Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Battle Autumn Results & Report! (11/5/22)
Battle Autumn’s series finale!
Who moves on to WrestleKingdom?
NJPW Battle Autumn wraps up with gold! Los Ingobernables de Japon and The United Empire fight over the Junior Heavyweight AND US Championships! Plus, the NJPW World Television Championship Tournament Semifinals wills end two to WK17 to fight for the gold! Will NJPW soon be completamente tranquilo?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: TJP & Francesco Akira VS BUSHI & Titán; TJP & Akira win and retain the titles.
- 8 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, David Finlay & Alex Zayne VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- Hikuleo VS Yujiro Takahashi; Hikuleo wins.
- NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: Ren Narita VS SANADA; Narita wins and advances to WrestleKingdom 17.
- NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: EVIL VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins and advances to WrestleKingdom 17.
- Hiromu Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori VS Master Wato & El Desperado; Wato & Desperado win.
- Kazuchika Okada & Tama Tonga VS Jay White & KENTA; Okada & Tama win.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: FTR VS Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb; FTR wins and retains the titles.
- IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Tetsuya Naito; Ospreay wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: TJP & Francesco Akira VS BUSHI & Titán!
The United Empire lost the majority of the tune-ups to Los Ingobernables de Japon, but now it comes down to the match that matters! Can the Public Enemy & Nova Fireball conquer LIJ to open the night? Or will Black Mask & The #INMORTAL bring home the gold?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see just who conquers who!
The teams sort out, but then LIJ DOUBLE DROPKICK TJP & Akira! Fans fire up, the bell rings to get this on record as Bushi y Titan DOUBLE DIVE! The topes send TJP & Akira into railing and fans fire up again! Titan puts TJP in, stomps him, then Titan and Bushi double whip corner to corner. Bushi runs in to back elbow, then he sets up as a step stool. Titan runs and uses Bushi, but TJP dodges! Titan hits buckles, TJP holds Bushi down and Akira uses Bushi for FIREBALL IN MOTION! TJP then throws Bushi out and he gives Akira a boost to SHOTGUN Titan out! TJP slingshot dropkicks Bushi down!
Akira builds speed and TJP holds the ropes, Akira FLIES out to wipe out LIJ! Milano Collection AT lets out a very clear “OH SH*T!” on commentary! Fans are fired up as TJP and Akira put Bushi in the ring. TJP keeps Bushi down, Akira runs and TJP gives him a boost in an Electric Chair! Akira tells fans to take pictures now, and then he hits an ELEVATED SENTON! Cover, TWO! TJP DECKS Titan, he and Akira double whip Bushi, FLAPJACK FACEBUSTER! Cover off the Alley Oop, but Titan breaks it! Akira stomps Titan, he and TJP double whip him now, the mule kick, kick and KICK, basement SHOTGUN!
Akira goes out after Titan to keep him down, and TJP takes off his shirt to CHOKE Bushi with it! The ref counts, TJP lets off at 4, and Akira sends Titan into railing. TJP pulls Bushi’s shirt off and CHOKES him with it! The ref reprimands and counts, TJP stops at 4, and then TJP drags Bushi up. TJP taunts Titan, bumps Bushi off buckles and stomps him in the Empire’s corner. Fans rally as TJP scrapes Bushi’s face again and again. TJP runs side to side, but Bushi dropkicks the legs out! Fans fire up while both men are down! Bushi crawls, but Akira trips Titan off the apron! TJP drops knees on Bushi’s back and Akira slides in.
The Empire stalks Bushi to ropes as fans rally. TJP & Akira double whip, but Bushi ducks the double lariats to send TJP into Akira! Bushi then DOUBLE RANAS! Fans fire up as those three are down and Titan is up! Bushi crawls over, hot tag to Titan! Fans fire up as Titan rallies on the Empire! Knuckle lock and CHOP for TJP, then Titan goes up and up and jumps around to then springboard MISSILE DROPKICK Akira! Titan dodges TJP, but TJP puts him on the apron. TJP runs but into a body scissor throw! Titan then resets, to TOP ROPE QUEBRADA! Direct hit on both TJP and Akira and fans fire up! Titan puts TJP in, covers, TWO!
Titan keeps cool and waits on TJP to stand. Titan KICKS, KICKS, SOBATS and runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! TJP runs, but Titan follows to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as TJP is still in this. Titan pounds the mat, fans clap along, and Titan drags TJP up. Titan reels TJP in, Canadian Racks, and spins around, but TJP fights free! Tag to Akira, TJP holds Titan for the SUPERKICK! The Empire double whip Titan but he crisscrosses them. They kick, run, but Titan dodges to then DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Fans fire up as Titan rolls away, hot tag to Bushi! Bushi stomps Akira down then brings him up.
Akira rakes Bushi’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Akira puts Bushi in a corner and whips corner to corner. Akira runs corner to corner, but Bushi SWING KICKS him away! Bushi goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! And BUSHIROONI! Fans fire up and Bushi stomps Akira around more. Bushi drags Akira up, FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO! Bushi calls Titan in and they double whip Akira corner to corner. Titan whips Bushi for Bushi to whip Titan and repeat, Bushi staggers but he still forearms Akira in the corner! Bushi sets up again, TITAN IN MOTION! Then a feed to Bushi’s lift, Titan goes up, DROPKICK SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TJP breaks it!
Titan stomps TJP to a corner and he coordinates with Bushi. They double whip TJP corner to corner, then Bushi whips Titan in. TJP dodges Titan to SHOTGUN Bushi! SUPERKICK from Titan! SUPERKICK from Akira! Bushi monkey flips Akira but he lands on his feet! Bushi ducks Akira’s Superkick! Akira blocks Bushi’s kick, but he gets grazed by the enziguri and the HEEL KICK hits clean! Fans fire up as all four men are down! Fans rally, Bushi and Akira stir while TJP and Titan exit. Bushi and Akira head for each other, and Bushi throws a forearm. Akira throws it back. Bushi throws another forearm, and Akira staggers.
Akira throws a forearm again! Bushi throws it back! Akira throws forearm after forearm, then DOUBLE CHOPS! Bushi stays up, Akira eggs him on, and Bushi DOUBLE CHOSP back! Bushi fires off forearms, runs, but Akira follows to wheelbarrow and victory roll, STOMP 182! Fans rally with “A! KI-RA!” TJP joins in, he and Akira gets Bushi up in Electric Chair. Akira climbs the corner, but Titan GAMANGIRIS! Bushi slips off to BACKSTABBER TJP! Titan goes up, APRON DOUBLE STOMP for Akira! Bushi aims at Akira, sunset flip, then SPRINGBOARD SPLASH from Titan! Bushi covers, TWO!! Akira survives and fans fire up!
Bushi and Titan coordinate and they wait on Akira to stand. Akira is in the corner, Titan runs in, A-LIST LARIAT! Bushi hits a CODE BREAKER! Titan hurries up, but TJP trips him! TJP dodges Bushi, waistlocks, but Bushi switches. TJP ducks and the SUPERKICK hits Bushi! Akira reels Bushi in, SPEED FIRES! TJP drags Bushi up, the Empire coordinates, they run, 2 BY 2!! Cover, but Titan breaks it!! TJP hurries after Titan but Titan whips TJP. Titan goes Matrix but TJP catches him! Akira goes up, DOUBLE STOMP FINAL CUT! The Empire hurry to get Bushi up, and they hit the LEANING TOWER!! Cover, The Empire wins!
Winners: TJP & Francesco Akira, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
All those losses in Battle Autumn mean nothing now, because the Empire won out in the end! But will the combination of Bushi y Titan be back with Super Junior Tag League right around the corner? Or will the Empire be on to a new challenge?
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: Ren Narita VS SANADA!
The Son of Strong Style declares a changing of the guard, but he has to make it happen with his own two hands! Will he be able to do so in 15 minutes or less? Or will his quest hit a Skull End?
The bell rings and the countdown begins. Fans rally up as Sanada and Narita circle. They approach, feel things out, and Narita shoots in. Sanada holds him off, Narita shifts to go for an arm but Sanada goes for an arm, too. Narita facelocks, he brings Sanada down and then slips around to a back mount. Sanada moves around and gets around to waistlock. Narita and Sanada continue to go for arms and switch around with waistlocks. Narita goes for a leg but Sanada facelocks to block. Narita slips out to get a facelock back, and fans applaud this great technical exchange. Sanada fights up to fireman’s carry takeover, but Narita uses a leg guard to stop the lateral press.
Sanada and Narita sit up, Narita has a leg in between them as Sanada knuckle locks. Narita wants a headscissor but Sanada fights through to a cover, ONE. They stand and clinch, Narita pushes Sanada back to ropes, and fans applaud the ropebreak. Sanada turns things around, the ref calls for the break, and Sanada lets off to pat Narita on the shoulders. Fans applaud, Narita steps to Sanada and swings! But into a dragon sleeper! Narita scrambles to get the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets off slowly and fans applaud again. Narita runs in but Sanada trips him up to put him right in Paradise! Fans fire up as Sanada stands on Narita!
Sanada encourages the fans to get louder and they oblige. Sanada likes the volume, and he runs to dropkick Narita out of Paradise! But Narita comes right back to knee low! Narita snapmares and KICKS Sanada! Narita then throws Sanada out of the ring, goes out after him, and whips. Sanada reverses and Narita hits railing! Narita comes back, but into a BOOT! Sanada puts Narita on railing, MAGIC SCREW to the floor! Fans fire up and Sanada stands Narita up. Sanada headlocks and he brings Narita along to the outside to No Man’s Land. PILEDRVER to the floor! Narita writhes and fans fire up as Sanada shows some edge.
Sanada leaves Narita behind, and fans rally up with their claps, “SA-NA-DA!” “NA-RI-TA!” The ring count starts and climbs to 5 of 20, then 10 of 20. Narita returns to ringside at 13, staggers over and in at 15. Sanada stomps away at the ropes! We’re at five minutes and Sanada ties Narita up in the ropes! ROPE PARADISE! Fans applaud and Sanada offers them to take pictures. Sanada leaves Narita behind as the fans rally up. Narita tries to get free on his own but Sanada dropkicks him out of Paradise again! Narita falls to the floor, and then Sanada PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Narita! Fans fire up and Sanada puts Narita back in. Cover, TWO!
Sanada keeps cool and he brings Narita up into a chinlock. Narita endures, fights up, and throws elbows. Narita is free and he throws forearms! Sanada EuroUppers Narita in return! Sanada whips Narita corner to corner, Narita reverses but runs into a BOOT! Sanada runs, into an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Narita roars and he stands back up. Sanada sits up and Narita KICKS! Narita whips Sanada to a corner, runs in, and back elbows! Then HALF HATCH! Bridging cover, TWO! TO AN ARMBAR! Sanada clasps hands but Narita pulls them apart! Sanada kicks and flails to the ROPEBREAK! Narita lets off as the ref counts and fans fire up.
Narita drags Sanada up to KICK again! And again! Sanada blocks the next one to CLUB the leg! Sanada swings, into a SLEEPER! Narita then shifts to a cobra twist! Sanada fights that to hip toss free! Fans rally, Sanada dragon sleepers but Narita snapmares free, only for Sanada to handspring through! Sanada DROPKICKS Narita back! Sanada reels Narita in to back suplex, but Narita lands on his feet! COBRA TWIST! Sanada endures as Narita puts on the pressure! Sanada steps towards ropes, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Narita lets off to KICK him! Then hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!
Narita is frustrated but the fans rally up. Narita tells Sanada to get up! Sanada stirs, Narita sits him up, and KICKS as we hit 10 minutes! And KICKS! And KICKS again! Narita KICKS Sanada to a corner then stomps a mudhole! Narita digs his boots in but the ref reprimands and counts. Narita lets off to go corner to corner. Sanada ROCKS Narita, then QUEBRADAS to get the dragon sleeper! Sanada drops back but Narita rolls through to get a SLEEPER! Sanada arm-drags free! Sanada fireman’s carries, but Narita fights that into an IRON OCTOPUS! Sanada endures, fights up to the fireman’s carry, and throws Narita into the dragon sleeper!
Narita slips free but Sanada waistlocks and uses ropes to O’Conner DRAGON SLEEPER! Narita endures, Sanada drops back, SKULL END! Narita endures again as Sanada puts on the squeeze! Fans rally but Narita is fading! The ref checks, but then Sanada lets off to go to the corner! Sanada goes up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto knees! Narita O’Conner Rolls and bridges! TWO!! Narita drags Sanada up, Sanada throws a forearm but Narita gives it back! They go back and forth, fans rally, and Narita gets the edge! ENZIGURI! BOOT! Sanada rebounds into a clinch, but he fights the lift! Narita HEADBUTTS away on Sanada!
Sanada HEADBUTTS and Narita wobbles! Fans fire up and Sanada whips corner to corner, but Narita reverses. Sanada goes up and out and springboard MISSILE DROPKICKS! Two minute warning as Narita stands up and roars! Narita rushes in, but Sanada gets around to O’Conner BR- NO, Narita blocks the bridge to get a SLEEPER! Sanada rolls back to DRAGON SLEEPER! Narita drops to victory roll! TWO!! SLEEPER!! Sanada endures, fans rally up, and Sanada fights up! Sanada throws elbows, gets free, and both men catch their breath. Fans rally again as we hit ONE minute! Sanada swings into an EXPLODER! Bridging cover, TWO!!!
Narita is furious, but he turns around into a EuroUpper! Sanada spins into a SLAP! And an ENZIGURI! But Sanada ENZIGURIS back! Sanada ROLLING ELBOWS! Fans fire up with Sanada, ROLLING- NARITA SPECIAL!! NARITA WINS!!!
Winner: Ren Narita, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
With just THIRTY SECONDS to spare, the Son of Strong Style snatches victory away from the Cold Skull! Is the changing of the guard going to become a reality?
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: EVIL w/ Dick Togo VS Zack Sabre Jr!
The King of Darkness continues to stack the deck, but the Submission Master has an arsenal to unload! Will Darkness Fall on WrestleKingdom? Or will Evil #JustTapOut this close to the finals?
Evil and Dick drag one of the Young Lions out in a ZSJ jacket! They’re making an example of Kosei Fujita! But wait, is that really ZSJ wearing that hat? Dick goes to check, but surprise! It’s Ryohei Oiwa! Dick DECKS him for tricking them! But THE ZSJ sneaks up behind Evil! SLEEPER! The ref rings the bell, ZSJ rolls Evil up, TWO!! ZSJ HEADBUTTS Evil, headlocks, but Evil powers out. Evil dodges the boot, ZSJ dodges the lariat, but Dick trips ZSJ while Evil is in the ref’s face! ZSJ bails out, Evil goes out after him, and Evil whips ZSJ into railing! Evil scoops Kosei Fujita and SLAMS him on ZSJ!
Evil then attacks Oiwa with a knee! Evil scoops him to SLAM him on ZSJ! Evil stomps the hat, too. Evil then takes off his shirt to CHOKE ZSJ! The ref reprimands, fans rally for “Z S J!” but Evil lets off. Evil brings ZSJ around, knees him low, then brings out some chairs! The ref reprimands but Evil still puts one chair around ZSJ’s head. Evil has the ref check the Young Lions, but then ZSJ BOOTS Evil! ZSJ kicks Dick, BOOTS Evil again, then BOOTS Dick. ZSJ gets the chair, throws it away, and he headlocks Evil. ZSJ brings Evil around to the timekeeper’s area and makes Evil take a seat by pulling on his ears!
ZSJ then fetches Dick and brings him around. ZSJ RAMS Dick into the timekeeper’s table! Fans are thunderous as Evil gets a taste of his own medicine! ZSJ throws the chair off himself and fetches Evil. Abe-san cleans up his table but Evil rakes ZSJ’s eyes! Evil whips Oiwa at ZSJ but ZSJ pushes him aside. But Evil RAMS Fujita into ZSJ! Then Evil rakes Oiwa’s eyes just because! Evil steps through on ZSJ, but ZSJ trips Evil up! Instead of a Scorpion Deathlock, ZSJ has a HEEL HOOK with a grapevine! Evil endures, the ring count climbs, Evil goes after ZSJ’s feet but ZSJ twists Evil’s leg more! The ring count is at 7 of 20!
Evil endures, ZSJ lets go at 10 of 20 and hurries into the ring! Evil hurries, but who is that under the ring grabbing at Evil? Evil looks under, and it’s Dick! Dick didn’t know who he was grabbing! Evil gets in at 18! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Evil is still in this but ZSJ scoops! Evil slips free, spins ZSJ around, EVERY- NO, ZSJ slips out of the STO to go around and bait Evil with a leg. Evil falls for it and ZSJ flips Evil over, EURO CLUTCH! TWO!?! Evil escapes and even he’s surprised! ZSJ kicks but Evil blocks! Evil gives the foot to the ref, but ZSJ blocks Evil’s kick to have an ANKLE LOCK! Evil endures as ZSJ leans on the hold!
Evil moves around, and he sends ZSJ at the corner! ZSJ stops himself, avoiding the bare buckles! Guess how that happened. Evil runs in, ZSJ dodges, and Evil has to stop from hitting bare buckles! ZSJ gets a SLEEPER! Dick gets on the apron but the Young Lions drag him down! Dick fights them off, but they YANK him down! But Evil MULE KICK LOW BLOWS! Cradle, TWO!!! ZSJ survives but Evil hurries to drag him up! EVERY- NO, ZSJ slips out, GROUND COBRA!! ZSJ WINS!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
We didn’t even need the five minute call, ZSJ did that in 4 minutes, 48 seconds! The Submission Master is moving on to the finals, will he get that first singles title in NJPW at WrestleKingdom?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: FTR VS Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb w/ Gideon Grey!
Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood are still the THREE BELT CHAMPIONS, even after facing Aussie Open. But now The United Empire’s big guns are here! Will the Dominator & Imperial Unit take these titles? Or will #7StarFTR still shine through?
Gideon Grey gives the United Empire their introduction, and then FTR make their entrance. The IWGP belts are raised, and we see how hard these teams will fight to have them!
The teams sort out, FTR hugs and Cash starts. The Empire forearm bump and Cobb starts. Fans rally as the bell rings and the two circle. Cobb says FTR isn’t going to walk into the Empire’s house and get away with it. Cobb and Cash tie up, Cash tries to push Cobb but Cobb stays put. Cobb pushes Cash away, and Cash shrugs that off. They tie up again, Cash tries to push Cobb but Cobb pushes Cash away again. Fans applaud, Cash and Cobb circle, and Cash goes for a leg. Cobb stays back, they tie up again, and Cash gets a headlock. Cobb powers up but Cash thrashes the hold. Cobb powers out and they RAM shoulders! Fans applaud as neither falls.
Cash runs, gets around and waistlocks. Cash lifts Cobb! But Cobb arm-drags free! Cobb rushes in, waistlocks and SLAMS Cash, then facelocks. Fans rally as Cash slips through to headlock back. Cobb powers out, scoops but Cash slips free to RANA! Fans applaud but Cobb is annoyed. Cash throws up the V for victory, and he tags in Dax. Cobb tags Khan and fans applaud. Khan and Dax stare down, tie up, and Khan pushes Dax to the ropes. Red Shoes calls the ropebreak and Khan lets off with a hard pat on the shoulder. Fans applaud and Dax dusts himself off. Dax and Khan tie up again, and Khan again pushes Dax back.
Dax turns things around and now he has Khan on the ropes. Khan turns things back around but Dax then puts Khan in a corner. Red Shoes calls the break, Dax lets off slowly, and he sharply pats Khan on the shoulders. Khan storms up, headlocks, but Dax powers out. Khan runs Dax over but Dax is right up. Khan headlocks again, Dax powers out again, but Khan runs him over again. Dax stands right up and he headlocks Khan. Khan powers out, they RAM shoulders, and Khan stares Dax down! Khan UPPERCUTS, but Dax kicks low and suplexes! Khan stands right up, so Dax throws a forearm! Khan throws it back!
Fans rally as the forearms go back and forth! Khan UPPERCUTS then MONGOLIAN CHOPS! And MONGOLIAN CHOPS! And then MONGOLIAN CHOPS Dax off his feet! Fans fire up and Khan stalks Dax to a neutral corner. Khan whips corner to corner, runs in, but Dax elbows him! Dax CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then snap suplexes! Dax drops a leg, then tags in Cash. Cash gets a boost for the BIG LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Cash drags Khan up, EuroUppers, and Khan falls over. Cash pulls Khan up, tags Dax, and they whip Khan to drop toehold and elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Khan stays in this, and Dax keeps Khan down with his ponytail!
Dax brings Khan around, but Khan throws a body shot! Khan shifts around to use his ponytail to CHOKE Dax! Cash protests but Khan lets off to CLUB away on Dax’s arm. Khan throws Dax out, then he swipes at Cash! Cobb POSTS Dax! Cobb puts Dax in for Khan to CLUB away on the arm again! Khan throws down elbows until Dax is on the mat! Khan then goes for a double wristlock! Dax endures, moves around, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it and Khan lets off. Khan puts Dax in the corner and Cobb holds Dax in place for Khan to sit on him! Fans applaud and Khan pulls back on Dax’s arms! Red Shoes counts and Khan hops down.
Tag to Cobb but Dax CHOPS! Cobb CHOPS and CLUBS Dax, then RAMS him in the open corner. Cobb hoists Dax up to RAM him in again! Fans applaud as Cobb drags Dax up on the apron. Cobb wraps the bad arm around ropes, but Red Shoes counts and Cobb lets off. Khan CLUBS Dax but Dax CHOPS Khan! Khan RAMS Dax into railing then puts Dax back in. Cobb covers, ONE!! Cobb is annoyed, but he drags Dax up. Tag to Khan, Khan DECKS Cash! Khan then storms back over, he wrenches Dax’s bad arm, but Dax SLAPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Khan ROCKS Dax! Khan CLUBS Dax, tags Cobb, and Cobb scoops Dax for a BACKBREAKER!
Cobb stands on Dax’s back, but no surfing this time. Cobb shifts to get the bad arm, but Cash reaches out. Fans rally, Dax stands, and Dax throws haymakers! Dax reaches for Cash but Cobb keeps him away. Dax throws more hands, Cobb shoves him away, but Dax runs in to sunset flip! Cobb stays up, drags Dax up, but Dax gets a leg! DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up as Dax and Cobb hobble up. Cobb catches Dax again! Dax reaches but Cobb throws him away. Cobb DECKS Cash, but Dax dropkicks the leg out! Both men are down and fans fire up, but Cash is still down, too! Cobb runs in to UPPERCUT Dax!
Cobb hauls Dax up, RUNNING BACK SUPLEX! Cobb then tags Khan and Khan stomps Dax. Fans rally, Khan CLUBS Dax, and then Khan wrenches to a wristlock. Dax endures, Khan twists the wrist, but fans rally more. Dax fights up, throws body shots, and he gets free. Dax swings but Khan ducks. Khan swings but Dax ducks. Dax feints and gets Khan with a DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Khan and Dax crawl, Cobb tags in! Cobb brings Dax up to whip him away, but Dax dodges in the corner, hot tag to Cash! Cash fires off haymakers, and a CHOP! Haymaker, CHOP, repeat! Cobb swings but into a waistlock!
Cash lifts but Cobb elbows free. Khan full nelsons but Cash BOOTS Cobb away! Cash breaks free, whips Khan but Khan reverses, only for Cash to duck ‘n’ dodge and LARIAT! Fans fire up as Cash spins Cobb around to UPPERCUT! And GERMAN SUPLEX!! Fans fire up and Cash goes up the corner. Cash leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Cobb flounders and Cash rallies the fans. Cash runs in at Cobb in the corner, but Cobb puts him on the apron. Cobb ROCKS Cash, and suplexes, but Cash blocks to HOTSHOT! Cash goes up, Khan is there with the IRON CLAW! Cash breaks free and brawls with Khan on the edge!
Cash’s UPPERCUT knocks Khan down, but Cobb ROCKS Cash. Cobb climbs, and he deadlift SUPERPLEXES Cash, but Cash slips out!! Cash tags Dax and Electric Chairs Cobb! FLYING BULLDOG!! Cover, Khan breaks it! The Steiner shoutout doesn’t finish it, and Khan clinches Cash for an EXPLODER! Fans fire up as Khan helps Cobb over to their corner. Khan tags in and Dax stares him down. Fans rally up, Dax ROCKS Khan! Khan ROCKS Dax! Dax ROCKS Khan! Repeat! Fans fire up as the forearms go faster and faster! Khan gets the edge, then whips Dax, only for Dax to reverse, wrench and short arm LARIAT! But Khan stays up!
Dax LARIATS, but Khan is still up! Khan then shoots around to LARIAT! Dax stays up! Khan LARIATS, Dax still stays up! DOUBLE LARIATS collide but both men stay up! DOUBLE LARIATS collide again, and again! Dax staggers back but Khan stays up and fans fire up! But both men roar as they storm up again! Khan SWATS the clothesline, ELBOWS Dax, then runs, and LARIATS! But Dax still stays up! Fans fire up but Khan can’t believe it! Dax swings, but into an STO! Khan has a head ‘n’ arm triangle for a cover, but Cash stomps it apart! Cobb runs in but Cash dumps him out, to then PLANCHA! But Cobb catches Cash!
Cobb hauls Cash around to TOSS him to railing! Cobb then runs in, but Cash sends him tumbling over the railing! Cash gets to the apron but Khan DECKS him! Dax waistlocks but Khan fights free. Khan swings, but Dax dodges to ROCK him with a right! OLYMPIC SLAM! But Khan is right up! Dax BOOTS Khan, Khan LARIATS Dax! Khan hauls Dax up to suplex, but Dax slips out and suplexes in return. Dax puts Khan up top, then climbs up. Cash tags in and goes to the adjacent corner! SUPERPLEX! FLYING SPLASH!! Power and Glory!! Cover, Cobb breaks it!! Fans fire up as Cobb ducks Cash to ripcord and TOUR OF- NO, Dax chop blocks!
Cash turns things around, TORNADO DDT! Dax hurries after Khan and hauls him up. Dax whips but Khan KICKS him, and LARIATS Cash! Khan BOOTS Dax, scoops and TTD on Cash! Cover, TWO!! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Khan clamps the IRON CLAW onto Cash! ELIMI- NO, Cash slips out and Dax tags in. Khan whips but Cash slides under! Dax flapjacks Khan, for the BIG RIG!!! Cover, FTR WINS!
Winners: FTR, by pinfall (still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
Cash & Dax not only stay IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, they stay the THREE BELT Champions! But with World Tag League around the corner, will FTR be able to keep things that way? Or will the United Empire be back for another round?
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Commonwealth Kingpin didn’t like the idea of it, but a #1 contender’s match of sorts was held at Royal Quest II, and it was the Uncontrollable Charisma that came out on top! The United Empire has gone 1-1, but will Ospreay cap the night with a win? Or will even he be conquered tonight?
The introductions are made, with Gideon Grey making Ospreay’s. The US title is raised, and to finish Battle Autumn, we see who has a golden ticket to WrestleKingdom!
Naito hands over Grey’s jacket as if it’s a prize, and maybe in a way, it is. Naito then takes his time with his entrance attire, as he always does. Ospreay is annoyed but he lets it finish. The bell rings and Ospreay rushes in! Naito avoids the dropkick, arm-drags, but Ospreay headscissors. Naito kips free, he dodges Ospreay and RANAS, but Ospreay handsprings! Naito avoids the Penalty Kick and the standing moonsault, Ospreay runs to handspring! Naito avoids the kick, kicks Ospreay, and he throws Ospreay out! Naito builds speed but Ospreay knows what’s coming! Ospreay slides in and he copies tranquilo as Naito tranquilos!
Fans fire up as Naito and Ospreay both smirk. Naito and Ospreay slowly sit up as fans rally up. Ospreay and Naito stand and reset. Ospreay shows off doing jumping jacks, and then he and Naito approach. Naito avoids Ospreay, though, and fans applaud. Naito wants Ospreay to hold on, and they circle again. Naito steps forward but then back. The circling continues and fans rally up. Naito tries to fake Ospreay again but Ospreay pushes him to ropes. They both fight for control, and Naito has Ospreay against ropes. Red Shoes calls for the break, Ospreay turns things around, and then Ospreay lets off slowly.
Naito ducks the cheap shot to fire off fists on Ospreay! Naito whips, hip tosses Ospreay into a backbreaker! Ospreay writhes, Naito drags him up, NECKBREAKER! And PLUMA BLANCA! Ospreay kicks and flails to the ROPEBREAK! Naito claims he needs help again, but he does let go at 4. Ospreay bails out and is fuming. Fans rally while Naito now says Ospreay needs to hurry up. The ring count starts and Ospreay stands, but then he clutches his neck. Ospreay shakes out his bad arm and tries to get feeling, and the ring count reaches 10 of 20. Ospreay hears it reach 15, and he slides in at 17. Naito stomps Ospreay down!
Naito drags Ospreay up, snapmares, and cravats. Naito pulls on the hold but Ospreay endures. Ospreay moves around, fights up to his feet, and he throws body shots. Naito still puts Ospreay in the corner, Ospreay demands the ropebreak, and Red Shoes counts. Naito holds, Ospreay CLUBS him, but Naito throws a hard back elbow! Fans rally as Naito throws another hard elbow! And another! Naito lets off as Red Shoes reprimands, and Naito whips Ospreay corner to corner. JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! But Ospreay disrupts Combinacion Cabron and puts Naito up top! Ospreay CHOPS Naito and Naito falls to the floor!
Fans fire up while Naito writhes and clutches his stinging chest. Gideon coaches Ospreay as the ring count starts. Ospreay goes out and stalks Naito around the way. Ospreay brings Naito up, and whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over! Ospreay shakes out the bad arm while fans rally up again. Ospreay goes out to fetch Naito in No Man’s Land, and he CHOPS him! Naito rests on the spare table, but Ospreay drags him up. Ospreay has Naito sit on the railing, and DECKS him back into ringside! The ring count finally starts again and Ospreay drags Naito up. Ospreay puts Naito in at 9 of 20 and fans applaud.
Ospreay stalks Naito to the other side of the ring. Ospreay drags Naito up while fans rally. Ospreay ROCKS Naito with a forearm! Naito staggers, Ospreay CLUBS him on the back. Naito staggers into a CHOP! Ospreay stalks Naito, and CHOPS him off his feet! Ospreay covers, TWO! Fans applaud and rally up again, but Ospreay drags Naito up. Naito throws body shots and forearms! Ospreay EuroUppers! Ospreay whips, Naito reverses but Ospreay turns hip toss into COBRA TWIST! Naito CLUBS Ospreay but Ospreay scoops for the SPIN OUT BACKBREAKER! Naito flounders away but fans rally up again.
Ospreay stalks Naito, drags him up, and snapmares to then dig a knee into Naito’s back. Ospreay has the chinlock but Naito endures. Naito grabs at Ospreay but Ospreay pulls back on the hold. Fans rally as Naito continues to endure. Naito fights around but Ospreay digs that knee in! Naito kicks and flails and gets the ROPEBREAK! Ospreay lets off quickly, and he drags Naito up. Ospreay whips Naito to ropes, but Naito holds ropes to BOOT back! Naito runs, into an elbow! Ospreay runs, into a BOOT! Both men are down and fans rally up again. Naito stands up first, he throws haymakers and kicks!
Naito whips, ELBOWS Ospreay down, then basement dropkicks! Fans fire up and Naito has Ospreay in a corner. Naito whips corner to corner, runs in and JUMP KICKS! Ospreay swings but Naito ducks to sweep the legs! Ospreay hits buckles, and then Naito SWINGING DROPKICKS! Not quite Combinacion Cabron but good enough! Ospreay staggers and Naito poses. Fans fire up as Naito hits the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay barely gets a shoulder up, but Naito gives him toying kicks. Ospreay goes to the corner, Naito kicks him more, and fans rally up. Naito throws those heavy back elbows again!
Naito hoists Ospreay up, brings him out, and hits a SUPER DRAPING NECKBREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! But Naito puts PLUMA BLANCA back on! Ospreay flails but Naito drags him away from ropes! Ospreay turns and reaches out but Naito drags him away from those ropes, too! Naito slaps Ospreay around while Ospreay endures the hold. Ospreay grabs at Naito but Naito reclines back. The fans rally, Ospreay kicks and moves around, then reaches out, to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud but Naito claims he needs help. Red Shoes isn’t falling for that so Naito lets go on his own. Ospreay clutches his shoulder again while fans rally.
Naito drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay throws a forearm! But it seems to take more out of Ospreay than it does Naito. Ospreay throws another, and another, but Naito ELBOWS and CLUBS Ospreay in return! Naito stomps Ospreay down, then glares at Gideon. Gideon backs off, Naito slaps Ospreay around. Naito whips, Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER! Fans fire up as Naito bails out, and Ospreay hurries over to SLINGSHOT ELBOW! Direct hit and both men are down at ringside! Fans rally up while Red Shoes checks. Both men are okay to continue, and Ospreay sits up first. Fans applaud as Ospreay drags Naito up and puts him in the ring.
Ospreay aims from the corner, he springboards, but Naito gets under! Naito wrenches to TORNADO- NO! Ospreay blocks it! Ospreay suplexes Naito, but Naito slips out! Naito waistlocks, Ospreay switches but Naito elbows free. Naito runs, but into the Tiger Wall Kick! And ENZIGURI! Both men are down again and fans rally back up. Ospreay goes to the apron, he aims from the apron again, and springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while both men are down. Ospreay sits up and he calls his shot. But Naito anchors a leg! Ospreay gives him Kawada Kicks for that. Ospreay springboards but Naito trips him up! DRAPING NECKBREAKER!
Naito then drags Ospreay to the apron, another DRAPING NECKBREAKER, TO THE FLOOR!! Fans are thunderous while both men writhe! Red Shoes checks and Ospreay is okay to continue, despite all that damage to his neck and shoulders. Naito drags himself up with the railing, and he hobbles over towards Ospreay. Naito drags Ospreay up, and whips him into the POST! Ospreay wipes out at Gideon’s feet! Naito storms over as Ospreay flounders against railing. Naito grins and opens the gate. Naito CHOKES Ospreay on the railing, then CLUBS him! Naito then turns Ospreay, but Ospreay breaks free!
Ospreay uses a backslide hook to bring Naito back over! Ospreay then jumps off the railing, OSCUTTER TO THE FLOOR!! Fans fire up again and Red Shoes checks both men. They’re somehow okay to continue, and a ring count begins. Naito and Ospreay writhe and stir, the count is 10 of 20. Ospreay and Naito slowly sit up at 15, flounder their way over to the ring, and they both spring in at 19!! Fans rally back up as both men are stirring. They crawl after each other, and Ospreay throws a forearm! Naito sits back up and he throws a forearm into Ospreay! Ospreay sits back up and he forearms Naito. Naito forearms Ospreay.
Ospreay throws another forearm, but so does Naito. Fans fire up as Ospreay roars! Ospreay ROCKS Naito, but Naito ROCKS Ospreay! Ospreay eggs Naito on and the forearms fly fast and furious! The forearms slow down, Naito SLAPS Ospreay, Ospreay throws more forearms! Naito throws those all back! FIVE in a row! Fans are thunderous as Ospreay is dazed! Naito drags Ospreay back up, and he throws elbows! Ospreay gives Kawada Kicks! Naito gives elbows! Ospreay clinches to an EXPLODER! But Naito has the arm! Naito drags Ospreay up to throw more elbows! Ospreay drops to a knee and fans fire up!
Naito drags Ospreay back up, and he throws more back elbows! Ospreay falls back in a heap! Naito paces while Ospreay sits up in a daze. Fans rally hard as ever and Naito stands Ospreay up. Naito throws more elbows! Ospreay falls back in another heap! Naito drags Ospreay up again, to wrench, but Ospreay RAMS Naito into a corner. Ospreay runs in, but into a BOOT! Naito runs, to RANA, but Ospreay blocks! Ospreay gets Naito up but Naito slips out to TORNADO DDT! Ospreay goes to a corner, Naito hoists him up top again, and then climbs up behind him! Fans are thunderous for the SUPER POISON RANA, BUT OSPREAY LANDS ON HIS FEET!!
Ospreay springboards to OSCUTTER!! Both men are down and fans are thunderous! Ospreay crawls to a cover, TWO!!! Naito survives, but Ospreay is too tired to be upset about it! Fans rally harder and harder, Naito slowly sits up as we pass 25 minutes! Ospreay slaps some sense into himself while Naito crawls to a corner. Ospreay crawls over and brings Naito up in a waistlock. Ospreay hoists Naito up top now, and Ospreay then tucks Naito in! CHEEKY NANDOS! And then Ospreay gets under Naito for an Electric Chair! Ospreay goes up the corner?! But Naito fights it! Naito turns to SUPER STEINER!!
Fans are electric, Naito runs in, but Ospreay holds that off to DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Naito survives and fans are electric again! Ospreay prepares his arm and he aims from the corner! But Naito wheelbarrows to victory roll! TWO!! Ospreay hurries, Naito ducks the superkick to ENZIGURI! Ospreay returns, but into a pop-up into the buckles! Naito then hurries to the corner, he gets Ospreay up, ESPERANZA!! Naito sets up again, he runs at Ospreay, CORRIENDO- NO! Ospreay slips free to SUPERKICK! And HIDDEN- DESTINO!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay survives but Naito drags him up! Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, NO! Underhooks and STORM- DESTINO!?!?!? Cover, TWO!?!?!?
Naito doesn’t let that stop him! Fans are electric again and Naito drags Ospreay up! Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, but Ospreay slips out! Ospreay and Naito fight for control, POP-UP FOREARM!! And then HIDDEN BLADE to the face!!! Fans are at a fever pitch as Ospreay aims again, TRUE HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?!? HOW?!?! But Ospreay doesn’t care, he just hauls Naito up again! Double underhooks, STORMBREAKER!!!!! Cover, OSPREAY WINS!!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (still IWGP US Heavyweight Champion)
Just after 30 minutes, this one comes to an end! Naito gave it his all, but it just wasn’t enough to dethrone Ospreay! If Naito can’t use the US title as a way to WrestleKingdom, then what is there for him?
As for Ospreay, he is helped up by Aussie Open, and Gideon Grey gets him the belt. Grey and Red Shoes raise Ospreay’s hands in victory, and then Gideon gets Ospreay the mic. Ospreay takes it and says, “And that is how you make the United States Championship worth it. Orange Cassidy, Dave Finlay, and now, Tetsuya Naito.” Ospreay counts three but he wants a fourth. “Well, Naito, gomenasai <very sorry,> no Tokyo Dome for you. But… My journey is still going. And we have in two, three weeks, Stardom NJPW crossover show! So… Open Challenge! Who is next?!” Ospreay and the Empire wait to see if someone will come out.
Well, no one? Then maybe someone should get on Skype or on Zoom. Anyone from “The Forbidden Door” want to show up? Who? No one’s answering! “Guess nobody wants to get in the ring with THE Best Wrestler in the World!” Gideon takes the mic to say Chaos, LIJ, and anyone else, there is just NO ONE that can do it night after night after night quite like the Empire! So on behalf of Aussie Open and Will Ospreay, Gideon thanks them for coming to see the United Empire!! The confetti flies and the crowns are up. Who will answer the call for the title? WAIT! Just as Ospreay’s heading out, the lights go out!
It’s… SHOOTER!! The Roughneck, Shota Umino, is back in Japan! Ospreay is a bit surprised, but he lets Shota approach and fans applaud. Ospreay and Shota get face to face, and Ospreay holds up the belt. “Is this what you want? Huh? Is this what you want? Welcome back, but you came back at the wrong time. I’m the United States Champion, what’re you gonna do about it?” Shota just pushes Ospreay aside to get the mic for himself. Shota holds up the mic, but then tosses it aside to DECK Ospreay! Shota then CLOBBERS Fletcher and DECKS Davis! Gideon gets in but Shota DECKS him, too!
Shota kicks Gideon out, then he dodges Ospreay’s belt attack! DEATH RIDER!! Shooter has learned a lot from the Maniac, Jon Moxley, and he holds up the title over Ospreay. Shota holds the belt up over his own head, but then bails out as the rest of the United Empire rushes out! Will the Roughneck have a golden homecoming at the Historic X-Over?
My Thoughts:
A great event for NJPW to wrap up Battle Autumn while moving things towards the next big events. Great opener for the Junior Heavyweight Tag titles, and I had a feeling the Empire would retain since they were losing so much during the build. Bushi and Titan got to show how great a combo they are during those tune-ups, but it seems TJP & Akira are still a better team when the pressure is on. The United Empire also winning that 8 Man Tag made sense to keep the rest of the faction strong going into the dual World Tag League, Super Junior Tag League series starting near the end of the month.
I skimmed the other matches, and I almost missed Hikuleo’s because it was so quick. Apparently, Sho tried to help Yujiro attack Hikuleo but Hikuleo whooped them both, and then all he needed was his finisher to get perhaps the fastest win in NJPW. I suppose that’s a good way to make it up to Hikuleo that he doesn’t get the NEVER Openweight title yet, and makes him look awesome so that of course he’ll be taking that title off Karl Anderson. I’m pretty sure the “Incredible Tag” of Hiromu & Taiji VS Wato & Desperado was great stuff, and the same for Okada & Tama VS White & Kenta, but those were of course just tune-ups. Wato & Desperado win, perhaps indicating they’re not going to win the Junior Heavyweight title.
We got great stuff in the NJPW World Television title tournament matches. I was rather shocked that Narita won, but they did bring it to the wire, and it fits the story Narita is telling about bringing around the new generation. And then it was hilarious that there were multiple Young Lions dressed like ZSJ, and that those guys came into play countering Dick Togo’s antics. ZSJ beats Evil surprisingly quick, too, and now we have the finals set for WrestleKingdom, with both guys getting to do a lot of build in the two months left. Now, the way the NJPW and TV Asahi officials introduced this title, it’s about the young generation, so I would think Narita is the one to win, but ZSJ really deserves to have a singles title finally, and being an inaugural champion would be great for him.
And of course, we got awesome stuff for the heavyweight tag titles and the US title. FTR VS Khan & Cobb wasn’t the insane match of the year contender that FTR VS Aussie Open was at Royal Quest II, but this was great stuff from both teams. I suppose FTR winning is fine, they can join World Tag League with the pressure of being champions on them, and we’ll see how that story plays out. Naito VS Ospreay was awesome stuff, practically WrestleKingdom worthy in itself, and it was a bit of a surprise that Ospreay won, but something made me feel like Naito’s story is going to be him scraping the bottom of the barrel to get on the WK17 card. Maybe he and Sanada get in WTL, too?
And then Shota returning here was great, he gets to have that rough Face persona where he’s not backing down from a fight. He is going to give Ospreay a great match since we saw a sampler at Royal Quest II. They can even build off that, where Red Shoes has to let his son take the brutal hits Ospreay is going to throw at him. I don’t think Shota gets the title but he’ll look great either way.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.18.2024
Motor City Machine Guns either go out on their backs, or head to Rebellion as champs! Lets see how they finish their current run in TNA!
No burying the lead here! The Main Event is The System versus Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s the Go Home episode before Rebellion! So we’re guaranteed a damn good tag match, and we should get either new wrinkles, or ways to keep the storylines cooking going into the Pay-per-View.
With all the rumors and innuendo about the Guns being on their way out, I think we all assume that MCMG is losing, but my inner fanboy is still excited.
Part Three: Acceptance @TheJonGresham #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/NE9FPzCCz2
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024
Ratings:
- Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – SQUASH
- LSG vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – SQUASH
- Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno: Ali wins via 450 Splash – ** 3/4
- Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna: Rosemary wins via Spear – ***
- Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards: System wins via Roster Cut + Knee Party – *** 1/4
Results:
So we kick off the match with Josh coming out to commentary again to watch Hammerstone’s match. They really need a new way to try and keep heat without reusing the same tired gimmick of “ring side seat” to a Squash match.
Little Guido w/New FBI vs Hammerstone
Guido tries to shoot the half, but Hammerstone shrugs him off, lifts him like a child and runs him into a corner, few short shots and then just tosses him across the ring. Hammer gets a little distracted talking smack to Josh and eats a foot, but then tosses Guido with the ole Sack of Shit move and keeps working over Guido.
Hammer shoves Clayton, and provokes him to push him back right in front of the referee. She ejects them, Guido tries to take advantage but when he goes for the pinfall Hammer kicks out immediately and presses Guido out of thing through the ropes. Continues to dog walk Guido, puts the head gear on the ECW Original and then Torture Racks him while staring directly at Josh, and of course picks up the submission victory.
.@XiaBrookside and @Ashamae_Sebera face off NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/Q0S3wSRpeu
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024
LSG vs Joe Hendry
Hendry cuts a little promo, mentioning the Fat Uncle Phil joke…something about shopping at the TOP Dollar Store. Solid mic work.
LSG is a damn good local talent, he’s been seen in ROH and AEW in the past (perhaps others, but that’s what comes to mind immediately for me), but we all know this is an enhancement match. A few nice chain wrestling spots early, but Hendry uses his power to stop the smaller wrestler, Sack of Shit into Standing Ovation and the match is over quickly.
Mustafa Ali & GYV vs Cody Deaner, Jake Something & Rhyno
Well okay, having Deaner ask the crowd if they wanted a 3v2 or their third member…RHYNO…is pretty much a no brainer in Philly. But at least the gimmick isn’t quite as cringe as I expected.
Jake starts with Zack Gibson and throws him around. Jake goes for the tag and Deaner asks the crowd who Jake should tag, and the crowd picks Rhyno. Rhyno Whips Gibson into a corner, Drake actually softens the impact, allowing Gibson to fire back, tag out, but Rhyno levels both GYV members and then even knocks Ali off the apron. Rhyno tries to call to the crowd to tag in Deaner and that goes over like a fart in church. He tags him in anyway, and the crowd is kinda dead and doing whatever it wants after the obvious ECW chants when Rhyno tagged in.
GYV take a couple lumps but they of course start to work over Deaner and capture some momentum. Solid tandem work from GYV, they cut off Deaner from making a tag and goad Jake a little to cause the ref to block off the babyfaces so the heels can take a few shortcuts. Cody eventually makes the tag to Rhyno, hot tag, he tries to set up the Gore but the GYV manage to stop him in his tracks and hit an Enzuigiri to daze the Man Beast, he falls to his corner and Jake tags himself in. Jake literally runs them all over, tags in Cody and Launches him from the Top Rope into Zack Gibson. Ali makes the save and Jake tries to get his hands on Ali, but the GYV keep throwing themselves at him, literally. The triple team finally gets the best of Jake, they hit 3 Dives and then post Jake, so they gather around Cody like hyenas.
They forgot about Rhyno, he’s set up for a Gore, he Gores Drake, Gibson and Ali take out Rhyno, but then Cody starts to fight back. Ali stops Deaner’s offense with an Avalanche Sunset Bomb, then hits his 450 Splash. Jake barely misses being able to break up the pin.
.@TheEricYoung channels "The Sickness" as he prepares for FULL METAL MAYHEM with @FrankieKazarian at #Rebellion! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/tm1TqxZBLo
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 19, 2024
Rosemary w/Havok vs Jody Threat w/Dani Luna
Jody tries to start quickly with Shoulder Tackles, Lariats and Scoop Slams, and it does seem somewhat effective. Rosemary is having trouble finding offense against the intensity, but she keeps kicking out. Shotgun Dropkick finally gives Rosemary an opening, she goes into full mount and rains down strikes. Rosemary shoves Jody into a corner and Bites her in the corner. Jody tries to fight out, they go across and Rosemary catches her with the legs and puts her in the Upside Down. Splash in the corner from Rosemary, Exploder Suplex and Jody is eating a lot of offense.
Rosemary looks like she’s caught after she gets tripped up into the ropes and Jody goes for her Rope Knee into the German, but Rosemary dodges. Rosemary hits her own suplex and pulls out a beautiful Last Chancery! I haven’t seen her do that in a long time. Jody manages to fight to the ropes, Rosemary is a little slow to capitalize and eats a Pump Kick. Rosemary goes flying into the ropes, Jody hits the Double Knees into the German this time for 2, and they trade a few haymakers after that. Jody folds Rosemary with a low Lariat, Zombie rise spot a few times, Jody goes for a pinfall and Rosemary kicks out.
Havok jumps up on the apron, Dani meets her and they decide to step down, but the distraction was enough. Jody turns around and eats a Spear. Rosemary wins!
Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) vs The System (Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers) w/Alisha Edwards
Eddie and Shelley start off, and its a very simple slow start. Mostly an early stalemate, the typical Japanese style the TNA seem to love to employ. Starters tag out, but then Shelley with the blind tag, Sabin Baseball Slides out, picks Eddie’s ankle and sends his face bouncing off the apron, while Shelley sneaks up being Myers and they hit a tandem move before we cut to commercial. Off of the commercial it looks like Eddie and Myers regained control. But a nice Jawbreaker from Shelley sends Eddie falling back into the MCMG corner. Dragon Screws to both legs from Sabin and Shelley, and we get the Dragon Screw dissection spot for the Guns.
Myers gets sick of things, tries to get involved, but Simultaneous Figure Fours from the MCMG makes The System look silly. Alisha does the classic “push the rope forward” gimmick to assist Eddie in breaking the hold. She keeps chirping at Shelley until she finally grabs his foot. Shelley doesn’t take kindly, tries to grab her by the hair but she gets away, Shelley eats a strike and falls back to the ropes so Lish can just throttle him with the rope, Sabin walks over and acts like he’s going to PK her and the look of disgust on her face is hilarious, like “how dare he threaten to kick her”. Would I be mad is Masha decides to team with Lish and they win the Knockouts Tag titles? No, because the Knockouts Tags are trash. But I still prefer Lish as valet/manager.
Shelley starts fighting back after another commercial break, Eddie tries to cut him off, but Sabin clocks Eddie and Shelley manages to make the tag and Sabin comes in. Lights up both System members, Kick off Tornado DDT, into a Running Gamengiri. Eddie tries to counter but Shelley assists, tandem strikes, Double Baseball Slide into the classic MCMG spot 5 Hole Dive! Keeping up with the classics Shelley stacks the System members on each other and hit the Missile Dropkick/Flatliner spot. As the Guns are rolling, Sabin accidentally catches Sabin with his foot and The System take control! They hit their pieces of the System Overload spot, but Sabin kicks out. Roster Cut attempt from Myers, but Shelley is back. High Speed Dirt, Machine Gun Sandwich, but Lish grabs Shelley’s foot when they’re setting up Skull and Bones. Shelley gets dropped on the turnbuckle and thrown out, Sabin eats the Roster Cut followed up with Boston Knee Party and System retains!
Its a little weird to have had the two commercial cuts and the fact there’s still Nic Nemeth to follow. So it feels a little flat, I hope this wasn’t their swan song match, because it was nice to see some classic spots, but it was entirely too abbreviated.
Nemeth comes out, goes into the crowd and finds a kid with a kendo stick and borrows a beer from someone, so he does a bit of a Sandman tribute. Moose cuts off his promo basically immediately. He throws out the “can’t beat the system” line again, and Nic rolls with the punches well. Moose uses a few cute analogies about Nic having a failure laden past, but Nemeth bites back and its really damn good. He says he can see it in Moose’s eyes that he thinks he’s getting in the ring with Dolph Ziggler, but no, there is no more old Dolph Ziggler, just the new Nic Nemeth. And Moose’s cool seems to be slightly shaken after those words. Good promo.
Overall Score: 6.5/10
So this was okay, if it didn’t end as strongly as it did, I would’ve rated this much lower. Two squash matches in the beginning, reusing the Josh comes out to the announce table to watch trope is boring, hell even Clayton’s shove to Hammerstone was super lame looking. The Deaner match was luke warm at best, but things picked up around the Rosemary match.
Lets also not overlook the segments with ASH & Xia, Jonathan Gresham’s whole deal and EY having to return to the violence/sickness/world class maniac, whatever you want to call it, were all great building blocks. This definitely wasn’t what I would call a strong Go Home, but it didn’t hurt things for Rebellion. The whole injury of Cardona was addressed, which honestly sounded weird since Jordynne basically said she was expecting them to have a backup plan so she has a backup plan. I don’t really like how that video package came across.
But who knows, all I know is, this wasn’t an awful episode, it just wasn’t really strong either. Here’s to hoping Rebellion Saturday is still strong.
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Will the Ivy League MVP earn a title shot?
The NEW ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe, is here to step onto the Proving Ground with one of Maria Kanellis’ baby boys, Griff Garrison! Will Griff make Maria proud? Or will he reach for the sky?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bryan Keith VS Aaron Solo; Keith wins.
- Six Man Tag: Lance Archer & The Righteous VS Jon Cruz, Savion Truitt & Damian Chambers; Archer & The Righteous win.
- Lee Johnson VS JD Drake; Lee wins.
- Abadon VS Allysin Kay; Abadon wins.
- The Infantry VS The Iron Savages w/Jacked Jameson; The Infantry wins.
- Six Woman Tag: Diamante, Leila Grey & Taya Valkyrie VS Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch & Trish Adora; Kiera, Leyla & Adora win.
- The Beast Mortos VS Nick Comoroto; Mortos wins.
- Lady Frost VS Marti Belle; Frost wins.
- The Dark Order VS Zak Patterson & Frank Milano; The Dark Order wins.
- ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Mark Briscoe VS Griff Garrison w/ Cole Karter & Maria Kanellis; Mark wins and denies Griff a title match.
PLAY BY PLAY
Mark Briscoe speaks.
“Now House of Black, I’ve been doing this dance with y’all a little while now, and I’m starting to understand how y’all operate. Starting to understand y’all’s M-O. You try to intimidate me. You try to strike fear into the hearts of men. Well I done told you, I fear no man, I fear no evil. And ancient wisdom says the violent take it by force. Now lemme tell you, Eddie Kingston, Adam Copeland, and Mark Briscoe, we some violent men! And at Dynasty, we bringing the violence, babeh! So heed my advice, House of Black! Be afraid, be very afraid!” The Sussex County Chicken is ready for a fight, will he, the Rated R Superstar and Mad King tear down The House of Black once and for all?
Bryan Keith VS Aaron Solo!
The Bounty Hunter is still looking for a prize, but he’ll gladly fight to earn his shot. Will Keith be heading for a golden opportunity on the other side of Dynasty? Or will Solo shoot first?
The Code of Honor is upheld with sarcastic enthusiasm by Solo, and Keith shoves him away. The bell rings and Solo SLAPS Keith! Keith TACKLES Solo and rains down fists! The fans fire up, Solo gets away then knees Keith low. Solo ROCKS Keith, whips him to a corner, but Keith comes back to run Solo over! Keith scoops to SLAM Solo, then stands on Solo’s face! The fans fire up for the KNEE DROP! Keith then SLAPS Solo! The fans rally for “BK! BK!” Solo storms up but Keith kicks low. Keith reels Solo in, suplexes, and he holds Solo up! Keith marches around, then SLAMS Solo down! Solo bails out and the fans fire up as Keith aims.
Keith builds speed, slides, but Solo ducks! Solo sends Keith into steel steps! The fans boo as Solo leaves Keith behind. The ring count starts, fans chant “SOLO SUCKS! SOLO SUCKS!” Solo counts along but wants it to go faster. Keith stands at 8 of 20, slides in, but Solo stomps and HAMMERS away! The fans boo more, but Solo stands Keith up to bump him off buckles. Keith CHOPS in return! Then CHOPS again! The fans “WOO~,” then Keith ROCKS Solo with a forearm. Keith CHOPS in the corner, but then Solo dodges. Solo tries but Keith dodges the chop to CHOP Solo down! The fans fire up while Solo is stinging.
Keith whips Solo, Solo reverses and CLOBBERS Keith! Cover, TWO! Keith grits his teeth but Solo knees him in the back! And again! The fans rally, Solo taunts them, and then ELBOWS Keith in the head. Solo stalks Keith to a corner, digs his boots in, but again the fans chant “SOLO SUCKS!” Solo stomps away on Keith, digs his boots in again, but Keith fights up! The fans fire up as Keith fires forearms! Keith fires forearms again and again and again, winds up, but Solo dodges! Solo comes back, but Keith ROCKS him after all! The fans fire up as Keith runs in to BOOT! Solo sputters, Keith runs, but then Solo SUPERKICKS! Keith just roars!
Solo swings, but into a T-BONE SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Keith keeps calm. Keith waits on Solo as fans rally behind him. Solo staggers into a fireman’s carry, but he fights free! Solo shoves, goes to a corner, but then Keith comes back. Solo ELBOWS Keith, whips, but Keith reverses! Solo goes up but gets caught, for an USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up again as Keith slashes his throat and aims his finger gun! Keith underhooks, but Solo fights the lift! Solo back drops, Keith sunset flips but Solo stays up to DOUBLE STOMP! Solo then runs up, catches Keith and hits a T-BONE! Cover, TWO!
The fans fire up but Solo hurries to a corner. Solo climbs fast, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Keith survives that coup de grace and Solo isn’t sure what to do. Solo kicks Keith around, drags him up and reels him in to underhook. Keith fight that lift, Solo CLUBS away on him, but Keith Alabama Lifts! Solo grabs ropes so Keith lets him down, and ENZIGIRIS! But Solo SCREW HIGH KICKS! Solo goes up top, but Keith RISING HEADBUTTS! The fans fire up with Keith and he climbs! Keith reels Solo in, for DIAMOND DUST!! Cover, Keith wins!
Winner: Bryan Keith, by pinfall
A big win for BK! And he gives back that sarcastic handshake. Will the Bounty Hunter be hot on the trail of a championship after AEW & ROH pass through the Gateway City?
Mark Sterling speaks.
“If you ask AI to create the perfect professional wrestler, it wouldn’t even come close to you. If wrestling is a body business, then you’re a multinational corporation. Biology defying symmetry, no fat, all muscle, no waste. As functional as you are aesthetic. High-flying? You got it. Ground ‘n’ pound? You got that, too. Striking, brawling, submission, technical, there is not a single style you have not perfected. For the last 20 years, you’ve been one of the most consistent and proficient wrestling specimens for any company that’s been willing to throw money at you and begged you to stay. And now, it’s time for them to beg for mercy.
“You are Tony Nese, and you are a Premier Athlete.”
Now Mark Sterling & The Premier Athletes are here in person.
They stand backstage, Sterling’s guys in matching tracksuits, and he says the last time he looked into the camera, he told everyone he had a plan. The very next day, they enacted that plan. Sterling took them off the road, they entered a professional fight camp. They got the best coaches, best trainers, best doctors, and these three started to do what they do best: go to work. Supercard of Honor, against two former ROH TV Champions, PA got an impressive victory. Fruits of their labor. Ariya Daivari is back better than ever. Josh Woods is bigger and better than he was when he won the National Championship. And Tony Nese is in the best shape of his life, which is saying something.
In fact, what’re we even talking about? These three are the most underappreciated athletes in the company. They walk like stars, they move like stars, they present themselves like stars, and by the end of this year, they will be champions. Supercard was just phase one of this plan. Phase two… starts tonight. Then just what happens when the Premier Athletes start making moves?
Lee Johnson VS JD Drake!
Even though he lost at Supercard, Big Shotty stays positive! He got close to the ROH World Television Championship, will he get back there for another shot? Or will Scrap Metal be another speedbump in Lee’s momentum?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, JD HIP TOSSES, and Lee scrambles to ropes. JD flexes and fans cheer, which surprises JD. Lee gets up, he and JD reset. They tie up, JD arm-drags, but Lee gets up. Lee keeps calm while JD talks some smack. They circle, tie up again, and JD scoops! JD carries Lee around, with one arm! Then SLAM! JD dusts off his hands and the fans fire up more. Lee is a bit frustrated, but he fires himself up. The fans rally with him, he and JD circle to tie up. Lee goes to hip toss, but JD blocks! JD tells Lee he knows that’s not gonna work!
JD goes to hip toss but now Lee blocks! Lee arm-drags, then he goes to feint, but JD blocks with a headlock. Lee shoves JD, tries another arm-drag, but JD blocks that. JD whips Lee, Lee ducks ‘n’ dodges and arm-drags again! The fans fire up as Lee tries to scoop, but JD’s too hefty! JD SLAPS Lee, ROCKS him, then whips him to ropes. Lee ducks ‘n’ dodges again, shoves JD and hurdles! Lee drops, then DROPKICKS! JD staggers to a corner, Lee fires up, and the fans fire up with him! Lee runs up on JD in a corner to CHOP! JD barely flinches! JD puts his arms back and dares Lee to try again. Lee CHOPS, but JD puts Lee in the corner!
JD swings, Lee dodges and CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Lee whips, JD reverses but Lee ELBOWS back! Lee runs up but into a lift, and FLAPJACK off buckles! Lee falls, the fans rally up, and JD dusts himself off. JD storms back up on Lee, brings him up, and the fans rally. JD ROCKS Lee, stands him up in the corner, and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” while Lee sputters. The fans want that “One More Time!” so JD stands Lee up. JD winds up, to JAB! The fans boo JD trolling them, but JD stands Lee up to CHOP him after all! Lee is stinging, but JD brings him up. Lee throws body shots but JD ROCKS Lee!
JD whips, Lee sunset flips! JD stays up, but Lee avoids the hip drop! Ghost pin, TWO! JD gets up, kicks low and whips, to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Lee stays in this and the fans rally up. JD sits Lee up, KICKS him in the back, then paces around. The fans rally for Lee but JD pie faces him around. Lee rises, JD brings him up and Lee CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! JD throat chops! The ref reprimands, JD claims he jabbed to the chest. JD then scoops and SLAMS Lee, to then FALLING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! Lee is still in this but JD CHOKES him! The ref counts, JD lets off, claiming he was just checking the pulse.
JD clamps on a chinlock, digging his knee into Lee’s back. Lee endures, the fans rally up, and Lee fights to his feet. Lee throws body shots, but JD knees low! JD suplexes but Lee slips free! Lee ROCKS JD, ROCKS him again, but JD CHOPS! JD runs, but Lee SUPERKICKS! JD flops out of the ring and the fans fire up! The fans rally as Lee builds speed, to FLY! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up even more! Lee puts JD in, climbs a corner, and JD stands. JD staggers around, into the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! JD stays in this but then bails back out. Lee thinks on what he has to do and the fans rally up.
Lee runs, to slide, but JD gets under! JD pops Lee up to CLOBBER him! JD puts Lee in, aims from a corner, and Lee goes to the opposite end. JD runs up, but Lee moves, CANNONBALL hits buckles! Lee hurries up while JD is down! The fans cheer as Lee aims, FROG SPLASH, but JD moves! Lee rolls through, runs back at JD but JD puts him on the apron. JD ROCKS Lee, goes up, and he brings Lee around. The fans fire up as JD brings Lee up, but Lee fires body shots! Lee GAMANGIRIS, then climbs! Lee sunset flips for the POWERBOMB! The fans fire up and Lee climbs back up, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Lee wins!
Winner: Lee Johnson, by pinfall
Big Shotty’s got range, and he hit the mark! Will Lee take this momentum and turn it into another chance at a championship?
Abadon VS Allysin Kay!
Speaking of second chances, The Living Dead Girl got screwed out of the ROH Women’s World Television Championship when Mercedes Martinez & Diamante conspired against her. And while AK Don’t Play, she knows the OG Badass well. Can Abadon prepare for revenge by taking down Martinez’s greatest rival?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, but Abadon holds on, to BITE Allysin’s arm! Abadon then laughs, dodges Allysin to HEADBUTT low, HELL STAB, then mule kick! Abadon runs to SHOTGUN BOOT! Allysin goes to a corner while the fans rally up and Abadon shrieks! But Allysin BOOTS Abadon down! Allysin rains down fists, covers, ONE!! Abadon sits up but Allysin brings her around to fireman’s carry. SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Allysin drags Abadon up to TOSS her to a corner! Allysin fires body shots, then she CHOPS! Allysin whips corner to corner hard and Abadon bounces off buckles!
Allysin takes a bow, puts pinkies up, and SPLASHES in the corner! Allysin CHOPS, whips, and runs up again, but Abadon BOOTS her! Abadon runs to BULLDOG! The fans rally as Abadon slithers out to the apron then climbs up the corner. Allysin crawls, Abadon aims, CROSSBODY! Abadon runs to KNEE Allysin back down! Abadon storms up on Allysin, reels her in, BLACK DAHLIA! Cover, Abadon wins!
Winner: Abadon, by pinfall
Abadon smiles, then shrieks into the night! Will Mercedes Martinez make sure to stay far, far away from the frightening Living Dead Girl?
Backstage interview with Taya Valkyrie.
Lexi Nair is with La Wera Loca and brings up her trios match alongside Diamante and Leila Grey. But this is also the first time we’ve seen her since Supercard, where Johnny TV lost to Dalton Castle. The question is: where is Johnny? Uh, recovering from that vicious attack by Dalton Castle and his “special boy,” Paul Walter-Whatever! Taya is gonna call up Fran Dreischer to file a complaint! For someone so TV Ready, Castle and Paul sure don’t look it. So yes, Johnny is rehabbing. Wait he’s in rehab? Ew, no, who do you think they are? Johnny is rehabbing the abs! This is an aesthetics business so he has to look amazing!
So tonight, Taya will carry the weight of the TV Family in trios action. So run along, Lexi, Taya has things to do. Uh, this is Lexi’s interview space. Oh, well, her apologies. Taya bumps Lexi on the way out, but will Taya’s team win some major points in the title chase tonight?
The Infantry VS The Iron Savages w/Jacked Jameson!
Captain Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo may not be the ROH World Tag Team Championships, but they are not deterred. Will they get through the jacked ‘n’ juicy juggernauts to go after The Undisputed Kingdom once again?
The teams sort out, #BadNewsAndTattoos starts against Beefcake Boulder, and they keep the Code of Honor. They tie up, Bravo tries but can’t push Boulder back, but Boulder pushes Bravo back! Bravo resets with Boulder, beefs up, and they tie up. Bravo wrenches to wristlock, but Boulder WRINGS Bravo out! Boulder talks smack on Dean and Bravo, but Bravo pie faces. Boulder scoops Bravo, but Bravo slips free to DROPKICK! Boulder stays up, runs up, but Dean is there to GAMANGIRI! Bravo tags Dean while Boulder throws a fit, but DOUBLE DROPKICKS send him reeling! Bulk Bronson tags but runs into a DOUBLE HIP TOSS!
The fans fire up as the Infantry crisscross and SPLIT the wishbone! Bravo gets fans going with “OORAH!” Dean runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Bronson bails out, Boulder is there to help him, and Dean builds speed, only for Jacked Jameson to stand in the way! He wants Dean to sip the Savage Sauce! Dean says no thanks, but in comes Bronson! EXPLODER! Bravo protests but Bronson drags Dean to a cover. The ref is busy arguing, he finally sees the pin, TWO! Bronson is annoyed, but he mocks Bravo’s air machine gun. Bravo then tags Boulder before he brings Dean up. The fans rally but the Savages still hit a SHOULDER TACKLE SUPLEX COMBO!
Bronson flexes, Boulder taunts Bravo, and then Boulder whips Dean to the corner. Boulder wraps Dean’s arms around ropes to HEADBUTT again and again and again! Tag to Bronson, he brings Dean around, and they visit #TIDDYCITY! But Dean reverses, it’s Bronson who dives in! Boulder panics, runs up, but Dean DUMPS him! Bronson swings, misses, hot tag to Bravo! Bravo rallies on Bronson with big forearms! Bravo whips, Bronson reverses, but the CARLIE CROSSOVER takes Bronson down! Boulder gets up, Bravo fakes him out to SCISSOR KICK! Bravo then kicks Bronson, and manages a FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Bravo pounds the mat, but now Jameson wants Bravo to sip! Bravo says no, get outta here! Bronson runs up again, Bravo dodges, and Bronson barely avoids hitting Jameson! Bravo aims, Bronson dodges, the SUPERKICK hits Jameson! Jameson spews sauce! Boulder catches Jameson, Dean goes up, and Dean CROSSBODIES to wipe them both out! But Bronson rolls Bravo up! TWO, and Bronson grabs Bravo, only for Bravo to kick low! Bravo reels Bronson in, tags Dean, and TORNADO- NO, Bronson stops the DDT! Dean gets in, Bronson scoops, but Dean slips free! Feed to a SUPERKICK!
The Infantry coordinate, for BOOT CAMP! Cover, Infantry wins!
Winners: The Infantry, by pinfall
Dean & Bravo redeem themselves from Supercard and are ready to get back on track! But wait, The Premier Athletes make their way out here! Is this what Smart Mark was talking about for phase two? Daivari & Nese rush the ring and start throwing hands with The Infantry! Woods tips the scales as he DECKS Dean, then DECKS Bravo! But wait! Here comes Dalton Castle! The Peacock won’t stand for there to be bullies, and he takes off his sandals to weaponize them! The Premier Athletes dare him to, but wait! Here comes Mark Briscoe, Bryan Keith and Lee Johnson! They run The Premier Athletes off!
Sterling shouts, “Who do you think you are?!” but he’s shouting at THE ROH World Champion and many other big names around here! Will The Peacock, the Chicken and the rest of ROH humble Sterling’s stable once and for all?
Six Woman Tag: Diamante, Leila Grey & Taya Valkyrie VS Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch & Trish Adora!
The Cuban Diamond has staked her claim at challenging for the ROH Women’s World Television Championship, but so has The Hottest Flame. But let’s not forget The Last Baddie Standing, La Wera Loca, the LEGIT One and The AfroPunk! Billie Starkz still sees herself above all six of these women, but which trio takes the lead in the title chase with a win tonight?
The teams sort out, Taya starts against Kiera and the Code of Honor is upheld. The bell rings, the two tie up, and Kiera gets around to waistlock. Taya pries the hold, backs Kiera into a corner and throws elbows! Taya stomps away on Kiera, then says who’s the hottest now? Taya snapmares, covers, ONE!! Taya drags Kiera up, whips her to ropes, but Kiera holds ropes to BOOT back! Taya runs up again but Kiera drop toeholds her onto ropes! HIP ATTACK! Taya flounders, Kiera runs to step-up and LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Kiera keeps cool as she brings Taya up, but Taya ROCKS Kiera then throws her by her hair!
Taya tags Diamante, they stomp Kiera, then Diamante sucker punches Leyla! Diamante runs in to DROPKICK Kiera, then drags her to a high stack cover, ONE!! Kiera is tougher than that but Diamante says it’s just a matter of time. Diamante runs, PLANKING SPLASH flops as Kiera moves! Hot tag to Leyla! Leyla gut wrenches Diamante to GUT WRENCH SUPLEX! Tag to Adora, then Leyla wrenches so she can hand it off to Adora. Adora WRINGS Diamante’s arm, drags her up and wrenches again, but Diamante ROCKS her! Adora swings, Diamante dodges to tilt-o-whirl and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Diamante snarls and pushes Adora down to rain down fists!
Diamante storms around, brings Adora up and CHOPS her on the back! Tag to Grey and she NECK SNAPPERS Adora! Cover, TWO! Adora is tougher than that but Grey rains down fists! Grey drags Adora up, bumps her off buckles, then tags Taya. Taya and Grey dig their boots in, then Taya stomps a mudhole. Taya sits Adora down to METEORA! Tag to Diamante and she stomps a mudhole! The ref reprimands but Diamante tags Taya back in. Taya steps over Adora and mockingly has Adora reach out to her corner. The ref has to keep Hirsch back so Grey gets shots in, then Taya drags Adora up.
Taya again mockingly holds out Adora’s hand but the fans rally up. Adora fights up, but Taya pulls her into the motorcycle stretch! Adora endures the knee in her back, fights up to her feet, and then arm-drags Taya away! Taya gets up, ducks ‘n’ dodges and mule kicks! But Adora ducks the buzzsaw to BASEMENT GERMAN! The fans fire up while both women are down! Adora and Taya crawl, hot tags to Kiera and Diamante! Kiera rallies on Diamante with big forearms, then a SUPERKICK! Turn and NECKBREAKER! Kiera goes up a corner while Diamante flounders around. Diamante stands, into a MISSILE DROPKICK!
Diamante flounders, Grey tags in but Kiera dodges to fire off forearms! Grey shoves back, but Kiera returns to SHOTGUN! Grey flounders, Kiera fires up, and says kiss this! HIP ATTACK in the corner! She sits Grey back down to run and BOOT WASH! Kiera drags Grey to a cover, Diamante breaks it! Diamante gets Grey outta there, and Taya tags in. Taya runs up to mule kick, KNEE LIFT and wrench Kiera, into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Leyla also gets in, she pushes Taya around. Leyla drags Taya up but Diamante runs in. Leyla gets around to SAIDO! Taya gets Kiera up but Kiera SUPERKICKS!
Kiera brings Taya over, tags Adora, and they feed Taya to the BUBBA BOMB! Body scissor and GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!! Hot tag to Grey, she runs up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Grey is frustrated but she gets Adora up. Underhooks, but Adora breaks that to fireman’s carry! Adora storms over, tags Hirsch, but Grey slips free! Leyla dodges Leila and feeds her to Adora’s BOOT! Then GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Grey survives but Hirsch tags Kiera. Kiera runs, but Taya trips her up! Diamante distracts so the ref misses that! But then Leyla DIVES onto Taya! Diamante CANNONBALLS Leyla!
LARIAT TUBMAN from Adora to Diamante! Kiera dodges Grey to ROUNDHOUSE! And then “That’s all, PERIODT!” FACE THE MUSIC!! Bridging cover, Team Kiera wins!
Winners: Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch & Trish Adora, by pinfall
It was fast ‘n’ furious in the end there, but the Hottest Flame burns it down! Will she be first up to strike a match with Billie Starkz?
Backstage interview with Maria Kanellis, Griff Garrison & Cole Karter.
Lexi is with the First Lady of Wrestling and her baby boys, the Diamond in the Rough wearing the stolen mask from Serpentico. Lexi congratulates them on their win over Spanish Announce Project at Supercard, but it seems there might be some unfinished business. Are they ever going to give Seprentico his masks back? Karter takes the mask off to say hell no! Griff says Serpentico’s masks mean a lot to him and his lucha libre culture. But uh, they don’t care! It got them the attention that they deserve, and those wins have been a stepping stone in this company.
If Serpentico wants his masks back, he doesn’t need to trick them into a match. They’re happy to beat the crap outta him anytime, anywhere! Maria loves the confidence, and says Griff will need it in his Proving Grounds match against THE ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe. Griff is all fired up, will the Ivy League MVP pass the test with flying colors? Or will he fail to #ManUp?
The Beast Mortos VS Nick Comoroto!
Black Taurus has evolved into something even more menacing than before, and he is looking to stampede all the way to the top of ROH! But Mr. Freak Beast has changed a lot about himself, too, in hopes of finding success. Whose transformation will prove to be for the better as these behemoths collide?
The Code of Honor is upheld reluctantly, the bell rings, and the fans rally up. The two tie up, go around, and Comoroto shoves Mortos down! Mortos gets up in a huff, gets in Comoroto’s face, but Comoroto pie faces him. So Mortos SLAPS Comoroto! Comoroto runs up, Mortos dodges, and they RAM shoulders! Mortos ducks ‘n’ dodges and jumps to RANA! Comoroto goes to a corner but Mortos runs in to UPPERCUT, CLOTHESLINE, and GAMANGIRI! Mortos wrenches and hits an ARMBAR CODE BREAKER! Comoroto staggers, but he blocks the whip! Comoroto shoves Mortos, runs up, but Mortos dodges to then roll off Comoroto’s back!
Mortos tries to hip toss but Comoroto blocks! Comoroto LARIATS Mortos down then rains down fists! Fans are torn as Comoroto huffs ‘n’ puffs and stomps Mortos around. Comoroto digs his boot into Mortos’ face, lets off to soak up heat, then he drags Mortos up. Comoroto scoops to SLAM, then he runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Mortos pounds the mat in frustration. Comoroto slashes his throat, but Mortos throws body shots. Comoroto CLUBS Mortos, Alabama Lifts, but Mortos sunset flips! Comoroto stays up, hauls Mortos up, but Mortos JAWBREKAERS, KNEES and ROCKS Comoroto!
Mortos goes to suplex but Comoroto’s a big guy, too! Comoroto suplexes Mortos, but Mortos knees free! Mortos goes to a corner, Comoroto runs in but Mortos dropkicks the legs out! Comoroto hits buckles, then Mortos runs in, CORNER 619! Comoroto staggers away and Mortos climbs, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Comoroto still has power to spare and he storms up on Mortos. Mortos UPPERCUTS first! Mortos goes to whip but Comoroto blocks again! Comoroto whips Mortos to a corner, runs up, but Mortos slips out to the apron! Comoroto hits buckles, Mortos goes up, and the fans rally! MORTOS TWISTER! Cover, Mortos wins!
Winner: The Beast Mortos, by pinfall
Comoroto is big and bad but this is a beast of a different breed! Will nothing stop the modern day minotaur from making ROH his domain? Will Jacoby Watts’ teachings ever pay off for Comoroto?
Backstage interview with Nick Comoroto.
Lexi is with Mr. Freakbeast as he returns backstage, and she asks him what his strategy will be moving forward after this tough loss. Jacoby Watts walks in to say, “Turn the page. Start a new chapter. Nothing changes if nothing changes, Nick. It’s a harsh reality. But I am your answer. Your beacon of hope in the darkness. Follow me and I will lead you into the light! For I am Jacoby Watts, the one and only, praise be to he, and he is me.” Watts waxes poetic while making himself the focus, but will Comoroto accept his guidance?
ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Mark Briscoe VS Griff Garrison w/ Cole Karter & Maria Kanellis!
The Sussex County Chicken won this title after a war with Eddie Kingston at Supercard, and those two are still going to be friends taking on The House of Black this Sunday! But will Mark be able to focus on tonight with Dynasty on the horizon? Or is this where Maria’s baby boys start building their kingdom?
Mark shows off the belt and its new camouflage patterned leather! The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans cheer on Mark as he circles with Griff. They tie up, Griff headlocks, but Mark powers up and out. Griff sunset flips, but Mark rolls through to drop on the headlock! Griff moves around, fights up, and powers up, but Mark holds tight! Mark hits the takeover, Griff headscissors, but Mark kips free. Roles reverse as Griff headlocks for the takeover, and Mark headscissors. Griff kips free, but Mark shows Redneck Kung-Fu stance and Griff scrambles away! The fans cheer but Maria coaches Griff back up.
Griff cools off, he and Mark reset, and the two circle again. They knuckle lock but Griff kicks low. Griff UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS again, then whips corner to corner. Mark goes up and out, SWATS the haymaker to REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUT! Then Mark gets in to BOOT Griff down! Griff is on ropes, Mark runs in to BOOT WASH him right outta the ring! The fans fire up as Mark builds speed, and he DIVES onto Griff! Not the cleanest landing but Mark borrows a hat to put it on! The fans fire up with Mark, he gives the hat back, then drags Griff up to DECK him! Mark drags Griff up again, to scoop and SLAM!
Griff sputters, Mark goes to the apron, and the fans fire up as Mark takes aim. But then Karter and Maria stand in the way! The fans boo, Mark sighs and steps inside, and Maria coaches Griff up. Griff flounders up, the fans rally behind Mark but then Karter and Maria each get on the apron! The ref is busy arguing with Maria but Karter distracts Mark. Griff sneaks in to CLOBBER Mark! Griff fires forearms while the fans boo, but then Griff stomps a mudhole into Mark. The ref counts as Griff digs his boots in, but Griff lets off at 4. But then that lets Karter CHOKE Mark behind the ref’s back!
The fans boo as Karter gets away with one, and Griff drags Mark up. Griff UPPERCUTS, but Mark CHOPS! Griff sputters, Mark CHOPS again! Griff knees low, whips Mark to a corner, but runs into an ELBOW! Mark runs up, into a BOOT! Cover, TWO! Griff clamps onto Mark with a chinlock and he grinds Mark down. The fans rally as Mark endures and fights up. Mark throws body shots, then fires up to CHOP! CHOP! And CHOP! Mark runs, but into the ROLLING ELBOW! Griff then torture racks for the TOWER HACKER BOMB! High stack, TWO! Mark survives and Griff is frustrated but Maria coaches him up.
The fans continue to rally behind Mark as Griff aims again. Griff goes up but Mark REDNECK UPPERCUTS! Griff gets caught up in ropes, Mark lets him loose so he can fall to the floor. Karter hurries over, but Mark goes up to PLANCHA both baby boys! The fans are thunderous, and Mark cracks open a can of WOOOOO Energy! Mark chugs it, bangs the can against his head, then gets Griff in the ring. The fans fire up as Mark runs corner to corner, but Griff BOOTS him! Mark comes back to LARIAT! The fans fire up, Mark reels Griff in, but Griff wrenches out, only for Mark to LARIAT! Mark hauls Griff up again for underhooks!
Mark lifts, for the JAY DRILLER!! Cover, Mark wins!
Winner: Mark Briscoe, by pinfall (denies Griff Garrison a title opportunity)
Maria is upset but there’s nothing she can do, her baby boy wasn’t man enough to stop the NEW ROH World Champion! Will Mark continue to carry on his brother’s legacy and become one of the best champions in ROH history?
My Thoughts:
A very good episode of ROH for being 92 minutes. I still skipped some very clear filler, but Marti Belle got a good showing in her loss to Frost and The Dark Order got a good match out of Zak & Frank. Cruz, Damian & Savion got an okay showing but c’mon, they were against Archer & The Righteous, those guys have been running through everyone. It hasn’t really led them to anything yet, but maybe after we get undisputed AEW & ROH World Trios Champions after Dynasty, Archer & Righteous challenge the winners. And real good wins for Bryan Keith and Lee Johnson, each guy looking good towards midcard titles at some point.
Really good match from Infantry VS Savages, with the Savages being a bit more Heelish this time. Good win for Infantry, but I didn’t think The Premier Athletes would be going after them first. And I didn’t expect Faces like Keith, Lee and Briscoe to run out to get at them. Maybe the Premier Athletes can also position themselves to go after the trios titles after Dynasty. If The Acclaimed win, they’ll need Heel opponents. Archer & Righteous can play either side, but fans really like Archer so I kinda want him and Righteous to be Faces when facing Bang Bang Gang.
Good match and good win for Abadon over Allysin. Good win for Kiera, Leyla & Adora, though things got a little sloppy in the middle, Leyla’s timing wasn’t quite there. Athena & Billie are both Heels, so while Queen Aminata is in the mix, the champion she doesn’t choose still needs a good Face challenger so you can take your pick of the winners from tonight. Really good match from Mortos and Comoroto, and Mortos winning also helped serve Comoroto’s story with Watts. Watts keeps insisting he’s the answer, but this has to lead to Comoroto breaking free and beating Watts up for his arrogance.
Good promo from Maria, Griff & Karter, and they just kinda copy-pasted Mark Briscoe’s promo from Collision that same Saturday. Really good match for Griff against Mark but of course Mark wins. Mark getting involved with Premier Athletes, maybe Woods or Nese get a shot at Mark only to lose and be Mark’s solid first defense. Not sure who could be a more prolonged feud with Mark, but there are plenty of possibilities, and I’m just happy to see him showing up on ROH TV as the ROH World Champion should.
My Score: 8.5/10
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