Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: New Japan Cup 2019 Marathon!
AXS wraps up the New Japan Cup in one night!
NJPW and AXS wrap up the 2019 New Japan Cup in one night! THREE HOURS of action, all in a row! Who makes it through to the finals to then win it all?
Coverage will be as broadcast by AXS TV
Find gifs on http://frentique.tumblr.com/
OFFICIAL RESULTS: Quarterfinals
- Kazuchika Okada VS Will Ospreay; Okada wins and advances to the semifinals.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr; Tanahashi wins and advances to the semifinals.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scenes for the 2019 New Japan Cup Quarterfinals!
The major tournament of the Spring continues into the third round’s Elite Eight! The Head Hunter, Yoshi-Hashi, fell to fellow Chaos member, the Stone Pitbull, Tomohiro Ishii! And Colt Cabana’s Cinderella run struck midnight as Cold Skull, Sanada, put him away with Skull End. But tonight wraps up the Quarters with two major main-event level matches! The Submission Master again meets The Ace in a rematch from 2018’s Finals! Will Zack Sabre Jr. stay undefeated in the Cup? Or will Hiroshi Tanahashi refuse to #JustTapOut? And before that, Chaos clashes again as the Aerial Assassin again challenges The Rainmaker! Will Will Ospreay finally overcome his mentor? Or will Kazuchika Okada take that step closer to revenge on Jay White?
Kazuchika Okada VS Will Ospreay!
The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion has defeated the current NEVER Openweight Champion the two times they’ve met before, but never say never to the Aerial Assassin! Will Okada stay perfect against Ospreay? Or will this be the time for a shocking upset?
The bell rings and fans cheer for Okada as he and Ospreay stare down from opposite corners. Okada and Ospreay circle and tie up, but break. They go again and Okada waistlocks. Ospreay standing switches but Okada drop toeholds to a switch. Ospreay switches and floats to a facelock. Okada stands and pries his way out to a wristlock. Ospreay rolls and breaks to spin to wrench Okada. Fans applaud the technical showcase as Okada handsprings through to his own wrench. Ospreay stands and spins through to snapmare Okada, but Okada reverses to the wristlock right away. Ospreay stands again and uses his foot to pry free to a headlock. Okada powers Ospreay to the ropes, but as he usually does, he fakes a chop on the break to pat Ospreay’s shoulders.
Okada kicks Ospraey for a headlock, but Ospreay powers out. Ospreay gets run over but gets right back up! Okada grins then pie faces Ospreay. Ospreay grimaces as he forearms Okada back. Okada returns the forearm and now it’s a brawl. Okada whips but Ospreay reverses and speeds things up for a monkey flip! Ospreay is ready as Okada bails out, but he fakes Okada out with a handspring superhero landing! Okada catches his breath on the outside but Ospreay waits. Okada gets in but Ospreay dropkicks him back out. Fans rally as Ospreay slingshots, but Okada dodges and boots. Okada whips but Osrepay leaps over to hit back! Ospreay uses the railing as a springboard but into an uppercut! Okada paces while Ospreay checks his face.
Okada looms over Ospreay before putting him in. Fans applaud as Okada continues this in the ring. Okada drags Ospreay up and scoops for a dumping slam. Then a slingshot senton! Okada mocks the superhero landing pose a moment then brings Ospreay back up. Okada bumps Ospreay off buckles then stands him up for back elbow after elbow. He then brings Ospreay out, but Ospreay fights back. Okada kicks and hits a neckbreaker, cover, TWO! Okada keeps on Ospreay with a chinlock and fans start to rally up. Ospreay endures as Okada drives his knee in. Ospreay gets up and fights out, but Okada knees low. Okada whips Ospreay corner to corner but runs into a back elbow. Ospreay runs out but into a tackle. Okada puts him on the top rope to dropkick Ospreay out! Ospreay crashes down but Okada catches his breath.
Red Shoes starts the ring count but it climbs to 10/20 before Ospreay sits up. Ospreay crawls at 13, stands at 15 and drags himself in. But Okada kicks at Ospreay right at the ropes, egging him on with trash talk. Ospreay drags himself to his feet but Okada forearms him back down. Ospreay drags himself up again and glares at Okada. Okada throws another forearm then eggs Ospreay on more. Ospreay stands again, blocks the forearm, and slingshots to body scissors Okada out! Fans fire up as Ospreay builds speed for the SASUKE SPECIAL! The Aerial Assassin knocks the Rainmaker down while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Ospreay fires up. Ospreay looms over Okada now before putting him in. Ospreay throws fast strikes on Okada then whips, but Okada reverses, Ospreay handsprings to enziguri! Cover, TWO! Okada crawls to a corner but Ospreay runs in corner to corner. Okada dodges and runs back in for a back elbow. He kicks but Ospreay reverses to a forearm. Ospreay runs but into a flapjack! Ospreay winces from his rib injuries, but Okada stalks him for an Aabama lift. But Ospraey slips out and kicks back. Okada counters with a boot then gets the Alabama lift again. Okada adjusts, reverse neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Ospreay still lives but Okada keeps his focus. Okada goes to a corner and climbs up. Okada leaps and hits the Macho Elbow! Fans fire up, because Okada hits the Rainmaker pose! Only for Ospreay to roundhouse him down!
Both men are down but Ospreay gets to the apron. Ospreay’s ribs bother him again but he still climbs up. Ospreay springboards and hits the Pip Pip Cheerio flying forearm! Cover, TWO! Okada narrowly escapes but Ospreay keeps his focus. Ospreay drags Okada up for the underhooks, but Okada resists the lift. Ospreay kicks him in the face again and again, then again! He puts Okada back in for the underhook, lifts him up, STORM- Arm-drag! Okada shotgun dropkicks Ospreay into the corner! Both men are down but Okada is stirring. Ospreay slowly gets up as fans rally both ways. Okada and Ospreay meet in the middle and Okada throws a heavy right. Ospreay grits his teeth and hits back. Okada hits again, but so does Ospreay. Okada throws an uppercut, then another. He toys with Ospreay now, but Ospreay backslides! ONE, to a clobbering clothesline!
Both men are down again but Ospreay still has wrist control. Ospreay drags Okada up for another clothesline. He still holds Okada’s hand as fans rally up. Ospreay drags Okada up, wristlock wring out but Okada dodges to dropkick Ospreay in the back! Okada whips but Ospreay dodges another dropkick to standing Shooting Star! Okada gets the knees up! Point blank EuroUpper, but Ospreay pops up to roundhouse and hooking SUPERKICK! Okada is on his knees and Ospreay takes aim! The arm band comes off, but Okada ducks the back hand! Okada fireman’s carry and throw, but Ospreay counters with a stunner! Okada boots back but runs into a dropkickflip and enziguri! Ospreay hook SUPERKICKS again! Ospreay puts Okada up top, Electric Chair, and then the top rope?! SUPER ICONOCLASM!! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives!
Fans are thunderous as both men slowly stir. Ospreay gets to a corner and to his feet. He aims again, Robinson Special spin kick hits! Ospreay calls for it now, springboards, but into Okada’s German Suplex! Okada holds onto the waistlock and drags Ospreay back up in the wristlock. He swings Ospreay out, but SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives again! Ospreay keeps going and climbs to the top rope. Shooting Star onto Okada’s back! But Ospreay isn’t done there, he’s back up top for another Shooting Star! Cover, TWO!? Okada still lives but Ospreay won’t let up. Ospreay runs, springboards, but into a dropkick! Okada drags Ospreay up fast, gut wrenches and tombstones! But Okada roars as he drags Ospreay back up and in, swings out, Rain- STORMBREAK- SPINNING TOMBSTONE!? And then, RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall; advances to the semifinals
The clash of Chaos ends with the Rainmaker going 3-0 against the Aerial Assassin! But will Okada’s quest of redemption continue from semifinals into the 2019 New Japan Cup Finals?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr!
The Ace knows what it’s like to #JustTapOut to the Submission Master, but he looks to redeem his 2018 defeat on the Road to G1 Supercard! Meanwhile, the 2018 cup winner wants to keep his streak going, will ZSJ look to go back-to-back in the tournament?
The bell rings and the cheers already build for Tanahashi as he circles with ZSJ. They approach and Tanahashi avoids ZSJ’s grip. ZSJ grins as he toys with Tanahashi, and ZSJ reels Tanahashi in for a headlock to cravat to armlock. Tanahashi rolls and gets ZSJ’s leg for a cover, but ZSJ immediately gets the headscissors. ZSJ squeezes but Tanahashi pops out to headlock. ZSJ slips out to a hammerlock and then cover, ONE! Tanahashi gets up and fans applaud this early exchange. The two circle again and fans rally behind Tanahashi. Tanahashi and ZSJ tie up again, and ZSJ kicks Tanahashi’s grip away. They go again and Tanahashi gets a leg but ZSJ grabs for Tanahashi’s. ZSJ rolls and gets the arms again, but Tanahashi gets the legs again.
Tanahashi has a toehold and ZSJ shouts in pain before getting Tanahashi with a hammerlock. Tanahashi wrenches the leg but ZSJ gets the arm again. ZSJ wants an armbar but Tanahashi blocks with the monkey grip. Tanahashi turns over and gets behind ZSJ but ZSJ gets away. Fans applaud again as the two stand back up. Tanahashi calls for a test of strength, but ZSJ hesitates to accept. ZSJ and Tanahashi go back and forth on the knuckle lock, but Tanahashi has the superior power. He brings ZSJ to his knees but ZSJ reverses. Tanahashi reverses back and brings ZSJ down again. Fans rally as ZSJ pries his way through to go after the fingers. ZSJ and Tanahashi push against each other, but ZSJ rolls through to reel Tanahashi in. Tanahashi gets up and rolls through to reel ZSJ in!
They go shoulder to shoulder now but ZSJ bridges to spin and reverse to a single wristlock. ZSJ wrenches Tanahashi’s arm back and forth but they go back to the knuckle locks. Tanahashi kicks and Northern Light Suplexes ZSJ! ZSJ gets up to check his arm but Tanahashi is on him with kicks. Tanahashi whips and sleeper holds, but ZSJ switches to his own. Tanahashi switches back, but ZSJ shifts through to Pele the arm. But he gets caught! ZSJ slips free and wrenches more, then steps over for a modified arm triangle! Tanahashi endures but ZSJ shifts to hammerlock stomp! ZSJ rests against ropes while Tanahashi writhes. ZSJ circles Tanahashi like a shark before going after the arm again. He bends it from finger to elbow for a keylock stomp! The Ace is in trouble while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns again as ZSJ paces around. He stands on Tanahashi’s legs then drags him up for an armlock. ZSJ tortures the arm again, wrenching through to a Fujiwara! Tanahashi endures as ZSJ grabs the other arm for a Rings of Saturn! Fans rally up as Tanahashi endures. ZSJ rolls through to a cover, TWO! ZSJ keeps his cool as he toys with Tanahashi again. Tanahashi only gets angry as ZSJ kicks him. ZSJ throws a BIG European Uppercut, but then he taunts Tanahahsi. Tanahashi forearms back and rocks ZSJ. ZSJ EuroUppers back, then gives another in the corner. He gives a third, then a fourth. Tanahashi fires up and gives them all back! ZSJ returns EuroUppers then w ips, but Tanahashi boots him away.
Tanahashi runs, forearm smash! Fans fire up with The Ace as he clubs and forearms ZSJ more. Tanahashi scoop slams ZSJ then hops up. Somersault senton hits, cover, TWO! Tanahashi keeps his cool as he stands back up. He runs but ZSJ boots him. Tanahashi still runs but gets another boot. He goes again, but runs into ZSJ’s cobra twist! But Tanahashi switches it onto ZSJ! But ZSJ slips through to reverse it back! ZSJ locks it on but Tanahashi powers out back to his own! Tanahashi pump handles ZSJ for a slam! Taka Michinoku coaches ZSJ up but Tanahashi stands first. Tanahashi lifts but ZSJ slips through for another step-through armlock. ZSJ twists the arm! Penalty Kick outta nowhere!
Fans rally while both men are down. ZSJ clutches his own foot, he may have hurt himself from kicking Tanahashi so hard. Tanahashi and ZSJ slowly stand, and Tanahashi dumps ZSJ to the apron. ZSJ grabs Tanahashi for a rope-assisted Iron Octopus! Red Shoes counts but ZSJ lets go at 4. But Tanahashi gets ZSJ’s leg for a dragon screw! Then a dropkick to the bad leg, then another dragon screw! ZSJ tumbles into the ring, writhing while Tanahashi fires back up. Tanahashi grabs the leg for the figure four, into the Cloverleaf! ZSJ endures a hold now, but he slips through to reel Tanahashi in for a triangle! Tanahashi resists but ZSJ reels him in deeper. Tanahashi fades! Red Shoes checks on Tanahashi, but the fans give Tanahashi a second wind! Tanahashi powers up to pop out, back to his Cloverleaf! ZSJ scrambles to a ropebreak!
Taka grows concerned for ZSJ while both he and Tanahashi are down. Fans continue to rally and Tanahashi stomps ZSJ’s bad leg. He drags ZSJ up and whips but ZSJ reverses to a guillotine facelock. ZSJ goes after the arm for the hoverboard wristlock, but Tanahashi powers through to Twist ‘n’ Shout! But Tanahashi holds on to Twist ‘n’ Shout again! Tanahashi still holds on, for the hat trick! Fans fire up with Tanahashi as he runs, to Slingblade! Cover, TWO! ZSJ escapes but The Ace takes control back while we go to another break!
NJPW on AXS returns again as Tanahashi stands up. ZSJ sits up but Tanahashi is on him. Tanahashi wants the full nelson but ZSJ pops through to his own! Tanahashi switches again but ZSJ gets around him for the Octopus! He has Tanahashi locked in and pulls back on the arm! Tanahashi manages to stay off the mat and he powers out! But ZSJ denies the dragon screw to instead PELE Tanahashi’s arm! But Tanahashi palm strikes back! ZSJ kicks and kicks but Tanahashi tanks them. Dragon screw escaped to a EuroClutch cover, TWO!! ZSJ hurries to kick again! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and ZSJ is beside himself! Taka panics while the fans are thunderous for Tanahashi again!
ZSJ grabs a wrist and drags Tanahashi up. He facelocks but then scoops, but Tanahashi slips out. Okana roll to a EuroClutch! TWO, into Napalm Death!! ZSJ has the legs and Tanahashi flails about! Tanahashi lost to this last year but he refuses to give up this year! He stomps and kicks ZSJ and gets a grounded dragon screw! Both men are down from serious leg pains while the fans reach that fever pitch. Tanahashi stands up and goes to ZSJ. He full nelsons but ZSJ slips out to a victory roll, EuroClutch, TWO!? Tanahashi narrowly escapes, but ZSJ EuroUppers! Tanahashi eggs him on so ZSJ gives more. ZSJ catches Tanahashi to a backslide but Tanahashi resists! Tanahashi spins ZSJ for a palm strike! ZSJ EuroUppers but Tanahshi Sling-Dogs! Into a Japanese Clutch now, Tanahashi wins!!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall; advances to the semifinals
The Ace ends the Submission Master’s Cup streak! Taka and ZSJ can’t believe it, but the tournament run is over! With no back-to-back winner possible now, will Tanahashi be the one to move on all the way to New York and Madison Square Garden?
OFFICIAL RESULTS: Semifinals
- Kazuchika Okada VS Tomohiro Ishii; Okada wins and advances to the finals.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS SANADA; SANADA wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scenes for the 2019 New Japan Cup Semifinals!
There’s no stopping things now as we get to the Final Four! The only members of Chaos remaining are The Rainmaker and the Stone Pitbull after they defeated Will Ospreay and Yoshi-Hashi, respectively. Now Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii must clash to find who is worthy of representing the stable in the tournament finals! And after The Ace put away the 2018 New Japan Cup winner, he takes on the Cold Skull! Will Tanahashi survive Skull End? Or will he learn the power of Tranquilo from Sanada?
Kazuchika Okada VS Tomohiro Ishii!
These two men are not only faction teammates, but they’re good friends. However, even friends can fight to see who is the better. Will they still be friends after giving their all in this match?
The bell rings and fans are thunderous already. Ishii and Okada stare down as they approach. Okada feels it out and he ties up with Ishii. They push against each other but Okada uses leverage to get Ishii back to ropes. Red Shoes calls for the break, and Okada actually follows through to hit Ishii! Ishii is as surprised as anyone, and now he and Okada trade forearms! They go back and forth, fast and furious, until Okada kicks low. Okada headlocks but Ishii powers out. They collide and Okada bounces off of Ishii. Ishii dares Okada to try again, and Okada does. They collide again and again Okada bounces off of Ishii. Ishii runs now but Okada dodges to bounce Ishii, then run him over! Fans applaud for that display of power from The Rainmaker!
Okada brings Ishii up for elbows to the shoulders. He snapmares Ishii and runs to teasingly kick Ishii instead. Ishii gets up and throws furious forearms and headbutts! Okada throws forearms back but Ishii doesn’t budge. Ishii eggs Okada on so Okada throws more forearms then uppercuts. Okada runs but he really bounces off Ishii this time. Ishii toys with Okada now, then throws forearms. Okada takes them to give back a EuroUpper. Okada throws Ishii out to whip him at railing. Ishii reverses but Okada stops himself, only to turn around into Ishii’s powerslam! Both men are down but Ishii stands first. Ishii drags Okada up and into the ring, and he stalks behind him. He stands Okada up for a CHOP! Then another CHOP in the corner. Ishii chops more and more, making sure Okada stands to take them!
Ishii does not let up on Okada with those chops, making sure Okada stands up again to keep taking them. Red Shoes grows concerned but Ishii just toys with Okada now. Ishii stands on Okada’s face but Okada pushes him off. Okada drags himself up but Ishii starts slapping him around. Okada stands and dares Ishii to keep giving him chops. Ishii does CHOP Okada more, and more, and more. Okada’s chest is starting to turn red and purple like his trunks but he forearms Ishii back. Ishii CHOPS Okada off his feet! Ishii then drags Okada up for a suplex, but Okada blocks. Okada breaks free but Ishii chops him again. Okada reverses, kicks and DDT’s! Both men are down and stinging from the damage done but fans rally up.
Okada nips right up! He waits for Ishii to stand before rallying with forearms and elbows. He whips but Ishii reverses, only for Okada to lariat him down! Fans fire up with Okada while Ishii bails out. Okada slingshots and splashes Ishii down! The Rainmaker is back in control while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Okada puts Ishii back in the ring. Fans applaud as Okada returns. He drags Ishii up and scoop slams him. Okada heads to the top rope but Ishii runs in! Okada leaps over but runs into a boot. He runs back in and elbows Ishii. Okada drags Ishii up for forearm after forearm, but Ishii spits on him! Okada gives Ishii more forearms, but Ishii tanks them all. Ishii even backs Okada up as he takes the forearm shots! Ishii gives Okada one big forearm and it staggers him. Okada ends up in a corner and Ishii forearms back again and again! Ishii trash talks in Japanese but Okada returns the favor. Okada manages to back Ishii down as he takes those shots, then they start going back and forth!
Ishii fires from both sides! Ishii whips but Okada reverses, only for Ishii to deny the dropkick. Okada stands and Ishii runs in, but Okada catches him into a waistlock. Ishii denies the German but misses the enziguri. Okada misses his senton and Ishii runs for the sliding lariat, but Okada dodges. Okada Alabama Lifts to the reverse neckbreaker! Ishii writhes but Okada brings him back up. Okada scoop slams again, then goes to the top rope again. Macho Elbow! Okada hits his Rainmaker pose, but sees Ishii getting back up! Ospreay got Okada before but Okada won’t let Ishii do it to him! Okada boots Ishii then whips for the flapjack! Okada gets to the top rope again, and leaps for missile dropkick! Cover, TWO!
Fans fire up while Okada keeps his cool. He drags Ishii up and gut wrenches but Ishii slips out and shoves. Ishii runs in, but into the Alabama. Ishii powerbomb counters! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Ishii is building speed. Okada boots and uppercuts in return, but walks into the German Suplex! Ishii roars and runs, to clothesline Okada down! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives again but Ishii drags him up. Ishii runs but into a dropkick! Okada drags Ishii up, gut wrenches, but Ishii reverses it! Okada fights out and now both men fight over the gut wrench. It’s Okada who gets the TOMBSTONE! But he’s not done there, wring out for a headbutt and clothesline!! Both men are down while we go to another break!
NJPW on AXS returns as Ishii and Okada get to a corner each. Ishii runs corner to corner for a heavy clothesline! Ishii then hoists Okada up top and climbs up to join him. SUPERPLEX BRAIN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!? Okada lives and everyone is surprised! The fans reach that thunderous level again as Ishii runs and hits the Sliding D! Cover, TWO!! Ishii cannot believe it but Okada still lives! Ishii drags Okada up again, suplex but Okada fights out! Okada goes to boot but Ishii forearms him. Ishii runs into another dropkick! Okada drags Ishii up and around for a backslide, but Ishii rolls through, RAINMAKER! But Okada holds on to stand Ishii up again, for- Ishii takes the lariat! Ishii headbutts again and again, but swings into a BIG German Suplex!!
Okada holds on and drags Ishii up again. Okada has the wrist again, wrings out, but into an arm-drag and armbar! Ishii pulls on the arm but Okada flails and turns. Okada wants a cover but Ishii pulls him back down! Okada reaches with his long legs for a ropebreak! Ishii lets go but the damage was done. Fans are thunderous again as Ishii drags Okada up to yank on the arm. Ishii whips and yanks, then reels Okada in, but Okada spins! Ishii dodges to enziguri! Then he runs, but into another dropkick! But he’s right back up!? Okada shotgun dropkicks Ishii down! Both Ishii and Okada are slow to stand, but Okada fires up and runs, into a lariat! Cover, ONE?! Ishii lariats again! Cover, TWO!!
Ishii roars as he drags Okada up again. He suplexes but Okada fights out to wristlock. Ishii headbutts backwards but runs into yet another dropkick! Okada drags Ishii up, wristlocks and wrings out, but Ishii dodges to copy the Ranimaker! But Okada tanks it! Okada forearms but Ishii headbutts. Okada swings but into Ishii’s suplex, only to slip out and gut wrench, SPINNING TOMBSTONE! But Okada’s still not done, RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall; advances to the finals
The leader of Chaos continues to prove why he’s their leader! Okada now makes it to the 2019 New Japan Cup finals, but who will meet him there?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS SANADA!
The Ace and The Cold Skull both know the Rainmaker awaits them in the final round. Who will outlast the other to then step to Kazuchika Okada for the cup trophy?
The bell rings and fans are fired up all over again! Sanada watches as Tanahashi poses for the crowd. Then he poses for them, too! And the crowd favors the hometown hero! Sanada and Tanahashi circle and tie up. They’re even in strength but Tanahashi gets Sanada to ropes. Sanada pushes Tanahashi back then gives a clean break. Fans applaud as he and Tanahashi circle again. They tie up again, and Tanahashi waistlocks. Sanada standing switches but so does Tanahahsi. They keep going with the switches, so Sanada wrenches the arm. Tanahashi reverses and wrenches back. Sanada rolls and breaks free to fireman’s carry takedown. Tanahashi headscissors back and squeezes tight. Sanada works his way up and out to then roll Tanahashi for a deathlock!
Sanada shifts to pull on those legs harder but Tanahashi endures. Tanahashi drags Sanada’s hair but lets go at the ref’s count. Sanada pulls back but Tanahashi gets a headlock. Tanahashi wrenches hard but Sanada endures. Tanahashi shifts to a cravat but Sanada handsprings through the snapmare! Sanada runs but Tanahashi dodges. Tanahashi swings but Sanada dodges, then the double dropkicks cancel out! Fans duel again but Sanada’s clearly got more fans here. Sanada and Tanahashi circle again and tie up. Sanada catches the kick to push Tanahashi down, then he goes for it. He gets Tanahashi partway to Paradise but Tanahashi small packages! TWO, and Tanahashi trips Sanada up for a toehold.
Tanahashi wrenches Sanada’s leg and then stomps away. Tanahashi drops an elbow on the leg then wrenches harder. Sanada endures and tries the chinlock back but Tanahashi cranks the ankle. Sanada gets his free leg around Tanahashi, but Tanahashi stands up to stomp and elbow the leg again. Tanahashi makes it a butterfly deathlock now but Sanada continues to endure. Sanada drags himself backwards towards ropes but Tanahashi forearms him down. Fans rally up for the hometown hero as he CHOPS Tanahashi with open palm slaps. Tanahashi puts more pressure on the legs but Sanada refuses to quit. Sanada drags himself back and gets the ropebreak! Tanahashi lets go but keeps on Sanada with stomps.
Tanahashi stomps and stomps but fans still cheer Sanada. He whips Sanada but Sanada reverses. Sanada hurdles and hurdles and dropkicks Tanahashi! Tanahashi bails out but Sanada slingshot planchas Tanahashi down! The Ace is in trouble in Cold Skull Country while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Sanada returns to the ring. Tanahashi grabs the leg for a dragon screw! Fans actually boo Tanahashi but he just takes that as a sign he’s doing what he has to to win. Tanahashi drags Sanada up for a scoop slam into a drop zone. He hops up and poses for his somersault senton! And he hits it! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Tanahashi runs. Sanada sees it coming and dodges to dropkick the legs out! But his next kick is caught for another Dragon Screw! But then Sanada returns the dragon screw! Both men are down with leg pain but fans fire up again. Sanada and Tanahashi slowly stand, and Sanada stalks Tanahashi to the corner. He whips corner to corner but Tanahashi reverses. Sanada tumbles and springboards but misses! Tanahashi gets a grounded dragon screw!
Tanahashi keeps on the legs with the figure four, but Sanada resists the Cloverleaf. Sanada crawls as Tanahashi turns, Sanada gets the ropebreak. Tanahashi has to let go, but he won’t let up as he stomps Sanada’s legs. Tanahashi stands Sanada up to kick the legs. He runs but Sanada huricanranas, only to be blocked into the Cloverleaf! Tanahashi sits deep on it! Sanada endures as fans rally up! Sanada powers up and drags himself to the ropes, but Tanahashi pulls back harder! Fans give Sanada a second wind and he gets another ropebreak! Tanahashi lets go but the damage is done. Tanahashi drags Sanada back up and over but Sanada forearms. Sanada hits again and again, but Tanahashi catches the kick to dropkick the other!
Tanahashi drags Sanada up but Sanada uppercuts free! Tanahashi returns it, so Sanada uppercuts again. They go back and forth with those EuroUppers, then Sanada fires many forearms. Sanada spins but into the palm strike! Tanahashi full nelsons but Sanada breaks free. Sanada runs but into a scoop, only to slip out to the dragon sleeper! Sanada cranks back, but Tanahashi spins through, Twist ‘n’ Shout! Tanahashi holds on for another Twist ‘n Shout! He drags Sanada up again, but Sanada denies the hat trick for Anarchy Suplex, the draping neckbreaker! Fans rally up for Sanada as he stands back up. Sanada drags Tanahashi up for chicken wings and a Tiger Suplex! Bridging cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but Sanada won’t let up.
Sanada drags Tanahashi up in the dragon sleeper, and drops down into body scissors! Tanahashi endures Skull End as fans rally and Sanada squeezes tight. Tanahashi starts to fade! Red Shoes checks on him but Sanada lets Tanahashi free to head for the top rope! MOONSAULT onto Tanahashi’s back! Then MOONSAULT onto KNEES! Cradle cover, TWO!! Tanahashi was so close but so far from snatching that from Sanada. Fans rally and duel as Tanahashi and Sanada sit up. Sanada gets to a corner and Tanahashi runs in, but into an elbow. Sanada hops up, quebrada to dragon sleeper, but another cradle counter! TWO!! Palm strike! Tanahashi runs, but into a fireman’s carry! Tanahashi escapes to steal the dragon sleeper! But Sanada turns it around, but Tanahashi victory rolls! TWO and Sanada has it, TWO!!
Both men narrowly escape the other but now Tanahashi full nelsons. Sanada resists the suplex and slips out to Salida to a sleeper! Sanada cranks back and swings Tanahashi around! But Tanahashi reverses to an inverted Twist ‘n’ Shout! Tanahashi runs, Slingblade! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives but Tanahashi still has something to give. Tanahashi drags Sanada up and full nelsons, Dragon Suplex but Sanada lands on his feet! Sanada dodges, rolls and clutch, but Tanahashi pushes him away! Tanahashi rolls Sanada for the Japanese Clutch, but into SKULL END!! Sanada holds on tight, fans are thunderous, and Tanahashi taps!! Sanada wins!!
Winner: SANADA, by submission; advances to the finals
The Cold Skull makes The Ace tap out!! This may very well be the biggest New Japan Cup win for Sanada as he now moves on to face The Rainmaker! Who comes out of the finals the #1 contender to the Switchblade’s reign?
OFFICIAL RESULTS: Finals
- Kazuchika Okada VS SANADA; Okada wins and will challenge Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at G1 Supercard.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS set the scenes for the Finals of the 2019 New Japan Cup!
This is it! A winner will be crowned to wrap up the tournament! The field of 32 is now just two as The Rainmaker looks for redemption while The Cold Skull wants his first taste of being at the top. Sanada came close to defeating Okada when they fought over the title last year, can he change the outcome this time? Or will Okada come closer to revenge on the treacherous Switchblade?
Kazuchika Okada VS SANADA!
One man returns to the New Japan Cup Finals. The other finally arrives after going the furthest he’s ever gone. Who goes even further, all the way to New York and the G1 Supercard? Who meets Jay White in Madison Square Garden?!
The fans are thunderously divided even before the bell. Sanada still has the home field advantage, but it may not be enough against THE franchise player. The bell rings and fans explode with cheers! Sanada shrugs it off as he circles with Okada. They tie up but back off. Okada and Sanada circle again and tie up. Okada waistlocks but Sanada standing switches. They go switch for switch, but Sanada wrenches to a wristlock. Okada rolls and wrenches back, but Sanada spins and trips Okada up for a toehold. Sanada wrenches the leg but Okada pries him off with a leg. Okada pulls on the arm but Sanada resists the armbar. Sanada gets Okada’s leg off him to go back to the toehold. Okada sits up to rear mount and waistlock. Sanada switches and has Okada now. Sanada shifts to the legs and pulls back again.
Okada endures while working on an escape. He reaches back but Sanada stands out of reach. Okada still gets an arm and pries Sanada off with a keylock. Sanada stands but Okada arm-drags him down. Sanada headscissors but Okada pops out and fans applaud. The dueling continues as both men back off and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns as Okada and Sanada circle. They tie up again and Okada blocks Sanada’s knee. Okada rolls and wrenches to a keylock to bring Sanada back down. Sanada stands but Okada shifts to a hammerlock. Sanada headlocks out but Okada pries his way out to another keylock. Okada brings Sanada down again but not for long. Sanada spins and trips Okada to turn him into a Bow ‘n’ Arrow lock. Okada pops out to a cover, ONE and Sanada sweeps to a cover. ONE and the two stand off again. Fans applaud as Sanada and Okada circle again. Okada and Sanada tie up again, and Sanada lunges to get the leg. Sanada waistlocks but Okada grounded switches. Okada floats to a facelock then headlock, then grinds Sanada hard. Sanada hits back and powers out, but Okada runs him over with a shoulder.
Okada speeds things up but Sanada blocks the hip toss. Sanada body shots and flips off the leg to trip Okada up. Sanada puts Okada in Paradise! Fans can’t believe Sanada pulled it off! Sanada then dropkicks Okada out of Paradise! Sanada stalks Okada to a corner then whips corner to corner. Okada elbows him back then runs, but Sanada hurdles. Okada fakes out the other hurdle to throw Sanada out. Then slingshot splash wipes him out! Okada eyes that New Japan Cup trophy while adjusting his knee pads. He comes back to Sanada and puts him back in, which fans applaud. Okada takes his time following after then stands Sanada up. He bumps Sanada off the buckles, then throws in back elbows. Okada brings Sanada out to club and neckbreaker! Cover, ONE, but Okada keeps his cool.
Fans rally and duel again, but the Okada fans start to outnumber the Sanada fans. Okada snapmares Sanada and runs to basement dropkicks him down! Okada stalks Sanada to ropes and wraps on a chinlock. Sanada endures the knee as he’s being bent backward. Sanada fights his way up but Okada wrangles him back down. Okada keeps on Sanada but Sanada powers up and out. Sanada runs but into Okada’s sleeper hold! And then down to the chinlock again! Fans rally and duel while Sanada endures all over again. Sanada feeds off the energy to fight out again. He runs but avoids the sleeper to dropkick Okada’s leg out! Both men are down while Sanada catches his breath and Okada clutches his leg. But fans rally up and both men get back up.
Sanada rallies with forearms and elbows on Okada! He hits Okada with a back elbow but Okada avoids the standing moonsault, only to get a dropkick to the back! Sanada outsmarts Okada there and gets control while we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns and Sanada brings Okada up. Okada hits back then runs but Sanada hurdles. Sanada dropkicks Okada out of the ring, but slingshots. Okada gets in but Sanada lands on the apron. Okada forearms but gets dumped back out. Sanada builds speed but tumbles when Okada dodges. Sanada cannonballs off the apron onto Okada! Fans fire up as Sanada drags Okada up and in. Sanada covers, TWO! Cold Skull keeps his cool but Okada resists the back suplex. Okada elbows but Sanada whips. Okada dodges and speeds up to elbow Sanada down! Fans fire up with Okada now as he drags Sanada up. Okada whips Sanada corner to corner and elbows him. He kicks and DDT’s, then covers, TWO! Fans rally while Okada looms over Sanada.
Okada waits for Sanada to stand before the Alabama lift. Sanada fights out but Okada boots him back. Okada lifts again but Sanada sunset flips, only for Okada to jackknife back to Alabama, reverse neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Okada grows slightly annoyed with Sanada but he keeps on him with a scoop slam. Okada heads up top, and leaps for the Macho Elbow! He hits his Rainmaker pose! He wristlocks and wrings Sanada but Sanada elbows out. Okada clubs Sanada and whips but Sanada tumbles and springboards for a missile dropkick! Fans duel again as both men are down. Okada and Sanada slowly sit up but it’s Sanada who brings Okada up. Sanada forearms but Okada returns it. They go back and forth, then pick up speed! Okada rocks Sanada but Sanada EuroUppers!
Sanada drags Okada back up for a fireman’s carry. Okada slips out and waistlocks, but Sanada blocks the German. Sanada elbows free and runs in at Okada in the corner, only to be put on the top rope. Okada dropkicks Sanada down and out! Okada catches his breath while Red Shoes checks on Sanada. Red Shoes says Sanada’s okay so Okada goes out to fetch him. Okada whips Sanada into railing, then boots him over them! Okada drags Sanada back up from the other side and drags him out, draping DDT to the floor! Sanada writhes and clutches his neck while Okada walks away with a grin. The ring count begins and climbs to 10/20 before Sanada stirs. Sanada crawls over at 15, and gets in at 18! Okada just heads up top again as Sanada stands, for a missile dropkick! He blasts Sanada to the other corner! Cover, TWO!
Okada keeps his cool while fans duel for both men. Okada drags Sanada up and gut wrenches, but Sanada revives to reverse to the dragon sleeper! But Okada gut wrenches again, only for Sanada to gut wrench! Sanada hits the tombstone! The hometown hero might have the fans back as he drags Okada up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Okada still lives but Sanada keeps focus. Sanada drags Okada up in the dragon sleeper, but Okada reaches with his legs. Okada manages to move forward, so Sanada shifts to a Tiger Suplex! Bridging cover, TWO!! Okada survives again and we go to break!
NJPW on AXS returns as Sanada drags a dazed Okada back up. Sanada scoops for a backbreaker then heads up top. MOONSAULT onto knees! Okada and Sanada are both slow to standing again, but Okada drags Sanada up. He backslides and rolls Sanada for Rainmaker! But Okada drags Sanada up again, but Sanada dodges, only to get a dropkick! Okada brings Sanada up again, TOMBSTONE! And the Rainmaker pose! Okada drags Sanada up a third time, wristlocks and wrings out, but Sanda Salidas into Skull End!! Sanada cranks back on the dragon sleeper, then drops for the body scissors, but Okada rolls through! Okada swings, Sanada ducks and now Sanada swings but Okada ducks! Okada steals Skull End!! Sanada endures his own hold but rolls through like Okada did, to get it back!
Fans are thunderous as Okada endures the dragon sleeper. Sanada cranks and swings Okada around! Then body scissors! Fans are at a fever pitch as Okada is trapped! Okada looks to be fading, but he still flails and reaches back. Okada pops free to make it a cover, TWO!! Sanada uses the other side for the Skull End! Okada endures being bent the other way now, but he uses those long legs to kick around. Okada starts fading again, so Sanada covers, TWO!? Where did Okada find that? But Sanada climbs up, MOONSAULT FLOPS!! Okada managed to dodge and now both men are down again! Fans go past thunderous for these two men, and we go to one last break!
NJPW on AXS returns as Okada gets to a corner. Sanada and Okada both stand slowly, and Okada is up first. But Sanada runs in, only to get a boot. Sanada staggers but runs back in, only to miss. Okada runs back in, but into an elbow. Sanada hops up, Okada gets under and shotgun dropkicks Sanada! But Sanada’s back up! Okada blocks, but Sanada spins to roaring elbow! Sanada fireman’s carry to TKO! Cover, TWO?! Okada survives and Sanada cannot believe it! But Sanada fires up with the energy of the fans and brings Okada up. Sanda scoops for another backbreaker, but Okada grabs his leg. Okada is an anchor so Sanada stomps him out first. Sanada heads for the corner but Okada still grabs the leg. Sanada stomps Okada again then climbs, but Okada anchors a leg again! Again Sanada kicks Okada off, quebrada to dragon sleeper!
Okada uses the ropes to get the sleeper, the gut wrench, SPINNING TOMBSTONE!! Then he drags Sanada up, but Sanada boots back! Okada still holds on, even as Sanada boots again and again. Okada swings but into a full nelson. Salida but Okada slips through to spinning RAINMAKER! Okada drags Sanada up once more, TRUE RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall; 2019 New Japan Cup Winner; will challenge Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at G1 Supercard
He does it! Not only is Okada 5-0 all time against Sanada, not only is Okada a two-time cup winner, but he is the #1 contender to the title most synonymous with his career! Okada is presented the New Japan Cup trophy and he holds it high in the ring. Then he takes to the mic.
“The New Japan Cup… I WON!!” Lots of guys from NJPW went to America. Was this company not enough for them? The NJPW ring is the best in the world! To borrow one of Sanada’s expressions, Okada LOVES pro-wrestling! And speaking of Sanada, Okada knows Nagaoka was cheering for him. Okada promises that when he returns from America, they’ll have another match. And so, Okada now heads to Madison Square Garden to crush “that son-of-a-b*tch, Jay White!” Fans sure hope he does! But speak of the devil, here’s the Switchblade. Jay White and Gedo head down the ramp, that IWGP Heavyweight Championship in tow. Fans boo and jeer but White just smirks as he joins Gedo and Okada in the ring.
Gedo talks to Okada for White, but he gets booed just as much. Congrats on winning. Is something he won’t actually say. Because Hell awaits him! In New York and MSG, Okada will fall into the abyss! The idiots booing Gedo will join Okada, too! The one who sends you there will be the STRONGEST IWGP Heavyweight Champion ever, The Switch Blade, Jay White. White now speaks for himself as he talks to Okada in English. Fans drown White out with boos. White waits until the boos stop, then tells Okada that he never thought this would happen. White’s the champ and Okada’s the “sorry soul” trying to prove he’s worthy. But this is all very real. This is NJPW’s reality. But still, congrats.
Okada won the New Japan Cup and “the privilege” to step into the ring with White. Okada sure fought hard for this, but it’ll all be for nothing! “Because you can’t beat me.” Okada never will, and certainly not for the title. White is better and everyone knows it. White promises to walk in champion and walk out still champion! It will be 3-0 that White wins. And Okada will be down and out in the world’s most famous arena, because this is the Switchblade’s era! White drops the mic and leaves with the belt, Gedo following after. Okada picks the mic back up to say, “I have no clue what you just said.” But White, just know Okada’s on a whole different level!
Okada grins and White only gets riled up, but Okada continues to again announce his journey to Madison Square Garden! And he vows to return the IWGP Heavyweight Champion! Then in America, in NJPW, in the whole world, “I’m gonna make it rain~!!” The streamers and confetti rain down for Okada, but will fortune shine upon him in Madison Square Garden?
Backstage Interviews
Okada admits, “That was rough.” Okada’s title defenses were rough, as was his G1 Climax win, but this New Japan Cup was particularly tough. Just as you win one match, another is on the way. Okada was the favorite to win this year, and he did. But that’s not all, he has one more match. He has to start all over again. But he’ll just keep moving forward, all the way to MSG. Will Okada raise both the New Japan Cup trophy and the IWGP Heavyweight title in New York?
My Thoughts:
What a great selection for three hours of wrestling! Just as this tournament started to look like Tanahashi’s story back, it became all about Okada! All these matches had amazing story, and seeing them all together, you really got the sense of how it all came together. That was a great parallel where Ospreay counters Okada, and Ishii tries the same only to fail. It was great for Tanahashi to defeat ZSJ for that story of ending ZSJ’s cup streak, but how great was it for the hometown hero to win against such a great wrestler as Tanahashi. At the same time, it seemed better for someone else to take on Okada this time, we’ve gotten plenty of Okada VS Tanahashi in the last 12 months.
Okada winning against Sanada was natural, Sanada’s not quite there yet. But I really enjoy the tease that Okada will give Sanada another crack at it should Okada win. For that matter, White and Okada had a great exchange in the ring. Especially Okada no selling everything White said to stay on his message. The G1 Supercard is going to be great, with both the ROH and NJPW matches, but Okada VS White Round 3 is definitely the one to watch. AXS TV promises another two hours of NJPW next week to cover part of G1 Supercard, so it will be perfectly natural if we get Okada VS White as part of it, and that will be amazing.
My Score: 9/10
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Will Swerve’s House rumble, bad man, rumble?
While Swerve Strickland has Death Riders and Hangman Page on the brain, he has Shane Taylor in the ring! Will Swerve still be AEW’s Most Dangerous?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jon Moxley w/ Wheeler Yuta VS AR Fox; Moxley wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido VS Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita & FTR; Kyle, Konosuke & FTR win.
- Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Shane Taylor w/ Shane Taylor Promotions; Swerve wins.
- Mixed Six Tag: Holo.grm, Mark Briscoe & Willow Nightingale VS #MXMTV; Hologram, Briscoe & Willow win.
- JetSpeed VS The Gates of Agony; JetSpeed wins.
- 8 Woman Tag: Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata & TayJay VS Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford; Athena, Thekla, Bayne & Ford win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Stokely Hathaway, FTR & #ProtoShita speak.
#BigStoke says after what happened on Wednesday was a complete and utter embarrassment, and they all vowed to never let it happen again. Now that Cash Wheeler is back, FTR is complete, and they have #ProtoShita with them! Tonight, they will win! Stokely clearly has confidence enough for all five of them, but will it really go their way? Or will Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido make sure tonight happens just like it did in Mexico City?
Jon Moxley w/ Wheeler Yuta VS AR Fox!
The Maniac feels the walls closing in as we move closer to All In, but an animal is only more dangerous once it is cornered. Will Moxley ruin the Whole Fox’n Show? Or can Fox take down Mox?
The bell rings and Fox DROPKICKS Mox! Fox fires off on Mox in the corner, the ref counts, and Mox shoves Fox away. Fox comes back to LARIAT but Mox stays up. The fans rally for Fox and he LARIATS, but then Mox takes a swing! Fox goes matrix and comes back to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Fox runs in at the corner, A-LIST LARIAT! Fox shoves Moxley to then climb up the corner, FLYING- FOREARM from Moxley! Mox’s antiair takes Fox down and the fans boo. Moxley drags Fox up for an X-PLEX! Fox writhes, Moxley stomps him, and then Moxley brings Fox to the ropes. Moxley puts Fox through the ropes to bend him!
The ref counts, Moxley CLUBS Fox down, and then Moxley storms out after Fox. The fans rally for Fox but Mox CHOPS! Fox hits back, Moxley hits again, and repeat! the fans rally but Moxley BITES Fox on the face! The fans boo but Moxley DECKS Fox! Moxley talks trash, drags Fox up, and he puts Fox in the ring. Fox KICKS Moxley in the ropes! Then DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up and Mox flops back. Fox runs to BLACK HOLE STOMP! The fans fire up while Moxley falls to the floor! Fox goes up the corner to MOONSAULT ATTACK! Seattle is loving this as Fox puts Moxley back in the ring.
Fox shouts at Yuta to move, then Fox climbs. But then Yuta trips Fox up, all behind the ref’s back! Moxley climbs up and he CLAWS Fox’s back! The fans boo and the ref counts, but Moxley TWISTS Fox’s ear, then BITES it! The fans boo more, the ref reprimands again, but Moxley has a KATAGATAME up top! Moxley then hits a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! But now to the CROSSFACE! The fans rally as Fox endures, but Moxley twists him around and thrashes the hold! Then he rolls to have Fox in an INVERTED RINGS OF SATURN! Fox fights around, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, the fans cheer, and Moxley lets go at 4.
Moxley glares at the ref, then goes back for Fox. Moxley KICKS! Fox frowns at him and eggs him on! The fans fire up as Moxley KICKS, but Fox still eggs him on! Moxley BOOTS, runs, and KICKS, but Fox blocks! The fans fire up and Fox says F Mox! But Mox KICKS back! Fox PELES and Moxley falls out! The fans fire up and Fox FLIES! Down goes Moxley! Fox puts Moxley in, he BOOTS Yuta for getting too close, then he SUPERKICKS! BUZZSAWS! But Moxley ducks the heel kick, only to get a BASEMENT CUTTER! Fox fire sup, runs and BOOTS Moxley! Then snapmare roll and CUTTER! Moxley staggers up, but he LARIATS Fox down!
The fans boo but Moxley drags Fox back up. GOTCH HOLD PILEDRIVER! Moxley then rains down forearms on Fox’s head! Fox can’t guard anymore, and Moxley puts on the REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Fox is OUT, Moxley wins!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission
The fans boo, especially as Moxley doesn’t stop! Moxley lets go, but they’re still not done as he and Yuta mug Fox! The fans boo but Moxley gets a mic to call out Hangman Page. This guy, this cowboy, Moxley has been watching him piss away his opportunities for years! Moxley’s been watching Hangman piss away his God-given gifts for years! And Moxley doesn’t have the same patience as the fans do for their cowboy! Moxley is sick of waiting for Hangman to get his act together. Moxley is sick of this crybaby cowboy’s crap! The fans boo more, but Moxley says this is a tough sport and a tough business. So on July 12th at All In, Moxley will run the Hangman outta this sport for good!
The fans boo even more, but Moxley tells Hangman he can just go back to counting chickens or whatever it is he does, because this business is NOT for him! The Maniac has given his warning, but is it all bluster knowing Hangman isn’t around? Or will nothing and no one stop the reign of terror?
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido speak.
The AEW TNT Champion says Grand Slam: Mexico was one for the ages. Not just for him but for Bandido, for Danny, that was a great night. They wish Roddy was there, but tonight, they keep the party going with an 8 Man Tag. Tonight, AEW Collision is back on TNT, and the TNT Champion says there is nothing sweeter than their team getting a victory. And that is Undisputed! That match is next, will it be all about the BOOM here in Seattle?
8 Man Tag: Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido VS Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita & FTR!
The bell rings and the teams sort out. Bandido starts against Dax Harwood and they circle. The fans rally, but Stoke distracts the ref so that Konosuke can pull Bandido in, and then the whole team mugs the Most Wanted! Dax bumps Bandido off buckles, CHOPS him, then stands him up again. Dax whips corner to corner, runs in, btu Bandido goes up and over. Dax runs Bandido over, things keep moving, and Bandido hurdles. Bandido slips through a scoop to DROPKICK Dax! The fans fire up, Cash steps in but Bandido backs him off. Dax goes to an open corner, Bandido is on him with a CHOP of his own!
The fans cheer and Bandido wrenches to a wristlock. Dax flails but Roddy tags in. Roddy KNEES Dax low, wrenches again, but Dax DECKS him! Dax tags The Alpha and they mug Roddy. Konosuke ROCKS Roddy again and again, then CHOPS! Konosuke whips, Roddy reverses, but Konosuke TAKESHITA LINES! Konosuke taunts Roddy’s team, then brings Roddy over to tag Kyle. The Don Callis Family boys mug Roddy, then Kyle fires hands. The ref counts, then he backs Kyle off. Kyle runs back up, but into a BOOT! Roddy CALF KICKS Kyle then tags in Garcia! Garcia fires hands on Kyle and he CHOPS!
Garcia whips, Kyle reverses, but Garcia ducks ‘n’ dodges to LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up for Red Death, and he LARIATS Kyle in a corner! Garcia rains down fists, goes to nine to then wind it up, and TEN! The fans cheer and Garcia whips, but Kyle reverses. Dax gets a cheap shot in but Garcia DECKS him, DECKS Konosuke, and DECKS Cash! But Kyle GAMANGIRIS! Kyle rains down fists, the fans boo, but Kyle tags Dax. Dax snap suplexes Garcia to then drop a leg, drop an elbow, and drop a HEADBUTT! Cash says look at the ‘stache! The fans boo but Dax covers, TWO! Dax chinlocks and he grinds Garcia down.
Garcia endures and the fans rally up. Garcia rises, fires body shots, but Dax CHOPS! Dax headlocks, but Garcia hits a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Garcia crawls, hot tag to Bandido! Bandido rallies on Dax, DECKS him, then he DROPKICKS Konosuke! Kyle storms in but Bandido dodges to tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Cash is back, Bandido dodges and scoops to BACKBREAKER! Dax is up, Bandido fires hands on him, then a SUPERKICK! Cash runs up but Bandido TOSSES him out onto Dax! The fans fire up and Bandido builds speed, to DIVE! But FTR catch him, and DOUBLE ATOMIC SLAM onto the desk!
The fans boo but Cash mocks the finger guns while Collision goes picture in picture.
Stokely talks trash on Bandido, and Dax sits Bandido up so he can rain down fists! Cash taunts Bandido’s team, the ref keeps the peace, and Dax drags Bandido up into the ring. Dax tags Cash, then SMACKS Bandido off Cash’s boots! Cash mocks Bandido more, then drags him up by his mask. Cash CHOPS Bandido down! Cash UPPERCUTS, Bandido goes to the corner, and Cash UPPERCUTS again! Cash tags Konosuke, they mug Bandido, and Konosuke CLUBS Bandido down. Konosuke drags Bandido around, scoops and SLAMS him down, then tags Kyle. ProtoShita puts Bandido in a corner, whips corner to corner, then they DOUBLE BOOT!
Bandido flops over and Kyle flexes while he soaks up heat. Dax joins in, then Kyle stomps away on Bandido. Kyle drags Bandido over, tags Dax, and they mug Bandido. Dax hoists Bandido up top, CHOPS him, then ROCKS him! Bandido fires back, Dax CHOPS, and they continue to brawl as Dax climbs. Dax CLAWS Bandido’s eyes, Collision returns to single picture, and Seattle rallies for Bandido. Bandido fires body shots, then a CHOP! Dax falls and the fans fire up! Bandido stands to TORNILLO ATTACK! Both men are down, the fans fire up, and they crawl, hot tags to Kyle and Cole! Cole dodges Kyle to BLAST Konosuke & Cash!
Kyle runs up but Cole ELBOWS him! And BOOTS him! And then LARIATS him! Cole rallies on Kyle, BOOTS him down, and the fans fire up! Cole fireman’s carries, Kyle slips free, but Cole breaks free to PELE! BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives but Cole is right on him. Tag to Roddy and Paragon works together. Kyle slips free, shoves Roddy at Cole, tag to Dax! Cole SUPERKICKS Kyle, Dax ROCKS Cole! Roddy ROCKS Dax and suplexes, but Dax slips free! Dax waistlocks, Roddy switches, but Dax switches back. Roddy switches again to ANGLE SLAM! Konosuke runs in but Garcia intercepts with a BOOT!
Garcia LARIATS Konosuke and himself out! Roddy gives Dax a GUT BUSTER DROP! Cole adds a SHINING WIZARD! Roddy covers, Cash breaks it! The fans boo but Cash knows that was in time! Roddy drags Dax up, puts him in a corner, and he hoists Dax up. Cash runs in, Roddy ELBOWS Cash, but Dax ROCKS Roddy! Dax puts Roddy up top and CHOPS! Dax climbs, Cash also climbs, and we get a SUPERPLEX for the Power! DIVING SPLASH for the Glory! But Bandido FROG SPLASHES Cash! Konosuke POWER DRIVE KNEES Bandido! Garcia spins Konosuke around to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Kyle scoops Garcia for a MICHINOKU DRIVER!
Cole and Kyle run up, DOUBLE FORFEARMS! DOUBLE BOOTS! Cole blocks a kick to SUPERKICK! Only to run into a LARIAT! Kyle hauls Cole back up, but Cole suplexes! GHOST BUSTER! All eight men are down and the fans are thunderous! The teams regroup while the fans cheer “A E DUB!” for making this the opener. The eight men stare down, and then it explodes into a brawl! The fans fire up as Cole has Kyle, Garcia has Cash, Roddy has Dax and Bandido has Konosuke! Things go to the corners, then Cole TOSSES Kyle! Garcia TOSSES Konosuke! Cash TOSSES Garcia, then Cash CLUBS Roddy!
Cash & Dax double whip Roddy, but Cole SUPERKICKS Cash! No Shatter Machine here! Kyle SUPERKICKS COle! Bandido SUPER MOONSAULTS onto Konosuke! Roddy saves Cole from a brainbuster! Roddy fireman’s carries Dax but Dax fights free! Dax CHOPS and ROCKS and repeat! Cash si back, FTR double whip, but Roddy slips around to shove Dax into Cash! Kyle SUPERKICKS Roddy into SHATTER MACHINE!! Cover, #DCFTR wins!!
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & FTR, by pinfall
The Don Callis Family and FTR make for a winning combination tonight, and Stokely says he called it! But they’re not done, they keep on beating up Roddy, Cole, Garcia and Bandido! The fans boo but there’s no one to stop them! And then Cash calls for reinforcements? Cash & Dax set Bandido up, but wait! THE OUTRUNNERS rush out here! Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd are here as backup for Bandido! FTR & ProtoShita get outta there, but will there be a receipt coming there way?
PROGRAMMING NOTE!
Collision may have returned to Saturday tonight, but next week will be a special Thursday Night Collision! Make sure your DVRs are set properly so you don’t miss the action!
Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata & TayJay speak.
Tay Melo tells Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford that they know what happened last time. Tonight is round two! And Anna adds that there are so many more ways they wanna hurt them. The One True African Queen says Thekla may have won, but she knows she got hit hard, huh? She ain’t seen nothing yet! And La Mera Mera reminds Athena that she’s coming for that ROH Women’s World Championship. Tonight, she takes Athena’s head!
Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford speak.
The Fallen Goddess thanks the Toxic Spider, Megasus & Superbad Girl for accepting the invitation. But even then, Athena still doesn’t like crazy spider lady, still doesn’t like Ford, and is still bigger and badder than Megan. But tonight, it’s ATHENA Elite Wrestling! So let’s get it together, girls, so Athena can have her moment. And if they do, they can be her Minions. Ford keeps Megan from storming up on Athena, but can these war goddesses hold it together to be victorious?
AEW shares footage from after Grand Slam: Mexico.
Renee Paquette was with the NEW CMLL Women’s World Champion, Mercedes Mone, and says what a huge night. Another history making moment as she is now #SixBeltsMone! Mone says damn straight! Unfortunately, not everyone was in the mood for celebrating… Toni Storm rained on her parade a bit. Mone tells Toni, “You think you’re gonna play mind games with me? Well, I am the master of any game! So bring it! Tonight’s win was just a preview for what’s to come at All In: Texas. Toni, you call yourself ‘Timeless?’ Well, I’m iconic! I’m Six Belts Mone! The Conversation, the Blueprint, The C E O!”
And the Money Train is on a roll! Toni’s time is ticking, and it is almost up. See you in Texas, b*tch! Mone rolls on, but will she have lucky number seven? Or will the AEW Women’s World Championship be the one prize she doesn’t get to have?
Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Shane Taylor w/ Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Realest may have a house, but Big Bad Shaney T. Boy has an entire promotion! And while this is Swerve’s homecoming to Washington, will he have homefield advantage? Or will Shane show him how to rumble, bad man, rumble?
The bell rings and the two circle. Shane swings, Swerve dodges to waistlock, but then Swerve avoids the elbow. Shane stops the Eddy Gordo Rana, brings Swerve up to back suplex, but Swerve lands out. Shane blocks a boot, Swerve reels him in and sunset flips, but Shane stays up! Swerve avoids the fist drop to SHOVE Shane out of the ring! Swerve builds speed, but then just hits the Griddy! The fans cheer, STP is upset, and Bravo says he’s got money riding on this. Shane storms into the ring to circle with Swerve. Swerve bobs ‘n’ weaves to avoid the shots, but Shane stops the wrench. Shane blocks the whip, too, but then Swerve BOOTS him!
The fans cheer, Swerve eggs Shane on, and the two reset. They feel things out, Shane fires hands, and wait, Nana is gambling with the Infantry? Shane DECKS Swerve, his odds might’ve just gone up! Shane drags Swerve up on the apron and Bravo wants Tony Schiavone to get in on this? Shane lifts Swerve, Swerve fights free, and he slips under! The Infantry freaks out as Swerve pulls on Shane, but Shane grabs Swerve to SLAM him off the apron! Then he APRON SPLASHES! The fans boo while Swerve falls, and Shane claims it’s HIS house now! The fans boo more while Collision goes picture in picture.
The Infantry mockingly offer Swerve some money, but Shane drags Swerve up to HEADBUTT him! Shane puts Swerve in the ring, tells Nana he’s about to lose more money on this, and then goes into the ring. Shane clamps onto Swerve with a chinlock and he grinds Swerve down. Swerve endures and Nana rallies the fans. Swerve fights up, fires body shots, then he KNEES Shane low! Shane ROCKS Swerve with a left! Then SAIDOS! Swerve staggers over to ropes, Shane storms up on him, and Shane CHOKES Swerve by standing on him! The ref counts, Shane backs off, and Swerve goes to the corner. Shane storms up to Swerve again while Collision goes to break.
Collision returns, Shane has Swerve in a corner to talk trash, then he runs up, only for Swerve to dodge! Swerve then wraps Shane’s arm around ropes, CLUBS away on the shoulder, and runs side to side for a DROPKICK to the arm! The fans fire up and Swerve dropkicks the legs out! Swerve drops a KNEE on the arm, then runs to KNEE Shane down! Cover, TWO! Shane is tougher than that but Swerve stays focused. Nana says it’s over for STP now! Swerve KICKS the bad arm, and the fans cheer for “DEFY! DEFY!” Swerve runs up, Shane shoves him to the corner but Swerve comes back, only for Shane to HEADBUTT!
Shane URENAGES Swerve down, but that was the bad arm! Shane runs, SPLASHES DOWN into an armbar! Swerve has Shane caught and he even HAMMERS Shane’s head! Shane endures, fights back up, and he powers out! Shane KNEES Swerve down! Cover, TWO! Swerve survives and Shane grows frustrated. Swerve goes to a corner, Shane says time to bet it all! Shane goes up the corner, the fans fire up, and Swerve ROCKS Shane first! Swerve throws more hands, then he goes up to get Shane for a SUPER DUPER BACK SUPLEX! The fans are thunderous and Swerve is feeling it! Shane flounders to the apron, but Swerve fires hands!
The fans rally, Swerve runs and returns, but into Shane’s grip! Swerve KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Shane drapes over the ropes and Swerve BOOTS him! Swerve goes up, takes aim, APRON KILL STOMPS!! The fans are thunderous again and Swerve steps inside. But the Infantry gets all up in Nana’s face! Swerve FLIES out onto the Infantry! And then a HOUSE CALL for Shane!! Cover, Swerve wins!
Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall
Swerve finally has his 50th singles win here in AEW, and Nana rakes in the dough! Having green is nice, but will Swerve find himself aimed at gold again?
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing… Timeless Toni Storm.
Seattle cheers as Toni Noir stands on stage. “Mercedes Mone…” The fans boo that name. “I am disappointed in you. Three weeks ago, you shook my hand and said we would have the biggest women’s match of all time. And since then, you have been eating steak, playing on your telephone, and trying to kiss me. And now, you are still in Mexico because you have won yet another title.” The fans boo that, too. “Is that all I am to you? Is that all this is to you? Another trophy for your shelf? Another toy for your collection? Now, I want to say this as nicely as possible. Mercedes, I am not some other mother-effer.
“I am TIMELESS Toni Storm! I am the AEW Women’s World Champion! And if you make one false move, I am going to eat you alive!” The fans cheer that! “I demand your best, Mercedes, because that is what you are. One day, my reign will be over.” The fans don’t like the sound of that, but Toni says there is no one more deserving than Mone. “The day I met you, I knew what you were destined to be. You were the first woman to wrestle at Madison Square Garden, the Tokyo Dome, Wembley Stadium AND Arena Mexico… But I was the last woman to wrestle at the Wodonga Sports & Leisure Center before it got closed down for a cockroach infestation.”
The fans cheer that last part, and Toni says she sincerely believes that Mone is the greatest of all time. Toni is not, nor was she ever meant to be. For she is a “manic, neurotic, erotic, sexually questionable, consistently sweating, bottom heavy, transatlantic whore!” The fans still cheer for her, and Toni says when this belt is upon her bosom, she makes magic happen! So unless Mone plans on pulling a rabbit out of her ass, Toni highly doubts Mone can say the same! At All In, in front of the entire world, and all those little girls watching at home, Mone will look Toni in the eye, and she will realize that Toni only has to beat Mone while Mone will have to KILL Toni!
The fans cheer Toni as the spotlight fades out to black. Will All In: Texas be yet another instant classic in Toni’s already timeless career?
Mixed Six Tag: Holo.grm, Mark Briscoe & Willow Nightingale VS #MXMTV!
Undefeated at 25-0 and now 4 million Pesos richer, the futuristic luchador now conglomerates with the Sussex County Chicken and the Babe with the Power! But will this change in the line up keep things fresh against Mansoor, Mason Madden y Taya Valkyrie? Or will MXM TV serve Hologram his first taste of bitter defeat?
The trios sort out and it is ladies first as Willow circles with Taya. They tie up, Taya waistlocks and shoves, then she soaks up the heat while she struts. Willow kicks Taya in the butt! Taya gets mad, runs up on Willow, but Willow LARIATS her down! Then Willow struts, and shakes them hips! Taya gets up, Willow waistlocks and shoves her to the corner. Taya dodges, stomps away, but the ref counts. Taya stops at 4, whips corner to corner, but Willow cartwheels! Willow comes back to CLOBBER Taya, then she runs to SPLASH! Cover, ONE! Willow tags Hologram and Taya tags Mason! Hologram and Mason tie up, and Mason THROWS Hologram!
The fans boo but MXM celebrates like they did something. Mason swings on Briscoe & Willow but they both get clear. The fans boo Mason but Hologram DROPKICKS Mason! The fans fire up and Hologram runs in again. Mason puts Hologram on the apron, but Hologram RAMS low and GAMANGIRIS high! Hologram goes up, up, and springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Mason tumbles out but Mansoor runs in, only for Hologram to kick and whip. Mansoor reverses, Hologram handsprings but Mansoor dodges! Mansoor runs up, Hologram dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! The fans fire up and Mansoor bails out!
Hologram builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Wait, Mason gets Hologram for a BLACK HOLE SLAM on the floor! The fans boo but MXM TV cheers while Collision goes picture in picture.
Mason drags Hologram up, puts him back in the ring, and Johnny TV taunts Briscoe & Willow. Mason drags Hologram back out so he can CLUB him down. The ref reprimands, Mason drags Hologram back up and SMACKS him off the apron. And then throws him into railing! Taya soaks up the heat while she vogues, and Mason refreshes the ring count. That just lets Mr. & Mrs. TV stomp away on Hologram! They stop as Mason goes back out to fetch Hologram. Willow & Briscoe back the rest of them off while Hologram is in the ring. Mansoor tags in, he whips for Mason to scoop, and they CAT WALK LEG DROP! Cover, TWO!
Mansoor keeps Hologram down with a Camel Clutch, but Hologram endures. Mansoor stomps away on Hologram into the corner, but stops as the ref counts. Mason gets a cheap shot in while Mansoor argues with the ref! Johnny does, too! Mansoor drags Hologram to an ELBOW DROP, then covers, TWO! Mansoor drags Hologram over, tags Mason, and Mansoor holds Hologram down for Mason to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Mason drags Hologram back up, throat chops him, then tags Taya. Taya mugs Hologram with Mansoor’s help, then tags Mansoor. The ref reprimand but Mansoor stomps Hologram around.
Collision returns to single picture and Mason tags in. Mason sets up at the ropes, and Mansoor CATAPULTS Hologram into the hips! The Mahogany Hunk poses, Johnny joins in, but the fans boo. The ref reprimands and Hologram hops off the apron. Mansoor & Mason mug Hologram again, then they whip, but Hologram tilt-o-whirl DDTS! The fans fire up, Mansoor back suplexes, but Hologram lands out! He dodges Mansoor, hot tag to Briscoe! The Chicken rallies on MXM with CHOPS and forearms on repeat! The fans fire up as Briscoe fires off on Mansoor! Mason waistlocks but Briscoe BOOTS Mansoor and PELES Mason!
The fans fire up with Briscoe, he ducks a kick then blocks a kick to FLIP Mansoor! And SHOTEI! The fans fire up but here comes Mason! Briscoe DUMPS Mason out, then builds speed! Briscoe WRECKS Mason with a dropkick! The fans fire up more and Briscoe takes aim! Taya distracts the ref and Johnny anchors Briscoe’s foot! Mansoor goes up the corner to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER KICK! Hologram runs in, hammerlocks, snapmares, then SPANISH FLIES! But Taya is up top to FLYING RANA Hologram! Willow storms in while Taya fires up, and Willow whips Taya for a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up but Mansoor grabs Willow’s hair!
The fans boo but Briscoe steps in and spins Mansoor around! REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUT! Willow adds a POUNCE~! PERIOD! Hologram hurries in and torture racks, spin and spin and spin, for the PORTAL BOMB!! Briscoe BOOTS Mason off the apron, Hologram SUPERKICKS Johnny! Hologram & Briscoe build speed and DOUBLE FLY! Down go Johnny & Mason! The fans fire up as Briscoe climbs, FROGGY-BOW! Cover, Conglomeration wins!
Winners: Hologram, Mark Briscoe & Willow Nightingale, by pinfall
New amigos but still undefeated, Hologram is feeling what it’s like to conglomerate! Will nothing stop them from building momentum towards title opportunities?
Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.
Lexy Nair is with The Galaxy’s Greatest and brings up the big win for Willow’s team. Kris asks if they’re really doing this. Every single week! Yes, everyone loves Willow. But when is Kris going to get a chance? In the All-Star 8 Woman Tag? Uh, uh, didn’t think so. So if you think she’s going to stand here and talk about how important everyone else is, you’re dead wrong! But then Yuta walks over and says he hates to say he told her so… Kris tells Yuta to shut his grimy little mouth! She knows who he is and what this is! If he thinks she wants any part of this, get out of her face! Yuta tries to talk her down but Kris SHOVES him down! And then Moxley steps in.
Moxley picks up Kris’ phone for her, but tells her to never, ever, let anyone else tell you who you are or what you’re worth. Moxley hands Kris her phone, and Kris is rather shaken. But did Moxley just encourage someone? And will Kris Statlander follow his advice to go out and take what she deserves?
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
Schiavone asks Seattle to please welcome… Don Callis. The fans boo as The Jackal walks out here, accompanied by Josh Alexander & Lance Archer. They join Schiavone in the ring and Callis stops Schiavone already. He has a very special announcement! He would like to introduce to us the greatest wrestler in the history of Japan! Better than Rikidozan, than Inoki, than Muta, than Tanahashi… the NEWEST member of the Don Callis Family, the Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada! The fans boo even more as the Continental Champion makes his way out to the ring. Okada shakes hands with Callis, and Callis interrupts Schiavone again.
Callis says that he and Okada would like to show everyone some very special footage. Roll the tape! The tape is of course the last time we saw these two, and the horrible trap they had set for Kenny Omega. Schiavone says that was one of the most despicable things in wrestling history! Callis says you can almost smell the diverticulitis coming outta Omega’s mouth! Schiavone says how dare Callis laugh at someone coughing up blood! What is wrong with him!? Callis says he is sick and tired of Schiavone coming out here and talking bad about him and Okada and the Callis Family, “like the sleezy feline that you are!”
But Callis and his family are here to talk about Kenny Omega! “Kenny, how does it feel to know that your greatest opponent, Okada, and the man who knows all your weaknesses, Don Callis, have teamed up against you?! I know, Kenny, you’re laying in a hospital bed right now…” The fans tell Callis to STFU but Callis just talks louder. Omega surely has tubes coming outta his guts, with a colostomy bag hanging out the side! Omega won’t even make it to All In! But IF Omega does make it there, and wrestles the greatest wrestler in the history of Japan, then Omega needs to know that he will truly be alone.
Omega destroyed his friendship with the Young Bucks, with Callis, and is alone in this world with not even one friend left! But then out steps Mark Briscoe! The fans cheer as The Chicken tells Callis, “My Lord, would you PLEASE shut the hell up!? You sound stupid, you weird lookin’ bastard! You say Kenny has no friends? Well sheesh, I’ll be damned, I’m his friend! But y’know what? I’m not his only friend.” Because KOTA IBUSHI IS HERE! The fans go nuts seeing the Golden Star return to AEW! Archer rushes them, but Briscoe attacks first! That lets Ibushi strut right up to the Walking Weapon in the ring!
The fans fire up as Ibushi dodges Alexander, then fires off a strike fest! Alexander ducks a kick, Ibushi ducks the rolling elbow, and Ibushi ROUNDHOUSES Alexander down! The fans fire up while Callis freaks out, but now Ibushi and Okada are alone in the ring. The fans go nuts already as Golden Star and Rainmaker stare down. Okada fires a forearm, but Ibushi fires back! Okada UPPERCUTS, but Ibushi fires off a strike fest! SOBAT and ROUNDHOUSE! Okada falls and he scurries out of the ring! Callis is there, and he gets his new moneymaker outta there! Will Ibushi make sure Omega gets a fair shake in Texas?
Collision returns to a brawl!
Apparently, the Workhorsemen got into it with Big Bill & Bryan Keith in the back, and now it has spilled out to ringside! JD Drake & Anthony Henry have the advantage as they use chairs on the Redwood & Bad Apple! Henry sits Keith in a corner of the railing, then runs around the way! But Bill BOOTS him down! The fans are fired up, but then Drake CLUBS Bill! But Keith SMACKS Drake with a chair! Keith shouts for Bill to get ’em! Bill stands Drake up, SMACKS him off steel steps, then Keith SMACKS Drake off steps! And repeat! Keith stomps Henry, SMACKS Drake off steps, and then Bill SMACKS Drake off steps!
Henry shields Drake but that just gets him a CLUBBING forearm! Keith sets chairs up together, Bill SMACKS Henry off steps, and Keith has Bill haul Henry up. Bill gives Henry a SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM onto the chairs!! Henry falls in a heap with all that steel, and Bill wants a mic! Wait, now Christian Cage wants to be out here? The fans are fired up either way as Captain Charisma leads The Patriarchy out here. “Seattle… Sit down and shut your mouths while I conduct my business!” The fans boo instead. Christian says they know it and he knows it. The only good things to ever come outta Washington are Mother Shayna and Nick Wayne! So again, show some damn respect!
The fans boo more, and Christian tells Bill & Keith that Christian likes a good backstage brawl as much as the next guy. But when it spills out to ringside and takes away from his air time, then he has a problem. Especially when he was coming out here to make a huge announcement. But hey, maybe they should stand there and listen with the rest of these “sweat hogs,” because this is a pretty damn good announcement. Now, it is no secret that these past couple months, his son, Nick Wayne, has been wrestling at a godlike pace! The fans cheer for Nick, but Christian tells them to shut their mouths while he’s talking!
But believe him when he tells you, that has everything to do with Christian’s guidance. Yet, there are still those who have the audacity to mistake friction for building toughness. But the proof speaks for itself! Nick stands here as the youngest champion this company has ever seen! So why stop there? Why not keep going? Why not make more history? Time for Christian’s son to walk beside him instead of behind him! Time he and Nick embark on a journey that takes them to the top! That sees them become the first-ever father-and-son AEW World Tag Team Champions! The fans are torn on that, but Nick smiles as Christian pats him on the shoulder.
Bill says, “Sorry, did you say that that is your son? Maybe your adopted son. Because if all the things that I’ve heard about Mama Wayne are true… That kid’s real father could be literally anybody. It could be that guy right there! Or what about that guy right there? Oh, oh, wait a second, dead ringer! Dead ringer! Oh my God, that could be your father right there! There he is!” The fans cheer but Bill says if they don’t like what he is saying, then how about Christian come down to the ring to do this right here. Christian says first of all, there is nothing of the sort happening here in Seattle. The fans boo and he asks if they wanna see it.
Well, here’s a question, Big Bill. Is that you talking or is that the bottle talking? Did he fall off the wagon this weekend? Go on a bit of a bender? Maybe he fried too many braincells because he clearly doesn’t know who he’s talking to. Bill doesn’t call the shots, Christian does! He is the Patriarch and this is his Patriarchy! He IS the Face of TNT now and forever! The fans boo but The Patriarchy steps away. Will Bill & Keith take them down all the same?
AEW shares footage from after Summer Blockbuster.
Anthony Bowens was in a bad mood but Billy Gunn wanted to talk things out. Lexy Nair caught up with them first and Billy has “Brittney Spears” hold on. In Lexy’s defense, that outfit really is classic Brittney. But anyway, Daddy Ass tells Bowens it will be a struggle. Bowens says Billy is supposed to be helping him get better. Does he want Bowens to end up like Max Caster? Billy says he got hit in the face by Lance Archer! Well, that’s not on Bowens. They need to get their act together, because Bowens is the Pride of Pro-Wrestling, he needs to climb the ladder in AEW, and he needs to win. Billy says he knows that. What can Daddy Ass do to help Bowens finally hit some homeruns?
Ricochet is here!
The One & Only still wants to assemble a dream team that can help him achieve his dreams, but he rejected Blake Christian & Lee Johnson, the only guys who actually came to see him about it. Is he thinking of recruiting someone from this next match?
JetSpeed VS The Gates of Agony!
Kevin Knight & Mike Bailey have been plotting their own course to titles, namely the AEW World Tag Team Championships. They need to prove themselves to the Hurt Syndicate, can they do that here in Seattle? Or will Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona slam the gates shut on those flight plans?
The bell rings and Speedball starts against Kaun. The fans rally, Kaun rushes up but Bailey dodges. Bailey headlocks, Kaun powers up and out and he RUNS Bailey over! Bailey kips up, then dodges Kaun and hurdles over. Bailey drops down, DROPKICKS Kaun, but Liona tags in and CLOBBERS Bailey! Ricochet vents about losing out on the 4 million Pesos, he blames Lio Rush, and he crosses off CRU as candidates for his crew. Liona TOSSES Bailey to a corner, fires fast hands, but the ref counts. Liona steps on Bailey, steps off, and then drags Bailey up. Tag to Kaun and the Gates double whip. They DOUBLE HIP TOSS, but Bailey lands through!
Bailey dodges lariats and hot tags Knight! The fans fire up as Knight springboards to FLYING ARM-DRAG Kaun! Liona runs up, Knight dodges, but Liona blocks the arm-drag! Liona YANKS Knight up but Knight DROPKICKS Liona out! The fans fire up with Knight, and he scoops Kaun to SLAM! But Liona grabs Knight by his hair! Knight PELES Liona, then says “TOO FLY!” UFO SPLASH but onto knees! Kaun turns things around, Ricochet says that’s smart. Kaun whips Knight into railing, into the apron, and back into railing! Kaun then brings KNight all the way around to send into the LED barriers!
The fans boo but Ricochet applauds. Bailey aims at Kaun and PLANCHAS, but Liona BLASTS Bailey outta the air! Ricochet likes that even more! He applauds, Liona pats Ricochet on the shoulder, and the Gates go back to the ring while Collision goes picture in picture.
The Gates soak up heat, then Kaun puts Knight in the ring. Liona is there to CLOBBER Knight and cover, TWO! Liona drags Knight into a shoulder claw! Knight endures as Liona leans on him, then he fights up. Knight JAWBREAKERS free, then runs, only for Liona to LARIAT him back down! Liona drags Knight up, puts him in the corner and tags Kaun. The Gates double whip, then double hip toss into the DOUBLE SLAM! Kaun covers, TWO! Knight stays in this but Kaun stomps Knight around. Kaun then drags Knight up to put in a corner for more stomps. Kaun fires fast hands, then more stomps, but stops as the ref counts.
Kaun argues with the ref and that lets Liona get a cheap shot in! Kaun drags Knight up while Bailey protests, and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns and Kaun has Knight up top. Knight fires hands in return but so does Kaun. Knight ROCKS Kaun, goes up, and he FLYING LARIATS! Down goes Kaun but both men are down, and the fans fire up! Kaun and Knight crawl, hot tag to Bailey! Bailey goes up top and he MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kaun tumbles, the fans cheer, and Bailey SOBATS, AX KICKS, and BUZZSAWS! Kaun sputters, Bailey runs, SHOOTING STAR misses as Kaun moves! Kaun stands Bailey up but Bailey wrenches to fire LIGHTNING KICKS! Kaun goes to a corner, Bailey runs up, but Kaun ELBOWS him! Kaun goes up, but Bailey GAMANGIRIS!
Bailey goes up, Liona is after him, but Bailey elbows him away! Kaun SHOVES Bailey but Bailey backflips through! Liona runs in, Bailey dodges, Liona goes up and out with his splash! JetSpeed hit an UPPER ROOM BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet says it takes more than that! Kaun sits up, Bailey aims, but Liona CLOBBERS him! Liona trips Knight on the top rope, then fireman’s carries! Bailey is up but Liona cdatches the crossbody! FALL AWAY SLAM SAMOAN DROP COMBO! The fans fire up and The Gates set up. Liona runs in and HIP ATTACKS Bailey! Kaun adds a METEORA! The Gates then lift Bailey up, OPEN THE-
NO, Knight saves Bailey! But Kaun ROCKS Knight and Liona HEADBUTTS him! Knight falls back, the Gates drag him up now, and they OPEN THE- DOUBLE SATELLITE DDTS!! Liona runs up, JetSpeed dodge and DOUBLE DROPKICK him out! Ricochet says that’s cheating! But JetSpeed build speed to DOUBLE TOPE CONJILO!! Ricochet has no idea what is happening here! Bailey puts Kaun in the ring, calls to Knight, but Liona YANKS Knight down from the apron! Only for Knight to send him into the steel steps! Kaun SPLASHES Bailey, suplexes, and RUNNING BRAINBUSTER! Fireman’s carry, FALL FROM MOUNT OKU!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous and Ricochet is frustrated, but Kaun underhooks! Only for Bailey to backdrop! STANDING MOONSAULT KNEEDROP! And then the TIME ADVENTURE!! Tag to Knight while Bailey hits the GOLDEN TRIANGLE on Liona! Ricochet says this is all cheating! Knight hits the MOTHERSHIP SPLASH!! Cover, JETSPEED WINS!
Winners: JetSpeed, by pinfall
Ricochet is beside himself, but Knight & Bailey have brought down former ROH World Tag Team & ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions! Is this more than enough to earn their shot at Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin? Will Ricochet have to look elsewhere for henchmen?
8 Woman Tag: Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata & TayJay VS Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford!
We heard from both sides of this all-star main event, but now it is time to back up those words. Will La Mera Mera, the Queen, the Blackbelt and the Star of the Show prove theirs is the winning combination? Or will the Fallen Goddess, the Minion Overlord, the American Joshi, the ROH Gatekeeper, the FOREVER ROH Women’s World Champion (all Athena’s nicknames) lead her team to victory?
The teams stare down, and then Athena throws the first punch! She brawls with Rosa, Thekla attacks Anna and Megan has Tay, leaving Aminata to stare down with Ford. The bell rings, Aminata and Ford start pushing, and then they start throwing forearms! Ford gets the edge, whips, but Aminata reverses. Ford wheelbarrows, victory rolls, but Aminata rolls through. Ford still runs up to DROPKICK Aminata against ropes! Ford fireman’s carries, but Aminata slips free to snapmare and wrap on the headscissors! CHOCOLATE KISSES~! But Megan stops that with a waistlock and SLAM! But TayJay DOUBLE SUPERKICK!
Thekla CLOBBERS Tay and throws her out! The brawl starts up again, and Athena meets Rosa on the apron! They fire forearms, Rosa fires the back suplex, but then Athena fights off one in return. Aminata ROCKS Athena, Ford BLASTS Rosa, and they stare down again. Ford and Aminata each dare the other to go up, so they go up! The others brawl in a cluster, Ford and Aminata are up on the very top! They both SUPER DUPER MOONSAULT! The fans fire up as everyone goes down, and Collision goes picture in picture!
Ford drags Aminata up to POST her! Megan makes her way into the ring, she has Aminata for a BEARHUG, then RAMS her into a corner! And RAMS and RAMS and RAMS again! The ref reprimands, Megan CHOPS Aminata, then Ford handsprings in for a BACK ELBOW! Ford goes side to side to tag Athena, and then Athena runs in and handspring FOREARMS! Athena whips Aminata to Megan for the BACKDROP! Athena then drags Aminata up to CLUB her down! Athena rains down fists, the ref backs her off, and Athena tells Posey to back off! Same ol’ Athena… Athena drags Aminata up but Aminata ROCKS her!
Aminata hurries, hot tag to Anna! Anna runs up but Athena wrenches her. Anna wrenches back to HOOK KICK! Anna whips Athena to a corner, runs and LEG LARIATS! Anna reels Athena in, but Thekla attacks! But then Rosa goes after Thekla! But then Ford joins in, and then so does Tay! Megan and Aminata also get in there, and now it is a 4v4 battle for control! They go back and forth, fighting off suplex again and again. Both sides get frustrated and break off, then Tay & Rosa DOUBLE SUPERKICK Thekla & Ford! Aminata and Anna end up in fireman’s carries, and then Megan and Athena add Rosa and Tay! DOUBLE SAMOAN DROP FALL AWAY SLAM COMBOS!!
Collision returns to single picture while the fans fire up! Athena kips up, Megan roars, and the goddesses stare down. Anna fires hands on Athena but Athena CLUBS her! Then she tags Thekla, but Anna hot tags Aminata! Thekla fires off on Aminata, snapmares, but Aminata avoids the kick! Another smapare, and now a BASEMENT SUPERKICK! Aminata goes to a corner, Thekla runs up, but Aminata dodges. Thekla goes up, BOOTS Aminata, then reels her in for the HANGING HEADSCISSORS! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Thekla lets Aminata go. Thekla smiles while she hangs upside-down, then she kneels for a cover, ONE!!
Thekla drags Aminata up, the fans rally, and Thekla winds up. Aminata wrenches to LARIAT! And LARIAT! And snap suplex! Thekla roars and she ROCKS Aminata! Aminata HEADBUTTS Thekla! Aminata falls on the cover, TWO!! Thekla survives and the fans rally up. Hot tags to Tay and Ford! They fire furious forearms, then Tay ROCKS Ford! Tay slips around, ripcords, ROCKS Ford again, and DDTS! The fans fire up and Tay covers, but Megan breaks it! Anna CLUBS Megan, TayJay mugs her, then they double whip. Megan crisscrosses TayJay, then DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX them!
The fans are fired up but Tay is back up to BOOT Megan out! Tay and Ford are down, they crawl, hot tags to Rosa and Athena! The fans fire up as these two step up to fire forearms and CHOPS on repeat! Then it is just CHOP for CHOP! Athena fires another forearm, Rosa fires back! Athena laughs that off and fires more shots! Rosa fires those with interest! Rosa whips, Athena reverses to KICK, KICK, and ENZIGIRI! Rosa wobbles, the fans fire up, and Athena whips. Rosa DROPKICKS in return! The fans fire up again and Rosa runs corner to corner! UPPERCUT to the back! Then a NECKBREAKER!
Rosa fires up, runs at the ropes, DROPKICK! Rosa drags Athena to the cover, Ford breaks it! Rosa runs up on Ford, Ford goes Matrix and hits the STUNNER! But then Tay kicks Ford and pump handles for a GOTCH PILEDRIVER! Megan runs in, and she LARIATS Tay! Anna runs in, Megan fireman’s carries, but Anna slips free! D D T! Thekla is up, she goes Spider Walk and that takes Anna aback. Thekla then springs up to SPEAR! But Aminata has Thekla for the TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Athena is in and she blocks a kick to slip under and gut wrench! TOMBSTONE!! Athena seethes, but Rosa fireman’s carries! Spin and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!! But BILLIE STARKZ distracts!
The fans boo but RED VELVET slides Athena the title belt! She CLOBBERS Rosa with it!! High stack, cover, Team Athena wins!
Winners: Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford, by pinfall
The Chef says, “You’re welcome.” The ROH Women’s World Television Champion is going to team with the ROH Women’s World Champion for ROH Global Wars: Mexico, was this just an appetizer for how that’s going to go? Will this win help Thekla, Megan & Ford also find their way to some golden opportunities?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision here, especially as a follow-up to Grand Slam: Mexico while also helping build Global Wars: Mexico. The All-Star 8 Woman was a great main event, but it sure got the short end of the stick when it came to time. I’m not sure if something went long, but it also feels like AEW relies too much on TNT giving them overrun. Red Velvet helping Athena win was a nice touch, given their tag match against Rosa and Persephone. That match happened in reality already but they gotta keep the kayfabe alive. Though, that’s going to be a busy Thursday with Collision being pushed off Saturday, again.
Great promos to hype up the All-Star 8 Man, and that was a great match, too. The Heels winning makes sense there, too, as Kyle needs momentum before he challenges Cole again, and it adds more heat onto FTR. The Outrunners going after FTR was a nice touch, because A) they’re amigos with Bandido and B) they were friends with FTR like Garcia, so now it is The Outrunners’ turn to settle things with Dax & Cash. Bill & Keith have a good brawl with the Workhorsemen, but I’m a little surprised that’s all we got from them before bringing out The Patriarchy. I almost thought Christian Cage was going to name Kip as his tag partner, but I feel like he wants it to be Nick so he can keep Nick close, and possibly leave him hanging at some point.
Great opening match from Moxley with Fox, but of course Moxley wins and then sends a message to Hangman. And it is definitely a case of “Mox Fears Hangman” for him to talk all tough when he knows Hangman isn’t in Seattle yet. Great match from Swerve VS Shane, especially with all the shenanigans going on ringside. Great win for Swerve, and I guess technically Nana, too. Very good promo from Bowens and Billy to show there is some tension between them now. It is mostly Bowens’ frustrations making him lash out, but I wonder if Bowens starts to distance himself from Billy to truly be a solo act now.
Great to see Ibushi back in AEW, and great tease of Ibushi VS Okada. I suspect Briscoe and Ibushi will team up against Alexander & Archer, and that can help lead to Omega’s return from the “devastating” attack to have some final math on the Omega VS Okada dream rematch. And if Ibushi sticks around, that brings in some intrigue on whether or not we get Golden Lovers back together. I could see either story happening, where Golden Lovers go for a Two Man Power Trip kind of run, getting gold together. But I could also see them being friendly rivals, competing over the same title(s), especially with the “Unified Championship” bringing Continental and International Championship “divisions” together.
Good promo from Mone and a great promo from Toni to hype up their match, but we’ve still got time before there’s any real go-home math. But I said it before so I’ll say it again: It’s called “All In,” so whatever belts Mone has by All In, Mone should go ALL IN with her belts against Toni. Now obviously Mone has no reason to, and Heels never want to “put up or shut up,” but if Toni goads her into putting her money where her mouth is, maybe Mone does it out of anger. And honestly, if Toni wins at All In, wouldn’t she then be owed a match for any number of Mone’s titles anyway? AEW makes good use of the rule that pinning a champ earns a title match, so just cut to the chase.
Very fun Mixed Six with Hologram joining Briscoe & Willow as perhaps the newest member of Conglomeration. But at some point, Hologram needs to win a title or his streak means nothing. Good promo from Kris after that match and how she shoved Yuta. Kris being afraid of Moxley at first was a nice touch, since we’ve seen Mox makes no qualms about hitting a woman wrestler (namely Willow) with a cutter. But then Moxley actually adds to Yuta’s recruitment attempts by being nice to Kris. It makes me wonder if Kris becomes a Death Rider, and maybe the Women’s Division becomes the group’s next phase. Honestly, if not for Mone collecting belts and what not, Marina should’ve gotten a title shot herself by now.
And a great tag match of JetSpeed VS Gates of Agony. I guess with nothing else for them, the Gates defaulted back to being Heels. Ricochet was good on commentary, and as I figured, his story of finding faction members is failing because his standards are too high and he as a personality is too sensitive to put grudges aside. CRU was the right choice to me but then he said no thanks cuz of that Pesos match. As for JetSpeed, they will certainly get that tag title match with Hurt Syndicate, but I feel like MJF will be why the Hurt Syndicate retains.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The Ace VS Everybody’s Kokeshi, for the final time!
Hiroshi Tanahashi’s farewell tour continues on, and his New Japan Soul will shine bright against fellow icon, Tomoaki Honma!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Zane Jay; Time Limit Draw.
- 8 Man Tag: Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato & Daiki Nagai VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- 8 Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, Yuya Uemura & Ryusuke Taguchi VS The United Empire; Taichi, Yuya & Taguchi win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Tomoaki Honma; Tanahashi wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg & Shota Umino VS TMDK; Goto, Oleg & Shota win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Tomoaki Honma!
The year is half over, meaning we’re that much closer to The Ace reaching the end of his Final Road. One way or another, he checks off another name on the list, but will the Ace be high? Or will Everyone’s Kokeshi be like a roadblock up ahead?
Both men take off their coats and the fans cheer the muscularity. The bell rings and the fans rally up, with a lot of “HONMA! HONMA!” coming out! Tanahashi nods in respect, and the two circle. They tie up, Tanahashi waistlocks, but Honma switches. Tanahashi switches back, but Honma wrenches free. Tanahashi wrenches in return, but then so does Honma. Honma has the wristlock, but Tanahashi drops down for a leg pick, then he floats to the headlock. Honma fights up but Tanahashi hits the takeover. Honma headscissors, Tanahashi kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset and circle again.
The fans rally, and while Tanahashi tries, the Honma fans are still louder. The two tie up collar ‘n’ elbow and are in a deadlock. Honma digs in his heels and he starts pushing Tanahashi back. Honma puts Tanahashi on the ropes, the ref counts, and Honma lets go. But then Tanahashi turns things around! The ref counts and Tanahashi slowly lets off of Honma. The fans applaud, but then Tanahashi takes a swing! Honma dodges to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP! The fans rally, Honma whips Tanahashi to a corner, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him! Tanahashi goes up and CROSSBODIES! Direct hit and the fans cheer the air guitar.
Tanahashi storms up on Honma, brings him up and fires forearms. Tanahashi whips, Honma reverses, and Honma ELBOWS Tanahashi down! Fans fire up as Honma runs, but Tanahashi avoids the Kokeshi! The fans are torn but Tanahashi brings Honma up to whip. Honma grabs ropes to stop himself, then he runs to RUN Tanahashi over! Honma runs again, but Tanahashi again avoids the Kokeshi! The fans boo but Tanahashi doesn’t let that get him down. Tanahashi stomps Honma’s legs, Honma crawls away, but Tanahashi brings him up. Tanahashi bumps Honma off buckles, then bumps him off buckles again!
The fans rally as Tanahashi dribbles Honma off the buckles! Honma stops to throw hands on Tanahashi! And now Honma puts Tanahashi in the corner. But Tanahashi turns things around! Tanahashi puts Honma’s leg in the ropes but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi assures the ref he won’t do anything, but then he DROPKICKS the leg after all! The fans are torn, and Honma falls to the mat. The fans rally up for Honma, Tanahashi drags him by his leg, and then drops an ELBOW on the knee! Tanahashi has the toehold but Honma grabs at Tanahashi’s hair. Tanahashi elbows Honma then pulls on the leg.
Tanahashi shifts and has the DEATHLOCK! Tanahashi pushes on the legs but Honma endures. Honma CHOPS but Tanahashi eggs him on. Honma CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Tanahashi HEADBUTTS Honma! But that was double-edged and Tanahashi feels dizzy! Tanahashi lets the leglock go, and he drags Honma back to center. Tanahashi pulls on the bad leg but Honma kicks him with the good leg! Tanahashi eggs Honma on, so Honma BOOTS him! Tanahashi stomps Honma again and again, the fans rally up, and Honma eggs Tanahashi on now! The fans rally behind Honma while Tanahashi keeps kicking!
Honma blocks a kick, fires a forearm, but Tanahashi fires back! Tanahashi eggs Honma on and the forearms keep going! Tanahashi fires his strike combo! Honma wobbles, but he still blocks a kick, and DRAGON SCREWS! The fans cheer as Honma gives Tanahashi a taste of his own medicine! The fans rally as Honma crawls away to the ropes. Tanahashi stirs and rises up, and Honma runs up to RUN Tanahashi over! And he ELBOWS Tanahashi down! Then he scoops and SLAMS Tanahashi! The fans fire up while Honma brings Tanahashi around. Honma CHOPS, and CHOPS, and he CHOPS Tanahashi into the corner!
Honma whips corner to corner, runs in, and ELBOWS Tanahashi again! Honma then runs to BULLDOG Tanahashi down! The fans fire up as Honma goes for it again! KOKESHI FLOPS as Tanahashi avoids it once more! That was a close call, though. Tanahashi runs and he FLYING FOREARMS Honma down! The fans rally while Honma goes to a corner. Tanahashi kicks Honma, fires forearms, and fires up. The fans rally as Tanahashi goes corner to corner, but he blocks a boot! Tanahashi holds on as Honma tries to kick free. DRAGON SCREW! Honma is down and the fans rally up. Tanahashi brings Honma back up to scoop and SLAM!
Tanahashi has Honma in the drop zone, adds an ELBOW, then he climbs! SUNSET SENTON! A solid one at that! The fans fire up and Tanahashi goes back up! But Honma hits Tanahashi first! Honma climbs, CLUBS Tanahashi, and the fans rally as he brings Tanahashi to the top. Tanahashi fires body shots and a forearm, but Honma holds onto the ropes to stay up! Tanahashi fires more shots, and Honma falls! But he rises again to trip Tanahashi! Honma CLUBS Tanahashi, climbs back up, and the fans rally again! Tanahashi fires hands, and another HEADBUTT! Honma staggers back, but then RISING KOKESHIS!
Honma climbs, he brings Tanahashi up again, and hits the SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up for that heavy landing! Honma rises as the fans cheer him on, and he hits a KOKESHI ROCKET! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and the fans fire up again. Honma brings Tanahashi back up, throws some heavy back elbows, but Tanahashi eggs him on. Honma has Tanahashi down, then gets both wrists! KAMI-GOYE KOKESHI!! Cover, TWO!! But Honma doesn’t fret, he just goes up top! The fans fire up for the FALLING KOKESHI, but Tanahashi moves! Another crash landing for Honma and the fans can’t believe it!
The fans rally as hard as they can for Honma and he rises up. Honma goes to a corner, he and Tanahashi run at each other, and Honma LARIATS first! Then KOKESHI!! It finally hits!! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but Honma powers up again! The fans rally as Honma brings Tanahashi back up. Honma suplexes but Tanahashi blocks! Tanahashi fires elbows, fights free, but Honma roars! Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS! Honma HEADBUTTS! Honma runs, but Tanahashi dodges, only for Honma to SWAT the Slingblade! Honma runs, but into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi runs as Honma rises, SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous but now Tanahashi goes up top! HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Tanahashi wins!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
In their final showdown, The Ace and The Kokeshi fought like there was no tomorrow! But in the end, Tanahashi comes out on top! He shows his friend respect, and the fans applaud. The Final Road still has many stops left, but who will be next?
Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg & Shota Umino VS TMDK!
After Dominion, The Fierce Warrior is still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and BARS is now NEVER Openweight Champion! The Roughneck still wants to prove himself worthy, will he and Team Hontai be rolling towards the G1 Climax? Or can Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson remind us that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The trios sort out and Oiwa starts against Oleg. The fans rally as they circle, tie up, and Oiwa headlocks. Oiwa spins to hammerlock, but Oleg switches that onto Oiwa. Oiwa switches, Oleg switches back then headlocks. Oiwa wrenches the hold open, the two fight for control, and Oleg powers Oiwa down with the top wristlock. But then Oiwa headscissors! Oleg kips free, headlocks, and he grinds the hold. Oiwa fights up, Oleg wrenches and fireman’s carries for a takeover! And another takeover! And another! Oiwa headscissors but Oleg kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset again and tie back up.
Oiwa headlocks but Oleg powers up, only for Oiwa to hold on tight. Oleg fires body shots, powers up again, but Oiwa still holds tight! Oiwa grinds the hold but Oleg fires body shots. Oleg lifts, but Oiwa hits a flying takeover! The fans rally, Oleg fights up again, and he fires body shots. Oleg powers up and out, Oiwa whips, then Oiwa drops down to DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Oiwa hits a headlock takeover! Oiwa hooks a leg for a cover, TWO! Oiwa keeps the headlock but Oleg fights up. Oleg powers up, powers out this time, then Oleg hurdles to HIP TOSS! The fans fire up and Oleg runs, runs, and SPLASHES DOWN! Cover, TWO!
The fans applaud as Oiwa stays in this. Oleg stomps Oiwa, brings him up, and wrenches an arm. Oleg CLUBS Oiwa, then tags in Shota. Shota takes the handoff to wrench and wrench and wrench again. Goto then tags in and he takes the handoff. Goto wrenches to YANK the arm, CLUB the arm, and then wrench again. Tag back to Oleg and Oleg takes the handoff to wrench and wristlock. Oleg tags Shota back in and Shota CLUBS the arm. Shota stares down ZSJ, he and Oleg stomp Oiwa, then they double whip. They DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE, and ZSJ runs in! Shota sends him into Oleg’s CHOP, and Goto RUNS ZSJ over!
Goto BLASTS Hartley, then brings Oiwa up. Goto has the others join in on BEATING THE DRUM! The fans cheer as Hontai learns to play the Chaos classics. Shota then brings Oiwa up for an UPPERCUT! Shota UPPERCUTS again, and UPPERCUTS again, then whips Oiwa to ropes. Shota ELBOWS Oiwa down, runs and basement DROPKICKS! Oiwa hurries to FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Oiwa keeps cool. The fans rally up and Shota brings Oiwa around. Shota reels Oiwa in, Oiwa resists the lift, so Shota fires KNEE after KNEE! Oiwa sputters, and then Shota CHOPS him to a corner.
Shota whips corner to corner but Oiwa comes back. Shota dodges the lariat, but Oiwa blocks Shota’s to underhook and BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Both men are down, so TMDK BLASTS Goto & Oleg! ZSJ goes out to UPPERCUT Goto down, and Hartley tags in. Hartley CHOPS Shota down, then suplexes him! Cover, TWO! Tag to ZSJ and the fans cheer as The Front Man UPPERCUTS Shota! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Shota again, and again, and again! The fans rally as the UPPERCUTS just keep going, until Shota falls over! Tag back to Hartley and he drags Shota. ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Hartley stomps Shota.
Hartley drags Shota over, tags ZSJ, and ZSJ RAMS Shota! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Shota, shoves, RAMS low, then UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ cravats for the neck wrench but Shota endures. The fans rally, Shota fights up, and Shota powers up and out with a throw. Shota then sunset flips, TWO! ZSJ prawn holds, TWO! Shota sunsets again, TWO! ZSJ high stacks, TWO! Shota sunsets again, TWO! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick to arm-drag, but ZSJ headscissors and NECK TWISTS! ZSJ drags Shota over, tags Oiwa, and Oiwa uses a STRAIGHT ARMBAR! Shota endures, so Oiwa drags him out and drops a LEG on the arm!
Shota endures the modified arm scissors, and he kicks around to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Oiwa lets go, and Oiwa stomps Shota’s arm. Oiwa kicks Shota, eggs him on, then stands him up. Shota ROCKS Oiwa! Oiwa shakes that off, comes back and kicks low! But Shota fires more forearms! Oiwa kicks low, runs up, but Shota dodges to wrench and TORNADO- NO, Oiwa powers out, slips around, but Shota fights the high crotch suplex! Shota CLUBS Oiwa, Oiwa runs up, but Shota ELBOWS and- NO, Oiwa ducks the Pele! Oiwa whips, Shota reverses, TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
The fans rally while Shota and Oiwa crawl, hot tag to Goto! The Fierce Warrior runs over The Mullet, then he BLASTS TMDK! Oiwa kicks low, runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS! Hartley runs in but Goto kicks low! Hartley blocks Goto’s suplex to suplex Goto, but Goto fights that! Goto then suplexes Hartley onto Oiwa! The fans fire up while Oiwa sputters. Goto stands Oiwa up, whips him to a corner, then runs in for MURAMASA! Then the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but Goto is right on him. Oiwa fights the fireman’s carry and CLUBS away! Then ROLLING ELBOW! Oiwa runs, Goto follows, but Oiwa ducks!
Oiwa wrenches Goto and hits a DDT! The fans fire up and Oiwa hot tags ZSJ! ZSJ runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and ZSJ brings Goto up. Goto fights the scoop, fires body shots, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Goto fires a forearm, ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, and repeat! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again and again and again, but Goto fires more forearms! ZSJ wrenches an arm to PELE! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses and fireman’s carries! ZSJ slips free, Goto ELBOWS him, then Goto blocks a kick! But ZSJ uses that for an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Goto endures but TMDK YANK Oleg and Shota off the apron!
Oleg is sent into railing, Oiwa keeps Shota down with an armlock, and ZSJ breaks Goto’s grip to have the ARMBAR!! And then the LEGLOCK on top!! Goto flails, reaches out, ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer, ZSJ lets go, but now Hontai is sent into railing again! ZSJ grabs Goto’s hand and bends the fingers! And he STOMPS the arm! Goto writhes but ZSJ stomps him more. ZSJ runs up and BOOTS Goto, but Goto stays up! ZSJ tries again but Goto blocks the boot to DECK ZSJ! The fans fire up and Goto roars, but he runs into a BOOT! ZSJ scoops, Goto slips free, but ZSJ PELES! And PENALTY KICKS! But Goto is up to LARIAT!
Both men are down and the fans fire up! Goto and ZSJ crawl, reach out, hot tags to Oleg and Hartley! The fans fire up as the big men DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT again! Then they start throwing CHOPS! Oleg DOUBLE CHOPS, runs, but Hartley CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up, Hartley BLASTS Shota off the apron, and he aims from the corner. Hartley runs in, Oleg dodges, and then Oleg comes back! Oleg SPLASHES, then gut wrenches! But Hartley’s too big! Hartley breaks free, fires boxing elbows, and an UPPERCUT! Hartley reels Oleg in, suplexes, but Oleg fights it! They fight for control, and Hartley suplexes Oleg!
The fans fire up and Hartley rises. Hartley runs but Oleg avoids the senton! Oleg drags Hartley up, scoops and SLAMS! The fans fire up as Oleg goes up, up, and VADER BOMBS! Cover, TWO! Hartley stays in this and the fans rally up. Oleg brings Hartley around to gut wrench! Shake, Rattle & THROW! Oleg kips up and the fans fire up! Oleg brings Hartley up again, fireman’s carries, but Oiwa kicks low! Shota kicks Oiwa, UPPERCUTS him, then whips. Oiwa reverses and UPPERCUTS Shota! Oiwa then gets around Oleg to HIGH CROTCH PLEX! ZSJ adds a NECK TWIST! Hartley adds the SENTON! Cover, Goto breaks it! The fans fire up while ZSJ goes after Goto!
ZSJ fires forearm after forearm, but Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Oiwa runs up, Goto sends him into Shota’s LARIAT! Shota stands Hartley up, he and Goto double whip, but Hartley breaks the lariats! Shota sends Hartley into Goto’s FOREARM! Shota ENZIGIRIS! Goto hits URA GTR, and Shota adds a LARIAT!! The fans fire up and Oleg has Hartley up! Fireman’s carry for the KAMIKAZE!! Cover, Hontai wins!
Winners: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg & Shota Umino, by pinfall
The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they can still fall! Oleg brings down big bad Hartley, can TMDK rise back up before the G1 begins?
As for Hontai, Oleg scored the fall so he gets to speak! Oleg says good evening to Yamagata and the fans cheer. Oleg knows he only just became NEVER Champion, but he promises to work even harder and become an even greater wrestler, so please continue to support him. The fans applaud, and then Oleg asks who wants to speak next. Goto lets Shota go next, and the fans cheer Shota on. Shota thanks the fans for the great energy all the way through the show tonight, then he takes a bow. The fans applaud, and Shota adds that Yamagata is both hot and amazing. This New Japan Soul series is important, but so is the upcoming G1 Climax.
Goto is going to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against ZSJ in Nagoya before the tournament begins, and regardless of who wins that, Shota vows to win the G1 and challenge the champion. Shota tells Goto that he hopes to face him again with the title on the line. The fans applaud and Goto nods. Shota says naturally, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will now close us out. The fans applaud again and Goto is handed the mic. The fans cheer Goto on, and he also thanks everyone for coming out tonight. Goto knows it took a long time, but he is proud to finally return to Yamagata as world champion.
The fans cheer, and Goto adds that he wants to make it through his next defense to then take this title into the G1. The Goto Revolution is far from over! Be sure to follow him until the end! The fans cheer that, and Goto says that lastly, he of course wishes to talk about Goto’s G. The fans applaud, and Goto realizes, there’s a G in Yamagata, too. So then, the G in Yamagata and IWGP stand for Goto! The fans cheer and the Fierce Warrior is ready! Will he thwart ZSJ’s efforts in one more rematch? Will he make the G in G1 also stand for Goto?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for NJPW as part of their New Japan Soul series. While I skimmed the other matches, I do like how Sho is wearing a mask like he’s a luchador now and it isn’t obvious it’s just him. The House of Torture wins their matches to keep momentum going, and the other matches were about building towards the G1 Climax qualifiers. Tanahashi VS Honma was good, and I like that the fans cheered Honma. Truth be told, we know Tanahashi is going to win most of these Final Road matches, so that is probably why the fans hope for the opponents to do well. And with the G1 coming up, maybe Tanahashi gets one last good run to try for the finals.
Very good Six Man Tag main event, but it works for Hontai to win. Goto is the top champion, Oleg just became a champion, and NJPW wants Shota to build up given he’s one of the Reiwa Musketeers. Goto VS ZSJ will be a very good match but I feel like Goto’s going to win to bring the title along and add drama to his G1. ZSJ can still have his own great showing in the G1 and maybe makes a case for himself to be the winner again.
My Score: 8.8/10
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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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