Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (3/30/19)

Which trio will be ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions after tonight?

Published

5 years ago

April 5, 2019

Steven Mitchell

Ring of Honor Wrestling Television, Episode 393

The ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships are on the line just days before G1 Supercard! Will The Kingdom keep their throne against Villain Enterprises?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Mark Haskins VS Rush; Rush wins.
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: The Kingdom VS Villain Enterprises; Villain Enterprises wins and becomes the new ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tonight’s main event has been a long time coming.

The Kingdom thought they had Marty Scurll all alone with no one to help him. But then The Villain revealed he’d made new friends in Brody King and PCO! Villain Enterprises was founded and quickly dominated tag team wrestling in ROH! They took the fight to Matt Taven and his cohorts, but will Marty, Brody and PCO take those titles from them tonight?

Mark Haskins VS Rush!

LifeBlood’s British brawler looks to be #Overkill this close to G1 Supercard! But will he be able to survive El Toro Blanco’s stampede? At the same time, Dalton Castle is on commentary to watch this match very closely because he and Rush will face off in Madison Square Garden. Will The Peacock find some sort of weakness in the Ungovernable Bull’s style?

The Code of Honor is refused by the cocky Rush. The bell rings and Rush circles with Haskins. Fans cheer for Rush but Haskins ignores it. They tie up and Rush powers Haskins to ropes. Haskins turns it around and they go around and around. Rush lets up and dares Haskins to bring it. They tie up again and Haskins gets the waistlock, but Rush the standing switch. Haskins switches but Rush switches back but Haskins switches again. Rush drops down and gets another switch but Haskins gets another. They keep going switch for switch but Haskins facelocks to a cover, ONE and Rush gets a cover, ONE! They start shoving each other but the ref backs them off. Fans cheer this evenly matched exchange while both men stare down.

Haksins turns but starts swinging hands with Rush! They go back and forth and Rush eggs Haskins on. Haskins puts some stank, and spit, on his CHOP! But Rush doesn’t flinch. Haskins chops and chops but Rush floors him with just one CHOP! Rush soaks up the cheers and jeers but Haskins nips right up! The fans duel and Rush eggs Haskins on with a shout! Haskins fires off with forearms, chops and jabs! Haskins backs Rush down to the ropes with chop after chop after chop! He runs but into Rush’s forearm! Rush follows Haskins out of the ring to CHOP him into barriers! And again! Rush throws Haskins into barriers! The White Bull is in control while we go to break.

ROH returns as Haksins crawls to a corner. Castle is grinning as Rush whips Haskins corner to corner for a big clothesline. Rush then snapmares Haskins for a basement dropkick to the back! Rush even shows off doing push-ups and taking a bow. Fans are fired up for Rush but Castle is just even more excited for G1 Supercard. Rush toys with Haskins then kicks Haskins in the chest. And then again! Haskins eggs Rush on now, then catches a kick. Haskins fires forearms back then kicks of his own! Rush falls to a knee and Haskins runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Rush runs but into Haskins’ calf kick! Haskins fires up as Rush gets out of the ring. Haskins runs, Rush evades, but Haskins saves himself by going Spider-Man. And then he still DIVES out the side to get Rush!

Haskins drags Rush back up and in, avoids Rush’s shoulder and kicks him back down. Haskins climbs up top and leaps for a flying double stomp! But he’s not done, pump handle slam! Cover, TWO! Rush survives but Haskins keeps his cool. Haskins tries the pump handle again but Rush fights him off. Haskins knees Rush back then pump kicks him into ropes! Fans duel as Haskins runs, but Rush dodges and hits a rebound German suplex! But Haskins is right back up! Only to run into a pop-up fireman’s carry, TKO! Cover, TWO! Haskins lives and Rush argues with the ref. Rush turns back to Haskins while getting the fans fired up again. Rush toys with Haskins before stomping him with both feet. He then goes corner to corner, only to fake out and boot wash Haskins. Rush hits Tranquilo!

But Haskins uses that to roll Rush for a bridging Fujiwara! Rush’s ego catches him into a hold, but he manages to reverse into a crossface of his own! Haskins endures and moves around to escape. Haskins wants a triangle but Rush endures to power up! Rush deadlifts Haskins for a buckle bomb! Then he drags Haskins out for a cover, TWO! Haskins hits a Shining Wizard outta nowhere! Jackknife roll into fireman’s carry, Samoan Driver! Cover, TWO!! Rush lives and Castle is even happier seeing how tough Rush really is. Fans rally up while Haskins grins. Haskins and Rush stand, Haskins mule kicks and runs, but into a boot! Rush runs but into a boot from Haskins! Haskins runs but Rush leaps over for a sunset bomb! But Haskins comes back for a tilt-o-whirl DDT! Rush gets right up but double roundhouses take both men out!

Fans fire up as a standing ten count begins. The count passes 5 before Rush sits up. Rush fires himself up as he stands, but Haskins stands at 9! Haskins runs in but gets a boot. Haskins runs back in but gets thrown with a belly2belly suplex into buckles! Rush runs corner to corner and hits the Bull’s Horns! Cover, Rush wins!

Winner: Rush, by pinfall

The ungovernable undefeated streak continues! Rush continues to ignore the Code of Honor, and he tries to intimidate Castle on commentary. Rush grabs the ring bell but Castle has his own chair at the ready. El Toro Blanco rolls into MSG, but The Peacock is ready to make a meal out of him! Will Rush come away from facing a former world champion still undefeated? Or will this match propel Castle back to title contention?

ROH looks back to Honor Rising in February.

The Briscoes successfully retained their ROH World Tag Team Championships in the joint ROH-NJPW event, but they called out the other tag team champions on the card. Or rather, the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, the Guerrillas of Destiny. Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa defeated Evil & Sanada to become 5-time champions, but #DemBoyz brought up the next crossover show in April. New York City, Madison Square Garden, G1 Supercard! ROH World Tag Team Championships VS IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships! It was an incredibly exciting challenge that was accepted by the GoD, and the match was set.

However, The Briscoes still had to defend those titles along the way, and they lost to Villain Enterprises’ PCO & Brody King! Villain Enterprises became the ROH World Tag Team Champions, and now things have escalated from there! Instead of trying to fit tag title rematches in before G1 Supercard’s titles VS titles match, it will be a Tag Team Four Corner Survival! Villain Enterprises VS The Briscoes VS The Guerrillas of Destiny VS Evil & Sanada, winners take all!! Four of the greatest tag teams battle, but who comes out THE top team in both promotions?!

ROH takes a look to what led to the Triple Threat Ladder Match!

Jay Lethal and Matt Taven have battled in and out of the ring over who is the REAL ROH World Heavyweight Champion, but The Villain has been sitting on his Survival of the Fittest title opportunity for about as long. When Marty Scurll got between Taven and Lethal, the Franchise Player made a huge and risky decision: a triple threat match! Taven refused, because he proved that for 60 minutes, Lethal couldn’t get it done 1v1! Lethal might not be able to defeat Scurll, but Taven definitely could. So he’s not gonna let this happen where Lethal could lose or Scurll could lose to the other!

Scurll tells the “numpty” that he actually agrees. Scurll’s waited too long for his own shot at the title that he deserves. He won’t walk into MSG and lose his opportunity without being involved in the decision. It won’t be a triple threat match. It’s 1v1 or not at all, that’s what Scurll deserves. Taven says he deserves another shot but Scurll says he wasted his shot. Lethal stops their arguing and says they both have a point. Scurll is Survival of the Fittest #1 contender but Taven fought Lethal to a draw. Lethal is a fighting champion but clearly they didn’t want a triple threat.

However, there can still be a way in MSG to find out who is truly the best. With MSG being the most famous arena in the world, Lethal remembers roughly 25 years ago, there was a very famous match in MSG. Let’s go with that match. Are they up for a Ladder match!? All three men were in agreement, this match type will be the fair way they could all compete at once and no one loses it for anyone else. Who will climb to new heights at the historic G1 Supercard event?!

Jeff Cobb speaks.

“I’ve been here for six months in Ring of Honor, and nobody has pinned my shoulders to the mat.” But the one loss he’s had was in a tag team match in Japan! And Will Ospreay was the man who pinned him. Cobb’s been kept up at night, he hasn’t been able to focus, all because of that one loss. So on the biggest stage of ROH’s and NJPW’s history, The Hawaiian Hulk puts up his ROH World Television Championship against The Aerial Assassin’s NEVER Openweight Championship! Madison Square Garden will have yet another Champion VS Champion Winner Takes All match! Which man leaves Madison Square Garden a dual champion?!

ROH looks at the WOH World Championship!

Kelly Klein and Mayu Iwatani have gone 2-2 all time, but Mayu’s two wins are stronger because they were both for the title. Mayu won to win and then retain the title, but Kelly takes one last shot. We travel back in time to the 17th Anniversary show. Kelly was cocky and got caught in a cradle! And after that match, the Pretty Badass started questioning her own hype. Did she need to reevaluate who she was and who she wants to be? Does she need to come at Mayu Iwatani with a different approach? Perhaps she was just confident from those two early victories during her excursion to Stardom.

But now in their fifth match, both women will have to bring even better than the best they have. This is the biggest match in Women of Honor history. This match will decide the best woman in WOH. And there is only one place fitting such a match: Madison Square Garden. The world will see this tiebreaker that decides who is truly the better wrestler. Kelly earned her place in history, and deserves to have that moment when the world sees her stand with the title over her head as the best woman in the world wrestling today. Will Kelly conquer Mayu once and for all? Or will she be forced to swallow her pride and go to the back of the line?

ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: The Kingdom VS Villain Enterprises!

Brody King & PCO are already ROH World Tag Team Champions after the 17th Anniversary show. Marty Scurll could very well be THE ROH World Champion after G1 Supercard, but will he and his new friends bring these trios titles along with them to Madison Square Garden? Or will Matt Taven, TK O’Ryan & Vinnie Marseglia stay upon their thrones as the #FirstLastandOnly?

The introductions are made but this amazing main event starts after the break.

ROH returns and as the trios trash talk at each other. Scurll and Taven trash talk because they’re both headed to New York for that ROH World Championship ladder match. Taven says he’s the only one worthy of being the REAL world champion, so Scurll punches him in the mouth! A brawl is on and the referee rings the bell! Brody throws and CHOPS Vinnie while PCO punches TK around. The Horror King and Sassy Wild Horse bail out but Brody and PCO pursue. Scurll takes it to Taven in a corner with chops. Taven throws Scurll out and drops an ax handle. The brawling goes all around the ring. Taven bumps Scurll off the apron while PCO bumps O’Ryan. PCO sits TK in a chair to boot and CHOP him!

Brody helps PCO out and Villain Enterprises groups The Kingdom together. Brody goes in and builds speed to FLY! He bowls The Kingdom over and fans are thunderous! Scurll drags Taven up and brings him around for a chop. Brody and PCO keep Vinnie and TK down while Scurll puts Taven in the ring. Taven hits Scurll back but Scurll denies him Climax! Scurll stomps Taven’s hand then pulls on the fingers. The Kingdom saves Taven from the snap then TK tags in. Taven holds Scurll down while TK slingshot stomps him. TK rains down rights but lets up at 4. Fans rally for Villain Enterprises even as TK tags in Vinnie. Vinnie and TK mug Scurll on the ropes and give him double chops. Scurll fights back with haymakers, but runs into a boot. Vinnie gets Scurll on the rebound, butterfly backbreaker! Cover, TWO!

Vinnie keeps on Scurll with a rain of rights. Vinnie drags Scurll over and tags Taven. TK holds Scurll’s feet while Taven fires off haymakers and body shots. Taven scrapes Scurll out then goes after Brody and PCO. The referee holds them back while TK gets cheap shots in on Scurll! TK puts Scurll back in for Taven, who scoops and slams Scurll down. Taven mocks the fans and says he’s already the real world champ. He drops knees on Scurll then drags Scurll up for a suplex. Cover, ONE, but Taven grabs the top knot. Taven brings Scurll up and over and Vinnie tags in. The Kingdom mugs Scurll more, but the referee reprimands them. They still bend the rules then Vinnie tags Taven. Taven grabs Scurll by his beard to slap with him, but Scurll slaps back! Scurll also chops and forearms but Taven knees low.

Taven whips Scurll but Scurll sunset flips. Taven slips through but Scurll avoids Just the Tip. Scurll rolls Taven and hits an enziguri! Both men are down but fans rally up. Scurll and Taven crawl for their corners, hot tags to Vinnie and PCO! PCO rallies on Vinnie and TK with clotheslines! Vinnie boots PCO but PCO comes back with another clothesline! TK runs in but gets a pop-up powerbomb! Taven runs ni to hit Brody, but PCO kicks him. PCO underhooks, Package Piledriver for Taven! Vinnie gets up and chops PCO but PCO doesn’t flinch. PCO chops back and now it’s a chop fight! Vinnie hits a knee and grabs PCO for a tornado bulldog! Vinnie climbs up fast, but PCO avoids Redrum! The champions and challengers are dead even as we go to break!

ROH returns again as Vinnie puts Scurll on the apron. But Brody runs in and together, he and Scurll hit Vinnie with a clothesline enziguri combo! Brody drags Vinnie around but Vinnie holds onto the ropes. Scurll slingshots for a sunset flip on Brody to help hit Vinnie with the German Suplex! Brody goes to the apron to cannonball onto Taven! Scurll covers Vinnie, TWO! Fans rally up behind “Marty! Marty!” as he circles Vinnie. Vinnie crawls and Scurll does his spin. He calls for it but Vinnie denies the chicken wing. Vinnie whips, Scurll reverses but TK tags in. Brody and Taven return, and Vinnie boots Brody away. Scurll hits Vinnie with a running uppercut, then whips. Vinnie reverses and feeds Scurll to TK, BIG spinebuster!

Vinnie hops up for the leaping headbutt. Taven climbs and leaps, frog splash! TK jackknife covers, but Brody breaks it in time! TK uppercuts and throws Brody out. PCO runs in but gets a double flapjack! Vinnie and TK drop the back senton elbow combo on PCO, then The Kingdom focus on Scurll. They stomp Scurll then put him in their corner for more. The ref counts but The Kingdom lets up at 4. The Kingdom coordinate and double whip Scurll, but Scurll holds ropes. Scurll dumps out Vinnie then Taven, then boots TK. PCO is in and builds speed, Scurll helps him FLY onto Taven and Vinnie! Fans are thunderous for the inhuman legend while Scurll drop toeholds TK onto ropes. Brody returns and coordinates with Scurll, Tiger Feint Cannonball combo! Cover, TWO!? TK lives and Villain Enterprises is shocked.

Everyone slowly returns and Scurll positions TK for PCO. Taven heel kicks Scurll while Vinnie shoves PCO off. The Kingdom go after Brody but Brody breaks free to CHOP away on everyone! Vinnie kicks low and runs to tilt-o-whirl into a Russian leg sweep! Taven gives Brody Just the Tip of the Knee! The Kingdom coordinate again, and shout “Thy Kingdom Come!” Powerbomb lift, Vinnie & TK run, Kingdom Supernova!! But Brody isn’t legal, Scurll is. The Kingdom drags Scurll up and they prepare a second bomb. PCO climbs up but TK kicks him back down. But PCO gets up again, so both TK and Vinnie kick him down. TK builds speed and DIVES onto PCO! But PCO catches him and throws TK into the apron! Vinnie DIVES but gets the same! Taven FLIES and finally takes PCO down!

Taven throws PCO in but PCO gets up to come back with a DIVE! The cannonball bowls Taven over! The fans are thunderous while ROH goes to one last break.

ROH returns once more, and PCO throws TK in. Fans know “This is Awesome!” as PCO drags TK up. TK rocks PCO with a right, then Vinnie powerbombs PCO onto the ramp!! Fans boo as Vinnie looms over PCO with wild eyes. TK glares at Scurll much the same but gets caught into a cradle! TWO and Vinnie grabs Scurll. TK runs in but Scurll evades, TK’s uppercut goes into Vinnie! Scurll gets TK in the Chickenwing! Taven rushes in but Brody intercepts! TK taps out, Villain Enterprises wins!!

Winners: Villain Enterprises, Marty Scurll by submission; NEW ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions

The Villain and his cohorts are victorious! They now hold both World Six Man and traditional Tag Team Championships! Taven is shocked at how far he’s fallen this close to G1 Supercard. Will Villain Enterprises be truly and completely golden after the biggest show in ROH history!?

The stars of ROH speak on G1 Supercard.

Jay Lethal is living a childhood dream. “If you had told that little kid that he would eventually wrestle in Madison Square Garden,” he would’ve called you a liar. But here we are. The Villain and all UK fans saw MSG as this “imaginary building”. To Matt Taven and The Briscoes, it is the Mecca, the “center of the known universe”. It is truly the most famous arena in the world. They’ve all seen it, but it doesn’t feel real yet that they’re going to compete in it. Dalton Castle has always loved ROH, and going to MSG is proof of their growing momentum. With everything changing, this is an amazing time to be a pro-wrestler. Scurll feels fortunate to be performing in this era. There will be more eyes on ROH than ever before.

In fact, it’s even better for the fans because they’re getting to see all this. To Lethal, “it won’t feel real until I walk through that curtain.” Taven felt ROH was holding him down from what he didn’t deserve, but maybe this entire time, ROH knew they needed a star to headline this major event. Scurll feels that he hasn’t been world champion yet because he’s destined to win on this historic night. Lethal feels that he is going to cement his legacy with MSG. No matter how you slice it, history is being made with ROH, NJPW and Madison Square Garden. What happens on the biggest night and on the biggest stage in either promotion’s existence?!

My Thoughts:

What a great go-home for G1 Supercard! Granted, only two matches, but they were both great, and the hype packages for everything else was great. Rush VS Haskins was a real good opener, and Rush winning makes sense since he’s still on a great roll and is headed for a match with Dalton Castle. I have a feeling Rush wins that, too, because his win streak should really only end if he’s going after a title. It’s great that ROH TV catches viewers up on the development of Tag Titles VS Tag Titles. Briscoes introduced the concept but then surprisingly lost to Villain Enterprises at 17th Anniversary. But adjusting for that, both companies agreed to up the ante and now it’s a Fatal 4. That match is going to be even harder to call than the original Briscoes VS Guerrillas match.

Iwatani VS Klein 5 is going to be good, but given Kelly’s promo about her introspection and soul searching, I feel she wins. That and I’m still hoping for her and Tenille to have a program over the “Who attacked Tenille?” angle before Tenille got her surgery. Jeff Cobb had a solid promo tonight to let us know of his own Title VS Title match. Since Ospreay isn’t really part of ROH but Cobb does compete in NJPW, Cobb is the more likely to become champion in both promotions. That would be big for the already impressive resume of Cobb’s, but also well-deserved.

Then the ROH World Championship match is pretty big with a Ladder Match. I just wish the TV presentation of how we got there was better. The second night of 17th Anniversary being TV tapings, it just seemed sloppy to me to just throw footage onto this hour. As for who wins it, I can’t be sure. It’d be almost too big if Villain Enterprises had all the belts so soon. They had a great Six Man title match with The Kingdom tonight (aka from those same tapings), and the fact they did win, this probably means Scurll wins while PCO & Brody lose or Scurll loses while PCO & Brody win. Golden Villain Enterprises could happen, but that might be too much for even a night as big as G1 Supercard.

My Score: 8.3/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Mitchell’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (5/3/24)

Will the Ace go global?

Published

1 hour ago

May 3, 2024

Steven Mitchell

He’s here to show the world, he’s here to show the world!

Nic Nemeth finally gets his dream match with Hiroshi Tanahashi, and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship is on the line! But can the Wanted Man trump President Ace of the Universe?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Togi Makabe & Katsuya Murashima VS Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato; Oleg & Kato win.
DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yujiro Takahashi; Sho & Yujiro win.
Yuya Uemura & Taichi VS Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman; Yuya & Taichi win.
Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Guerrillas of Destiny; Guerrillas of Destiny win.
Six Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
Six Man Tag: Jon Moxley, Shota Umino & El Desperado VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Jeff Cobb; Cobb wins and becomes the new NJPW World Television Champion.
Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay; Finlay wins.
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Nic Nemeth VS Hiroshi Tanahashi; Nemeth wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Jeff Cobb w/ Great-O-Khan & Francesco Akira!

The Front Man and the Imperial Unit have battled over this belt before, and now, in “season 4,” we revisit the rivalry! Will ZSJ still have Cobb’s number? Or will Cobb finally be the star of NJPW World?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly might!

The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans cheer as ZSJ and Cobb shake hands. ZSJ then rushes in but Cobb avoids him. They feel things out, hand fight for control, and Cobb goes for a leg. ZSJ avoids being thrown but Cobb waistlocks. ZSJ drops, slips out, but Cobb keeps on him. They go around again, ZSJ gets away, and the fans cheer. The two knuckle lock, go forehead to forehead, then Cobb blocks a leg pick with a facelock. Cobb pushes ZSJ to a lateral press, TWO!! ZSJ narrowly escapes and Cobb lets him know it. The fans applaud as the two reset, and they feel things out again.

They knuckle lock, ZSJ rolls back and wrangles Cobb. Cobb stands, slips through to wrench back. ZSJ turns around, has a cording hold, and then hooks a leg to make the arm-drag easier! Then he shifts right around to an ARMBAR! Cobb scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ZSJ lets off quickly. ZSJ and Cobb reset, feel things out, and knuckle lock again. They go forehead to forehead, then shoulder to shoulder. ZSJ facelocks but Cobb slips around to a waistlock, then spins ZSJ to a facelock, then headlock. Cobb hits the takeover, denies the headscissors, but ZSJ keeps trying. Third time’s the charm and ZSJ has Cobb down!

ZSJ squeezes tight but Cobb moves around. Cobb headstands, pops free, and then has a standing toehold! The fans applaud, but ZSJ works on his escape. He gets his left leg free, turns over and reels Cobb in, but Cobb turns that into a waistlock! ZSJ wrenches out but Cobb avoids the Pele! Cobb feints moonsault and ZSJ scrambles away! The fans cheer the standoff as the two reset again. Cobb and ZSJ circle, step closer, and knuckle lock again. They both try to clinch, but then Cobb slips around to a waistlock and SLAM! ZSJ scrambles away, clutching his side. ZSJ stands, Cobb storms up, and Cobb TOSSES ZSJ across the ring!

The fans fire up while ZSJ flounders to the apron, still clutching his side. ZSJ seems alright to continue as he gets back inside, so Cobb storms up on him again. Cobb HEADBUTTS the ribs! Cobb whips corner to corner hard and ZSJ bounces off buckles! ZSJ is getting frustrated with himself, but Cobb is right on him again. Cobb whips ZSJ back the other way and ZSJ again hits buckles hard! The fans rally for ZSJ as Cobb storms over. Cobb steps on ZSJ’s chest! Cobb then drags ZSJ up at the five minute mark. Cobb whips, ZSJ goes up and comes back, but is caught into an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY!

Cobb walks over to pick ZSJ up, then whips him to a corner. Cobb runs in but ZSJ avoids the back elbow! ZSJ goes up and around to TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! ZSJ stands but Cobb follows, and ZSJ UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Cobb wobbles but ZSJ UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ fires a flurry of forearms, but Cobb DECKS him with just one! ZSJ is mad and he gets right up! The fans rally up as ZSJ UPPERCUTS again and again! Cobb ROCKS ZSJ with a forearm! ZSJ has the fans behind him as he runs back in, only to get run over! GACHI- NO, ZSJ sunsets Cobb first! But Cobb rolls through!

Cobb rolls into the jackknife, TWO as ZSJ bridges up!! ZSJ spins Cobb around, but Cobb fights the backslide! Cobb turns things around to backslide ZSJ, but ZSJ rolls through to trap Cobb’s head! NECK TWIST! PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up again while ZSJ catches his breath. ZSJ still clutches his side, but he watches Cobb rise. The fans rally, ZSJ storms up on Cobb and waistlocks, but Cobb breaks free! Cobb wrenches, snapmares, and steals EURO CLUTCH! TWO!! ZSJ storms up on Cobb, fires forearms, but Cobb ROCKS him with just one! ZSJ walks it off, comes back with more, then a BOOT! Cobb swings, into a BOOT!

Cobb rebounds, but ZSJ BOOTS! ZSJ runs, but into a BOOT from Cobb! ZSJ drops to his knees, but Cobb drags him back up to suplex! ZSJ fights that to wrench and PELE the arm! ZSJ waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX!! The fans are thunderous, but then Cobb is right back up! Cobb deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES ZSJ away! The fans rally as ZSJ ends up in a corner. Cobb rises, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Cobb then brings ZSJ up for a SPIN OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO! GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives heavy impact after heavy impact, but Cobb powers up his arm. Cobb runs, but ZSJ LARIATS with him!

Both men stay up but ZSJ does stagger. ZSJ and Cobb DOUBLE LARIAT again! We hit ten minutes, time is still on ZSJ’s side! But then Cobb LARIATS him down! Cobb runs, but ZSJ KICKS the lariat away! Scoop and ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Cobb survives and the fans are thunderous again! ZSJ runs to KICK! That might’ve hurt ZSJ’s leg more than anything. ZSJ runs but Cobb blocks this kick! ZSJ SLAPS Cobb, so Cobb DROPKICKS ZSJ! Cobb then hauls ZSJ up to suplex, and he puts ZSJ up top! Cobb goes up top with him, then SUPER- NO, ZSJ slips around to a SLEEPER! The ref counts the ropebreak, ZSJ drops back at 4.

ZSJ considers his options, and gets under Cobb, for a POWERBOMB! Roll to a cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Cobb stays in this! But we’re at the three minute warning! ZSJ KICKS and KICKS and KICKS, then runs, but Cobb ducks the Penalty Kick to schoolboy! TWO!! ZSJ escapes, Cobb runs back up, and Cobb blocks a boto! Waistlock, O’Conner Roll, but ZSJ pops that into a SLEEPER! Cobb rolls back to get free, and deadlifts ZSJ into a pop-up! F 5000!! Cobb hurries to haul ZSJ back up, whip and TOUR OF THE- CRUCIFIX TAKEDOWN! ONE!! Cobb gets free fast, and he hurries to haul ZSJ back up! LARIAT! FALLING HAMMER!

Cobb swings again but into an omoplata! ZSJ wants the other arm, but Cobb moves around as we hit the two minute warning! ZSJ just shifts to get the other arm in the omoplata, then a traditional ARMBAR! Cobb holds hands, ZSJ breaks the grip! Cobb powers right through to deadlift ZSJ! Then a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!!! Cover, COBB WINS!!

Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (NEW NJPW World TV Champion)

With 90 SECONDS to spare, Cobb ends ZSJ’s reign! The Imperial Unit wears gold once again, will “season five” be the biggest and strongest yet?

Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!

Los Ingobernables de Japon and the Bullet Club War Dogs have been battling all up and down the Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now Gene Blast will have it out with The Rebel! Who proves they are truly ungovernable?

The bell rings and the fans rally for Yota already. Yota and Finlay stare down, but then back away as Finlay gets annoyed by the fans. Yota encourages the fans and they get louder for him. Finlay gets on a corner to throw up the Too Sweet, the fans boo him. Finlay hops down with a frown, and the two circle. Yota blocks a kick, headlocks, but Finlay powers up, only for Yota to hold on tight. Finlay rolls to a cover, ONE and Yota holds onto the headlock. Finlay powers up again, powers out this time, but Yota runs him over! The fans cheer, Yota grins, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo while Finlay paces. Yota gets on the corner and the fans fire up!

Finlay slides in, Yota hits him with a body shot first! Finlay goes to a corner, Yota RAMS into him, and RAMS him, and RAMS him again. Yota then brings Finlay around to whip corner to corner. Yota runs up but Finlay puts him on the apron! Finlay knocks Yota off the apron, then goes out to RAM him into railing, right in front of commentary! Finlay RAMS Yota in again and again, but the ref reprimands him. Finlay lets off, leaves Yota behind, and says it’s too easy. Yota writhes, the ring count starts, and Finlay waits. Yota rises up at 6 of 20, stands at 8, and makes his way in at 10. But Finlay is there to stomp away on him at the ropes!

Finlay drops a KNEE into Yota’s back, pulls Yota’s hair and a leg, but the ref reprimands. Yota has the ROPEBREAK, the ref counts, and Finlay lets go at 4. Finlay brings Yota up to suplex and BROKEN ARROW! Finlay flexes and fans do cheer the feat of strength. Finlay covers, TWO! Finlay mockingly says Yota is tough, HEADBUTTS away on Yota’s ribs! Then he drops a leg! Yota sputters but Finlay mocks the fans rallying behind him. Finlay whips Yota hard into a corner, and Yota falls forward. Finlay covers, TWO! The fans cheer but Finlay stands on Yota’s fingers! Finlay stomps Yota’s arm, then clamps on a chinlock.

Yota endures as Finlay leans on the hold. The fans rally up again, even as Finlay thrashes Yota around. Yota fights around, reaches out, but Finlay grinds him back down to the mat! The fans rally harder as Yota reaches out. Finlay sits Yota up so he can CLUB away on Yota’s face, then puts the hold on tighter! It’s almost a Bulldog Choke, but Yota fights to his feet! Yota reaches out but Finlay wrangles Yota back down! Yota is fading! The ref checks, and the hand drops once! The hand drops twice! But Yota opens his eyes and rises up! The fans rally and Yota stands to throw body shots! Yota is free, and he runs, but into an ELBOW! Finlay adds a SENTON!

Yota flounders away to a corner, and Finlay barks at him. Finlay aims from a corner as Yota rises, and fans rally with the barking. Finlay runs in, to UPPERCUT! And clothesline! And then Finlay brings Yota out, only for Yota to suplex Finlay into the corner! The fans fire up while both men are down! Finlay rolls away while clutching the back of his head, and Yota rises while catching his breath. The fans rally again and Yota stands. Yota fires up and runs in at the corner, to STINGER SPLASH! Yota keeps moving, to FLIPPING RANA! Finlay tumbles out, and the fans fire up as Yota builds speed! Yota DIVES and sends Finlay over railing!

The fans fire up with Yota while Finlay is down in No Man’s Land! Yota catches his breath again and the ring count starts. Finlay crawls through the gap, but we’re at 10 of 20 before Yota stands. Yota storms over and drags Finlay up at 15, then puts him in the ring. The fans cheer and Yota gets Finlay up. Yota half nelsons for a GUTBUSTER! Yota then snapmares Finlay into a body scissors squeeze! Finlay endures, moves around, but Yota grabs an arm in a cording hold! Finlay flails with his free arm but he’s still far from ropes! Finlay pulls at the body scissors but Yota just squeezes tighter! Finlay endures, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK!

The ref counts, Yota lets off, and the fans applaud. Finlay coughs as he goes to a corner, and Yota paces. Yota storms over, brings Finlay back up, but Finlay blocks the suplex. Finlay throws body shots but Yota gives a hard body shot in return! Finlay falls over and coughs his way to ropes. The ref has Yota stay back while he checks on Finlay. But then Yota runs up to KICK Finlay into the corner! Yota stands Finlay up to CHOP! Finlay grits his teeth as his chest stings, but Yota brings him up to the top rope! Yota ROCKS Finlay, then roars, and the fans fire up! Yota climbs, brings Finlay up, but Finliay shoves him down!

Finlay adjusts, but Yota comes back to GAMANGIRI! Yota goes back up, brings Finlay to the top, but Finlay throws body shots! Finlay SUNSET FLIPS, but Yota holds on! Finlay pries Yota from the corner, but Yota sunset flips him back! TWO, but Yota kicks and whips! Finlay reverses, and scoops for BLUE THUNDER! Both men are down and Gedo cheers Finlay while the fans rally for Yota. Finlay hauls Yota up for the Canadian Rack, CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Yota stays in this and the fans are still behind him, but Finlay keeps his cool. Finlay drags Yota around, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Yota back drops Finlay away!

The fans cheer as Yota clinches, but Finlay fights free! Finlay gets Yota back in, picks him up, but Yota slips free of the bomb! Finlay dodges the knee, but runs into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Finlay writhes but Yota drags him back up. Yota suplexes for the ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives the brainbuster bomb and we pass 15 minutes, but Yota keeps his cool. Yota grins, even! Yota stands, brings Finlay to a corner, then goes up and up for the FLYING- PRIMA NOCTA! Finlay reels Yota in to bring him up and BUCKLE BOMB! Then suplex INTO OBLIVION! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and Finlay is beside himself!

The fans rally while Yota is down, but Finlay brings his kneepad down. Finlay stands, drags Yota up, but Yota is deadweight. The ref checks but Yota seems okay to continue, so Finlay drags him up! Yota fights the suplex so Finlay knees him low! Finlay brings Yota back up and in, slashes his throat, and suplexes, but Yota cradle counters! TWO!! Finlay runs up, into a clinch! BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! STOMP!! The fans fire up as Yota stands tall, but then he drops back down, needing to catch his breath. The fans rally up and both men stir. Finlay rises first, and he sits Yota up. Finlay UPPERCUTS, and Gedo says nice!

Yota sits back up, Finlay UPPERCUTS him again! Yota shakes his head as he sits back up, so Finlay UPPERCUTS again! Finlay taunts Yota, Yota stands, and Finlay UPPERCUTS! Yota shakes his head and comes back, but Finlay UPPERCUTS again! Finlay eggs Yota on, and Yota snarls as he storms back up. Finlay UPPERCUTS again and Yota drops back! Finlay says this is too easy, but Yota still smiles?! Yota rises, and he fires forearm after forearm on Finlay! Finlay UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS! Yota drops to a knee, Finlay says BANG! UPPER- BACKSLIDE! Roll through, Finlay blocks a knee to UPPERCUT!

Yota SUPERKICKS! Finlay UPERCUTS! Yota FOREARMS, then he dodges the lariat to JUMP KNEE! Cover, TWO!! We hit 20 minutes as Yota hauls Finlay up to a fireman’s carry, and swings into the POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but Yota storms around. Yota waits on Finlay to rise, then runs in, to CURB STOMP! Yota roars, because he’s not done yet! Up and up, MARVEL CRUSH!! Cover off the flying stomp, TWO!! Finlay survives, but Yota just fires up again! The fans are with Yota as he aims from the corner! Finlay rises, but then Gedo gets on the apron! Yota runs Gedo off, but Finlay SPEARS first!!

Finlay hurries to get Yota up and suplex! STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE!? Yota takes a play out of Will Ospreay’s book (or Orange Cassidy’s, or Mark Andrews’), then runs in to GENE BLASTER!! But Yota says that’s not enough! The fans fire up again as Yota reloads in the corner! Finlay slowly rises, but Gedo distracts the ref! Yota runs in, into a SHILLELAGH SHOT!! Finlay drags Yota up and reels him in, for a POWERBOMB!! High stack, TWO?!?! Yota survives and shocks Finlay! Finlay is furious, he gets Yota up for another POWERBOMB!! Then a flip-over, suplex, for OVERKILL!! Cover, Finlay wins!

Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall

The Goatslayer may have won, but he still needed the ace up his sleeve to steal this one from Yota! Will Finlay stop at nothing to make himself the savior of this company? Or is he simply a false prophet?

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Nic Nemeth VS Hiroshi Tanahashi!

The Wanted Man has wanted to show off ever since arriving in NJPW, and he started off strong taking this title off David Finlay. But now he gets what he wanted even more, and that’s a dream match with The Ace of the Universe! Will Nemeth take President Tanahashi to the Danger Zone? Or will we soon witness the birth of a Two Belt Ace?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who shows the world their true strength!

Tanahashi shows off the abs and the fans cheer. The bell rings and the fans rally up for Tanahashi. Tanahashi and Nemeth circle, tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. They break, reset, and circle again. They tie up, are in another deadlock, but Tanahashi gets around to waistlock. Nemeth reaches back, shoots around to get a leg then a waistlock, then shifts, but Tanahashi fights off the cobra twist. Tanahashi wrenches an arm to a wristlock, but Nemeth rolls, slips around again, and tries from the other side. Tanahashi fights the cobra twist to roll Nemeth up, TWO! The fans cheer the exchange and even Nemeth nods as they reset.

Nemeth and Tanahashi circle, Nemeth gets a leg, and he brings Tanahashi down to a cradle, TWO! Tanahashi fights through the leg guard to get a headlock, but Nemeth fights around to roll Tanahashi. ONE, Nemeth facelocks, and he brings Tanahashii up. Tanahashi puts Nemeth on ropes, Red Shoes counts, and Tanahashi lets off slowly. Tanahashi says clean break, but then Nemeth runs up! Tanahashi arm-drags, arm-drags again, and has the cording hold! The fans cheer while Nemeth moves around. Nemeth stands, hooks Tanahashi’s leg with a leg, and then flips Tanahashi over to a cradle! TWO, and the two stand off again.

The fans applaud as both men reset. They feel out a knuckle lock, but Nemeth again goes for a leg. Nemeth waistlocks, and he still wants that cobra twist. Tanahashi drops but Nemeth tries for a ground cobra! Tanahashi clasps hands to resist that, then he rolls things to a headlock. Nemeth keeps his shoulders up, fights to his feet, and he hooks a leg to roll Tanahashi! Tanahashi manages to keep a shoulder up, so Nemeth flips around and has the roll from the other side! TWO, and Nemeth DROPKICKS Tanahashi down! The fans fire up as Nemeth swivels the hips! Tanahashi backs away to ropes to catch his breath.

Nemeth waits on Tanahashi, Tanahashi stands and they circle. They tie up, Nemeth headlocks but Tanahashi waistlocks. Nemeth switches, Tanahashi fights the lift, and then Tanahashi switches. Nemeth reaches around, switches again, but Tanahashi switches on him. Nemeth switches, and goes to throw Tanahashi out! Tanahashi fights that with elbows, then gets a leg, to DRAGON SCREW! Nemeth flounders out of the ring while the fans cheer! Tanahashi goes out after Nemeth, puts him in the ring, and the fans cheer. Tanahashi drags Nemeth up, bumps him off buckles, then fires up as he whips corner to corner.

Nemeth reverses the whip, runs in, but into an elbow! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! Fans fire up for the air guitar! Nemeth stands, Tanahashi runs up and dropkicks the legs out! Nemeth flounders, stands back up, and Tanahashi runs in, but into a dropkick right back! The fans rally while both men are down, but Nemeth grins as he evens the score. Nemeth stands, storms up on Tanahashi and grabs the leg. Nemeth stands on Tanahashi’s face, then DDTs the leg! Tanahashi clutches the knee, but Nemeth drags him around. Nemeth steps over, has a standing toehold, but Tanahashi kicks at him with his free leg!

Nemeth and Tanahashi struggle against each other, and Nemeth powers things into a cover! TWO, and Nemeth YANKS the leg! Then Nemeth cradles Tanahashi, TWO! Tanahashi is still in this and the fans rally behind him, even as Nemeth stalks Tanahashi. Tanahashi fires forearms! But Nemeth kicks the leg out! Nemeth gets the leg to YANK it, then he drops a JUMP ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is tougher than that but Nemeth grabs the bad leg. Nemeth stretches the leg out, and adds a chinbar so he can bend Tanahashi around. Nemeth hooks the leg, pulls on it, it’s like a standing kneebar! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up!

Tanahashi endures, even as Nemeth makes it an ANKLE LOCK! Tanahashi slips under and brings Nemeth down with his own leglock, only for Nemeth to turn him back over! Tanahashi reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Nemeth stomps the leg as he lets off. Nemeth eggs Tanahashi on, so Tanahashi stands up and fires a forearm! Nemeth fires a haymaker! Tanahashi forearms again, Nemeth throws a forearm back! Tanahashi throws another forearm, so Nemeth kicks the leg out! Tanahashi eggs Nemeth on now, then blocks his superkick! But not the SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi is still in this and the fans fire up!

Nemeth stands and shows he still has energy to spare. Tanahashi stands, Nemeth taunts him, “I thought you were a legend!” Nemeth whips, and Tanahashi CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up again and Tanahashi fires up with them! Nemeth stands into a strike fest! Tanahashi scoops to SLAM Nemeth into the drop zone! Then Tanahashi goes up for the SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Nemeth is tougher than that but the fans rally with Tanahashi. Nemeth slowly rises and Tanahashi runs, SLING- NO, Nemeth sends Tanahashi out! But Tanahashi skins the cat! Then he TOSSES Nemeth! But now Nemeth skins the cat!

The fans fire up, Nemeth mocks the air guitar, but then Tanahashi dodges! Nemeth dodges, and DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans fire up while both men are down! Both men stir, the fans rally up, and Nemeth fires a haymaker! Tanahashi gives a forearm back! Nemeth fires another haymaker, Tanahashi fires another forearm! They stand, continue to trade shots, and then Tanahashi gets the edge! But Nemeth roars to HEADBUT! Both men wobble, Nemeth roars again, and he whips, only for Tanahashi to reverse and SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up and Tanahashi roars! Tanahashi goes up a corner, Nemeth stands, into HIGH FLY ATTACK! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up again as Tanahashi resets! Tanahashi climbs again while Nemeth is down, HIGH FLY FLOP!! Nemeth avoids disaster and Tanahashi writhes from his crash landing! But Tanahashi just fires himself back up! After all, as NEVER Openweight Six Man Champion, he can’t give up! Tanahashi runs in, but into SUPERKICK 101!! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and we pass 15 minutes! Nemeth rises first, he takes aim again, and Tanahashi turns around into a kick! Nemeth runs, to FAMOUS- NO, Tanahashi stops the Famouser to SHOTEI! But Nemeth roars, swings, only for Tanahashi to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!

The fans are thunderous and Tanahashi gets running, to SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi drags Nemeth into the drop zone, but has him on his stomach! Tanahashi goes up to HIGH FLY FLOW, onto knees!! Nemeth turns over in time, and then covers, TWO!!! Tanahashi survives the crushing counter, and the fans rally as hard as they can for him! Tanahashi stands, DANGER- NO, Tanahashi shakes that off, then runs, but Nemeth dodges! DANGER ZONE!! But Tanahashi rises up and Nemeth reloads, to DANGER ZONE again!! Cover, Nemeth wins!!

Winner: Nic Nemeth, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)

Nemeth got what he wanted in this dream match, and then he came out as the Top Gun! Will Tanahashi have to settle for being a Six Man Tag Team Champion for now?

As for Nemeth, he is given the belt, and he holds it up high. But he also shows Tanahashi respect with a hug, and Tanahashi shows it back by lifting Nemeth’s hand. Then the streamers fly! That took Tanahashi by surprise! But then FINLAY attacks Nemeth!! The Rebel also CLOBBERS Tanahashi! The fans boo as this War Dog is off the leash! Finlay rains down fists on Nemeth again, then he TOSSES Tanahashi out. Finlay gets the shillelagh from Gedo and he takes aim! Finlay takes a swing, but Nemeth dodges! Nemeth fires fists in return and the fans fire up! Gedo watches out as these two go all over the place, in all of the streamers!

Young Lions hurry in to stop this, but Gedo calls reinforcements! Here come Connors & Drilla! They get the pack leader outta there, clearly Nemeth isn’t going down easy! Nemeth gets the mic to tell Finlay he’s a coward! Nemeth was just in this ring with a legend, and he’ll do it every damn night! Finlay clearly takes the easy way out, because he’s a POS who attacks from behind! If Finlay had any balls, he’ll fight Nemeth fair and square. Nemeth will defend anytime, anywhere, because that’s how damn good he is! Hell, tomorrow night! Wrestling Dontaku Night 2, rematch for the Global title! Let’s do it!!

The fans like the sound of that! Finlay may have taken a cheap shot, but he’s still getting what he wants. Will the Rebel shoot down The Wanted Man and take back the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship? Or will Nemeth bring Finlay into the Danger Zone?

My Thoughts:

A great start to what I think is the first two-night Wrestling Dontaku ever. I will say, of the matches I skipped, The House of Torture winning over Moxley’s team is classic go-home math showing that Moxley will win out against Narita tomorrow on night two. That way, Moxley then faces Shota Umino next Saturday, May 11th, at Resurgence. Anyway, great NJPW World TV Championship match, and a great rematch from ZSJ and Cobb on top of it. Great win for Cobb, and that was the logical move after having lost to ZSJ the last two times. Also, feels like that’s why ZSJ beat Riddle after Riddle had a rather short run. If Cobb was to win this belt, they didn’t wanna make the Chosen Bros face each other, as great as that would’ve been.

Really good grudge match from Yota and Finlay, but I should’ve known Finlay would need to cheat to win. And as we saw at the end, Finlay wants the Global Championship back, what with losing out on the World Championship when he lost in the New Japan Cup. Great match from Nemeth and Tanahashi, great win for Nemeth, and doing back to back nights is some good stuff out of Nemeth and Finlay. I don’t know if they’ll steal the show, but they’ll definitely put on a real good match to help top off Dontaku.

My Score: 8.8/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.2.2024

Under Siege is tomorrow! Yeah the card looks pretty awful, but maybe this Go Home will spice things up!

Published

21 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Andrew Balaz

Not gonna mislead anyone here, Under Siege looks nearly as bad as a Steven Segal film by the same name. Lots of useless tag matches, only really the X Division title to care about. It reminds me of a “Road to” show that New Japan does. Bunch of worthless matches with a few story wrinkles but entirely skippable.

Hopefully something crazy happens or the show is good enough to cover the bad card. But let’s hope something happens tonight to maybe create some reason to watch.

.@TheSamiCallihan debuts the first episode of #DMTV! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/OWrTeBtRZ6

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 3, 2024

Ratings:

Mustafa Ali vs Chris Bey w/Ace Austin: Ali wins via 450 – **
Dani Luna w/Jody Threat vs Alisha Edwards w/Masha Slamovich: Lish wins via Russian Death Device – ** 1/4
Hammerstone vs Cody Deaner: Hammerstone wins via Torture Rack – *
#1 Contender Match: Ace Austin w/Chris Bey vs Trey Miguel w/Zachary Wentz: Ace wins via The Fold – ***
TNA Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs Miyu Yamashita: Grace retains via Juggernaut Driver – *** 1/2

Results:

Mustafa Ali vs Chris Bey w/Ace Austin

Ali with a simple Headlock takeover, Bey fights back up and tries to create something with a rope run; but Ali gets the best of things with a Back Elbow. Ali gets cocky as Bey retreats to the corner, Bey turns things around quickly, lands the 10 Count Punches in the corner, Ali tries to fight back but Bey snaps off a quick DDT for a near fall. As Bey goes to continue the offense, Ali Drop Toe Holds Bey into the ropes neck first. Ali again, demonstrating some of the worst in-ring trash talk, Bey turns things around since Ali is running his mouth too much. Ali gets set in the Tree of Woe, Bey goes across to another corner and does a Coast to Coast Elbow Drop as Ali tries to sit up. Honestly, stupid looking since its obviously too coordinated. No one would stay half sat up just to eat an elbow.

While the move looked cool, I now care significantly less about what’s going on. Illogical spots just because “they’re cool”, should not be rewarded. Bey controls the match after the stupid spot, hits his Corner Uppercut Hip Attack, Ali tries to duck a few moves and create something but eats a Spinebuster for 2. Art of Finesse attempt, but Ali shoves him to the outside. Working back inside Ali goes for his Rolling Neckbreaker but Bey connects with a Roundhouse Kick to stop Ali in his tracks. Fighting Spirit spot, they run into the ropes, Ali has a bad Double Leg takedown that he tries to turn into a Cradle with feet on the ropes, but Ace pushes the feet off.

As security starts to move on Ace, Ali hits a Suicida, then Bey connects on a Tope con Hilo. Bey starts rocking Ali, hits the Kudome Valentine but Ali manages to pull himself under the bottom rope just enough to avoid losing. Bey climbs the corner, Ali German Suplexes Bey to the apron, Ali goes for the 450, misses, Bey goes to finish the match but the security get involved again, hit Bey with the flag and then Ali lands the 450 for the win.

I liked when the Security Guards were window dressing instead of mooks to cheat with. This just makes the matches dumber and significantly less interesting, especially when its nameless mooks and its not even a talent getting heat.

Dani Luna w/Jody Threat vs Alisha Edwards w/Masha Slamovich

Dani starts strong and fast, forearm shots, lariats and a quick near fall sends Alisha retreating to the ropes to get some advice from Masha. Dani goes to attack Lish, Lish with a Drop Toe Hold, Masha takes advantage of the distracted ref and Lish hits a Satellite DDT and then taunts entirely too much. As Lish talks too much, Dani stands up and starts beating the hell out of Lish, Suplex into the rope assisted Blue Thunder Bomb. Dani goes for the Luna Landing, but Masha climbs on the apron, distraction happens, then Lish goes after Jody and the ref stays distracted with Lish. Masha slides into the ring, Roundhouse Kick into the Russian Death Device and Lish turns around for the win!

Sami’s little segment is aptly named DMTv since it feels like a weird hallucination or trip with the way he does stuff.

Hammerstone vs Cody Deaner

Am I supposed to care about this? Hammerstone looks like he’s chiseled out of granite and Deaner looks like he’s fished out of a trailer park. Hammerstone says a lot of how I feel that the Deaner schtick is pathetic. Deaner says he’s given the power to add a stipulation, Hammer says Arm Wrestling Match, Deaner wants a Sin City Street Fight. So we know what the crowd will pick. Christ this is so carny even Court Bauer blushed.

Deaner bonks Hammer with the mic, low dropkick, goes to grab a trash can lid and hits Hammer…but it just pisses off Captain Hammer. Stomps a mudhole in him, Irish Whip into a Back Elbow and Hammer deposits him to the outside to utilize the gimmick I would assume. This is going on much longer than it should, Deaner finds a chair, clocks Hammer once, goes for Twice, but this isn’t Kpop; so Hammer says no and hits him with a Backbreaker. Then Hammer hits him with a chairshot, 10 Count Punches in the corner, Sack of Shit, Deaner goes for the Ricky Morton lean against the ropes and sell to the crowd spot, but Hammer leans into him and starts using the chair again.

Deaner does his nerd Hulk Up, tries to call for a Body Slam but Hammer doesn’t move and drops the dweeb down. Deaner is back to the begging the crowd Ricky Morton spot…but the crowd doesn’t care since Deaner is a jabroni. Hammer tosses Deaner like a pizza ribs first into the back of the chair and just takes a few moments to revel in his handwork. Deaner fights back, lands a few right hands, tries to call for the Body Slam again like an idiot, gets Hammer half way and falls over so Hammer just rains down punches (can we end this waste of time please). Hellavator, I mean Nightmare Pendulum but Deaner floats over and lands the Scoop Slam onto the steel chair for only 2.

The crowd starts chanting for table, so of course Deaner obliges…this is going on so damn long. Hammer no sells the forearm, Vertical Suplex, goozle, and then Hammer Chokeslams Deaner through the table and calls to for the Torture Rack. Deaner is Rack’d and dead. ‘Bout damn time.

Like a Torpedo, Something is there…

Trent The Seventh and Ball Of Speed, alongside Broken Matt Hardy, are geared up to render The System obsolete tomorrow night at #TNAUnderSiege! pic.twitter.com/laEOlXayIc

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 3, 2024

I’m mad at myself that I popped for Ball of Speed. I’m not even sure why, but I like it.

"Can you please get fired?"

.@joehendry's live apology transformed into a new hit about @AJFrancis410! The "apology" song took things HIGHER than ever! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/6P7pDFbK3p

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 3, 2024

If I’ve said it once I’ve said it at least 3 dozen times, Joe Hendry is a treasure. Starting with a medley of the insult songs to lead into the Creed parody is genius. Odd apology, but I respect it. “Can you please get fired…”, such a great song.

#1 Contender Match: Ace Austin w/Chris Bey vs Trey Miguel w/Zachary Wentz

Typical Junior style start with counters and some chain wrestling and then a quick tension spot where Trey slaps Ace and then they fire off on each other for a few seconds before they get broken up because its just a shmoz. Trey baits Ace to the outside, Up and Over but Ace lands on the apron and then Wentz picks the ankle as Trey feigns injury to distract the referee. Back Rake back into the ring and just insulting Knife Edge Chops at a deliberate pace. Commercial break happens and Trey is still in charge. Ace shoots the Double and turns it into a Jacknife Cradle for 2 but Ace is still visibly hobbled.

Trey tries to keep Ace grounded but he tries to fire up and Trey finds different ways to keep Ace grounded including a Running Bodyscissors into Full Mount. Kick combination rush from Trey as he goes for the Asai Moonsault to punctuate it but Ace gets the knees up. Short range Knee Strike, Click Click Boom, Corner Splash Seated Lariat spot into a Triangle Kick for 2! Ace looks to set up The Fold, Wentz distracts, Trey grabs tights! But Ace kicks out! Trey with the Backflip Back of the Head Dropkick. Bey levels Wentz and Trey is talking shit to the fans, Ace goes for the Crucifix Pin, but kicks out at 2.

Jackie Bryant Headlock Kick from Trey, but Ace blocks it. Triangle Kick misses, Ace tries to jump on him but misses, Cheeky Nandos, then Trey heads up but Ace cuts him off. They struggle on the top rope, Trey Bell Claps Ace, Ace tries to duck but Trey turns it into the Sunset Flip, locomotion float away, Ace Face Stomp into The Fold! Ace wins!

.@TheEricYoung and @Walking_Weapon make their intentions clear: they're walking into #TNAUnderSiege ready to take down @SteveMaclin and @FrankieKazarian! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/idI78rvsYJ

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 3, 2024

The Bald Bearded Canadians, good ole team BBC…wait…

TNA Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace (c) vs Miyu Yamashita

They start off respectfully, which is what you expect since Miyu is well respected in this generation. A few Headlock Takeovers, Shoulder Blocks and finally Miyu drops Jordynne with a Switchblade Kick. Miyu goes to follow up, but Jordynne catches the kick and T-Bone Suplex gives Jordynne a near fall. Juggernaut Driver early, but Miyu counters, rams Jordynne into the corner, Triangle Kick from Miyu for 2! Cravat into Knee Strikes and then a PK to the spine keeps Miyu in control. Miyu lets Jordynne up and they trade strikes a bit, Jordynne’s arms prove to be a little stronger than Miyu’s legs, takes out the legs and then the Jackhammer on the floor from Jordynne!

Jordynne tries to roll Miyu back in, but Miyu continues to roll out to buy some space, Jordynne goes for a dive and eats a foot. Miyu looks for an Apron Death Valley Driver, Jordynne fights it a while but Miyu eventually gets her over and down on the apron for 2. Miyu with a Headlock Takeover, but both ties the other one up and the ropes save the awkward but effective exchange. Strike exchange number 2. Miyu no sells a few Scoop Slams and lands Round Kicks. Spinning Backfist and Round Kick connect simultaneously for both women to drop.

Jordynne charges, Pink Striker tries to block with the front kick, but Jordynne plows through with a Back Elbow. Kinniku Buster attempt but Miyu knows how to get away from that and fights off with Knee Strikes, Jordynne is rocked but fights back up and Avalanche Back Body Drop for 2! Jordynne no sells a Roundhouse Kick, Miyu no sells a Lariat then another kick from Miyu and a Back Kick to the face for 2. Skull Kick attempt, blocked, Juggernaut Driver out of nowhere to retain!

Overall Score: 6.25/10

The second half of the show was pretty damn good, but God was the first half useless. Hammerstone and Deaner went on far too long, that was dumb, it looked dumb, I felt dumb watching it. Ali’s match was garbage with the stupid spot monkey indie garbage spot. If I want to watch wrestling that makes less sense than Chinese Dramas with Hindi subtitles, I’ll watch AEW and have a stroke.

Thankfully, Joe Hendry got a good chunk of time, the Trey and Ace match was pretty good and overlooking the stupid run in after match stuff, the Knockouts match itself was pretty damn good. So the new bookers have really consistently done this stuff, where there’s a ton of overbooked stupidity, but they sprinkle in enough okay stuff to make me not completely lose faith. OH – and we do get Kushida versus Gresham tomorrow, so at least that strengthens the lackluster card.

Lets see if they ever figure out how to really book, or if they eventually go full TNA 2015.

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