stepped out onto the stage. As MJF walked down the ramp, he taunted the fans in the front row, then as he entered the ring, he got in Adam Cole’s face, taunting him. As the bell rang, the two men locked up, and MJF put Cole in a headlock, but Cole fought out of it and whipped MJF into the corner, then hit him with a series of punches. MJF fought back with some punches of his own, then threw Cole out of the ring. MJF followed Cole to the outside and threw Cole into the ring steps, then rolled back into the ring, going for a count out victory. Cole got back into the ring at the count of 6, and MJF went to whip him against the ropes… but Cole reversed the Irish whip, sending Cole into the ropes before hitting him with a superkick!
Nigel McGuinness: What a superkick that was, Mauro! Adam Cole almost took MJF’s head off!
Cole hooked the leg and the referee counted - 1… 2… MJF kicked out! As Cole got to his feet, he climbed the turnbuckle, getting ready for Panama Sunrise… but MJF blocked it, then wrenched Cole by the arm! MJF followed up with the Heatseeker, then hooked both legs. The referee counted - 1… 2… Cole kicked out! As Cole got his shoulder up, MJF immediately went for Salt of the Earth, but before he could lock it in, Cole rolled away and got to his feet. MJF then ran at Cole, going for a clothesline, but Cole ducked underneath it and hit MJF with a series of kicks. Cole then ran against the ropes, going for a clothesline… but MJF hit Cole with a clothesline at the same time! Both men were down for several seconds, before MJF got to his feet. He grabbed Cole by the legs, going for a sharpshooter… but Cole rolled MJF up into a small package! The referee counted - 1… 2… MJF kicked out! As both men got to their feet, MJF set Cole up for the Double Cross, but Cole blocked it, then hit the Florida Keys! Both of MJF’s shoulders were down, and the referee counted - 1… 2… again MJF kicked out! As Cole got to his feet, he pulled down his kneepad and ran against the ropes… then as MJF sat up, Cole hit him with The Boom! He hooked the leg, and the referee counted once more - 1… 2… this time Cole got the 3!
It’s over! Adam Cole gets the victory, and advances to the semi finals!
Cole rolled out of the ring and made his way to the back as the referee checked on MJF.
After the match, the camera cut to the backstage area. Alexa Bliss was seen using her phone when Renee Young approached.
Renee Young: Alexa?
Bliss looked up from her phone and put it away.
Renee Young: Last week, your best friend Liv Morgan was assaulted by Nikki Cross prior to your tag match with Oedo Tai. Can you give us an update on Liv’s condition?
Alexa nodded.
Alexa Bliss: Liv is currently at home resting but will be able to come back soon. Now I came here tonight to confront the Scottish Psycho but it turns out she's not here. I hope she's here next week because I'm gonna call her out to the ring and if she doesn't show up then… well, she doesn't want to find out.
Alexa walked away as the show went to commercial.
As Warfare returned from the commercial break, “The Rising” hit and the crowd gave a mixed reaction as Seth Rollins made his way to the ring.
Mauro Ranallo: A warmer reaction for Seth Rollins than we normally hear, Nigel.
Nigel McGuinness: Well Mauro, Rollins is from Davenport which is a couple of hours from here… he’s an Iowa native!
When Rollins was in the ring, “I Came To Play” hit and the fans cheered as Miz headed to the ring. Once Miz was in the ring, the referee called for the bell and the two men locked up. Miz put Rollins in a headlock, but Rollins fought out of it, then hit Miz with an enzuigiri. Rollins followed up with several more kicks, before taking Miz down with a clothesline. As Miz got to his feet, Rollins whipped him against the ropes, before taking him down with a slingblade. Rollins hooked the leg and the referee counted - 1… 2… Miz kicked out! As Rollins got to his feet, he set Miz up for a powerbomb… but Miz blocked it, countering with a back body drop. Miz then whipped Rollins into the corner, before hitting a corner clothesline. Miz followed up with a DDT, then hooked the leg. The referee counted - 1… 2… Rollins kicked out! As Rollins sat up, Miz hit him with a series of kicks to the chest, then went for a knee strike… but Rollins dodged it, then grabbed Miz from behind and took him down with a Russian legsweep. Rollins climbed to the top rope, going for a frog splash… but Miz got his knees up and blocked it!
Mauro Ranallo: Great reflexes there by The Miz! Could that swing the momentum in his favor?
As Miz got to his feet, he stomped on Rollins’ knee several times, then applied the figure four leglock! Rollins was able to get to the ropes, and the referee ordered Miz to break the hold. Miz did so, but then pulled Rollins to his feet and hit him with a series of punches. Rollins fought back with some right hands of his own, then hit Miz with the Falcon Arrow! As Rollins got to his feet, he took several steps back… then ran at Miz, hitting the Curb Stomp! He hooked the leg and the referee counted - 1… 2… 3!
Nigel McGuinness: It’s over! Seth Rollins wins! An impressive victory for The Messiah!
The referee called for the bell and raised Rollins’ arm in victory. Rollins climbed the turnbuckle and celebrated as Warfare went off the air.
