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Mitchell’s NJPW Sakura Genesis Results & Report! (4/8/23)

It is a golden Spring!

Published

1 year ago

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Will the landscape of NJPW change forever?

After changing allegiances and winning the New Japan Cup, Sanada gets another shot at Kazuchika Okada and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship! Will the Cold Skull once again be a gold skull?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Shinnichi Champion Grand Prix Celebration Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, El Desperado & YOH VS Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano & Minoru Suzuki; Khan, Yano & Suzuki win.
  • Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS The House of Torture; The United Empire wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables VS Taichi, DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Taichi, Douki & Kanemaru win.
  • Six Man Tag: Tama Tonga, Hikuleo & Master Wato VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
  • IWGP Women’s Championship Triple Threat: Mercedes Moné VS AZM VS Hazuki; Mone wins and retains the title.
  • NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Shota Umino; ZSJ wins and retains the title.
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Bishamon VS Aussie Open; Aussie Open wins and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Robbie Eagles; Hiromu wins and retains the title.
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada VS SANADA; Sanada wins and becomes the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

The G1 Climax is gonna be hot all Summer!

Starting from Saturday, July 15th, in Hokkaido, all the way to Sunday, August 13 in Ryogoku, the classic red robin tradition returns for its 33rd year! Who will be in and who will win a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?

 

IWGP Women’s Championship Triple Threat: Mercedes Moné VS AZM VS Hazuki!

The WWE Women’s Grand Slam Champion dethroned the Pirate Princess in San Jose, but now she’s willing to take on a huge challenge! Will Mone still be money? Or will the High Speed Bomb Girl and the Wildheart take the gold away?

The introductions are made, the IWGP belt is raised, and we see if the numbers spell disaster for Mone at Sakura Genesis!

The bell rings and fans rally up already. The three ladies circle, Mone wary of both opponents. Hazuki & AZM both approach Mone but she stands her ground. They triple knuckle lock, but then Mone kicks Hazuki and AZM! She reels them both in for headlocks! But they throw body shots, double whip, and both drop. Mone hops over each of them, is sent through, but then stops herself by holding ropes. Mone BOOTS AZM, arm-drags Hazuki, but AZM keeps moving to springboard arm-drag Mone! AZM keeps it going to a cover but Hazuki pushes them both over, only for Mone to roll Hazuki! TWO and AZM rolls Mone, TWO! Fans fire up as all three ladies stand off!

Mone, Hazuki and AZM catch their breaths and circle again. Hazuki and AZM shake hands, then offer to Mone. Fans applaud, Mone ignores Hazuki to offer to AZM, but AZM says she’s not “A Z M.” She’s A-ZU-MI! Mone gets it right, and shakes hands with Azumi! Then they both kick Hazuki low! Mone & AZM double whip but Hazuki crisscrosses them into each other! Hazuki runs into double hip tosses but bounces off the ropes to DOUBLE ARM-DRAG! Fans fire up, Hazuki DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! AZM goes to the apron, Hazuki stands on Mone at the ropes. Hazuki boots, boots and boots, then BOOT WASHES!

Fans fire up with Hazuki and she brings Mone up. Hazuki full nelson SLAMS Mone, to then SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for “HA-ZU-KI!’ as she brings Mone up. Hazuki suplexes, AZM runs in, but Mone BOOTS AZM and slips around Hazuki to Gory Especial. AZM returns, Hazuki BOOTS her now, and Hazuki slips free. Mone reels her in, Hazuk blocks the suplex, but then Mone blocks! They fight for control, Mone trips Hazuki to a jackknife bridge, but AZM DOUBLE STOMPS it apart! Fans fire up and AZM brings Hazuki up. Hazuki breaks free, but AZM ducks the kick! Hazuki also ducks a kick, jumps the sweep, and she rolls AZM.

Hazuki whips, AZM reverses but Hazuki uses that to DIVE onto Mone! Fans fire up with Hazuki, she CLUBS Mone down, but AZM is taking aim now! AZM goes up and up and SUPER CROSSBODIES! She wipes out Mone, Hazuki and even the Young Lionesses! Fans are thunderous for “A-ZU-MI!” as she puts Hazuki in. AZM kicks Hazuki to a drop zone, goes up the corner, and fans rally again. AZM DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!! Hazuki survives but AZM keeps her focus. AZM drags Hazuki up, runs, but Hazuki slips free of the tilt-o-whirl to a SLEEPER! AZM fights around, but she sits down!

Hazuki leans on AZM, but Mone is back to METEORA them both! And she puts on a DOUBLE BANK STATEMENT! Hazuki and AZM endure, AZM slips free, and she puts Mone in a CROSSFACE! But then so does Hazuki! Mone endures DOUBLE CROSSFACES, but who would get credit?! Mone pries at the holds, she BITES fingers!! Both Hazuki and AZM let go, and Mone hits DOUBLE BULLDOGS! AZM and Hazuki go to opposite corners, Mone runs in to DOUBLE KNEE Hazuki! And then she runs corner to corner to DOUBLE KNEE AZM! Then back again, METEORA for Hazuki! METEORA for AZM!

Mone goes side to side to BOOT WASH AZM! Then Mone goes around the world to BOOT WASH Hazuki! Fans fire up for Mone and she goes up the corner. Hazuki gets under Mone’s leap, but AZM runs in! Mone slips around to Gory Especial! But Hazuki runs in, CODE BREAKER on Mone! AZM sunset flips, but Hazuki breaks it!! Fans fire up, AZM shouts at Hazuki! Hazuki stands, AZM runs in, but into a takedown! CROSSFACE!! Hazuki pushes back, AZM fights around, but she’s caught! Fans rally and duel, “A-ZU-MI!” “HA-ZU-KI!” AZM scrambles around, Hazuki rolls her back, but AZM slips out to the FUJIWARA!

AZM shifts, NUMERO UNO!! But Mone barrels into her! They roll, and AZM gets Mone into the RINGS OF SATURN!! But Hazuki tackles AZM! They both stand, AZM runs and tilt-o-whirls on Hazuki to transfer to Mone for LA MISTICA!! Hazuki runs in, AZM drop toeholds her onto Mone! DOUBLE FUJIWARA!! And then, DOUBLE NUMERO UNO!!! But both Hazuki and Mone roll back, TWO!!! Fans fire up and AZM stomps away on Mone and Hazuki! AZM goes up the corner and fans rally again. But Mone and Hazuki both go after her! They climb up, fans fire up, but AZM fights them off!

AZM pushes Mone back, she ends up in the ropes! AZM does the same to Hazuki, she’s also in the ropes! AZM stands up, but Hazuki trips her up! Mone gets out of the Tree of Woe while Hazuki climbs back up. Hazuki HEADBUTTS AZM! But Mone adds on! TOWER OF DOOM!! Fans are thunderous for the Sunset Bomb Superplex! The fans rally while all three women are down. They all approach center, Hazuki CLUBS Mone but AZM CLUBS Hazuki. Both Hauzki and Mone ROCK AZM! Then Hazuki ROCKS Mone! AZM ROCKS Mone! Mone ROCKS Hazuki! Hazuki and Mone brawl as they stand up!

Hazuki gets the edge, but Mone spins her to a BACKSTABBER! AZM runs in, but also into a BACKSTABBER! Mone goes to a corner, goes up, and fans fire up for the METEORA! Cover, TWO!!! AZM survives and shocks Mone! Mone refocuses, takes off her armband, and says she’s gonna finish this! Mone brings AZM up, BACKSTABBER, but AZM rolls through to DOUBLE STOMP! And then AZM SUSHI! Cover, TWO!! Mone stands, ROCKS AZM, but AZM ROCKS Mone! They brawl, forearm for forearm, and fans fire up! But Hazuki springboards in to DOUBLE MISSLE DROPKICK! Fans fire up and Hazuki BOOTS Mone! Cover, TWO!!!

Hazuki snarls and she drags Mone back up! Mone ROCKS Hazuki! Mone fires off shots from all sides but Hazuki just fires off a flurry! She has Mone down and keeps raining in shots!! Mone is all but out and Hazuki roars! Fans are thunderous, and Hazuki brings Mone up. Hazuki runs, Mone follows and slips around to KNEE Hazuki from the apron! Mone hurries back in, hurries back up, but Hazuki kicks the legs out! DRAPING CODE BREAKER!! Fans fire up and Hazuki climbs. Hazuki leaps, to FLYING CODE BREAKER!!! Cover, AZM BREAKS IT! Hazuki throws AZM out, then drags Mone back up.

Mone shoves free, but Hazuki boots! Mone blocks, KNEES and Gory Especials! But Hazuki fights free, drags her down, HAZUKI STAR! Cover, AZM breaks it! AZM SUSHI! TWO, AZM SUSHI RETURNS! Mone breaks it!!! Fans are thunderous as all three are down again! Mone drags Hazuki up, “I’m the CEO!” She SLAPS Hazuki! Mone runs, into a scoop and SLAM! Hazuki fires up again, brings Mone in, and she suplexes, but AZM hops on! O’Conner Roll, but Mone uses that to get AZM in the Gory Especial! MONEY MAKER onto Hazuki!! Cover on AZM, Mone wins!!

Winner: Mercedes Mone, by pinfall (still IWGP Women’s Champion)

As fast and furious as that was, Mone is still the one with the checkered flag! And now, Mercedes Mone will take this title to Stardom’s All-Star Grand Queendom! And speaking of, here comes her challenger, Mayu Iwatani! Mayu steps into the ring and gets a mic to speak. “NJPW, and everyone here, good evening!” Mayu congrats Mone on her title defense, but reminds her that on April 23rd, Stardom in Yokohama Arena, Mone’s belt will belong to Mayu! Mone shakes her head and raises the title high. Mone gets the mic to say, “Try it, b*tch!” And then she SLAPS Mayu down! Mone takes her leave, but will she leave Yokohama still in charge?

 

NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ Kosei Fujita VS Shota Umino!

The Front Man of TMDK is still rolling with this title, but he is up against the Roughneck who beat him in the New Japan Cup! Will #SHOOTER do it again, only faster? Or will the ZSJ Show continue?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if there’s a new star of the show!

The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Shota rushes in, sunset flips, TWO! ZSJ sits on it, TWO! Shota sunsets again, ONE! ZSJ sits again, ONE! Shota sunsets, ONE! ZSJ sits, TWO! Shota sunsets, TWO!! ZSJ stacks, TWO!! Shota has ZSJ in the sunset again, TWO!!! ZSJ escapes by nanoseconds and the ref assures Shota, it was still just two. ZSJ applauds but fans rally and duel. “SHO-TA!” “ZA-KU!” ZSJ dares Shota to try something, and they feel things out. They knuckle lock, Shota rolls and wrenches but ZSJ wrenches back and top wristlocks. Shota headlocks, wrenches to a wristlock, but ZSJ drops to trip him to a standing toehold.

Shota rolls and gets free and fans applaud again. Shota and ZSJ reset, fans continue to duel, and the two feel things out. ZSJ kicks, UPPERCUTS, but Shota just frowns. They circle, ZSJ talks trash, but Shota UPPERCUTS in return! ZSJ shakes it off, circles with Shota, and ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Shota UPPERCUTS, and ZSJ wobbles. ZSJ nods, then UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ flexes, fans applaud, but Shota comes back. Shota UPPERCUTS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, they go faster and faster! Fans rally, Shota gets the edge and UPPERCUTS ZSJ down! Fans fire up while ZSJ checks his chin. Shota stomps ZSJ, then brings ZSJ up.

ZSJ fights the lift, CLUBS Shota and runs, but Shota dropkicks the leg! Shota runs in, blocks a boot, and brings ZSJ out to dropkick the leg again! ZSJ hobbles, Shota has the leg, SHIN BREAKER! And then a takedown, into a roll and KNEEBAR!! ZSJ flails and gets the ROPEBREAK! Shota thrashes, but lets off at 4. Fans applaud while ZSJ checks his leg. Shota stomps ZSJ, gives some toying kicks, then stomps again! ZSJ hobbles up, Shota CLUBS him, then Shota paces around ZSJ. Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ drops to his knees. Shota stands ZSJ up to UPPERCUT again! Shota then scoops to DROP ZSJ, run and UPPER- NO, ARMBAR!!

ZSJ pulls on the arm, Shota kicks and flails to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, we pass five minutes, and ZSJ lets go. Fans rally up, ZSJ kicks Shota around, but Shota sits up in a corner. ZSJ KICKS Shota on the back! ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! ZSJ wrenches, wrenches, and wrenches again to a wristlock. ZSJ taunts Shota that he’s holding him off with one hand. ZSJ twists the elbow, wrangles and isolates the arm, to STOMP it! Shota clutches the arm but ZSJ eggs him on. ZSJ waits on Shota, and Shota throws a forearm! But that’s the bad arm! ZSJ eggs Shota on, Shota throws another forearm, but it hurts!

ZSJ SLAPS Shota to egg him on! Shota ROCKS ZSJ through the pain! Shota runs, ZSJ avoids the dropkick and KICKS Shota in the back! Shota fires up, but swings into an ELBOW BREAKER! ZSJ runs, into the scoop and DROP! RUNNING UPPERCUT! Fans fire up and Shota gets to his feet. Shota whips ZSJ to the corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Then Shota FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Fans rally and duel, “SHO-TA!” “ZA-KU!” Shota dragon sleepers, inverted suplexes, but ZSJ slips out to Cobra Twist! Shota endures, fights around, reaches out, ROPEBREAK!

Shota throws ZSJ on the apron, but ZSJ shoulders in! ZSJ slingshots to sunset flip, but Shota rolls through. Shota YANKS ZSJ up, but ZSJ uses it to get a GUILLOTINE! ZSJ has the body scissors, but Shota stays on his feet! Shota powers through to suplex! ZSJ slips out, to a SLEEPER! Shota reaches out but ZSJ squeezes tight! The ref checks Shota, he’s starting to fade, but then he comes back to life! Shota slips out to dragon sleeper, CROSS RHODES! Shota holds on, he drags ZSJ back up! Inverted suplex, SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! But Shota aims from the corner! Shota runs in, but ZSJ slips out of the swing!

ZSJ throws Shota to the ARMBAR, but Shota clasps hands! Shota fights to a stack, TWO!! ARMBAR!! ZSJ pulls hard but Shota endures! Shota kicks around, ZSJ puts as much pressure as he can, but Shota turns over! But into a DISARMER! Then ZSJ shifts his grip, SOUTH MIMMS SERVICES!! Shota is even more stuck being under ZSJ! Fans rally, but ZSJ pulls way back! Shota uses that rotation to ROPEBREAK!! ZSJ lets go and we’re at ten minutes passed! ZSJ tells Shota to give up but Shota drags himself up the ropes. ZSJ KICKS Shota in the chest! ZSJ runs, but Shota dodges to roll him up! TWO!!

Shota hurries to La Magistrol! TWO!! ZSJ scrambles up, but Shota kicks the bad leg! ZSJ ducks the enziguri, body scissors, to EURO- NO, Shota rolls through to O’CONNER BRIDGE! TWO!! ZSJ escapes in time! Shota rises, ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Shota roars, ZSJ uppercuts but into arm hooks! ZSJ spins Shota around to UPPERCUT again! ZSJ runs, into a POP UP UPPERCUT! Shota goes from the corner, SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Shota keeps focused while the fans fire up! The three minute warning hits, Shota kicks low but ZSJ wrenches out of the underhooks! ZSJ UPPERCUTS but Shota kicks the bad leg!

Shota ROCKS ZSJ, spins, but into a SLAP! Shota blocks the roundhouse to ENZIGURI! ZSJ wobbles to a corner, but comes back to PENALTY KICK! Cover, ONE?!?! ZSJ is shocked but time is still on his side. ZSJ shouts at Shota, runs in again, but into a Gory Especial! Backslide, roll through, underhooks! ZSJ wrenches out to PELE the arm! ZSJ runs in but Shota dodges to TORNADO DDT! Roll back to drag ZSJ up, DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? ZSJ survives and no one can believe it! And we’re at the two minute warning! Shota drags ZSJ up, lifts him, HANGMAN DDT! Fans are thunderous, and Shota brings ZSJ up again!

But ZSJ slips out to backslide! Jackknife bridge, into a deep prawn hold, ZSJ WINS!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (still NJPW World TV Champion)

The Front Man snatches victory from the jaws of defeat! Shota can’t believe it, either! Does the paradigm shift Shota promises still need something more? Will anyone ever snatch this title off of ZSJ?

 

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Bishamon VS Aussie Open w/ The United Empire!

Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi went back and forth with Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis in the New Japan Cup, but those wins earned the young tag team this shot! Will the Aussie Arrow & Dunkzilla conquer the Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter? Or will it be Lights Out for the future of tag team wrestling?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if the United Empire conquers Chaos!

The teams sort out, and the Empire throw the crowns up before Fletcher starts with Hashi. Fans rally up as these two meet again from the New Japan Cup. They tie up, Fletcher wrenches, wristlocks, but Hashi reverses to wristlock. Fletcher reverses back, tag to Davis, but Hashi gets away. Hashi has Aussie Open back off, and Davis circles with Hashi. Davis swings, Hashi dodges and headlocks, but Davis powers out. They RAM shoulders, Davis swings but misses and Hashi mule kicks. Hashi headlocks, Davis powers out and Davis runs Hashi over! Davis brings Hashi up, wrenches, and tags Fletcher.

Aussie Open double whip but Hashi holds ropes. Davis rushes in but Hashi dumps him out! Fletcher scoops, Hashi slips off but Fletcher kicks low. Fletcher whips but Goto tags in before Hashi reverses. Bishamon then double shoulder Fletcher over! Hashi runs, for the ZENMAI! Davis returns, but into a kick! And the GOTO GOTO HUNTER! Fans fire up and Hashi runs at Fletcher. Fletcher throws Hashi out, Goto blocks Fletcher’s boot but Fletcher SUPERKICKS! Davis storms over to throw Goto out! Fans fire up and Davis DIVES! Direct hit and Hashi hits railing! Fletcher goes up, ARIHARA MOONSAULT!

Fans are fired up but Fletcher landed pretty hard. The Empire checks Fletcher while fans rally up behind Aussie Open. The ref also checks but somehow Fletcher is still in this. Fletcher puts Goto in the ring, but Fletcher feels his own blood on the side of his head. Fletcher tags Davis, Aussie Open double whips and double CHOPS, then PENALTY KICKS to SENTON! Fans fire up, Fletcher gets checked while Davis covers, TWO! Davis KICKS Goto in the back, and again. Davis drags Goto up but Goto throws hands! Goto CHOPS and CHOPS but Davis knees low! Davis whips, Goto reverses and runs in, but into a boot!

Davis runs, Goto follows, Davis dodges but Goto deflects the boot to DISCUS LARIAT! Goto crawls to tag Hashi and fans rally up. Hashi RAMS Davis but Davis roars! Hashi ROCKS, body shots and CHOPS! Hashi whips Davis but Davis reverses. But Hashi comes back to CHOP! Hsahi mule kicks, turns Davis, but Davis elbows free! Hashi keeps moving, and he BLOCKBUSTERS! Fletcher, all taped up, storms in to kick and whip Hashi to ropes. Hashi holds ropes to stop himself, Fletcher runs in but Hashi FLAPJACKS him onto the top rope! Fletcher is stuck, Hashi DROPKICKS him out to the floor!

Fans fire up and Hashi runs at Davis in the corner, to clothesline! Hashi turns Davis, NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and duel, Davis snarls and stands. Hashi mule kicks but Davis blocks. Davis lifts, Hashi fights free, but Davis swats the lariat to CHOP! And then BIG back suplex! Fans fire up while both men are down! Hashi goes to an open corner, Davis crawls to his corner, tag to Fletcher! Fans fire up for Fletcher’s guts as he runs in at Hashi to GAMANGIRI! Hashi falls and the Empire fires up! Fletcher snarls, fights through the pain, and he brings Hashi up. Fletcher reels Hashi in to suplex, but Hashi blocks!

Fletcher fires forearms, but Hashi CHOPS! Hashi full nelsons, Fletcher breaks and switches but so does Hashi. They goa round more, Fletcher suplexes, but Hashi fights fere! Hashi swings, but into Fletcher’s HALF ‘N’ HALF! Fans fire up and rally as Fletcher tags Davis back in. Aussie Open drags Hashi up, feed and fireman’s carry, AUSSIE DENTAL PLAN! Fletcher BLASTS Goto, goes up, Davis scoops Hashi, LAWN DART CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi is still in this but Aussie Open keeps focus. Fans duel, Davis tags Fletcher back in, and they each aim at Hashi. Hashi slowly rises, Aussie Open runs in, but Hashi dodges! The lariats collide!

Goto calls, Fletcher whips Hashi to Davis, AUSSIE- NO, Hashi blocks the dental work this time! And he sends that kick into Davis! Davis staggers away, Hashi hits a CODE BREAKER on Fletcher! All three men are down and Goto shouts to Hashi! Hashi crawls, fans rally up, hot tag to Goto! Fans fire up as Goto ROCKS Fletcher, clotheslines Davis, then blocks Fletcher’s boot! But Fletcher DECKS Goto! Davis storms up, Aussie Open whips Goto to a corner. Fletcher runs in but Goto dodges to LARIAT Davis! Fletcher returns, he and Goto fire forearms! Fans rally with every shot, things speed up, and Fletcher gets the edge!

Fletcher roars, runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT Fletcher inside-out! Fans rally for “GO-TO! GO-TO!” as Fletcher crawls to a corner. Goto runs in, to MURAMASA! And then SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Fletcher is still in this, the white bandages turning more and more red. Goto fireman’s carries but Fletcher fights it! Fletcher spins, but Goto DECKS him! Goto roars, drags Fletcher up, and fireman’s carries, but Fletcher fights free! Fletcher waistlocks, Goto backs him into the corner, and Hashi runs in to clothesline Fletcher in the corner! Feed to Goto, but Fletcher SHOTGUN KICKS Goto down!

Hashi SUPERKICKS Fletcher! Davis BOOTS Hashi! Goto LARIATS Davis! Fletcher returns to kick, run, but into the fireman’s carry! FIERCE FLASH!! Fans fire up with Bishamon and they drag Fletcher up. Dragon sleeper, leg capture, but Fletcher kicks Hashi away! Davis drags Hashi out, Fletcher victory rolls Goto, cover, TWO!!! Goto escapes by nanoseconds, but Fletcher runs in. Goto puts him on the apron, but Fletcher ROCKS Goto! Fletcher shoulders in but Goto drags him out! DRAPING G T R!!! Hashi sends Davis into railing! Fans are thunderous and the Empire is worried!

Goto fires up and aims at Fletcher. BUZZSAW! Goto drags Fletcher back up, fireman’s carries, Ushi throw, G Y W!!! Cover, DAVIS BREAKS IT! Davis drags Goto up, but Hashi is back! Fans duel, Davis fires off on Hashi and Goto! Davis CHOPS Hashi, roars, but runs into the HIDDEN GAP!! Goto runs to clothesline Davis up and out! Bishamon focuses on Fletcher, full nelson and leg capture, but Fletcher BOOTS free! Hashi still DRAGON SUPLEXES! But Fletcher rises!? Fletcher runs in, gets around Hashi, but Hashi fights the German Suplex! Hashi switches, and holds Fletcher up for Goto’s BLINDSIDE LARIAT!

Hashi rolls Fletcher back and Goto dragon sleepers! Leg capture, but Fletcher just fights free again! But he’s sent into the HIDDEN GAP! Leg capture, but Davis ENZIGURIS Hashi! Fletcher feeds Goto to a BIG forearm! Underhooks and BUTTERFLY BOMB!!! Cover, HASHI BREAKS IT!! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down! The teams regroup, Davis aims at Hashi and BOOTS! Hashi wobbles, into a SUPERKICK! Hashi roars and fires off forearms and CHOPS! But he gets a BOOT SUPERKICK COMBO!! Aussie Open aims from opposite corners, Goto crawls to Hashi, Bishamon gets the LARIAT SANDWICH!

Aussie Open TOSSES Hashi, Davis stomps around and fans are with them! Goto staggers up, into the LARIAT SANDWICH!! Pump handles, COREALIS!!!! Cover, AUSSIE OPEN WINS!!!

Winners: Aussie Open, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

As Kevin Kelly says on commentary, “To be the best, you have got to beat the best, and Aussie Open just did it!” Literal blood, sweat and tears were shed in this match, and now the Empire has complete IWGP tag team dominance! Will there be no stopping Will Ospreay’s army from taking over NJPW now?

 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Robbie Eagles w/ TMDK!

The Ticking Timebomb made it through the Final Hour against Lio Rush, but now he takes on TMDK’s newest recruit! Will Hiromu survive the Sniper of the Skies? Or will Robbie prove that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is the more lethal weapon!

The bell rings and both men rush in! Eagles wheelbarrows to victory roll, wants the legs, but Hiromu kicks him away! Hiromu bails out to cool off and fans rally up. Eagles rushes out, Hiromu hurries in, but Eagles springboards! Hiromu ducks under, whips Eagles, but Eagles reverses to go up and around and arm-drag! Things speed up, Eagles RANAS but Hiromu blocks! Hiromu deadlifts Eagles to fireman’s carry, swing and- NO, Eagles sunset flips the Timebomb, only for Hiromu to stay up and step through! RON MILLER SPECIAL!? Eagles scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu puts on the pressure but lets off as Red Shoes counts.

Fans rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as Eagles bails out. Hiromu smirks and waits on Eagles. Eagles hurries up but Hiromu ROCKS him! Hiromu runs and SUNSET FLIPS, but the bad leg won’t let him finish! Eagles FLYING CHOP BLOCKS! Fans rally up, Eagles drags Hiromu’s leg through railing! Eagles bends the leg, then DROPKICKS the railing! Eagles then uses the railing in a RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Hiromu flails, Red Shoes reprimands, and the ring count starts. Eagles thrashes Hiromu around as the count reaches 10 of 20. Eagles finally lets Hiromu go, and he drags Hiromu up and into the ring at 17!

Eagles steps through again, Hiromu scrambles, ROPEBREAK! Hiromu escapes to the outside again but Eagles pursues. Eagles KICKS Hiromu against the railing! Eagles whips but Hiromu reverses and Eagles hits railing hard! But Eagles just roars as he comes back! Only for Hiromu to KICK him down! Hiromu puts Eagles in the ring, then slides in, but Eagles slingshots to YANK Hiromu’s leg on the apron! Innovative savagery from the Sniper! Hiromu writhes while fans rally up, but Eagles SLAMS the bad leg on the apron edge! Eagles pushes Hiromu in, and gets the fans going with “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Eagles has the standing toehold the entire time the fans call and respond, and then Eagles SNAP LOCKS it! Eagles mocks Hiromu with a wave, then kicks him down. Eagles drags Hiromu up and SLAPS the bad leg. Eagles puts Hiromu in the corner, CHOPS, then whips him corner to corner. Hiromu barely makes it, and he BOOTS back! Hiromu runs, RANAS, but Eagles drops Hiromu down to tie up the legs, and STOMP them! Eagles rips at the tape around the knee! Fans are shocked as Eagles rips it away to drop a KNEE on the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Eagles lets off. Fans duel, but Eagles grabs the leg.

Eagles takes aim, and FIELD GOALS the leg! The kick is good but Hiromu is clutching his leg. Eagles mockingly encourages Hiromu, then brings him up. Hiromu CHOPS, but Eagles just shrugs it off. Hiromu CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Eagles CHOPS! Eagles CHOPS Hiromu again, fires up, but Hiromu BOOTS him! Hiromu hops up to headscissor, only for Eagles to Electric Chair and DUMP! And CHOP BLOCK! And BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! But into the KNEEBAR!! Eagles pulls on the leg and ZSJ coaches him, but Hiromu still scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Eagles lets go but ZSJ says he’s got this.

Fans rally and duel, “HI-RO-MU!” “ROB-BI-E!” Eagles kicks Hiromu around, but Hiromu just gets mad. Eagles mocks Hiromu’s pain while kicking the bad leg. Hiromu stands up to ROCK Eagles with forearm after forearm! Eagles knees low! Eagles KICKS Hiromu right down! Eagles mocks Hiromu to get up, then KICKS him again! And again! And again! Eagles runs, but Hiromub locks the Penalty Kick! Hiromu fights up, traps an arm but Eagles ROCKS Hiromu with a left! Eagles runs, Hiromu dodges and runs to RANA! Fans fire up as Hiromu is back in this! Eagles goes to a corner as the fans rally again.

Hiromu hobbles up, roars and runs through the pain, to clothesline and snapmare! Then Hiromu runs, but into a CHOP BLOCK!! Hiromu tumbles out, Eagles runs to DIVE! Direct hit and both men hit the railing! But Eagles still fires up! Fans rally, Eagles apologizes to the fans, and he puts Hiromu in. Eagles aims, springboards, MISSILE DROPKICK to the legs! Eagles then steps through, but Hiromu boots him away! Eagles hits buckles, comes back, and Hiromu runs in to SUPER- NO, Eagles blocks, clinches, SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Into the RON MILLER SPECIAL!!! Eagles thrashes and Hiromu endures!

Fans rally, duel, and Hiromu reaches out. Hiromu claws over but Eagles drags him away! Eagles puts on more pressure, but Hiromu fights around. Eagles puts on as much pressure as he possibly can, but Hiromu refuses to quit! Hiromu crawls his way forward, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Eagles lets go in frustration to drag Hiromu up and cravat. STANDING SLICED BREAD! Eagles puts Hiromu in the drop zone, goes up top, and 450 SPLASH onto knees!! Hiromu saves himself but that was double-edged! Fans rally as both men writhe on the mat. Eagles sits up but he sputters as he goes back for Hiromu.

Eagles drags Hiromu by his bad leg but Hiromu kicks him with the other. Hiromu keeps kicking, but Eagles KICKS the bad leg! Step through, but Hiromu BOOTS Eagles! Fans rally up, both men stand, SUPER- NO, Eagles blocks again, another clinch, but Hiromu slips free to suplex! Eagles lands out, but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Dragon sleeper, spin around, VICTORY ROYALE! Fans rally up while Hiromu writhes and clutches the knee. Eagles sits up first and heads over to Hiromu. Hiromu ROCKS Eagles, but Eagles keeps coming. Hiromu ROCKS him again, and again, but Eagles keeps trying.

Hiromu ROCKS Eagles with another forearm, and another, and another! Hiromu just keeps throwing shots, but Eagles backs off. Eagles takes off the bandana, stands Hiromu up, and SLAPS him! Hiromu spins, misses, SNAP SAIDO! But Hiromu’s back?! GERMAN SUPELX! Eagles is back, SNAP SAIDO! Hiromu is back, SNAP GERMAN! Fans fire up as Eagles just comes back again! Hiromu switches, GERMAN, but Eagles lands on his feet! Eagles runs, into a fireman’s carry! CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu holds on, spins, TIMEBOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!? Eagles barely gets the arm up, and we’re only at 15 minutes!

Fans rally up, Hiromu snarls, and he forces himself to stand! Hiromu runs, into a SUPERKICK! Eagles gives another SUPERKICK! But Hiromu ducks the enziguri to SUPERKICK back! Eagles returns, into the HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! But Eagles stands up again! Eagles dodges the lariat to run, into the HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Fans fire up with Hiromu! Hiromu drags Eagles up in the dragon sleeper. Inverted suplex, but Eagles fights! They end up in a corner and Eagles skins the cat to the top rope. But Hiromu CHOPS Eagles! Eagles wobbles, and Hiromu climbs up. Fans rally as Eagles punches the bad leg!

Eagles cravats! But Hiromu fights with body shots! Hiromu fireman’s carries!? Eagles fights with elbows, pops up, SUPER POISON-RANA!!! Eagles hurries up top, to 450 SPLASH the legs!! Step through, but Hiromu cradles! TWO!!! RON MILLER SPECIAL!!!! Hiromu shouts and flails but ZSJ says this is it! Eagles puts on all the pressure, fans are thunderous, and Eagles drags Hiromu away from the ropes!! Hiromu pulls at his own hair, flails and reaches out, grabs at Red Shoes desperately but he still has to fight! The fans are thunderous as he fights forward, but Eagles drags him away again!! Hiromu is losing his mind!!

Hiromu fights up, pushes back, cradles, TWO!!! Hiromu still hasn’t put this away, but Eagles runs in! Eagles blocks the kick, spins around, uppercut and elbow, but Hiromu fights the clinch! Pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL! TWO!!! Eagles runs in, into a SUPERKICK! Both men are down and ZSJ shouts to Eagles. Fans are electric as we hit 20 minutes! Hiromu roars, but Eagles SWEEPS the leg! Eagles roars, steps through, but Hiromu fireman’s carry takeovers! And then fireman’s carry lift, DYNAMITE PLUNGER! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu is furious but he beats his bad leg into working.

Hiromu roars, runs, HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, TIMEBOMB MK II!!! Cover, HIROMU WINS!!!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Somehow, someway, the Timebomb finds a way to win! Hiromu is still the Best of the Super Juniors, but Eagles came close. Will the return of the BOSJ tournament be where Eagles earns another shot? Will Hiromu even survive to that point?

 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada VS SANADA w/ Just5Guys!

The Rainmaker considers the Cold Skull his rival, and the feeling is mutual. But both men have changed since the last time they battled. Will Okada’s new edge cut down Sanada? Or will Sanada show that he doesn’t need to be tranquilo to be the best?

Sanada’s got a new attitude, and now he’s got a new theme song and new gear! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the best in NJPW today!

The bell rings and fans are dueling already, “O-KA-DA!” “SA-NA-DA!” The rivals stare down, circle, feel things out, and then back away. They circle again, tie up, and are in a deadlock. The deadlock lasts quite a long time, but then Okada shoots to a waistlock. Sanada switches, but Okada hammerlocks. Sanada reaches around, headlocks, and grinds. Okada powers up and puts Sanada on the ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, Okada lets off slowly, but then throws a forearm! No playing around this time! They tie up again, go around, and Sanada puts Okada on the ropes. Red Shoes wants the break, Sanada lets off, but Okada wants to get hit!

Sanada just pats Okada on the shoulder like Okada would, but then he kicks low! And then CLUBS Okada! Sanada whips, Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges and ELBOWS! Fans fire up, Okada brings Sanada up, and he throws Sanada out. Okada pursues, whips, and Sanada hits railing hard! Okada storms up, brings Sanada back up, and wrenches to whip Sanada hard into more railing! Okada runs in to BOOT Sanada into the crowd! Fans rally up, Okada drags Sanada back up, and he drags him out along the railing, but Sanada fights! Sanada turns things around on Okada, MAGIC SCREW to the bare concrete!

Red Shoes checks on Okada as Okada clutches his neck. Just5Guys chill with Sanada but Okada is somehow okay to continue. Sanada leaves Okada behind as the ring count starts. Okada is still down at 8 of 20, crawls at 10 and hobbles at 12. Okada makes it back in at 15, but Sanada stomps him down. Sanada drags Okada up, CLUBS him on the neck, and then paces around. Sanada CLUBS Okada again then stalks him to the corner. Sanada cravats to wrench the neck, but Okada endures. Sanada CLUBS Okada, brings him up, and hits a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up while Sanada watches Okada writhe.

Sanada sits Okada up in a chinlock. Fans rally up, Okada endures, but Sanada thrashes around. Okada fights his way over to the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets off, and he looms over Okada. Sanada drops an elbow! Cover, ONE!! Okada snarls and fans fire up again. Sanada drags Okada up, but Okada ROCKS Sanada again and again! Sanada knees low, whips, but Okada reverses. Okada runs in but Sanada dodges, to back suplex! Okada lands on his feet, then FLAPJACKS! Fans fire up while both men are down! The fans duel, “O-KA-DA!” “SA-NA-DA!” Both men rise, Okada snarls and he watches Sanada.

Okada runs in to DECK Sanada! And ELBOW! And whip, but Sanada reverses. Sanada dodges Okada’s elbow but runs into the BOOT! Fans rally, Okada scowls, and Okada drags Sanada up. Okada whips Sanada corner to corner, runs in, and elbows! Sanada staggers into a kick and DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, the “SA-NA-DA!” side getting stronger than the “O-KA-DA!” Okada waits on Sanada again, Alabama Lifts, but Sanada kicks free! Sanada CLUBS Okada, but Okada ROCKS Sanada! Okada whips Sanada, runs in, but Sanada elbows! Sanada goes up, but Okada DROPKICKS him to the outside!

Fans rally and we’re only past 10 minutes. Okada goes out to fetch Sanada, telling Just5Guys to back off. Okada pulls up floor mats! Okada wants to return the favor from the Road to Sakura Genesis! Okada brings Sanada over, DDT to the concrete!! Sanada clutches his forehead while Okada leaves him behind. Just5Guys check Sanada but he’s somehow okay to continue. The ring count begins and Okada patiently waits in the ring. Sanada slowly stirs at 12 of 20, sits up at 14, and springs in at 15! But Okada is right on him, wrench and MONEY CLIP! Sanada endures, reaches out, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK!

Okada holds until Red Shoes counts. Okada brings Sanada around, scoops and SLAMS, then he goes to the corner. Okada climbs, but Sanada springs up! Okada leaps over him, returns, but runs into the fireman’s carry! Okada fights free, whips Sanada to a corner, but Sanada goes up and out and springboard MISSILE DROPKICKS! Direct hit and both men are down! Fans rally, “SA-NA-DA!” “O-KA-DA!” Sanada goes to a corner, Okada to the other. Sanada runs corner to corner, but Okada BOOTS him! Sanada runs back in, into another BOOT! Okada runs, but Sanada hurdles, hurdles and DROPKICKS!

Okada bails out, Sanada PLANCHAS! Direct hit and fans fire up! Sanada and Just5Guys encourage them to get louder, and the fans get louder! Sanada goes back to Okada, drags him up, and puts Okada back in the ring. Fans applaud and Sanada stalks Okada. Sanada brings Okada up, hoists him onto the ropes, MAGIC SCREW! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps his cool, the fans continue to duel, but Sanada dragon sleepers! Okada fights from below, arm-drags free, then catches Sanada for the MONEY CLIP! Sanada arm-drags free of that! Both men run in, Sanada fireman’s carries, Ushi throw, dragon sleeper!

Sanada drops but Okada rolls back and drags Sanada to gut wrench! Sanada slips free, Okada elbows and runs, but into the fireman’s carry! TKO! And then dragon sleeper, SKULL END!! Okada is caught in the body scissors! Okada pops free of the sleeper, pries the scissors open, but Sanada wants the sleeper again! Okada fights but gets caught! Okada again slips free but Sanada catches Okada again! SKULL END!! Okada is fading, and Sanada puts him in the drop zone! Sanada goes up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS into knees!! Okada saves himself there but both men are down! Fans rally up, Just5Guys coach Sanada up.

Okada rises first, he hobbles over and drags Sanada up. Okada wraps on the MONEY CLIP!! Sanada endures, Okada puts on the pressure, but Sanada powers him back. Okada puts Sanada in the corner first, runs back in, but into a BOOT! Sanada runs, but spins into a HIGH GERMAN SUPLEX! Okada holds on, ripcords, but Sanada BOOTS! Okada still has the wrist, and he glares at Sanada. Sanada BOOTS, but Okada still holds on. Sanada BOOTS, Okada short arm LARIATS! Okada scowls, drags Sanada up, and short arm LARIATS! MONEY CLIP!! Sanada kicks and flails and reaches out!

Okada puts on the pressure, grits his teeth, but fans rally harder! Sanada still reaches out, so Okada drags Sanada from the ropes! Sanada is turning red! He’s fading! Red Shoes checks Sanada, we past 20 minutes, and Sanada stays awake. So Okada copies Sanada by putting him in the drop zone and goes up the corner, MACHO ELBOW! Okada gives us the Rainmaker Pose! Fans fire up, Okada brings Sanada up, but Sanada elbows away! Okada scowls, Sanada runs, but Okada DROPKICKS! Okada brings Sanada up, gut wrenches, but Sanada fights, and he has the dragon sleeper! But Okada still hits LANDSLIDE!

Ripcord! RAIN- NO, Sanada ducks to ripcord and steal the RAINMAKER!!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down again! Okada and Sanada stir as the fans duel! Just5Guys coaches Sanada, and he slowly sits up. Okada is dazed, but he still pushes himself up. Okada and Sanada crawl towards each other, and Okada’s rage is in his eyes. Sanada throws a forearm, Okada gives it back! The fans duel harder as Sanada forearms again! Okada throws another! Sanada forearms! Okada forearms! Both men steady themselves, stand up, and Sanada ROCKS Okada! But Okada comes back to ROCK Sanada!

Sanada ROCKS Okada! Okada ROCKS Sanada! Sanada, Okada, repeat, faster and faster! Okada ROCKS Sanada and he staggers, but Sanada shakes his head. Sanada UPPERCUTS! Okada drops to a knee, but he huffs and puffs. Okada runs in to BOOT Sanada down, but Sanada’s right back up! Okada SHOTGUNS, but Sanada’s right back up! Sanda fires forearms, runs, but into the DROPKICK! Okada ripcords, but Sanada POP-UP CUTTERS!! Fans are thunderous, the “SA-NA-DA!” is stronger than “O-KA-DA!” Sanada goes up, ROUNDING BODY PRESS to Okada’s back! And then ROUNDING BODY PRESS to the front! Cover, TWO!?!?

Okada survives but Sanada shakes his head. Just5Guys coach him up as we pass 25 minutes! Sanada drags Okada up, reels him in, SIDE- NO! Okada slips out to ENZIGURI! Sanada drops to his knees, and Okada brings Sanada up. Gut wrench, but Sanada slips free to O’Conner Roll BRIDGE!! TWO!??!? Even Okada has to check with Red Shoes! Sanada runs in to tilt-o-whirl! But Okada blocks! Sanada fights with the dragon sleeper! Okada is turning red, but he manages to arm-drag free! SHINING WIZARD!!! Shoutout to The Great Muta!! Sanada hauls Okada up, DEAD- NO, Okada slips free to gut wrench, COBRA FLOWSION!!!

Okada ripcords again, RAIN- CLINCH! DEAD FALL!!!! Cover, Sanada wins!!!!!

Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)

Just5Guys are ecstatic! They celebrate with their guy, who is now THE guy! Okada falls to his rival, what will become of him now?

As for Sanada, he is presented with the belt, and Just5Guys help put it on him. Sanada has the New Japan Cup trophy, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and now the mic. “Finally, finally! I’m the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion!” The fans cheer that! Sanada tells Okada, “You and I are the same age, we’ve been through so much, and I thank you. Now, I’m in the position where I can say to you, ‘Let’s do it again.'” Fans rally for “SA-NA-DA!” and the stars are already coming out. Wait, Hiromu hobbles his way back out here? Sanada’s former friend in LIJ hops into the ring?!

Fans rally, Hiromu gets the mic and tells Sanada, “You won the New Japan Cup. You won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Congratulations. You left LIJ and changed the world, proving everything you said. So, it might be a bit sudden, but can I challenge you for the world title?” Fans are excited for that idea! They chant for “HI-RO-MU!” now! Sanada tells Hiromu that he can, but there’s someone he has to deal with first. Sanada looks to Just5Guys, and he gives the mic to the Heel Master!

Yoshinobu Kanemaru tells Hiromu, “You’ve brought up my name before. Before you challenge Sanada, let me challenge you for your title! Oi, you don’t have the right to decide. I WILL challenge you next!” Hiromu tells Sanada that before their match, he’ll take on Kanemaru with the belt on the line. “That sounds like a prize to me! What a trial! So I will beat Kanemaru, retain my title, and live my dream of becoming IWGP World and Junior Heavyweight Champion! You will then see the power and strength of LIJ!” Fans fire up for Hiromu, and a series of challenges has been set! Will the Timebomb survive?

Sanada tells Hiromu that now that business is done, Sanada is going to wrap the show, so please, get outta here. Hiromu takes his leave, and congratulates Just5Guys one more time. Sanada then asks the fans if they want to do “that.” The lights go down, the stars are out in full, and Sanada continues. “I want to say that this is my gift to you. But this is in truth your gift to me. Thank you. Did I make myself clear? Now, let me just do one thing. I love the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship more than anything. OI, RYOGOKU! See you next time!” Will Just5Guys  have even more gold the next time they are in town?

My Thoughts:

An awesome event for NJPW here, and it’s been a minute since we’ve had a Sakura Genesis. I did skip a bit, but I really should’ve gotten that Six Man of Tama, Hikuleo & Wato VS Bullet Club, because the biggest development wasn’t even Bullet Club winning. It was that El Phantasmo tried to stop David Finlay & Kenta from beating them all down! And that in turn got ELP kicked out of the Club! There was already tension with how Finlay went after Jay White and it blew over here. Though it was a little messed up they swerved us multiple times, with Kenta and Taiji Ishimori, ELP’s tag partner, turning on him. There won’t be a Bullet Club Civil War, but there could be ELP teaming with the Guerrillas of Destiny to go after Finlay’s Bullet Club.

The IWGP Women’s Championship Triple Threat was awesome stuff, especially for the pace of it. Mone winning made sense to help hook American fans for the Stardom show in a couple weeks, and Mayu Iwatani is a fitting choice, she’s been a big name in Stardom for a long time. No idea who wins, though, but that’ll be a really good match. ZSJ VS Shota was awesome stuff, and it came really close to that 15 minute limit. I was actually a little surprised Shota didn’t get it, but ZSJ snatching the win with that quick pin was a good way to keep Shota strong in losing. ZSJ still has tons of possibilities for challengers as he’s still just the inaugural champion.

Bishamon VS Aussie Open was also amazing, especially given how Fletcher kept fighting even after getting a pretty good cut on the side of his head. Aussie Open are the champions now and the Empire adds more gold to the collection. Great-O-Khan has the Rev-Pro British Heavyweight Championship, Francesco Akira & TJP still have the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, and Aussie Open has the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Ospreay is hurt but he’ll be back, probably going for the world title. Henare missed out on the KOPW title, and Cobb lost against Kenny Omega for the US Championship, but they could try for the NJPW World TV or NEVER Openweight Championship.

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight was also an awesome match, with Hiromu’s leg being a great part of story. But given the BOSJ is on the horizon, and Eagles only just returning, it makes sense Hiromu retained. Okada VS Sanada was also just an awesome match, lots of brutality from both guys to show how they’ve changed from before. I said on Monday that one, Sanada has proven himself worthy, and two, we could really explore this “Bully Okada” persona if he lost the title, and then we get Sanada winning! Sanada finally reaches the top and I’m very happy for him. And Hiromu VS Kanemaru before Hiromu VS Sanada, that is quite the set-up, can’t wait to see how that goes.

My Score: 9.1/10


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Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.25.2024

We just got done with Rebellion, and Under Siege is two weeks away! Gotta see how these dots connect!

Published

15 hours ago

on

April 25, 2024

By

Rebellion had quite a few returns, Mike Santana, Sami Callihan and Broken Matt Hardy. All three of these guys could easily be main event players, and its nice to mix up and expand what felt like a rather small pool of potential challengers.

Under Siege is only like 2 weeks out, so we’ll see how the dots connect in such a short period of time.

Ratings:

  • Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz: Santana wins via Spin the Block – ** 1/2
  • #1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via Grapevine Ankle Lock – ***
  • ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside: Xia wins via School Girl Roll-Up – ** 3/4
  • Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands: Sami Callihan wins via Cactus Driver ’97 – SQUASH
  • Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – *** 1/4

Results:

A weird opening that is just framed to put Nemeth and Hardy together against The System. Feels a little awkward, but who knows how it will play out. 

Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz

Ahh I didn’t really pay attention to Santana’s theme at Rebellion, but its pretty damn cool. Good stuff. 

Rascalz blindside Santana early, but the heel advantage doesn’t last more than a few moves. Santana whips Myron from corner to corner, hits a few Hip Attacks before Myron finally dodges one and starts using his unique offense and agility to his advantage. Matrix dodge, into an Leaping Outside Back in Slingshot Codebreaker. Some more offense and Santana powders to the ramp, Myron jumps over the rope and tries a Flying Cutter, but Santana blocks it, turns things around, gets pushed forward and hits the Rolling Cutter. Santana takes out the Rascalz, heads back into the ring, Myron tries to catch him unawares but eats the Spin the Block off the rope run! Santana wins fairly quickly.

Maclin’s music hits, he tries to employ the help of The Rascalz to attack Santana, but as soon as Maclin positions himself to get in, The Rascalz bail and flip off Maclin. Maclin makes it out of the confrontation relatively unscathed, but at least we know where he’s going for Under Siege probably.

OH FUCK ME WITH RUSTY KNIVES. Because Cardona is hurt Kon is paired with SDL, and she just challenges Jordynne and PCO to a tag match. WHY!? STOP IT. This is hot garbage. 

Josh Alexander comes out…I wonder who’s Super Finisher he’s gonna conveniently kick out this time? Brian Myers? Frankie Kazarian? Rich Swann? Because yes, I’m still annoyed that Hammerstone has been in TNA for half a sandwich, he already connects with a Super version of his finish on tacks, and that’s not a finish. Oh Kaz’s music hits. Okay, so time for Josh to kick out of Fade to Black or Flux Capacitor. Kaz talks smack, says he won his match too so he should have a say in who’s number one contender. Josh challenges him, Kaz says not right now, but a referee runs out and says the match is official. 

#1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander

Kaz throws his jacket on Josh’s head, and attacks him with some strikes before Josh fights back and throws Kaz out. Commercial break, we see Kaz misses his Apron Guillotine, Josh goes for the Low Crossbody but Kaz dodges and Josh goes flying. Kaz starts throwing some chops and claws at the cauliflowered ears of Josh. Russian Leg Sweep from Kaz for a near fall. Josh swings wildly and Kaz ducks the strike and levels Josh with a Lariat.

Josh blocks a Vertical Suplex attempt, but Frankie pulls off a Fisherman’s Suplex after a few overhead strikes for a near fall. Josh stands up and connects with a straight right, rocks Kaz, Back Body Drop, into a Charging Forearm, Rolling Senton, 2 count! C4 Spike attempt countered into a Back Stabber and then Chicken Wing, but Josh fights it off, rolls through and into an Ankle Lock, Kaz kicks off and into a Head and Arm Cradle for a near fall and then the Guillotine Leg Drop into Slingshot DDT spot from Kaz for another 2 count!

Fade to Black, but its fought off, Big Boot but then Kaz counters the next move with a Power Slam into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop, but Josh grabs the Ankle Lock! Locomotion German Suplex time from Josh, Halfhatch Suplex after the Germans, floats over for a 2 count! C4 Spike attempt again, but Kaz fights it off, dumps him over the top rope, slingshots him in and into the Cutter for a near fall for Kaz! After the 2 Kaz grabs a chair and chain, the referee stops the chair of course, so he tries the chain, EY runs down and grabs the chain so Kaz pulls the Eddie Guerrero and the referee admonishes EY, but doesn’t DQ Josh. So as Kaz is busy laughing at EY, Josh picks the ankle, Ankle Lock with the Grapevine, Kaz taps.

ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside

Both are jawing at each other and then throw hands before Xia gets the upper hand with a Headscissors from the Top Turnbuckle, Charging Knees, a Flurry of Kicks, but when the ref forces some space in the corner, ASH is finally able to dodge and work over Xia with her Twisting Body Splash, a few choking moves, a corner Stomp into a Snap Suplex for 2. ASH is in charge elegantly, but the referee keeps forcing space on both of them when they go for corner attacks. Xia manages to take advantage a little, but ASH regains control, kicks Xia up the ramp and then lands her Cartwheel Back Elbow up the ramp. It actually looks pretty cool executed like that.

Headlocks and Hair Pulling to keep Xia down and using energy to kick out. ASH is getting frustrated but Xia is remaining persistent. ASH goes back to the Headlock, but Xia fights up, Jawbreaker, Back Elbow, Kick to the gut and Drop Toe Hold sends ASH face first into the middle buckle. Xia rips off 4 Double Knee Smashes to the back of ASH’s head into her Flying Crossbody for a close 2! Xia pulls her up, but ASH spins out, then Xia slips it, but ASH kicks her in the chest and deposits her to the outside and demands a count from the referee. Iceman puts Jeweled Knuckles/Rings on ASH’s hand, the referee catches her, removes the stuff from her fingers and Xia hits the School Girl Roll-Up for the flash win.

Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands

So the Good Hand Jobs are about to do their job to Sami. I’m just gonna assume Sami beats the hell out of both and wins with a Cactus Driver ’97. If anything interesting happens I might actually cover it, but come on now.

Kaz makes a Metallica reference with the “Wash Your Back So You Won’t Stab Mine”…and Sweet Amber is the only good song on St. Anger. So…I ain’t mad.

Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth

A little early ground wrestling and headlocks for control from both men. Nothing super flashy to start until we get to the rope run and Nemeth goes for the Flying Body Press to drop Eddie. Before Nemeth can follow up, Lish grabs his foot. Nic does have his brother Ryan in the crowd, trying to get chants going and do the old school ‘power up the babyface’ thing, but Eddie has been in control since Lish got involved. Simple offense, chokes, strikes, Snap Suplexes, Knee Drops, simple yet effective. But then Eddie ducks his head too early, Nemeth kicks him in the face, bounces his head off the buckles a few times, Dropkick sends Eddie reeling to the corner, Nemeth starts the 10 Count Punches but Myers hits the apron to distract and Eddie manages to slip the situation and push Nemeth to the floor.

Commercial break happens, Nemeth is trying to fight back with Chops, but a Kitchen Sink from Eddie puts Nemeth on the floor again! Clubbing blow from Eddie, but Eddie then misses the Hip Attack in the corner and Nemeth counters with the Rude Awakening into the 10 Count Rain of Elbows. Fame Ass-er miss, Eddie tries something but Nemeth turns it into that hesitation DDT for 2! Tuning up the band starts to build and Eddie powders to avoid it. Nemeth throws Eddie back in, goes to the top, but Eddie crotches him, rises up and hits the Superplex into Tiger Driver for 2! Eddie starts mocking with Tuning Up the band but Nemeth hits his own Superkick into an Olympic Slam for 2!

Both men just trade strikes Fighting Spirit style, Eddie says “Always Trust the System” and Nemeth shuts him up with a Headbutt. Danger Zone is blocked, Boston Knee Party gets ducked, they level each other with Lariats! Myers and Ryan Nemeth start fighting to distract the referee, Moose hits the ring and hits Nemeth with the belt. Eddie lands Boston Knee Party and The System wins again!

 

Overall Score: 6/10

A lame opening segment, a squash match, ASH by Elegance getting her first loss, and a weird way of just pulling the number one contender out of mid air makes for an awkward show. Also Kon still be involved in, literally anything, is negative. However, I can say there was a ton of stuff thrown at the wall this episode, so there’s a chance that some things landed better with other people than myself. The ballot segments were amusing, they overused the “I need to talk to you Santino” gimmick a bit much and personally I feel like having Jake versus Hammerstone is booking yourself into a weird corner.

But hey, the main event was fun, Nemeth getting laid out to the point that there could be a story reason to take him out of the Under Siege match. Kaz with the Metallica reference was pop worthy and I guess its a lot of ‘let’s see where it goes’ kind of angle creation. So it wasn’t complete trash, but its definitely a wait and see episode.


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Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/25/24)

Champions need challengers!

Published

20 hours ago

on

April 25, 2024

By

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; Zay wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order; Top Flight wins.
  • Anna Jay VS Allysin Kay; Anna wins.
  • Johnny TV w/ Taya Valkyrie VS Will Austin; Johnny wins.
  • Six Man Tag: The Mogul Embassy VS MANDERS & BEEFTANK; The Embassy wins.
  • Yuka Sakazaki VS Leila Grey; Yuka wins.
  • ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners; The Kingdom wins and denies The Outrunners a title match.
  • Taya Valkyrie w/ Johnny TV VS Laynie Luck; Taya wins.
  • Six Man Tag: Lance Archer & The Righteous VS Jon Cruz, GPA & Ren Jones; Archer & The Righteous win.
  • Abadon VS Nova; Abadon wins.
  • Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos; Mortos wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Isiah Kassidy VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes!

Brother Zay and the Commander of the Skies are coming down from the high of competing against Rob Van Dam on April 20th, but they’re both ready to get back up. Will Kassidy earn his shot (shot shot) at a championship? Or will the AAA Cruiserweight Champion be aiming for ROH gold?

The Code of Honor is upheld, but Zay has his fingers crossed! Zay trips Komander at the bell, says he’s too smart, then he steps on Komander’s dropdown to say “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” and “SUCK IT!” Komander keeps cool, he and Zay tie up, and Komander headlocks. Zay pulls on the mask, powers up and out to hurdle, but then Komander steps on him! Komander mocks “SHOTS! SHOTS!” Zay runs up, Komander avoids the boot to then wrench, wrench and mule kick a leg! Kmoander steps over, rolls through, then rolls again, to a HALF CRAB! Zay endures, fights around, ROPEBREAK! Komander lets go and Zay stands back up.

The fans rally, Komander runs in but is put on the apron. Zay runs in but into a slingshot BOOT! Zay comes back but Komander goes up and headscissors Zay into buckles. Komander comes back to springboard, wheelbarrow, but Zay HOTSHOTS Komander and then throws him down! The fans boo but Zay says they don’t teach that at school. Just follow Zay and he’ll get your right. Zay then smothers Komander with his towel! The ref reprimands, Zay lets off and Komander sputters to a corner. Zay bumps Komander off buckles, CHOPS him, then stomps Komander down. Zay says “SHOTS! SHOTS!” as he gives stomp after stomp.

The ref counts, Zay lets off at 4 and dusts his shoes off. Zay goes back to scuff Komander, taunt him, but the fans rally up for Komander. Zay scuffs Komander more, eggs him on, but Komander fights up to fire hands! Zay ducks a roundhouse but not the HEEL KICK! Zay leans on ropes, Komander runs in but Zay puts him on the apron. Komander gets up but Zay triangle jump STUNNERS! Komander flops to the floor, Zay scowls and goes out after him. The fans rally, Zay backs Abrahantes off, and the fans boo. Zay goes back for Komander, SMACKS him off barriers, then grabs the chair.

The fans boo, Zay says watch this, it’s about to be an 8K. Zay runs and uses the chair to LAUNCH, into barriers! Komander avoids disaster, puts Zay in the ring, and he hurries to a corner. The fans fire up as Komander springboards, but Zay moves! Komander rolls through, ducks ‘n’ dodges then RANAS! The fans fire up while Zay bails out. Komander builds speed and WRECKS Zay with a dropkick! Then ASAI MOONSAULT and down goes Zay! The fans fire up, Komander drags Zay up and in, then he springboards again, for a SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO! Zay stays in this as fans chant “DOS! DOS! DOS!”

Zay goes to the apron, Komander storms up and stands him up. Zay shoves Komander away, goes up the corner, but Komander runs up! Zay anticipates and GAMANGIRIS! Zay goes up to SUPSER SUSNET FLIP, but Komander flips through!! The fans fire up and Zay is shocked! Zay still BOOTS Komander, fires forearms, but Komander bobs ‘n’ weaves to SLAP, UPPERCUT and power up! Zay turns Komander around but gets a SHOTEI! Komander then jumps up top POISON-RANA! The fans fire up again and Komander runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Or as the fans remind us, “DOS! DOS! DOS!”

Zay says Komander’s done wasting his time. Zay whips, Komander reverses but Zay reverses back to scoop, only for Komander to tilt-o-whirl sunset flip! TWO, but Komander tries a side roll sunset, TWO! Zay escapes, Komander dodges his haymaker and waistlocks. Zay switches, Komander switches back, but Zay grabs the ref! LOW BLOW MULE KICK!! The fans boo as Zay gets away with that one! Abrahantes protests but the ref can’t call what he didn’t see! Zay blows a kiss, before the INVERTED TWIST OF FATE! Cover, Zay wins!

Winner: Isiah Kassidy, by pinfall

Brother Zay didn’t break rules but he did find a loophole to DELETE Komander’s momentum. Will Zay soon have a WONDERFUL ascension to the top of ROH?

 

ROH hears from Bullet Club Gold.

It was backstage at AEW Dynasty this past Sunday that the Bang Bang Gang unified the AEW and ROH World Trios Championships! Jay White says, “Today, our destiny, fulfilling our destiny by building our Dynasty! Y’see, I’m full! I’m full of that feeling when I get to say, I told you so! When I came to AEW, joined forces with The Gunns, I said the Gunns were money! Brought them in along with Juice Robinson, to Bullet Club GOLD. I said I would bring you gold, and boys, we’re running out of space. Because we’ve got gold a plenty, haven’t we, boys? Cuz I’m the mother effin’ Catalyst of Professional Wrestling! I told you so!”

Austin says their backpacks are heavier on the ride home, but that extra weight just reminds him that the Bang Bang Gang runs this Trios ish! Colten says they like to have fun before and after, but during? They don’t take no ish! There’s this saying around here, “Restore the Feeling.” That’s something for the young guys to get on TV, but guess who are never mentioned? The Gunns! Is it because they’ve been in too many main events? Is it because they’ve been tag team world champions? And now they’re AEW & ROH Trios Champions! The Gunns are the best damn team in the world! White is the best singles man in the world!

And tonight, they are the BEST trio in the world!! And if you’re not down with that, they’ve got two words for ya: GUNS UP!! The Bang Bang Gang is firing on all cylinders, but will they be able to shoot down those who take aim at them?

 

Six Man Tag: Top Flight VS The Dark Order!

Speaking of the trios championships, Action Andretti, and the brothers Martin get their shot at the Bang Bang Gang this Saturday! Will Top Flight pick up speed going into that Collision? Or will Evil Uno, John Silver & Alex Reynolds prove they are worthy contenders?

The Code of Honor is upheld, the trios sort out, and Darius Martin starts against Johnny Hungy. The bell rings, the fans rally and the two circle. The fans rally for “JOHNNY HUNGY!” as the two tie up. Darius wrenches, wristlocks, but Silver spins and fireman’s carries for the takeover. Silver has the cording hold but Darius fights up. Silver wrenches but Darius spins, slips around, waistlocks, spins Silver and cravats for the neck wrench. Silver endures, powers up and out, but Darius rolls over the dropdown. Darius sweeps a leg to cover, ONE! Darius turns Silver’s sweep into a cradle, TWO!

Silver gets up but Darius arm-drags him back down. The fans cheer, Darius wrenches Silver and tags Action. Action runs to LEAP FROG ATTACK the arm! Action wrenches Silver, tags Dante, and Dante goes up to AX HANDLE the arm! Dante clamps onto the arm, digs a knuckle into Silver’s ribs, or was it a tickle attack? Tag to Darius and Dante snapmares Silver. Darius runs to basement dropkick! Cover, ONE!! Silver stays in this but Darius stays on him. Tag to Dante, Top Flight reel Silver in but the rest of Dark Order save him from the double suplex! So Action jumps in and Top Flight TRIPLE SUPERKICKS!

The fans fire up while Uno and Reynolds spill back out. Action and Darius aim, DOUBLE PLANCHA but Uno and Reynolds DECK them outta the air! Dante brings Silver up but Silver fights the half nelson to then whip Dante into the ropes! Silver then runs up, Uno & Reynolds join in, TRIPLE DROPKICK! Silver then waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX Dante into a bridging cover, TWO! Silver tags Reynolds and he short arm LARIATS Dante! Cover, TWO! Reynolds brings Dante up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Uno. Uno CHOPS Dante, then snapmares him to stomp him down! The fans rally for Uno as he tautns Action.

Uno goes back for Dante but Dante throws body shots. Uno CLUBS Dante, bumps him off buckles, and tags Reynolds. Silver holds Dante in whiel Reynolds whips Uno for the SPLASH! Uno goes again, but Dante dodges, goes up and over Reynolds, hot tag to Action! The Sight to See rallies on the Dark Order! ELBOW for Uno! BOOT for Silver! ELBOW for Reynolds! Uno kicks low, whips, but Action handsprings to DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up as Action kips up, and he runs in at Reynolds in a corner. UPPERCUT! Uno runs in but the SPLASH is sent into Reynolds! Uno staggers away, Action DECKS Reynolds!

Action aims, slingshot and SPLIT LEG but he has to bail out as Reynolds moves! Action just uses that to roll and PELE Uno! SPANISH FLY on Reynolds! Cover, Silver breaks it! Darius tosses Silver out but Silver ROCKS Darius! Darius drops down but Dante runs in and uses Darius as a step, POETRY IN MOTION! Silver falls, Reynolds dodges Darius to RAM Dante! Dante comes back, Darius helps him get up and over, then Dante helps in the TORNADO DDT! Darius sets Reynolds up for the STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, Uno shoves Dante onto it! Uno then CHOPS Darius down and goes to his corner.

Reynolds crawls over, hot tag to Uno! Uno fires forearms on all of Top Flight! Uno winds up, but Dante JUMP KNEES! Darius mule kicks! Action KICKS, Darius BUZZSAWS! But then Silver & Reynolds drag the Martins out! Uno dodges Action, tells him to STOP, then ROCKS him! The rest of Dark Order get in, Reynolds spins Action before the TRIPLE ROLLING ELBOWS!! Action wobbles, Uno reels him in, and Silver gives Reynolds the BOOST to take out the Martins! PILEDRIVER for Action! Cover, TWO!! Action survives and shocks the Dark Order! Uno cools off, tags Silver in, and Silver tags Reynolds.

The Dark Order surrounds Action and the fans rally up. They stand Action up, hoist him up, and Silver builds speed, but the Martins trip Silver! Darius drags Silver out, Action gets away and Dante baits Uno. Uno runs in, Dante goes up and over to JUMP KNEE Reynolds! GAMANGIRI for Uno, then Action SUPERKICKS! Dante DIVES to take out Silver, Darius steps in to COMPLETE SHOT Uno! Action and Darius have Reynolds for the double pump handle, DOUBLE LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, Top Flight wins!

Winners: Top Flight, by pinfall

Action, Dante & Darius are flying high and heading for Collision, will they take those unified World Trios Championships away from the Bang Bang Gang in the blink of an eye?

 

Backstage interview with Athena & Billie Starkz.

Lexy Nair is with the ROH Women’s World and Women’s Television Champions, and says “Ladies and gentlemen, we are calling an Emergency MEM, a Minion Empowerment Meeting.” The Fallen Goddess asks the Minions why they’re here, and Minion #400,237.75 knows why. This is because of Red Velvet and Queen Aminata. They decided to stick their noses in Athena’s moment. The main event of Battle of the Belts, live on TNT, the first time the Overlord has been on live TV in over a YEAR. And Aminata put her hands on Athena, put Athena on her head, and proved that she is nothing more than “a hot piece of porcelain hussy garbage.”

Billie says not to forget about Red Velvet. Velvet acted all high ‘n’ mighty, but she just forgot Billie hasn’t beat her yet. Lexy says then it seems there is some unfinished business. The champs bring Lexy in for an uncomfortable double side hug, and Athena says “Bestie” is right. There is unfinished business. And since MIT is a nonprofit, they’ll give a “scholarship to the biggest ass-whooping Queen Aminata and Red Velvet have ever seen. Got it?” Athena tells Queenie and “Blue Velvet” to either step up or step out. Challenge issued to the Queen and the Chef, but are the Overlord and her sidekick about to get cooked?

 

Mark Sterling speaks.

“Some people get into professional wrestling because they need to. You haven’t needed anything in your entire life. You have an unlimited amount of resources at your fingertips. Money, culture, knowledge. You wanted to excel at this business, so you got the best training, the best workouts, the best diets, the best gear, the best moves. If it’s not the best, it’s simply not you. But the wisest man doesn’t think he’s the best until he’s surrounded by the best. And now, we all are. You are Ariya Daivari. And you are a Premier Athlete. We are the Premier Athletes.”

The Premier Athletes are here in person.

Sterling talks to his stable and tells them the beginning of phase two was a success. They wanted to assert dominance over ROH, and he would say message sent. However, they were not aware that the message would be sent to ROH World Champion, Mark Briscoe, to Dalton Castle, and half of the ROH men’s locker room. It took SIX men to stand face to face to these three. They’ve got Ariya back and more pissed off than ever. They’ve got National Champion, Josh Woods. And they’ve got Tony Nese in peak, physical performance. Now, they all know The Infantry wasn’t personal. They were just in the line of fire.

The Infantry is just on a long list of people who do not deserve the opportunities. Opportunities that belong to these three physical specimens! Because these are The Premier Athletes. When and where will Sterling’s stable finally break through to that next level?

 

Backstage interview with Griff Garrison & Cole Karter.

Lexy is now with Maria Kanellis’ baby boys and says they haven’t had the best luck as of late. What’s next? Karter isn’t sure. They keep getting opportunities, but they keep failing. Karter recently had a match against Christopher Daniels, and he lost! Griff says Karter thinks that’s bad, but Griff lost his shot at the ROH World Championship. Griff has faced Mark Briscoe twice in his career, and he’s 0-2. Karter’s match wasn’t even for a title! Griff had so much more on the line! Maria then walks in and sees her boys are disappointed. Well, Mama is disappointed, too. They both could’ve done much better in their matches.

But every loss is an opportunity. Griff was in the ring with THIRTEEN TIME ROH World Tag Team Champion, Mark Briscoe! Karter was up against Christopher Daniels, a legend! Maria’s been in the ring with both of those men, and they have so much experience. That is what Griff & Karter gain every time they’re out there. Every single loss is an opportunity. And everyone around here is always jealous of the abs and the looks, and it’s great that they are. But eventually, they’ll be jealous of what these two do in the ring. And eventually, these two will get back her championships, the ROH World Tag Team Championships.

Maria leads the way, but does anyone wanna tell her that that would mean her baby boys going up against her husband, Mike Bennett?

 

ROH World Tag Team Championships Proving Ground Match: The Undisputed Kingdom VS The Outrunners!

Speaking of Mike Bennett, he and Matt Taven are still champions after the big assist from Wardlow at Supercard of Honor. But will the Kingdom need their War Machine again real soon? Or will they be able to handle Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum in 10 minutes or less?

The fans rally up for the Outrunners already while the Code of Honor is upheld Mega Powers style. The teams then sort out, and though Taven is confused, Bennett steps up and starts against Truth. The fans chant “TAVEN SUCKS!” but Taven just eggs the Melvins on. Truth and Bennett tie up, then Truth wrenches to wristlock. Tag to Turbo, he takes the handoff, and he nods as he wrenches and wristlocks. Bennett knees low, flexes on Turbo, then wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Bennett wristlocks, says this is old school wrestling, but Turbo powers up! The fans fire up as Turbo rolls, handsprings, and kips up! Turbo then BOPS Bennett on the head!

The fans cheer, Turbo tags Truth, and Truth wrenches to wristlock. Truth grinds the arm, whips, but Bennett reverses. Taven trips Truth up while Bennett’s all up in the ref’s face! The fans boo and Turbo protests but Bennett dropkicks Truth down! Bennett mocks the old school posing then takes a bow. Tag to Taven, he CHOPS Truth in the corner. Taven CHOPS again, digs his boot in, but the ref counts. Taven lets off to taunt Turbo, and Bennett gets a cheap shot on Truth! Bennett drags Truth up by his hair, the ref sees that and reprimands, but Taven ROCKS Truth. Taven whips, but Turbo trips Truth to actually save him from the crossbody!

Taven tumbles up and out of the ring, Truth gets up to tag Turbo! Truth then runs and Turbo holds ropes up, BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICK! Bennett runs up, is sent out, and The Kingdom regroups. The fans fire up for Turbo as he fires up, then PLANCHAS! Down goes The Kingdom and Turbo is all revved up! Turbo gets in the ring, shakes the ropes, then tags in Truth. The Outrunners coordinate, to spin and pose! The fans fire up but The Kingdom CLOBBER The Outrunners from behind! The fans boo but Bennett flexes. Bennett brings Truth up, CHOPS, and now fans chant “BENNETT SUCKS!”

Bennett CHOPS Truth, puts him in the corner, and tags Taven. Bennett feeds Truth to a BOOT, adds the BOSTON BAYONET, then Taven LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Truth is tougher than that, but Taven argues with the ref. The ref defends his count, so Taven brings Truth over to ropes. Taven CHOKES Truth but the fans boo. The ref counts, Taven lets off at 4, and Taven soaks up the heat. Truth sputters but Taven tags Bennett. The Kingdom mugs Truth, then Bennett keeps Truth from Turbo with a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Truth stays in this but Bennett stays on him with a chinlock and stretch. The fans rally as Truth endures.

Truth is red in the face but he fights to his feet. But Taven BLASTS Turbo! Bennett throws Truth by his hair! Turbo storms in but the ref has to stop him. Turbo is upset but Bennett stands on Truth’s face! Bennett clamps onto Truth with a chinlock and grinds him down with a knee in the back. The fans fire up, we pass five minutes as Truth fights up, but Taven runs at Turbo again! Turbo ROCKS Taven first this time! Truth then hits a BIG back suplex on Bennett! The fans fire up, Turbo is feeling it, and Truth crawls over! Truth staggers ot his feet, hot tag to Turbo! Turbo rallies on The Kingdom with big haymakers!

The fans fire up as Turbo scoops and SLAMS Taven! Then he scoops and SLAMS Bennett! Scoop and SLAM for Taven! Scoop and SLAM for Bennett! The fans fire up and Turbo drops an elbow! And another elbow! And then he winds up, flexes, and JUPM ELBOW DROPS! Taven runs up but Turbo kicks! Turbo reels Taven in, flexes again, and hits a BIG suplex! Turbo points to Truth, Truth tags in, and Truth goes up! FLYING FOREARM on Bennett! The Outrunners hurry to get Bennett up, but Taven ENZIGIRIS Truth to stop Boot Camp, er Vice City, or whatever they were calling it! Bennett shoves Turbo into Truth then rolls Truth up, with tights! The Kingdom wins!

Winners: The Undisputed Kingdom, by pinfall (denies The Outrunners a title opportunity)

Taven grabs the belts to celebrate and Bennett says that was too easy. But then the ref suspects shenanigans! Did Bennett pull tights? Bennett defends his innocence, as does Taven, and the ref drops the issue. Will The Kingdom do anything and everything they have to in order to stay champions?

 

Red Velvet & Queen Aminata speak.

The Chef and The Queen are backstage, and Velvet tells Athena, “There you go again. Stirring up the pot. Oh my gosh, we ruined your moment~! I’m done with you. Billie? You wanna hang with the big girls? You wanna get in big girl business? Then bring it on. Yes, I haven’t forgotten I beat you, twice. And I’ll do it again, and this time, I’m a beat you like your mama never did. You know why? Cuz I don’t roll with minions. I roll with royalty.” Aninata says that’s right. And Athena, oh, they feel so sorry for “ruining” the moment. Actually, Aminata would do it again and again and again. And wanna know why? Because Queen Aminata does not respect Athena as a champion!

Athena has ZERO honor! And no one knows better about honor than The Queen. And Velvet says, “Y’know what, Queen? I’m looking for a fight. Are you looking for a fight?” Aminata is definitely ready for a fight. Velvet says it is time to cook, eat, leave no crumbs, and take out the trash! This dynamic duo is ready to tear down the Forever Champion and her little buddy, will they take the gold right off Athena & Billie?

 

Backstage interview with The Infantry.

Lexy is now with Trish Adora, Carlie Bravo & Captain Shawn Dean, and we’ve seen them get on a roll. How are they continuing the momentum? Carlie is so glad she asked. Have no fear, you know The Infantry is here. Dean says yes, they are here. And there’s been nothing but targets on their backs. They said they’re the most popular team, and people have been after them. Carlie does realize now that they had those OG Ops, then those really big Ops, and last week, there’s Ops they didn’t even know about. But let’s not forget those really old Ops, the- Oh wait, The Outrunners walk in. Turbo & Truth are feeling good. They may not have targets on their backs, but they’ve got some guns!

Wait, wait, wait. Are they wearing brightly colored camo?! Okay, first they take the Infantry’s move, now they’re copying the swag? What’s next? Trying to take Adora and their homes? What the what, son? Dean has Carlie calm down. He’s always got great ideas. He does? Yes, because next week, Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida, they take this to where it all began! Finally, Infantry take The Outrunners to where they belong, and that’s Boot Camp! Hold on, The Outrunners have been using camo since The Cow Palace. Dean has to hold Carlie back on that one! Turbo has a better idea! Outrunners VS Infantry, Daily’s Place, where it all began!!

WHAT!? Didn’t they just- Fine, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Oh yeah? The Outrunners will do Infantry one better and THEY will accept! Let’s roll out! Copy that! WHAT!? Stop copying them, Outrunners!! But will Dean & Carlie finally get through the delusional duo and make them find their own schtick?

 

Backstage interview with Johnny TV & Taya Valkyrie.

Lexy is with Mr. & Mrs. TV Ready and notes the season finale of Johnny Loves Taya just dropped. How are they feeling? Amazing~! Everyone loves their show, they worked so hard on it for months. Ten episodes, the grand finale, it couldn’t have gone any better. And think about it: awards season! The acceptance speeches, the red carpets, the fashion moments. But in sneaks Aaron Solo. That sounds fun! Though they would’ve won more awards if they had this face on the show. Maybe next season? Johnny says maybe Aaron would’ve been on the show, if he supported it once. He didn’t tweet about it once! All their real friends did.

Uh, Aaron is the Retweet King! Especially those first three episodes. Aaron and Johnny argue but Taya has them calm down. Taya runs the socials for the show, and she can confirm, Aaron did retweet. Oh, well, thanks, bro. Yeah, man! Remember QTV? The handshake? They do the handshake, right down the rocket ship taking off. Aaron says see? They’re bros. Before Johnny Loved Taya, Johnny Loved Solo. Uh… No. Aaron is a loser! TV Ready people do not hang with losers. Remember how his name used to be S O L O W? They took the W away cuz he keeps getting L’s! He’s 0 and THIS CENTURY! Get a win already!

Aaron says fine, if that’s what they want, he will win. And he’ll prove to both of you that Aaron is TV Ready! Aaron heads out, and Taya says it’ scute that he’s so confident. Not that it’ll work out. And they got the last word. Aaron then says “Bye” from offscreen, so Johnny says, “Adios.” Aaron has bet on himself, but will he win out?

 

Triple Threat: Blake Christian VS AR Fox VS The Beast Mortos!

All Heart, The Whole Fox’n Show and the evolved Black Taurus are among the fastest, toughest and hungriest competitors around, and they’re all looking for that golden opportunity. Will Blake be rolling into NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament? Or will another big name prove they’re a big deal?

The Code of Honor is upheld between Fox and Blake, but not Mortos. The bell rings, Mortos stares down Fox and Blake. Fox runs in to RAM Mortos but bounces off! Blake RAMS Mortos but also bounces off! They both run up, but he runs them over! Fox & Blake both kip up, but Mortos choke grips them both. Mortos shoves Blake away, but Fox flips through the choke slam! Blake & Fox DOUBLE SUPERKICK Mortos down! Mortos bails out, Blake and Fox coordinate, and Fox runs. But then Blake sweeps the legs! Fox ends up on ropes, Blake runs to BASEMENT 619! The fans boo but All Heart also has some brains.

Blake aims from the apron, springboards in and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Fox flounders to a corner, Blake runs in, but Fox puts him on the apron. Blake RAMS into Fox, slingshots, but Fox goes out to then slingshot SENTONS! The fans fire up, Fox suplexes for ANARCHY! Blake bails, Mortos LARIATS Fox down! The fans fire up as Mortos roars, and Mortos drags Fox up. Mortos suplexes, Fox slips free to waistlock but Mortos switches. Mortos shoves, follows, then rolls off Fox’s back! Mortos SOBATS, KNEES, ELBOWS and snapmares, to then NECK TWIST! Then SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!

Fox survives that onslaught but Mortos roars again. Mortos drags Fox up, wrenches and grabs a leg, for a SHIN BREAKER! Fox writhes, Mortos gets legs and steps through, and Mortos ties Fox up for a NAVARRO DEATH ROLL! Fox endures the leg lock, but Blake DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS Mortos! The fans fire up and Blake smirks as he runs in at Mortos. Mortos BOOTS Blake, SLING-DOGS, then CRUCIFIX DRIVERS! Blake wobbles, Mortos whips to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Blake survives but Mortos snarls. Mortos drags Blake up, UPPERCUTS him down, and Blake flounders to a corner.

The fans cheer as Mortos drags Blake back up. Mortos reels Blake in to back suplex, but Blake lands out! Blake dodges in the corner, then whips to ropes. Mortos reverses but Blake handsprings, wheelbarrows, SPLASH 182! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Mortos and Blake stir while Fox returns. The fans rally, Fox and Mortos stand first and Fox throws a haymaker! Blake adds a haymaker, he and Fox pinball Mortos around! They put him in a corner, throw more hands, then Fox goes up to rain down fists! Mortos shoves Fox away so Blake rains down fists. Mortos shoves him away, Fox returns to A-LIST LARIAT!

Mortos slumps down, Blake adds a LOW CROSSBODY! Fox skins the cat to DROPKICK Mortos, and then Fox goes to the apron. The fans fire up as Fox goes up, but Blake ROCKS him first! Blake goes up, brings Fox up, but Mortos adds on! The fans are going nuts already for the SPANISH FLY BOMB!! Cover on Blake, TWO! Cover on Fox, TWO!! Mortos snarls but he drags Fox back up. Mortos trophy lifts Fox, but Fox slips free to BOOT! Mortos tumbles out to the apron, and Blake SPEARS him down! Blake hurries to build speed so he can DIVE! Mortos stays up!? So Fox FLIES! Down goes Mortos and the fans fire up!

Fox puts Mortos in but Blake aims first! Springboard 450 SPLASH! Fox adds the SWANTON BOMB! But then Blake TOSSES Fox to cover Mortos, only for Fox to break it! Fox has had it with Blake being so sneaky, and TOSSES him out! Blake is on the apron, he ROCKS Fox, but Fox stops the slingshot! Fox has Blake in ropes, step-up DRAPING DDT! Roll through, but Mortos reels Fox in! Scoop and MORTOS DRIVER!! Cover, Mortos wins!

Winner: The Beast Mortos, by pinfall

Blake and Fox couldn’t say on the same page, and that allowed the minotaur of lucha to take the win! Will nothing stop The Beast Mortos from stampeding his way to a championship opportunity?

My Thoughts:

A good episode of ROH here at an hour and 38 minutes, but that made for quite a bit of filler. I did like the Six Meaty Men Slapping Meat Tag match of Mogul Embassy VS 1 Called Manders, BEEF and Calvin Tankman, but of course The Embassy won. Good return matches for Johnny and Taya, but I liked their promo with Aaron Solo better. It was a good use of continuity bringing up the failed QTV to pivot into a new story for Johnny TV now that Dalton Castle is moving on. Good promos from Mark Sterling, but a bit redundant again to have him hype up Ariya Daivari, then for him to talk directly to Ariya and the others.

Another confusing thing was the promo from The Infantry and Outrunners. Well, the promo wasn’t confusing, the timing was. Perhaps it was a victim of poor pacing as we’ve seen all over AEW & ROH. But I do appreciate we’re finally seeing these two teams have it out for ROH at Daily’s Place “next week,” aka prerecorded sometime this week. Outrunners had a good match with The Kingdom but of course The Kingdom won. But we’re getting an interesting detail where Maria wants her new boys, Griff & Karter, to go for those ROH World Tag Team Championships while her old boys, Bennett & Taven, still have them. Some sort of Kingdom Civil War angle in the works here?

Really good stuff with Zay winning by going to new lows, and really good Six Man Tag to give Top Flight momentum going into their title match with Bang Bang Gang. Really good promo from Bang Bang Gang and of course White & The Gunns are going to retain. And at least they did just what I was hoping by having a promo from Bullet Club Gold on ROH so that it counts as them being on this show. Just needs to keep happening, maybe with some in-person appearances. Not even matches, just BCG watching other trios fighting it out because they’re scouting, aka foreshadowing, new opponents.

Great main event Triple Threat but also a fast one, Mortos with the big win over Fox and Blake. While there’s something brewing for the ROH World Championship with Mark Briscoe being around Dalton Castle and The Premier Athletes, maybe Mortos can find himself in the world title scene for the next ROH PPV. And then great promos from Athena & Billie as well as Velvet & Aminata. We’re definitely getting a tag team match that will end up earning Velvet a shot at the Women’s TV title and Aminata a shot at the Women’s World title, and those will be awesome matches.

And if either of the champs is losing, I’m actually thinking it’s more Athena losing to Aminata than Billie losing to Velvet. I’ve said it before, Aminata’s proven herself worthy, and if she wasn’t gonna be inaugural Women’s TV Champ, might as well make her the woman that dethrones the undefeated Athena.

My Score: 8.5/10


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