SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.
•Top Stories of the Week
- Braun Strowman’s injury angle is more than just an angle. Braun Strowman is having surgery as a result of bone spurs in his elbow. The WWE announced his injury as a “shattered elbow,” but the injury angle last Monday was done to get him off television so he could have the surgery. This week Baron Corbin announced their match at T.L.C. is still scheduled to take place.
- Bray Wyatt made his return at Starrcade in Cincinnati this weekend where he fought Baron Corbin, then competed in a six man tag match. He did not appear on Raw or Smackdown this week.
- The WWE Network Starrcade special aired Sunday and featured Elias’ performance with Ric Flair, the 8 woman tag team match, Miz TV featuring Rey Mysterio and Shinsuke Nakamura, Mysterio vs. Nakamura for the United States Championship, Rusev & Rey Mysterio vs. Nakamura & The Miz, and A.J. Styles vs. Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage Match. For analysis on this WWE Network Special, you can read Mike Meyers’ report here: LINK
•WWE Weekly Event Results
WWE Starrcade (Cincinnati, Ohio) 11/24/18
(1) Sasha Banks, Bayley, Ember Moon, & Dana Brooke beat Nia Jax, Tamina, Mickie James, & Alicia Fox
(2) Drew McIntyre (w/ Dolph Ziggler) beat Finn Balor
(3) The B-Team defeated The Revival
(4) The Bar beat The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E w/ Xavier Woods) to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
(5) Bray Wyatt beat Baron Corbin
(6) Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, & Baron Corbin beat Bray Wyatt, Finn Balor, & Elias
(7) Charlotte Flair defeated Asuka
(8) Rey Mysterio beat Shinsuke Nakamura via Disqualification
(9) Rey Mysterio & Rusev (w/ Lana) beat Shinsuke Nakamura & The Miz
(10) A.J. Styles defeated Samoa Joe in a steel cage match
(11) Seth Rollins beat Dean Ambrose in a steel cage match to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Source: PWTorch.com
WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster (Madison, Wis.) 11/25/18
(1) The Bar beat The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods, w/ Kofi Kingston) to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
(2) Aiden English defeated Shelton Benjamin
(3) Shelton Benjamin beat Aiden English
(4) Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, & Shelton Benjamin beat Aiden English & The Colóns
(5) Lana & Nikki Cross beat The IIconics
(6) Charlotte beat Asuka
(7) Randy Orton defeated Jeff Hardy
(8) R-Truth & Carmella beat Andrade Cien Almas & Zelina Vega
(9) Shinsuke Nakamura beat Samoa Joe & Rusev in a Triple Threat match to retain the United States Championship
(10) A.J. Styles beat The Miz
Source: TheChairshot.com
WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 11/26/18
(1) The Bar beat The New Day to retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
(2) Aiden English defeated Shelton Benjamin
(3) Shelton Benjamin beat Aiden English
(4) Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, & Shelton Benjamin beat Aiden English & The Colóns
(5) Lana & Nikki Cross beat The IIconics
(6) Charlotte beat Asuka
(7) Randy Orton defeated Jeff Hardy
(8) R-Truth & Carmella beat Andrade Cien Almas & Zelina Vega
(9) Shinsuke Nakamura beat Samoa Joe & Rusev in a Triple Threat match to retain the United States Championship
(10) A.J. Styles beat The Miz
Source: Fightful.com
If you attend a live event, please send results to pwtorch@pwtorch.com. Thanks!
•WWE TV Match Results
Monday Night Raw TV Results 11/26/18
(1) Bobby Lashley (w/ Lio Rush, Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin) beat Elias in a no disqualification match
(2) Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik, Kalisto, & Lince Dorado) beat The Revival (Dash & Dawson
(3) The Authors of Pain (w/ Drake Maverick) beat Chad Gable & Bobby Roode to retain the Raw Tag Team Championships
(4) Ember Moon (w/ Curt Hawkins) defeated Alicia Fox (w/ Jinder Mahal, The Singh Brothers)
(5) Jinder Mahal (w/ The Singh Brothers) beat No Way Jose
(6) Seth Rollins beat Dolph Ziggler to retain the Intercontinental Championship
(7) Baron Corbin & Drew McIntyre beat Finn Balor
Smackdown Live TV Results 11/27/18
(1) The Usos beat The Bar
(2) Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Rusev is a no contest after Nakamura attacks Rusev before the bell
(3) Kofi Kingston (w/ Xavier Woods & Big E) defeated The Miz
(4) Asuka won a women’s division battle royal to be put into the Smackdown Women’s Championship match at T.L.C.
WWE Mixed Match Challenge Results (Aired on Facebook Watch) 11/27/18
(1) Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox defeated Curt Hawkins & Ember Moon after Jinder pinned Hawkins
(2) Finn Balor & Bayley beat Bobby Lashley & Mickie James when Bayley pinned Mickie James
Mixed Match Challenge Bracket
Raw Playoff Bracket
-Finn Balor & Bayley vs Jinder Mahal & Alicia Fox – Winners advance to T.L.C.
Smackdown Playoff Bracket
(1) Jeff Hardy & Charlotte vs. (4) R-Truth & Carmella
(2) The Miz & Asuka vs. (3) Jimmy Uso & Naomi
205 Live Results (Aired on WWE Network) 11/21/18
(1) Noam Dar beat Mike Kanellis
(2) Hideo Itami beat Levy Cruise (a local enhancement talent)
(3) Cedric Alexander & Mustafa Ali defeated Tony Nese & Buddy Murphy
Main Event Results (Aired on WWE Network and Hulu) 11/28/18
(1) Titus O’Neal beat Mojo Rawley
(2) Zack Ryder & The B-Team beat The Ascension & Tyler Breeze when Bo Dallas pinned Tyler Breeze
Source: PWTorch.com
•Upcoming Lineups for Stadium/PPV Events
WWE T.L.C. on Dec. 16 from San Jose, Calif.
(1) Seth Rollins (c) vs. Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship
(2) Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin in a T.L.C. Match
– If Braun wins, he will earn another Universal Championship match vs. Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble and Baron Corbin will be out of power entirely
– If Baron Corbin wins, he will become permanent General Manager of Raw
(3) Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s Championship
(4) Daniel Bryan (c) vs. A.J. Styles for the WWE Championship
(5) Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte vs. Asuka in a Triple Threat T.L.C. Match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship
(6) Mixed Match Challenge Finals: Raw bracket winner vs. Smackdown bracket winner
– Winners receive 30th (last) entry into their respective Royal Rumble matches.
WWE Royal Rumble on Jan. 27 from Phoenix, Ariz.
(1) Braun Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship (Pending Braun beating Baron Corbin at T.L.C.)
(2) Men’s Royal Rumble Match
(3) Women’s Royal Rumble Match
•Upcoming Events
Sat. 12/1/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Sun. 12/2/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, College Park Center, Arlington, Texas
Mon. 12/3/18 WWE Raw, Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Tue. 12/4/18 WWE Smackdown, Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas
Wed. 12/5/18 WWE Live Event –Raw Roster, Movistar Arena, Santiago, Chile
Thu. 12/6/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Luna Park Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fri. 12/7/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Luna Park Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sat. 12/8/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Antel Arena, Montevideo, Uruguay
Sat. 12/8/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Sun. 12/9/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Stampede Corral, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Mon. 12/10/18 WWE Raw, Valley View Casino Center, San Diego, Calif
Mon. 12/10/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif.
Tue. 12/11/18 WWE Smackdown, Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nev.
Fri. 12/14/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.
Sat. 12/15/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Rabobank Arena, Bakersfield, Calif.
Sat. 12/15/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.
Sun. 12/16/18 WWE T.L.C. SAP Center, San Jose, Calif.
Mon. 12/17/18 WWE Raw, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, Calif.
Mon. 12/17/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Stockton Arena, Stockton Calif.
Tue. 12/18/18 WWE Smackdown – Save Smart Center, Fresno, Calif.
Mon. 12/24/18 WWE Raw – No listing currently on WWE.com
Tue. 12/25/18 WWE Smackdown – No listing currently on WWE.com
Wed. 12/26/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
– Braun Strowman vs. Baron Corbin
– Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Chamionship in a Steel Cage Match
– Ronda Rousey vs Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s Championship
– Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley
– Velveteen Dream, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, Ricochet, & Aleister Black vs. Tomasso Ciampa & Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, & Bobby Fish.)
– Dolph Ziggler, Alexa Bliss, Natalya, Sasha Banks, and Bayley are also scheduled to appear
Wed. 12/26/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Allstate Arena, Chicago, Ill.
Thur. 12/27/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.
Thur. 12/27/18 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
– Ronda Rousey vs. Mickie James (w/ Alexa Bliss) for the Raw Women’s Championship
– Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship
– Braun Strowman vs. Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre in a two-on-one handicap match
Fri. 12/28/18 WWE Raw (WWE.com has Raw scheduled for Friday 12/28 in Detroit, Mich. Tickets being sold through the site also have it listed as a Raw television show for Friday 12/28)
Fri. 12/28/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, Md.
Sat. 12/29/18 WWE Smackdown(WWE.com has Smackdown scheduled for Saturday, 12/29 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Tickets being sold through the site also have it listed as a Smackdown television show for Saturday 12/29)
Sun. 12/30/18 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Amalie Arena, Tampa, Fla.
Mon. 12/31/18 WWE Raw – No listing currently on WWE.com, WWE could be playing tape delayed version of Raw from 12/28 scheduled Raw event
Tue. 1/1/19 WWE Smackdown – No listing currently on WWE.com, WWE could be playing tape delayed version of Smackdown from 12/29 scheduled Smackdown event
Fri. 1/4/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Ga.
Sat. 1/5/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Greensboro Colliseum, Greensboro, N.C.
Sat. 1/5/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Fla.
Sun. 1/6/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, N.C.
Sun. 1/6/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Hertz Arena, Fort Myers, Fla.
Mon. 1/7/19 WWE Raw, Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.
Mon. 1/7/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, S.C.
Tue. 1/8/19 WWE Smackdown, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Fla.
Sat. 1/12/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Knoxville Civic Coliseum, Knoxville, Tenn.
Mon. 1/14/19 WWE Raw, FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
Tue. 1/15/19 WWE Smackdown, Legacy Arena, Birmingham, Ala.
Fri. 1/18/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Sat. 1/19/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Taylor County Coliseum, Abilene, Texas
Sat. 1/19/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Sun. 1/20/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Chi Health Center, Omaha, Neb.
Sun. 1/20/19 WWE Live Event – Raw Roster, Kay Yeager Coliseum, Wichita Falls, Texas
Mon. 1/21/19 WWE Raw, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Mon. 1/21/19 WWE Live Event – Smackdown Roster, Landon Arena, Topeka, Kan.
Tue. 1/22/19 WWE Smackdown – Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, Kan.
•Latest TV Highlights
Monday Night Raw
- Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley work together to dominate the show. In the opening segment on Raw, Corbin, McIntyre, and Lashley (w/ Lio Rush) stood in the ring as they mocked Braun Strowman and laughed about injuring him last week. Corbin announced their T.L.C. match is still happening and he fully expects to win via forfeit to become the permanent General Manager. During the Elias vs. Bobby Lashley match that followed this opening segment, Corbin decided that the match would be a no DQ match and both he and McIntyre interfered to help beat down Elias. In the main event Corbin face Finn Balor and mid-match he changed the rules again making it a handicap match with himself and McIntyre taking on Balor. After they both beat down Balor, Lashley came back down to ringside to help beat down Balor as well.
- Alexa Bliss was put in charge of the women’s division by Corbin during a backstage segment. It’s unclear how long this position will last, but with her recent concussion issues, this may be Alexa’s new role for a little while.
- Dean Ambrose delivers another video promo. This time it came from a doctor’s office where he was receiving all of his vaccinations to make sure he doesn’t catch anything from the fans. He continued insulting the fans for their poor hygiene and smell. He also said that there is no medicine to cure the sickness that is Seth’s soul and that he will put Seth out of his misery.
Smackdown Live
- Becky Lynch made her return tonight. She said she is the hottest thing in the industry and any time away was too much time away. She announced she was back in the game, then called out Charlotte. Becky said Charlotte came close to the beating she would’ve given Ronda, but if Becky had done it Ronda wouldn’t have been walking the next day. Becky then accused Charlotte of previously copying her old man (Ric Flair) to now copying The Man (Becky Lynch). Paige then announced that Charlotte and Becky would fight in a T.L.C. match at the T.L.C. PPV. After being interrupted twice, once by the heels of the women’s division and then by the remaining baby faces, Paige announced a battle royal to add a third woman to the T.L.C. match. Asuka would win that battle royal later in the night.
- Smackdown celebrated 20 years of Jeff Hardy. The roster gathered on the stage as Michael Cole stood in the ring and introduced Hardy. After a video package highlighting his career, Jeff thanked the fans and ensured everyone that this is not a retirement speech. Samoa Joe interrupted and apologized for being late; saying that he was in the back opening bottles of champagne for a toast, but maybe he shouldn’t bring those around Jeff (a reference to his previous alcohol problems). After Shane McMahon tried to take away Joe’s microphone, Hardy told Shane to let him continue. Joe went on to say that it was good Jeff got to see those career highlights again because he probably wasn’t coherent enough to remember them at the time. After all of this, Jeff challenged Joe to a match, but Joe turned around and walked back up the ramp.
For a more detailed rundown of all the major happenings in WWE, you can read the WWE TV reports HERE.
•Listen to the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-Show – Smackdown Post-Show with guest Jason Solomon from Solomonster Sounds Off
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by Jason Solomon from Solomonster Sounds Off as they discuss WWE Smackdown with live callers first and then later answering email questions with a majority focus on the big developments in the Women’s Division and TLC with Becky Lynch, Charlotte, and Asuka. Also, thoughts on New Day, A.J. Styles, Jeff Hardy, and more. Also, Keller is joined by two on-site correspondents including a fan who hasn’t attended a WWE TV event before and hasn’t seen Becky Lynch or A.J. Styles before. They talk about off-air happenings, crowd reactions, the dark match main event at the end, and more.
-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “Wade Keller” on your podcast app of choice
•WWE Social Media Highlights
Daniel Bryan took to Twitter on Wednesday to justify why he wasn’t at Smackdown and also call out A.J. Styles for his apparent hypocrisy.
The old Daniel Bryan wrestled 227 matches in a calendar year, much more than AJ has ever done in his career. Shortly thereafter he needed neck surgery. The New Daniel Bryan is above that sort of masochism. https://t.co/F0BLWGRsf8
— Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) November 28, 2018
Shayna Baszler, the current NXT Women’s Champion, tweeted out a photo of her, Ronda Rousey, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir (also known as the Four Horsewomen of MMA) posing with Ric Flair which prompted Charlotte to comment on it. This comment by Charlotte sparked a series of tweets between the two. The WWE Four Horsewomen group is Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Bayley.
A Flair always makes time for fans! Woooo! https://t.co/xXBcCO6qXv
— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) November 26, 2018
The OG 4 horseman weren’t just simply 4 wrestlers that made history, they were friends, a real TEAM. Like us, the only ACTUAL team here. Those others, sure they made history, but they’ve never been a team. They are barely friends half the time. #4HW #FourHorsewomen
— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) November 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/MsCharlotteWWE/status/1067093623727108101
In a separate argument, Shayna Baszler and Becky Lynch exchanged tweets. This started after Ronda Rousey commented on a photo Becky posted last week of her getting checked at a doctor’s office to return to action.
Dr Jail? Looks like Dr paid vacation where you get to sit on your ass extending your title reign while trying to think of witty tweets in an attempt to stay relevant. Bet your jokes mocking @EdgeRatedR aren’t so funny now, huh? Try not to bump your nose getting out of that thing
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) November 22, 2018
I’ve never seen a judo ‘master’ get so easily thrown, Ronnie. I’m convinced you let one of your turkeys at the ranch peck these replies out. Which one of them wrote this one, Shayna? https://t.co/i4IdOP8ESh
— The Man (@BeckyLynchWWE) November 23, 2018
Don’t try to name drop me in this attention grab, I’m too busy holding down the division you couldn’t. #ShaynaTwoTime https://t.co/DZ0q6HvExk
— Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) November 25, 2018
The only thing that bonds you, Ronnie & I wanna say Mary & Jessica? is you all ran from another sport that beat you. So make no mistake, if I chose to ‘drop’ anything it will be you, not your name. BTW, give my best to your leader & her hurty mouth. I’m stronger everyday, is she? https://t.co/WOmW7loYhT
— The Man (@BeckyLynchWWE) November 26, 2018
Becky Lynch also tweeted this after Smackdown and after Asuka was added to the T.L.C. match by winning a battle royal. Becky continues to point out that Charlotte is given opportunities that others have to earn, which is what sparked the original heel turn back at SummerSlam this year where Becky had to go on a win streak to fight Carmella for the Smackdown Women’s Championship, but Charlotte was simply added to the match and would eventually win.
I’ve got two contenders at TLC. One earned her way to The Champ, the other something, something, WOOO, daddy, something entitled. pic.twitter.com/yNtkkgCNMD
— The Man (@BeckyLynchWWE) November 28, 2018
•Closing Commentary
•WWE brand supremacy somehow means even less than we all thought. I wanted to address this after last week’s Smackdown episode, but I thought I would wait. I waited to see what happened this week because last week’s episode of Smackdown was so strange and uneventful I thought it may have essentially been a throw away episode after a long weekend in Los Angeles and that they would start fresh this week and address the Survivor Series sweep. Another reason I anticipated this would be addressed at some point in the last two weeks was a tweet Shane sent out immediately after Survivor Series was over last Sunday.
This wasn’t the night I had in mind for Team Blue.
Tomorrow is a new day, but something is going to have to change come Tuesday. #SurvivorSeries— Shane McMahon (@shanemcmahon) November 19, 2018
“…something is going to have to change come Tuesday.” The problem is, nothing changed! Smackdown has moved on as if Survivor Series never happened. Shane was willing to fire anyone who made the finals of the World Cup Tournament if they then lost to the Raw representative less than a month ago at Crown Jewel, but being completely dominated at Survivor Series is just being ignored. It’s a massive storyline hole that they haven’t even bothered addressing. What makes this more annoying is that Shane was shown this week backstage standing with his World Cup trophy. Shane is now also in a storyline where The Miz is trying to recruit him to be his tag team partner because they combined to win the World Cup Tournament after The Miz was hurt in the finals and Shane replaced him.
I guess my main question is why was the World Cup more important than Survivor Series? Survivor Series was set to feature all four champions representing Smackdown (WWE Champion, Women’s Champion, United States Champion, and Tag Team Champions) fighting the four champions that represent Raw (Universal Champion, Women’s Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and Tag Team Champions). This format was only changed slightly due to Becky Lynch being sidelined due to injury, so the Smackdown Women’s Champion did not compete against the Raw Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey. It also featured five other women and men representing their brands in the traditional Survivor Series tag team elimination matches. There was also a tag team Survivor Series elimination match, but apparently that doesn’t count. Crown Jewel featured an eight man tournament; four from each show, where they fought each other in brand specific brackets, and the finals featured a one on one match to determine “the best in the world.” I’m struggling to understand how one eight man tournament is more important than an entire PPV dedicated to seeing which roster is “better.”
The WWE doesn’t even buy into their own “brand supremacy” garbage they spew every November. I hope they’re self-aware enough to know not to try this Raw vs. Smackdown thing next year. If they do I hope the fans remember this and reject the very notion as soon as it gets mentioned. If the WWE wants to do champion vs. champion that’s totally fine. I think doing that creates fresh and exciting match ups that we don’t get to see, but don’t throw the wrestlers out there in the red and blue shirts and keep a scoreboard because it’s obvious they don’t even care enough to follow up on the results.
NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.
OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – WWE (thru 11/22): News on Starrcade, Lars Sullivan, Survivor Series, plus results, announced matches, TV summaries, social media highlights, commentary on Vince McMahon and tag team wrestling
The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly
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