Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Report: Dominion 2018, Part 1 & 2!
AXS TV speeds up their NJPW coverage by giving us two hours of Dominion! In Part 1, it will be both the NEVER Openweight and IWGP Jr. Heavyweight titles on the line! Then in Part 2, it’ll be the IWGP Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships. Will Los Ingobernables de Japon win or lose those precious titles?
This review of Dominion 2018 will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Therefore, all images are courtesy of AXS TV.
Gifs courtesy of http://frentique.tumblr.com
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Part 1 –Â NEVER Openweight Championship Triple Threat: Hirooki Goto VS Michael Elgin VS Taichi w/ Miho Abe; Elgin wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
- Part 1 –Â IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins and becomes the new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion.
- Part 2 –Â IWGP Tag Team Championships: EVIL & SANADA VS The Young Bucks; The Young Bucks win and become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions.
- Part 2 –Â IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito VS Chris Jericho; Jericho wins and becomes the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV review what has led to Part 1!
The Best of the Super Juniors 25 had a 5.5 Star finale with The Ticking Time Bomb defeating the new Bone Soldier, Taiji Ishimori. Hiromu has faced Will Ospreay in the past, but the Aerial Assassin has had an amazing 2018 as he’s defeated Marty Scurll, Kushida and Hiromu both all at once and individually. They go one more time, will Ospreay retain? Or will Hiromu explode and shock the world?
Meanwhile, Chaos’ Fierce Warrior, Hirooki Goto, has retained his NEVER Openweight title time and time again, but in 1v1 matches. Now he has two challengers in the Unbreakable Mike Elgin then the Sliest Wrestler in the World, Taichi. A rare triple threat for the title, will Goto overcome this new challenge? Or will he be dethroned to crown a new NEVER king?
NEVER Openweight Championship Triple Threat: Hirooki Goto VS Michael Elgin VS Taichi w/ Miho Abe!
The ego of Taichi sparked the anger of the Fierce Warrior, and so without hesitation, Goto decided he would face both men to prove his dominance. Has Goto gotten himself over his head? Or will he rise to the challenge he put on himself?
Taichi, ever the dramatic one, waits to take his cape and mask off until the other two men already removed their extra gear. The bell rings and we begin. Fans are already loud for the champion as he approaches his challengers. But then Goto and Elgin realize Taichi is the real problem maker here, so they go after him. Taichi gets to ropes for safety, so they back off. Elgin and Goto both dare Taichi to come back. Taichi does, and the three circle. But again, Taichi finds himself against them both so he leaves the ring. There are no count outs so he doesn’t have to worry about losing this way. Goto and Elgin tie up, and that’s when Taichi rushes back in! He rolls Goto, but Elgin breaks that cover.
Elgin whips Taichi, but Taichi slides out. Taichi relaxes while Goto and Elgin brawl with big forearms and elbows. Elgin and Goto go back and forth while Taichi paces about. Goto gets a headlock but Elgin powers out. They collide with shoulders, and neither man backs down. Elgin shouts for Goto to bring it, so Goto runs. They collide again with no change, so Taichi rushes in again. But he runs into kicks from both men, and then a double whip. He holds ropes to bail out again, having a laugh at the other two. Taichi brings Miho Abe over, and she serves as a perky distraction for a moment. Elgin shakes it off to waistlock Goto, but Goto standing switches. He elbows out while the referee has Miho climb down. Elgin runs, but Goto follows, only for Elgin to enziguri! Fans applaud for that athleticism.
Elgin suplexes but Goto slips out to a waistlock. Elgin standing switches but Taichi returns. Taichi runs in but Goto evades so the boot goes into Elgin. Elgin goes out while Goto kicks Taichi. Goto runs but into Elgin’s shoulder. Elgin slingshots over but Taichi kicks him. Goto grabs Elgin, but Elgin boots Taichi away to then standing switch and shove Goto at Taichi. Goto collides with Taichi and Taichi staggers to ropes. Elgin lifts Goto but Goto fights out to standing switch and shoves Elgin at Taichi. Taichi kicks Elgin, then Goto clubs Elgin. Then they both roundhouse Elgin down! Taichi smirks, wanting to make this the partnership now. Goto says no with a slap, a kick, and a snap suplex onto Elgin! Then another snap suplex, and Goto goes back to Elgin.
Goto tries but can’t suplex Elgin up and over, but Elgin lifts and gordbusters Goto onto Taichi! But Goto makes that a cover, so Elgin has to break it up. Elgin drags Goto up while Taichi rolls away. Elgin chops Goto, then gives a big forearm. He whips Goto corner to corner, but misses his corner attack. Goto goes after Taichi but Taichi dodges to hit Elgin with a corner clothesline. Goto runs back in, Taichi dodges again, so Goto hits Elgin. Taichi runs into a kick, but reverses the whip. Elgin puts Goto on the apron, then side steps Taichi to send Taichi into Goto! Goto goes down, Elgin German Suplexes Taichi! Elgin holds on while fans applaud and Miho grows concerned.
Elgin brings Taichi up, but Taichi grabs ropes. But Elgin ignores the ropebreak to bring Taichi backward into a double chicken wing. Taichi resists and stomps Elgin’s foot, then ducks Elgin’s lariat. Taichi enziguris Elgin! Elgin is dazed and down to his knees. Taichi brings Elgin back up, but Elgin drops down to resist the lift. Goto returns and drags Taichi out of the ring. Taichi rakes the eyes, but he and Goto still brawl. Elgin sees his opening, and FLIES!
Big Mike bowls both Goto and Taichi over, but we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Elgin walks over to Taichi. Miho begs he not, but Elgin doesn’t care. He puts Taichi in the ring and the fans rally. Elgin aims at Taichi and runs in corner to corner for a big clothesline. He goes again, but runs into a boot. Goto returns and hits a saido suplex on Elgin. Goto runs but misses Taichi. Taichi kicks in return, then runs for a big lariat. Cover, TWO! Off comes the pants! Taichi aims at Goto, but Goto catches the kick into a fireman’s carry and Ushigoroshi! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Goto keeps his focus. Goto drags Taichi up, and hoists him onto the top rope. Goto climbs up to join Taichi, but Elgin comes in and clubs Goto. Elgin yanks Goto down, then climbs up after Taichi. Goto clubs Elgin and SUPER back suplexes Elgin down!
Goto goes back to Taichi, clubs away then brings Taichi up. Taichi resists, but he rakes the face, too. Goto headbutts back, but Elgin returns! Elgin climbs up, sunset flips in, Tower of Doom!! Taichi hits with a lot of momentum off that superplex, and he writhes all the way to the opposite end. Elgin stands and fires up as he has his pick of the two. He goes for Taichi, brings him up, and throws him out of the ring. Elgin targets Goto, but Goto meets him for clotheslines. They collide but stay standing! They try again, but another solid collision. One more time, but Goto swats Elgin’s arm away. Goto runs, but Elgin swats his arm away. Elgin throws forearms from both sides, then spins, but Goto fireman’s carry.
Elgin dodges to try the full nelson, but Goto breaks free. In that case, Elgin shovels Goto onto his shoulders! Electric Chair with Bridge! TWO!! Elgin can’t believe it, but he won’t lose his focus. Elgin drags Goto back up, but Goto resists the driver or bomb Elgin wants. Goto back drops Elgin, then runs in at the corner. Goto blocks one boot but not the other. Elgin boots, then SUPERKICKS, then enziguri, but Goto ducks that one. Goto runs, but his clothesline only staggers Elgin. Elgin fires up but Goto headbutts him. Goto lifts Elgin, spin to another Ushigoroshi! He keeps going, GTR Forward! Cover, TWO!! Elgin survives, but Goto is not deterred.
Taichi’s back, and he’s back to using Miho as a tool. She’s in the ring, but the ref spots her. Goto grabs Elgin for the dragon sleeper, but Taichi has grabbed his mic stand! Taichi smashes Goto in the head, then Elgin! Miho exits and Taichi gets away with it. Taichi laughs at his own brilliance while fans rally for Goto and Elgin. Taichi fires up and aims at Goto. Goto staggers, into a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! And Taichi is shocked! But he still grins as he targets Goto again. Goto sits up, for the buzzsaw! Then, the chicken wing cradle, but Elgin returns to deadlift Taichi up for a Buckle Bomb! Elgin keeps going on Taichi, and sees Goto in another corner. Elgin bombs Taichi onto Goto! Then gives Taichi a sit-out powerbomb!
Cover, Elgin WINS!!
Winner: Michael Elgin, by pinfall;Â NEW NEVER Openweight Champion
Big Mike gets a big win on two big names! Elgin becomes the 18th champion ever, and the titles first Canadian! And fittingly, Taichi is the one to lose, as he goaded both Goto and Elgin into this match. Elgin and Goto stand face to face, knowing this isn’t truly settled until they face 1v1. Where and when will these two get their desired showdown to prove who is truly worthy of that title?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Hiromu Takahashi!
The Ticking Time Bomb won the 25th Best of the Super Juniors tournament to earn this newest chance at the Aerial Assassin’s title. But between the broken win on his trophy and his track record against the Aerial Assassin, does he have a chance at truly becoming the Best of the Junior Heavyweight Division? Or will Ospreay’s stellar roll through 2018 blow up in shocking fashion?
The belt is shown and the fans rally behind Hiromu. The bell rings and we begin. Ospreay runs and boots Hiromu, and they ignite into a forearm brawl back and forth! Ospreay backs Hiromu down, sweeps the legs, but runs into an overhead throw! He hits the buckle hard, then goes to the apron. Hiromu runs, but Ospreay holds on against the flying sunset powerbomb. Ospreay hops down to bring Hiromu over to the ramp. He suplexes, but Hiromu slips out to a waistlock. Hiromu tries to German Suplex Ospreay off, but Ospreay slips down and out. Ospreay trips Hiromu and Hiromu hits the ramp. Ospreay then gets up, gets a running start, and FLIES!!
The Aerial Assassin was like a missile as he hits Hiromu down! Hiromu is lucky it was just a graze or that could’ve been even worse. The referee checks on both men, but both men are okay to continue. Ospreay takes some time to pull up the floor mats! The 20 count reaches 10 as Ospreay brings Hiromu over for double underhooks. Hiromu resists, and Ospreay realizes the count is climbing, so he ditches this dangerous idea to put Hiromu back in the ring. Ospreay brings Hiromu up but Hiromu chops away. Ospreay kicks back then puts Hiromu in a corner for a running European Uppercut. He sweeps the legs again, and this time hits his corner to corner dropkick! Cover, TWO, but Ospreay keeps his cool.
Fans still chant for Hiromu but Ospreay points out he’s the champion here. Ospreay brings Hiromu up for a EuroUpper, then another. Hiromu falls, but Ospreay wraps his arm in a hammerlock while going for the other arm. Hiromu endures being bent back into the armlock recliner! It’s a cover, ONE, but Ospreay is still confidently calm. Hiromu gets out of the ring, clutching his shoulder now. The 20 count returns, but Ospreay pursues. Ospreay clubs the bad shoulder, then whips Hiromu into railing. Ospreay stalks Hiromu, and drags him back up. He pulls Hiromu into a post!
Ospreay puts Hiromu into the ring, then drags him back up. Ospreay goes after the arm with the shoulder breaker. Hiromu rests against ropes but Ospreay is on him again. Ospreay pulls the arm through the ropes to wrench it, then kicks Hiromu in the back. The champion is in control while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns, and Ospreay brings Hiromu back up for a snapmare. Ospreay puts Hiromu in a seated abdominal stretch and also pulls back on the arm. Fans rally for Hiromu, and Hiromu stands up to fight back. Ospreay gives Hiromu a forearm, then whips, but Hiromu dodges to headscissor Ospreay! Hiromu stands while Ospreay goes to a corner. Hiromu runs in, clothesline and roll to the basement dropkick. Ospreay rolls out, but Hiromu is on the apron for the flying John Woo dropkick! Hiromu hits Ospreay down, and Ospreay’s shoulder tape has come completely off. They go back into the ring, and Hiromu climbs up top. Hiromu hits the flying senton! Cover, TWO!
Fans still rally for Hiromu, and he looms over Ospreay. Hiromu brings Ospreay up for a fireman’s carry, but Ospreay slips out. Ospreay waistlocks but Hiromu hits back with back elbows. Hiromu whips but Ospreay reverses. They both run, but Ospreay runs into a pop-up sit-out powerbomb! High stack cover, TWO! Hiromu was so close, but he won’t lose focus yet. Hiromu stands and stalks Ospreay to a corner. He chops Ospreay, then chops again, but Ospreay fires up. Hiromu digs his fingers into Ospreay’s face! He breaks up at 4, then whips Ospreay corner to corner. Ospreay enziguris back, then hits with an elevated 619! Ospreay goes to a corner and springboards in for a flying clothesline!
Direct hit, but Ospreay doesn’t cover yet. He stands up, making sure his neck and shoulders are good. He aims at Hiromu, but Hiromu avoids the spin kick. Hiromu runs at Ospreay, but Ospreay catches him into a dragon sleeper! Ospreay lifts Hiromu but Hiromu slips out. Hiromu shoves Ospreay but Ospreay stops himself, only to run into a boot. Hiromu grabs Ospreay in the hanging triangle! The referee counts but Ospreay breaks out to kick Hiromu down. Ospreay runs, and FLIES with the Sasuke Special! Direct hit! Ospreay stands up and brings Hiromu over. They go back into the ring, and Ospreay brings Hiromu up. Dragon sleeper, inverted suplex to side slam! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally for Hiromu but Ospreay vows to finish this. Ospreay runs, springboards, but into a German Suplex! Fans rally for Hiromu again while both men are down. Ospreay sits up first, but Hiromu rolls towards ropes. Hiromu and Ospreay sit up on their knees, and Hiromu gives a forearm first. Ospreay hits back, but so does Hiromu. They glare at each other as they hit again and again. They stand up as they fight, but start to stagger. Hiromu shouts for Ospreay to get up, so Ospreay hits back. The forearm brawl continues, and Hiromu gives shots from both sides. Ospreay gives one big shot and Hiromu is rocked. But Hiromu SUPERKICKS, then runs, only for Ospreay to hit his flip kick.
Ospreay enziguris but Hiromu ducks under to then waistlock. Ospreay standing but Hiromu breaks free, then Hiromu ducks the hook kick to get the German Suplex! But Ospreay stands to flip kick again, and hit that enziguri, to Reverse-Rana! But then Hiromu stands and wants his own, only for Ospreay to slip out and give Hiromu another Reverse-Rana! Ospreay keeps going, bringing Hiromu up in the double underhook. He lifts, but Hiromu sunset flip powerbombs first!
The fans are all fired up, even though neither man stands. Both men stir, and Ospreay gets to ropes. Hiromu follows and joins him on the apron. They both stand up, and Hiromu grins as he gives Ospreay a forearm. Ospreay hits back, but so does Hiromu. Ospreay gives another shot, but Hiromu gives many more in return. Hiromu lifts Ospreay but Osprey slips back into the ring to hook kick Hiromu! Ospreay climbs up and brings Hiromu over, to deadlift SUPERPLEX! But he rolls through, to hang Hiromu up on the top rope. Ospreay climbs again, and aims at Hiromu, for a Burning Star Press! But he isn’t done there, he goes back up again. Ospreay aims, Red Arrow! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay is shocked he hasn’t won while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay stands back up. Ospreay brings Hiromu up, double underhooks, but Hiromu fights out. Hiromu ends up on the top rope and kicks Ospreay away. Hiromu then turns and leaps for a Destroyer piledriver! Ospreay stands up but is out on his feet, so Hiromu drags Ospreay down into the triangle hold! Hiromu pulls on Ospreay, squeezes Ospreay, but Ospreay fights up and deadlifts Hiromu into a bomb! But Hiromu holds on! Fans are thunderous as the two fight, Hiromu squeezing and Ospreay fading. Ospreay gets another lift, and makes it a package driver!
Hiromu only sits up from being out cold. Ospreay sits up while the referee checks on Hiromu. The fans are thunderous, but the Robinson Special hits! Ospreay wants it, so he runs and springboards, but Hiromu shoves him to the apron. HIromu runs, and leaps over to sunset powerbomb Ospreay near the open patch of ground! Ospreay surely regrets moving some of those aside. Hiromu puts him in the ring, then brings him up, fireman’s carry to Time Bomb! Cover, TWO!? Ospreay survives?! Hiromu can’t believe it, but fans are still thunderous for him.
Hiromu stands and has Ospreay up again, but Ospreay pops out of the swing to roundhouse Hiromu! Then, hook kick! Hiromu fires up and swings, but Ospreay deflects and counters with a heel kick! Hiromu is out again, but Ospreay won’t leave it at this. Ospreay drags Hiromu up, double underhooks, but Hiromu arm-drags into a triangle! Ospreay endures as Hiromu squeezes. Another deadlift, but Hiromu reverses into the D Driver!!
Hiromu crawls away, but he’s not done. Fireman’s carry, Death Valley into the corner! Fans are at a fever pitch as Hiromu brings Ospreay up, for another Ticking Time Bomb!!
Cover, Hiromu WINS!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall; NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion
He’s done it! Hiromu has prove himself THE Best of the Super Juniors by dethroning the Aerial Assassin! This is only his second reign with this title, but it means so much more to have won it after all the hard fought matches. Now he brings back both the BoSJ trophy and the Jr. Heavyweight Championship belt home to Los Ingobernables. How long will Hiromu be able to say he is the best of the best of the Jr. Heavyweight Division?
Backstage interviews.
Will Ospreay pats himself on the back over putting up a good fight, but he isn’t done just yet. He’ll walk out with his head held high. Don’t count Ospreay out of NJPW just yet.
Hiromu Takahashi says it was a long battle, but he got the upper hand. He rests with his trophy and belt and says it’s no mistake. His is now the strongest Jr. heavyweight in the world. He’s the face of the division. No, of ALL of NJPW! Will Hiromu’s stock continue to rise? Or will Ospreay be back to blow him up in return?
NJPW and AXS TV review what has led to Part 2!
Los Ingobernables de Japon is under attack from all sides, and their championship belts are the primary targets. Chris Jericho made his return to NJPW in shockingly violent fashion when he suddenly attacked Tetsuya Naito from the crowd! Y2J would bash Naito open with the ring bell, and make the newly minted IWGP Intercontinental Champion bleed. Ever Tranquilo, Naito brushed it off and dared Jericho to face him in the ring for said title. Both men are charismatic but dangerous, who will come out the true alpha with a title in their hands?
Meanwhile, The Young Bucks have done all there is to do as a tag team, at least within the Junior Heavyweight Division. Motivated by their desire to match The Golden Lovers, Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega, Matt & Nick Jackson put on weight to qualify as Heavyweights and now go for new gold! However, LIJ’s King of Darkness and Cold Skull have fought hard against bigger men and won. This is a first-time encounter for NJPW, will the Superkick Party add yet another set of tag titles to the collection? Or is the party over now that they’re in new waters?
IWGP Tag Team Championships: EVIL & SANADA VS The Young Bucks!
The long-standing staples of the Bullet Club have had tag titles from ROH, PWG and NJPW’s Junior Heavyweight Division at one time or another, and sometimes even all at the same time. They are even two-thirds of the current NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Championship trio. But now they want to prove they can do it bigger and better than before! Will they check off the heavyweight tag titles for the first time? Or will LIJ’s menacing duo show the Matt & Nick what it truly means to be heavyweight wrestlers?
Tiger Hatori is the referee, and he raises the belts to signify this is officially for the titles. He checks each them, then has them go to their corners. Nick and Sanada start for their teams. Fans are behind Sanada as he circles with Nick, but there are plenty of fans chanting “The! Elite! The the Elite!” for the Bucks. Nick and Sanada tie up, and Sanada gets the headlock. Nick powers out but Sanada runs him over. Things speed up and Sanada jumps over and over Nick until Nick holds ropes to stop himself. Nick runs and throws Sanada with tilt-o-whirl headscissors! Sanada gets up but Nick chops him to then “lucha libre~” arm drag Sanada. Nick dropkicks Sanada, then fires up as Sanada backs off.
Tag to EVIL and Matt, but Nick stays in to drop toehold Evil for Matt’s slingshot leg drop. The Bucks see Sanada come in, and double hip toss him for double dropkicks. Fans applaud for the Bucks as Matt goes after Evil. Evil rakes Matt’s eyes, then coordinates with Sanada. They double suplex, but Nick saves his brother for them to double kick. Nick runs and Matt pops him up for the double missile dropkick. Both Sanada and Evil go down and out, but the Bucks take aim. Nick jumps up and FLIES onto them. Nick brings Evil back into the ring for Matt. Matt brings Evil up to whip, but Evil holds onto ropes. Matt tries again but Evil holds on so Matt clubs him. The whip goes through this time, but Evil holds the ropes on the other side.
Matt runs in, but into Evil’s boot. Evil runs out but misses, yet still gets Matt with the sidewalk slam! Nick runs in, but into a drop toehold. Sanada adds a baseball slide and sends Nick out. Sanada exits while Evil goes to Matt. He puts Matt on the outside, then whips Matt into the railings. Matt’s bad back is a target, and Evil keeps on it. Evil puts Matt back in the ring, stands on him for a cover, ONE. Tag to Sanada, and Sanada drags Matt up for a whip. Sanada runs Matt over with a back elbow, then standing moonsault. Cover, TWO. Tag to Evil, and Evil brings Matt back up for a neckbreaker. Cover, TWO, but Evil keeps on Matt with a chinlock while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Evil has Matt in that chinlock. Matt feeds off rallies from the fans and fights his way out. Matt runs but into double chops. Evil leaps for the back senton but Matt gets clear. Matt reaches for Nick but Sanada clobbers him down and throws him out first. Sanada slingshots but misses, and Matt hurries to his corner as fast as he can. Evil intercepts by taking Nick out, but then he runs into a hip toss from Matt. Matt wants to tag but there’s no one there. Nick slowly recovers while Evil runs in at Matt. Matt boots but Evil blocks, only for him to miss the spinning clothesline and get Nick’s kick! Fans rally and Matt crawls back towards his corner.
Hot tag to Nick, who rallies on LIJ with those swift kicks! Nick gives Sanada the shining wizard in the corner, then hits the bulldog-clothesline combo! Fans fire up again, and Nick sees Sanada on the apron. Nick runs to triangle jump dropkick Sanada down, then gets a running start. He aims at Evil, but Evil ducks the Penalty Kick to send that into the post! Evil sweeps the legs out and Nick hits apron before tumbling to the floor. Nick clutches his foot, but Evil is on him and that leg. Evil laces the leg in the railing to kick and jam it. Nick hobbles to the ring but Evil is on him. Evil grabs the leg but Nick shoves him away.
Nick gets up, brings Evil around and in comes Matt. Matt SUPERKICKS, but Evil dodges to send that into Nick! Sanada returns and throws Matt out again. Sanada & Evil target Nick but Nick fights back with forearm sand elbows. Nick runs but into a mule kick, front kick and Evil runs. Nick SUPERKICKS Evil, but it’s with the bad foot! And Evil comes back with a clothesline! Cover, TWO, but Evil calls to end this. Evil brings Nick up with Sanada, but Matt returns. Nick headscissors out of Magic Killer to throw Sanada, and Matt dropkicks Evil down. Matt goes after Sanada and hoists him onto the top rope. The Bucks regroup and climb up to join Sanada. Nick is sluggish with that bad foot, and now Evil returns! Evil makes it a Tower of Doom!
The Bucks are bombed while Sanada is superplexed! All four men are down from soreness and exhaustion, but Evil is first to rise. Evil goes after Nick, but Nick hits back with forearms. Evil kicks Nick, then fisherman, but Nick slips out to retaliate with a tornado roundhouse! Again, the bad leg slows Nick down, but fans rally up. Nick and Evil crawl, hot tags to Matt and Sanada. Sanada and Matt brawl back and forth, but Matt hits a spinning back kick. Matt whips Sanada to a corner but Sanada elbows out, to then quebrada. He wants the inverted DDT or even Skull End, but Matt reverses to Sliced Bread. Not for the impact, but for the Tombstone lift! Nick lines it up, but Evil yanks him down!
Sanada reverses, dragon sleeper! Matt snapmares out then trips Sanada, but Evil returns. Matt trips Evil, and goes for the Sharpshooter! The Cease is on, but Sanada says Desist with his Skull End! But Nick comes in with a flying stomp! Everyone separates, going to different corners. Fans rally up while Matt and Sanada stir. Sanada tags Evil, and Evil runs in at Matt. Matt boots but it’s blocked into the discus clothesline. Evil lifts Matt in a fireman’s carry, sit out Widowmaker! Cover, TWO!! Evil is shocked, but he keeps his focus. He slashes the throat and brings Matt up. Matt reverses the STO into a Tombstone position. Nick tries, but that bad ankle gives out! Evil turns the Tombstone position around, and Sanada flies in to copy the Meltzer Driver! Perhaps call it the Ingobernables Driver?
Cover, but Nick breaks it! Sanada tosses Nick out, and Evil says it’s time to finish it their way. He lifts Matt up and Sanada helps for the Magic Killer! Cover, but Nick returns to break the cover again! Sanada again throws Nick out, then slingshots over to plancha Nick down! Both men crash and burn, and Evil drags Matt up. Matt slips out of the STO to backslide, TWO! Even Evil thought that was three. Evil walks into a jawbreaker, but Sanada tags in. Sanada runs and gets the dragon sleeper! He wrenches Matt back, then feeds him to Evil’s mule kick. Sanada adds the knee lift, then Evil runs but into Matt’s clothesline!
Sanada dropkicks Matt down then dropkicks Nick off the apron. He goes back to Matt as fans fire up. Sanada puts on the dragon sleeper, but Matt flails and reaches, so Sanada swings Matt around and around! He puts Matt down, climbs up top, MOONSAULT! Sanada lands on his feet when Matt evades, Matt SPEARS Sanada! Evil clobbers Matt, then blocks the superkick. Evil smacks the bad ankle, then stalks Nick. Matt saves Nick from the STO, and they both SUPERKICK Evil!
Sanada runs in, dodges superkicks, tumbles to the outside and springboards! The Bucks SUPERKICK him out of the sky! But that’s not all, Matt and Nick coordinate. Matt brings Sanada up in fireman’s carry, Nick climbs up, rolling senton, 450 splash and moonsault, More Bang for Your Buck! Cover, The Young Bucks win!!
Winners: The Young Bucks, Matt Jackson pinning;Â NEW IWGP Tag Team Champions
Success! The greatest tag team in the world gets even greater with this victory! Even with Matt’s bad back and now Nick’s bad ankle, they found a way to win. With heart enough for any heavyweight, will the Young Bucks dominate just like they did in the Jr. Heavyweight Division?
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Tetsuya Naito VS Chris Jericho!
After his defeat at the hands of Kenny Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 12, Chris Jericho vowed to never return to NJPW. However, he did not keep this vow, for at New Year’s Dash, he would ambush Tetsuya Naito! Naito didn’t understand why. In fact, Naito claimed to not know a thing about Jericho aside from being in an old Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Of course, Jericho didn’t win that tournament. That disrespectful ignorance is why Jericho is so angry with Naito, and Jericho claims to know how Naito truly feels behind that facade. It’s Tranquilo VS Crazy, what will win the day and the title?
But Jericho isn’t going to wait for the bell, circles around and attacks Naito from behind! Jericho drags Naito up and takes the cape off. They start brawling, but Jericho gets the edge as he backs Naito down into railings and even the crowd! The ring announcer warns fans to get back as Jericho attacks Naito with the railing itself! Jericho smacks Naito but Naito hits back. Jericho pulls Naito’s suit jacket over his head to then wail away with uppercuts, like a scrum on the ice in hockey. Then Jericho snap suplexes Naito to the bare concrete! Jericho even uses a camera tripod as a weapon.
Red Shoes reprimands Jericho, but Jericho just shoves him down! Jericho confiscates the timekeeper’s table and brings it over. He sets it up against railing, then goes back to Naito. They brawl more, but Jericho gets the edge, to then powerbomb Naito through the table!!
Fans are shocked at the brutality, but Jericho is far from done with Naito. He eggs Naito to get up out of that wreckage. Jericho even takes over a camera to get a good shot of Naito while he flips him off. He gives the camera back and kicks Naito amid the wreckage, even using the wreckage against Naito. Jericho doesn’t let up, but Naito doesn’t give up. They brawl a bit more, but Jericho gets the edge again. Jericho brings Naito around behind commentary and over to the other timekeeper’s table, to DDT him right down on the wood! The table doesn’t give, so that impact is solid. Red Shoes wants Jericho to stop, but Jericho makes sure he autographs the program notes before continuing.
Jericho drags Naito back up and back to ringside. This match is apparently starting now that Jericho puts Naito in the ring. Jericho shouts at Red Shoes to make it official, so Red Shoes has no choice but to signal for the bell. Fans rally for Naito as Jericho covers, ONE. Jericho rains right hands down on Naito, then taunts the fans and Naito. Jericho helps Naito finish undressing while also giving him more right hands. Fans rally for Naito, but Jericho just flips them all off. Jericho toys with Naito, slapping him around. Naito hits back with haymakers, but Jericho knees back, tigerbomb backbreaker! Then, LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO!
Jericho keeps his cool while fans rally for Naito. Jericho stands on Naito to grind his heel into the champion’s neck. Then Jericho chokes Naito against the ropes. Jericho stops at 4, but then grinds his boots into Naito more. He backs off at 4 to embrace the heat. Jericho drags Naito up, then chops him through the dress shirt and vest. He pushes Naito around, calling him a “piece of sh*t”. Naito hits back with haymakers, but Jericho rakes the eyes. Jericho whips Naito corner to corner hard, and Naito rolls with back pain. Jericho drags Naito up for another corner to corner whip and another hard impact. Naito writhes more while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns, and Jericho looms over Naito. He drags Naito up by his hair, but Naito hits back with haymakers and elbows. Jericho trips Naito and turns him over, for the Walls of Jericho! Naito gets the ropes, but Jericho holds on until 3. Jericho walks around while fans rally for Naito. He stomps and grinds his boot into Naito, but then tells Red Shoes to “shut your mouth” about the rules. Naito spits on Jericho! He’s defiant as ever, but that only angers Jericho more. Jericho runs but into Naito’s tackle and fists! Naito tackles Jericho again for even more fists. Naito runs in a third time but Jericho back drops him, only for that to turn into a neckbreaker across Naito’s knee. He keeps going and dropkicks Jericho in the back!
Naito takes off the vest and runs to boot Jericho in the corner, sweep the legs, and swing in for another dropkick. They both go to the apron now, for an apron neckbreaker! Jericho clutches his neck, but Naito keeps going with a draping neckbreaker to the floor! Naito, bloody in one eye, takes off the shirt and the pants, he’s finally ready for this match. He even uses the pants to choke Jericho! Jericho got away with a lot, so Naito sees it as fair play. Naito brings Jericho up and whips him into railing. Naito drags Jericho back up to ram him into railings again. As he backs off for space, Naito looks at the table wreckage from before. And he gets a wicked idea.
Naito brings the table piece over and SMACKS Jericho with it! That piece breaks even more, but Naito decides to use the bigger piece to SMACK Jericho again! Naito brings Jericho up and they fight behind commentary again. Naito brings Jericho back to that timekeeper’s table, for a piledriver!
That table stays solid again, so things are even between Naito and Jericho. Naito drags Jericho up and back to ringside. They go back in, and Naito climbs up. Naito aims, and jumps for a missile dropkick to Jericho’s back. Naito’s spirit is restored as he poses in the ring. The fans rally for Naito as he runs in, but Jericho boots him away. Jericho climbs up but Naito fires off haymaker after haymaker. Naito climbs up to throw more punches, then SUPER Steiner, but Jericho blocks! Jericho hops down, driving Naito’s head into the mat, then goes into Walls of Jericho! Naito endures as Jericho sits down and bends him back. Jericho shouts at Naito, but Naito doesn’t quit.
Fans rally again, and Naito powers up to reach for ropes. Jericho drags Naito away from ropes, Naito curls and fights back with right hands. Jericho slaps Naito out, then catapults Naito into a corner. But Naito uses that to climb up! Naito kicks Jericho away, then turns around for a flying huricanrana! Naito uses the ropes to help in a tornado DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while Naito sits up. Naito staggers, that bleeding eye bothering him. He drags Jericho up, and hammerlocks one arm, but Jericho fights out with the other. Jericho swings but Naito waistlocks and lifts, only for Jericho to victory roll through it. Jericho goes from that to the legs, and he tries to turn Naito over for Walls! Naito ends up back in the signature Crab variation, but won’t give up.
Naito reaches, fades, but gets a second wind. Fans rally and Naito brings himself around. Naito slowly but surely gets closer to the ropes, and gets the ropebreak! Jericho insists Naito tapped out, but Red Shoes insists Naito didn’t. Jericho runs in but is flapjack’d for a hotshot. Naito then German Suplexes Jericho! No bridge, but Naito comes back in for the tilt-o-whirl. Jericho counters into a cover, TWO! Enziguri from Naito! Then Naito tries again, but has to club away to keep Jericho in place. Jericho chops, Naito SLAPS. Naito runs in, DESTINO! But Naito can’t make the cover, and Jericho crawls towards ropes. Cover, ROPEBREAK. Naito is too sore to be frustrated, he just sits up again.
Now Naito bleeds from the other cheek, but it’s nothing compared to what Jericho did to him. He and Jericho slap each other back and forth. Jericho hits Naito more, but Naito dares him to keep going. Jericho does, but then Naito just slaps him down. Naito chokes Jericho in the ropes, and spits on him again. He whips Jericho, but Jericho reverses. Naito leaps, but into a Code Breaker!
Jericho covers, TWO! Both men are so tired and sore already, but this match must continue. Fans rally up for Naito again, but it’s Jericho who sits up first. Jericho hits Naito, and Naito hits Jericho. They go back and forth with haymakers and forearms. They stand up but keep hitting. Naito hits three haymakers, then runs, but into a back elbow. Jericho runs, LIONSAULT, but onto knees! Enziguri, then hammerlock for GLORIA! But Naito’s not done there! He drags Jericho up, wrenches and tilt-o-whirls, but Jericho slips out of Destino, and in one swift motion he pushes Red Shoes and low blows Naito with a mule kick! Jericho gives another Code Breaker! Cover, Jericho WINS!!
Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall;Â NEW IWGP Intercontinental Champion
The Best in the World at What He Does is an IWGP Intercontinental Champion for the first time in his career! Though, according to Jericho, he’s a 10-time Intercontinental Champion because he’s counting his nine WWE Intercontinental Championship reigns. But whether one, nine or ten, whether by hook or by crook, Y2J conquers the leader of LIJ! We go to break while things are sorted out.
NJPW on AXS returns…
Jericho has his hand raised, and the announcement is made. He stands up and drops elbows and fists on Naito! Jericho isn’t a very classy winner, because the second he gets the belt in his hands, he uses it to attack Naito! Red Shoes reprimands Jericho, but Jericho ignores him as he celebrates. Jericho then takes off his leather belt from his pants, and makes it into strap to whip Naito with over and over. This is insult to injury, but also some injury on top. Evil rushes out to fight Jericho off his LIJ leader! Jericho hits Evil with that leather fist but Evil clobbers Jericho down with a clothesline! Evil grabs the leather belt to whip at Jericho, but Jericho gets away with his championship belt.
Jericho confiscates a commentary headset to shout “You see that, Naito? And who the Hell are you?” Jericho is talking about Evil there, and promises that if Evil butts in again, he’ll see what happens, too. Y2J takes his belt away with Evil looking on. Jericho reigns now, but will Evil bring his “tenth” reign to an early end?
Backstage interviews.
Evil helps Naito to the back, but sets him down a moment. Evil speaks for them. “Hey, Jericho. You messed up this time, you son of a bitch.” Is that Evil’s way of saying he wants to fight Jericho for the title next?
Jericho himself kicks his way into his press conference. He knocks the chair and the beer away so that the reporters can focus on the blood on Jericho’s hands. “This is the blood of Naito and the blood of Chris Jericho. Because two men just beat the sh*t out of each other” in one of Jericho’s toughest matches ever. Naito is an excellent wrestler, Jericho will admit that. But Jericho says that this win means he’s here to stay! Jericho is champion, and he takes that seriously. Naito didn’t like the title, so it works out since Jericho wants to keep it, “from now until the moment I lose it.” He vows to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, all with this title nearby. No one believed Jericho could do it, but he did. This is the Reign of Jericho, Drink It in, Man. And choke on it.
My Thoughts:
With the G-1 Special 2018 fast approaching, it makes sense for AXS to show two hours of Dominion coverage tonight to catch up a bit. Obviously this isn’t all of it, either, as there’s definitely Okada VS Omega left to show. That’ll be next week, for a two hour special what with that match lasting 70+ minutes. But the four they showed tonight were all astounding, with shocking title changes. I didn’t think Elgin would win against Goto and Taichi, but it happened and it was impressive. Hiromu Takahashi truly deserves to be Jr. Heavyweight Champion, he’s on such a roll both with the Japanese crowd and around the world. Same goes for the Young Bucks winning the Heavyweight Tag titles, because they’re the most popular and talented tag team around.
Jericho VS Naito was crazy good with the entire attack before the match. Jericho has always been great at transforming his personality and style into new, fresh ideas, and this more vicious Heel of his is great. He really had the fans hating him and rooting for Naito, but in the end, Jericho uses all the tricks in the book and wins. On the surface, it looks like LIJ is down in the dumps aside from Hiromu. Evil & Sanada lose their tag titles, and Naito loses his IC title, but Evil is the one to come out and defend Naito from Jericho. Perhaps these losses are for everyone in LIJ to move up. Naito can worry about the world title while Evil goes after Jericho, Hiromu can defend his Jr. Heavyweight title, and perhaps Bushi joins Sanada as a heavyweight. Either that, or they go for the NEVER Openweight titles.
My Score(s): Part 1 – 8.7/10;Â Part 2 – 8.8/10;Â Overall – 8.8/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
The Queen is coming for her crown!
Athena & Billie Starkz are the top champions in the ROH Women’s Division, but Queen Aminata’s coming after them! Who will she target first?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Isiah Kassidy VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; wins.
- ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners; win(s) and
- Abadon VS ???
- Johnny TV VS ???
- Taya Valkyrie VS ???
- Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order; wins.
- Anna Jay VS Allysin Kay; wins.
- Six Man Tag: Lance Archer & The Righteous VS ???
- Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos; wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
The Maniac takes on the Powerhouse!
In the wake of AEW Dynasty, in perhaps Will Hobbs’ biggest match, he takes on IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Jon Moxley! Will the Don Callis Family have even more gold?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW World Championship Eliminator: Swerve Strickland VS Kyle Fletcher; Swerve wins and denies Fletcher a title match.
- Mina Shirakawa w/ Mariah May VS Anna Jay; Mina wins.
- Casino Gauntlet: Will Ospreay wins and will challenge for the AEW International Championship at Double or Nothing.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Elite arrives at Daily’s Place.
They roll up together in the same SUV, showing off all their gold, from Kazuchika Okada still being the AEW Continental Champion to The Young Bucks being the NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions. Matthew congratulates The Rainmaker, and says he is so proud. Nicholas says he is proud of being the first-ever THREE-TIME AEW World Tag Team Champions. Wait, who is this pulling up next? It’s JACK PERRY! He just smiles at the cameraman, and Matt says alright, gentlemen, it’s a big night! They head in, but then security flags Jack down, saying he can’t be here.
Matt has security stop there, Jack is with The Elite. Hands off the merchandise. And cameraman, stick with The Elite, they’ve got some business to attend to. The Scapegoat walks with The Elite, just what will they do on this Homecoming night?
Orange Cassidy is here!
Daily’s Place fires up as Freshly Squeezed makes his way out, or rather is TOSSED out by Trent Beretta! Trent’s modified the old T-Shirt so it now reads, “Trent & Orange w/ Chuck Taylor win the big one.” Trent DECKS Cassidy down the ramp while fans boo the further betrayal! Trent DECKS Cassidy again, and Cassidy flops into the ring! Trent rains down fists, soaks up the heat, and then he gets a mic. “Chuck. Chuck, it’s time. Please get out here.” Trent waits, but tells the fans they have no idea what they’re talking about so please. Chuck walks out on stage and Trent apologizes? He is sorry…Â that he didn’t do this a long time ago!
Trent is sorry that Best Friends spent five YEARS hugging a narcissistic p*ick! Cassidy was brought in here to be their sidekick, yet somehow he made Best Friends into his lackies! Best Friends fought for Cassidy, protected him, did EVERYTHING for him, and yet Cassidy gave them NOTHING! Cassidy does NOT care about Chuck! Cassidy is NOT his friend! Trent looms over Cassidy while the fans rally for “FRESHLY SQUEEZED! FRESHLY SQUEEZED!” Trent tells Chuck that Trent cares about him. Trent IS Chuck’s friend. So please… Do the right thing and give the people what they want. Trent tosses the mic to Chuck so he can respond.
Trent holds his arms open, and then Chuck holds his arms open, to then stop and say he always thought Trent was a POS! Chuck DECKS Trent!! Trent tumbles away, gets back up, but avoids Chuck’s haymaker! The Kentucky Gentleman tells Trent he knows that they won’t clear Chuck for a fight in this ring. But Chuck doesn’t wanna fight in this ring, he wants to fight in the damn parking lot!! The fans go nuts hearing that! Trent shakes his head, but will he have no choice but to fight his former Best Friend?
Jon Moxley speaks.
“I am confident tonight that I will defend successfully my IWGP Championship, but I don’t want you to mistake that for arrogance, or ignorance, or an underestimation of my opponent, ‘Powerhouse’ Hobbs. I know exactly who ‘Powerhouse’ Hobbs is, what he’s capable of. A truck of a man who hits like one, too. Born and bred with a killer instinct, an instinct I can see and smell from a mile away. I’m acutely aware of what’s at stake tonight. I know it’ll only take one mistake for my entire world to come crashing down around me. And I know that this Callis Family put a hit out on my friend, so I know just how far they’re willing to go to get an edge to win.
“But nobody knows better than me what it takes to get to the top. More importantly, what it takes to stay at the top. So I know, honestly, for me, tonight’s gonna suck. It’s gonna be a walk through Hell. A march through mud and fire, slings and arrows, a march through Hell. But there’s no place I’d rather be, there’s no better way to feel alive. I don’t play golf, man. This is pro-wrestling, this is the king of sports, the greatest thing int he world. And tonight, I’m gonna remind the world just who I am, in case they’ve forgotten. When all the oxygen is pulled out of Powerhouse’s lungs and his carcass hits the canvas, they’re gonna feel it, from Jacksonville to Tokyo!”
The Maniac heads out, but will the Book of Hobbs’ next chapter be written in gold?
AEW World Championship Eliminator: Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Kyle Fletcher w/ Don Callis!
Whose Dynasty? SWERVE’S DYNASTY! Because The Realest did dethrone the One True King of Wrestling Television to become the NEW AEW World Champion! Prince Nana leads the way with his dance as Swerve looks to be a fighting champion! Will Swerve snipe the Aussie Arrow? Or will the Don Callis Family already have a win on a world champion to start the night?
The bell rings and the fans rally for Swerve as he stares Kyle down. They circle, get face to face, talk some trash, and then Swerve goes for a leg! Kyle facelocks to fight the takedown, then slips around to a waistlock. Swerve switches and hammerlocks, but Kyle reaches back to headlock. Swerve cranks the hammerlock, but Kyle reaches for legs. Kyle manages to switch, snapmare and then ghost pin, TWO! Kyle headlocks but Swerve slips right out to hammerlock again. Swerve grinds Kyle down but Kyle fights to the ROPEBREAK. Swerve lets off and waits on Kyle. Kyle stands, the two reset, and they tie up again.
Swerve headlocks, Kyle powers up and puts Swerve on ropes. The ref counts, Kyle lets off but then takes a swing! Swerve ducks the chop, snapmares Kyle down and slips around to roll Kyle to a cradle, TWO! Kyle hurries after a leg, but Swerve spins around, victory roll and step over, SHORT ARM SCISSOR! Kyle scrambles around to stack, TWO! Swerve gets up, Kyle goes for a leg, but Swerve steps over. Kyle dodges the dropkick, but then Swerve avoids the Penalty Kick! Both men block the other’s kick, and the fans fire up as they both let off. The two reset, the fans rally for “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!”
Swerve and Kyle circle, Kyle kicks but Swerve blocks, only for Kyle to ROCK Swerve with a forearm. Kyle whips, Swerve goes up and over then JUMP SOBATS! The fans fire up as Kyle sputters, and then Swerve UPPERCUTS, snapmares, and goes up to FALLING UPPERCUT! Swerve hits the Griddy and the fans fire up! Swerve says “DU~VAL~!” and the fans echo it. Swerve goes for Kyle but Kyle gets to ropes. Swerve waits on Kyle, goes for an arm, wrenches, but Kyle whips Swerve out! Kyle runs to CALF KICK Swerve to the floor! The fans boo but Kyle snarls and Swerve checks his arm. Kyle goes out after Swerve, brings him around, but tells Nana to back off.
Swerve BACK DROPS Kyle away! Kyle writhes, Swerve goes to the apron and he tells fans to pay attention, get off their phones. PENALTY KICK and Kyle goes down! The fans cheer while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Swerve struts around before he fetches Kyle, and whips him into railing! Swerve again tells fans to watch the show, not their phones. He fist bumps the front row, gets Kyle back up, and pushes him into the ring. Swerve has Kyle on the apron to CLUB him. Swerve then stalks Kyle to a corner, ROCKS him, then has him on ropes. Swerve UPPERCUTS Kyle, whips him to ropes, but Kyle reverses to scoop and SLAM! Swerve writhes while Kyle mockingly shouts, “Whose house?!” Kyle even gets on a corner to soak up the heat and tell Jacksonville up theirs! Kyle goes back to Swerve, Swerve throws body shots, but then Kyle swings. Swerve blocks to fire more body shots!
Swerve turns Kyle for a NECKBREAKER! Swerve drags Kyle around, covers, TWO! Kyle is still in this but Swerve clamps onto him with an armlock and chinbar. Swerve grinds his elbow into Kyle’s face, then grabs the other arm. Swerve wrangles Kyle into a CAMEL CLUTCH, but then makes it a SLEEPER STRETCH! Kyle still endures, fights free, and Dynamite returns to single picture as he stands. Kyle fires body shots, but Swerve grabs the arm. Kyle KICKS and KICKS but Swerve blocks, slips around, LEG CAPTURE BACKBREAKER! Swerve again grinds on the arms, pulls on back, but Kyle slips through to arm-drag free!
Swerve has the wristlock but Kyle fires forearm after forearm! Swerve swings, Kyle swats it to SLAP Swerve! Kyle whips, Swerve flips up and around but Kyle SUPERKICKS him! Then scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Both men are down and the fans fire up! A camera is backstage, and we see The Elite plus Jack Perry walking right up to Tony Khan’s office. Matthew doesn’t even knock as he leads the way right in. In the ring, Swerve and Kyle rise while the fans rally up. Swerve goes to ropes, Kyle runs in, but is put on the apron! Kyle waistlocks to drag Swerve out, and half nelsons! Swerve fights that, slips around, APRON NECKBREAKER!
The fans rally for Swerve while he shakes out his arm, then he encourages them to get louder. Swerve goes up the corner, Kyle slowly sits up, APRON KILL STOMPS!! Swerve clutches a leg, that was a risky move that may have been double-edged! Swerve walks off the pain and fans rally up. Swerve pushes Kyle into the ring, hurries to another corner, and then runs up, HOUSE- NO, Kyle catches the foot! ANKLE LOCK!! Kyle THRASHES the foot but Swerve endures! The fans rally for Swerve as he fights around, reaches out, but Kyle drags him away from ropes! GRAPEVINE!! Swerve is caught, and Kyle is even stomping Swerve’s back!
Swerve endures, the fans are thunderous, and Swerve crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go but keeps his eyes on Swerve. Kyle brings Swerve around to KICK him in the chest! And KICK him again! And KIJCK again, but Swerve blocks! Swerve ROCKS Kyle, Kyle ROLLING ELBOWS! Swerve MULE KICKS, HAYMAKERS, and whips to HIP TOSS! Roll through to the deadlift, but the bad foot holds Swerve back! Kyle suplexes, Swerve slips around and half nelsons but Kyle breaks that. Swerve still O’Conner Rolls so that he can BOOT from below! Kyle wobbles, into the SOMERSAULT FLATLINER! Swerve rolls through again, for the BRAINBUSTER!
The fans fire up as Swerve crawls back to cover, TWO!! Kyle survives and Swerve is frustrated. Swerve snarls, drags Kyle up for a gut wrench, but Kyle flails and kicks his way to turn it around! But then Swerve flails and kicks to turn it back around! So Kyle drops, victory roll and deadlift, into the JUMPING TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO!! Swerve survives and now Kyle is frustrated! Kyle pounds the mat, Callis tells him number four, and Kyle nods. Kyle goes outside, looks under the ring, but then shakes his head. Kyle doesn’t wanna do number four, he awnts to do it his way! GAMANGIRI! He puts Swerve up top and climbs!
Kyle has Swerve up on the very top, lifts, but Swerve fights! Swerve throws body shots, haymakers, and then he ROCKS Kyle! Kyle ends up in the Tree of Woe, and Swerve hits WOE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Swerve just reloads! HOUSE CALL!! Cover, Swerve wins!!
Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall (denies Kyle Fletcher a title opportunity)
The Realest crosses Kyle off the list, and Callis is disappointed Kyle didn’t play things how he wanted. Are tensions rising in the Don Callis Family? Who will be next to step to Swerve’s Dynasty?
BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!
As AEW returns to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, so will The Cleaner! Kenny Omega finally makes his way back to Dynamite, what will he have to say about The Bucks’ new Elite?
Backstage interview with Thunder Rosa.
Renee Paquette is with La Mera Mera and notes her being so close to winning the AEW Women’s World Championship, only to fall short. What does Rosa feel went wrong out there? Rosa says she can either stand here and complain about what happened, or she can move on. Honestly, Rosa could bring up who Deonna Purrazzo again got involved in her business, or how “Antonia Tormenta” kicked Rosa in the ovarios. But she won’t. She’s just proud of herself for- Oh, wait, Deonna walks in. The Virtuosa doesn’t get it. Rosa says she doesn’t wanna talk about Deonna, yet all she does is say her name!
Deonna dares Rosa to say things to her face, and Rosa tells Deonna en Espanol that she’s already told her before. The two start shoving, security rushes in, will we see these two have it out before one of them goes back for Toni Storm?
Mina Shirakawa w/ Mariah May VS Anna Jay!
Speaking of Toni Storm, her protege’s old mentor has been coming around AEW & ROH more and more, mostly because of Mariah May. Will Stardom’s Fighting H Cup Idol prove she’s elite? Or will Anna remind us she’s still the Star of the Show?
The bell rings and the two circle. They approach, Anna dodges and she takes a bow. The fans cheer, but Mina says okay, c’mon now. Then Mina dodges and shimmies! Anna mockingly applauds before she BOOTS Mina down! Anna brings Mina up to fire off forearms, then shows off her assets. Anna runs, but Mina dropkicks the legs out! Mina then runs to SHOTGUN Anna down! Mina grabs a leg to SMASH the knee! Mina steps over to SPLASH onto the leg, then struts around. The fans fire up as Mina brings Anna up, ties up the legs, and then DOUBLE KNEE SMASHES! Mina gets the legs again, steps through, but Anna kicks her away.
Anna runs in but Mina dodges in the corner. Mina ducks a forearm, ROCKS Anna with a forearm, then goes up to REBOUND ENZIGIRI! Cover, TWO! Mina stays on Anna while the fans rally. Mina dragon sleepers, but Anna fight the suplex! Anna swings, Mina dodges and tilt-o-whirls, to then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Mina drags Anna by her leg, drops an elbow on the knee, and then another! And then another! And another! Mina shakes it up again and the fans cheer as she drops one more elbow! Mina steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Anna endures, crawls, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Mina lets go and Anna goes to the apron.
Mina lines up a shot, runs in, but Anna ducks to CLAW the eyes! Anna brings Mina into the ropes, give her a kiss right in front of Mariah, and HOTSHOT NECKBREAKERS! Mariah is upset but has to stay back, and Anna goes in to cover, TWO! Mina hangs in there while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Anna CHOKES Mina, lets off as the ref counts, and then she drags Mina up. Mariah says boo Anna, but Anna puts Mina in a corner. Anna digs her boot in, lets off as the ref counts, and Mina sputters as Anna brings her around. Anna ROCKS Mina, brings her around and bumps her off buckles. The fans rally, Anna CHOPS Mina, then she struts. But Mina runs up to ROCK Anna! Anna CLUBS Mina, then pushes her around. Anna stands on Mina but that’s a CHOKE! The ref counts, Anna steps away, and she blows kisses at everyone. Anna brings Mina up, to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Anna is frustrated but she brings Mina back to ropes.
Anna CHOKES Mina more, taunting Mariah to reach out, then Anna steps off as the ref counts. Mina coughs, Anna brings her up, but Mina fires body shots! Anna CLUBS Mina and has her in a corner. Anna drags Mina up, CHOKES her more, but the ref counts. Anna lets off, Mina coughs and sputters, but Anna soaks up the heat. Anna drags Mina up, cravats and snapmares, then clamps on a FULL NELSON! Mina endures, fights around, and Mariah cheers Mina on as she fights up. Mina throws elbows to fight the hold, but Anna holds tight! Dynamite returns to single picture as Mina breaks free and ROCKS Anna!
Anna comes back to ROCK Mina, but Mina ROCKS Anna again! The fans rally as the forearms go back and forth! Anna gest the edge, runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! Anna stands, into Mina’s URAKEN! Anna flounders to a corner, Mina roars and runs in, but Anna puts her on the apron! Mina knuckle locks, ROCKS and climbs up to FALLING KNEE DROP onto Anna! Cover, TWO!! Anna survives but Mina keeps her focus. Mina ROCKS Anna again, brings her in, but Anna wrenches out of the suplex to HOOK KICK! Then Gory Especial, GORY BOMB! Shoutout to Tay and Anna covers, TWO!!
Anna is beside herself but Mariah is also worried. Anna brings Mina up but Mina fights the STO! Mina gets free, blocks a kick, and DRAGON SCREWS! Then she steps through on the legs, FIGURE FOUR! The fans “WOO~” but Anna endures and fights to the ROPEBREAK! Mina lets go fast to go up a corner. MISSILE DROPKICK! Anna staggers back up, into the GLAMOROUS SWORD! Cover, TWO!! Anna survives Mina’s enzigiri but Mina drags her into the dragon sleeper! GLAM- NO, Anna slips free to have the QUEENSLAYER!! Mina flails, reaches out, but Anna is too busy staring down Mariah! Mina wrenches out to wrangle Anna!
Mina hooks legs, GLAMOROUS COLLECTION MINA! MINA WINS!!
Winner: Mina Shirakawa, by pinfall
Anna got cocky and got caught! Mariah brings in the champagne and glasses, and they toast the victory! But then Anna CLOBBERS Mariah and DECKS Mina! The fans are torn as Anna puts the QUEENSLAYER on Mariah!! Mariah flails, but here comes Toni Storm! The champ runs Anna off to protect her protege! “How DARE~ you!” Storm checks on Mariah, but wait! SERENA DEEB is here! The Professor of Professional Wrestling is looking rather glamorous herself as she struts out, tosses Storm’s shoes aside, and looks at the AEW Women’s World Championship! Deeb sits down beside it on the ramp and has the camera come in close.
Deeb says she could hold the title up, but she won’t. Because instead, she’s going to make the AEW Women’s Division a promise: the next time she holds the belt, it will truly belong to her as the NEW AEW Women’s World Champion. Deeb is undefeated, will she remain that way all the way through dethroning Timeless Toni Storm?
Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway are in the ring.
Dynamite returns as the Galaxy’s Greatest and #BigStoke are here, balloons at all the corners of the ring, and the fans cheering them on. Stokely says, “In 1977, Bill Withers created one of the greatest songs of all time, Lovely Day. And that’s exactly how I felt when one of my best friends became TBS Champion at Dynasty!” The fans cheer that! Stokely wants to know, is Jacksonville ready to partaaay~?! They sure sound like it! Stokely says Caprice Coleman is on commentary, Krissy Stat is right here, and she says this one’s for Willow.
“She is the Babe with the Power, and we are here to give her her flowers She reminds us that nothing matters and to smile anyway, because every time we see her, she brightens our day. I’m standing her in silver because she is our gold. And now, she has the TBS Championship to hold.” Stoke says with all due disrespect, that was two packs of ass! So let’s just bring out the NEW Face of TBS, “HOO! HOO!” WILLOW~ NIGHTINGALE! Coleman sings along with the theme song just like in ROH, and the Babe with the Championship makes her entrance. Willow gets the mic, Stokely says when this whole thing to started, he didn’t like her. Well she didn’t like him, either.
Stokely says Willow was like a fungus that they couldn’t cut off. But look at them now! Willow earned that title, and they are proud of her! Willow thanks Stokely and Kris, and is proud of herself, too. Because tonight in JACKSONVILLE~, the very place where she hit the big time. She’ll take us back to Spring of 2020. Willow was right here, in the front row, trying to get her big break. Then in 2022, she was in the ring, Tony Schiavone stepped in to join her, and on that big tron, we saw the graphic: Willow is All Elite! But tonight, Willow isn’t trying to catch a break, she is not a rookie. She is THE FACE OF TBS!! WHAT WHAT!
But wait, here comes The CEO. Mercedes Mone again steps on Willow’s moment, just like she did at Dynasty. But it’s already obvious why as she struts her way to the ring. Mone gets her own mic while the fans chant “C E O! C E O!” Mone tells “Jacksonviiiiille~” to say hello to the C E O. Willow tells Mone this has to be like the fourth time she’s done this. And this is Willow’s time! So it just feels like if Mone has something to say, then go ahead and say it. Mone says she just wanted to congratulate Willow! And to enjoy the celebration now, because in just 23 days, at Double or Nothing, you will be looking at the NEW Face of TBS, Mercedes Mone.
The fans are torn, but Mone says she just wanted to ask if Willow was the b*tch who attacked her in the dark two weeks ago! What? Why would she? Kris steps up to tell Mone that Willow got attacked just last week, so how do we know Mone didn’t do that? Well how do we know it wasn’t Kris?! They argue, Stokely speaks up and says while he hates getting up in women’s business, we all know it was Julia Hart. Willow says even before this whodunnit, it feels like there’s been a personal vendetta against her. Does Mone really think Willow meant to injure Sasha during the NJPW Women’s Tournament? Stokely says of course Mone thinks that, but then Kris shuts him up.
Mone asks Willow if she really just asked if Mone blames Willow for almost ending her career. Is Willow really asking if Mone blames Willow for all the pain and suffering Mone went through? Is Willow really asking if Mone was blaming Willow for taking away the one thing Mone loves most for a whole year? Willow doesn’t want the truth, she just wants to feel better about what she did to Mone. Willow says she genuinely feels so awful what happened. But there were a lot of questions and doubts for her, too. She went to hotel room, she looked at the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, and she should’ve been smiling.
But the whole time, she wondered to herself, “Could I have beaten Mercedes Mone at 100%?” And then the next day, Willow saw everyone saying that online. She heard the locker room saying it! And so that NJPW Strong Women’s title reign has quite the asterisk next to it. But THIS title reign? This? There is NOT asterisk next to this! The fans fire up for that! So at Double or Nothing, Mone, Willow wants you at 100%! Because Willow wants to show Mone that she CAN beat her, and why Willow IS TBS Champion. The fans fire up for that! Mone says to enjoy it while she can, because they both know deep down, Willow CAN’T beat Mone.
The fans are torn as the two stare down, and then Mone says bye. Kris grabs at Mone, Mone turns around and mistakenly SLAPS Willow!! Kris has to stop Willow from retaliating, and then refs get out there to stop it! Kris’s mistake only just turned up the heat on this one! Will there be no holding back from the CEO or the Babe with the Power when it’s Double or Nothing?
Alex Marvez waits outside Tony Khan’s office.
Jack Perry is the first to exit and Marvez says they’ve been in there a long time. Is Jack reinstated in AEW? Jack doesn’t answer and moves on, so Marvez asks “Okada-san” if that’s the case. The Rainmaker just pats Marvez on the shoulder and follows Jack. Nicholas, is Jack All Elite again? Matthew, please, Marvez needs the scoop! Is Jack Perry once again in AEW? Matt wishes he had a better scoop for Marvez, but things are still uncertain. One thing Matt will tell Marvez is… Tony Khan literally just agreed to talk with Jack in the ring, live here tonight. That’s still a pretty big scoop! Will TK bring the Scapegoat back into the fold?
Casino Gauntlet!
AEW shuffles the deck and puts a golden opportunity for Double or Nothing on the line! This isn’t your typical gauntlet, either! It is “sudden death,” so anyone that scores a pinfall or submission wins, BUT! There are also timed intervals, so more and more competitors will be added, meaning things can get really crazy really quickly. One way or another, the AEW International Champion will have a new challenger, but who will it be when it’s the luck of the draw?
First out, it’s King Switch! Jay White leads Austin & Colten Gunn out as the NEW unified AEW & ROH World Trios Champions, but will Bullet Club Gold be adding even more gold to the collection? Second out, Top Flight’s Dante Martin! Will Angel Dorado get himself a golden ticket instead?
Jay White VS Dante Martin!
The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. White pulls hair to put Dante in the corner, but Dante slips free. They circle again, Dante waistlocks but White switches. White headlocks, Dante powers up but can’t power out as White holds on. White wrenches to wristlock, but Dante flips through and breaks free. White CHOPS, then CHOPS, then CHOPS again! Dante is stinging, the fans “WOO~” and White says guns up! White whips, runs in, but Dante slips out to the apron! Dante then goes up and around, GAMANGIRIS, then springboards. White gets under, Dante comes back, and turns hip toss into RANA! Then he DROPKICKS White down! Cover, TWO!
White bails out, Dante builds speed, and Dante FLIES, but has to handspring through as White moves! White CHOPS, CHOPS, and then brings Dante around. APRON- NO, Dante slips free of the suplex to JUMP KNEE! Dante puts White in, hurries to the apron, and then slingshots to roll, only for White to catch him! EXPLODERÂ out of the ring! But here comes the third man, PENTA EL ZERO MIEDO! The Man with No Fear now makes this a Triple Threat, will he be able to survive these odds?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo!
White storms up but Penta GAMANGIRIS him away! Penta goes up the corner, leaps, CROSSBODY! Penta runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges then SLINGBLADES! Dante returns, but into a SLINGBLADE! Penta whips Dante corner to corner but Dante reverses. Penta SUPERKICKS back, then pops Dante up on the corner, for another SUPERKICK! Dante wobbles into Penta’s fireman’s carry, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Penta spins for the SWINGING DEATH VALLEY! Penta then goes back to a corner, climbs up, but White SHOVES Him to the ramp! White then runs up, fireman’s carries, but Penta fights free! And SUPERKICKS! White flops to the apron, Penta uses him as a step to get up and in and hit a DESTROYER on Dante!! Fans lose their minds as Penta stands, and says “CERO! MIEDO!” Dante bails out so Penta goes after White. Penta CHOPS White, then hears the fans rally up. Penta goes out after Dante, gets him in the ring, and stands him up against ropes. Penta winds up, to CHOP! Dante grits his teeth, but White BOOTS Penta down!
White stands Penta up, CHOPS Penta, but Penta CHOPS in return! Penta hears the fans rallying for “CERO! MIEDO!” and he goes back to SUPERKICK White! Penta stands Dante up, whips him to ropes and SUPERKICKS him down! But then White gets Penta for a cradle, TWO!! Penta escapes, White UPPERCUTS him down! White snarls, stomps Dante, then stomps a mudhole into Dante at the corner. White drags Dante up, whips him to ropes, and back drops him away! White covers, TWO! Penta is after White but White scrambles away as Dynamite returns to single picture. Penta brings Dante up, but Dante fights the suplex!
White storms back in, CLUBS them both down, and next up is KYLE O’REILLY! Whoa, #CombatKyle is now #CleanKyle as his hair and beard are trimmed. Maybe he’s going back to those babyface assassin days!
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly!
Kyle KICKS White down, KICKS Penta down, and KICKS Dante down! Kyle fires forearms on White, then wrenches. Dante gets up, Kyle BOOTS him away, then gives White an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle wrenches Dante, BOOTS Penta, then hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Wrench on Penta, ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle whips, Penta reverses but Kyle goes up and over. Kyle also ducks Dante so Dante’s LARIAT takes down Penta! Dante runs up, Kyle blocks the kick and gives it to Penta. Then Kyle gets one of Penta’s legs, DOUBLE DRAGON SCREW!! White KNEES Kyle low, runs but into a KNEE from Kyle! Kyle snapmares White, runs, but feints to then SLAP him!
The fans fire up while White frowns. White gets up but Kyle fires off fast strikes! KICK, LEG SWEEP, and the fans fire up! Dante wheelbarrows Kyle, but Kyle drops that into the ARMBAR! White stomps but Kyle catches that, to a HEEL HOOK! White flails, ROPEBREAK! Kyle lets go, and now we add WILL OSPREAY! Will the Aerial Assassin take his momentum from Dynasty and make it Double or Nothing?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay!
Ospreay storms right in, Kyle staring him down! They fire forearms and the fans are thunderous already! Ospreay fires up to fire off a flurry! Kyle KICKS, whips, but Ospreay BOOTS back! Ospreay goes up and out to springboard, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Penta runs up to KICK Ospreay’s leg! Dante gets in, he and Penta double whip, but Ospreay handsprings to DOUBLE PELE! But White SLEEPER- NO, Ospreay arm-drags free! These two know each other well and the fans are thunderous to see this one! White and Ospreay shake hands, but then White CLAWS Ospreay’s face! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS!
White clinches, but Ospreay fights free to CHOP! Ospreay whips, White holds ropes to bail out, but the fans boo. Dante kicks Ospreay and runs, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! And out comes LANCE ARCHER! The Murderhawk Monster says #EverybodyDies, will that be the case in this sudden death gauntlet?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer!
Ospreay shakes his head, but Archer storms right in! Ospreay gets in Archer’s… well, chest, but he fires off forearms! Archer DECKS him! Kyle returns, Archer LARIATS! Penta runs up, Archer LARIATS! White runs up, into a half nelson, dragon sleeper, but Dante jumps in! But into Archer’s hand! CHOKE SLAM DDT COMBO!! Penta jumps onto Archer, fires off hands, then whips. Archer reverses to CLOBBER Penta! Kyle gets up, Archer choke grips, but Kyle turns slam into GUILLOTINE! Kyle thrashes, but Archer THROWS him away! Kyle goes to the apron, Archer DECKS Kyle! Ospreay BOOTS Archer, goes up, but Archer STEP-UP KNEES!
Archer picks Ospreay up in the reverse crucifix! BLACKOUT BOMBÂ onto the others on the outside!! The fans are thunderous and Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Archer storms out to go looking under the ring. Archer brings out a TABLE! Daily’s Place loves it as Archer sets up the furniture at ringside. Archer positions that but Ospreay runs up to fire shots! Archer knees low, SMACKS Ospreay off apron, and then goes around to BOOT Kyle down! And CLUB White down! And get another TABLE! Archer drags that table over White, then sets it up with the other. Archer drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay fires forearms first! Archer RAMS Ospreay into railing! Archer CLUBS away on Ospreay, SMACKS Kyle off apron, BOOTS Dante, then CLUBS White. Archer brings White over, and SMACKS him off the table.
Ospreay fires forearms on Archer, then brings him around to SMACK off the apron. Ospreay goes up, takes aim, and FLYING- BODY CHECK!! Archer just has Ospreay bounce right off him! White ROCKS Archer, ROCKS him again, then brings him around to the tables. White fireman’s carries, but Archer’s too big! Archer CLUBS White, CLUBS him again, then ROCKS him! Archer BOOTS Penta, sends him into railing, then goes back for White. White fights the choke grip but gets an APRON CHOKE SLAM for it!! Archer roars, White dangles before he flops, then Archer goes back up the apron. Archer grins while Dynamite returns to single picture.
Archer drags White up to the apron, but next is KOMANDER! The AAA Cruiserweight Champion’s entrance distracts Archer so that White can CLAW the eyes! We’re now at a Lucky 7 Way, is this where someone’s luck runs out?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer VS Komander!
Komander hurries to the corner, climbs up and tightrope walks, to FLYING RANA, but Archer blocks!! Archer brings Komander back up, only for Komander to RANA Archer down through the tables!! The Murderhawk Monster is hoisted on his own petard and even Komander is stunned! Komander hurries to springboard in at Ospreay, but Ospreay ducks! Komander rolls through, comes back and kicks, then runs, only for Ospreay to TIGER WALL KICK and- NO, Komander ducks the enzigiri, to TIGER WALL KICK back! Things speed up, Komander tilt-o-whirls around the world, DEJA VU DDT!! Cover, White breaks it!!
White clinches to URENAGE!! Cover, TWO!! Komander survives, but White goes back to Ospreay. But Ospreay flips up and through Bladerunner to LIGER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! White survives, but Ospreay takes off the elbow pad! White rises, but here comes JAY LETHAL! We’re at eight, how much longer can this go?
Jay White VS Dante Martin VS Penta El Zero Miedo VS Kyle O’Reilly VS Will Ospreay VS Lance Archer VS Komander VS Jay Lethal!
Lethal runs in, Ospreay is ready and they brawl! Ospreay kicks, whips but Lethal reverses! Ospreay handsprings through the arm-drag but Lethal still cartwheels to DROPKICK! Dante returns but into the LETHAL COMBINATION! Penta is back and he KICKS Lethal’s leg! Penta whips, Lethal sunset flips but Penta rolls through. Lethal dodges and handsprings, LETHAL INJECTION!! But White’s back to clinch! Lethal slips free, but swings into the SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! White hurries to clinch again, but Dante MISSILE DROPKICKS them both down! Lethal runs in, Dante goes up and over, then Dante dodges Kyle!
Kyle CLOBBERS Lethal, ducks Dante’s enzigiri, AX & SMASH!! Ospreay returns, Kyle fights the nelson to fire off strikes! KICK, KICK, but Ospreay BUZZSAWS and HEEL KICKS! Kyle yoyos to LARIAT, but Ospreay slips through to pick Kyle up! But Kyle slips free to ROLLING ELBOW! Ospreay SUPERKICKS! Kyle YOYOS into HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, TWO!!! Kyle survives but Ospreay calls for his shot! Underhooks, but wait, he hesitates. Storm Driver 93 damn near destroyed Bryan Danielson, does he want to do that to Kyle? Kyle back drops free first! Then ARMBAR!! But Komander is up top! CIELITO LINDO onto Kyle!! Cover, HIDDEN BLADE!!!
Ospreay drags Komander to a cover, OSPREAY WINS!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship)
The Assassin found a target and took them out! But here comes the Undisputed Kingdom, the Savior of the Backbreaker leading the way. Roderick Strong stares Ospreay down, with Mike Bennett, Matt Taven, Wardlow and Adam Cole all backing him up. Ospreay doesn’t back down, will he simply tear that gold away from The Kingdom?
Chris Jericho is here!
And as his new theme says, he is The Learning Tree. But what we see is that he is the NEW FTW Champion after cracking Hook in the head with a baseball bat at Dynasty. Jericho smiles and waves at the fans while he gets a mic, but they’re booing back. “Hey, guys! It’s true, I’m the new FTW Champion! It’s great, right? And there’s been a lot of negative connotation with the letters F T W. Does it mean F The World? Does it mean Forget The World? No, it’s none of those things, I’m changing it right here, right now. From now on, this means FOR The World Championship, because this was FOR all of you!”
The fans boo and Taz can’t stomach this on commentary. Jericho says “we” won this together! The whole world is buzzing and he knows why. Jericho is doing God’s work. The Wrestling God, that is, and that’s Terry Funk. Terry once told Jericho that it is now Jericho’s responsibility to teach the younger generation and take them to the next level, and that is what Jericho is doing! Thank you, Terry Funk, and thank you, fans. And thanks, Hook! What a great champion and a tough competitor in the ring. Hook beat the hell outta Jericho, but his only flaw is that there are still certain things he needs to take from The Learning Tree.
There are lessons Jericho wants to teach Hook, including how to get rid of the dead weight that surrounds him: Taz, Shibata, the collateral damage, and all the clowns that support him. More importantly, Hook, you need to listen to Jericho when he says to stay down. Jericho told Hook to stay down but Hook kept getting back up. Even after two Judas Effects! Hook forced Jericho to hit him in the head with the baseball bat. So that’s on Hook. But Jericho knows Hook is listening, thinking on the lessons he learned, and that is exciting to Jericho.
What is also exciting to Jericho is the list of men and women who have been drawn into the #JerichoVortex and come out the other side even bigger and better stars! So many! Jericho is so excited- Wait! “Big Bill” Morrissey is here! Bill has a mic already as he steps to Jericho in the ring. Bill tells Jericho, “I have been in the back listening to you, and I only have one thing to say.” Jericho waits as Bill thinks on his words, and Bill says he needs The Learning Tree! The fans boo, they were clearly hoping for something else.
Bill says everyone knows Jericho is the Socrates of Professional Wrestling! Always willing to give advice, to lend a hand, and to take a less established guy and bring him up to the top with him. That is Chris Jericho to a T. Jericho nods, and Bill knows there is a long line of guys foaming at the mouth for the very opportunity to be under the Learning Tree. But Bill wants Jericho to take this into consideration: there is nobody bigger than Bill, nor better fit for the Learning Tree. Jericho knows it deep down in his heart that Bill is the very best fit for The Learning Tree.
Jericho does have to say, Bill, he has been watching Bill a long time. A fan of his for years. It’s partly why Bill is in AEW. But Jericho will think on what Bill said, and he’ll keep his eye on Bill to see if what he says is true. Bill says go ahead and do that, because he’ll do just that. Just watch him. Bill heads out, Jericho says he sure will be. Let’s celebrate together! Jericho waves and gives a thumbs up, but will Bill be The Learning Tree’s first true pupil?
Backstage interview with The Don Callis Family.
Renee is with Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher and Callis himself as she congratulates Ospreay on becoming #1 contender to the International Championship. Callis, the rest of the Family has had an evening of ups and downs, so- Callis “apologizes” for interrupting but he has to say, he is so happy for the “golden goose,” and now Ospreay will have the gold. An international star deserves the International Championship. The only note Callis has, that Tiger Driver 91, AKA Storm Driver 93. He had that all set up, why didn’t Ospreay use it? No, Ospreay doesn’t wanna do that anymore. Not after what he did to Bryan.
Callis doesn’t understand, what happened? Ospreay says we all saw what happened to Bryan because of his neck, and Kyle O’Reilly has a bad neck, too. Storm Driver has to go. Callis doesn’t care about any of that, Ospreay should win! Roddy’s got a bad neck, so what’s gonna happen if Ospreay shows weakness? Fletcher speaks up saying that Ospreay still won, and he’ll win at Double or Nothing, what does it matter about that move? Callis tells Fletcher shouldn’t be talking about winning after how tonight went. Ospreay WILL be International Champion because he’s gonna nail Roddy with Storm Driver, break his neck, and take his title!
Now, Callis needs to go find Hobbs, he’s gonna coach Powerhouse to a championship tonight, just like Ospreay will win at the PPV. Callis leaves Ospreay and Fletcher behind, Fletcher apologizes on Callis’ behalf. Are the former Empire boys still united despite how Callis is leading this “family?”
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night!
Once again, Saturday nights are alright for fighting, and it will be another THREE HOUR BLOCK, but this one will be live coast to coast! The Bang Bang Gang will defend their Unified AEW & ROH World Trios Championships against Top Flight, will Jay White & The Gunns make Dante, Darius & Action breathe with The Switchblade? After what happened tonight, Toni Storm will take on Anna Jay, will Mariah May be avenged? And then on Rampage, Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo finally have it out 1v1, and we get the Parking Lot Brawl! Trent Beretta, Chuck Taylor, who proves they were the strongest Best Friend all along?
Collision and Rampage will follow NBA Playoff coverage, keep your eyes open for this one!
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs!
It was a Windy City Riot when The Maniac took this title off Tetsuya Naito, and he made a point of saying he runs from no challenge. NJPW’s Ren Narita and Shota Umino are both waiting on the other side of this match, will they still get their shot at Moxley? Or will the Don Callis Family start to take over the wrestling world?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who makes history in this historic main event!
The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out as the fans rally, and Moxley KICKS a leg. Hobbs stays up, feel things out with Mox, but Moxley KICKS again. The two tie up, Moxley waistlocks the SLEEPERS, but Hobbs RAMS Moxley into buckles. Hobbs throws elbows, stomps a mudhole, then fires hands! Hobbs puts Moxley in a corner, ELBOWS him, but Moxley CHOPS! Hobbs pie faces Moxley, Moxley CHOPS, but Hobbs ROCKS him. Hobbs talks smack, then whips Moxley corner to corner. Moxley stops himself, ROCKS Hobbs, then fires more forearms and KICKS! Moxley runs, but leaps into Hobbs’ arms!
Hobbs pops Moxley up but Moxley slips free to waistlock and GERMAN SUPLEX! But Hobbs is right up!? The fans fire up and Hobbs grins. Moxley runs up, into a clinch! EXPLODER! Moxley writhes, bails out, and Hobbs grins as he goes out after him. Hobbs CLUBS Moxley, but Moxley fires a forearm! Moxley SMACKS Hobbs off the timekeeper’s table, but Hobbs body shots in return! Hobbs SMACKS Moxley off railing, then he runs up, only for Moxley to avoid the boot! Hobbs gets caught up on the railing, Moxley BOOTS him over! Moxley goes up the railing, Hobbs rises, but Moxley AX HANDLES him down!
Moxley headlocks, brings Hobbs around the back of the fans, and throws hands. Moxley ROCKS Hobbs, Hobbs HEADBUTTS, and they brawl! The ring count starts, both men have until 20, and we’re at 4 now. Hobbs SMACKS Moxley off a trash can! Hobbs stalks Moxley around the way, CHOPS, then brings Moxley around to ROCK him! Hobbs stalks Moxley, CLUBS him, then pushes him. Moxley hobbles his way back to railing, but turns around to fire haymakers! Hobbs KNEES low, TOSSES Moxley over railing, then storms after him. The count is 15 but Moxley gets in the ring. Hobbs follows and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Hobbs storms up on Moxley, talks trash, but Moxley SLAPS him and flips him off! Moxley eggs Hobbs on so Hobbs BOOTS him down! Moxley flops to the apron then the floor. Hobbs storms out after Moxley, and RAMS him into railing! Hobbs scoops Moxley to APRON POWERSLAM! And APRON POWERSLAM again! And again!! Hobbs snarls, brings Moxley around and SLINGS him down! Hobbs leaves Moxley behind in the ring to soak up cheers and jeers, and even make the pecs dance. IWGP rules do let titles change hands on count-outs, will Hobbs settle for that? No, Hobbs goes out to fetch Moxley, wanting to beat him directly.
Moxley blocks a suplex, fires forearms, but Hobbs hits back! They brawl, Moxley whips but Hobbs reverses! Moxley hits railing hard, and slumps down. Hobbs sits Moxley up to throw down hands, then goes up to rain down mores fists! The ring count climbs, but Hobbs still goes to TEN! Hobbs brings Moxley around to suplex to the floor! Moxley hobbles away, but Hobbs storms up after him. They go up the steel steps and into the ring, and Hobbs eggs Moxley on. Hobbs stomps Moxley, soaks up more cheers and jeers, then BOOTS Moxley down as Dynamite goes to break!
Dynamite returns and Hobbs says he’s whooping Moxley’s ass! Moxley crawls, Hobbs brings him up, but Moxley CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Hobbs body shots, then BEARHUGS! Moxley endures, even as Hobbs squeezes tight! Hobbs throws body shots, Moxley throws elbows, and Moxley is free. But Hobbs CLUBS Moxley first! Hobbs whips Moxley to a corner, then has him on the rebound. Callis doesn’t want Hobbs to wait, keep on him! Hobbs whips Moxley to the other corner, runs in, but Moxley BOOTS! Moxley runs, but Hobbs SLAMS the cutter down! Moxley staggers up, Hobbs runs in, but the splash only gets buckles!
Hobbs falls, clutching a knee. Hobbs bails out, Moxley goes to ropes and takes aim. Moxley builds speed as Hobbs rises, to DIVE! Down goes Hobbs again! The ref checks Hobbs as Hobbs still clutches his knee. The fans rally for Moxley as he rises, fires himself back up, and then gets Hobbs up. Moxley puts Hobbs in, storms around to slide in from the other side, and then waits on Hobbs. Hobbs rises, hobbles, and Moxley runs up to RAM him into a corner! Moxley goes up to rain down fists! Moxley goes way past ten, all the way to TWENTY!! Moxley keeps going past even that! Hobbs can barely guard, Moxley gives him PARADIGM SHIFT!! Cover, TWO?!?
Moxley slips around to a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Hobbs sputters, flails, reaches out, but Moxley squeezes tight! Hobbs is fading, the ref calls it! MOXLEY WINS!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission (still IWGP World Champion)
Hobbs is a powerhouse, but even he needs to breathe! The Maniac has his first defense in the books, but NJPW Wrestling Dontaku is coming. Will the #SouledOut Ren Narita take this title from Moxley? Or is Moxley going to blast through him to then take on his former protege, Shota Umino? Wait! Konosuke Takeshita appears on stage. The Alpha wants his own shot at that IWGP World Championship, will he get in line ahead of Narita and Shota?
Backstage interview with Katsuyori Shibata.
Renee is with The Wrestler and brings up Jericho’s “choice words” for him. But what does Shibata have to say in response? Shibata uses his Google Translate voice-to-text to say, “Jericho called me deadweight and collateral damage. Next week, I’m going to damage him in his hometown of Winnipeg, and become FTW Champion.” So then that’s an official challenge for the title? “Yes, with FTW Rules. Jericho, I’m going to chop down your Learning Tree.” Okay then, Winnipeg, Jericho VS Shibata for the FTW title, it is official! Shibata then adds that the rhinestones on Renee’s shirt make a heart, how nice. Yes, she thought so, too.
Shibata is ready to take the fight to Jericho, will The Wrestler prove the Learning Tree is all bark and no bite?
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
“Ladies and gentlemen… Jack Perry.” The fans are torn as The Scapegoat makes his way out, with no music since he isn’t an AEW talent anymore. Jack takes the mic from Schiavone while fans sing, “OH~ Cry Me a River~!” Jack says first thing’s first, he wants it known that he’s had some of the best nights of his life right here in Jacksonville! The fans cheer that! Jack says tonight… they have business to handle. And he wants to handle it right here, right now, face to face… with Tony Khan! Jack waits, the fans chant “He’s Our Scapegoat!” and here comes TK. Tony Khan joins Jack in the ring, as promised earlier tonight.
Jack says it has been a long road. TK agrees. Almost five years ago was the very first Double or Nothing. And since then, AEW has gone on to change the world. But now, TK, it is no secret they’ve had their ups and downs, haven’t always seen eye to eye. But Jack will say right now, from the bottom of his heart, he swears to God, the only thing that Jack has ever wanted is what’s best for AEW. The fans cheer that and TK applauds as he agrees there. So Jack just wants to ask TK to please shake his hand, reinstate him, and let’s go on to continue to change the world together. The fans like the sound of that!
TK gives a big thumbs up, he and Jack shake hands, and they hug it out! Jack is All Elite once again, and then Jack smiles at the camera… Jack raises TK’s hand, the fans cheer, and then Jack DECKS TK!! The Elite rush out here, from Nick to Matt to Okada, and they ask Jack what the hell! This is TK, THE boss of AEW! You can’t just do that, Jack! Jack nods, backs away, and The Bucks help TK sit up, but it looks a little suspicious…! The Bucks realize the optics, as does Okada, and they all say no no no, it’s not what anyone thinks. They help TK to his feet, and then Okada says do it. Matt scoops TK!! Nick goes up a corner!! T K DRIVER ON TK?!?!
The fans lose their minds as The EVPs stand over Tony Khan’s body! Jack drags TK to the center of the ring so all four of them can stand together. The refs rush out and ask what the hell is wrong with the EVPs! Jack says he waited for eight MONTHS to do that! Matt thanks Jacksonville for a great night, they love everyone so much! Jack, Okada, Nick & Matt leave the ring to have their curtain call on the stage. The Elite is running All Elite Wrestling now, are they going to change the world and remake it in their image?
As for Tony Khan, not only do wrestlers like Top Flight, The Infantry, Penta and Komander rush out to check on him, Tony’s father, Shahid Khan, is here! Shahid checks on his son, what will be done as the consequences for The Elite’s actions?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode of Dynamite here, but they were really not handling the audio that well. It was so hard to hear quite a few of the promos, well delivered as they all were. Rosa VS Deonna being set up was a good move, that’s definitely gonna be great. Really good stuff from Jericho as he leans into the obliviously selfish veteran persona, and I was definitely surprised Big Bill wanting to join him. Shibata has a good promo to call Jericho out, but if it’s FTW Rules, pretty sure Bill is gonna screw Shibata over so Jericho wins. And great stuff with the former Best Friends, Chuck VS Trent in a Parking Lot Brawl is going to be awesome stuff, but I wonder if Orange Cassidy messes it up for Chuck.
Great stuff with the Don Callis Family through the night. Moxley had a good promo to hype up the main event with Hobbs, but unfortunately, I think the match got cut down because Hobbs actually got hurt. Moxley was of course retaining, but this doesn’t help. Konosuke stepping up is fine, though, a natural move given this BCC VS DCF story going on. Fletcher stepped up to Swerve in the match tonight, but it was also very clear Swerve was going to win. The Casino Gauntlet wasn’t really named well, and they didn’t really explain it properly before it started, but it was clearly based on William Regal’s Gauntlet Eliminator from NXT a couple years ago.
However, in execution, it was amazing! Great win for Ospreay and a great showing for all the wrestlers involved, Ospreay VS Roddy will be great stuff. But I also really like that they’re not only going with Ospreay being hesitant about Storm Driver, but they’re going with what I was hoping for. Ospreay and Fletcher are likeminded but that means they clash with how Callis wants to do things. This very well could lead to Ospreay & Fletcher VS Konosuke & Hobbs, so long as Hobbs isn’t out of action. Maybe Don Callis Family finds someone else to bring in to make up for that, but also as foreshadowing of Ospreay and Fletcher leaving the group.
I also like that they seem to be heading for another idea I had when it comes to Toni Storm, Mariah May and Mina Shirakawa. Great match from Mina VS Anna with a good win for Mina, but also Anna going Heel on her and Mariah. For that matter, that should mean Mariah and Storm are turning Face to counter, which is fitting since the fans love them so much anyway. Storm defends Mariah, she’ll definitely beat Anna this Saturday, and then we can move into Storm and Mina fighting for Mariah’s affections. And great stuff from the TBS Championship story. Great promos, for one, and then great detail that Kris gets Willow hit. Has it been Kris behind the attacks all along? If Willow somehow retains at Double or Nothing, Kris going after her would be a wild twist.
And of course, incredible stuff out of this story with Jack Perry’s return. Good opening bit as Jack arrives and the EVPs vouch for him, and good little backstage bit to set up the closing segment. I just knew the moment Jack asked for a handshake, he was just setting Tony Khan up. The entire Elite beating TK down was wild but powerful, and this is very much their nWo moment. This combined with Kenny Omega making his return next week, there is something big brewing in a very nWo VS Wolfpac kinda way. Kenny, Hangman & FTR uniting against Okada, Jack & Bucks? Feels like an awesome 8 Man to me.
My Score: 8.8/10
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Hockey Talk- 2024 NHL Playoff Preview [042224]
Hockey Talk previews the 2024 NHL Playoffs and discuss the stunning news that the Arizona Coyotes are moving to Salt...
Hockey Talk- Metro Mayhem [040924]
Hockey Talk looks at an absolutely wild playoff situation taking shape in the Eastern Conference while, out West, the battle...
The Pick N Roll: Sweet Sixteen
Join Patrick O'Dowd and PC Tunney as they breakdown the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Hockey Talk- Reverse Psychology [032624]
Hockey Talk looks at the resurgent St. Louis Blues & Washington Capitals. Plus, the Rangers stay hot, and can anyone...
Down the Wire: Filling Out Our Brackets and Drafting Draft Busts
Join the Brothers Wortz as they cover professional sports in unprofessional ways!
Bandwagon Nerds #232: Superhero Madness- A Top Seed Falls
Superhero Madness continues and sees the first #1 seed fall!. Plus, a trailer for a new Transformers movie, and a...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/20/24)
HPW looks to the horizon.
Bandwagon Nerds #231: Disney News & Superhero Madness
Round two of Superhero Madness begins this week. Cinema Con gives us plenty of Disney news and a trip to...
Bandwagon Nerds #230: Superhero Madness- Resident Aliens
Superhero Madness continues with first round battles in the Aliens bracket, plus Invincible Season 2 comes to an excellent conclusion.
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (4/1/24)
We got five on it!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/25/24)
Champions need challengers!
Classic POD is WAR: @PattonOswalt
Tune in for another vintage episode of POD is WAR!!!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (4/24/24)
Anybody can get it!
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/23/24)
GO ACE! GO ACE!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (4/23/24)
It's Trick Williams' last shot!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (4/22/24)
It's a golden Raw!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynasty Results & Report! (4/21/24)
AEW passes through the Gateway City!
Attitude Of Aggression #289- The Big Four Project: Survivor Series ’92
The guys review Survivor Series '92 including a watch-along of an instant classic: Bret "Hitman" Hart v. Shawn Michaels for...
Andrew’s TNA Rebellion Results & Match Ratings: 4.20.2024
Moose takes on Nic Nemeth fka Dolph Ziggler in the main event for the World Championship!!
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (4/20/24)
Kyle O'Reilly is on a Rampage!
-
AEW Coverage5 days ago
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (4/20/24)
-
Coverage5 days ago
Andrew’s TNA Rebellion Results & Match Ratings: 4.20.2024
-
Coverage7 days agoAndrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024
-
AEW Coverage5 days agoMitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (4/20/24)