Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE brings you the Weekend 3 Count. W3C brings you wrestling news, rumors and recaps from around the wrestling world. You'll find news rumors and recaps involving WWE, NXT, Impact Wrestling, GFW, ROH, Lucha Underground, NJPW, House of Hardcore, NWA, ICW, CZW, FIP, AAW, EVOLVE, PROGRESS, SHINE, SHIMMER and any Indy promotion that I find an interesting story or a cool discovery in. Be sure to check out the W3C every Sunday afternoon at @TripleThreatCLE
** Theme Song Of The Week **
WWE Money In The Bank takes place tonight on the WWE Network! In dedication to that here is I Fight Dragons with their single Money.
* Wrestlers of the Half Year Picks *
With this being June, we are officially half way through the year. With that being said I figured I'd throw out to you all who my wrestlers of the half year winners are.
- WWE: Samoa Joe, Sheamus and Cesaro and Alexa Bliss.
- NXT: Bobby Roode, The Authors of Pain and Asuka.
- Impact: Bobby Lashley, LAX and Rosemary.
- ROH: Christopher Daniels and The Young Bucks.
- Lucha Underground: Johnny Mundo.
- NJPW: Kazuchika Okada and The Young Bucks.
*** WWE ***
- Daniel Bryan Returning: WWE announced that Smackdown Live General Manager Daniel Bryan will be making his return to Smackdown Live next Tuesday night. Bryan has been on a family leave of absence due to his wife Brie Bella having their first baby.
- Emma Returns: This past Monday on RAW, Emma made her return to the squared circle after being out with a shoulder injury.
- Zack Ryder Returns: This past Tuesday on Smackdown Live, Zack Ryder made his return to the squared circle after being out with a knee injury.
- Braun Strowman Cleared: PWInsider announced this week that Braun Strowman is back from his minor elbow surgery and has been cleared to wrestle. Strowman will be back on RAW as soon as creative comes up with a plan for his return. Strowman was feuding with Roman Reigns before he took time off for his surgery.
- Rusev Cleared: WWE announced this week that Rusev has been cleared to return to the ring following shoulder surgery back in March.
- Possible Couple Angle Being Planned: After the awkward hug that Corey Graves received from Bayley this past Monday on RAW, sources are saying that it may have been to kick off a new storyline between the two. Sources are saying that a Corey Graves and Bayley relationship angle may be on the horizon for the two in the near future.
- Seth Rollins Announcement: Seth Rollins annoumced this week that he will be on ESPN Monday morning to make an announcement. Rumors are saying that he will announce that he'll be on the cover of WWE2K18.
- Austin Aries Taking Time Off: This past week, A Double announced that he will be taking some time off from the WWE to recharge, due to nagging knee and neck injuries. It's unknown on how long Aries will be gone and when he'll be back.
- Names For Mae Young Classic Announced: According to PWInsider.com, the following 10 names will be appearing in the 32 woman Mae Young Classic Tournament this summer.
- Zhao Xia
- Mary Kate (Known as Rosie Lottalove in Impact Wrestling.)
- Bianca Blair
- Danielle Kamela (Trained by Rikishi)
- Julia Ho (Trained by Brian Kendrick)
- Kimberly Frankele (Known as Kimber Lee in Independent Wrestling)
- Lacey Evans
- Victoria Gonzales (Daughter of Rudy Boy Gonzales)
- Sarah Logan (Known as Crazy Mary Dobson and Sarah Bridges in NXT)
- Taynara Melo
- Money In The Bank Tonight: Just a reminder, WWE Money In The Bank is live tonight on the WWE Network. If you can't see the show then just check out Triple Threat CLE on Monday afternoon and I'll have the full recap for you.
** 205 Live Recap **
This week's main event saw TJ Perkins battle Akira Tozawa. Austin Aries announces his future plans with the WWE.
- Backstage, Titus O'Neil is with Akira Tozawa and tries to sell him on how great things will be and how much money Tozawa will make by joining the Titus Brand.
- Cedric Alexander vs. Ariya Daivari: The match closes out with Alicia Fox appearing on the TitanTron and Noam Dar heads to ringside. Alexander baseball slides Dar in the face, but gets taken out by a Daivari kick for a near fall. Alexander is back up and hits Daivari with the Lumbar Check for the pinfall.
Winner: Cedric Alexander, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Rich Swann tells TJ Perkins that he looked good in his match against Neville and tries to talk some sense into Perkins about his heel attitude. Perkins says nothing and heads to the ring for his match.
Winner: Akira Tozawa, by pinfall.
- Backstage, Neville interrupts Titus O'Neil and is disgusted over Titus' excitement over Tozawa winning his match. Neville says that Tozawa is nowhere near the Neville Level. Titus says that Tozawa is the future of 205 Live and walks off to end the show.
*** NXT ***
- Asuka Breaks Another Record: WWE announced this week that NXT Women's Champion Asuka has passed CM Punk's longest reign with a world title record. Punk's record was 434 straight days as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Asuka as of this writing is now at over 440 straight days.
- Match Announced For NXT: NXT announced this week that after the Triple Threat Match ended in a draw this past Wednesday, a new match has been announced. Asuka will defend her NXT Women's Championship against Nikki Cross in a Last Woman Standing Match this week on NXT TV.
- Mark Andrews Injured: WWE reported this week that Mark Andrews suffered a neck injury last Sunday during NXT's show at the Download Festival at Donington Park in Derby, England. Andrews was quickly evaluated by WWE medical personnel. A statement passed along to WWE.com stated that Andrews' CT Scan came back negative with just bruising evident. It's unknown when Andrews will return.
*** Impact/GFW Wrestling ***
** Impact TV Recap **
Impact was taped live in India this week, with the hometown boy Sonjay Dutt getting a shot at Low Ki and the Impact X Division Championship.
- "Ten Man Sony Six Invitational Gauntlet Match": Competitors Included: Suicide, Matt Sydal, Davey Richards, KM, Swoggle, Eddie Edwards, Rockstar Spud, Kongo Kong, Moose and Mahabali Shera.
- Davey Richards eliminates Suicide.
- Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards eliminate each other and brawl backstage.
- Kongo Kong eliminates Matt Sydal.
- Kongo Kong eliminates Rockstar Spud.
- Rockstar Spud pulls Swoggle outside for the elimination.
** Final Four: Kongo Kong, KM, Moose and Mahabali Shera: Kong and KM team up with each other, beat down Moose and then toss Moose out for the elimination. Kong attacks Shera and splashes him in the corner. Kong charges at Shera again, but Shera side steps Kong and Kong goes over the ropes and to the floor for the elimination. KM works over Shera, but Shera comes back with punches and a clothesline on KM. KM counters the Sky High and goes for a pump handle slam on Shera. Shera counters and hits the Sky High to score the pinfall and win the Sony Six Trophy. After the match, Shera is presented the trophy by Sony Six's CEO from India N.P. Singh, Bruce Prichard and Scott D'More.
Winner: Mahabali Shera.
- LAX is shown in their headquarters. Konnan says that they will be invading local promotions in Orlando and that they plan to take advantage of the local promoters.
- Ethan Carter Promo: EC3 arrives dressed in an Indian wardrobe. EC3 claims to have an ancient relative from India. EC3 then mocks India, calling them a third world hell hole and then rips on their culture and history. EC3 calls himself the one and only true golden god. EC3's translator refuses to translate anymore negativity about India, so EC3 attacks him and whips him with a strap. James Storm hits the ring and chases off EC3, making the save.
- Josh Mathews' Sparring Session: Mathews says that he and Scott Steiner will eliminate Jeremy Borash and Joseph Park from Impact Wrestling. Mathews introduces his sparring opponent Sandeep Tahkon. Mathews performs an arm drag and a drop toe hold. Tahkon comes back and lands a drop kick on Mathews. Mathews with a series of knee lifts and hits a Swanton Bomb. Mathews applies the Steiner Recliner submission on Tahkon and gets the tap out win. After the match, Mathews refuses to release the hold until Mahabali Shera hits the ring. Bobby Lashley hits the ring and attacks Shera from behind. Mathews locks Shera in the Steiner Recliner submission as Alberto El Patron hits the ring next. Mathews and Lashley escape as El Patron goes after them.
Winner: Josh Mathews, by submission.
- A video is shown of Jeremy Borash and Joseph Park training. Park is playing with wrestling action figures and mocks Scott Steiner's promo he cut about the percentages of winning a few years back. JB gets mad because he thought they'd be watching tape on their opponents. The phone rings and it's supposedly Scott Steiner scaring them so they refuse to answer the phone again when it rings.
- Braxton Sutter vs. Trevor Lee: The match closes out with Lee going after Allie, but Sutter makes the save. Both men trade punches until Sutter hits a power slam on Lee. Sutter hits a swinging neck breaker on Lee and scores the pinfall. After the match, Sienna and Laurel Van Ness arrive, mock Allie and challenge Allie and her new BFF Rosemary to a tag team match next week.
Winner: Braxton Sutter, by pinfall.
- Moose Promo: Moose mocks Eli Drake forcing Drake and Chris Adonis to interrupt. Drake mocks Bruce Prichard and says he's been fed nothing but BS since arriving in Impact Wrestling. Drake says that Moose has had his nose way up management's ass since he's been in Impact. Moose challenges Drake to a tag match for Slammiversary. Drake and Adonis attack and beat down Moose, but Moose fights back and clears Drake and Adonis from the ring. Moose says he'll announce his partner next week, after Drake and Adonis accept the tag team match.
- Another video of Joseph Park and Jeremy Borash is shown. Scott Steiner appears on their laptop, curses and says that they are both dead men. Park and JB ask for forgiveness and ask for the tag match to be called off. Steiner continues to yell at them as they both run away.
- "Impact X Division Championship Match": Low Ki (c) vs. Sonjay Dutt: The match closes out with Dutt getting a near fall superplex on Low Ki. Dutt goes for a sunset flip on Low Ki, but ends up getting a double foot stomp instead. Low Ki puts Dutt on his shoulders and runs across the ring with him. Dutt counters out of it and plants Low Ki with a tornado DDT. Dutt goes to the top rope, hits Low Ki with a splash and scores the pinfall, winning his first ever Impact X Division Championship. After the match, Dutt gets mobbed by the locker room, sprayed with champagne and carried on their shoulders to end the show.
Winner: Sonjay Dutt, by pinfall, to win the Impact X Division Championship.
- Impact Announces The Announcers For Slammiversary: With both Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash competing in their tag match at Slammiversary, Impact Wrestling has announced who will be calling the show in their place for the whole night. Impact Wrestling has signed MLB and NHL announcer Robert Flores to be the lead announcer and will be bringing back Don West for color commentary.
*** RING OF HONOR ***
** ROH TV Recap **
This week's main event saw ROH Television Champion Marty Scurll defend his title against KUSHIDA.
- "Six Man Tag Team Match": The Young Bucks and Hangman Adam Page vs. Roppongi Vice and Chuck Taylor: The match closes out with Page and The Bucks super kicking Taylor, but Beretta takes the hit for Taylor. Beretta ducks the next super kick and Page eats it on accident. The Bucks deliver more super kicks, this time hitting Beretta and Taylor. The Bucks deliver another round of super kicks, this time on Romero and Taylor. The Bucks go for the Meltzer Driver, but Taylor makes the save and hits a Blue Thunder Driver to score the pinfall.
Winners: Roppongi Vice and Chuck Taylor, by pinfall.
- Backstage, The Kingdom make it clear that they will destroy The Boys next week.
- The Rebellion vs. Jay White and Jonathan Gresham: The match closes out with Kenny King hitting the ring and attacking Gresham. Alex Shelley hits the ring and unloads on King with punches, as the referee throws out the match. King fires back and attacks Shelley until Chris Sabin hits the ring. King gets hit with a Manhatton Drop from Shelley and a drop kick from Sabin. Sabin and Shelley hit the necklock/drop kick combo as Jay White flies off the top rope and takes out The Rebellion on the floor with a senton. After the match, Shelley challenges The Rebellion to a match at Best In The World, with the losing team having to disband forever.
Winners: No Contest.
- Backstage, Kazarian says he can't wait to get his hands on Hangman Adam Page and whip him with a belt like Page did to him.
- Backstage, Jay Briscoe expresses his anger with Dalton Castle and The Boys. Briscoe says he's eating The Boys alive.
- "ROH Television Championship Match": Marty Scurll (c) vs. KUSHIDA: The match closes out with Scurll grabbing KUSHIDA's fingers and snaps one of them. Scurll then lands a fist to the face of KUSHIDA and then a lariat, putting both men down. Scurll goes for the Crossface Chicken Wing submission, but the lights suddenly go out. The lights pop back on and it's Adam Cole standing in the ring, distracting Scurll. KUSHIDA hits Back To The Future on Scurll and scores the pinfall to win the title.
Winner: KUSHIDA, by pinfall, to win the ROH Television Championship.
*** Lucha Underground ***
** Lucha Underground TV Recap **
This week The Cueto Cup 32 wrestler tournament began with a four first round matches.
- Dario Cueto is in his office and gets interrupted by Pentagon Dark who's demanding Black Lotus. Cueto informs him that she went back to Hong Kong and hasn't been seen in months. Pentagon threatens to break Cueto's arm until Cueto enters Pentagon in The Cueto Cup Tournament. Pentagon promises that if he doesn't end up as the Lucha Underground World Champion than he will break every bone in Cueto's body.
- "The Cueto Cup Tournament Match": Mala Suerte vs. The Mack: The match closes out with Suerte hitting a senton on Mack for a near fall. Mack hits the Big Willy Slam for a near fall of his own. Suerte hits a Crucifix Bomb on Mack and gets another near fall. Suerte with a spike DDT on Mack and then goes to the top rope. Mack cuts off Suerte, regains control of the match and hits a Pounce on Suerte. Mack hits the Stunner and scores the pinfall to advance in the tournament.
Winner: The Mack, by pinfall
- Backstage, Dario Cueto and Cage meet as Cage is training with his new power glove. Cueto gives Cage Councilman Delgado's information and tells Cage to meet up with him and thank him too for the power glove he now possesses.
- "The Cueto Cup Tournament Match": Pentagon Dark vs. Argenis: The match closes out with Pentagon unloading on Argenis. Argenis hits a neck breaker on Pentagon and then both men trade offense. Argenis goes to the top rope, but gets cut off by Pentagon and kicked in the head. Pentagon hits a Package Piledriver on Argenis and scores the pinfall to advance in the tournament. After the match, Pentagon breaks Argenis' arm.
Winner: Pentagon Dark, by pinfall.
- "The Cueto Cup Tournament Match": Texano vs. Famous B: Before the match, Famous B offers his services to Texano and is willing to lay down for him. Famous B lays down, but Texano picks Famous B up and drills him with a Sit Down Power Bomb for the pinfall to advance in the tournament.
Winner: Texano, by pinfall.
- A video plays showing Johnny Mundo and Rey Mysterio training as they get ready for their future Lucha Underground World Championship Match.
- "The Cueto Cup Tournament Match": Drago vs. Aerostar: The match closes out with Aerostar trapping Drago in an Indian Death Lock submission, but Drago escapes. Aerostar hits Drago with his own finisher Whip of the Dragon's Lair and gets a near fall. Drago hits Aerostar with a Spanish Fly blockbuster in mid air. Aerostar attempts the Whip of the Dragon's Lair again, but Drago counters and hits the move himself to score the pinfall and advance in the tournament. After the match, Drago plants Aerostar with another slam until Kobra Moon calls Drago off.
Winner: Drago, by pinfall.
- Cage is shown meeting Councilman Delgado at City Hall. Delgado says that soon Cage will be more powerful than he could ever imagine and they will have work to do. Cage says that he will never work for Delgado. The power glove causes Cage to lose his temper, as he punches Delgado's head in with the power glove, killing Delgado. Cage is shown leaving City Hall, stepping on Delgado's eye ball as he leaves.
- The Cueto Cup Begins: Check out the above image and see exactly who's competing in the 32 Man Cueto Cup Tournament.
*** NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING ***
** Road To Dominion **
- NJPW was live for Road to Dominion, their event before their big Dominion pay per view. The main event of the show saw IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada and Roppongi Vice battle Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks of The Bullet Club in a Six Man Tag Team Match.
- Suzuki-Gun (Taka Michinoku and El Desperado) defeated Shota Umino and Tetushiro Yagi. The match closes out with Desperado trapping Yagi in the Stretch Muffler submission and forced the tap out.
Winners: Suzuki-Gun, by submission.
- Tomoyuki Oka, Hirai Kawato, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask and Togi Makabe defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Katsuya Kitamura, in a Ten Man Tag Team Match. The match closes out with Nagata hitting a bridging back drop driver on Kitamura to score the pinfall.
Winners: Tomoyuki Oka, Hirai Kawato, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask and Togi Makabe, by pinfall.
- The Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi and Hangman Adam Page) defeated CHAOS(Gedo & Tomohiro Ishi). The match closes out with Takahashi drilling Gedo with the Snap DDT to score the pinfall.
Winners: The Bullet Club, by pinfall.
- The Bullet Club (Cody Rhodes, Guerrillas of Destiny and Bad Luck Fale) defeated War Machine, Michael Elgin and David Finlay, in an Eight Man Tag Team Match. The match closes out with Cody hitting Cross Rhodes on Finlay to score the pinfall.
Winners: The Bullet Club, by pinfall.
- Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Zack Sabre Jr and Minoru Suzuki) defeated CHAOS (Jado, YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano and Hirooki Goto), in an Eight Man Tag Team Match. The match closes out with Sabre trapping Jado in the Jim Breaks submission and forcing the tap out.
Winners: Suzuki-Gun, by submission.
- Taguchi Japan (Ryusuke Taguchi, Juice Robinson, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ricochet and KUSHIDA) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon, in a Ten Man Tag Team Match. The match closes out with Tanahashi getting a 4 on 1 beat down, but comes back and gets a rollup pinfall on SANADA. After the match, Naito attacks Tanahashi and works over his injured arm.
Winners: Taguchi Japan, by pinfall.
- The Bullet Club (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada and Roppongi Vice) in a Six Man Tag Team Match. The match closes out with Beretta getting laid out with the Indy Taker and then Omega hits the One Winged Angel for the pinfall. After the match, Omega suckers Okada into the ring for a handshake, allowing The Bucks to hit Okada with super kicks. Omega sets Okada up for a One Winged Angel through a table, but doesn't do it because he wants Okada at 100% at NJPW Dominion.
Winners: The Bullet Club, by pinfall.
** NJPW Dominion **
The main event of the show was the match everyone who follows New Japan Pro Wrestling was waiting for, Kazuchika Okada defended his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kenny Omega in their second encounter. The first battle took place at Wrestle Kingdom 11 back in January which saw Okada retain his title. Who would walk out tonight the IWGP Heavyweight Champion?
- "Six Man Tag Team Match": David Finlay, Shota Umino and Tomoyuki Oka vs. Hirai Kawato, Katsuya Kitamura and Tetsuhiro Yagi: The match closes out with Yagi hitting a drop kick on Finlay which sets up a 3 on 1 beat down on Finlay. Finlay survives a Boston Crab submission and is able to hit a Stunner on Yagi to score the pinfall.
Winners: David Finlay, Shota Umino and Tomoyuki Oka, by pinfall.
- "Eight Man Tag Team Match": Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi and Satoshi Kojima vs. Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask W, Togi Makabe and Yuji Nagata: The match closes out with all eight men brawling. Nakanishi lands a spear on Makabe for a near fall. Makabe and Nakanishi trade shots until Makabe hits a knee to the head of Nakanishi to score the pinfall.
Winners: Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask W., Togi Makabe and Yuji Nagata, by pinfall.
- "NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship, Gauntlet Match": Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi, Evil and Sanada)(c) vs. The Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Hangman Adam Page and Yujiro Takahashi) vs. Chaos (Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and Yoshi-Hashi) vs. Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Zack Sabre Jr.) vs. Taguchi Japan (Juice Robinson, Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi):
** First Elimination: The Bullet Club vs. Chaos: Page and Takahashi get in a double team. Fale gets a near fall splash. Ishii clotheslines Fale to the floor. Yano gets double teamed, but fights back and steals a rollup pinfall after a low blow, eliminating The Bullet Club.
** Second Elimination: Chaos vs. Suzuki-Gun: Suzuki-Gun takes control and never lets up. Sabre gets a quick and easy pinfall on Yano, eliminating Chaos.
** Third Elimination: Suzuki-Gun vs. Taguchi Japan. The referee gets distracted, causing Juice Robinson to get hit with the bell hammer and then tossed into the exposed turnbuckle. Robinson somehow kicks out of a Buzzsaw Kick. Water gets sprayed into the eyes of Sabre and Robinson steals the pinfall, eliminating Suzuki-Gun. After the fall, Sabre attacks Robinson and beats him down.
** Final Elimination: Taguchi Japan vs. Los Ingobernables De Japan. Bushi and Taguchi trade strikes back and forth. Taguchi traps Bushi in an Ankle Lock submission. Sanada hits the ring and saves Bushi from tapping out. Evil unloads on everyone. Los Ingobernables De Japan hit Skull End and combo it into the MX to score the pinfall and retain their titles.
Winners: Los Ingobernables De Japan, by pinfall, to retain the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship.
Winners: The Young Bucks, by submission, to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
Winners: Guerrillas of Destiny, by pinfall, to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
- "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match": Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Kushida: The match closes out with both men on their knees, unloading chops on each other and then elbows as they rise up. Both men get to their feet and unload kicks and punches on each other until both collapse to the mat. Kushida is back up and unloads stomps on Takahashi. Kushida applies an arm lock while bending the wrist and forces Takahashi to tap out to win the title. After the match, Bushi hits the ring and spits mist into Kushida's face.
Winner: Kushida, by submission, to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
- "NEVER Openweight Championship, Lumberjack Death Match": Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Hirooki Goto: Suzuki-Gun and Chaos surround the ring as the lumberjacks. The match closes out with Suzuki unloading punches on Goto. Goto hits a neck breaker, but then gets tossed into the referee. All the lumberjacks begin brawling all over ringside. Yoshi-Hashi charges and suicide dives to the floor taking out some lumberjacks. Goto traps Suzuki in a guillotine choke submission and then turns it into a sleeper. Goto hits two GTR's on Suzuki and gets a close near fall. Taichi pulls the referee out of the ring and then smacks Goto with a steel chair twice. The lumberjacks continue to brawl as Suzuki hits a jumping Gotch Piledriver on Goto to score the pinfall and retain his title. After the match, Yoshi-Hashi goes after Suzuki as the brawl continues between both factions.
Winner: Minoru Suzuki, by pinfall, to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship.
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by submission, to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
Winner: Time Limit Draw. Kazuchika Okada retains the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
- Cody Rhodes Challenges Kazuchika Okada: Immediately following NJPW Dominion, Cody Rhodes interrupted IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada during his victory press conference and threw down the challenge on Okada for the title.
- Yugi Nagata's Last G1 Climax Tournament: Yugi Nagata announced this week that the upcoming G1 Climax Tournament will be his last tournament appearance. This will be Nagata's 18th tournament appearance, winning only one in 2001. The 49 year old NJPW legend is planning on retiring at the end of the year.
And that's this week's W3C! Join me every Sunday afternoon as I bring you news, recaps and rumors all around the wrestling world!
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