The Borderland is All Elite!

The Road to All In: Texas begins tonight! Toni Storm meets Mercedes Mone face-to-face as they prepare for the AEW Women’s World Championship match!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Mixed Six Tag: Gabe Kidd, Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir VS Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Willow Nightingale; win.
• No Disqualification Tag: Anna Jay & Harley Cameron VS Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford; win.
• Six Man Tag: The Opps VS ???
• AEW TNT Championship: Adam Cole VS Kyle Fletcher; wins and
• AEW International Championship Qualifier: Josh Alexander VS Brody King; wins and advances to Fyter Fest.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tony Schiavone is in the ring!

He welcomes us to Dynamite tonight in El Paso, and he welcomes out the 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Cup winner, Hangman Adam Page! The fans fire up as The Blackhat Cowboy walks out, King of Harts belt around his waist, and Schiavone brings up the great response from the fans. Hangman won The Owen in a dramatic classic on Sunday. The fans cheer, “You Deserve It!” as Hangman takes the mic. Hangman says, “Triumph. Triumph in life is fleeting, it’s momentary. You’re on top of the world for the night, and you wake up in the morning, and the moment you realize has passed you. But so is defeat.

“And in the past two years, and if I’m completely honest with myself, in the past three years, that is something that I let myself lose sight of. Because what matters is not the win, it is not the loss, it is what you decide to do with it that matters!” The fans cheer that! Hangman says at Double or nothing, two men entered the ring, and they both knew one would leave defeated. So before Hangman continues, he will say this to Will Ospreay. “Thank you. Thank you for the fight of my life! Thank you for reminding me why I decided to do this in the first place! And thank you for dispelling any notion that i had that you could not be the type of man to carry this company forward, because you can be!”

The fans cheer and chant for “Ospreay! Ospreay!” Hangman then says, while one tasted defeat, the other would taste victory. But he cannot relish in it! This moment is temporary and fleeting. Hangman will not hold this title, carry it or defend it. There will be another Owen Hart Cup, there will be another King of Harts. For now, Hangman returns this belt to AEW. Schiavone takes custody of the belt, and Hangman says he could stay out here all night and tell you how much this all truly means to him. But now, he must look forward to the one thing that for him, this has always been about: THE AEW World Championship!

The fans cheer that, and Hangman says that title has been the prize, the accomplishment, and the responsibility he has chased from the very moment we saw these three letters together for the first time. The fans chant “A E DUB! A E DUB!” Hangman says for seven MONTHS, that title has been hidden from the world, locked away in a briefcase. The fans boo, but Hangman says to him, that title was to be a shining light! A beacon to show the world what these three letters meant! It was about competition! About creativity! Compassion! Passion! And human dignity with which we all treat each other! That is what this is about!

The fans cheer more, and Hangman says on his first day in AEW, he told all of us, both here tonight and watching at home, that while he was here, we would be his boss. Tonight, he makes a promise. In seven weeks, here in Texas, Hangman will win the AEW World Championship! He will free it from the briefcase! He will hold it above his head for all the world to see! He will carry it and defend it with every ounce of his being, and that is a promise he will keep! But then “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Hangman is stunned, but here comes The Realest! Swerve steps into the ring to stare Hangman down, and Schiavone steps aside.

Swerve says, “I bet you wanna know why I’m here. So allow me to educate you and the fine people of El Paso, Texas why I’m here.” Swerve signals to the tron, and we flashback to April 9th of this year. Nick Jackson was explaining why The Young Bucks went and cost Swerve Strickland the AEW World Championship. They did it for their “good friend,” Hangman Page! Hangman wanted this! Swerve could not be world champion again, and The Bucks did that for him! They do not forget who their friends are! They love him, and they know he loves them. The fans boo and Swerve says he was looking at the same opportunity Hangman conveniently has now.

At Dynasty, the main event, Swerve had Moxley, he had the match won! And then so conveniently, The Bucks show up, who Swerve hadn’t bothered with since Blood & Guts, and they cost Swerve. But y’know who else was in the ring that night? Hangman Page. It is so funny how Hangman has his path to the title off Swerve’s loss. Swerve calls collusion! Hangman wants to make promises to the people of Texas? Let’s talk about a promise Hangman made. Hangman told Swerve to his face, in front of the world, that Hangman would never let Swerve be AEW World Champion again.

So Swerve is here now, staring Hangman down man to man, and he will ask Hangman, so don’t lie to him. Did Hangman do this? The fans chant “Tell The Truth! Tell The Truth!” Hangman says, “Well, dumbass… At Dynasty, I locked my eyes on you. Then I locked my eyes on Jon Moxley. And for one God forsaken second, I even thought about helping you. Swerve, if I had wanted to cost you that match, I would have done it myself to your face, because I have done it before.” The fans are torn, but Swerve says, “Sounds good, but you’re still full of sh*t.” The two jaw at each other while the fans rally up, but here comes Ospreay!

The fans cheer as the Aerial Assassin makes his way to the ring, and he has Swerve and Hangman back up. The fans are losing their minds seeing all three guys together. Ospreay borrows Swerve’s mic, and he looks to Hangman. The fans chant “BRUV! BRUV!” Ospreay then looks to Swerve, and Ospreay says he hates getting involved in Swerve’s business. Swerve has looked after Ospreay since he was 20 years old, he’s like a big brother. “But you’re wrong about him.” Ospreay defends Hangman, saying you learn a lot about someone getting in the ring with them when the stakes are high. And stakes couldn’t get any higher on Sunday.

On Sunday, Ospreay left it all in the ring with Hangman, and he has never felt more defeated in his entire life. Hangman had an important decision to make. He walked up the ramp, turned back, picked Ospreay up, and he shook Ospreay’s hand like a man. Ospreay looked in Hangman’s eyes, and he could see that Hangman cares about AEW. It is funny, because Ospreay had that same feeling when he lost to Swerve last year and then did the same thing. Swerve picked Ospreay up. Look around. The fans cheer, and Ospreay tells them both, “People are starting to believe in us again. I hate saying this to you, because I love you… But it is not you. I thought it was me, and it’s not me. It’s HIM!”

The fans cheer, and Ospreay wants Swerve to look at him. They have one shot at this. And they can make this easier on Hangman if they all work together. Swerve, Ospreay, Hangman- Swerve SLAPS the mic down! Ospreay wants Swerve to calm it down but Swerve says he will never work with Hangman, never trust Hangman, and never forgive Hangman! Swerve storms off and Ospreay is disappointed. The fans boo, but Ospreay tells Hangman to let that go. Hangman says he will work with Ospreay, but he will not work with Swerve either. Hangman storms off now, but will these bitter enemies ever realize this is bigger than them?

The Death Riders arrive.

Claudio parks the truck, and everybody spills out of the back. Moxley leads the way for Marina Shafir, Wheeler Yuta, and even Gabe Kidd. Moxley says, “Welcome to Dynamite.” They step into the building, find their way to the crowd, and they’re ready to redeem themselves from losing Anarchy in the Arena. But will they tear up Swerve’s allies to send a message? Or will this conglomeration come out on top?

Mixed Six Tag: Gabe Kidd, Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir VS Mark Briscoe, “Speedball” Mike Bailey & Willow Nightingale!

The trios sort out and the War Dog for hire starts against the Sussex County Chicken. The bell rings and the two run to DOUBLE LARIAT! They fire forearms back and forth, Gabe fires haymakers, but Briscoe gives those back! The fans fire up, Briscoe CHOPS, but Gabe CHOPS! The CHOPS keep going, then Gabe ROCKS Briscoe! Briscoe fires back with a flurry, but Gabe RAMS him into the corner! Speedball & Willow rush in, Moxley & Marina intercept, and the fans fire up as there’s brawling all over the place! Moxley DECKS Bailey, Marina KNEES away on Willow then TOSESS her! Moxley keeps after Bailey but Bailey hits back.

Marina and Willow keep fighting on the outside while Bailey KICKS Moxley against barriers. JUMP KICK! Willow digs her boot into Marina’s face! Gabe talks trash, but fans count along as Bailey rains down TEN punches on Moxley! Gabe whips Mark, Mark goes up and out to ROCK Gabe, RAM low, and then HOTSHOT! Gabe tumbles out to the floor, Briscoe is back in, and Bailey hands him a chair! The fans fire up as the chair is set up, and Briscoe shouts out to Sabu! TRIPLE JUMP DIVE onto the Death Riders! The fans fire up and Briscoe high fives the front row while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Briscoe high fives with Bailey and Willow, then goes back for Gabe. Briscoe CLAWS Gabe’s face, the ref sorts everyone else out, but Bailey sends Moxley into railing! Briscoe BITES Gabe on the forehead, then UPPERCUTS! Gabe flounders into the ring and Briscoe follows. Briscoe stands Gabe up to ROCK him with a right, and then he stomps Gabe into the corner. The ref counts, Briscoe steps off at 4, then he drags Gabe up. Briscoe tags Willow, they double whip Gabe and DOUBLE HIP TOSS! Willow flexes, then tags Bailey. Bailey & Briscoe double whip and they TRIPLE BOOT Gable! Cover, TWO!

Bailey stays on Gabe, brings him over, and he tags Briscoe. Briscoe UPPERCUTS Gabe, then CHOPS! Briscoe whips, Gabe reverses, and Moxley gets a cheap shot in! Gabe clinches for an EXPLODER! Tag to Moxley and he storms up on Briscoe. Moxley drags Briscoe over to then stomp him in the corner. Moxley soaks up heat, but that just lets Marina CHOKE Briscoe in the distraction! Gabe adds on, too! Moxley goes back to Briscoe, digs his boots in, but stops as the ref counts. Briscoe sputters, but Moxley taunts Bailey & Willow. Moxley drags Briscoe up, but Briscoe fires forearms! Dynamite returns to single picture and Moxley kicks Briscoe low!

Moxley scoops Briscoe to SLAM him! Moxley runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Moxley drags Briscoe up, wrenches, then tags Marina. They mug Briscoe with KICK after KICK, then Marina tags Gabe. Gabe fires haymakers on Briscoe, then BITES Briscoe’s forehead! Gabe stops to tag Moxley, but Briscoe fires forearms. Moxley fires forearms back, only for Briscoe to fire back! Briscoe CHOPS Gabe, ROCKS Moxley, repeat! Briscoe then dodges Moxley, hot tag to Bailey! The fans fire up as Bailey ROCKS Moxley, bumps him off buckles, and goes up top! MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Bailey and he aims, SOBAT! AX KICK!

Bailey KICKS Moxley down and the fans fire up! STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Moxley scrambles to a corner but Bailey CHOPS him! Bailey puts Moxley up top, GAMANGIRIS, then climbs up! The fans fire up, but Moxley slips down and YANKS Bailey off the corner! Moxley suplexes, but Bailey cradle counters, TWO! Bailey SUPERKICKS! Moxley wobbles, Bailey crawls, hot tag to Willow! Willow and Marina both step in and Willow dodges a boot to fire forearms! Marina shoves Willow, KICKS, then whips, Willow reverses to CHOP! And LARIAT! And LARIAT again! And again!

The fans fire up as Willow back body blocks in the corner, LARIATS, then snapmares for a BOOT! The fans fire up more as Willow whips and SPINEBUSTERS! Cover, but Gabe drags Willow up by her hair! But Briscoe UPPERCUTS Gabe! Then LARIATS him up and out! But now Moxley storms in! Bailey fires LIGHTNING KICKS on him first! Marina GERMAN SUPLEXES Bailey! Willow CHOPS! Marina KICKS! Willow LARIATS! Both women are down and the fans are thunderous! Both women crawl, hot tags to Bailey and Moxley! They run up, Moxley blocks a kick to shove Bailey down, but Bailey rolls back to stand up. SUPERKICK!

Bailey goes up while Moxley falls down! But Yuta slides in a chair, that distracts the ref, and that lets Yuta SHOVE Bailey to the floor! The fans boo, but Gabe whips Bailey hard into railing! Gabe says this is for those who wanna mess with the Death Riders! Torture rack SLAM down through a table! “I’M A MAD MAN, YOU KNOW!” The fans lose their minds, but Dynamite goes back to picture in picture!

Marina drags Willow down and CHOPS away on her! Moxley CLOBBERS Briscoe, and Gabe soaks up the heat. Moxley TOSSES Briscoe over barriers! The Death Riders soak up more heat while Briscoe drags himself back over barriers and Bailey drags himself from the wreckage. Moxley and Gabe both taunt the fans while the ring count climbs. Bailey is still down past 5 of 10, but he flounders and makes his way up. Bailey is in at 9! Moxley is furious and shouts at the fans. Moxley drags Bailey up, reels him in, and soaks up heat as he suplexes, for the X PLEX! Tag to Gabe and he talks trash while Dynamite goes to break.

PROGRAMMING NOTE for Collision!

This Saturday, May 31st, Collision will air coast to coast on TNT at 8 PM Eastern, OR immediately following NBA Playoffs Game 6, but you can always stream on HBO Max!

So close to the end, we can almost taste it!

Round nine has come, and it all comes down to this! Who takes A Block and goes to the Best of the Super Juniors’ finals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Titan & Yota Tsuji VS Nick Wayne & Daiki Nagai; Titan & Tsuji win.
• MAO & Shoma Kato VS SHO & Yujiro Takahashi; Sho & Yujiro win.
• El Desperado & Toru Yano VS Robbie Eagles & Hartley Jackson; Desperado & Yano win.
• YOH & Tiger Mask VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo; Yoh & Tiger Mask win.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Ninja Mack VS Dragon Dia; Mack wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Francesco Akira; Akira wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Kanemaru wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Clark Connors; Fujita wins.
• Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Robbie X; Robbie wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Hiromu Takahashi: 5-3, 10 points
Master Wato: 5-3, 10 points
Clark Connors: 5-3, 10 points
Francesco Akira: 4-4, 8 points
Kosei Fujita: 4-4, 8 points
KUSHIDA: 4-4, 8 points
Dragon Dia: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie X: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ninja Mack: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Ninja Mack VS Dragon Dia!

The American Ninja has no way forward to the finals, but he won’t stop fighting! Will he ruin Dia’s run at the top? Or will the Infinite Carat Diamond not crack under pressure?

The bell rings and the fans rally up for “NINJA! NINJA!” Mack offers a handshake, Dia takes it, and the fans applaud the sportsmanship. They tie up, Dia headlocks, but Mack powers up and out. Dia ducks ‘n’ dodges, then slides under to tilt-o-whirl and arm-drag, only for Mack to handspring through! The fans fire up and Dia sees what he’s dealing with. Dia and Mack reset while the fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” Dia and Mack tie up, Mack headlocks, but Dia powers up and out. Mack drops down on the dropdown to gator roll and backslide, TWO! Cradle, TWO! Dia jumps the sweep, Oklahoma Rolls, TWO!

Mack stands, Dia has him for a cradle, TWO! Dia sweeps to cover, ONE! Mack steps over, LA MAGISTROL! TWO and Dia has a press, TWO! Dia stands but Mack drags him down with a headlock takeover! Dia headscissors, Mack kips free and Dia hits the takeover! Mack headscissors, Dia kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff. Dia and Mack reset, circle and feel things out. They knuckle lock, go forehead to forehead, then Mack wrenches an arm to whip. Dia reverses and hurdles, but Mack turns it into an atomic drop! Mack runs and BOOTS Dia down! Dia bails out and the fans rally as Mack handsprings! NINJA SPECIAL! Direct hit, but Mack does clutch his foot.

The fans cheer, the ref checks Mack, and Mack manages to stand. Mack hobbles over, brings Dia up, and he puts Dia in the ring. Mack stomps Dia, then clamps on with a CROSSFACE! Dia endures, fights around, and the fans rally. Dia kicks his way over to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Mack lets go, and then Mack brings Dia up to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! And back to the CROSSFACE! Dia endures again and the fans rally! Dia fights as Mack pulls back on the hold! Dia kicks his way over again, but Mack rolls Dia away! CROSSFACE! Dia endures, the fans rally more, and Dia reaches back to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Mack lets go.

Mack stands Dia up to CHOP! Mack puts Dia in a corner, and he CHOPS again! Mack whips corner to corner, Dia reverses, and Dia runs up, only for Mack to BOOT him! Mack fires body shots, and palm strikes! Mack has Dia in the corner again, runs up, but Dia BOOTS and RANAS! Mack bails out, Dai PLANCHAS, and down goes Mack! The fans fire up while both men are down on the outside. Mack crawls away, a fan helps him up, but Dia is after him. Dia puts Mack in the ring, then baits Mack into the leg scissors trip! Dia slingshots in but Mack slides out, so Dia lands on his feet. Dia jumps right back out to ASAI MOONSAULT!

The fans fire up as Dia takes Mack down again! Dia rises, fires himself up, and he goes back for Mack. Dia drags Mack up, puts him in the corner, and then stands him up to CHOP! Mack is stinging, but Dia hoists him up top. Dia CHOPS again, climbs up top, and hits the ASTRO SCISSORS! Mack writhes, Dia covers, TWO! Mack survives and Dia is frustrated, but he fires back up! The fans rally as Dia goes up. D D D D- NO, Mack catches Dia and RAMS him into the corner! And RAMS him again! Mack puts Dia up, ROCKS him, then ROCKS him again! Dia still BOOTS in return! D D- NO, Mack is up top to second rope SPANISH FLY!

The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref starts a double count while Mack and Dia stir. We pass 5 of 10, then 7, but Mack and Dia stand. They back up into each other, and Mack rolls Dia up! TWO, and Dia rolls Mack up! TWO! Dia sunset flips, TWO, and Mack sits on the prawn hold! TWO and Mack rolls through the sunset to stack! TWO and Dia sunsets, TWO! Mack has the cradle, TWO and Dia has the ghost pin! TWO!! Mack escapes, Dia ENZIGIRIS, but Mack rebounds to SUPERKICK! The fans fire up as Mack crawls his way over. Mack goes for the corner and vows to end it! The fans rally as Mack climbs, but Dia stirs.

Mack fires up and NINJA BOMB FLOPS as Dia moves! Mack writhes, Dia runs and goes right up top! D D D- SHURIKEN KICK!!! Cover, MACK WINS!!!

Winner: Ninja Mack, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Dia earns 0)

An incredible antiair attack brings Dia down, and now neither man is going to the finals! Both men still show great promise, will it be better luck next time next year?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Francesco Akira!

Time is running out, and maybe it’s too late, but the Time Splitter and the Crown of Fire are going to fight until the last possible second! But win, lose, or draw, who will be watching and waiting for the final results?

The bell rings and the two tie right up. They break, tie up again, and then break. They tie up again, Kushida headlocks, and he grinds Akira down. Akira powers up and out, but Kushida RUNS him over! Things keep moving, Akira stays low then hurdles over. Akira runs but Kushida HIP TOSSES! Akira rolls while Kushida cartwheels, and Akira is up to duck ‘n’ dodge then RANA! Kushida tumbles out while the fans fire up! Akira builds speed, but Kushida ducks the sliding dropkick! Kushida kicks low, whips, but Akira Tiger Feint Kicks on the apron! The fans fire up with Akira and he drags Kushida up to CHOP!

The fans rally, Akira brings Kushida around the way, and he CHOPS again! Kushida kicks low, puts Akira through the corner to then YANK him into the POST! The fans rally while Akira falls, but Kushida stands on the bad arm! Kushida twists the other arm, then brings Akira up. Kushida puts Akira through the corner again to YANK him back into the POST! Akira falls and clutches his arm, but Kushida leaves him behind to go into the ring. The ring count starts but Akira is back up and in very quickly. Akira CHOPS but Kushida kicks low, then scoops to SLAM! The fans rally, Kushida looms over Akira, then he stomps the bad arm!

Kushida drags Akira up, snap suplexes, then looms over Akira again. Kushida stands Akira up to CHOP! Akira CHOPS back! Akira fires a forearm, but Kushida snapmares and steps over to drop a KNEE on the arm! Kushida clamps onto Akira’s arm for a mounted chicken wing but Akira endures. The fans rally, Akira fights up, but Kushida wrangles him back down. Akira fights up, fires forearms, and runs, only for Kushida to SHOTEI! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Akira stays in this, but Kushida brings him up to ELBOW him in the head. Kushida wrangles Akira again, and has the short arm scissors! Akira endures as Kushida puts on the pressure!

Akira fights around, but Kushida powers him down to keep on the arm scissors! Akira fights around, manages to stack Kushida, TWO! Kushida lets Akira go and the fans rally up. Kushida stalks Akira to the ropes, then wrenches the arm. Kushida grinds Akira’s hand against the ropes! The ref reprimands but Akira clutches his arm. Kushida runs to SHOTGUN the elbow! Akira flounders, Kushida goes up the corner, but Akira ROCKS Kushida! Kushida goes to the apron, Akira steps out to join him, but Kushida KICKS the bad arm! Akira fires forearms but Kushida has the wristlock. Akira wrenches Kushida to WRING Kushida into the apron!

The fans rally while Akira shakes out his arm. Akira runs and builds speed to FLY! Down goes Kushida and the fans fire up! Akira roars, the fans cheer, and Akira drags Kushida up and into the ring. Akira tells Fukuoka, “IKU ZO!” The fans rally with Akira and he climbs up the corner. Kushida hurries to HANDSPRING KICK Akira! Akira wobbles up top and Kushida climbs up after him! Akira fires forearms but Kushida has the HOVERBOARD! The ref reprimands, but Akira fires body shots! Akira HEADBUTTS Kushida and Kushida drops back. Akira CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Akira whips, Kushida reverses, but Akira wheelbarrows!

Akira victory rolls to STOMP 182! The fans cheer and Akira covers, TWO! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Kushida toughs it out and Akira grows frustrated but the fans rally up. They cheer on “A! KI-RA!” and he brings Kushida up. Akira wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER, then goes again! ELBOW BREAKER! Akira wants another, but Kushida wrenches, so Akira rolls him up! TWO, Akira swings but Kushida ducks it! Kushida spins Akira to ROLLING ELBOW! Akira SUPERKICKS! Kushida winds up, but Akira LARIATS first! The fans fire up with Akira, but then Kushida cradles, deadlifts, and BACK TO THE FUTURE!! But Kushida can’t make the cover!

The fans rally while both men stir. Kushida rises and he goes for Akira. Akira grabs at Kushida, as well, and Kushida throws a forearm. Akira fires back! Kushida fires another, so Akira fires back! The fans rally while both men huff ‘n’ puff. Akira blocks the forearm to CLUB the arm! Akira fires a flurry, then eggs Kushida on! Kushida ROCKS Akira, then PENALTY KICKS the arm! Kushida runs, tilt-o-whirl, but Akira fights off the Hoverboard! Clinch and SPEEDFIRE!! Cover, TWO!! Kushida survives and the fans rally for Akira. Akira crawls to the corner, crowns up and NOVA- NO, Kushida ducks the fireball to SLIDE KICK!

Kushida SLIDE KICKS again, and again! Kushida whips, Akira reverses, but Kushida handsprings, into the reverse clinch! GROUND TARANTULA, but Kushida turns things over to a backslide! TWO!!! Akira escapes, but Kushida wrenches him and spins him for another backslide! Akira rolls through to SUPERKICK! Akira roars, the fans fire up with him, and NOVA- BODY SCISSOR TAKEDOWN! HOVERBOARD!! Akira is caught and Kushida cranks on that bad arm! Akira powers up to slip free of the body scissors! Akira shifts and finds the angle, GROUND TARANTULA!! Kushida endures, Akira PULLS on the arm, KUSHIDA TAPS! AKIRA WINS!!

Winner: Francesco Akira, by submission (gains 2 points; Kushida earns 0)

The Time Splitter could not put out the fire, and Akira still has life! But will this be enough for Akira to be a finalist? Or will he be extinguished by another’s victory?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

The Way of the Grandmaster fell in the main event of last round, but he still has a chance to be in the finals! Will he stay alive just a little longer? Or will the Heel Master pour some whiskey on Wato’s dreams?

Well, to start, Kanemaru attacks during Wato’s entrance! The fans boo as Kanemaru kicks and CLUBS Wato! Kanemaru POSTS Wato, Wato falls over, and Kanemaru stomps him down! The ref reprimands but Kanemaru tells him to shut up. Kanemaru leaves Wato behind and wants the ring count. The ref has the bell ring first, and now a ring count can start. Wato rises at 3 of 20, is on the apron, but Kanemaru runs up. Wato RAMS Kanemaru, takes aim, but Kanemaru shoves the ref into Wato! Wato falls, as does the ref, and the fans boo as Kanemaru goes out after Wato! Kanemaru POSTS Wato again!

Kanemaru brings out chairs, puts on one Wato’s leg, then SLAMS the other chair on top of it! Not quite a Con-Chair-To but it gets the job done. Kanemaru SMASHES Wato’s knee on the floor, then goes back to the ring. The ref reprimands but Kanemaru lets Wato writhe. Wato clutches his knee while the ring count starts again. Wato crawls but he’s still down at 10 of 20. Wato reaches for the apron at 15, stands at 17, but manages to jump in at 19! Kanemaru YANKS the bad leg, stomps away on Wato, then stands him up. Kanemaru whips, but Wato can’t even run! The ref checks Wato but Kanemaru is right on those legs!

Kanemaru chuckles as he holds Wato open, but then he gives the ref one leg so Kanemaru can split the wishbone! Wato flounders, stands, and Kanemaru DROPKICKS the legs out! Kanemaru then grabs a leg to YANK it! Kanemaru stomps Wato more, taunts him, then drags him back up. Kanemaru has the leg for the SHIN BREAKER! And then he turns Wato over, HALF CRAB! Wato endures and the fans rally while Kanemaru sits deep! Kanemaru pulls on the leg, but Wato scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Kanemaru won’t let go! The ref counts, Kanemaru finally lets go at 4, and he drags Wato right back up.

Kanemaru whips, but Wato still can’t run that well! Wato tumbles to the apron, then slips to the floor. Kanemaru goes right after Wato to SMASH the knee on the floor! The fans rally for Wato while he writhes but Kanemaru leaves him behind. The ref checks with Wato but Wato won’t let this stop him. The ring counts as Kanemaru waits on Wato. Wato is still down at 10 of 20, just like last time. Wato slowly rises and stands at 16. Wato rolls in at 17 and the fans cheer, but Kanemaru grabs the legs for a FIGURE FOUR! Wato endures, the fans rally, but Kanemaru puts on the pressure! Wato flails, reaches out, and he drags Kanemaru along! ROPEBREAK!!

The fans cheer and Kanemaru makes the ref help him undo the hold. Wato grits his teeth and clutches his leg but the fans still rally behind him. Kanemaru stomps Wato, stomps the leg, then kicks him around. Wato stands to CHOP! And CHOP! Kanemaru KICKS the leg! Kanemaru whips Wato but Wato again falls! The leg is in bad shape but Wato refuses to give up. Wato stands, Kanemaru runs up, but Wato ELBOWS him! And BULLDOGS! The fans fire up as Wato powers through the pain! Wato crawls over to Kanemaru and fires up! The fans rally again and Wato wrenches Kanemaru. Kanemaru fights the Recientemente and goes after that leg!

Kanemaru runs, but Wato blocks the boot to spin and ZIGZAG! The fans fire up, Wato brings Kanemaru up, and Wato wrenches to RECIENTEMENTE! Cover, TWO!! Kanemaru survives but Wato just fires up again! The fans are with him as he waistlocks and TSUTEN- NO, Kanemaru grabs the ref! Kanemaru mule kicks the leg! Then he KICKS the other leg! Then he trips Wato to step through, FIGURE FOUR!! Wato endures, the fans rally as hard as they can, but Kanemaru puts on the pressure! Wato reaches out but he’s so far away! Wato pushes against the main leg, he grabs at the ref, but that won’t save him!

Wait, what is SHO doing here?! The Murder Machine is in B Block, but the House of Torture boys will always help each other cheat! The ref keeps Sho back, but Yujiro Takahashi is also here! Tokyo Pimp slides the whiskey bottle to Kanemaru! Kanemaru CLUBS away on Wato’s leg with that bottle!! The fans boo as Wato can only suffer! Kanemaru puts even more pressure on the hold, and WATO TAPS!! Kanemaru wins!!

Winner: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, by submission (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)

Kanemaru’s game plan to go after the legs was working well enough, he didn’t need the House’s help! But perhaps Kanemaru wanted to stoop to these lows in order to win! And now Sho & Yujiro help stomp away on Wato! But here comes Yoh! Direct Drive saves his tag partner and runs off The House! He even gets a chair! Yoh wants them to man up, but that’s not happening. But now, with Hiromu Takahashi having beat Wato and issuing the tag title challenge, and now Kanemaru winning tonight… Could we really be seeing such an odd couple as Timebomb & Heel Master going for the tag titles?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Clark Connors!

One down, two to go. Wato is out of the running after Kanemaru cut him off at the knees, so to speak. Will the Japanese Young Punk fight his way into the finals? Or will 100 Proof bring down even the mighty?

The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. They feel things out, but then Connors KNEES low! Connors CLUBS Fujita, headlocks, but Fujita powers up and out. Connors RUNS Fujita over, the fans are torn, but Connors barks. The fans bark with the War Dog and he runs. Fujita stays low, then bypasses Connors to DROPKICK! The fans cheer while Connors bails out, and Fujita runs. Connors moves aside but Fujita goes to the apron. PENALTY KICK! Fujita sets up, Connors avoids the Asai Moonsault, and Fujita staggers to his feet for the JEEP FLIPPER! Connors tells fans to move so they move! Connors BOWLS Fujita into the chairs! STRIKE!

Connors tells more fans to move, then he drags Fujita up from the chairs. Connors BOWLS Fujita again, not quite a strike but close. Connors picks up the spare by stomping Fujita down. Red Shoes reprimands and wants this in the ring. Connors drags Fujita up and over, but Fujita fires body shots. Connors CLUBS Fujita, then POSTS him! Fujita falls in a heap and the fans rally up. Connors says it is time. He brings out WHEEL-SAN! The fans are torn, Red Shoes reprimands, but Connors shoves him aside! Connors SLAMS Wheel-san onto Fujita’s back! Red Shoes reprimands but Connors brings Wheel-san to the apron.

Connors aims, and he SUPER SLAMS Wheel-san onto Fujita! Fujita writhes and the fans are torn, but Connors throws up the Too Sweet. Robbie Eagles is here via commentary so he checks on his teammate and friend. Fujita is still in this so Connors lets the ring count start. The fans rally and Fujita is still down at 10 of 20. Fujita crawls at 12, rises at 14, but he flounders at 16! The fans rally harder, and Fujita springs in at 19.5! Connors hauls Fujita up to whip him hard into a corner! Fujita falls and Connors covers, TWO! Connors drags Fujita up, whips him hard into another corner, and he lets Fujita fall again.

Fujita writhes, Connors paces, and he stomps Fujita’s back! Connors drags Fujita up, reels him in, and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Fujita stays in this but Connors stays on him with a knee to the back and a chinlock clamped on! Fujita endures, reaches out, but Connors drags him from the ropes! Connors digs his knee into Fujita’s back, and puts a lot of extra pressure on that chinlock. Fujita still fights his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Connors lets go in frustration. Connors drags Fujita back up to snap suplex again! The fans rally and Connors aims from a corner. BANG and Connors runs in, but Fujita drop toeholds!

Fujita ties the legs up fast and has the Deathlock! Fujita has the chinlock now, but Connors endures! Connors bends Fujita’s fingers, Red Shoes reprimands, and Connors lets go  to scramble forward, ROPEBREAK! Fujita undoes the leglock and protests about the fingers, but Connors huffs ‘n’ puffs. Connors brings Fujita up, whips, but Fujita LEG LARIATS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Fujita and Connors go to ropes, the fans rally up, and Fujita runs in at the corner. Fujita CHOPS Connors, snapmares, then goes up and out! The fans rally and Fujita springboards, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Connors stays in this, but Fujita shakes his head. Fujita has the legs, he turns Connors over, and he has the BOSTON CRAB! Fujita sits down deep on Connors’ bad back! Connors powers up, reaches out, but Fujita drags him back to have the HALF CRAB! Fujita puts all he has into pulling that leg back, but Connors still crawls forward! Connors fights to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Fujita lets go, and Connors clutches his back. Fujita drags Connors up and reels him in, but Connors fights the suplex! Fujita powers through, Connors wrenches, but Fujita CHOPS! Fujita runs, but Connors SNAP POWERSLAMS!

The fans cheer and rally up while both men are down! Connors rises, brings Fujita around, but Fujita fights off No Chaser! Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Connors fights the lift., Connors switches, lifts, but Fujita throws elbows! Fujita waistlocks, Connors fights the lift, and Connors reaches out! ROPEBREAK! Fujita KICKS the arms, O’Conner Roll and CHAOS- NO, Connors fights free, runs, but Fujita pops him up into the waistlock! Connors fights free again, and LARIATS! But Fujita is right up!? Connors runs in, Fujita dodges, pop up and GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Connors stays in this but Fujita roars!

The fans fire up and Fujita vows to end this. Fujita drags Connors up, fisherman and torture rack! But Connors fights free, and he ROCKS Fujita in the back! TROPHY KILLER!! Cover, TWO!! Fujita survives Connors’ old finisher, but Connors drops back and runs in, BLINDSIDE SPEAR!! Connors is targeting Fujita’s back as much as Fujita is Connors’! Connors reloads, runs in again, SPEAR to the front!! Cover, TWO?!?! Fujita survives and the fans fire up! Connors is shocked, but he roars and drags Fujita back up. NO CHASE- NO, Fujita fights free! But Connors blocks the kick, spins him, and TROPHY KILLER BACKBREAKER!!

Fujita writhes, the fans rally, and Connors aims again. Fujita rises, Connors runs up, but Fujita BOOTS him first! Connors comes back, SPEAR meets DOUBLE STOMPS!! Fujita then clamps on the Deathlock! He has the arms, NEMOS SPECIAL!!! Connors endures but Fujita bends him back!! Connors flails, but he TAPS! Fujita wins!!!

Winner: Kosei Fujita, by submission (gains 2 points; Connors earns 0)

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, they don’t give up, and perhaps, they are still in this race! Will the Japanese Young Punk fight until the very end? Or will was this the last win he’ll get in BOSJ 32?

Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS Robbie X!

It is apropos that the most decorated man, the FOUR-TIME BOSJ winner, is in the main event of the ninth and final round. If he wins, he moves on to potentially grabbing number five! But if he loses, it will be Kosei Fujita’s time to shine. Will Robbie take Hiromu to the X-treme? Or will the Ticking Timebomb still have time on the clock?

The bell rings and the fans rally for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” Robbie shrugs that off as he and Hiromu circle. They run up and DOUBLE LARIAT! They stay up, and Robbie ducks Hiromu’s elbow. Hiromu dodges in return and headlocks, only for Robbie to power up and out. Hiromu RUNS Robbie over, Robbie kips up, but Hiromu CHOPS him down! Robbie kips up again, kicks low, then runs, but Hiromu DROPKICKS the legs! Hiromu whips, Robbie reverses, but Hiromu still dropkicks the legs out! Robbie bails out, Hiromu fires the fans up, but then Hiromu waits as Robbie hobbles around. Hiromu goes out, Robbie slides in, then Robbie HANDSPRING KICKS!

The fans rally as Hiromu is on the floor, and Robbie PLANCHAS! Down goes Hiromu and the fans cheer. Robbie takes a fan’s Hiromu pillow, rubs it in Hiromu’s face, then SMACKS him with it! Robbie then tells fans to move as he fetches Hiromu. Fans rally for Hiromu but Robbie BOWLS Hiromu into chairs! The fans are torn as Robbie hits the strike, but Robbie also flips off the Hiromu fans. Robbie stomps Hiromu, then grabs a fan’s Hiromu towel to CHOKE Hiromu with it! Robbie throws it back at the fan, and in a way that towel is more valuable because it touched Hiromu. Robbie then drags Hiromu up to bring him to another section!

The fans hurry away, Robbie whips, but Hiromu reverses to BOWL Robbie into chairs! The fans fire up as Hiromu gets even with Robbie! Hiromu storms over to bring Robbie up, and CHOP! The fans cheer and Hiromu CHPOS Robbie again! They go through the crowd, and Robbie CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes! Robbie CHOPS Hiromu, laughs at him and the fans, then brings Hiromu back to ringside. Robbie ROCKS Hiromu, and then he takes chairs from the crowd! Robbie refreshes the count before he makes Hiromu take a swat. Robbie CHOPS Hiromu, sets the other chair up nearby, and he tells the fans he’s gonna end Hiromu!

Robbie runs, uses the chair to launch himself, CANNONBALL! Direct hit and Robbie says, “I’m a replacement, huh?” Robbie knows he filled Bushi’s spot when Bushi exited from NJPW, but he isn’t going to let that label him! Robbie puts Hiromu in the ring, then he stomps Hiromu. Robbie drops an elbow on Hiromu’s arm, then wrings it to stomp it! The fans rally while Hiromu writhes, but Robbie clamps on a chinlock. Hiromu endures the grind, fights up, but Robbie wrangles him to the mat. Hiromu kicks around and finds the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts, Robbie lets go, but then Robbie KICKS Hiromu in the back.

Robbie eggs Hiromu on but Hiromu rises up. Robbie ROCKS Hiromu then eggs him on. Robbie CLAWS Hiromu’s back, but Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! Robbie ROCKS Hiromu, runs, but Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! Robbie stands, hobbles, but makes it to Hiromu to fire forearms. Robbie whips, Hiromu reverses, then he blows past to RANA Robbie! Robbie staggers to a corner, Hiromu goes to the opposite end, then Hiromu runs in! LARIAT, snapmare, and basement DROPKICK! The fans fire up while Robbie bails out. Hiromu goes to the apron, lines up a shot, and SHOTGUN DROPKICKS!

The fans fire up as Hiromu rises, and he goes for Robbie. Hiromu puts Robbie in, covers, TWO! Robbie shakes his head, he’s tougher than that, but Hiromu stays close. Hiromu brings Robbie up, fireman’s carries, but Robbie fights  it. Hiromu throws Robbie into the dragon sleeper, Robbie spins around, but Hiromu still suplexes. Robbie knees Hiromu, then Robbie suplexes to hang Hiromu out to dry! Robbie then goes to the corner, climbs up, and GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMPS! Robbie hobbles his way back to the cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Hiromu stays in this! Robbie hobbles around, shakes out the legs, and goes back for Hiromu.

Robbie drags Hiromu up, reels him in, but Hiromu fights the lift! Hiromu wrenches out but Robbie CHOPS first! Robbie runs in, LARIATS, then puts a leg in ropes! Robbie KICKS the rope, then he SPIN KICKS! STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives and the fans rally up again. Robbie vows to end this, but Hiromu anchors a leg! Robbie stomps Hiromu, stomps him some more, then goes up the corner. The fans rally for Hiromu, and Hiromu rises to CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS Robbie again, then climbs up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, SUPER TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!!! Robbie survives and the fans fire up!

Hiromu is frustrated but he rises up using the ropes. The fans rally and Hiromu has Robbie again! Fireman’s carry, and CORNER DEATH VALLEY! The fans fire up with Hiromu and he fireman’s carries again! TIMEBOMB- NO, Robbie sunset flips and stacks! TWO!! Robbie runs up, Hiromu BOOTS him, and Hiromu goes up! Robbie PELES and Hiromu falls! Robbie roars, rises, and climbs, X EX- NO, Hiromu dodges! Robbie comes back, but into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX into the corner! The fans fire up while both men are down! Red Shoes checks both men, they’re both able to continue, and the fans rally back up.

Hiromu crawls away and the fans chant for him. Robbie stirs, Hiromu heads back for him, and Hiromu stands Robbie up. Hiromu fires a forearm, Robbie staggers away to ropes, but Robbie comes back. Robbie fires a forearm, but Hiromu fires another. Robbie fires a forearm, Hiromu fires a forearm, and Robbie fires another! Both men wobble, but they rise up, and Hiromu fires a flurry! Robbie drops to his knees, but he flips Hiromu off! Hiromu grins, and he bends that finger! Hiromu CHOPS Robbie, then reels him in for VICTORY- NO, Robbie slips free of the suplex, waistlocks, but Hiromu fights the suplex!

Hiromu switches but Robbie runs and handsprings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! But Robbie’s right back up!? Robbie roars, runs up, and he slips around to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Hiromu is right back up! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, both men drop to their knees, but they go forehead to forehead! They stand, Robbie ducks a kick to SUPERKICK! Hiromu SUPERKICKS anyway! Robbie says F U and hits a PELE! Robbie runs, handsprings, but into a BACKSTABBER! Robbie writhes, Hiromu runs, HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!! Robbie survives and the fans fire up again! Hiromu feeds off the energy and he storms over to Robbie.

Hiromu drags Robbie up, fireman’s carries, and TIMEBOMB 1.5!! But that’s not all! Hiromu fireman’s carries again, but Robbie bends Hiromu’s fingers! And then he BITES them! Red Shoes reprimands, Hiromu takes a swing, but Robbie dodges! Handspring, LETHAL INJECTION X!! Robbie says F Hiromu! Another LETHAL INJECTION X!!! And now he goes up the corner! X EXPRESS!!! Cover, ROBBIE WINS!?!

Winner: Robbie X, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Connors earns 0)

So what if he was the underdog? So what if he’s last place? So what if he replaced Bushi in the block? Robbie X just beat the most decorated Super Junior alive today! And that means the winner of A Block is KOSEI FUJITA! Hiromu is furious, but Fujita walks back out here to have the spotlight! Fujita and Hiromu cross paths, and Hiromu pats Fujita on the shoulder as he exits. Fujita goes to the ring, and Robbie invites him in given Robbie won the main event. Robbie tells Fujita to get this in his little brain: Robbie beat Fujita, he beat Hiromu, so… If Fujita wins this whole thing and beats El Desperado, do what is right!

Robbie wants the first championship match with Fujita! The fans like that, and Fujita nods in agreement. Robbie leaves, will Mr. X have his chance at gold? As for Fujita, he grabs the mic to say, “Sorry to those of you who may have wanted to hear more from Robbie X. But if I’m in the position of naming challengers, then I will give him the first title shot.” The fans applaud, and Fujita continues on. “I won this A Block.” The fans applaud that, too, and Fujita says he’ll take “all the hope, hate and then I’ll win. That’s all!” The Japanese Young Punk keeps it short and sweet, but will the Ichiban Sweet Boy become the Best of the Super Juniors?

Here are the FINAL A Block standings!

Kosei Fujita: 5-4, 10 points [FINALIST]
Hiromu Takahashi: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Master Wato: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Francesco Akira: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Clark Connors: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
KUSHIDA: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Ninja Mack: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Dragon Dia: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Robbie X: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

An awesome start to the ninth round, and it is always fun to have these final playoff scenarios sort out. Mack VS Dia was great, even for not affecting anything, and I really do hope these two guys become the next big thing. I figured Kanemaru would screw Wato over with help from Sho & Yujiro, and this definitely feeds into the tag title story that involves Hiromu. Fujita overcoming Connors and Robbie X getting the upset on Hiromu was all awesome stuff, and I like the gentlemen’s agreement that Robbie will be the lineal contender should Fujita win the title. B Block is going to be awesome, I’m sure, and there are all sorts of great choices for Fujita’s opponent.

My Score: 9.1/10